ACC Football Thread 2004 [R]

[arkadygelman]

Hell, the season is starting pretty soon. And the Big Ten got a thread. And the CFL got a thread. And I'm damn sure the bigwigs at the ACC offices would be damn pissed if they found out they went through the trouble of changing their conference, pissing off their basketball coaches, pissing off both the Big East and Conference USA, extra-pissing off Syracuse, and waiting a year for the only team that nobody will give a rat's ass about in the new ACC, Boston College, only to know that their efforts have failed them and they will not be receiving what they've always wanted all-along (don't let the end of the year football conference tournament fool ya) - a BigSoccer thread.

So rant and rave and rip about ACC football and your favorite team (unless it's Duke, which in that case you'll just get ripped on).

Here's what's going down this year:

AP PRESEASON POLLS
5. FSU
6. Miami
15. Clemson
16. Virginia
22. Maryland

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WHAT HERBSTREET SAYS

Winner: FSU
Sleeper: Clemson
MVP: Chris Rix, FSU
Player to Watch: D'Qwell Jackson, LB, MD
Coach of the Year: Bowden, FSU

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SCHEDULE (ACC.COM)

The 2004 ACC football schedule is as follows:

Saturday, August 28
Virginia Tech vs. USC (Washington, DC), ESPN, 7:45 p.m.

Saturday, September 4
Virginia at Temple, ESPN2, Noon
Samford at Georgia Tech, 1 p.m.
William and Mary at North Carolina, 1:35 p.m.
Wake Forest at Clemson, ABC, 3:30 p.m.
Duke at Navy, HDNet, 6 p.m.
Richmond at NC State, 6 p.m.
Northern Illinois at Maryland, 6 p.m.

Monday, September 6
Florida State at Miami, ABC, 8 p.m.

Saturday, September 11
Western Michigan at Virginia Tech, Pay-Per-View, Noon
Duke at Connecticut, Noon
North Carolina at Virginia, ABC, 3:30 p.m.
Temple at Maryland, 6 p.m.
Wake Forest at East Carolina, 7 p.m.
Georgia Tech at Clemson, ABC, 8 p.m.

Saturday, September 18
Duke at Virginia Tech, JP/Raycom, Noon
Maryland at West Virginia, ESPN2, Noon
Louisiana Tech at Miami, 1 p.m.
Akron at Virginia, 3 p.m.
Ohio State at NC State, ABC, 3:30 p.m.
Georgia Tech at North Carolina, 6:05 p.m.
Alabama-Birmingham at Florida State, ESPN2, 6:30 p.m.
North Carolina A&T at Wake Forest, 6:30 p.m.
Clemson at Texas A&M, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, September 23
Miami at Houston, ESPN, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, September 25
Clemson at Florida State
Maryland at Duke
Louisville at North Carolina
NC State at Virginia Tech
Syracuse at Virginia
Boston College at Wake Forest

Saturday, October 2
The Citadel at Duke
North Carolina at Florida State
Miami at Georgia Tech
Wake Forest at NC State
West Virginia at Virginia Tech

Thursday, October 7
Clemson at Virginia, ESPN, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 9
Florida State at Syracuse
Georgia Tech at Maryland
NC State at North Carolina
Virginia Tech at Wake Forest

Thursday, October 14
Louisville at Miami, ESPN, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 16
Utah State at Clemson
Duke at Georgia Tech
Virginia at Florida State
NC State at Maryland
North Carolina at Utah
Florida A&M at Virginia Tech

Saturday, October 23
Maryland at Clemson
Virginia at Duke
Florida State at Wake Forest
Miami at NC State

Thursday, October 28
Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech, ESPN, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 30
NC State at Clemson
Duke at Wake Forest
Florida State at Maryland
Miami at North Carolina

Saturday, November 6
Clemson at Miami
Duke at Florida State
Georgia Tech at NC State
Maryland at Virginia
Virginia Tech at North Carolina

Thursday, November 11
Florida State at NC State, ESPN, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, November 13
Clemson at Duke
Connecticut at Georgia Tech
Miami at Virginia
North Carolina at Wake Forest

Thursday, November 18
Maryland at Virginia Tech, ESPN, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, November 20
South Carolina at Clemson
North Carolina at Duke
Florida at Florida State
Virginia at Georgia Tech
Wake Forest at Miami

Saturday, November 27
Georgia Tech at Georgia
Wake Forest at Maryland
NC State vs. East Carolina (Charlotte)
Virginia at Virginia Tech

Saturday, December 4
Virginia Tech at Miami, ABC, 1 p.m.
Big Game: FSU @ Miami, Week 1, Sept. 6

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My Maryland Preview

I'm hoping for Maryland to pull it off huge and take this one, but I know that's probably unlikely with the young team (and especially young QB) we have. Josh Allen, the HB, is going to be huge as was shown by his performances last year and I think QB Joel Statham will have a decent year despite his struggles earlier in spring. The O-Line is going to be great to watch (especially LG CJ Brooks and C Kyle Schmidt, both probably All-ACC firstteam and possible All-American first team), our WR's need some work though, we have one good and two decent ones, highlighted by Steve Suter, but no top-flight gamebreakers - watch out for Rich Parsons from the slot though. A talented Sophomore TE/Split End Vernon Davis will need to contribute once again, he's going to be a star in the future. Starting TE Derek Miller is huge (6'8), so let's hope he parlays that into becoming a big target that can catch and block.

Defensively, we seem to always be decent upfront no matter what the personnel is, and hopefully the presence of an AllACC selection last year, Kevin Eli, and talented hybrid DE/LB Shawne Merriman, on the ends will help out the youth in the middle of the 4-3. Linebackers have always also been a strength, but this year the OLB positions remain shady, even though there is some very good talent - mainly redshirt freshman ROLB Wesley Jefferson. D'Qwell Jackson should be an awesoem force in the middle though, looking to addon to his 136 tackle performance last season. In the secondary, where all four DB's earned All-ACC last year and only one returns, there may be problems. CB Dominique Foxworth is very, very, good (to the tune of AllAmerican), but only Chris Kelley at SS (A converted QB) has shown the the only other ultimate instinct so far in the DB.

Lastly, Special Teams is always sick, it's always good nowadays for teh Terps, and this year is no different. K Nick Nowak is one of the best in the country and returner Suter is one of the best (if not the best) also.

It should be a fun year.
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FEEL FREE TO WRITE YOUR OWN TEAMS REPORT HERE

[Footer Phooter]

I don't have the time to write a Virginia Tech Hokies Report, but I think we're looking at a 7-5 season this year.

[skipshady]

As a Tar Heel, the start of ACC football is a sign that ACC basketball is just around the corner.


Oh, who am I kidding? I'm a masochist and I will follow Carolina football even if we never come close to challenging for a BCS bowl again.
And I'm still peeved Frank Beamer never sent us a Thank You note after his little trip to Chapel Hill got him a handsome raise from VT.

[dfb547490]

All you Cane, Hokie, Seminole, and Terp clowns just enjoy your year playing amongst yourself until the big boys come in to dominate the conference in 2005.


:D

[Footer Phooter]

As a Tar Heel, the start of ACC football is a sign that ACC basketball is just around the corner.


Oh, who am I kidding? I'm a masochist and I will follow Carolina football even if we never come close to challenging for a BCS bowl again.
And I'm still peeved Frank Beamer never sent us a Thank You note after his little trip to Chapel Hill got him a handsome raise from VT.

He used Alabama in the same way a few years ago. Just the mention of their interest in him got hima huge raise. But people will tell you, he's very "loyal".

[writered21]

I'm glad to see the Virginia Cavaliers ranked in the top 25 of some publications and polls and such, but I'm not sure about the respect they are getting. I hope the preseason hoopla is correct.

Is Marques Hagans really suited to be THE guy for the entire season? Previously, either because Matt Schaub was always waiting over his shoulder, Hagans hasn't always been sharp (I know he was at the helm to crush on the Michigan Directional schools last season, but this is going to be an insanely competitive conference this year). Will we see (or, maybe more accurately, when will we see) Chris Olsen this year?

I guess the good news for the Cavaliers this season is that there are several teams on their schedule who will not be able to take advantage of expoliting Virginia's weakness. UVA's offensive line is massive, quick off the ball, excellent at blocking down field (see Elton Brown vs. South Carolina and Maryland in 2002 as examples) and pass protect moderately well. Defensively, I don't think there are any questions looming about this team, except for perhaps at safety. I think their corners have developed enough to be a good as they need to be, I'm just curious about the safeties. Linebacker, with Brooks, Blackstock, Parham, etc., is no worry, and the defensive line is better than I ever thought it would be.

On special teams, punting has been a question mark for the Cavs for several seasons now. But placekicking is solid, Connor Hughes was one of the best in the nation last season.

Certainly, outside of the Temple game and perhaps Akron, the schedule is no picnic this year. Getting Syracuse at home is a game the Cavaliers should be able to win. If Virginia goes 3-0 outside the ACC, I think they will finish high enough within the conference to secure a quality bowl bid - and the fact they've won their bowl the last two years can't hurt when selection committees are considering UVA - the Cavaliers have traveled well for those games.

Beating Clemson at home is going to be tough - Charlie Whitehurst is the truth, and a trip to FSU follows the next week. That's tough. At an improved Duke and home to Maryland are two more games I think Virginia should win, and then the Hurricanes come to town. There is quite a lot of anticipation over this, some thinking UVA could be as good as 7-1 entering that contest. I don't know about that, that assumes a win over either Clemson or the Noles. Virginia has to go to Georgia Tech this year, where they never win, and sometimes don't score. At the Hokies to end the year is a game where UVA may well be the better team, but the Cavs haven't won there since what, 1998 and the great comeback?

Best case: UVA beats Clemson, upsets Miami and wins at Tech to go 9-2, 6-2 in the conference.

Worst case: UVA stumbles to Syracuse in the middle of a 4-game homestand, then loses to Clemson and Miami. UVA laters falls to the Jackets and Hokies to finish 6-5, 4-4 ACC. This may still be good enough for a bowl, but that Syracuse game is more critical to that hope than most people think.

Assuming Virginia doesn't go to either extreme, you are probably looking at 7-4 (4-4 ACC) or 8-3 (5-3 ACC).

Could it be 3 straight Continental Tire Bowls? Hope not. Progress has to be made that takes the program to a higher level this year.

[metroflip73]

Woohoo! Excited for some College Football!

Wait, I'm here a year too early. Whoops.

[odg78]

--If this guy can stay healthy, I'll be a happy man.

http://www.cjonline.com/photos/galleries/122303_kubowl/images/11.jpg

[skipshady]

Carolina has a huge non-conference matchup against William & Mary.

sigh.

It makes me sad that we used to have one of the best defenses in the nation. Now, it's as imposing as a swinging gate.

[kwik1980]

According to the University of Miami website a decision will be made at 5pm today on the status of the Miami-FSU game scheduled for Monday. At this point, the game is still on, but with a very strong Hurricane Frances expected to make landfall this weekend, there is a chance that the game will be postponed. The university website is expecting the major storm impact to be either Saturday or Sunday, looking at their evacuation/emergency plans for students. Most weekend sports events involving both FSU and Miami have been postponed.

[kwik1980]

http://msn.foxsports.com/story/2900832

FSU-Miami has been pushed back to Friday, September 10, at 8pm.

[writered21]

Well, UVA is playing Temple, so it's not like there's a big test here, but you are seeing one of the key re-acquisitions in the ACC, as it were. That's fullback Jason Snelling. He was a key part of the offense in 2002, but red-shirted last year. With him back and the depth at tailback with Lundy and Pearman, Virginia is as set in the running game as they have been in many years.

And 6-4, 249-pound linebacker Ahmad Brooks as the kickoff returner. Have to like that.

[skipshady]

The Tar Heels get off to a cracking start with a 49-38 win (http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/recaps/20040904/wwnnnl.html) over the College of William & Mary.
from the article:This was a must-win for the Tar Heels, who had won just one of their past six season openers. Next week they travel to No. 16 Virginia -- where they haven't won since 1981 -- before returning home for games against Georgia Tech and Louisville.

From there, they play a stretch that includes Florida State, Miami, Virginia Tech and Utah.
Fantastic. How long till basketball practice starts?

[Khansingh]

Here we have a rather sickening episode.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=1875228

For my part, and this will sound pretty sick, I hope North Carolina has the death penalty.

[gsterp]

Terps got the win against NIU this year at least. Of course, they didn't look that great in doing so, but its better than the last two years. I'm just hoping that Statham can pick it up like McBrien did after his disasterous first start. Otherwise it could be an interesting season.

Gotta say that it sure is nice to know you're almost certain to score if the offense can get to the 35. Novak broke the ACC career scoring record on Saturday, and is within 90 points of the NCAA record now.

Temple comes to town this weekend. Should be a good game to work out the kinks in the offense.

[nicodemus]

Too bad both FSU & Miami couldn't have lost tonight. :p

[writered21]

Around the ACC today:

Connecticut 22, Duke 20 (F)

Virginia Tech 63, Western Michigan 0 (F)

(15) Virginia 56, North Carolina 24 (F)

(23) Maryland 28, Temple 0 (2nd)

Wake Forest 0, East Carolina 0 (1st)

Georgia Tech at (20) Clemson, 8 p.m., tonight, ABC.

Miami, Virginia and Clemson are 1-0 in the conference. Tonight's Tech-Tigers game ought to be a good one - I'd pick Clemson in a close one.

Of note in the Virginia Tech game, Sean Glennon got some time as the second string quarterback and was 4-of-4 with 2 TDs. I saw this kid play a lot in high school - he was in a great high school system and has the goods to produce for Tech.

Personally, happy with the Virginia score, but the defense did not play well in the late stages - and this was with much of the first team still in the game. Carolina's backup quarterback threw some very nice passes. I'm not saying he should play ahead of Durant or anything, he just had a good performance, that's all. Meanwhile, Hagans is slowly ending any doubts I had about him running the offense. Wali Lundy is off to a fantastic start at RB for the Cavs, even though is playing time has been limited by the way the games have played out. Six rushing TDs in 2 games.

I guess I shouldn't be, but the Duke result today kind of surprises me. Congrats to UConn.

[odg78]

--The hydraulic goalposts they have at Clemson? Sweet.

[writered21]

--The hydraulic goalposts they have at Clemson? Sweet.

That was quite an ending to that game.

Quite a quote from UNC senior center Jason Brown on today's 56-24 loss at Virginia.

"This is a cruel, cruel game. I was just thinking earlier, you know, we call ourselves soldiers. But the thing is, if we were actually out there on a battlefield, after this performance, we would be dead."

For anyone unhappy over their team's performance today - just remember ..... Cheyney lost to Western Illinois tonight, 98-7 - 1 player for WIU had 5 rushing touchdowns 10 1/2 minutes into the game.

[Footer Phooter]

At the half, its 24-7 VT over Duke. After a slow start, the Hokies are pummeling the Dukies. Should be a blowout by the end of the game.