ESPN College Football

Finally. Now that Maryland has hired/promoted a defensive coordinator, all of the major coaching changes in the ACC should be complete.

Aside from the two new head coaches -- Maryland's Randy Edsall and Miami's Al Golden -- the coordinator positions will have the most influence on the conference race. Five programs in the ACC -- Boston College, Clemson, Maryland, Duke and Miami -- will have new coordinators in 2011:

BOSTON COLLEGE

OUT: Offensive coordinator Gary Tranquill (retired)
IN: Offensive coordinator Kevin Rogers (spent past five seasons as QB coach of Minnesota Vikings)

CLEMSON

OUT: Offensive coordinator Billy Napier (fired)
IN: Offensive coordinator Chad Morris (hired from Tulsa)

MARYLAND

OUT: Offensive coordinator James Franklin (head coach at Vanderbilt)
IN: Offensive coordinator Gary Crowton (hired from LSU)
OUT: Defensive coordinator Don Brown (took same position at Connecticut)
IN: Todd Bradford (promoted from inside linebackers coach after a month)

DUKE

OUT: Defensive coordinator Marion Hobby (hired as Clemson defensive line coach)
IN: Jim Knowles (promoted from within)

MIAMI

OUT: Mark Whipple (fired)
IN: Jedd Fisch (former QB coach of Seattle Seahawks)
OUT: John Lovett (fired)
IN: Mark D'Onofrio (spent past five seasons with Golden at Temple)

BEST HIRE: Rogers. His experience is unmatched, and it's what separates him from the others. That's not to say there's not experience on this list -- Knowles and Crowton are both former head coaches. That's a huge bonus. But Rogers recently completed his 36th year in the coaching profession, 28 of which have been spent at the collegiate level. Fisch coached one collegiate season, at Minnesota. Morris has one season of collegiate coaching experience. Rogers has worked with the likes of Donovan McNabb, Bryan Randall and most recently Brett Favre. His biggest strength -- developing quarterbacks -- is what BC needs most right now. Rogers knows the ACC -- he coached at Virginia Tech. That's not to say that the others won't make an immediate impact or extract drastic improvements, but Frank Spaziani's hire was worth the wait.

Ok, let's clear something up first: The grades assigned to each recruiting class in the ACC were not mine. They were from ESPN Recruiting. That's for all of the angry Clemson fans who are in the mailbag yelling at me for the Tigers' B+. Sorry, guys, not my department. That takes care of about half the mail for this week. Now on to other pressing issues ...

Steve in Atlanta, Ga., writes: Last year the ACC football schedule was announced the day after signing day. Any word on this year?

HD: I expect it some time next week, but that's not a guarantee. They're still working some things out. There, now I answered the second half of the questions in the mailbag this week. There was one or two more, though ...

---

Carl in New York writes: ok heather for real where do you see fsu in national picture in 2011?

HD: I see them in the ACC championship game and Discover Orange Bowl as a two-loss team, losing to Oklahoma and somebody in the ACC, not sure who. For real.

---

Ben in Blacksburg writes: Hey HD,Where do you foresee VT in the years to come with another sub-par recruiting class. I know the staff focuses on its ability to make players, not recruit them. But with the lack of depth in this class, I am truly worried about our ability to stay atop the ACC, never mind make any national title runs. Year after year, I see new coaches convincing highly touted players to believe in their new systems at a program and usually these coaches fail to deliver. But Ive always wanted to know how Beamer and Co. have so much difficulty attracting players to one of the most consistent programs in the nation? Any thoughts? What are we doing wrong?

HD: Yet another hot topic in the mailbag. Look, until Virginia Tech starts LOSING, I see zero reason to be concerned about the players the Hokies are bringing in. Could Virginia Tech have done a better job this year overall and in-state? You don't know the answer to that unless you were in the living rooms and in these kids' heads. This staff has earned the reputation as one of the best in the country at evaluating talent and they didn't suddenly get worse. Do they need a higher-caliber athlete to win a national title? Yes, but they had a player like that in Ryan Williams, and he left too early.

---

Kelwin in Washington, D.C. writes: Where will Fla St be ranked in pre-season polls?

HD: I think the most consistent ranking will be somewhere in the top seven. I believe my colleague, Mark Schlabach, holds them in even higher regard. Realistically, I think they should be around 11 or 12 and play their way up, but based on what the teams ahead of them have coming back (or don't), I think you'll find them top seven in most polls.

---

Matt in Orlando writes: All the talk in Miami is about our quarterback situation, but I think the bigger problem might be at WR. With Hankerson gone who do you see stepping up?? Benjamin is too inconsistent. Johnson and Streeter barely could make it onto the field last year. Byrd has never lived up to the number 47 he wears. ... Does it even matter whose throwing the ball next year?

HD: An important question that has been overlooked by the quarterback situation and likely will continue to be. Travis Benjamin left a 1,200-yard season and at least four more touchdowns on the field last year with drops. If his hands improve, he’s the guy. Getting open is not the issue. LaRon Byrd was the clear third option last season in Mark Whipple’s offense. Now he steps into a lead role on the field and has already become a more vocal leader this offseason.

Happy signing day eve ...

• Unless, of course, your school is going after one of those recruits who needs an extra day or two to decide.
• Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson makes his living off recruiting, but it's a subject he says has been "blown out of proportion a little." Just a wee bit.
• How will this year's Florida State class compare to some of the best in school history?
• Maryland's recruiting class mirrors its program -- not bad, not great.
• Former Miami commit Albert Louis-Jean is feeling right at home at Boston College.
• Clemson starting linebacker Brandon Maye became disenchanted with his playing status and has been granted his release.
• Clemson has oversigned, and Stanton Seckinger knows he was the last one in.
• NC State added two defensive commitments.
• Former Virginia Tech defensive end Jason Worilds is living the dream with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
• Miami could help its quarterback depth with this transfer from Rutgers.
• Former Miami OC Mark Whipple is now an assistant with the Cleveland Browns.
• Norm Wood has predictions for some uncommitted recruits.

Gotta be honest, it's much easier to find hoops headlines these days in ACC country ...

• It looks like Chad Morris will be a Tiger after all.
• Could LSU's offensive coordinator be headed to Maryland?
• Tony Barnhart says Florida State is the No. 4 team in the country in 2011.
• I'm not sure why Georgia Tech offensive tackle Nick Claytor decided to bolt for the NFL, but his departure leaves the offensive line without much experience at tackle.
• No offer has been made, but former Miami offensive coordinator Mark Whipple is reportedly the front-runner for the UConn job.
• Virginia Tech-FSU rematch in the 2011 ACC title game?
• Miami's interim head coach, Jeff Stoutland, has resigned and is expected to take a position at Alabama.
• Miami went from Quarterback U to Quarterback Who?
• It's going to be a season of change for Virginia Tech.

Lotta action ...

• There's a bit of confusion surrounding Clemson's open offensive coordinator position.
• Boston College offensive coordinator Gary Tranquill has decided to retire, and coach Frank Spaziani is expected to promote from within.
• "Holy mackerel," this future Maryland offensive lineman is big.
• Virginia coach Mike London added a strength coach to his staff.
• Doug Roberson takes a look back and a look ahead at Georgia Tech's defense.
• NC State kicker Chris Hawthorne is transferring to Minnesota.
• Miami hired a wide receivers coach, but the offensive coordinator position remains on hold -- and a big secret.
• Odds are he's coming to Miami from the NFL.
• Is Miami's former interim head coach leaving for Alabama?
• Will Miami's former offensive coordinator, Mark Whipple, be the next head coach at Connecticut?
• UNC defensive lineman Marvin Austin didn't play a snap this season and yet he's an all-star? Puh-lease.
• FSU finished with its highest national ranking since 2004.

Thanks as always to the sports information directors throughout the league for our dose of ACC knowledge:

• In 1998 and 1999, Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson was the head coach at Georgia Southern and Miami offensive coordinator Mark Whipple was the head coach at UMass when the two teams met in the FCS (then called I-AA) playoffs. In ‘98, Whipple’s UMass team beat Johnson’s GSU team in the national championship game, 55-43. The next year in the quarterfinals, Johnson and the Eagles beat Whipple and the Minutemen, 38-21.
• Virginia Tech is 21-2 in November games since joining the ACC in 2004.
• Virginia Tech is a perfect 10-0 in ACC games played in the state of North Carolina (2-0 at Wake Forest; 2-0 at NC State; 3-0 at Duke; 3-0 at UNC).
• In his first career start, Lamar Miller rushed for a career-high 125 yards on 22 carries -- the most rushing yards by a Hurricane back this season. The last time a freshman rushed for as many yards was on Sept. 30, 2006, when Javarris James ran for 148 yards against Houston to set a freshman record. He is the second Hurricane back to achieve it this season, alongside Damien Berry. He is the first freshman to record a 100-yard rushing game since Graig Cooper racked up 101 yards versus Duke on Sept. 29, 2007.
• It only took BC 32 seconds to score last week in the win over Wake Forest. Linebacker Luke Kuechly intercepted Tanner Price on the first play from scrimmage, and the Eagles' offense started on the Wake Forest 35-yard line. After a 9-yard completion, running back Montel Harris scored a 26-yard touchdown run with 14:28 on the clock. It was the second-fastest touchdown that BC has scored since joining the ACC in 2005. L.V. Whitworth scored 22 seconds into the game against Ball State on October 1, 2005, with a 14-yard run.
• The Terps have scored six defensive touchdowns over the past 12 games, including four this season (all interception returns for touchdowns) which matches the team’s total from the past five years (two in 2009, one in 2006, one in 2005). In fact, since 1987, the Terps have posted as many as three defensive scores just three times (1998-00). Additionally, the four interception returns for touchdowns lead the ACC this season, with the other 11 teams combining for 14. Boston College, Clemson, Miami, UNC and NC State have posted two apiece.
• Duke is 30-of-32 (.938) in the red zone this season with 19 touchdowns and 11 field goals. Duke’s red-zone conversion percentage of .938 leads the ACC and ranks third nationally. Duke is the only team in the ACC with a conversion percentage of over 90 percent and are a perfect 10-of-10 in the red zone in the past three games.
• UNC quarterback T.J. Yates needs nine completions to set the UNC career record. He has 693 completions and trails only Darian Durant, who had 701 from 2001-04. Yates needs 485 yards to become Carolina’s all-time passing leader. He currently ranks second behind Durant, who threw for 8,755 yards from 2001-04. Yates and Durant are the only two players in UNC history to throw for 2,000 or more yards in three different seasons. Yates 2010 interception percentage of 1.476 currently ranks first in school history just ahead of Chris Keldorf’s 1.479 mark in 1997 (5 INT in 338 attempts).
• Virginia receiver Dontrelle Inman had never had a 100-yard receiving day during his career prior to Saturday’s game at Duke. In the Cavaliers’ 55-48 loss, Inman finished with 10 catches for 239 yards, the second-best receiving yardage total of any FBS player in a game this season. Inman’s total was the 13th best performance in ACC history and the fourth most by a receiver in a road game. Inman had more receiving yards by himself than seven ACC teams totaled this past week in their games.
• Clemson’s defense has allowed just one touchdown each of the past four games. Clemson, TCU and West Virginia are the only schools in the nation who can make that claim. West Virginia actually has a five-game streak. In terms of total touchdowns allowed by the defense in the last four games, TCU, West Virginia and Temple have allowed just three and Clemson is next with four allowed by the defense (special teams and defensive scores not included). Ohio State is next with five TDs allowed in its past four games, while Boise State, Pittsburgh and Miami are next with six apiece. Boston College, Northern Illinois and Oklahoma have given up seven apiece. Clemson has given up just 18 touchdowns on defense for the season, tied for eighth best in the nation. Clemson is 12th overall in scoring defense, allowing 17.6 points per game.
• Florida State entered last week’s game against North Carolina ranked last nationally in kickoff return yardage. The ‘Noles no longer occupy that spot, thanks to a record-breaking performance by Greg Reid. He smashed a 37-year-old school record when he returned seven kickoffs for 193 yards in the Seminoles’ 37-35 loss to the Tar Heels. Reid’s 193 kickoff return yards broke the single-game record set by Leon Bright in 1974, when he went for 184 against Virginia Tech. It helped FSU jump nine spots in the NCAA rankings for kickoff returns. With 487 kickoff return yards on the season, Reid is within reach of Michael Ray Garvin’s single-season record of 697, established in 2007.
• Wake Forest senior wide receiver Marshall Williams threw his second career touchdown pass when he hit Chris Givens with a 41-yard pass against Boston College on Nov. 6. On the season, Williams has completed both of his pass attempts for 122 yards and two touchdowns. He threw an 81-yard touchdown pass to Givens in a win over Duke. As a former high school quarterback, Williams has specialized in the end-around-pass. For the season, Williams has a quarterback efficiency rating of 942.2. For his career, Williams is 5-for-5 passing for 174 yards and two touchdowns, giving him a career efficiency rating of 524.32.

If ever there was a time for Maryland to beat Miami -- on the road, no less -- this would be it.

The Terps are hot, Miami is not.

Maryland has turned around its 2-10 2009 season and became bowl eligible with its 62-14 win over Wake Forest this past weekend. The Terps enter Saturday’s game in a tie with NC State for second place in the Atlantic Division. The Hurricanes not only lost to Virginia on the road last weekend, they also likely lost their starting quarterback, Jacory Harris, who suffered a concussion. The Canes will turn to a true freshman who was on the path to redshirting, Stephen Morris, while Maryland has a quarterback who is making his case for rookie of the year in Danny O'Brien.

The Terps are still expecting the best from Miami.

"They are coming off a difficult loss, so we know that they are going to come into the game fired up,” linebacker Alex Wujciak told reporters at the team’s weekly news conference. “They have great athletes on offense from wide receiver to tight end and three good running backs. Whichever quarterback plays is going to be good and we saw that with their freshman coming in and playing well against Virginia. We have to be prepared no matter what quarterback plays."

Right now, it’s likely to be Morris, who shook off some butterflies in his first collegiate appearance against Virginia and accounted for three fourth-quarter touchdowns in the 24-19 loss. Morris had gone from fourth-string quarterback to first in a matter of minutes. Backup A.J. Highsmith was injured, and third-string quarterback Spencer Whipple threw two interceptions in six pass attempts.

“That shows a lot of promise on what we’ve done with [Morris], and how recruiting him shows what we see in him,” Miami coach Randy Shannon said. “He’s a guy that everybody thinks is a quiet guy, but around his teammates he’s happy-go-lucky, a get-after-it kind of guy. On the football field, his presence is unbelievable.”

It’s going to have to be if Miami is going to stay in the ACC race. The Hurricanes can’t afford another conference loss, even if it does come to an Atlantic Division opponent, and they still need one more win to become bowl eligible. A win would give Maryland a 7-2 record and a 4-1 start in ACC play for the first time since 2006.

Maryland and Miami have played each other just once since 1987 -- a 14-13 Maryland home win in 2006. There is more recent familiarity, though, as Maryland defensive coordinator Don Brown worked with Miami offensive coordinator Mark Whipple at UMass.

“It’s going to be interesting,” Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said. “I’m sure that there is a lot of familiarity, and that may be a good thing or it could be detrimental. I know that knowing someone so well, you can over-plan at times. But I know that they are very good friends; I think they talk with one another once a week, throughout the year, not just during football season.”

Brown’s defense has shown a lot of improvement in his second season. Maryland held Wake Forest, which was averaging 206.6 rushing yards per game, to minus-3 yards on the ground (the lowest total by an opponent in 11 years). The Terps have held each of their past four opponents under 100 rushing yards. Miami, meanwhile, has been racking up the yards but not the points. Miami is coming off its lowest scoring output of the season.

“We had 177 yards rushing, but we need points,” Shannon said. “Let’s face it: We’re running the ball well, but we need points. Like I said earlier, if we’re doing all the discipline things off the field and in the classroom, we need to take it on the field. That’s the thing that’s disappointing me -- we’re not transitioning that onto the field. Those penalties have been hurting us, hurting the drives. We get a 26-yard run, bring it back, or we get down to the 5-yard line, and bring it back. Those are things that really get you in bad situations that you don’t want to be in.”

Situations like having to beat Maryland in order to stay in the ACC race.

A few quick thoughts on the two noon games:

• Miami had three turnovers on three straight possessions. No, Miami doesn't have an answer behind Jacory Harris. It has to be an uncomfortable situation for the Whipple family, as offensive coordinator Mark Whipple watches his son Spencer complete passes to Virginia. The Cavaliers lead 14-0.
• Admit it, Miami fans, you miss J12.
• For FSU and Miami -- two of the league's three ranked teams in the BCS standings -- to lose in the same weekend would be bad, very bad, for the ACC.
• Can anyone in this league get through a game without turning it over?
• BC leads Clemson 16-10 at the half, the first time the Eagles have led at the break since their win against Kent State on Sept. 11. Can they keep it up? They can if Clemson's running game continues to be stifled. Montel Harris already has 111 yards.
• If you're surprised by any of this, don't be. This is how the ACC rolls. There is no great team. There is no consistent team. And this is what it adds up to.
• BC and Virginia deserve credit for refusing to collapse. They're both still looking for their first conference wins, they're both pretty much out of their respective conference races, and yet they're both playing as if their respective division titles were on the line today.
• If these games are setting the tone for the ACC today, UNC better watch out for William & Mary.

Miami quarterback Jacory Harris was helped off the field with about 12 minutes remaining in the second quarter at Virginia after he took a clean but brutal hit that left him motionless for a while.

Backup Spencer Whipple, son of offensive coordinator Mark Whipple, was warming up.

Harris has taken a lot of criticism this season -- some fair, some not -- but there's no question he's the best option on the roster. He gives the Canes the best chance to win, and they need him healthy. You might be able to question Harris' decision-making, but not his toughness.

Canes fans should hope Harris bounces back as quickly from this injury as he has everything else in his career.

It's about time.

It's about time somebody called a players-only meeting.

It's about time one of those players challenged his teammates on the sidelines.

And it's about time Miami coach Randy Shannon let his guard down and pumped his fist in the air.

Miami has the talent to win, but it was lacking the leadership that sparks the desire to win. It starts at the top, with the usually stoic Shannon, who was finally able to let loose and have some fun in the Canes' win over North Carolina. Shannon, cornered by criticism heading into that game, remembered how to chest bump. Even former players like middle linebacker Dan Morgan have said that Shannon needs to show more emotion -- heck, a smile would be nice -- because the players feed off of that.

"You know what happened?" Shannon said in a telephone interview this morning. "Those guys let me have fun. That's basically what it was. We weren't doing the things we needed to do in practice, and like anything, you've got to stay on top of the guys until you can see they're starting to make that change. We weren't being consistent. When we played Duke we had a good week of practice, I thought we were being consistent, I jumped around a little at Duke and had some fun with the players because I'd seen it at practice. Against North Carolina I saw the same type of tempo in practice. I told those guys, let me have fun. Let me enjoy myself, just by the way you practice and prepare."

Vaughn Telemaque told me after the loss to Florida State that the Hurricanes were still looking for a leader. Days later, he became one.

It makes perfect sense on this team that the leader comes from the defense, because that's the strong side this year, the group that, if Miami is going to win the ACC title, will win it for them. Telemaque, Brandon Harris and Sean Spence were the players who called the meeting.

"I thought it was great," Shannon said. "I can't force it on them. To have a players-only meeting, they have to call it. Those guys become your leaders and believe in what we're doing. I thought it was great for the football team."

Telemaque and offensive coordinator Mark Whipple had a brief exchange on the sideline during the Carolina game. It doesn't even matter what was said.

All that matters is that somebody finally cared enough to say it.

CLEMSON, S.C. -- Miami offensive coordinator Mark Whipple has had a seemingly untouchable reputation since arriving on campus, hailed as the answer to Patrick Nix. He sure knows a heck of a lot more about the game than I do and has been in the game long enough that he's very respected by his colleagues and players. Miami quarterback Jacory Harris has likened him to a father figure.

But why line up in the shotgun and throw the ball from Clemson's four-yard line when you've got guys like Damien Berry more than capable of punching it in and a quarterback with the uncanny ability to throw interceptions? Whipple is off-limits to the media, so it's impossible to ask him such questions, like why he continues to chance deep throws into coverage with Harris. Whipple is a smart guy, which is why it makes plays like that even more baffling.

CLEMSON, S.C. -- Jacory Harris isn't the only quarterback completing passes to the other team today. Miami linebacker Sean Spence tipped the ball and Marcus Forston intercepted Kyle Parker. The play led to an immediate 18-yard touchdown pass giving Miami the 20-14 lead.

As expected, turnovers will continue to be key in this game. Whoever makes the fewest mistakes will win. It seems as if both of these offenses are operating in all-or-nothing mode today. They're either hitting home-run plays, or three strikes and out.

One more thought -- Harris deserves credit for shaking off that interception and coming right back and throwing a touchdown pass. The kid has ice in his veins. That's why offensive coordinator Mark Whipple isn't afraid to gamble with him. His greatest strength, though, is also his biggest weakness.

CLEMSON, S.C. -- Miami is going with what works -- Damien Berry. Both defenses came to play early, but on this drive, Miami is running the ball with success. Berry had three straight runs for 49 yards. The Canes are in Clemson territory now. Offensive coordinator Mark Whipple is a big-play gambler, but right now they're establishing the running game and it's working. This will eventually open things up in the passing game, but with Jacory Harris' penchant for turnovers, they should keep this up until Clemson stops it.

PITTSBURGH -- The student section here is starting to fill up, but other than that, it's still pretty empty -- which is why it was so easy to notice Miami offensive coordinator Mark Whipple pacing up and down the sideline here at Heinz Field.

Nervous energy? Maybe just a little.

It's been a long layoff after the loss to Ohio State, and Whipple, who coached the Steelers' quarterbacks from 2004-2006, is back in his old stomping grounds. After struggling in the red zone, four interceptions and nine drops against Ohio State, it's not exactly a celebratory homecoming. Miami's offense needs to show some improvement against this physical Pitt defense, and in talking to coach Randy Shannon this week, the Canes are confident they can do that.

It's possible we might see more Mount Henderson tonight, but hulking offensive lineman Seantrel Henderson didn't play against Ohio State. It's a huge learning curve for his position, and he didn't arrive until summer camp, so it was expected to be a slow process. Miami might be able to use his help up front tonight, though.

So far there haven't been any lineup changes, but I'll be blogging, chatting live and Tweeting (@ESPN_ACC) throughout the game, so stick around.

Miami quarterback Jacory Harris said his playbook is “like a dictionary.”

“It’s huge,” he said. “You have to study it.”

As Harris enters his second season under coach Mark Whipple, he now knows it much better, thanks in part to the fact that Whipple has simplified it a bit by cutting down on some of the terminology. Still, there is the same amount of plays -- a number Harris estimated to be around 300, many of which are variations of each other.

Harris said the biggest difference in his second season under Whipple is simply a matter of being more comfortable.

“He expects a lot from me,” Harris said, “so that’s what I have to give him.”

He also expects fewer mistakes. Harris last year became the first quarterback since Ken Dorsey in 2002 to throw for 3,000 yards in a season, and he finished with 3,352 yards and 24 touchdowns. It was the 17 interceptions, though, that garnered the most attention. Four of his interceptions were returned for touchdowns (three coming in losses to Clemson and North Carolina). The 17 thrown last year were second-worst nationally behind Jevan Snead's 20.

“You could go out there and throw for as many yards as Case Keenum, 5,400 yards, but if I don’t cut down on my mistakes, it’s still the same outcome,” he said.

If there was one mistake from last fall Harris could have back, he said it would be one of his four interceptions in a 33-24 loss to North Carolina.

“I believe that without that interception, we win the game,” he said. “All I had to do was make the tackle. That’s why I don’t play defense.”

Harris doesn’t want to jinx himself, so he won’t actually say national championship, but he does feel the Canes are capable of reaching “the highest possible goal, without saying it.”

“I’m having a lot of fun,” Harris said. “Coach Whipple has made it so much fun just by being the type of person he is and by my becoming more comfortable with it. The more comfortable I am, the more fun I have because I know what I’m doing. It’s like the back of my hand. I know what I’m doing.”