College Football Nation: Mike London
Here's a look at those who made names for themselves, those who fine-tuned some strengths and those who burst onto the scene this spring in the ACC.
WR DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson: Hopkins had seven catches for 120 yards and a touchdown in the Tigers' spring game, including five for 100 in the first quarter. Coach Dabo Swinney called him the team's spring MVP, and he and Sammy Watkins could form the top receiver tandem in the nation.
RB Rolandan Finch, Boston College: Finch will have to carry a bigger load with Montel Harris off the team, and he stepped up in the spring game when the three men ahead of him were all banged-up, rushing for 196 yards on 27 carries. He will likely battle with Andre Williams for the top spot this fall, though both figure to see plenty of time.
LT Cameron Erving, FSU: The converted defensive tackle impressed this spring, as the sophomore is one of two new tackles the Seminoles are breaking in on the offensive line, a unit that may just be the deciding factor on whether FSU can return to the national elite this season. Coach Jimbo Fisher has called the 6-foot-5, 304-pound sophomore a future NFL starter.
QB Ryan Williams, Miami: Coach Al Golden said this week that Stephen Morris has been medically cleared, and he will likely enter a full-on quarterback competition with Williams, the Memphis transfer who saw most of the action this spring and played well, despite a sub-par spring game.
TE Jake McGee, Virginia: The converted quarterback caught two passes for 81 yards and figures to be a reliable target this fall after a subpar performance for the Cavaliers' tight ends last season.
CB Demetrious Nicholson, Virginia: Coach Mike London named him the team's most distinguished freshman this spring, but he will have to grow up fast. After playing almost every snap last fall, he is the veteran of the Cavaliers' secondary in 2012.
DT Luther Maddy, Virginia Tech: Maddy was named the Hokies' defensive MVP of this spring. The rising sophomore has said he has adjusted to the speed of the game after a freshman year that featured seven starts, and he figures to be a key on a line that will anchor Virginia Tech's defense this season.
WR DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson: Hopkins had seven catches for 120 yards and a touchdown in the Tigers' spring game, including five for 100 in the first quarter. Coach Dabo Swinney called him the team's spring MVP, and he and Sammy Watkins could form the top receiver tandem in the nation.
RB Rolandan Finch, Boston College: Finch will have to carry a bigger load with Montel Harris off the team, and he stepped up in the spring game when the three men ahead of him were all banged-up, rushing for 196 yards on 27 carries. He will likely battle with Andre Williams for the top spot this fall, though both figure to see plenty of time.
LT Cameron Erving, FSU: The converted defensive tackle impressed this spring, as the sophomore is one of two new tackles the Seminoles are breaking in on the offensive line, a unit that may just be the deciding factor on whether FSU can return to the national elite this season. Coach Jimbo Fisher has called the 6-foot-5, 304-pound sophomore a future NFL starter.
QB Ryan Williams, Miami: Coach Al Golden said this week that Stephen Morris has been medically cleared, and he will likely enter a full-on quarterback competition with Williams, the Memphis transfer who saw most of the action this spring and played well, despite a sub-par spring game.
TE Jake McGee, Virginia: The converted quarterback caught two passes for 81 yards and figures to be a reliable target this fall after a subpar performance for the Cavaliers' tight ends last season.
CB Demetrious Nicholson, Virginia: Coach Mike London named him the team's most distinguished freshman this spring, but he will have to grow up fast. After playing almost every snap last fall, he is the veteran of the Cavaliers' secondary in 2012.
DT Luther Maddy, Virginia Tech: Maddy was named the Hokies' defensive MVP of this spring. The rising sophomore has said he has adjusted to the speed of the game after a freshman year that featured seven starts, and he figures to be a key on a line that will anchor Virginia Tech's defense this season.
You've got to hand it to Dabo Swinney. On Wednesday, the Clemson coach told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Michael Carvell that he would like to see the NCAA permit a spring scrimmage against another team.
The basics of Swinney's plan:Win. Win. And win.
More money for athletic departments. More exposure for both schools. More for coaches to learn about their teams, not having to monitor both sides of the ball and measuring them up against another team of equal stature.
Here's more from his interview with the newspaper:
Injury is obviously a risk, as it is every time a players steps onto the field. But it's not like players aren't going hard in practice when starting positions are up for grabs.
The newspaper surveyed a number of college coaches on the idea, including North Carolina's Larry Fedora, Georgia Tech's Paul Johnson and Virginia's Mike London, each of whom appears open to the idea.
Some of these matchups seem natural — Clemson vs. Georgia, Georgia Tech vs. Auburn, Miami vs. Florida, North Carolina vs. South Carolina, Maryland vs. West Virginia, Boston College vs. a number of Big East schools, to name a few. Colleague Edward Aschoff of the SEC blog offers up a few not-so-convenient options, though they'd be every bit as entertaining — namely, Alabama-Florida State and Tennessee-Virginia Tech.
I know I'd be more entertained by this than by teammates hitting each other and switching sides for three hours. Interested to hear your takes.
The basics of Swinney's plan:
- Teams have the option of a normal spring game or one against an opponent.
- The opponent must be out of conference but within driving distance.
- The coaches must agree on scrimmage rules beforehand.
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Streeter Lecka/Getty ImagesSeveral other coaches are open to Clemson coach Dabo Swinney's ideas for spring scrimmages.
Streeter Lecka/Getty ImagesSeveral other coaches are open to Clemson coach Dabo Swinney's ideas for spring scrimmages.More money for athletic departments. More exposure for both schools. More for coaches to learn about their teams, not having to monitor both sides of the ball and measuring them up against another team of equal stature.
Here's more from his interview with the newspaper:
"The good thing about doing something like this is that in the spring time, you don't have your whole team there. Like last spring, for example, we were missing 31 guys for spring ball. So we were very, very thin. This year, we have more bodies on hand. But still, every time you practice against each other in a scrimmage, you're 100-percent invested with your personnel, as opposed to if you go and scrimmage somebody else. You're scrimmaging their defense, while your defense is on the sidelines. When your offense is out there, your defense is on the sidelines. You’re not 100-percent vested with what’s going on. I just think there’s something good with that.
"Plus I think a scrimmage would be a great way to further teach our guys and prepare them for the season … to be able to implement your schemes against another opponent, and it could be against anybody. Obviously, I don't think you should do it against a team in your conference. But anybody else … maybe the NCAA could put stipulations like it's got to be a team within a 100 or 200 miles or something like that. Most everybody could find somebody to scrimmage against.
"I think it would be fun. I think the players would enjoy it. I think the fans would enjoy it. But that’s just one guy's opinion."
Injury is obviously a risk, as it is every time a players steps onto the field. But it's not like players aren't going hard in practice when starting positions are up for grabs.
The newspaper surveyed a number of college coaches on the idea, including North Carolina's Larry Fedora, Georgia Tech's Paul Johnson and Virginia's Mike London, each of whom appears open to the idea.
Some of these matchups seem natural — Clemson vs. Georgia, Georgia Tech vs. Auburn, Miami vs. Florida, North Carolina vs. South Carolina, Maryland vs. West Virginia, Boston College vs. a number of Big East schools, to name a few. Colleague Edward Aschoff of the SEC blog offers up a few not-so-convenient options, though they'd be every bit as entertaining — namely, Alabama-Florida State and Tennessee-Virginia Tech.
I know I'd be more entertained by this than by teammates hitting each other and switching sides for three hours. Interested to hear your takes.
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:
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.
The early NFL draft hopefuls have gone, the early enrollees have arrived, and recruiting classes have been added that could have an impact on the 2012 ACC race. Considering all the offseason shuffling, it’s time for an updated yet still way-too-early look at how the ACC could stack up this season:
1. Florida State:The Noles brought in the No. 2 recruiting class in the nation, including the No. 1 defensive end, the No. 1 defensive tackle and the No. 1 quarterback. Not to mention the abundance of talent they return from last season’s nine-win team. Not only will FSU be better in 2012, but it will also be deeper and more talented.
2. Clemson: The Tigers have the No. 9-ranked class in the country, and they used it to fill some major needs up front. Clemson’s biggest obstacle this fall will be replacing three starters on both the offensive and defensive lines. Quarterback Tajh Boyd has enough skill players around him, though, that the Tigers can repeat as ACC champs.
3. Virginia Tech: The Hokies also have some big shoes to fill on the offensive line and running back thanks to the early departure of David Wilson to the NFL, but the staff lured in a top-25 recruiting class complete with some impressive running backs to rebuild the depth at the position. Virginia Tech’s best asset heading into 2012 will be one of the nation’s best defenses.
4. NC State: The Wolfpack can be a dark horse for the ACC title, especially if they stay healthy. Quarterback Mike Glennon should be one of the best in the league, four starters return on the offensive line, and this recruiting class gave the defensive line some old-school speed off the edge.
5. Virginia: Mike London quietly brought in one of the better recruiting classes in the ACC again, albeit with less fanfare than a year ago. If the Cavaliers can overcome the loss of seven starters on defense, they can again challenge for the Coastal Division title.
6. Miami: The outlook for the Canes has improved significantly with the nation’s No. 8 recruiting class, as many of those true freshmen will be given an opportunity for starting jobs or to at least work their way into the rotation and get meaningful reps. Still, there will be a learning curve, and quarterback Stephen Morris still has something to prove.
7. Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets seem like an average team right now. There are no superstars, the recruiting class was ho-hum, and the program’s place in the eyes of the NCAA right now is in limbo. While they return a bulk of their starters from a year ago, other programs seem to be making more progress quicker.
8. Wake Forest: The Deacs brought in a typical, Jim Grobe-type recruiting class: not flashy but will help the program to bowl games with the staff’s ability to develop talent. They return starting quarterback Tanner Price, who was one of the most improved players in the ACC a year ago, but must replace four starters on the offensive line.
9. North Carolina: First-year coach Larry Fedora has the energy, but does he have enough time? Fedora said he wants to change everything at UNC from the personnel to the philosophy and the culture. He’ll switch schemes on offense and defense, but is the offseason enough time to do that and make Carolina a contender in the Coastal race?
10. Maryland: The Terps will be better, and they should go to a bowl game, but without knowing what’s going on at quarterback, they’re a little tricky to predict. Is C.J. Brown the guy, or will Danny O’Brien be the man under first-year coordinator Mike Locksley? This team could move up the rankings quickly this season.
11. Boston College: The Eagles had another blue-collar class that could have been a disaster with defections but was salvaged in the end. Replacing linebacker Luke Kuechly isn’t realistic, but BC welcomes back more than it loses, and that could add up to a surprise season in Chestnut Hill.
12. Duke: The Blue Devils brought in a better class than it was probably given credit, but until that starts translating into wins, Duke will maintain the dubious distinction of last in the ACC.
1. Florida State:The Noles brought in the No. 2 recruiting class in the nation, including the No. 1 defensive end, the No. 1 defensive tackle and the No. 1 quarterback. Not to mention the abundance of talent they return from last season’s nine-win team. Not only will FSU be better in 2012, but it will also be deeper and more talented.
2. Clemson: The Tigers have the No. 9-ranked class in the country, and they used it to fill some major needs up front. Clemson’s biggest obstacle this fall will be replacing three starters on both the offensive and defensive lines. Quarterback Tajh Boyd has enough skill players around him, though, that the Tigers can repeat as ACC champs.
3. Virginia Tech: The Hokies also have some big shoes to fill on the offensive line and running back thanks to the early departure of David Wilson to the NFL, but the staff lured in a top-25 recruiting class complete with some impressive running backs to rebuild the depth at the position. Virginia Tech’s best asset heading into 2012 will be one of the nation’s best defenses.
4. NC State: The Wolfpack can be a dark horse for the ACC title, especially if they stay healthy. Quarterback Mike Glennon should be one of the best in the league, four starters return on the offensive line, and this recruiting class gave the defensive line some old-school speed off the edge.
5. Virginia: Mike London quietly brought in one of the better recruiting classes in the ACC again, albeit with less fanfare than a year ago. If the Cavaliers can overcome the loss of seven starters on defense, they can again challenge for the Coastal Division title.
6. Miami: The outlook for the Canes has improved significantly with the nation’s No. 8 recruiting class, as many of those true freshmen will be given an opportunity for starting jobs or to at least work their way into the rotation and get meaningful reps. Still, there will be a learning curve, and quarterback Stephen Morris still has something to prove.
7. Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets seem like an average team right now. There are no superstars, the recruiting class was ho-hum, and the program’s place in the eyes of the NCAA right now is in limbo. While they return a bulk of their starters from a year ago, other programs seem to be making more progress quicker.
8. Wake Forest: The Deacs brought in a typical, Jim Grobe-type recruiting class: not flashy but will help the program to bowl games with the staff’s ability to develop talent. They return starting quarterback Tanner Price, who was one of the most improved players in the ACC a year ago, but must replace four starters on the offensive line.
9. North Carolina: First-year coach Larry Fedora has the energy, but does he have enough time? Fedora said he wants to change everything at UNC from the personnel to the philosophy and the culture. He’ll switch schemes on offense and defense, but is the offseason enough time to do that and make Carolina a contender in the Coastal race?
10. Maryland: The Terps will be better, and they should go to a bowl game, but without knowing what’s going on at quarterback, they’re a little tricky to predict. Is C.J. Brown the guy, or will Danny O’Brien be the man under first-year coordinator Mike Locksley? This team could move up the rankings quickly this season.
11. Boston College: The Eagles had another blue-collar class that could have been a disaster with defections but was salvaged in the end. Replacing linebacker Luke Kuechly isn’t realistic, but BC welcomes back more than it loses, and that could add up to a surprise season in Chestnut Hill.
12. Duke: The Blue Devils brought in a better class than it was probably given credit, but until that starts translating into wins, Duke will maintain the dubious distinction of last in the ACC.
Virginia signed 25 recruits to national letters of intent, the school announced on Wednesday.
One additional recruit enrolled in January, topping the class off at 26. Thirteen of the signees are from the state of Virginia, including 10 from the Tidewater region. The class was highlighted by ESPNU 150 member Eli Harold, who is ranked the No. 15 defensive end in the country. With three four-star recruits, it was another good class for coach Mike London, but it didn't come with as much fanfare as last year.
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
There were plenty of memorable moments in 2011, some amazing individual performances, and numerous records set. It wasn’t easy to narrow the list down to 10, but I gave it my best shot. Feel free to drop me a note in the mailbag with your nominations, and if I get enough good ones, I’ll do a separate post on Friday with your suggestions. These are the top 10 in my book:
1. ACC expansion. It was the morning after Florida State lost to Oklahoma and I was scrambling to wake up and get on a plane home when the ACC announced its decision to add Pittsburgh and Syracuse to the league. It was an historic moment for the conference, and it was a strong, stable move in a time of great uncertainty throughout college football. A lot of things happened this season, but none affected the entire conference like this one.
2. Clemson goes 8-0 for the first time in 11 years. With a 59-38 victory over North Carolina, Clemson started 8-0 for just the fourth time in school history. That week, the Tigers were ranked No. 5 in the country in the BCS standings, and had a legitimate shot at playing for the national title.
3. NC State’s comeback over Maryland. It was the biggest comeback in school history and the second-biggest comeback in the ACC. NC State overcame a 27-point deficit to beat Maryland 56-41 and keep its bowl hopes alive. NC State trailed 41-14 with six minutes left in the third quarter before scoring six consecutive times. The Pack had 35 fourth-quarter points.
4. Luke Kuechly wins it all. In a span of eight days, BC’s star linebacker won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Butkus Award, Lombardi Award and the Lott Trophy. He was a consensus All-American for the second consecutive season, and named the ACC’s Defensive Player of the Year. His interception return for a touchdown against Miami helped the Eagles end the season on a winning note, and it was quite the encore performance for the NFL draft-bound Kuechly.
5. David Amerson’s record-setting Belk Bowl. The defensive back's two interceptions in the victory over Louisville broke the ACC’s single-season record and moved him into a tie for second place in FBS history for single-season interceptions with 13. He returned one 65 yards for a touchdown, and the other sealed the win on fourth down at the goal line.
6. Frank Beamer gets win No. 200 at Virginia Tech. A 17-10 victory over East Carolina on Sept. 10 gave Beamer his 200th win as head coach at his alma mater. Only nine other FBS coaches have won that many games at one school.
7. Sammy Watkins’ record-setting season. The true freshman was one of the nation’s most spectacular players, and he finished the season with school records for receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. His reception total was second best in school history, and his 2,288 all-purpose yards were the second best in ACC history. His most memorable performance came against Maryland, when he racked up 345 total yards.
8. Logan Thomas’ game-winning touchdown run against Miami. It was one of the most memorable games of the season, and Thomas provided the highlight. With 56 seconds remaining in the game, Thomas ran 19 yards for a touchdown on fourth-and-1 to help Virginia Tech beat Miami 38-35 on Oct. 8. He scored more touchdowns in that game (three) than he threw incompletions (two).
9. Virginia becomes bowl-eligible for first time since 2007. With a 31-13 win over Maryland on Nov. 5, the Cavaliers exceeded expectations in just the second season under coach Mike London. Virginia was picked to finish fifth in the Coastal Division, but a four-game winning streak proved otherwise.
10. Two BCS bowl teams for first time. Had Virginia Tech or Clemson been able to do anything with these opportunities, this would have been much higher on the list. It almost didn’t make the cut, but you can’t ignore it -- especially considering how shocking Virginia Tech’s selection was and what kind of national news it generated. For better or for worse, most college football fans aren’t going to forget the year the ACC had two BCS bids.
Just missed the cut, in no particular order:
• FSU almost blanks Florida with 21-7 win
• Record crowd at the ACC title game
• Beating Auburn and Ohio State in Week 3
• Dwayne Allen wins Mackey Award
• Wake Forest defensive back Merrill Noel tied for national lead in passes defended
• North Carolina running back Giovani Bernard becomes the nation’s leading freshman runner
• Florida State's Shawn Powell leads the nation in punting average
• Wake Forest upsets Florida State
• Georgia Tech’s big day against Kansas
• Maryland’s Labor Day uniforms
1. ACC expansion. It was the morning after Florida State lost to Oklahoma and I was scrambling to wake up and get on a plane home when the ACC announced its decision to add Pittsburgh and Syracuse to the league. It was an historic moment for the conference, and it was a strong, stable move in a time of great uncertainty throughout college football. A lot of things happened this season, but none affected the entire conference like this one.
2. Clemson goes 8-0 for the first time in 11 years. With a 59-38 victory over North Carolina, Clemson started 8-0 for just the fourth time in school history. That week, the Tigers were ranked No. 5 in the country in the BCS standings, and had a legitimate shot at playing for the national title.
3. NC State’s comeback over Maryland. It was the biggest comeback in school history and the second-biggest comeback in the ACC. NC State overcame a 27-point deficit to beat Maryland 56-41 and keep its bowl hopes alive. NC State trailed 41-14 with six minutes left in the third quarter before scoring six consecutive times. The Pack had 35 fourth-quarter points.
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Evan Habeeb/US PresswireLuke Kuechly of Boston College is one of five players to record 500 career tackles in ACC history.
Evan Habeeb/US PresswireLuke Kuechly of Boston College is one of five players to record 500 career tackles in ACC history.5. David Amerson’s record-setting Belk Bowl. The defensive back's two interceptions in the victory over Louisville broke the ACC’s single-season record and moved him into a tie for second place in FBS history for single-season interceptions with 13. He returned one 65 yards for a touchdown, and the other sealed the win on fourth down at the goal line.
6. Frank Beamer gets win No. 200 at Virginia Tech. A 17-10 victory over East Carolina on Sept. 10 gave Beamer his 200th win as head coach at his alma mater. Only nine other FBS coaches have won that many games at one school.
7. Sammy Watkins’ record-setting season. The true freshman was one of the nation’s most spectacular players, and he finished the season with school records for receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. His reception total was second best in school history, and his 2,288 all-purpose yards were the second best in ACC history. His most memorable performance came against Maryland, when he racked up 345 total yards.
8. Logan Thomas’ game-winning touchdown run against Miami. It was one of the most memorable games of the season, and Thomas provided the highlight. With 56 seconds remaining in the game, Thomas ran 19 yards for a touchdown on fourth-and-1 to help Virginia Tech beat Miami 38-35 on Oct. 8. He scored more touchdowns in that game (three) than he threw incompletions (two).
9. Virginia becomes bowl-eligible for first time since 2007. With a 31-13 win over Maryland on Nov. 5, the Cavaliers exceeded expectations in just the second season under coach Mike London. Virginia was picked to finish fifth in the Coastal Division, but a four-game winning streak proved otherwise.
10. Two BCS bowl teams for first time. Had Virginia Tech or Clemson been able to do anything with these opportunities, this would have been much higher on the list. It almost didn’t make the cut, but you can’t ignore it -- especially considering how shocking Virginia Tech’s selection was and what kind of national news it generated. For better or for worse, most college football fans aren’t going to forget the year the ACC had two BCS bids.
Just missed the cut, in no particular order:
• FSU almost blanks Florida with 21-7 win
• Record crowd at the ACC title game
• Beating Auburn and Ohio State in Week 3
• Dwayne Allen wins Mackey Award
• Wake Forest defensive back Merrill Noel tied for national lead in passes defended
• North Carolina running back Giovani Bernard becomes the nation’s leading freshman runner
• Florida State's Shawn Powell leads the nation in punting average
• Wake Forest upsets Florida State
• Georgia Tech’s big day against Kansas
• Maryland’s Labor Day uniforms
It’s way too early for this. But that’s the fun of it. Heck, the ACC is impossible to predict from week to week, let alone in January. Consider this a starting point. A base for your offseason arguments. Don’t like it? I’ve got a mailbag. Learn how to use it. Let the debate begin …
1. Florida State: I know, I know, you’ve heard this one before. But it’s impossible to ignore the fact that nine starters return to one of the nation’s best defenses. Quarterback EJ Manuel will be back, and the Noles again have some of the nation’s best recruits.
2. Clemson: Quarterback Tajh Boyd and receiver Sammy Watkins were record-setters in their first seasons as starters. There’s plenty of incoming talent, and the Tigers should contend for the Atlantic Division again if the defense improves.
3. Virginia Tech: This staff knows how to develop players, and that quality will again be critical as the Hokies have to rebuild their offensive line and will lose their top playmaker in David Wilson. Quarterback Logan Thomas could be the best in the ACC, though, if the supporting cast emerges.
4. NC State: Consider the Pack the darkhorse candidate for the 2012 race. If NC State can stay healthy, it should have two of the league’s top players in quarterback Mike Glennon and cornerback David Amerson.
5. Georgia Tech: The majority of the Jackets’ roster returns, and it should be better after growing pains in 2011. With an experienced offensive line, and the bulk of playmakers returning, Georgia Tech should again be a contender in the Coastal Division.
6. Virginia: If the Cavaliers were playing for the division title in just the second season under coach Mike London, there’s no reason to doubt them in his third. There were some important lessons learned down the stretch, and it was a strong season for UVa to build on.
7. Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons were a field goal away from winning the Atlantic Division title in 2011, and quarterback Tanner Price is good enough to put them in position to do it again.
8. North Carolina: The Tar Heels have another transition to go through with first-year coach Larry Fedora, and the defense will have to fill some big shoes. Offensively, though, there is enough in place that UNC can surprise some people in the Coastal Division race.
9. Boston College: The Eagles’ strong finish to 2011 left a lot of optimism within the program, and despite the loss of linebacker Luke Kuechly, the defense should still be strong. The return of running back Montel Harris will certainly help, but again the team must adjust to another offensive coordinator.
10. Miami: The biggest thing Miami has in its favor right now is a strong recruiting class. With eight starters leaving early for the NFL draft and the departures of the Class of 2008 -- plus possible NCAA sanctions looming -- there’s a lot of uncertainty in the program now.
11. Maryland: Look at it this way: It can’t get much worse. The hire of Mike Locksley as offensive coordinator will help, especially in recruiting, but how much, how fast? And has the dust finally settled, or will there be more changes?
12. Duke: Somebody has to be last, and until Duke proves otherwise, it’s status quo in Durham. Duke suffered from many of the same problems last year that it did in 2010.
1. Florida State: I know, I know, you’ve heard this one before. But it’s impossible to ignore the fact that nine starters return to one of the nation’s best defenses. Quarterback EJ Manuel will be back, and the Noles again have some of the nation’s best recruits.
2. Clemson: Quarterback Tajh Boyd and receiver Sammy Watkins were record-setters in their first seasons as starters. There’s plenty of incoming talent, and the Tigers should contend for the Atlantic Division again if the defense improves.
3. Virginia Tech: This staff knows how to develop players, and that quality will again be critical as the Hokies have to rebuild their offensive line and will lose their top playmaker in David Wilson. Quarterback Logan Thomas could be the best in the ACC, though, if the supporting cast emerges.
4. NC State: Consider the Pack the darkhorse candidate for the 2012 race. If NC State can stay healthy, it should have two of the league’s top players in quarterback Mike Glennon and cornerback David Amerson.
5. Georgia Tech: The majority of the Jackets’ roster returns, and it should be better after growing pains in 2011. With an experienced offensive line, and the bulk of playmakers returning, Georgia Tech should again be a contender in the Coastal Division.
6. Virginia: If the Cavaliers were playing for the division title in just the second season under coach Mike London, there’s no reason to doubt them in his third. There were some important lessons learned down the stretch, and it was a strong season for UVa to build on.
7. Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons were a field goal away from winning the Atlantic Division title in 2011, and quarterback Tanner Price is good enough to put them in position to do it again.
8. North Carolina: The Tar Heels have another transition to go through with first-year coach Larry Fedora, and the defense will have to fill some big shoes. Offensively, though, there is enough in place that UNC can surprise some people in the Coastal Division race.
9. Boston College: The Eagles’ strong finish to 2011 left a lot of optimism within the program, and despite the loss of linebacker Luke Kuechly, the defense should still be strong. The return of running back Montel Harris will certainly help, but again the team must adjust to another offensive coordinator.
10. Miami: The biggest thing Miami has in its favor right now is a strong recruiting class. With eight starters leaving early for the NFL draft and the departures of the Class of 2008 -- plus possible NCAA sanctions looming -- there’s a lot of uncertainty in the program now.
11. Maryland: Look at it this way: It can’t get much worse. The hire of Mike Locksley as offensive coordinator will help, especially in recruiting, but how much, how fast? And has the dust finally settled, or will there be more changes?
12. Duke: Somebody has to be last, and until Duke proves otherwise, it’s status quo in Durham. Duke suffered from many of the same problems last year that it did in 2010.
Instant Analysis: Auburn 43, Virginia 24
December, 31, 2011
12/31/11
11:32
PM ET
By
Chris Low | ESPN.com
After falling behind early, Auburn emptied out its playbook on offense and dominated the kicking game to charge past Virginia 43-24 on Saturday night in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.
Here’s an instant analysis from the game:
How the game was won: Auburn was truly special in special teams, and Virginia was utterly awful. The Tigers blocked two punts -- one leading to a touchdown and another resulting in a safety. They perfectly executed an onside kick to lead to another touchdown, snuffed out a Virginia fake field goal and also returned a free kick 62 yards to set up a field goal. The Tigers, who led 28-17 at the half, also played much better defensively in the second half and held the Cavaliers to 140 total yards after the break.
Turning point: Cody Parkey’s onside kick came right after Auburn had tied the game at 14-14 early in the second quarter. On the second offensive play, Barrett Trotter hit Emory Blake on a 50-yard pass. Three plays later, Kiehl Frazier scored on a 1-yard touchdown plunge to give Auburn the lead for good.
Player of the game: Auburn’s Onterio McCalebb said prior to the game that he wanted to prove to everybody that he could be the go-to running back with Michael Dyer indefinitely suspended. McCalebb delivered for the Tigers with 109 rushing yards on 10 carries and two catches for 53 yards. He ran for a touchdown and also caught a touchdown pass.
Unsung hero: After Auburn starting quarterback Clint Moseley went down with an injury in the second quarter, Trotter came off the bench to throw the ball as well as has all season. He finished 11-of-18 for 175 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions. He also scrambled for 32 yards and kept several plays alive.
Stat of the game: Auburn’s 43 points were a season high.
Stat of the game II: Auburn coach Gene Chizik ran his bowl record to 9-0. He’s now 6-0 as an assistant coach in bowl games and 3-0 as a head coach.
Stat of the game III: Auburn (8-5) avoided the dubious distinction of becoming the first defending national champion since Ohio State in 1943 to lose six games.
Best call: Just about everything Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn dialed up. The Tigers ran statue-of-liberty plays, reverses, throwback screens, wrap-around handoffs and halfback passes. Malzahn, who will move on to be the head coach at Arkansas State, went out in style.
Second guessing: In one of several special teams blunders by the Cavaliers, coach Mike London called for a fake field goal in the second quarter with Auburn leading 21-14. The Tigers had all the momentum at the time, and the Cavaliers needed some points. But their fake from the 15-yard line was snuffed out by Auburn’s Chris Davis, and the Tigers answered with a touchdown drive of their own to take a 28-14 lead.
What it means: Auburn heads into the offseason with some momentum, not to mention its third straight season of at least eight wins under Chizik. The finish to the 2011 regular season for the Tigers was anything but memorable, as they were blown out by LSU, Georgia and Alabama. Defensive coordinator Ted Roof left for the same job at UCF. Malzahn took the head coaching job at Arkansas State, and Dyer was indefinitely suspended. But the Tigers overcame the distractions to play one of their most complete games of the season and win their fifth straight bowl game. The Cavaliers (8-5) are still looking for their first bowl win since the 2007 season and will go into the offseason with a sour taste in their mouths. Counting the 38-0 loss to Virginia Tech to end the regular season, they lost their last two by a combined 81-24 margin.
Chick-fil-A Bowl: Auburn vs. Virginia
December, 30, 2011
12/30/11
3:00
PM ET
By
Edward Aschoff | ESPN.com
No. 25 Auburn (7-5) makes it back to Atlanta to take on Virginia (8-4) in the Chick-fil-A Bowl Saturday night. Here's a quick preview:
WHO TO WATCH: Auburn sophomore defensive end Corey Lemonier showed how to avoid the sophomore slump this season. Despite the Tigers' defensive troubles, Lemonier was an absolute stud, finishing second in the SEC in sacks with 9.5, getting 8.5 of those in SEC play. He also tied for fifth with 13.5 tackles for loss. Against Virginia, Lemonier will have to be able to generate some pressure in the Cavaliers' backfield to take pressure off the rest of the defense. Virginia isn't great throwing the ball, but the Cavaliers are averaging 232 passing yards per game and are rushing for 165 yards a contest. Getting stops up front will go a long way for Auburn's defense Saturday.
WHAT TO WATCH: With Michael Dyer suspended for the bowl game, Auburn will turn to junior Onterio McCalebb and freshman Tre Mason to carry the rushing load. Dyer was Auburn's top offensive player and was a much more complete back than the others in the Tigers' stable. However, McCalebb and Mason have the talent to be a formidable one-two punch, but Mason is still very inexperienced. Freshman Quan Bray, who has a ton of athleticism, could get some work as well out of the backfield. Awaiting this running game is a Virginia defense that ranks 33rd nationally in rushing defense and is allowing just 3.7 yards per carry.
WHY TO WATCH: Until a winner is crowned between LSU and Alabama, these Tigers are still the defending national champs. On the other side, Virginia was a pleasant surprise in the ACC this season. A year removed from a 4-8 start to his coaching career at Virginia, Mike London guided the Cavaliers to an 8-4 regular season and they were in the mix for the ACC championship game until the final week. These two teams are similar in some ways. They are both young, rotated quarterbacks and had a knack for pulling out close games in 2011. Auburn's Gene Chizik is also pulling double duty as head coach and defensive coordinator, so it'll be interesting to see how the defense plays now after a season where it was near the bottom of the SEC in every statistical category.
PREDICTION: Virginia 31, Auburn 17. Thirty-one points for the Cavaliers is probably a little high, but I'll stay with my original prediction. Both teams are dealing with a youth movement, but Auburn's youngsters hit the wall at the midpoint of the season, while Virginia almost made the ACC title game. I'm not sure Chizik can turn this defense around that quickly and Dyer won't be around. Advantage: Cavaliers.
WHO TO WATCH: Auburn sophomore defensive end Corey Lemonier showed how to avoid the sophomore slump this season. Despite the Tigers' defensive troubles, Lemonier was an absolute stud, finishing second in the SEC in sacks with 9.5, getting 8.5 of those in SEC play. He also tied for fifth with 13.5 tackles for loss. Against Virginia, Lemonier will have to be able to generate some pressure in the Cavaliers' backfield to take pressure off the rest of the defense. Virginia isn't great throwing the ball, but the Cavaliers are averaging 232 passing yards per game and are rushing for 165 yards a contest. Getting stops up front will go a long way for Auburn's defense Saturday.
WHAT TO WATCH: With Michael Dyer suspended for the bowl game, Auburn will turn to junior Onterio McCalebb and freshman Tre Mason to carry the rushing load. Dyer was Auburn's top offensive player and was a much more complete back than the others in the Tigers' stable. However, McCalebb and Mason have the talent to be a formidable one-two punch, but Mason is still very inexperienced. Freshman Quan Bray, who has a ton of athleticism, could get some work as well out of the backfield. Awaiting this running game is a Virginia defense that ranks 33rd nationally in rushing defense and is allowing just 3.7 yards per carry.
WHY TO WATCH: Until a winner is crowned between LSU and Alabama, these Tigers are still the defending national champs. On the other side, Virginia was a pleasant surprise in the ACC this season. A year removed from a 4-8 start to his coaching career at Virginia, Mike London guided the Cavaliers to an 8-4 regular season and they were in the mix for the ACC championship game until the final week. These two teams are similar in some ways. They are both young, rotated quarterbacks and had a knack for pulling out close games in 2011. Auburn's Gene Chizik is also pulling double duty as head coach and defensive coordinator, so it'll be interesting to see how the defense plays now after a season where it was near the bottom of the SEC in every statistical category.
PREDICTION: Virginia 31, Auburn 17. Thirty-one points for the Cavaliers is probably a little high, but I'll stay with my original prediction. Both teams are dealing with a youth movement, but Auburn's youngsters hit the wall at the midpoint of the season, while Virginia almost made the ACC title game. I'm not sure Chizik can turn this defense around that quickly and Dyer won't be around. Advantage: Cavaliers.
Auburn's uncertainty could benefit Virginia
December, 15, 2011
12/15/11
2:00
PM ET
By
Heather Dinich | ESPN.com
The intangibles are adding up in Virginia’s favor.
Auburn has lost its offensive coordinator, Gus Malzahn, who was introduced on Wednesday as Arkansas State’s new head coach.
Auburn lost its defensive coordinator, Ted Roof, who left last week to take the same position at the University of Central Florida.
Auburn lost its leading rusher, tailback Michael Dyer, who was suspended for the Chick-fil-A Bowl game against Virginia.
At some point, these changes become an issue, but Virginia coach Mike London said Auburn’s loss of Dyer hasn’t affected the Cavaliers’ approach.
“It really doesn’t affect how we prepare,” London said. “This is a great team. They’re the defending national champs, so you better believe they have high school All-Americans and some kids that are highly recruited. You look and you see other guys that also carry the ball and when they put the ball in their hands, there’s no shortage of talent there.”
There is, however, a lack of identity for Auburn right now, and a sense of uncertainty. That’s not the case at Virginia, which couldn’t be more positive about the direction the program is heading under London. In only his second season, London won the ACC’s Coach of the Year Award, and he’s not done yet. If the Hoos beat Auburn, they will tie a school record for improvement from one season to the next. Virginia went from 3-8 in 1986 to 8-4 the following year. So far, Virginia has gone from 4-8 to 8-4.
If they can take advantage of Auburn’s personnel changes, an already good season could become great for Virginia.
Auburn has lost its offensive coordinator, Gus Malzahn, who was introduced on Wednesday as Arkansas State’s new head coach.
Auburn lost its defensive coordinator, Ted Roof, who left last week to take the same position at the University of Central Florida.
Auburn lost its leading rusher, tailback Michael Dyer, who was suspended for the Chick-fil-A Bowl game against Virginia.
At some point, these changes become an issue, but Virginia coach Mike London said Auburn’s loss of Dyer hasn’t affected the Cavaliers’ approach.
“It really doesn’t affect how we prepare,” London said. “This is a great team. They’re the defending national champs, so you better believe they have high school All-Americans and some kids that are highly recruited. You look and you see other guys that also carry the ball and when they put the ball in their hands, there’s no shortage of talent there.”
There is, however, a lack of identity for Auburn right now, and a sense of uncertainty. That’s not the case at Virginia, which couldn’t be more positive about the direction the program is heading under London. In only his second season, London won the ACC’s Coach of the Year Award, and he’s not done yet. If the Hoos beat Auburn, they will tie a school record for improvement from one season to the next. Virginia went from 3-8 in 1986 to 8-4 the following year. So far, Virginia has gone from 4-8 to 8-4.
If they can take advantage of Auburn’s personnel changes, an already good season could become great for Virginia.
Defying expectations was the theme of the ACC in 2011, for better (Clemson and Virginia) or for worse (Florida State). This was supposed to be the year of the Seminoles. Florida State began the season ranked No. 6 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25, but quickly stepped into the shadows from which Clemson and Georgia Tech emerged. Both programs, a year removed from losing seasons, started the season with perfect 6-0 records and appeared headed for a collision between undefeated teams, but Georgia Tech couldn’t maintain its course and lost back-to-back games at Virginia and Miami. As it turned out, Virginia’s win wasn’t a fluke.
The Cavaliers, in only the second season under coach Mike London, added a twist to this year’s Coastal Division race -- by being in it. The Hoos were picked to finish fifth in the division, and after a 2-2 start, that seemed about right. Virginia had other ideas, though, and won six of its next seven games to set up a division championship game in the regular-season finale against Virginia Tech. The Hoos were beaten soundly 38-0, and one of the few predictions of the preseason came to fruition with the Hokies repeating as division champs.
Unfortunately for Virginia Tech, the Hokies also repeated losses to Clemson.
Clemson, which lost three of its final four games of the regular season after an 8-0 start, found a way to win the games that mattered most this year and beat Virginia Tech soundly twice. The Tigers played their best game of the season in the ACC championship game to win their first league title since 1991. With a first-year starting quarterback (Tajh Boyd) and a new offensive coordinator (Chad Morris) Clemson exceeded expectations from the start when it reeled off three straight wins against ranked opponents Auburn, Florida State and Virginia Tech in a span of three weeks.
The Tigers were able to finish what they started, while other programs just couldn’t wait to finish.
At Maryland, first-year coach Randy Edsall went backward. He inherited a nine-win bowl team and the ACC’s 2010 rookie of the year in quarterback Danny O'Brien and finished with a miserable 2-10 record and a quarterback controversy that ended only because O’Brien was hurt.
At Miami, a widely publicized NCAA investigation that was revealed during summer camp was the ultimate surprise for first-year coach Al Golden, who had to enter his season opener against Maryland with eight players suspended. Golden ended the season with yet another surprise. After clawing and scraping to become bowl-eligible, the team was told after its sixth win that it would decline a bowl invitation as a pre-emptive strike against expected NCAA sanctions.
There were plenty of surprises throughout the season this year, but possibly none bigger than Virginia Tech’s selection to the Sugar Bowl, which gave the ACC two BCS bowl teams for the first time in the existence of the BCS. It was a fitting end to another season in the ACC which turned out to be anything but what most were expecting.
OFFENSIVE MVP: Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd. There’s a reason he was in the Heisman conversation during the first half of the season. He was the unanimous choice for the MVP of the Dr Pepper ACC championship game, and despite some struggles late in the season, Boyd came through in the clutch and had a record-setting season. He threw for 240 passing yards and three touchdowns in the title game against Virginia Tech, and added another rushing touchdown. He finished with 31 touchdown passes and five rushing for the season for a school-record 36 total in terms of touchdown responsibility. Boyd also set the school record for passing yards and total offense in a season. Boyd enters the Discover Orange Bowl with 3,578 passing yards, and 3,764 total yards.
DEFENSIVE MVP: Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly. He won the Butkus Award and finished the season with 191 total tackles, including 102 solo, and three interceptions, including one for a touchdown. Kuechly has 532 career tackles, including 299 solo tackles, in 37 career games and is averaging 14.0 tackles per game and 7.9 solo tackles per game. All four standards are unmatched among active collegiate football players. He also broke the school's career record of 524 tackles (formerly held by linebacker Stephen Boyd) in his 37th collegiate game, and registered the top two single-season tackle totals in ACC history (191 in 2011 and 183 in 2010). He has registered 10 or more tackles in 33 (of 37) games since making his collegiate debut against Northeastern on Sept. 5, 2009.
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Clemson receiver Sammy Watkins. His five catches for 80 yards against Virginia Tech set the school record for receiving yards in a season. He now has 77 receptions for 1,153 yards and 11 touchdowns. He tied the Clemson season record for touchdown receptions. Watkins now has 12 total touchdowns, tying C.J. Spiller’s record for touchdowns in a season by a freshman. Watkins had 157 all-purpose running yards against the Hokies and went over 2,000 for the season. He is the second Clemson player to do that joining C.J. Spiller, who had a record 2,680 in 2009. Watkins now has 2,077 entering the bowl game.
COACH OF THE YEAR: Clemson coach Dabo Swinney. He led the Tigers, who were unranked this preseason, to the ACC championship this past Saturday with a 38-10 victory over No. 5 Virginia Tech. It was Clemson’s first ACC championship since 1991. Clemson finished 15th in the final BCS standings, tied for its highest finish in the BCS. Swinney guided the Tigers to a 10-3 record overall, including four wins over Top-25 teams, tied for the second most in the nation and the most in one season in school history. Earlier in the year, Clemson defeated Top 25 teams from Auburn, Florida State and Virginia Tech on consecutive weeks, the first ACC team to defeated teams ranked in both polls in three straight games. The 10 wins are the most for the Clemson program since the 1990 season.
BIGGEST SURPRISE: Virginia. That loss to Southern Miss doesn’t seem all that bad now, does it? The Hoos rebounded from a 2-2 start to become bowl-eligible for the first time since 2007 and were one win away from the Coastal Division title. Virginia to the Chick-fil-A Bowl? Surprise.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: The nonconference record. Florida State was the ACC’s biggest disappointment during the midseason report, but collectively, the ACC’s record against the big boys added up to a bigger flop. Florida State came up short against Oklahoma, Clemson lost to South Carolina for a third straight time and Georgia Tech fell to Georgia. The ACC finished with a 3-3 record against the Big East, 1-2 against the Big 12, 0-1 against the Pac-12, 2-3 against the SEC and 0-3 against Notre Dame. Ugh.
BEST GAME: The best game was Virginia Tech versus Miami, but the most memorable one was NC State’s surreal comeback over Maryland. There was better football in Blacksburg, where Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas scored with 56 seconds remaining to give the Hokies the win. What happened in Raleigh, though, was astounding. NC State trailed Maryland 41-14 with six minutes remaining in the third quarter and overcame a 27-point deficit to beat the Terps 56-41. It was the biggest comeback in school history and the second-biggest comeback in ACC history. NC State scored 35 points in the fourth quarter to become bowl-eligible.
The Cavaliers, in only the second season under coach Mike London, added a twist to this year’s Coastal Division race -- by being in it. The Hoos were picked to finish fifth in the division, and after a 2-2 start, that seemed about right. Virginia had other ideas, though, and won six of its next seven games to set up a division championship game in the regular-season finale against Virginia Tech. The Hoos were beaten soundly 38-0, and one of the few predictions of the preseason came to fruition with the Hokies repeating as division champs.
Unfortunately for Virginia Tech, the Hokies also repeated losses to Clemson.
Clemson, which lost three of its final four games of the regular season after an 8-0 start, found a way to win the games that mattered most this year and beat Virginia Tech soundly twice. The Tigers played their best game of the season in the ACC championship game to win their first league title since 1991. With a first-year starting quarterback (Tajh Boyd) and a new offensive coordinator (Chad Morris) Clemson exceeded expectations from the start when it reeled off three straight wins against ranked opponents Auburn, Florida State and Virginia Tech in a span of three weeks.
[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/ Richard ShiroTajh Boyd led Clemson to its first league title since 1991.
AP Photo/ Richard ShiroTajh Boyd led Clemson to its first league title since 1991.At Maryland, first-year coach Randy Edsall went backward. He inherited a nine-win bowl team and the ACC’s 2010 rookie of the year in quarterback Danny O'Brien and finished with a miserable 2-10 record and a quarterback controversy that ended only because O’Brien was hurt.
At Miami, a widely publicized NCAA investigation that was revealed during summer camp was the ultimate surprise for first-year coach Al Golden, who had to enter his season opener against Maryland with eight players suspended. Golden ended the season with yet another surprise. After clawing and scraping to become bowl-eligible, the team was told after its sixth win that it would decline a bowl invitation as a pre-emptive strike against expected NCAA sanctions.
There were plenty of surprises throughout the season this year, but possibly none bigger than Virginia Tech’s selection to the Sugar Bowl, which gave the ACC two BCS bowl teams for the first time in the existence of the BCS. It was a fitting end to another season in the ACC which turned out to be anything but what most were expecting.
OFFENSIVE MVP: Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd. There’s a reason he was in the Heisman conversation during the first half of the season. He was the unanimous choice for the MVP of the Dr Pepper ACC championship game, and despite some struggles late in the season, Boyd came through in the clutch and had a record-setting season. He threw for 240 passing yards and three touchdowns in the title game against Virginia Tech, and added another rushing touchdown. He finished with 31 touchdown passes and five rushing for the season for a school-record 36 total in terms of touchdown responsibility. Boyd also set the school record for passing yards and total offense in a season. Boyd enters the Discover Orange Bowl with 3,578 passing yards, and 3,764 total yards.
DEFENSIVE MVP: Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly. He won the Butkus Award and finished the season with 191 total tackles, including 102 solo, and three interceptions, including one for a touchdown. Kuechly has 532 career tackles, including 299 solo tackles, in 37 career games and is averaging 14.0 tackles per game and 7.9 solo tackles per game. All four standards are unmatched among active collegiate football players. He also broke the school's career record of 524 tackles (formerly held by linebacker Stephen Boyd) in his 37th collegiate game, and registered the top two single-season tackle totals in ACC history (191 in 2011 and 183 in 2010). He has registered 10 or more tackles in 33 (of 37) games since making his collegiate debut against Northeastern on Sept. 5, 2009.
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Joshua S. Kelly/US PresswireSammy Watkins made a huge impact for Clemson in his first season.
Joshua S. Kelly/US PresswireSammy Watkins made a huge impact for Clemson in his first season.COACH OF THE YEAR: Clemson coach Dabo Swinney. He led the Tigers, who were unranked this preseason, to the ACC championship this past Saturday with a 38-10 victory over No. 5 Virginia Tech. It was Clemson’s first ACC championship since 1991. Clemson finished 15th in the final BCS standings, tied for its highest finish in the BCS. Swinney guided the Tigers to a 10-3 record overall, including four wins over Top-25 teams, tied for the second most in the nation and the most in one season in school history. Earlier in the year, Clemson defeated Top 25 teams from Auburn, Florida State and Virginia Tech on consecutive weeks, the first ACC team to defeated teams ranked in both polls in three straight games. The 10 wins are the most for the Clemson program since the 1990 season.
BIGGEST SURPRISE: Virginia. That loss to Southern Miss doesn’t seem all that bad now, does it? The Hoos rebounded from a 2-2 start to become bowl-eligible for the first time since 2007 and were one win away from the Coastal Division title. Virginia to the Chick-fil-A Bowl? Surprise.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: The nonconference record. Florida State was the ACC’s biggest disappointment during the midseason report, but collectively, the ACC’s record against the big boys added up to a bigger flop. Florida State came up short against Oklahoma, Clemson lost to South Carolina for a third straight time and Georgia Tech fell to Georgia. The ACC finished with a 3-3 record against the Big East, 1-2 against the Big 12, 0-1 against the Pac-12, 2-3 against the SEC and 0-3 against Notre Dame. Ugh.
BEST GAME: The best game was Virginia Tech versus Miami, but the most memorable one was NC State’s surreal comeback over Maryland. There was better football in Blacksburg, where Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas scored with 56 seconds remaining to give the Hokies the win. What happened in Raleigh, though, was astounding. NC State trailed Maryland 41-14 with six minutes remaining in the third quarter and overcame a 27-point deficit to beat the Terps 56-41. It was the biggest comeback in school history and the second-biggest comeback in ACC history. NC State scored 35 points in the fourth quarter to become bowl-eligible.
Chick-fil-A Bowl
December, 4, 2011
12/04/11
11:26
PM ET
By
Heather Dinich and
Edward Aschoff | ESPN.com
Virginia Cavaliers (8-4) vs. Auburn Tigers (7-5)
Dec. 31, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Virginia take from ACC blogger Heather Dinich: Just getting to a bowl game was an accomplishment for Virginia, which hasn’t been to one since 2007, but to be chosen as high as the top pick behind the Discover Orange Bowl exceeded expectations once again in Mike London’s second season.
The Hoos got some help from rival Virginia Tech, whose bid in the Sugar Bowl bumped everyone up a notch in the selection process. It’s a legitimate place for Virginia, though, which beat Florida State on the road during the regular season, and was in contention for the Coastal Division title through the final game, when it lost to Virginia Tech.
The Cavaliers had won four straight heading into the regular-season finale, before losing 38-0 to the Hokies. Despite the loss, London was named the ACC Coach of the Year, as his team had been picked by the media to finish fifth in the division this year.
The Cavaliers’ strengths are their front seven on defense, which is a veteran group, and an offensive line that has had the same lineup all season. The Hoos have been able to run the ball well for most of the season. It will be Virginia’s fourth appearance in the bowl, but the program hasn’t been there since 1998 -- also the last time UVa faced Auburn, a 19-0 win for the Hoos at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Auburn take from SEC blogger Edward Aschoff: Along with replacing the nation’s best player in Cam Newton, the Tigers had to find players to fill in for just about everyone who was a part of the 2010 championship team.
Coach Gene Chizik and his team never let youth be an excuse for a team that had freshmen making up almost half of the entire roster. Auburn began 4-1, and while the Tigers were sloppy at times, when the game was on the line late, Auburn found ways to win. That included beating preseason East favorite South Carolina 16-13 on the road.
However, as the season continued, the team's youth began to show. The physicality that Auburn showed in close games started to die down and as the struggles continued, the Tigers found themselves dealing with a quarterback shuffle.
Junior Barrett Trotter began as the starter, but saw highly touted true freshman Kiehl Frazier take more and more snaps. But everything changed in Auburn’s 17-6 win over Florida, when sophomore Clint Moseley took the starting job after a solid second-half performance against the Gators.
Moseley remained the starter, but Auburn never really looked like the same team that opened the year. Outside of solid play from running back Michael Dyer, the Tigers’ offense struggled along, ranking 10th in the SEC (328.2 yards per game), while the defense stayed near the bottom of the league, giving up 405.8 yards and 29.3 points per game.
Dec. 31, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Virginia take from ACC blogger Heather Dinich: Just getting to a bowl game was an accomplishment for Virginia, which hasn’t been to one since 2007, but to be chosen as high as the top pick behind the Discover Orange Bowl exceeded expectations once again in Mike London’s second season.
The Hoos got some help from rival Virginia Tech, whose bid in the Sugar Bowl bumped everyone up a notch in the selection process. It’s a legitimate place for Virginia, though, which beat Florida State on the road during the regular season, and was in contention for the Coastal Division title through the final game, when it lost to Virginia Tech.
The Cavaliers had won four straight heading into the regular-season finale, before losing 38-0 to the Hokies. Despite the loss, London was named the ACC Coach of the Year, as his team had been picked by the media to finish fifth in the division this year.
The Cavaliers’ strengths are their front seven on defense, which is a veteran group, and an offensive line that has had the same lineup all season. The Hoos have been able to run the ball well for most of the season. It will be Virginia’s fourth appearance in the bowl, but the program hasn’t been there since 1998 -- also the last time UVa faced Auburn, a 19-0 win for the Hoos at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Auburn take from SEC blogger Edward Aschoff: Along with replacing the nation’s best player in Cam Newton, the Tigers had to find players to fill in for just about everyone who was a part of the 2010 championship team.
Coach Gene Chizik and his team never let youth be an excuse for a team that had freshmen making up almost half of the entire roster. Auburn began 4-1, and while the Tigers were sloppy at times, when the game was on the line late, Auburn found ways to win. That included beating preseason East favorite South Carolina 16-13 on the road.
However, as the season continued, the team's youth began to show. The physicality that Auburn showed in close games started to die down and as the struggles continued, the Tigers found themselves dealing with a quarterback shuffle.
Junior Barrett Trotter began as the starter, but saw highly touted true freshman Kiehl Frazier take more and more snaps. But everything changed in Auburn’s 17-6 win over Florida, when sophomore Clint Moseley took the starting job after a solid second-half performance against the Gators.
Moseley remained the starter, but Auburn never really looked like the same team that opened the year. Outside of solid play from running back Michael Dyer, the Tigers’ offense struggled along, ranking 10th in the SEC (328.2 yards per game), while the defense stayed near the bottom of the league, giving up 405.8 yards and 29.3 points per game.
It's that time of year, when coaching searches begin and rumors fly, and fortunately, the ACC should escape most of the madness this year. With ACC Coach of the Year Mike London working out a contract extension and Miami coach Al Golden having already signed his, the league's top two candidates appear to be staying home, and that's good news.
North Carolina, though, could be the lone exception, and according to Brock Huard, it's one of the three best available jobs in America. It's Insider content, but I'll give you an excerpt:
Even though Carolina is still first and foremost a basketball school, the pieces are clearly in place to accomplish what the Texas Longhorns, Florida Gators and Ohio State Buckeyes have done during the last decade: win big in both hoops and football. The school's academic reputation, state-of-the-art facilities and strong alumni base help create the opportunity for the school to have a breakthrough on the gridiron.
It's time to start over at UNC, but the rest of the ACC should finally be able to enjoy some stability this year.
» 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.
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