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Clemson coach Dabo Swinney has played in the ACC title game twice as the Tigers’ head coach and won it once, yet if you ask Clemson fans, most would probably tell you he still needs to prove he can beat South Carolina. Swinney is hardly the only one in the ACC, though, with something to prove this fall. There are plenty of players, coaches and position groups who need to make a statement this season. We’ll start with the Atlantic Division, where the development of a few offensive lines could be a huge factor in the division race. Here’s a look at who in the division has the most to prove this fall:

1. Maryland coach Randy Edsall. There is no bigger burden being carried in the ACC than the one Edsall shoulders, as he inherited a nine-win bowl team and finished last year with a 2-10 record. Many questioned the hire to begin with. Another disastrous season would further fuel the critics.

2. Boston College coach Frank Spaziani. The Eagles fell as low as 1-6 overall and 0-4 in the ACC last year -- the second straight season they started with four straight conference losses. BC’s streak of 12 straight bowl games came to an end and the program suffered its first losing season since 1998. Spaziani has to turn it around quickly, and he’ll have to do it without star running back Montel Harris, who was dismissed from the team for a violation of team rules.

3. Clemson’s offensive line. The Tigers have to replace three starters up front and five seniors who were in the rotation on last year’s ACC championship team. Tyler Shatley had a good spring after moving from nose tackle to right guard, but this group has a lot to prove if Andre Ellington is going to get his yards.

4. Florida State’s offensive line. This was the weak link in the Noles’ offense last year, but it matured before our eyes in the Champs Sports Bowl win over Notre Dame. Both starting offensive tackles have to be replaced, and it’s still an extremely young group.

5. NC State’s linebackers. This was a strength for the Wolfpack last year, with Audie Cole and Terrell Manning among the best in the league. They’ll be tough to replace. Dontae Johnson has some starting experience at linebacker, but he’s more of a safety and played a crossover role last year. D.J. Green, who was injured, is the only returning starter.

6. Wake Forest’s offensive line. The Deacs gave up 35 sacks last year and must do a better job of protecting Tanner Price. That could be easier said than done, as Wake Forest has to replace four starters. Coach Jim Grobe has said he’s comfortable about three of those spots after spring practices, but the Deacs will need more to build upon last year’s surprising success.

AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. -- Coming changes to the BCS have captivated the college football world this offseason.

Coaches have been paying attention, too, and have their own opinions about how a future four-team playoff should look. One of the bigger discussion points at the ACC spring meetings Monday was about the BCS. Executive director Bill Hancock presented some of the ideas that have come up during meetings with the conference commissioners.

Nothing has been settled about who gets in, but one of the biggest debates has centered on whether winning a conference championship should be a requirement. Hancock polled the room to see what the ACC coaches want, and the consensus was that conference champions should be given preference.

"There has to be some stipulation in there about champions," Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher said. "Because not everybody plays the same schedule. We play a nine-game conference schedule. Other teams don’t. That’s weighed in. Some conferences have a conference championship game. Others don’t. Being a conference champion is no small task. Not only are you going through your conference, then you turn around and play a conference championship game. There has to be a lot of weight given to conference champions."

Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany has already floated one plan that would include only conference champions. Under this plan, conference champions would be required to finish in the top six of the final standings; the top four advance to the four-team playoff. If four conference champions are not in the top six, then the highest ranked at-large teams would be selected.

Under this plan, Alabama would have made it into a four-team playoff last season. No. 4 Stanford would have been left out.

"The BCS is an evolving situation, and it has been in, what, 16 years, and they’ve improved on it every year and I think they will improve on it some more," Boston College coach Frank Spaziani said. "It’s not black and white, and it’s not clear cut. That’s why it’s a difficult question. There’s good people running it and they have a good plan.

"I’m in favor of the BCS, what they’re doing right now and opening up the dialogue and coming up with something. I do know the conference champion does need to be involved. A conference champion, certainly, in order to keep the season and the championship games relevant has to be involved in whatever the BCS comes up with."

The next BCS meeting is set for June, when details are expected to be worked out on how the final four teams would be selected, where the games will be played, how current BCS games factor in and whether bowl tie-ins to those BCS games remain.

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

Spring practice is in the books for the ACC, so let's look back at the best and worst from the conference's dozen teams.

Best spring game performance: It may have come almost four weeks before Sammy Watkins' arrest, but DeAndre Hopkins' performance in Clemson's Orange and White game had to have eased the concerns of Tigers fans wondering if Watkins could be sitting the first week (or weeks) of the season. Hopkins had seven catches for 120 yards and a touchdown. Five of those catches, for 100 yards, came in the first quarter alone. Coach Dabo Swinney labeled Hopkins the team's spring MVP, and the junior was honored for both his spring improvements as a receiver and for his offseason strength training after putting on nearly 20 pounds since 2011.

Best overall unit: Virginia Tech's offensive line may have its question marks, but going against the defensive line it has faced every day this spring can only help it once live game action begins. The Hokies are stacked up front, and a unit that led the conference in sacks a year ago should be able to go eight- or nine-deep to stay fresh come fall. NC State's secondary, which returns interception king David Amerson and three other starters, gives the Hokies' line a good challenge for this distinction.

Best quarterback battle: There can only really be one, right? Miami's Stephen Morris sat this spring to recover from back surgery and is technically the incumbent, but Memphis transfer Ryan Williams made some strides toward getting on the field in his first eligible season with the Hurricanes, dominating in the team's first spring scrimmage before coming back down to earth a little bit in the team's next scrimmage and subsequent spring game. If Alabama transfer Phillip Sims is granted immediate eligibility, things could get interesting at Virginia between Sims and Mike Rocco.

Biggest surprise: Whenever a potential record-breaking player is booted from his team, it's big shocking (and big) news. Boston College coach Frank Spaziani dismissed Montel Harris from the team for a repeated violation of team rules. Harris is the school's all-time leading rusher and would have entered 2012 less than 1,000 yards away from breaking the ACC career record.

Biggest relief: North Carolina received its NCAA sanctions March 12, two days before the Tar Heels kicked off their first spring practice under new coach Larry Fedora. For a roster that has largely dealt with a cloud of uncertainty for two years, the timing couldn't have been better. Yes, it's rough for the seniors to know that their college careers will end Nov. 24 no matter how they fare this season, but the relief of having this chapter of the program's history in the rearview mirror is invaluable, especially for a new coach installing a new system.

2011 overall record: 4-8
2011 conference record: 3-5 (5th, Atlantic)

Returning starters: Offense: 9; defense: 7; kicker/punter: 1

Top returners
LT John Wetzel, RT Emmett Cleary, LG Bobby Vardaro, RG Ian White, TE Chris Pantale, QB Chase Rettig, RB Rolandan Finch, RB Tahj Kimble, RB Andre Williams, WR Coin Larmond, WR Bobby Swigert, DE Kasim Edebali, DT Kaleb Ramsey, DT Dominic Appiah, DT Dillon Quinn, LB Kevin Pierre-Louis, LB Steele Divitto, LB Sean Duggan, CB Jim Noel, SS Spenser Rositano

Key losses
C Mark Spinney, TE Lars Anderson, DE Max Holloway, LB Luke Kuechly, CB Donnie Fletcher, FS Hampton Hughes, P Ryan Quigley

2011 statistical leaders (* returners)

Rushing: Rolandan Finch* (705 yards)
Passing: Chase Rettig* (1,960 yards)
Receiving: Colin Larmond* (528 yards)
Tackles: Luke Kuechly (191)
Sacks: Max Holloway (2.5)
Interceptions: Luke Kuechly (3)

Spring answers

1. Chase Rettig makes strides: Rettig was thrown into the fire early, and he has endured plenty since, with injuries, new schemes and last year's 4-8 campaign. Now a junior, and playing for another new offensive coordinator, Rettig has the command of the offense and should benefit from playing behind an experienced offensive line.

2. More running back depth than BC probably hoped for: Montel Harris and Andre Williams couldn't go in the spring game. Then Tahj Kimble injured himself early in the contest. Finch, who played a lot last season with Harris sidelined, ended up shouldering the load, and it will take a group effort this season with Harris out of the picture. Injuries and a dismissal gave BC a better look at its backfield talent than it had probably hoped for, but the group effort this spring should benefit the Eagles come fall.

3. Defense looking to build off 2011 finish: Coach Frank Spaziani said the worst thing about last season was that it ended. BC is hungry to build off its 4-8 campaign, as the team hopes to carry the momentum from winning two of its final three games. A long offseason gave the defense time to think about that finish, which was keyed by a unit that held each of the final three opponents to fewer than 20 points.

Fall questions

1. Who will replace Luke Kuechly? The short answer is no one. Kuechly's legend will only continue to grow with each passing day. But the Eagles do return plenty of talented linebackers, led by Steele Divitto and Kevin Pierre-Louis. It will take a collective effort and then some for the linebackers to make up for the loss of Kuechly, but their attitude in trying can certainly rub off on the rest of the defense.

2. What happened with Harris? The school's all-time leading rusher was dismissed from the team after the spring for a repeated violation of team rules. The backfield is used to playing without him after his injury-plagued 2011 campaign, but the suddenness of Harris' departure -- which Spaziani will not get into -- has to have some effect on his former teammates, especially with Harris having been primed to chase the ACC's career rushing record this season.

3. How will the offense transition under Doug Martin? Spaziani said he was impressed with the unit coming out of the spring, but a fifth offensive coordinator in five years has to be challenging for the players. Martin has said he is looking to increase the pace, and he'll have nine starters back to work with come preseason camp.

Frank Spaziani has said repeatedly this spring that a football team can never have enough running backs.

Never will that be more evident for the Boston College coach than now, as Eagles all-time leading rusher Montel Harris has been dismissed from the team for repeated violation of team rules. It is hard to replace a guy like Harris, who missed most of last season and almost all of this spring with a knee injury. His credentials:

• The ACC's leading rusher in 2010 and its preseason player of the year last season
• BC's all-time leader in rushing yards (3,735), carries (786) and 100-yard games (22), and third in school history in touchdowns (27)
• The conference's active leader in rushing yards and carries
• Within striking distance of the ACC career rushing yards record (NC State's Ted Brown — 4,602 yards from 1975-78)

Now BC is forced to move on without Harris, as it will turn to the trio of Andre Williams, Tahj Kimble and Rolandan Finch for more production.

Finch and Williams, entering their redshirt junior and junior seasons, respectively, are the elder statesmen of the group. Finch has carried the ball 185 times in his career for 839 yards and four touchdowns, with almost all of that production coming last season. With Williams and Kimble both missing most of the spring game with injuries, Finch rushed 27 times for 196 yards. The knock on him, however, has been ball security.

Williams has 978 career yards and six touchdowns on 219 carries. Kimble, entering his redshirt sophomore season, made strides this spring after 156 yards and a touchdown on 43 carries last season.

The responsibility for picking up the ground game is now on the shoulders of those three with one of the school's all-time greats officially out of the picture.

Frank Spaziani knows he probably is not getting 190-plus tackles from any of his linebackers this season. The Boston College coach is OK with that.

So, too, are the linebackers who will fill the void left by Luke Kuechly, the ACC's single-season (191) and career tackles (532) leader who left early for the NFL draft.

"If you talk to Luke, he'll be the first to say that we're a defense first, not just one guy," Sean Duggan said. "Losing a guy like him is a lot of tackles to make up, but we'll all chip in as a defense to get it done. Evenly as a unit we have to step up."

Kuechly will likely be the first linebacker to hear his name called in New York in less than three weeks. But the Eagles' linebackers are hardly fretting over Kuechly's departure, not after the promise they showed in winning two of their final three games to end an otherwise unfulfilling 2011 season.

The lone loss during that stretch was a two-point squeaker at heavily favored rival Notre Dame.

"I was on a team where losing was unacceptable," said linebacker Steele Divitto, who played for national power Don Bosco (Ramsey, N.J.). "That's the same mindset we're starting to apply here. It's not good enough to just do your job -- you have to go that extra mile. All my life I haven't really lost many football games, maybe two or three prior to BC. I hate to lose, and I think there are a lot of guys that hate losing and will do whatever it takes this offseason and in the season to win all these games.

"It's almost a mentality thing. I played for a great coach in high school and play for a great coach now. Coach Spaz talks about winning all the time: in the weight room, in conditioning, in the film room. We have to apply that mentality to everything."

Divitto is looking to build off a 72-tackle campaign from last season, when he was third on the team. (He added 3.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and an interception as well.) In place of a bowl trip for last season's 4-8 squad, Divitto flew to Phoenix, where he worked out and studied with draft prospects at Athletes' Performance.

In the shadow of Kuechly last season on the outside, Divitto is now among the most experienced linebackers returning, along with fellow junior Kevin Pierre-Louis, who was hobbled much of the spring but had 74 tackles, six tackles for loss and a fumble recovery last season.

A possible replacement to Kuechly in the middle could be Duggan, who started three games outside last season as a true freshman, recording 39 tackles, three tackles for loss, an interception and a fumble recovery.

"Steele, he's gonna get better. He has a lot of experience now out there, played a lot of football he's going to have to up his production to make up for obviously Luke not being there," Spaziani said. "And Sean, he played a lot in a backup role, started a couple games for us. Now it's a new position for him in the middle, but he's a good football player. And he just needs reps and he needs more time, but we're happy to have him on the football team."

Duggan actually played briefly with Kuechly, the Nagurski and Butkus winner from a year ago, at St. Xavier (Cincinnati) High School.

"When I talked to Luke he said you've just got to relax out there and trust yourself," Duggan said of his conversations with Kuechly this spring. "You can't think too much out there because then you're slow, and at this level you can't afford to be slow against these guys. So trust yourself and the guys around you."

Back-to-back top-10 recruiting classes have already begun to separate Florida State and Clemson from the rest of the Atlantic Division -- at least on paper.

It’s only news, though, when those programs don’t bring in some of the nation’s most talented players.

Clemson, after all, just won its first ACC title for the first time since 1991. Florida State last year couldn’t beat Wake Forest. Which is why there is no reason for the Deacs or anyone else in the division to surrender just yet.

“They key for us is not how many stars they come in with, it’s how good they play when they’re juniors and seniors,” Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe said. “At least that’s our key. For us it’s all about developing players. It’s a standard joke among coaches, ‘How’d your recruiting go? Well, we’ll know in a couple of years.’ Sometimes that’s good to laugh and giggle about, but absolutely at Wake Forest, we know when they’re juniors and seniors if we’ve done the right thing in recruiting.

“For us, I think we know where we are. We’re a development program. We’ve got to do a great job of coaching our kids in the offseason and the weight room and out on the practice field, so by the time they’re juniors and seniors, there are a lot of other teams in the league that look at them and say, ‘Man, I wish I would’ve taken that guy.’”

Guys like Alphonso Smith, Aaron Curry, Chris Givens and Joe Looney. At Boston College, guys like Montel Harris and Luke Kuechly.

“Here’s the way I’ve always looked at the competition,” said BC coach Frank Spaziani. “As the competition gets better, everybody else better get better and move forward. There are a lot of other areas to it than just that.”

Just how much of a talent discrepancy is there within the division? Can BC compensate for a lack of stars with its hard-working, disciplined, blue-collar traits? Can Wake Forest continue to develop diamonds out of its “recruiting puddle?” NC State already beat a No. 7-ranked Clemson team, but can it win consistently? Will the hire of offensive coordinator Mike Locksley change Maryland recruiting?

Florida State and Clemson are ahead of the race, there’s no question about it. But until either one of them plays and wins with more consistency, it won’t be a two-team race in the ACC.

The ACC has bid farewell to some outstanding players from 2011. Some of them graduated, others have decided to leave early for the NFL. Whatever their reasons, they left behind some size 15 shoes to fill. Here’s a look at who on each team in the ACC will be the most difficult to replace in 2012, and a snapshot of who is or could be next in line to replace him:

Boston College

OUT: Linebacker Luke Kuechly. He might be the most difficult player to replace in the ACC. Kuechly won the 2011 Lombardi Award, given annually to the nation’s top lineman or linebacker; the Nagurski Award, given annually to the nation’s top defensive player; the Dick Butkus Award, which is presented annually to the nation’s top linebacker; and the Lott IMPACT Defensive Player of the Year. He left early for the NFL after finishing his junior season leading the nation in tackles for the second straight year. In 2011, Kuechly set ACC records for tackles in a season (191) and career (532).

IN: It’s an open competition, but Sean Duggan played in nine games last year as a true freshman behind Kuechly and on the outside. Duggan had his first career interception at Miami, had three tackles against Virginia Tech and five against Clemson. Coach Frank Spaziani has also said that Steele Divitto is versatile enough to earn the starting job in the middle. Divitto, a junior, won the starting job at outside linebacker when Mark Herzlich left. Last year, Divitto was third on the team in tackles with 72, and finished with 3.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception, and five pass breakups. Spaziani said redshirt freshman Nick Lifka will also be competing for Kuechly’s spot.

It's a perfect day for practice ...

• Maryland's president gave a vote of confidence to AD Kevin Anderson, but wasn't so convincing when speaking about coach Randy Edsall.
• Athlon says BC coach Frank Spaziani has the hottest seat in the country this year.
• Clemson's decision to keep The Citadel on the schedule the week before the South Carolina game in 2013 marks a change in the program's scheduling philosophy.
• David Glenn caught up with Duke coach David Cutcliffe recently and got his take on the Mannings and more.
• Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher and his family continue to raise money and awareness for Fanconi anemia research.
• Virginia Tech quarterbacks coach Mike O'Cain analyzed his play-calling for Andy Bitter.
• Georgia Tech will hire a coach from the CFL to be its special teams coordinator -- a good move for Paul Johnson.
• If the Hokies are good enough, the way their schedule sets up shouldn't matter, writes David Teel.

The NCAA has denied Boston College’s appeal for a sixth year of eligibility for wide receiver Ifeanyi Momah, who suffered a season-ending left knee injury in the first game of the 2011 season.

“This is very disappointing news,” coach Frank Spaziani said in a prepared statement. “We only want what is best for Ifeanyi, and I felt a sixth year would have benefited him greatly after missing two full seasons with injuries. He is a great young man who will leave Boston College with a degree in hand. We are very grateful for his contributions to our football program, on and off the field, and we hope he is able to continue pursuing his dreams.”

In December, the ACC approved medical hardship waivers for Momah and four of his teammates. Boston College then submitted a request to the NCAA for a sixth year, since Momah did not participate in the 2009 season.

Boston College linebacker Steele Divitto is a meticulous note-taker. The kind of guy you want to sit next to in class.

Boston College missed out on a bowl game in 2011, but Divitto took a trip of his own to continue learning. Thanks to his dad, Divitto flew to Athletes' Performance in Phoenix, Ariz., for two weeks of additional training.

“After my sessions, I’d take out my notebook and I’d jot down everything I learned, whether it was technique-wise, or eating habits, whatever it was,” Divitto said. “I figured if I was going out there, I really should try to get the most out of everything.”

In turn, Boston College should be getting the most out of Divitto this offseason.

One of the biggest questions Boston College has entering spring practices on Saturday is what the linebackers will look like without All-American Luke Kuechly, who left early for the NFL draft. (“It looks like Superman is back in his suit and Clark Kent is there now,” coach Frank Spaziani quipped. “That’s what it looks like. The cape is gone and we’ve got the guy in the suit with the glasses.”)

As BC fans know, though, the blue-collar working player can get it done, too, and that’s just the kind of player Divitto is. Sean Duggan and Nick Lifka will both be competing for Kuechly’s old position in the middle, but Divitto is versatile enough to play there, too. When former linebacker Mark Herzlich left, Divitto won the starting job at strongside linebacker, but he played in the shadow of Kuechly. Now he’s looking to establish himself as the team’s next leading linebacker.

Divitto spent his mornings in Arizona working on speed training and the evenings were for lifting. He was given a nutrition plan and had the opportunity to measure himself against some of college football’s top performers, as several NFL draft prospects were also there.

“Steele is exceptional about putting the extra effort in,” Spaziani said. “He’s taken ownership of his own future, which is something we all need to do, and he’s done a great job with it. He went out to train for a week, did it all on his own, out there by himself. He’s just highly motivated and has taken complete ownership of his future and he’s a team player. We’re excited to see his development. We’ll see this spring how far he’s advanced.”

Divitto was good to begin with. He finished third on the team in tackles last season with 72, and had 3.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception and five pass breakups. The trip to Arizona isn’t the first time he’s taken the initiative to get better. Last year he boxed during the offseason, and now he’s into Muay Thai, which is similar to kickboxing.

Divitto said it’s not about him; it’s about being the best player he can be for his teammates.

“I always believed that how hard you work throughout the offseason -- everything you do -- how you sleep how you eat, how you breathe, every rep you take in the weight room, every rep you take outside, all of that adds up to how you’re going to perform next season,” Divitto said. “I’ve lived my life just going off that hard work means everything. When you play a game, I feel like the outcome is already determined depending upon how much effort you put into it prior.”

If that’s the case, BC already has a winner.

First-year Boston College offensive coordinator Doug Martin is the latest in a long line of assistants tasked with turning around the Eagles' offense. Martin, who was head coach and offensive coordinator for seven seasons (2004-10) at Kent State, came to BC after one season as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach last year at New Mexico State. The Aggies ranked 25th among FBS teams in passing offense in 2011, averaging 273 yards per game, and averaged 398 yards of total offense per game. I caught up with Martin recently to get his take on what he has to work with when spring ball begins at BC on Saturday. Here are the highlights of our conversation:

How would you explain your offensive philosophy to BC fans and what you want to do there?

Doug Martin: We’re a multiple, one-back offense, which means we base out of a one-back, but we can easily, through shifts and motions and personnel changes get into two-back sets just as easily. But a very physical, downhill running game. I’d describe the passing game as a West Coast passing game.

How much are you changing?

DM: It will be quite a bit. The tempo of the offense will be a lot different, we’re much more up-tempo, fast out of the huddle, perhaps some no-huddle parts to the offense also. Just a lot quicker tempo than what they played at, a lot more shifts and motions, a lot more diversity to the offense than what they’ve had.

Have you gotten a chance to look at Chase Rettig, and what do you see in him as a quarterback?

DM: Yes. I really like a lot of the things I see in Chase on film. There are times when you watch him and say, ‘Man, there aren’t many guys who can make that throw.’ You see him throw a post route or certain things. I think it’s more him getting comfortable in a system, and having confidence, which means he’s prepared. I think that’s where we’ve got to get with him. Whoever the quarterback is, that’s how good we’re going to be, whether it’s he or Josh Bordner, whoever it is, that’s how good our offense will be, however good that guy is.

Are you opening up a competition then? I know Josh played a little bit last year.

DM: Any time you go into spring, especially as a new coach, you want competition at every position. I know coach Spaziani feels that way also. Everybody’s gotta go compete.

You mentioned a physical, downhill running game. I know you guys had one of the best backs in the ACC, but Montel was banged up last year. Do you even know what you can expect from him, or is it a spring-will-tell kind of thing?

DM: Well, when he’s healthy, he’s as good as anybody. That was a terrible blow to the offense last year, with him being hurt, but hopefully he’s going to be healthy. He’s doing everything now. He looks great. A lot of quickness, a lot of explosion. From what I’ve seen in the past, he catches the ball really well. He’s a difference-maker.

How much do you feel like you have to accomplish this spring, and what’s a realistic goal in terms of installation?

DM: We’ll get the entire offense installed, that’s not the issue. The issues to me are twofold: No. 1 the attitude of the offensive players. We’ve got to become a much more attack-oriented, aggressive, up-tempo offense, and a lot of that is the attitude that they play with. No. 2 is us establishing an identity offensively. I need to have these guys on the field to find out what they can do. What set of skills do our receivers really excel at? That’s the direction we’ll go. Us coming out of spring with an identity, being able to say, ‘Ok, this is what we’re good at,’ that’s what we’ve got to get done this spring.

How hard is it to get them to buy in because there’s been such an unusual amount of turnover at the coordinator position?

DM: I can tell you the same thing I told them: You don’t win with systems, you win with people. If they will buy in and we are all in this deal together going in one direction, then we’ll succeed. That’s where it is. We’ve got to check the egos at the door, and everybody has to be in this together, including me, and we’ll be fine. I think right now it’s a very hungry group of players offensively. I think they’ve got a little bit of a chip on their shoulder because they haven’t done as well as they wanted to, and that’s healthy. We’ve got to build off of that.

What’s the response you’ve gotten so far from them?

DM: I think a lot of excitement right now. They come in, watch film, see what the offense looks like. I think they’re excited about the possibilities. It’s kind of a fresh start for everybody. What I’ve seen so far has been very, very positive. I love what I see here athletically from the players we’ve got, and I think I can make them better.

Why did you want this job?

DM: No. 1, it’s Boston College. In my mind, it’s one of the best academic and athletic institutions in the country. Look at the tradition of it, both academically and athletically. Not many colleges can say they’ve done what this place has done. And then the chance to compete at a high level as a coach. To come to the ACC and prove to myself that I can coach at this level and put a good product on the field, that’s a great challenge to me.

What do you want BC fans to know about you?

DM: Just that I’m going to do everything in my power to make us an effective offensive football team. There’s no egos with me. It’s all a team-oriented deal. We’ve got a great group of assistant coaches here. We’re going to work as hard as we can to be exciting, but it will be an exciting offensive brand of football for them to come watch.

Out of sight, out of mind, seems to have been the case with ACC fans and Boston College running back Montel Harris, who missed most of last season recovering from a knee injury.

As the Eagles prepare to open spring ball on Saturday -- with Harris -- here’s a quick reminder why you shouldn’t overlook him in 2012:

• He was the 2011 ACC preseason Player of the Year.
• He broke the school’s all-time rushing record last year against Wake Forest and enters spring ball with 3,735 career yards.
• He is the school’s all-time leader in carries (786) and 100-yard games (22), and ranks third in touchdowns (27).
• He held the ACC record for the most rushing yards through junior year.
• He is the ACC’s active leader in rushing yards and carries.

BC coach Frank Spaziani said Harris has been cleared to participate in spring practices, but that the staff won’t push him too hard because they already know what he can do.

“It’s not a matter of us seeing where Montel fits in, it’s a matter of us managing what he does,” Spaziani said. “We did that with him last year a little bit, and we’ll certainly utilize him the best way we can to have him ready for the opening game next fall. That’s how Montel’s spring will go.”

Harris was granted a medical hardship waiver and an extra season of eligibility. Spaziani said there is still some concern about Harris re-aggravating the knee injury.

“I’d be less than honest with you if I said there wasn’t a concern,” Spaziani said. “When this procedure was done on him, we were looking at four to six weeks being back playing and ready to go and it’s now been a year and something. That in itself is a little bit of a red flag and a concern, but there are no indications now that that will be the case, but once again, we had hoped we weren’t at this point, so there is that lingering concern until he does it.”

Don’t forget, though, that he’s done it before.

You wouldn’t believe this, but Hallmark was all out of Valentine’s Day cards for ACC coaches. So, I took it upon myself to lighten the mood here in the blogosphere with a little bit o’ love and these personal touch cards.

Dear …

FRANK BEAMER:

The loss to Michigan wasn’t so bad, it’s the 1-5 BCS bowl record that has your fans sad. The 2012 recruiting class should help ease the pain, just try not to lose to Clemson again.

DAVID CUTCLIFFE:

You’ve given it all, your heart and your soul, yet after four seasons we’ve still seen no bowl. This recruiting class is highlighted by athleticism and speed, which is good news for you -- it’s a running game you need.

RANDY EDSALL:

Danny O’Brien has broken your heart, but Stefon Diggs couldn’t bear to part. You win some, you lose some, that’s what they say, but you gotta spread the love if you want players to stay.

LARRY FEDORA:

Welcome to the ACC, where we do things right. That means keep all agents and runners out of our sight. There’s plenty of talent to start with a clean slate, the big question is, can you beat NC State?

JIMBO FISHER:

It’s you and your staff the elite recruits adore, but the rest of the world is still waiting for more. Another national title for that trophy case is the only thing your fans will truly embrace.

AL GOLDEN:

Nevin Shapiro has a whole lot to say, but just don’t you worry ‘bout that NCAA. The worst is behind us, you’ve said before, it’s the fans’ expectations that should concern you more.

JIM GROBE:

An impressive turnaround in 2011 was nice, but to do it again you must protect Tanner Price. Thirty-five sacks has got to hurt, and now four new starters must keep him outta the dirt.

PAUL JOHNSON:

Who needs a playbook? Not CPJ. The master of the option offense can throw his away. It’s defense and special teams that needs some work, and throwing more efficiently certainly couldn’t hurt.

MIKE LONDON:

Coach of the Year and first bowl since ’07? After only two seasons Virginia fans were in heaven. You’ve set the bar high, but there’s one question to me: Can you beat the Hokies, or is it strike three?

TOM O’BRIEN:

Broken bones have held your team back, so keep ‘em healthy and look out for the Pack. FSU and Clemson are getting all of the hype, but when it comes to quarterbacks, Mike Glennon’s just your type.

FRANK SPAZIANI:

They say your seat is hot, and I couldn’t agree more; in 2012 you must win more than four. The offense has been at the heart of your woes, but a new OC could help cure some of those.

DABO SWINNEY:

An ACC title, a top-10 recruiting class and more. There’s only one problem … West Virginia just scored. A new DC just might do the trick, but if you don’t beat South Carolina, Clemson fans will be sick.