ACC: Al Golden
Miami quarterback Stephen Morris said he and the players aren’t concerned about the highly-publicized NCAA investigation that is still looming over the program.
“Today was the first day I’ve been asked about it, and I told everybody, ‘We’re not worried about it at all,’” Morris told ESPN.com in a telephone interview. “I haven’t thought about it until today, when everyone was asking questions about it. Our vibe around here is championship, that’s the first thing we’re looking forward to, and we’re really not concerned about what the NCAA has to say about it. Our mindset is really set on one thing, and we’ll go from there, depending on what the NCAA has to say.”
Morris said the team hasn’t been given any indication as to when the program might get some closure on the matter.
“Our thing is, we’ve just been listening to coach [Al] Golden,” Morris said. “Coach Golden says everything will be OK. That’s what we’re going off of.”
“Today was the first day I’ve been asked about it, and I told everybody, ‘We’re not worried about it at all,’” Morris told ESPN.com in a telephone interview. “I haven’t thought about it until today, when everyone was asking questions about it. Our vibe around here is championship, that’s the first thing we’re looking forward to, and we’re really not concerned about what the NCAA has to say about it. Our mindset is really set on one thing, and we’ll go from there, depending on what the NCAA has to say.”
Morris said the team hasn’t been given any indication as to when the program might get some closure on the matter.
“Our thing is, we’ve just been listening to coach [Al] Golden,” Morris said. “Coach Golden says everything will be OK. That’s what we’re going off of.”
Here's a look at those who made names for themselves, those who fine-tuned some strengths and those who burst onto the scene this spring in the ACC.
WR DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson: Hopkins had seven catches for 120 yards and a touchdown in the Tigers' spring game, including five for 100 in the first quarter. Coach Dabo Swinney called him the team's spring MVP, and he and Sammy Watkins could form the top receiver tandem in the nation.
RB Rolandan Finch, Boston College: Finch will have to carry a bigger load with Montel Harris off the team, and he stepped up in the spring game when the three men ahead of him were all banged-up, rushing for 196 yards on 27 carries. He will likely battle with Andre Williams for the top spot this fall, though both figure to see plenty of time.
LT Cameron Erving, FSU: The converted defensive tackle impressed this spring, as the sophomore is one of two new tackles the Seminoles are breaking in on the offensive line, a unit that may just be the deciding factor on whether FSU can return to the national elite this season. Coach Jimbo Fisher has called the 6-foot-5, 304-pound sophomore a future NFL starter.
QB Ryan Williams, Miami: Coach Al Golden said this week that Stephen Morris has been medically cleared, and he will likely enter a full-on quarterback competition with Williams, the Memphis transfer who saw most of the action this spring and played well, despite a sub-par spring game.
TE Jake McGee, Virginia: The converted quarterback caught two passes for 81 yards and figures to be a reliable target this fall after a subpar performance for the Cavaliers' tight ends last season.
CB Demetrious Nicholson, Virginia: Coach Mike London named him the team's most distinguished freshman this spring, but he will have to grow up fast. After playing almost every snap last fall, he is the veteran of the Cavaliers' secondary in 2012.
DT Luther Maddy, Virginia Tech: Maddy was named the Hokies' defensive MVP of this spring. The rising sophomore has said he has adjusted to the speed of the game after a freshman year that featured seven starts, and he figures to be a key on a line that will anchor Virginia Tech's defense this season.
WR DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson: Hopkins had seven catches for 120 yards and a touchdown in the Tigers' spring game, including five for 100 in the first quarter. Coach Dabo Swinney called him the team's spring MVP, and he and Sammy Watkins could form the top receiver tandem in the nation.
RB Rolandan Finch, Boston College: Finch will have to carry a bigger load with Montel Harris off the team, and he stepped up in the spring game when the three men ahead of him were all banged-up, rushing for 196 yards on 27 carries. He will likely battle with Andre Williams for the top spot this fall, though both figure to see plenty of time.
LT Cameron Erving, FSU: The converted defensive tackle impressed this spring, as the sophomore is one of two new tackles the Seminoles are breaking in on the offensive line, a unit that may just be the deciding factor on whether FSU can return to the national elite this season. Coach Jimbo Fisher has called the 6-foot-5, 304-pound sophomore a future NFL starter.
QB Ryan Williams, Miami: Coach Al Golden said this week that Stephen Morris has been medically cleared, and he will likely enter a full-on quarterback competition with Williams, the Memphis transfer who saw most of the action this spring and played well, despite a sub-par spring game.
TE Jake McGee, Virginia: The converted quarterback caught two passes for 81 yards and figures to be a reliable target this fall after a subpar performance for the Cavaliers' tight ends last season.
CB Demetrious Nicholson, Virginia: Coach Mike London named him the team's most distinguished freshman this spring, but he will have to grow up fast. After playing almost every snap last fall, he is the veteran of the Cavaliers' secondary in 2012.
DT Luther Maddy, Virginia Tech: Maddy was named the Hokies' defensive MVP of this spring. The rising sophomore has said he has adjusted to the speed of the game after a freshman year that featured seven starts, and he figures to be a key on a line that will anchor Virginia Tech's defense this season.
Miami QB Stephen Morris gets green light
May, 15, 2012
May 15
9:00
AM ET
By
Andrea Adelson | ESPN.com
AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. -- Miami coach Al Golden said Tuesday that quarterback Stephen Morris has been medically cleared and is ready to participate in the Hurricanes' offseason program.
Players report back to campus Tuesday, and Golden said Morris will get right to passing drills and working with receivers on individual routes. Golden has previously said that Morris was ahead of schedule in his return from back surgery. Morris did return for the final week of spring practice, but he was limited and didn't participate in the spring game.
Now that has changed, and Golden fully anticipates a quarterback competition this summer and into the fall between Morris and Ryan Williams, who emerged during the spring.
"I see a competition at every position to be honest with you," Golden said at the ACC spring meetings. "I wouldn’t want it to be any other way, and it wouldn’t be fair to portray it any other way. They’ll work out for the next 90 days and then they’ll have training camp to prove themselves. They’ll have practices and two scrimmages, both will work with the ones, and then we’ll name a starter from there."
Williams, a transfer from Memphis, had a productive spring with Morris on the sideline. Though Williams had a shaky spring game -- throwing two interceptions -- Golden was happy with the strides that were made.
"He did good overall," Golden said. "It was tough because at times we only had three scholarship wide receivers in the spring, which made it difficult. But overall, I think he commanded the offense, he learned it really well. He was a good leader for us on the field, and his intelligence is evident in his ability to see the defense and know where to put the ball."
Golden added that he expects his team to be totally healthy for the start of fall practice.
"We came out of spring really good," Golden said. "When people ask me, 'Did you have a good spring? I usually say because there's no major surgeries or anything, I say yes. We had guys who had lingering injuries from the season that we stopped during the spring, but nothing that occurred during the spring that will prohibit anybody from being at training camp."
Players report back to campus Tuesday, and Golden said Morris will get right to passing drills and working with receivers on individual routes. Golden has previously said that Morris was ahead of schedule in his return from back surgery. Morris did return for the final week of spring practice, but he was limited and didn't participate in the spring game.
Now that has changed, and Golden fully anticipates a quarterback competition this summer and into the fall between Morris and Ryan Williams, who emerged during the spring.
"I see a competition at every position to be honest with you," Golden said at the ACC spring meetings. "I wouldn’t want it to be any other way, and it wouldn’t be fair to portray it any other way. They’ll work out for the next 90 days and then they’ll have training camp to prove themselves. They’ll have practices and two scrimmages, both will work with the ones, and then we’ll name a starter from there."
Williams, a transfer from Memphis, had a productive spring with Morris on the sideline. Though Williams had a shaky spring game -- throwing two interceptions -- Golden was happy with the strides that were made.
"He did good overall," Golden said. "It was tough because at times we only had three scholarship wide receivers in the spring, which made it difficult. But overall, I think he commanded the offense, he learned it really well. He was a good leader for us on the field, and his intelligence is evident in his ability to see the defense and know where to put the ball."
Golden added that he expects his team to be totally healthy for the start of fall practice.
"We came out of spring really good," Golden said. "When people ask me, 'Did you have a good spring? I usually say because there's no major surgeries or anything, I say yes. We had guys who had lingering injuries from the season that we stopped during the spring, but nothing that occurred during the spring that will prohibit anybody from being at training camp."
Who doesn't love lists or rankings?
And, to take that one step further, who doesn't love lists that include 124 people?
Steve Greenberg and Matt Hayes over at The Sporting News took the unenviable task of rankings every single FBS coach, Nos. 1-124. It should come as no surprise that Alabama's Nick Saban topped all coaches after winning two of the past three national titles.
Frank Beamer tops the ACC contingent, and is the only coach from the conference cracking the top-10, as Virginia Tech's leader is ranked ninth.
The average ranking of the 12 ACC coaches was 45.6, fourth-best among conferences.
Here's how they stacked up:
9. Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech
19. Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech
27. Dabo Swinney, Clemson
31. Jim Grobe, Wake Forest
34. Al Golden, Miami
38. Jimbo Fisher, FSU
45. Mike London, Virginia
49. Tom O'Brien, NC State
53. Larry Fedora, UNC
65. Randy Edsall, Maryland
67. David Cutcliffe, Duke
110. Frank Spaziani, BC
And, to take that one step further, who doesn't love lists that include 124 people?
Steve Greenberg and Matt Hayes over at The Sporting News took the unenviable task of rankings every single FBS coach, Nos. 1-124. It should come as no surprise that Alabama's Nick Saban topped all coaches after winning two of the past three national titles.
Frank Beamer tops the ACC contingent, and is the only coach from the conference cracking the top-10, as Virginia Tech's leader is ranked ninth.
The average ranking of the 12 ACC coaches was 45.6, fourth-best among conferences.
Here's how they stacked up:
9. Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech
19. Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech
27. Dabo Swinney, Clemson
31. Jim Grobe, Wake Forest
34. Al Golden, Miami
38. Jimbo Fisher, FSU
45. Mike London, Virginia
49. Tom O'Brien, NC State
53. Larry Fedora, UNC
65. Randy Edsall, Maryland
67. David Cutcliffe, Duke
110. Frank Spaziani, BC
2011 overall record: 6-6
2011 conference record: 3-5 (T-4th, Coastal)
Returning starters: Offense: 4; defense: 6; kicker/punter: 2
Top returners
WR Allen Hurns, TE Clive Walford, RT Jon Feliciano, RG Brandon Linder, DE Anthony Chickillo, DT Darius Smith, LB James Gaines, LB Denzel Perryman, CB Brandon McGee, S Vaughn Telemaque
Key losses
WR Travis Benjamin, WR Tommy Streeter, LT Brandon Washington, LG Harland Gunn, C Tyler Horn, QB Jacory Harris, RB Lamar Miller, DE Marcus Robinson, DT Adewale Ojomo, LB Sean Spence, CB Mike Williams, S JoJo Nicolas
2011 statistical leaders (* returners)
Rushing: Lamar Miller (1,271 yards)
Passing: Jacory Harris (2,486 yards)
Receiving: Tommy Streeter (811 yards)
Tackles: Sean Spence (106)
Sacks: Anthony Chickillo*/Marcus Robinson (5)
Interceptions: JoJo Nicolas (2)
Spring answers
1. Ryan Williams can challenge Stephen Morris: Williams received most of the spring reps with Morris sidelined, and the Memphis transfer should enter preseason camp with a chance to overtake Morris for the No. 1 spot. That's all the Hurricanes can hope for with Morris recovering from back surgery.
2. The defense should be OK: Yes, some of that ugly 7-6 final from the spring game has to be blamed on putrid offense, but the defense deserves plenty of credit for forcing five turnovers. The unit also forced 10 sacks and picked off three passes in the team's March 30 scrimmage. The Canes return six starters from a defense that ranked 17th nationally in scoring in 2011.
3. Running backs stepping up: Al Golden has praised Mike James and Eduardo Clements this spring for both their performances on the field and their leadership off it. A strong showing from the duo will certainly ease the loss of Lamar Miller, but that could depend more on the progress of the offensive line than anything else.
Fall questions
1. What will Morris be like upon return? No one wants to lose his job to injury, and Morris surely noticed the performance of Williams this spring. Morris was able to take reps toward the end of spring without pads, which is certainly encouraging, but how he fares against defenses remains to be seen.
2. How soon can newcomers contribute? Golden landed the nation's No. 8 recruiting class for 2012, and many of the rookies can't get to campus soon enough. Miami lost 30 players this past season and has questions at receiver, in the secondary and along the offensive line. Spots could be there for the taking, so seeing which newcomers step up early will be interesting.
3. About that elephant in the room … Coaches and players will repeat that they only worry about what they can control, but the black cloud from the Nevin Shapiro scandal won't stop looming over the program until the NCAA delivers its ruling. The day that comes will be a welcome relief for the program, dark as that day may be. But if Golden could lure the No. 8 recruiting class despite the scandal, imagine what he could do once it subsides.
2011 conference record: 3-5 (T-4th, Coastal)
Returning starters: Offense: 4; defense: 6; kicker/punter: 2
Top returners
WR Allen Hurns, TE Clive Walford, RT Jon Feliciano, RG Brandon Linder, DE Anthony Chickillo, DT Darius Smith, LB James Gaines, LB Denzel Perryman, CB Brandon McGee, S Vaughn Telemaque
Key losses
WR Travis Benjamin, WR Tommy Streeter, LT Brandon Washington, LG Harland Gunn, C Tyler Horn, QB Jacory Harris, RB Lamar Miller, DE Marcus Robinson, DT Adewale Ojomo, LB Sean Spence, CB Mike Williams, S JoJo Nicolas
2011 statistical leaders (* returners)
Rushing: Lamar Miller (1,271 yards)
Passing: Jacory Harris (2,486 yards)
Receiving: Tommy Streeter (811 yards)
Tackles: Sean Spence (106)
Sacks: Anthony Chickillo*/Marcus Robinson (5)
Interceptions: JoJo Nicolas (2)
Spring answers
1. Ryan Williams can challenge Stephen Morris: Williams received most of the spring reps with Morris sidelined, and the Memphis transfer should enter preseason camp with a chance to overtake Morris for the No. 1 spot. That's all the Hurricanes can hope for with Morris recovering from back surgery.
2. The defense should be OK: Yes, some of that ugly 7-6 final from the spring game has to be blamed on putrid offense, but the defense deserves plenty of credit for forcing five turnovers. The unit also forced 10 sacks and picked off three passes in the team's March 30 scrimmage. The Canes return six starters from a defense that ranked 17th nationally in scoring in 2011.
3. Running backs stepping up: Al Golden has praised Mike James and Eduardo Clements this spring for both their performances on the field and their leadership off it. A strong showing from the duo will certainly ease the loss of Lamar Miller, but that could depend more on the progress of the offensive line than anything else.
Fall questions
1. What will Morris be like upon return? No one wants to lose his job to injury, and Morris surely noticed the performance of Williams this spring. Morris was able to take reps toward the end of spring without pads, which is certainly encouraging, but how he fares against defenses remains to be seen.
2. How soon can newcomers contribute? Golden landed the nation's No. 8 recruiting class for 2012, and many of the rookies can't get to campus soon enough. Miami lost 30 players this past season and has questions at receiver, in the secondary and along the offensive line. Spots could be there for the taking, so seeing which newcomers step up early will be interesting.
3. About that elephant in the room … Coaches and players will repeat that they only worry about what they can control, but the black cloud from the Nevin Shapiro scandal won't stop looming over the program until the NCAA delivers its ruling. The day that comes will be a welcome relief for the program, dark as that day may be. But if Golden could lure the No. 8 recruiting class despite the scandal, imagine what he could do once it subsides.
This week, colleague Ryan McGee examined head coaches entering their second years, the headliner being Maryland's Randy Edsall.
Edsall was hardly the first coach to endure a tumultuous debut season, McGee says, but since the Terrapins' record was the worst, he got the first look here, grading out with an F for 2011.
Miami's Al Golden is facing a much different challenge. McGee graded his 6-6 debut season as a B-, with offensive inconsistency and, of course, the previously unforeseen Nevin Shapiro scandal hitting the program before Golden could even get started.
Edsall was hardly the first coach to endure a tumultuous debut season, McGee says, but since the Terrapins' record was the worst, he got the first look here, grading out with an F for 2011.
Problem No. 1 will be reconnecting with his fan base, a job that Ralph Friedgen struggled with even when wins were plentiful. Problem No. 2 will be replacing the talent pool that emptied out via graduation and the mass exit of transfers.
What could solve all those issues at once is to concentrate recruiting efforts around landing players from the Maryland area. Edsall did that, signing five of the state's top 18-rated players. In all, the Terps landed 11 Maryland/D.C. products. Along with five from Pennsylvania and one from Virginia, that's 17 out of a class of 24 that are considered local.
Miami's Al Golden is facing a much different challenge. McGee graded his 6-6 debut season as a B-, with offensive inconsistency and, of course, the previously unforeseen Nevin Shapiro scandal hitting the program before Golden could even get started.
Quarterback Stephen Morris returns, though he's on the mend, and Memphis transfer Ryan Williams got all the spring reps. Golden has expressed concern about his receiver and defensive back corps, but he's anxious to get his eighth-ranked recruiting class in this summer to replace the 30 players he's lost during the last year.
Move over, Gamecocks. There's a new repeat champion in town.
Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson and former hoops star Jon Barry defended their Chick-fil-A Bowl Challenge title Tuesday with a one-stroke victory to take home the $125,000 scholarship prize in Greensboro, Ga.
The Yellow Jackets duo finished 10-under par, with Barry nailing a five-foot putt on the 18th hole to hold off Maryland (Randy Edsall/Stan Gelbaugh) and Florida State (Jimbo Fisher/Terrell Buckley) and win the crown for the second year in a row. South Carolina's Steve Spurrier and Sterling Sharpe had won back-to-back crowns in 2008 and 2009, and that duo tied for eighth Tuesday.
There's apparently no truth to the rumor that Johnson and Barry stood up last year and guaranteed a repeat title, a la Pat Riley in 1987.
"It was a first-class tournament," Johnson said. "It's fun to play out here and I’m very fortunate to have a partner that's as skilled as Jon. It got real competitive coming down the stretch. We knew on 16 that we had to get probably to 10-under because we knew the guys had strokes on us on the last hole."
Barry also won the celebrity long-drive contest, hitting a ball 308 yards for a $5,000 scholarship prize. Miami coach Al Golden won the coaches division contest with the exact same distance.
"I didn't want to have to hit a five footer to win this tournament, but coach hit a great chip in there," Barry said. "We knew we had to make par on the toughest hole in Georgia and we got it done. It was a lot of fun. I'll tell you, my mouth was dry and I was as nervous as I've ever been. Thankfully we got it done and had a great time."
Nine ACC pairings made up the 15-team field for the event, which had a scholarship purse of $520,000. An additional $243,000 was generated for charitable organizations. An ACC pairing has won the event four out of six times, with FSU claiming the top spot in 2010 and Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer and Dell Curry winning in 2007.
A complete final scoreboard can be found here.
Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson and former hoops star Jon Barry defended their Chick-fil-A Bowl Challenge title Tuesday with a one-stroke victory to take home the $125,000 scholarship prize in Greensboro, Ga.
The Yellow Jackets duo finished 10-under par, with Barry nailing a five-foot putt on the 18th hole to hold off Maryland (Randy Edsall/Stan Gelbaugh) and Florida State (Jimbo Fisher/Terrell Buckley) and win the crown for the second year in a row. South Carolina's Steve Spurrier and Sterling Sharpe had won back-to-back crowns in 2008 and 2009, and that duo tied for eighth Tuesday.
There's apparently no truth to the rumor that Johnson and Barry stood up last year and guaranteed a repeat title, a la Pat Riley in 1987.
"It was a first-class tournament," Johnson said. "It's fun to play out here and I’m very fortunate to have a partner that's as skilled as Jon. It got real competitive coming down the stretch. We knew on 16 that we had to get probably to 10-under because we knew the guys had strokes on us on the last hole."
Barry also won the celebrity long-drive contest, hitting a ball 308 yards for a $5,000 scholarship prize. Miami coach Al Golden won the coaches division contest with the exact same distance.
"I didn't want to have to hit a five footer to win this tournament, but coach hit a great chip in there," Barry said. "We knew we had to make par on the toughest hole in Georgia and we got it done. It was a lot of fun. I'll tell you, my mouth was dry and I was as nervous as I've ever been. Thankfully we got it done and had a great time."
Nine ACC pairings made up the 15-team field for the event, which had a scholarship purse of $520,000. An additional $243,000 was generated for charitable organizations. An ACC pairing has won the event four out of six times, with FSU claiming the top spot in 2010 and Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer and Dell Curry winning in 2007.
A complete final scoreboard can be found here.
Our series continues today with the Hurricanes, who are replacing a just-drafted running back and face a lack of depth on their offensive line.
For a complete recap of the series, click here.
Miami: RG Brandon Linder
2011 stats: Linder started all 12 games as a sophomore at right guard and earned ACC offensive lineman of the week honors after playing center, guard, tackle and tight end in the Hurricanes' 35-10 win over Wake Forest on Nov. 12.
What he means to the Hurricanes: Miami's offensive line trouble this spring has been well-documented, with coach Al Golden having to defend signs the program posted on campus looking for walk-on additions to the unit. Three starters from the end of last season are gone, including the entire left side. Linder looks like the only sure thing for the unit coming out of spring. Jon Feliciano is the only other returning starter, but he moved from right tackle to left guard, and he may not even start there, as he exits spring in a tight battle with Jermaine Johnson for the No. 1 spot. That leaves Linder as the lone holdover, and his presence on the line will provide a strong sense of stability for a unit that paved the way for Lamar Miller to rush for 1,272 yards and nine touchdowns last season. Miller was just drafted by the Dolphins in the fourth round. The Canes currently have 13 offensive linemen on the roster as they exit spring, and will have one more come fall once guard recruit Daniel Isidora arrives.
For a complete recap of the series, click here.
Miami: RG Brandon Linder
2011 stats: Linder started all 12 games as a sophomore at right guard and earned ACC offensive lineman of the week honors after playing center, guard, tackle and tight end in the Hurricanes' 35-10 win over Wake Forest on Nov. 12.
What he means to the Hurricanes: Miami's offensive line trouble this spring has been well-documented, with coach Al Golden having to defend signs the program posted on campus looking for walk-on additions to the unit. Three starters from the end of last season are gone, including the entire left side. Linder looks like the only sure thing for the unit coming out of spring. Jon Feliciano is the only other returning starter, but he moved from right tackle to left guard, and he may not even start there, as he exits spring in a tight battle with Jermaine Johnson for the No. 1 spot. That leaves Linder as the lone holdover, and his presence on the line will provide a strong sense of stability for a unit that paved the way for Lamar Miller to rush for 1,272 yards and nine touchdowns last season. Miller was just drafted by the Dolphins in the fourth round. The Canes currently have 13 offensive linemen on the roster as they exit spring, and will have one more come fall once guard recruit Daniel Isidora arrives.
Didn't know Cartman could sing so well.
- CBSSports.com's Tony Barnhart says Paul Johnson is carving out his own legacy in the shadow of legends at Georgia Tech.
- Al Golden says competition is on the way for Miami players without it, Susan Miller Degnan writes in the Miami Herald.
- UNC's Quinton Coples is considered an enigma by some, Andrew Carter writes in the Raleigh News & Observer.
- NC State and adidas have a new deal, J.P. Giglio writes in the Charlotte Observer.
- Clemson has few surprises on its post-spring depth chart, Travis Sawchik writes in the Charleston Post & Courier.
10 ACC coaches in Chick-fil-A Bowl Challenge
April, 13, 2012
Apr 13
11:30
AM ET
By
Matt Fortuna | ESPN.com
Paul Johnson and Jon Barry will be looking to defend their crown later this month, as the Georgia Tech duo will be one of 10 ACC teams competing in the 16-team Chick-fil-A Bowl Challenge charity golf tournament, with the hope of winning a share of the $520,000 scholarship purse for their respective schools.
The sixth annual tournament will be held April 29 - May 1 at the Reynolds Plantation resort on Lake Oconee outside Atlanta. Florida State's Jimbo Fisher and Terrell Buckley, the 2010 winners, will be competing as well, along with the 2007 winners from Virginia Tech, Frank Beamer and Dell Curry.
Clemson (Dabo Swinney/Steve Fuller), Maryland (Randy Edsall/Stan Gelbaugh), Miami (Al Golden/Gino Torretta), North Carolina (Larry Fedora/Roy Williams), North Carolina State (Tom O'Brien/Tom Gugliotta), Virginia (Mike London/Jim Dombrowski) and Wake Forest (Jim Grobe/Riley Skinner) are the other seven ACC teams participating in the tournament.
The Yellow Jackets' duo of Johnson and Barry won the event last year with an 11-under par, four strokes better than the Seminoles' win from 2010. South Carolina's Steve Spurrier and Sterling Sharpe, who won the 2009 and 2008 tournaments with 12-unders, will be participating again this season.
Alabama, Mississippi State, Ohio State, Ole Miss and Tennessee are the other schools competing.
ESPN is taping the event for broadcast in the fall.
The sixth annual tournament will be held April 29 - May 1 at the Reynolds Plantation resort on Lake Oconee outside Atlanta. Florida State's Jimbo Fisher and Terrell Buckley, the 2010 winners, will be competing as well, along with the 2007 winners from Virginia Tech, Frank Beamer and Dell Curry.
Clemson (Dabo Swinney/Steve Fuller), Maryland (Randy Edsall/Stan Gelbaugh), Miami (Al Golden/Gino Torretta), North Carolina (Larry Fedora/Roy Williams), North Carolina State (Tom O'Brien/Tom Gugliotta), Virginia (Mike London/Jim Dombrowski) and Wake Forest (Jim Grobe/Riley Skinner) are the other seven ACC teams participating in the tournament.
The Yellow Jackets' duo of Johnson and Barry won the event last year with an 11-under par, four strokes better than the Seminoles' win from 2010. South Carolina's Steve Spurrier and Sterling Sharpe, who won the 2009 and 2008 tournaments with 12-unders, will be participating again this season.
Alabama, Mississippi State, Ohio State, Ole Miss and Tennessee are the other schools competing.
ESPN is taping the event for broadcast in the fall.
The guys over at AthlonSports recently released their list of college football's top 25 head coaches heading into this season, and a pair of ACC coaches make the cut.
Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer lands at No. 4 while Georgia Tech's Paul Johnson checks in at No. 22.
Miami's Al Golden (No. 26), Virginia's Mike London (No. 27) crack the "best of the rest" section as well.
Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer lands at No. 4 while Georgia Tech's Paul Johnson checks in at No. 22.
Born in the Commonwealth, playing in the Commonwealth and coaching the Commonwealth, “Beamerball” has been a fixture of Virginian football for more than four decades. Prior to his arrival in Blacksburg, the Hokies had been to six bowls games. After six years and a 24-40-2 record, Beamer broke through with his first bowl appearance in 1993. He has been to 19 straight bowl games since, including a Michael Vick-led chance at the 1999 national championship against Florida State. Beamer has claimed three Big East Championships (1995, 1996, 1999), four ACC titles (2004, 2007, 2008, 2010) and five conference Coach of the Year honors. He is the longest tenured and winningest active FBS coach in the nation and has had at least 10 wins in eight straight seasons and 11 of the last 13. Beamer was there to usher in two new eras of Hokie football as he transitioned his team from Independent status to the Big East in 1991 and then into the ACC in 2004. Virginia Tech has won the Coastal Division five times in its seven-year history and will likely be the preseason favorite once again in 2012. There are few better in the nation than Beamer.
After two I-AA National Championships at Georgia Southern, Johnson completely reinvented the Naval Academy before bringing his patented triple-option attack to the big leagues. Navy had been to nine bowl games in over 100 years of football when they hired Johnson. He led them to five bowl games in six seasons, including two wins. At Georgia Tech, there were doubts about whether or not the antiquated system would work in the ACC. After five seasons, two division championships and one ACC crown (2009), the answer is most definitively yes. The Jackets have led the ACC in rushing all four seasons under Johnson and finished no worse than fourth nationally on the ground. Georgia Tech enters 2012 as the top contender to Virginia Tech in the Coastal Division.
Miami's Al Golden (No. 26), Virginia's Mike London (No. 27) crack the "best of the rest" section as well.
Miami offensive line coach Art Kehoe talks about the state of college football in Florida.
Q&A with Art Kehoe on football in Florida
April, 10, 2012
Apr 10
9:00
AM ET
By
Andrea Adelson | ESPN.com
Miami offensive line coach Art Kehoe is one of the most honest men in America, which makes him a dream for people like me. Ask him anything, and he tells you the unvarnished truth. What makes him more compelling for my story on college football in Florida is his incredible role in the transformation. Kehoe had a front-row seat for it all, having played at Miami when the Hurricanes began their rise under Howard Schnellenberger. He got his first coaching job under Schnellenberger in 1982 and remained on staff there until 2005, coaching under Jimmy Johnson, Dennis Erickson, Butch Davis and Larry Coker. If anybody is an expert on the rise of football in the state, it is Kehoe.
He returned to Miami under new coach Al Golden last season and is back where he belongs.
Here are some of his insights into why football in Florida exploded and how the Canes make their return.
On why Florida is breeding ground for high school talent:
Art Kehoe: When I grew up in Pennsylvania, the season got over in Thanksgiving. In December, January, February, March, you were locked in doors watching the “Three Stooges” and eating potato chips. Unless you were wrestling or good enough to play basketball. All the kids down here, they’re doing Frisbee, or they’re on a surfboard, playing basketball, baseball, football all year round. The best months of the year are November, December, January, February, March. To me, I always felt there was so much speed down here and the combination of, you were getting a Florida kid he might be a little scrawny because he wasn’t lifting all the weights and doing all the eating. You were getting a faster, tougher kind of athlete down here. You also had a mushrooming community that was producing tons of athletes, in a climate that said we’re going to practice year round, get faster, better and tougher.
On why Miami never skipped a beat despite the coaching transition in the 1980s and 1990s:
AK: People have said whether it was Jimmy or Howard, if they had stayed here, they could have been icons. Now they’re icons anyway, but it’s all the same reasons. It’s like Coach Golden says: We’re a landlocked peninsula. There’s nowhere else to go so why shouldn’t we control this area? If people want to win a national championship -- you have a private school, high graduation rate, beautiful campus, tremendous city, the weather’s fantastic, and we have the players in ... Miami, why can’t we control that?
On Miami's return:
AK: If anybody thinks Miami is gone, you’re going to learn the hard way. We are not gone, and we’re not falling off by the wayside. We’re going to win and we’re going to win big, and the reason I feel that is the guy at the top. I don’t know how close we are, because we’ve had a couple of dents in our armor, but I know it’s coming. I watched Coach Schnellenberger do it and I was in awe to be a part of it with the teammates we had. It was an awesome thing to watch. I’ve been through all the transitions, to do that, for that long and not believe you’ve got a leader and it’s going to happen again.
On heightened expectations when you win as many championships as Miami has:
AK: Nobody wants to hear about the pain, just deliver the baby and the baby’s got to be winning. People know what’s been done here, and they expect things to happen. And if it doesn’t, our fate will be sealed, and so will the guys up at Florida State if it doesn’t and so will the guys up at Florida if it doesn’t. That’s the inevitable thing about sports and society, especially if you go up levels. If you’re at the college level or the professional level, there’s big money involved and people expect results, especially at places where you have nothing but winning.
He returned to Miami under new coach Al Golden last season and is back where he belongs.
[+] Enlarge
Al Diaz/Miami Herald/MCT via Getty ImagesArt Kehoe watched the Hurricanes rise under Howard Schnellenberger in the 1980s and he believes they'll do so again under Al Golden.
Al Diaz/Miami Herald/MCT via Getty ImagesArt Kehoe watched the Hurricanes rise under Howard Schnellenberger in the 1980s and he believes they'll do so again under Al Golden.On why Florida is breeding ground for high school talent:
Art Kehoe: When I grew up in Pennsylvania, the season got over in Thanksgiving. In December, January, February, March, you were locked in doors watching the “Three Stooges” and eating potato chips. Unless you were wrestling or good enough to play basketball. All the kids down here, they’re doing Frisbee, or they’re on a surfboard, playing basketball, baseball, football all year round. The best months of the year are November, December, January, February, March. To me, I always felt there was so much speed down here and the combination of, you were getting a Florida kid he might be a little scrawny because he wasn’t lifting all the weights and doing all the eating. You were getting a faster, tougher kind of athlete down here. You also had a mushrooming community that was producing tons of athletes, in a climate that said we’re going to practice year round, get faster, better and tougher.
On why Miami never skipped a beat despite the coaching transition in the 1980s and 1990s:
AK: People have said whether it was Jimmy or Howard, if they had stayed here, they could have been icons. Now they’re icons anyway, but it’s all the same reasons. It’s like Coach Golden says: We’re a landlocked peninsula. There’s nowhere else to go so why shouldn’t we control this area? If people want to win a national championship -- you have a private school, high graduation rate, beautiful campus, tremendous city, the weather’s fantastic, and we have the players in ... Miami, why can’t we control that?
On Miami's return:
AK: If anybody thinks Miami is gone, you’re going to learn the hard way. We are not gone, and we’re not falling off by the wayside. We’re going to win and we’re going to win big, and the reason I feel that is the guy at the top. I don’t know how close we are, because we’ve had a couple of dents in our armor, but I know it’s coming. I watched Coach Schnellenberger do it and I was in awe to be a part of it with the teammates we had. It was an awesome thing to watch. I’ve been through all the transitions, to do that, for that long and not believe you’ve got a leader and it’s going to happen again.
On heightened expectations when you win as many championships as Miami has:
AK: Nobody wants to hear about the pain, just deliver the baby and the baby’s got to be winning. People know what’s been done here, and they expect things to happen. And if it doesn’t, our fate will be sealed, and so will the guys up at Florida State if it doesn’t and so will the guys up at Florida if it doesn’t. That’s the inevitable thing about sports and society, especially if you go up levels. If you’re at the college level or the professional level, there’s big money involved and people expect results, especially at places where you have nothing but winning.
Another new UM depth chart; Morris throws
April, 9, 2012
Apr 9
10:30
AM ET
By
Matt Fortuna | ESPN.com
Miami released yet another spring depth chart heading into this past weekend. That's the third since a month ago, when coach Al Golden released a depth chart to spring practice.
A.J. Highsmith, who was the No. 1 strong safety when the previous depth chart was released a week earlier, is now listed as an "or" with Vaughn Telemaque. Gionni Paul and Tyrone Cornileus also have an "or" between them at one outside linebacker spot, as do Brandon McGee and Thomas Finnie at cornerback.
Sean Harvey has vaulted to the No. 1 fullback spot because of injuries.
The depth chart can be viewed in its entirety here.
Also worth noting is that quarterback Stephen Morris took reps in drills for the first time this spring, during the Hurricanes' 12th spring practice Thursday. Recovering from back surgery, Morris did not wear pads.
A.J. Highsmith, who was the No. 1 strong safety when the previous depth chart was released a week earlier, is now listed as an "or" with Vaughn Telemaque. Gionni Paul and Tyrone Cornileus also have an "or" between them at one outside linebacker spot, as do Brandon McGee and Thomas Finnie at cornerback.
Sean Harvey has vaulted to the No. 1 fullback spot because of injuries.
The depth chart can be viewed in its entirety here.
Also worth noting is that quarterback Stephen Morris took reps in drills for the first time this spring, during the Hurricanes' 12th spring practice Thursday. Recovering from back surgery, Morris did not wear pads.
Happy Opening Day ... kind of.
- Al Golden has been impressed with Miami's defense, Susan Miller Degnan writes in the Miami Herald.
- E.J. Manuel is much more comfortable this spring with FSU, Coley Harvey writes in the Orlando Sentinel.
- UNC's fast-paced offense suits Marquise Williams, Andrew Carter writes in the Charlotte Observer.
- The Raleigh News & Observer's Caulton Tudor says Mustafa Greene is out of sight and out mind at N.C. State's spring practices.
- Virginia Tech corner Antone Exum is embracing his position change, Mark Giannotto writes in the Washington Post.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Heather Dinich
Dinich covered ACC and Big Ten football for five seasons before joining ESPN.com in November 2007. She's an Indiana grad but somehow her favorite day of the week is Saturday.
