ACC: Butch Davis
Lunch links will be here at their normally scheduled time, but I figured I'd compile reaction from Monday's biggest story in one spot here. To read all of our coverage of North Carolina's penalties, click here.
- Ivan Maisel, ESPN.com: "Davis started out doing just what North Carolina hired him to do. He recruited some of the top players in the nation. No school had more players selected in the NFL draft last April than the nine Tar Heels, including five in the first two rounds. But three of those five -- defensive end Robert Quinn, defensive tackle Marvin Austin, and wide receiver Greg Little -- were suspended in this investigation and never played a down in 2010. That team, a preseason top-20 pick, went 8-5, which matched the Tar Heels' victory total in the previous two seasons. Davis went 28-23 in his four seasons. North Carolina went on probation Monday."
- Dennis Dodd, CBSSports.com: "This case breaks a streak of six in a row by schools that have played in BCS bowls. At least, Ohio State, Cincinnati, Boise State, LSU, Georgia Tech and West Virginia could argue it was 'worth' it. All six of those programs have been decided since July."
- Andy Staples, SI.com: "The North Carolina case actually provided more of a road map. Remember, for those who don't consider it an ethical decision -- this includes most of the people who can get rich off the deal -- the decision to break the NCAA's rules is a pure risk/reward calculation. The penalties handed down Monday proved once again that the reward is still far greater than the risk as long as coaches and athletic directors understand a few things from the outset. A program can spit all over the NCAA rule book in an effort to reach or remain at the highest echelon of college football, and as long as that program cooperates with the NCAA during the investigation of its alleged 'crimes,' the Committee on Infractions will respond with a suite of penalties that contain far more bark than bite."
- Tom Sorensen, Charlotte Observer: "Most of the North Carolina graduates I know are ashamed of the program. They want to believe their school stands for something. They did believe that. They were wrong. The Tar Heels were Ohio State South, Miami North and Southern California East. Walk out of Kenan Stadium at the end of the Davis years – he was fired seven months ago – and you wanted to take a hot shower, but only after scraping the bottom of your shoes."
- Luke DeCock, Raleigh News & Observer: "The decision to play in a meaningless bowl game under a lame-duck interim coach last year, instead of self-sanctioning in anticipation of an NCAA ban, will keep the Tar Heels out of a bowl this year, when all those extra practices might have meant something to [new coach Larry] Fedora. Not to mention the Tar Heels weren’t going to play in the ACC championship game last year, and now have no chance this year."
- Caulton Tudor, Raleigh News & Observer: "But by waiting until after the Feb. 1 scholarship signing date to issue the bowl ruling, the NCAA’s bowl ban didn’t hurt Carolina’s recruiting this year. Had the ban been announced in January or earlier, it’s possible some of the signees might have gone elsewhere."
The Butch Davis era began at North Carolina in November 2007 with high hopes. It ended Monday in the dreadful, funereal ritual of the release of a report of the NCAA Committee on Infractions.
Just coincidence, said committee chair Britton Banowsky, the Conference USA commissioner, that the report came out the day after North Carolina became a No. 1 seed in the NCAA men's basketball tournament for a national-record 14th time. But the timing provided a reminder of what the university hired Davis to achieve and how spectacularly he failed to do so.
Over the course of the 1990s, Mack Brown had built the Tar Heels into a national power. He commandeered the resources to build one of the first Taj Mahals in the sport -- a $50 million palace of offices and facilities that announced to recruits and rivals that North Carolina took football seriously.
As much as Brown achieved, he couldn't lift the Tar Heels into the BCS hierarchy where the Florida States played. Though Brown left for Texas after the 1997 season, he had planted the seed. Nine years of mediocrity under Carl Torbush and John Bunting failed to dim the potential that Brown had kindled in the program.
Davis rebuilt a Miami team struck down by NCAA penalties and took them to the precipice of a national championship. When Davis left after the 2000 season for the Cleveland Browns, Larry Coker, his top assistant, took over and won the next 23 games. With the foundation assembled by Davis, Coker coached the Hurricanes within a double overtime of two consecutive crystal footballs.
That builder is who the Tar Heels assumed they hired. And Davis, a coaching lifer who traveled from Oklahoma high schools to the NFL, wanted to create a football empire on Tobacco Road.
For Ivan Maisel's full column, click here.
Just coincidence, said committee chair Britton Banowsky, the Conference USA commissioner, that the report came out the day after North Carolina became a No. 1 seed in the NCAA men's basketball tournament for a national-record 14th time. But the timing provided a reminder of what the university hired Davis to achieve and how spectacularly he failed to do so.
Over the course of the 1990s, Mack Brown had built the Tar Heels into a national power. He commandeered the resources to build one of the first Taj Mahals in the sport -- a $50 million palace of offices and facilities that announced to recruits and rivals that North Carolina took football seriously.
As much as Brown achieved, he couldn't lift the Tar Heels into the BCS hierarchy where the Florida States played. Though Brown left for Texas after the 1997 season, he had planted the seed. Nine years of mediocrity under Carl Torbush and John Bunting failed to dim the potential that Brown had kindled in the program.
Davis rebuilt a Miami team struck down by NCAA penalties and took them to the precipice of a national championship. When Davis left after the 2000 season for the Cleveland Browns, Larry Coker, his top assistant, took over and won the next 23 games. With the foundation assembled by Davis, Coker coached the Hurricanes within a double overtime of two consecutive crystal footballs.
That builder is who the Tar Heels assumed they hired. And Davis, a coaching lifer who traveled from Oklahoma high schools to the NFL, wanted to create a football empire on Tobacco Road.
For Ivan Maisel's full column, click here.
North Carolina's infractions case with the NCAA came to an end Monday, nine months after the school received a notice of allegations, and eight months after its football coach was dismissed. Here is a timeline of the rough past couple of years for the Tar Heels' football program:
Dec. 16, 2006: John Blake is hired as a defensive assistant coach.
Aug. 2007: Jennifer Wiley begins employment with North Carolina's academic support center during her junior year.
April 21, 2008: Wiley emails "student-athlete 1" five Education 411 class papers containing conclusion paragraphs she wrote.
Nov. 2008: Wiley emails "student-athlete 3" a draft of a class assignment she made substantive changes to and composed the works-cited page.
March 7-14, 2009: "Student-athlete 5" receives $2,680 in lodging, airfare and training from "sports agent 1."
March 7 and 8, 2009: "Student-athlete 7 and 8" receive $242 in meals, lodging and transportation from a former student-athlete at the institution.
April 15, 2009: Wiley emailed "student-athlete 2" an outline for a Communication 270 paper containing a thesis statement and other substantive material she wrote.
May 2009: Wiley received an institutional award for tutoring excellence and received an undergraduate degree from UNC.
June 2009: Wiley emails "student-athlete 3" a draft of a class assignment that she made substantive changes to and wrote the works-cited page.
June 11, 2009: "Student-athlete 2" emails Wiley a draft of his Communication 224 paper and asks for information to include.
June 12, 2009: Wiley emails "student-athlete 2" a draft of his Communication 224 paper with approximately 2.5 pages of content written by her.
July 2009: Wiley emails "student-athlete 3" research she conducted for a course writing assignment and a draft of a class assignment that she added a works-cited page to. An academic support center employee informs the associate director of academic support program that Wiley is rumored to have visited football players at their residences.
July 3-5, 2009: "Student-athlete 5" receives $357 in air fare from "sports agent 2."
July 22-Aug. 1, 2009: "Student-athlete 5" receives $2,400 in lodging and training from "sports agent 1."
Aug. 2009: The director of academic support center and the assistant AD for certification discuss rumors of potential inappropriate relationships between Wiley and football players. Wiley is notified by the director of academic support center that her contract with UNC's academic support center will not be renewed by the school.
Sept. 30, 2009: UNC sends letter to Wiley instructing her it is not OK to continue providing tutoring services to student-athletes.
Sept. 2009-Aug. 2010: Wiley provides approximately 142 hours of free tutoring services to football players.
Feb. 2010: "Student-athlete 4" receives $375 in jewelry from "student-athlete 1."
Spring 2010: "Student-athlete 6" receives $120 in meal benefits from various financial advisors, in addition to $1,000 cash from "student-athlete 1."
March 2010: "Student-athlete 4" receives $1,234 in air fare and lodging from "student-athlete 1."
March 5-10, 2010: "Student-athlete 7" receives $1,235 in meals, lodging, transportation and entertainment benefits from a former student-athlete at the institution.
March 8-14, 2010: "Student-athlete 5" receives $1,262 in air fare and lodging from "sports agent 2."
March 11, 2010: Wiley pays $150 flight-change fee for "student-athlete 4."
April 10, 2010: "Student-athlete 6" receives $5,000 from a jeweler from Miami, who "student-athlete 5" met outside Kenan Memorial Football Stadium after a game.
April 24 and 25, 2010: "Student-athletes 3, 4 and 5" receive a total of $107 in lodging and entertainment benefits from "sports agent 2."
May 2010 first summer session: The director of football student-athlete development receives information from a staff member whose name he cannot remember about "student-athlete 5's" Twitter page containing excessive foul language. Said student-athlete tells the director that he removed the comments but the director does not check the page. The associate AD for football administration also reports that he received the information in May but did not view the page.
May 7 and 12, 2010: "Student-athlete 5" receives $299 in air fare benefits from "sports agent 2."
May 15, 2010: "Student-athletes 4 and 5" receive $1,326 and $1,018, respectively, in air fare, lodging, transportation and entertainment benefits from "sports agent 2."
May 21, 2010: "Student-athlete 8" travels with "former student-athlete 1" and "student-athlete 9" to Atlanta, where they meet with an agent and incur benefits from the agent.
May 22, 2010: "Student-athletes 8 and 9" receive a total of $140 in transportation benefits from the agent and $130 in lodging and transportation from a former student-athlete at UNC.
May 25-31, 2010: "Student athletes 4 and 5" receive $1,163 and $579, respectively, in air fare and lodging benefits from "sports agent 2." "Student athletes 4 and 6" receive $398 in entertainment benefits from an employee of "sports agency B." "Student-athlete 6" receives $323 in lodging and transportation benefits from an unknown individual.
May 28-31, 2010: "Student-athlete 8" receives $506 in air fare, lodging and entertainment benefits from "former student-athlete 1."
Aug. 20, 2010: Wiley pays a $1,789 fine for parking tickets for "student-athlete 4."
Sept. 5, 2010: Blake resigns.
Sept. 28, 2010: The enforcement staff sends a letter to Blake's attorney requesting additional financial documents.
Nov. 4, 2010: The enforcement staff leaves a voicemail with Wiley's attorney requesting an interview.
Nov. 12-Dec. 16, 2010: The enforcement staff leaves three voicemails to Wiley's attorney requesting an interview.
Jan. 3, 2011: The enforcement staff sends a letter to Wiley's attorney.
Jan. 19, 2011: Wiley's attorney sends a letter to the enforcement staff saying Wiley will not interview and that she understands she may be charged with unethical conduct for refusing to cooperate.
March 10, 2011: A notice of inquiry is sent to Blake's attorney requesting additional financial documents, as previously requested Sept. 28, 2010.
June 7, 2011: A notice of inquiry is sent to UNC.
June 13, 2011: The enforcement staff contacts Blake's attorney to request an additional interview and financial documents previously requested Sept. 28, 2010, and March 10, 2011. The attorney responds the same day and says Blake will not be made available for an additional interview.
June 21, 2011: UNC announces it has received a notice of allegations from the NCAA regarding its football program, reflecting a 12-month investigation by the NCAA and the school. The committee requests a written response by Sept. 19.
July 27, 2011: UNC chancellor Holden Thorp announces that head football coach Butch Davis has been dismissed, saying the decision has not been related to any change in the NCAA investigation but that it's the result of the cumulative damage to the school's reputation over the past year.
July 28, 2011: Everett Withers, a defensive assistant, is promoted to interim head football coach.
July 28, 2011: Dick Baddour says he plans to step down as athletic director after 14 years at the school.
Sept. 19, 2011: The committee receives UNC's response to the notice of allegations, which include self-imposed penalties of: a total of nine scholarship losses over three years, the vacation of all 16 wins in 2008 and 2009 and a two-year probation period.
Sept. 22, 2011: The committee and enforcement staff receive Blake's response to the notice of allegations.
Sept. 22, 2011: The enforcement staff conducts a prehearing conference with UNC.
Sept. 28. 2011: The enforcement staff conduits a prehearing conference with Blake.
Oct. 14, 2011: Bubba Cunningham is hired as the new AD from Tulsa.
Oct. 28, 2011: UNC appears before the committee.
Dec. 8, 2011: Larry Fedora is introduced as the 35th head coach of UNC football after leading Southern Miss to an 11-2 record and Conference USA title in 2011.
March 12, 2012: The NCAA hands out its punishment to UNC: a one-year bowl ban; the loss of six additional total scholarships over three years; an additional year of probation; and a three-year show cause penalty for Blake prohibiting him from any recruiting activity. UNC announces it will not appeal the penalties.
Dec. 16, 2006: John Blake is hired as a defensive assistant coach.
Aug. 2007: Jennifer Wiley begins employment with North Carolina's academic support center during her junior year.
April 21, 2008: Wiley emails "student-athlete 1" five Education 411 class papers containing conclusion paragraphs she wrote.
Nov. 2008: Wiley emails "student-athlete 3" a draft of a class assignment she made substantive changes to and composed the works-cited page.
March 7-14, 2009: "Student-athlete 5" receives $2,680 in lodging, airfare and training from "sports agent 1."
March 7 and 8, 2009: "Student-athlete 7 and 8" receive $242 in meals, lodging and transportation from a former student-athlete at the institution.
April 15, 2009: Wiley emailed "student-athlete 2" an outline for a Communication 270 paper containing a thesis statement and other substantive material she wrote.
May 2009: Wiley received an institutional award for tutoring excellence and received an undergraduate degree from UNC.
June 2009: Wiley emails "student-athlete 3" a draft of a class assignment that she made substantive changes to and wrote the works-cited page.
June 11, 2009: "Student-athlete 2" emails Wiley a draft of his Communication 224 paper and asks for information to include.
June 12, 2009: Wiley emails "student-athlete 2" a draft of his Communication 224 paper with approximately 2.5 pages of content written by her.
July 2009: Wiley emails "student-athlete 3" research she conducted for a course writing assignment and a draft of a class assignment that she added a works-cited page to. An academic support center employee informs the associate director of academic support program that Wiley is rumored to have visited football players at their residences.
July 3-5, 2009: "Student-athlete 5" receives $357 in air fare from "sports agent 2."
July 22-Aug. 1, 2009: "Student-athlete 5" receives $2,400 in lodging and training from "sports agent 1."
Aug. 2009: The director of academic support center and the assistant AD for certification discuss rumors of potential inappropriate relationships between Wiley and football players. Wiley is notified by the director of academic support center that her contract with UNC's academic support center will not be renewed by the school.
Sept. 30, 2009: UNC sends letter to Wiley instructing her it is not OK to continue providing tutoring services to student-athletes.
Sept. 2009-Aug. 2010: Wiley provides approximately 142 hours of free tutoring services to football players.
Feb. 2010: "Student-athlete 4" receives $375 in jewelry from "student-athlete 1."
Spring 2010: "Student-athlete 6" receives $120 in meal benefits from various financial advisors, in addition to $1,000 cash from "student-athlete 1."
March 2010: "Student-athlete 4" receives $1,234 in air fare and lodging from "student-athlete 1."
March 5-10, 2010: "Student-athlete 7" receives $1,235 in meals, lodging, transportation and entertainment benefits from a former student-athlete at the institution.
March 8-14, 2010: "Student-athlete 5" receives $1,262 in air fare and lodging from "sports agent 2."
March 11, 2010: Wiley pays $150 flight-change fee for "student-athlete 4."
April 10, 2010: "Student-athlete 6" receives $5,000 from a jeweler from Miami, who "student-athlete 5" met outside Kenan Memorial Football Stadium after a game.
April 24 and 25, 2010: "Student-athletes 3, 4 and 5" receive a total of $107 in lodging and entertainment benefits from "sports agent 2."
May 2010 first summer session: The director of football student-athlete development receives information from a staff member whose name he cannot remember about "student-athlete 5's" Twitter page containing excessive foul language. Said student-athlete tells the director that he removed the comments but the director does not check the page. The associate AD for football administration also reports that he received the information in May but did not view the page.
May 7 and 12, 2010: "Student-athlete 5" receives $299 in air fare benefits from "sports agent 2."
May 15, 2010: "Student-athletes 4 and 5" receive $1,326 and $1,018, respectively, in air fare, lodging, transportation and entertainment benefits from "sports agent 2."
May 21, 2010: "Student-athlete 8" travels with "former student-athlete 1" and "student-athlete 9" to Atlanta, where they meet with an agent and incur benefits from the agent.
May 22, 2010: "Student-athletes 8 and 9" receive a total of $140 in transportation benefits from the agent and $130 in lodging and transportation from a former student-athlete at UNC.
May 25-31, 2010: "Student athletes 4 and 5" receive $1,163 and $579, respectively, in air fare and lodging benefits from "sports agent 2." "Student athletes 4 and 6" receive $398 in entertainment benefits from an employee of "sports agency B." "Student-athlete 6" receives $323 in lodging and transportation benefits from an unknown individual.
May 28-31, 2010: "Student-athlete 8" receives $506 in air fare, lodging and entertainment benefits from "former student-athlete 1."
Aug. 20, 2010: Wiley pays a $1,789 fine for parking tickets for "student-athlete 4."
Sept. 5, 2010: Blake resigns.
Sept. 28, 2010: The enforcement staff sends a letter to Blake's attorney requesting additional financial documents.
Nov. 4, 2010: The enforcement staff leaves a voicemail with Wiley's attorney requesting an interview.
Nov. 12-Dec. 16, 2010: The enforcement staff leaves three voicemails to Wiley's attorney requesting an interview.
Jan. 3, 2011: The enforcement staff sends a letter to Wiley's attorney.
Jan. 19, 2011: Wiley's attorney sends a letter to the enforcement staff saying Wiley will not interview and that she understands she may be charged with unethical conduct for refusing to cooperate.
March 10, 2011: A notice of inquiry is sent to Blake's attorney requesting additional financial documents, as previously requested Sept. 28, 2010.
June 7, 2011: A notice of inquiry is sent to UNC.
June 13, 2011: The enforcement staff contacts Blake's attorney to request an additional interview and financial documents previously requested Sept. 28, 2010, and March 10, 2011. The attorney responds the same day and says Blake will not be made available for an additional interview.
June 21, 2011: UNC announces it has received a notice of allegations from the NCAA regarding its football program, reflecting a 12-month investigation by the NCAA and the school. The committee requests a written response by Sept. 19.
July 27, 2011: UNC chancellor Holden Thorp announces that head football coach Butch Davis has been dismissed, saying the decision has not been related to any change in the NCAA investigation but that it's the result of the cumulative damage to the school's reputation over the past year.
July 28, 2011: Everett Withers, a defensive assistant, is promoted to interim head football coach.
July 28, 2011: Dick Baddour says he plans to step down as athletic director after 14 years at the school.
Sept. 19, 2011: The committee receives UNC's response to the notice of allegations, which include self-imposed penalties of: a total of nine scholarship losses over three years, the vacation of all 16 wins in 2008 and 2009 and a two-year probation period.
Sept. 22, 2011: The committee and enforcement staff receive Blake's response to the notice of allegations.
Sept. 22, 2011: The enforcement staff conducts a prehearing conference with UNC.
Sept. 28. 2011: The enforcement staff conduits a prehearing conference with Blake.
Oct. 14, 2011: Bubba Cunningham is hired as the new AD from Tulsa.
Oct. 28, 2011: UNC appears before the committee.
Dec. 8, 2011: Larry Fedora is introduced as the 35th head coach of UNC football after leading Southern Miss to an 11-2 record and Conference USA title in 2011.
March 12, 2012: The NCAA hands out its punishment to UNC: a one-year bowl ban; the loss of six additional total scholarships over three years; an additional year of probation; and a three-year show cause penalty for Blake prohibiting him from any recruiting activity. UNC announces it will not appeal the penalties.
There is still "The Carolina Way," former North Carolina athletic director Dick Baddour insisted during a teleconference Monday, a message that was echoed by both chancellor Holden Thorp and current AD Bubba Cunningham.
"Obviously this has been a painful, difficult experience — we don't like to have this kind of attention brought to any part of the university, especially one as visible a part of the athletic program," Thorp said. "But again, I think the recovery plan that we have with the hirings we've made and the steps we've taken I think shows that we're serious and we understand the seriousness of the case, but we also understand the importance of Carolina football to the UNC family. And I feel like we've done a good job of balancing all of those things."
Holden said the school considered appealing the sanctions this morning but came to the conclusion that it would not make sense given how long it would take, along with previous schools' successes with such procedures. Ultimately, he said, the Tar Heels wanted to move forward.
Cunningham said the additional six scholarship losses — in addition to the self-imposed nine — is the harshest of the penalties. The school discussed a self-imposed bowl ban for several weeks but decided against it because the school cooperated directly with the NCAA throughout the process.
The school will still receive an equal share of bowl revenue from the ACC, despite its bowl ban for the 2012 season. Current seniors on the roster are eligible to transfer without penalty because of the bowl ban.
North Carolina officials also stressed that former head coach Butch Davis "absolutely" gave full cooperation throughout the investigation.
"Obviously this has been a painful, difficult experience — we don't like to have this kind of attention brought to any part of the university, especially one as visible a part of the athletic program," Thorp said. "But again, I think the recovery plan that we have with the hirings we've made and the steps we've taken I think shows that we're serious and we understand the seriousness of the case, but we also understand the importance of Carolina football to the UNC family. And I feel like we've done a good job of balancing all of those things."
Holden said the school considered appealing the sanctions this morning but came to the conclusion that it would not make sense given how long it would take, along with previous schools' successes with such procedures. Ultimately, he said, the Tar Heels wanted to move forward.
Cunningham said the additional six scholarship losses — in addition to the self-imposed nine — is the harshest of the penalties. The school discussed a self-imposed bowl ban for several weeks but decided against it because the school cooperated directly with the NCAA throughout the process.
The school will still receive an equal share of bowl revenue from the ACC, despite its bowl ban for the 2012 season. Current seniors on the roster are eligible to transfer without penalty because of the bowl ban.
North Carolina officials also stressed that former head coach Butch Davis "absolutely" gave full cooperation throughout the investigation.
The NCAA will announce its Committee on Infractions report regarding North Carolina at 3 p.m. today.
North Carolina officials appeared before the committee in October regarding the violations, which included improper benefits and academic misconduct. The violations led to the firing of head coach Butch Davis and prompted the early exit of athletic director Dick Baddour.
The school announced in the fall it would vacate all 16 wins from 2008 and 2009, reduce nine scholarships over three years, put the football program on probation for two years and pay a $50,000 fine.
We'll have much more later today.
North Carolina officials appeared before the committee in October regarding the violations, which included improper benefits and academic misconduct. The violations led to the firing of head coach Butch Davis and prompted the early exit of athletic director Dick Baddour.
The school announced in the fall it would vacate all 16 wins from 2008 and 2009, reduce nine scholarships over three years, put the football program on probation for two years and pay a $50,000 fine.
We'll have much more later today.
Happy Monday, ACC fans ...
- Nevin Shapiro just won't quit.
- ACC expansion will force schools to make changes to their nonconference schedules, and Clemson is already looking at 2014.
- Maryland's latest walk-ons are looking to make an impact.
- Georgia Tech's special teams need help, and some proposed rules changes could provide it.
- Former UNC coach Butch Davis will be an adviser for Tampa Bay. The NFL is the best fit for him.
- Will the firing of Davis lessen the chances of a disaster like that happening again? One attorney says no.
- It pays to get fired at Maryland.
- How would Virginia Tech have fared in years past using some current playoff models?
ESPN The Magazine and RecruitingNation teamed up to find some interesting data on which programs throughout the country were the best at luring in top prospects from out-of-state 
over the past five years. Clemson checked in at No. 3 and North Carolina was No. 9.
According to their research, 56 percent of Carolina's blue-chip recruits were from out-of-state. Former coach Butch Davis and his staff lured in some impressive -- albeit troublesome -- talent. So far this year, the Tar Heels don't have one ESPNU 150 recruit in their 2012 class.
LaRue Cook of ESPN The Magazine wrote that Clemson coach Dabo Swinney may be "one of the most underrated recruiters in the country." He has helped Clemson bring in a top-20 class every year since 2007, and as a head coach, he has parlayed that talent into two Atlantic Division titles. The challenge now will be to take the next step on the BCS level, and once again, he's got another impressive recruiting class lined up to help get him there.
over the past five years. Clemson checked in at No. 3 and North Carolina was No. 9.
According to their research, 56 percent of Carolina's blue-chip recruits were from out-of-state. Former coach Butch Davis and his staff lured in some impressive -- albeit troublesome -- talent. So far this year, the Tar Heels don't have one ESPNU 150 recruit in their 2012 class.
LaRue Cook of ESPN The Magazine wrote that Clemson coach Dabo Swinney may be "one of the most underrated recruiters in the country." He has helped Clemson bring in a top-20 class every year since 2007, and as a head coach, he has parlayed that talent into two Atlantic Division titles. The challenge now will be to take the next step on the BCS level, and once again, he's got another impressive recruiting class lined up to help get him there.
On Tuesday we looked at the 2011 report cards for the Atlantic Division. The Coastal Division is up next:
DUKE
Overview: In the fourth season under coach David Cutcliffe, Duke fans should have expected more. A bowl game was a reasonable -- not to mention attainable -- goal, but the Blue Devils instead fell flat again and ended the season with seven straight losses. The season began on a sour note, as Duke lost to Richmond, 23-21, in the season opener. It was yet another embarrassing loss to an FCS program for the ACC, and a bad start for a program that needed to win every winnable game in order to reach the postseason. Duke reeled off three straight wins to start the season 3-2, but a struggling defense and an inability to win the turnover battle on a consistent basis kept the program from taking another step forward in 2011.
Grade: Can’t spell Duke without a D.
GEORGIA TECH
Overview: The Yellow Jackets were a pleasant surprise for the ACC in the first half of the season, as they started 6-0 and seemed destined for a matchup of two undefeated teams with Clemson on the schedule. Back-to-back road losses to Virginia and Miami not only ruined that plan, but also put Georgia Tech behind in the Coastal Division race. The Jackets lost four of their final six regular season games, including to rival Georgia, and ended the season with a seventh straight bowl loss, this time to Utah. Georgia Tech once again had one of the most productive rushing offenses in the country, but the defense didn’t make the leap of improvement many had expected in the second season under coordinator Al Groh.
Grade: C-
MIAMI
Overview: It was a nightmare of a first season for Al Golden, who was blindsided by an NCAA investigation and had to play the Labor Day season opener against Maryland without eight suspended players. The Canes never truly found an identity and lacked consistency, only putting together back-to-back wins once. Despite the obstacles, Miami scrapped together a six-win season to become bowl-eligible, only to have the administration inform Golden the program would self-impose a bowl ban as a preemptive strike against NCAA sanctions. It’s anyone’s guess as to how much that news affected the team in the season finale loss against Boston College, but the Canes’ 2011 season was sandwiched between bookends of disappointment.
Grade: D+
NORTH CAROLINA
Overview: It could have been a lot worse, considering former coach Butch Davis was fired just days before summer camp began. Interim coach Everett Withers was tasked with keeping the team together, and he exceeded expectations in the first half of the season with a 5-1 start. Talk of Withers making his case to become the program’s next head coach grew louder, but the competition also got tougher. And UNC’s weaknesses were exposed. North Carolina lost four of its final six regular-season games, and Withers was replaced for 2012 and had one foot out the door to Ohio State before the season officially ended. The Tar Heels capped the season with an ugly loss to Missouri in the Independence Bowl, and failed to match the eight-win benchmark set by Davis.
Grade: D
VIRGINIA
Overview: Not bad for a team picked by the media to finish fifth in the Coastal Division. Mike London and his Cavaliers exceeded expectations in his second season, not only by becoming bowl-eligible for the first time since 2007, but also by being a legitimate contender for the division title. Virginia played its way right into a showdown with rival Virginia Tech for a spot in the ACC title game. The Cavaliers had one of their worst games of the season when it mattered most, though, and lost 38-0 to the Hokies, proving the balance of power within the state still resides in Blacksburg, along with the Commonwealth Cup. The Hoos didn’t fare much better in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, as they lost 43-24 and were crippled by injuries to key defenders. Overall, though, this was a good season for London, and one his players should be able to build upon.
Grade: A-
VIRGINIA TECH
Overview: The Hokies did it again. They upheld their reputation as the most consistent team in the ACC, and at the same time managed to disappoint their fans and the league at the BCS level. Virginia Tech won its fifth Coastal Division crown, and finished with 11 wins for just the sixth time in school history. Probably the most impressive accomplishment for Virginia Tech was its ability to put together one of the nation’s top defenses despite a plethora of injuries to key players, particularly up front. What the Hokies couldn’t do, though, was beat Clemson or Michigan. Virginia Tech lost to Clemson twice, including in the ACC title game, and came up short in the Allstate Sugar Bowl against Michigan. The officiating will forever be questioned in that game, but the final verdict will show an otherwise impressive season ending with back-to-back losses.
Grade: A
DUKE
Overview: In the fourth season under coach David Cutcliffe, Duke fans should have expected more. A bowl game was a reasonable -- not to mention attainable -- goal, but the Blue Devils instead fell flat again and ended the season with seven straight losses. The season began on a sour note, as Duke lost to Richmond, 23-21, in the season opener. It was yet another embarrassing loss to an FCS program for the ACC, and a bad start for a program that needed to win every winnable game in order to reach the postseason. Duke reeled off three straight wins to start the season 3-2, but a struggling defense and an inability to win the turnover battle on a consistent basis kept the program from taking another step forward in 2011.
Grade: Can’t spell Duke without a D.
GEORGIA TECH
Overview: The Yellow Jackets were a pleasant surprise for the ACC in the first half of the season, as they started 6-0 and seemed destined for a matchup of two undefeated teams with Clemson on the schedule. Back-to-back road losses to Virginia and Miami not only ruined that plan, but also put Georgia Tech behind in the Coastal Division race. The Jackets lost four of their final six regular season games, including to rival Georgia, and ended the season with a seventh straight bowl loss, this time to Utah. Georgia Tech once again had one of the most productive rushing offenses in the country, but the defense didn’t make the leap of improvement many had expected in the second season under coordinator Al Groh.
Grade: C-
MIAMI
Overview: It was a nightmare of a first season for Al Golden, who was blindsided by an NCAA investigation and had to play the Labor Day season opener against Maryland without eight suspended players. The Canes never truly found an identity and lacked consistency, only putting together back-to-back wins once. Despite the obstacles, Miami scrapped together a six-win season to become bowl-eligible, only to have the administration inform Golden the program would self-impose a bowl ban as a preemptive strike against NCAA sanctions. It’s anyone’s guess as to how much that news affected the team in the season finale loss against Boston College, but the Canes’ 2011 season was sandwiched between bookends of disappointment.
Grade: D+
NORTH CAROLINA
Overview: It could have been a lot worse, considering former coach Butch Davis was fired just days before summer camp began. Interim coach Everett Withers was tasked with keeping the team together, and he exceeded expectations in the first half of the season with a 5-1 start. Talk of Withers making his case to become the program’s next head coach grew louder, but the competition also got tougher. And UNC’s weaknesses were exposed. North Carolina lost four of its final six regular-season games, and Withers was replaced for 2012 and had one foot out the door to Ohio State before the season officially ended. The Tar Heels capped the season with an ugly loss to Missouri in the Independence Bowl, and failed to match the eight-win benchmark set by Davis.
Grade: D
VIRGINIA
Overview: Not bad for a team picked by the media to finish fifth in the Coastal Division. Mike London and his Cavaliers exceeded expectations in his second season, not only by becoming bowl-eligible for the first time since 2007, but also by being a legitimate contender for the division title. Virginia played its way right into a showdown with rival Virginia Tech for a spot in the ACC title game. The Cavaliers had one of their worst games of the season when it mattered most, though, and lost 38-0 to the Hokies, proving the balance of power within the state still resides in Blacksburg, along with the Commonwealth Cup. The Hoos didn’t fare much better in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, as they lost 43-24 and were crippled by injuries to key defenders. Overall, though, this was a good season for London, and one his players should be able to build upon.
Grade: A-
VIRGINIA TECH
Overview: The Hokies did it again. They upheld their reputation as the most consistent team in the ACC, and at the same time managed to disappoint their fans and the league at the BCS level. Virginia Tech won its fifth Coastal Division crown, and finished with 11 wins for just the sixth time in school history. Probably the most impressive accomplishment for Virginia Tech was its ability to put together one of the nation’s top defenses despite a plethora of injuries to key players, particularly up front. What the Hokies couldn’t do, though, was beat Clemson or Michigan. Virginia Tech lost to Clemson twice, including in the ACC title game, and came up short in the Allstate Sugar Bowl against Michigan. The officiating will forever be questioned in that game, but the final verdict will show an otherwise impressive season ending with back-to-back losses.
Grade: A
With every bowl game now over, the 2011 season is officially in the books. This is the final word on how the ACC stacked up before we move on to 2012. While the bowls played a slight role in figuring this out, it wasn’t the overwhelming part of the equation. (If that were the case, Clemson would be fighting the Terps for the last spot.) Instead, this list is based on the complete body of work for the season. Here’s your final power ranking for 2011:
1. Clemson (10-4, 6-2 ACC) – Clemson’s performance in the Discover Orange Bowl was one of the worst I’ve ever seen. Literally, historically bad. But you can’t ignore the fact that the Tigers beat Virginia Tech twice and were the ACC champs. What they didn’t do in their loss to the Mountaineers doesn’t detract from their ACC title. It did, however, detract from the ACC.
2. Virginia Tech (11-3, 7-1) – The Hokies were unable to capitalize on the ACC’s first at-large BCS bowl bid and lost in overtime to Michigan in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, but an 11-win season was tops in the ACC. Virginia Tech lost to only two teams all year -- the ACC champs and the Sugar Bowl champs.
3. Florida State (9-4, 5-3) – The Seminoles won seven of their final eight games, including an 18-14 win over Notre Dame in the Champs Sports Bowl. It was a strong finish, especially for the defense, which left no doubt it was one of the best in the country.
4. NC State (8-5, 4-4) – The Wolfpack represented the ACC well, beating Louisville 31-24 in the Belk Bowl. To finish with eight wins after starting out 2-3 spoke volumes about the determination of this team, and new stars emerged in quarterback Mike Glennon and cornerback David Amerson.
5. Virginia (8-5, 5-3) – The Cavaliers still exceeded expectations by contending for the Coastal Division and playing in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, but they had no answer for Auburn, and finished the season with back-to-back convincing losses. There is still some work to do in Charlottesville.
6. Georgia Tech (8-5, 5-3) – The Yellow Jackets squandered a 14-point lead and lost to Utah in overtime in the Sun Bowl. It was the seventh straight postseason loss for the program, which also ended the regular season with a loss to rival Georgia. The Jackets lost five of their final seven games.
7. Wake Forest (6-7, 5-3) – The disappointment of the bowl loss to Mississippi State was enough to push coach Jim Grobe, deemed by some as loyal to a fault, to fire two of his assistants. The Deacs came within a field goal of winning the Atlantic Division this year, but crashed in the end and lost five of six games.
8. North Carolina (7-6, 3-5) – The Everett Withers era ended as abruptly as it began after an ugly 41-24 loss to Missouri in the Independence Bowl. North Carolina was unable to reach the Butch Davis benchmark of eight wins and lost five of its final seven games. The Larry Fedora era has begun.
9. Miami (6-6, 3-5) – The Hurricanes lacked any consistency or identity in the first season under coach Al Golden, and the season ended with a double thud, thanks to a self-imposed bowl ban and a loss to Boston College. Between graduation and early departures for the NFL, there will be an overhaul of the roster this offseason.
10. Boston College (4-8, 3-5) – The Eagles regrouped at the end of the season and won three of their final five, despite an abysmal 2-7 start to the season. Coach Frank Spaziani was given another chance to turn things around, and a 24-17 win at Miami in the season finale was the first step.
11. Duke (3-9, 1-7) – This team didn’t look much different in the fourth season under coach David Cutcliffe, as the Blue Devils lost seven straight to end the season and any bowl hopes. The 23-21 loss to Richmond in the season opener set the tone for the whole season.
12. Maryland (2-10, 1-7) – The Terps solidified their spot at the bottom of the ACC long before the season ended, and it could be a while before they dig themselves out of it. The hire of Mike Locksley has already made an impact on recruiting, though, and there’s only one way to go at this point: up.
1. Clemson (10-4, 6-2 ACC) – Clemson’s performance in the Discover Orange Bowl was one of the worst I’ve ever seen. Literally, historically bad. But you can’t ignore the fact that the Tigers beat Virginia Tech twice and were the ACC champs. What they didn’t do in their loss to the Mountaineers doesn’t detract from their ACC title. It did, however, detract from the ACC.
2. Virginia Tech (11-3, 7-1) – The Hokies were unable to capitalize on the ACC’s first at-large BCS bowl bid and lost in overtime to Michigan in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, but an 11-win season was tops in the ACC. Virginia Tech lost to only two teams all year -- the ACC champs and the Sugar Bowl champs.
3. Florida State (9-4, 5-3) – The Seminoles won seven of their final eight games, including an 18-14 win over Notre Dame in the Champs Sports Bowl. It was a strong finish, especially for the defense, which left no doubt it was one of the best in the country.
4. NC State (8-5, 4-4) – The Wolfpack represented the ACC well, beating Louisville 31-24 in the Belk Bowl. To finish with eight wins after starting out 2-3 spoke volumes about the determination of this team, and new stars emerged in quarterback Mike Glennon and cornerback David Amerson.
5. Virginia (8-5, 5-3) – The Cavaliers still exceeded expectations by contending for the Coastal Division and playing in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, but they had no answer for Auburn, and finished the season with back-to-back convincing losses. There is still some work to do in Charlottesville.
6. Georgia Tech (8-5, 5-3) – The Yellow Jackets squandered a 14-point lead and lost to Utah in overtime in the Sun Bowl. It was the seventh straight postseason loss for the program, which also ended the regular season with a loss to rival Georgia. The Jackets lost five of their final seven games.
7. Wake Forest (6-7, 5-3) – The disappointment of the bowl loss to Mississippi State was enough to push coach Jim Grobe, deemed by some as loyal to a fault, to fire two of his assistants. The Deacs came within a field goal of winning the Atlantic Division this year, but crashed in the end and lost five of six games.
8. North Carolina (7-6, 3-5) – The Everett Withers era ended as abruptly as it began after an ugly 41-24 loss to Missouri in the Independence Bowl. North Carolina was unable to reach the Butch Davis benchmark of eight wins and lost five of its final seven games. The Larry Fedora era has begun.
9. Miami (6-6, 3-5) – The Hurricanes lacked any consistency or identity in the first season under coach Al Golden, and the season ended with a double thud, thanks to a self-imposed bowl ban and a loss to Boston College. Between graduation and early departures for the NFL, there will be an overhaul of the roster this offseason.
10. Boston College (4-8, 3-5) – The Eagles regrouped at the end of the season and won three of their final five, despite an abysmal 2-7 start to the season. Coach Frank Spaziani was given another chance to turn things around, and a 24-17 win at Miami in the season finale was the first step.
11. Duke (3-9, 1-7) – This team didn’t look much different in the fourth season under coach David Cutcliffe, as the Blue Devils lost seven straight to end the season and any bowl hopes. The 23-21 loss to Richmond in the season opener set the tone for the whole season.
12. Maryland (2-10, 1-7) – The Terps solidified their spot at the bottom of the ACC long before the season ended, and it could be a while before they dig themselves out of it. The hire of Mike Locksley has already made an impact on recruiting, though, and there’s only one way to go at this point: up.
Independence Bowl: UNC vs. Missouri
December, 26, 2011
12/26/11
9:00
AM ET
By
Heather Dinich | ESPN.com
North Carolina (7-5) will make its fourth straight bowl appearance and first in the AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl when it faces Missouri (7-5) in Shreveport, La. Here’s a quick preview of the game:
WHO TO WATCH: The 1,000-yard club. For the first time in school history, North Carolina has a 1,000-yard rusher (Giovani Bernard) and a 1,000-yard receiver (Dwight Jones) in the same season. UNC is also one of five FBS teams in the country with a rusher and receiver that have reached at least 1,100 yards. Missouri has played two of those five teams and lost to both Baylor and Oklahoma State. Bernard enters the game with 1,222 rushing yards and ranks first among all freshman runners in the country with 101.8 yards per game. He is the first 1,000- yard rusher at UNC since Jonathan Linton in 1997. Jones, only the second player in school history with 1,000 receiving yards, has 1,119 on a school-record 79 catches and 11 touchdowns, one shy of the single-season school record.
WHAT TO WATCH: UNC’s defense vs. dual-threat quarterback James Franklin. He is one of only three FBS players with 800 or more rushing yards and 2,000 or more passing yards in 2011. Missouri lost some of its offensive identity when running back Henry Josey suffered a serious knee injury. The Tigers go as Franklin goes, and UNC will have to contain him. Defensively, Carolina is 16th in the nation against the run and features a pair of first-team All-ACC selections in defensive end Quinton Coples and linebacker Zach Brown. Coples ranks fourth among active players with 24 career sacks. Brown led the Tar Heels with 91 tackles, including 11.5 for losses and 5.5 sacks. UNC’s passing defense, though, was statistically the worst in the ACC this season.
WHY TO WATCH: Farewell parties. This will be the final game for North Carolina interim coach Everett Withers, who took over after former coach Butch Davis was fired just days before summer camp began. It will also be the final game for Missouri in the Big 12 before the Tigers join the SEC.
PREDICTION: Missouri 31, North Carolina 28: The Tar Heels will get an inspired performance in Withers’ last game, but Missouri is a better team than its five losses indicate. North Carolina will make one or two costly turnovers, and the Tar Heels’ defense won’t be able to make enough stops in the red zone.
WHO TO WATCH: The 1,000-yard club. For the first time in school history, North Carolina has a 1,000-yard rusher (Giovani Bernard) and a 1,000-yard receiver (Dwight Jones) in the same season. UNC is also one of five FBS teams in the country with a rusher and receiver that have reached at least 1,100 yards. Missouri has played two of those five teams and lost to both Baylor and Oklahoma State. Bernard enters the game with 1,222 rushing yards and ranks first among all freshman runners in the country with 101.8 yards per game. He is the first 1,000- yard rusher at UNC since Jonathan Linton in 1997. Jones, only the second player in school history with 1,000 receiving yards, has 1,119 on a school-record 79 catches and 11 touchdowns, one shy of the single-season school record.
WHAT TO WATCH: UNC’s defense vs. dual-threat quarterback James Franklin. He is one of only three FBS players with 800 or more rushing yards and 2,000 or more passing yards in 2011. Missouri lost some of its offensive identity when running back Henry Josey suffered a serious knee injury. The Tigers go as Franklin goes, and UNC will have to contain him. Defensively, Carolina is 16th in the nation against the run and features a pair of first-team All-ACC selections in defensive end Quinton Coples and linebacker Zach Brown. Coples ranks fourth among active players with 24 career sacks. Brown led the Tar Heels with 91 tackles, including 11.5 for losses and 5.5 sacks. UNC’s passing defense, though, was statistically the worst in the ACC this season.
WHY TO WATCH: Farewell parties. This will be the final game for North Carolina interim coach Everett Withers, who took over after former coach Butch Davis was fired just days before summer camp began. It will also be the final game for Missouri in the Big 12 before the Tigers join the SEC.
PREDICTION: Missouri 31, North Carolina 28: The Tar Heels will get an inspired performance in Withers’ last game, but Missouri is a better team than its five losses indicate. North Carolina will make one or two costly turnovers, and the Tar Heels’ defense won’t be able to make enough stops in the red zone.
NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS
Record: 7-5, 3-5 ACC
Overview: For the second straight season, the Tar Heels had the rug yanked from under them before the season even began. In 2010, it was the NCAA investigation. This year, it was the firing of former coach Butch Davis just days before summer practices began. Defensive coordinator Everett Withers was named the interim head coach and left to pick up the pieces. A 5-1 start not only had UNC in the ACC race, but it also had Withers looking good as a potential permanent replacement for Davis.
The 5-1 start, though, was deceiving. UNC lost to the only ranked team it played (Georgia Tech), and was sitting pretty after wins against unheralded opponents. Once the competition increased, North Carolina quickly played its way out of the ACC race with four losses in a span of five weeks. It began with the loss to Miami, but none was worse than the 13-0 loss to NC State, the fifth straight season UNC had lost to rival coach Tom O’Brien. Withers didn’t help the situation by calling out NC State’s academics in the week leading up to the game – not a smart move for a program under the NCAA’s microscope for academic misconduct.
Despite the downward slide in the second half of the season, UNC reached bowl eligibility with its win over Wake Forest on Oct. 29 and still has a chance to match the eight-win maximum of Davis. There were also plenty of standout individual performers for UNC this year, as Giovani Bernard was one of the top rookie running backs in the country, receiver Dwight Jones was one of the best in the ACC, and UNC again had a defense comprised of some NFL-bound talent. UNC won six home games for the first time since 1993, and put together a respectable season despite the firing of their head coach before the season began.
Offensive MVP: Giovani Bernard. He led North Carolina in rushing this year with 1,222 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns. He ranks third in the ACC in rushing and has more rushing yards than any other freshman nationally. With still one game remaining, his yardage total is the third-best by an ACC freshman. Earlier this year, he became the first Tar Heel football player since 1984 to record five consecutive games with 100 or more yards in rushing and has topped the 100-yard mark seven times this year.
Defensive MVP: Zach Brown. He finished the regular season with a team-best 91 tackles, including 11.5 tackles for losses and 5.5 sacks. He also had two interceptions, broke up four passes and tied Quinton Coples with three forced fumbles.
Turning point: The 30-24 loss to Miami. This was the reality check of the season. Miami jumped out to a 24-point lead, and it was too much for the Tar Heels to overcome. So was the loss, as they followed it with another the next week against Clemson. The Miami game set the tone for the second half of the season.
What’s next: UNC will face Missouri in the AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl in what will be Withers’ last game as the head coach. It will be UNC’s fourth straight bowl game, the school’s longest streak since going to seven straight from 1992-98. How UNC fares will depend in part upon how excited the players are to be in Shreveport, La., knowing they are about to have another head coaching change. The program is also still waiting to hear if the NCAA has any further sanctions to hand out.
Record: 7-5, 3-5 ACC
Overview: For the second straight season, the Tar Heels had the rug yanked from under them before the season even began. In 2010, it was the NCAA investigation. This year, it was the firing of former coach Butch Davis just days before summer practices began. Defensive coordinator Everett Withers was named the interim head coach and left to pick up the pieces. A 5-1 start not only had UNC in the ACC race, but it also had Withers looking good as a potential permanent replacement for Davis.
The 5-1 start, though, was deceiving. UNC lost to the only ranked team it played (Georgia Tech), and was sitting pretty after wins against unheralded opponents. Once the competition increased, North Carolina quickly played its way out of the ACC race with four losses in a span of five weeks. It began with the loss to Miami, but none was worse than the 13-0 loss to NC State, the fifth straight season UNC had lost to rival coach Tom O’Brien. Withers didn’t help the situation by calling out NC State’s academics in the week leading up to the game – not a smart move for a program under the NCAA’s microscope for academic misconduct.
Despite the downward slide in the second half of the season, UNC reached bowl eligibility with its win over Wake Forest on Oct. 29 and still has a chance to match the eight-win maximum of Davis. There were also plenty of standout individual performers for UNC this year, as Giovani Bernard was one of the top rookie running backs in the country, receiver Dwight Jones was one of the best in the ACC, and UNC again had a defense comprised of some NFL-bound talent. UNC won six home games for the first time since 1993, and put together a respectable season despite the firing of their head coach before the season began.
Offensive MVP: Giovani Bernard. He led North Carolina in rushing this year with 1,222 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns. He ranks third in the ACC in rushing and has more rushing yards than any other freshman nationally. With still one game remaining, his yardage total is the third-best by an ACC freshman. Earlier this year, he became the first Tar Heel football player since 1984 to record five consecutive games with 100 or more yards in rushing and has topped the 100-yard mark seven times this year.
Defensive MVP: Zach Brown. He finished the regular season with a team-best 91 tackles, including 11.5 tackles for losses and 5.5 sacks. He also had two interceptions, broke up four passes and tied Quinton Coples with three forced fumbles.
Turning point: The 30-24 loss to Miami. This was the reality check of the season. Miami jumped out to a 24-point lead, and it was too much for the Tar Heels to overcome. So was the loss, as they followed it with another the next week against Clemson. The Miami game set the tone for the second half of the season.
What’s next: UNC will face Missouri in the AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl in what will be Withers’ last game as the head coach. It will be UNC’s fourth straight bowl game, the school’s longest streak since going to seven straight from 1992-98. How UNC fares will depend in part upon how excited the players are to be in Shreveport, La., knowing they are about to have another head coaching change. The program is also still waiting to hear if the NCAA has any further sanctions to hand out.
» Power Rankings: ACC | Big 12 | Big East | Big Ten | Pac-12 | SEC
The regular season is over, and there are only two teams who still have a chance to make a statement this week, as Clemson and Virginia Tech will face each other in Saturday's ACC championship game. Clemson had the upper hand earlier this season in a 23-3 win over the Hokies, but much has changed since then. Including who is No. 1 ...
1. Virginia Tech (11-1, 7-1 ACC; LW: No. 1) – With their convincing win over rival Virginia on Saturday, the Hokies clinched the Coastal Division title and they also earned 11 wins during the regular season for only the second time in school history. The Hokies are ranked No. 5 in the latest BCS standings heading into the championship game, and they’ve come a long way since their 23-3 loss to Clemson during the regular season.
2. Clemson (9-3, 6-2 ACC; LW: No. 2) – The Tigers dropped to No. 20 in the BCS standings following their third straight loss to rival South Carolina this past weekend. Clemson has faltered down the stretch, losing three of their final four games, but this is the second time in three years the Tigers have won the Atlantic Division.
3. Virginia (8-4, 5-3 ACC; LW: No. 3) – The Cavaliers were outplayed in every phase of the game against Virginia Tech, but this season should still be considered a success under coach Mike London. The Hoos are bowl bound for the first time since 2007, and they beat both Florida State and Miami during a four-game winning streak.
4. Florida State (8-4, 5-3 ACC; LW: No. 4) – Does this eight-win season feel more like a six-win season to anyone else? The Noles have been flat offensively in recent weeks, and they lost the games that mattered most this season. FSU is likely bound for Champs Sports Bowl, but will the Noles remember to take their offense with them?
5. Georgia Tech (8-4, 5-3 ACC; LW: No. 5) – The 6-0 start to this season was too good to be true, as Georgia Tech went 1-2 against Clemson, Virginia Tech and Georgia. Georgia’s defense smothered the Jackets, who were held to 79 rushing yards in the second half. Quarterback Tevin Washington threw two interceptions and linebacker Julian Burnett said the team is “tired of being the little brothers in the state.”
6. Wake Forest (6-6, 5-3 ACC; LW: No. 6) – The Deacs played like they had their bowl eligibility all wrapped up, and Vanderbilt played like it was their Super Bowl in a 41-7 win. The Commodores became bowl eligible for the first time since 2008, and the Deacs allowed 481 yards of total offense.
7. NC State (7-5, 4-4 ACC; LW: No. 7) – Unbelievable. NC state was trailing 41-14 with six minutes left in the third quarter and came back to beat Maryland 56-41. It was the second-biggest comeback in ACC history, and the Wolfpack became bowl eligible with the win. It was a remarkable way to finish the season.
8. Miami (6-6, 3-5 ACC; LW: No. 8) – Ugh. The senior class closed its chapter with a home loss to a woeful Boston College team, and quarterback Jacory Harris threw a forgettable four picks. It was a disappointing finish for the recruiting class of 2008, which never lived up to the hype it entered with, but a new contract extension for coach Al Golden assured fans recruiting will continue under his watch.
9. North Carolina (7-5, 3-5 ACC; LW: No. 9) – The Tar Heels continue to be a more physical team than rival Duke, and it showed up front on Saturday, as the offensive line paved the way for 508 total yards. UNC beat Duke for the eighth straight year and is one win away from matching its eight-win ceiling under former coach Butch Davis.
10. Boston College (4-8, 3-5 ACC; LW: No. 10) – It was an impressive effort in the win over Miami, and the Eagles deserve a lot of credit for winning three of their last five after starting the season 1-6. There is no bowl game, but there is some positive momentum to build off of heading into the offseason. The question is whether any staff or personnel changes will be made.
11. Duke (3-9, 1-7 ACC; LW: No. 11) – It’s an all-too-familiar storyline for the Blue Devils, who finished the season with seven straight losses. The defense remains a question heading into the offseason, and recruiting must improve if Duke is going to take the next step under coach David Cutcliffe.
12. Maryland (2-10, 1-7 ACC; LW: No. 12) – The Terps tanked under first-year coach Randy Edsall. From a nine-win season to a two-win season that was capped off by Saturday’s meltdown at NC State, it should be a relief to everyone that the season is over in College Park. Edsall is locked into a lucrative contract, but it will be interesting to see how much turnover there is on the roster and if any staff changes are made.
The regular season is over, and there are only two teams who still have a chance to make a statement this week, as Clemson and Virginia Tech will face each other in Saturday's ACC championship game. Clemson had the upper hand earlier this season in a 23-3 win over the Hokies, but much has changed since then. Including who is No. 1 ...
1. Virginia Tech (11-1, 7-1 ACC; LW: No. 1) – With their convincing win over rival Virginia on Saturday, the Hokies clinched the Coastal Division title and they also earned 11 wins during the regular season for only the second time in school history. The Hokies are ranked No. 5 in the latest BCS standings heading into the championship game, and they’ve come a long way since their 23-3 loss to Clemson during the regular season.
2. Clemson (9-3, 6-2 ACC; LW: No. 2) – The Tigers dropped to No. 20 in the BCS standings following their third straight loss to rival South Carolina this past weekend. Clemson has faltered down the stretch, losing three of their final four games, but this is the second time in three years the Tigers have won the Atlantic Division.
3. Virginia (8-4, 5-3 ACC; LW: No. 3) – The Cavaliers were outplayed in every phase of the game against Virginia Tech, but this season should still be considered a success under coach Mike London. The Hoos are bowl bound for the first time since 2007, and they beat both Florida State and Miami during a four-game winning streak.
4. Florida State (8-4, 5-3 ACC; LW: No. 4) – Does this eight-win season feel more like a six-win season to anyone else? The Noles have been flat offensively in recent weeks, and they lost the games that mattered most this season. FSU is likely bound for Champs Sports Bowl, but will the Noles remember to take their offense with them?
5. Georgia Tech (8-4, 5-3 ACC; LW: No. 5) – The 6-0 start to this season was too good to be true, as Georgia Tech went 1-2 against Clemson, Virginia Tech and Georgia. Georgia’s defense smothered the Jackets, who were held to 79 rushing yards in the second half. Quarterback Tevin Washington threw two interceptions and linebacker Julian Burnett said the team is “tired of being the little brothers in the state.”
6. Wake Forest (6-6, 5-3 ACC; LW: No. 6) – The Deacs played like they had their bowl eligibility all wrapped up, and Vanderbilt played like it was their Super Bowl in a 41-7 win. The Commodores became bowl eligible for the first time since 2008, and the Deacs allowed 481 yards of total offense.
7. NC State (7-5, 4-4 ACC; LW: No. 7) – Unbelievable. NC state was trailing 41-14 with six minutes left in the third quarter and came back to beat Maryland 56-41. It was the second-biggest comeback in ACC history, and the Wolfpack became bowl eligible with the win. It was a remarkable way to finish the season.
8. Miami (6-6, 3-5 ACC; LW: No. 8) – Ugh. The senior class closed its chapter with a home loss to a woeful Boston College team, and quarterback Jacory Harris threw a forgettable four picks. It was a disappointing finish for the recruiting class of 2008, which never lived up to the hype it entered with, but a new contract extension for coach Al Golden assured fans recruiting will continue under his watch.
9. North Carolina (7-5, 3-5 ACC; LW: No. 9) – The Tar Heels continue to be a more physical team than rival Duke, and it showed up front on Saturday, as the offensive line paved the way for 508 total yards. UNC beat Duke for the eighth straight year and is one win away from matching its eight-win ceiling under former coach Butch Davis.
10. Boston College (4-8, 3-5 ACC; LW: No. 10) – It was an impressive effort in the win over Miami, and the Eagles deserve a lot of credit for winning three of their last five after starting the season 1-6. There is no bowl game, but there is some positive momentum to build off of heading into the offseason. The question is whether any staff or personnel changes will be made.
11. Duke (3-9, 1-7 ACC; LW: No. 11) – It’s an all-too-familiar storyline for the Blue Devils, who finished the season with seven straight losses. The defense remains a question heading into the offseason, and recruiting must improve if Duke is going to take the next step under coach David Cutcliffe.
12. Maryland (2-10, 1-7 ACC; LW: No. 12) – The Terps tanked under first-year coach Randy Edsall. From a nine-win season to a two-win season that was capped off by Saturday’s meltdown at NC State, it should be a relief to everyone that the season is over in College Park. Edsall is locked into a lucrative contract, but it will be interesting to see how much turnover there is on the roster and if any staff changes are made.
A few final thoughts on two more of the ACC's earlier games:
Final: UNC 37, Duke 21: Another eight-win season could be in store for North Carolina, despite the firing of former coach Butch Davis just days before summer practices began. Duke's defense couldn't stop running back Giovani Bernard or receiver Dwight Jones, and its offense couldn't overcome four turnovers. North Carolina was the more physical team and paved the way for Bernard to rack up 100 yards by halftime. UNC finished with 508 total yards; Bernard accounted for 222 of them. Duke ended the season with seven consecutive losses -- nowhere near where the program needed to be for bowl eligibility in the fourth season under David Cutcliffe.
Final: Vanderbilt 41, Wake Forest 7: Vandy was playing for bowl eligibility, and the Deacs couldn't stop them from it. Wake Forest had no answer for Zac Stacy, who ran for 184 yards and three touchdowns, including a 40-yard touchdown score in the fourth quarter. It was an impressive season for the Deacs, who had a chance to win the Atlantic Division title against Clemson earlier this month, but they faded down the stretch and lost four of their final five. There were plenty of close losses on Wake's schedule, but Vanderbilt left no doubt it was the better team. Fortunately for the Deacs, they earned their bowl eligibility a week ago against Maryland.
Final: UNC 37, Duke 21: Another eight-win season could be in store for North Carolina, despite the firing of former coach Butch Davis just days before summer practices began. Duke's defense couldn't stop running back Giovani Bernard or receiver Dwight Jones, and its offense couldn't overcome four turnovers. North Carolina was the more physical team and paved the way for Bernard to rack up 100 yards by halftime. UNC finished with 508 total yards; Bernard accounted for 222 of them. Duke ended the season with seven consecutive losses -- nowhere near where the program needed to be for bowl eligibility in the fourth season under David Cutcliffe.
Final: Vanderbilt 41, Wake Forest 7: Vandy was playing for bowl eligibility, and the Deacs couldn't stop them from it. Wake Forest had no answer for Zac Stacy, who ran for 184 yards and three touchdowns, including a 40-yard touchdown score in the fourth quarter. It was an impressive season for the Deacs, who had a chance to win the Atlantic Division title against Clemson earlier this month, but they faded down the stretch and lost four of their final five. There were plenty of close losses on Wake's schedule, but Vanderbilt left no doubt it was the better team. Fortunately for the Deacs, they earned their bowl eligibility a week ago against Maryland.
November to remember?
- Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher and Virginia coach Mike London share more in common than just football.
- UVa's running game might hit a wall against Florida State.
- Virginia Tech defensive lineman Derrick Hopkins has stepped up his game, despite missing his brother in the lineup.
- Virginia coach Mike London has gotten some closure on the pass interference call that had him worked up.
- Everyone seems to agree that Nigel Bradham's hit was clean.
- Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris continues to push his players hard.
- NC State is trying to dig its way out of a ditch.
- Former UNC coach Butch Davis defended his character.
- Don't expect Miami coach Al Golden to be so patient in Year 2.
- UNC quarterback Bryn Renner is ready to roll and has recovered from what he called a mild concussion.
"Everybody hurts, sometimes, everybody cries, and everybody hurts sometimes ... you are not alone ..." - REM
- Injured Virginia Tech defensive end James Gayle thinks he's going to play on Saturday against BC. Injured cornerback Jayron Hosley isn't so sure.
- FSU cornerback Greg Reid spoke for the first time about his puzzling arrest.
- Miami offensive lineman Brandon Washington isn't happy his job is open for competition.
- Maryland's special teams? Not so special. C.J. Brown is no longer a secret for the Terps.
- Georgia Tech might just be a little bit tired from no bye week yet.
- Even if Clemson stays undefeated, the Tigers are a long shot for the national title.
- Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe doesn't want to redshirt everyone.
- Duke's defense gave up at least three too many big plays against FSU.
- Former UNC coach Butch Davis doesn't want to give up his personal cell phone records.
- Can Virginia break its trend of letdowns after big wins?
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.
