ACC Atlantic: What we still don’t know
Spring practice has been over for a couple of weeks and so it’s time to take final looks at the teams in the ACC and SEC before we take our break in June. So here is our game plan for the week:
Today: ACC Atlantic
Tuesday: ACC Coastal
Wednesday: SEC East
Thursday: SEC West
Friday: Tony’s post-spring Top 25
This week we’ll just analyze the teams in alphabetical order. Before we break in June we’ll project the order of finish. If you want to debate the order of finish right now, please be my guest.
ACC ATLANTIC
BOSTON COLLEGE
Last season: 9-5, 5-3 ACC; lost to Vanderbilt 16-14 in Music City Bowl.
Starters returning: Offense 7, defense 7, kickers 2.
Coach: Frank Spaziani (1st year).
What we still don’t know: Who will be the quarterback, Dominique Davis or Justin Tuggle? Both Davis, a sophomore, and Tuggle, a redshirt freshman, struggled in the spring so the competition will continue into fall camp under new offensive coordinator Gary Tranquill. Who is going to play DT? B.J. Raji was the No. 9 player taken in the 2009 NFL Draft. Ron Brace had 30 career starts. Both are gone and no one has stepped up yet. Damik Scafe (6-3, 293) and Kaleb Ramsey (6-3, 256) are the likely candidates. Frank Spaziani is a rookie head coach at the age of 62. How is that going to work out?
Opening game: Sept. 5 vs. Northeastern.
CLEMSON
Last season: 7-6, 4-4; lost to Nebraska 26-21 in Gator Bowl.
Starters returning: Offense 7, defense 8, kickers 0.
Coach: Dabo Swinney, 4-3 in his second season.
What we still don’t know: Is Kyle Parker really going to be the guy at quarterback? The redshirt freshman from Jacksonville impressed a lot of people with his arm this spring and appears to have the edge over highly-regarded sophomore Willy Korn. Parker split his time between spring football and baseball, so it will be interesting to see how he responds when two-a-days arrive in August. Who will be the placekicker? Mark Buchholz made 88 consecutive extra points as Clemson’s placekicker and connected on 15 of 21 field goals last season. Redshirt freshman Spencer Benton seemed to have the edge over redshirt junior Richard Jackson but Swinney has not named a starter. Will new defensive coordinator Kevin Steele give that unit a little more toughness? The early returns say yes. If DE Ricky Sapp, who had ACL surgery in December, is ready to go in August, this could be a pretty salty bunch. We also think DE Da’Quan Bowers will be a star.
First game: Sept. 5 vs. Middle Tennessee.
FLORIDA STATE
Last season: 9-4, 5-3 ACC; beat Wisconsin 42-14 in Champs Sports Bowl.
Starters returning: Offense 8, defense 5, kickers 0.
Coach: Bobby Bowden, 382-123-4 overall, 309-91-4 in 33 seasons at Florida State.
What we still don’t know: Who is going to play wide receiver? Greg Carr is gone after a very good four-year career and Preston Parker, who caught 104 passes in the past three seasons, was kicked off the team in February. Taiwan Easterling missed spring practice as he recovered from an Achilles heel injury. If Easterling is back at full strength it will probably be he and Bert Reed, who caught 23 passes last season. Redshirt senior Richard Goodman returns to the team after sitting out all of the 2008 season (broken leg). “We have talent at that position. What we don’t have is experience,” head coach Bobby Bowden said. “I think we’ll be okay there.” Can Kevin McNeal and Markus White replace Everette Brown and Neefy Moffett? Brown and Moffett combined for almost 20 sacks and 30 tackles for loss, so the short answer is no. But White is a former national JUCO player of the year and should shine as a senior.
Opening game: Sept. 7 vs. Miami.
MARYLAND
Last season: 8-5, 4-4 ACC; beat Nevada 42-35 in Humanitarian Bowl.
Starters returning: Offense 6, defense 4, kickers 1.
Coach: Ralph Friedgen, 64-36 in eight season at Maryland.
What we still don’t know: Will a rebuilt offensive line give RB Da’Rel Scott a fighting chance? Scott ran for 1,133 yards in 2008, the third best effort ever for a sophomore running back at Maryland. But this season the Terps have to replace three offensive linemen who combined for 86 career starts. Can the defense improve under new coordinator Don Brown? Maryland finished ninth in the ACC in scoring defense (22.5 ppg) but gave up 100 points in its last three games. Brown, the head coach at UMass the past five seasons, has only four returning starters as he enters fall camp. “I felt very good about the progress we made on defense (during the spring),” Friedgen said. QB Chris Turner is 6-1 as a starter against teams ranked in the Top 25. But last season Maryland lost to Middle Tennessee (5-7) and Virginia (5-7). “We need for Chris to be consistent every week,” Friedgen said. Can Turner be consistent against the lower rated teams?
First game: Sept. 5 at California.
N.C. STATE
Last season: 6-7, 4-4 ACC; lost to Rutgers 29-23 in papajohns.com Bowl.
Starters returning: Offense 7, defense 7, kickers 1.
Coach: Tom O’Brien, 86-59 overall, 11-14 in two seasons at N.C. State.
What we still don’t know: Can Toney Baker come all the way back? Baker rushed for 1,272 yards in 2005 and 2006 but has missed almost all of the past two seasons with injuries. But it will be hard on Baker because there are so many questions left about the offensive line. “It remains an area of concern,” O’Brien said. Will QB Russell Wilson run less? Yes, and O’Brien is going to see to it. Wilson became the first freshman in conference history be named the All-ACC quarterback last season. He recovered from a knee injury suffered in the bowl game and split time between football and baseball in the spring. “We’ve got to save his legs,” O’Brien said of Russell, who threw for 1,955 yards and ran for 388 more. Russell will enter the season having completed 249 consecutive passes without an interception. O’Brien has not ruled out the possibility that sophomore Mike Glennon will factor into the mix at quarterback. “He expects to compete for the job,” O’Brien said.
First game: Sept. 3 vs. South Carolina.
WAKE FOREST
Last season: 8-5, 4-4 ACC; beat Navy 29-19 in Eagle Bank Bowl.
Starters returning: Offense 9, defense 4, kicker 1.
Coach: Jim Grobe, 87-77-1 overall, 54-44-0 in eight years at Wake Forest.
What we still don’t know: Can the Deacons replace LB Aaron Curry, the number 4 draft choice? No, but Grobe thinks this will be the deepest group of linebackers he’s had in nine seasons at Wake Forest. What are they going to do about Sam Swank? Swank was one of the nation’s best punter/placekickers going into the 2008 season. Injuries limited his play as a senior but he will still be missed. Shane Popham, the apparent replacement, injured his knee in the last week of spring practice. But the job may fall to a true freshman, Jimmy Newman of Oxford, Ala., who some consider the top high school placekicker in the country. Who is going to be the big-play wide receiver? Senior quarterback Riley Skinner enters 2009 having completed 67.3 percent of his career passes. But with D.J. Boldin (77 catches) gone, Skinner needs a home-run threat at wide receiver to stretch the field. Wake Forest has eight proven receivers, including Devon Brown (10 catches), Jordan Williams (8 catches), Marshall Williams (25 catches). One of them has to step up.
First game: Sept. 5 vs. Baylor
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148 comments Add your comment
JB
May 11th, 2009
8:49 am
OK m, where are you………….Eating Captain Crunch in your Star Trek PJ’s if I had to guess….
ACC…your time to spin this exciting football !!!!! LMAO
athensdawg
May 11th, 2009
8:57 am
uga needs to put clempson back on their schedule.
as I predicted many many years ago, joining the ACC was the worst thing that miami and fsu could do for their programs. Rather than being challenged every week, they were going to just dominate and then get lazy and start falling off. And, look at what has happened. Both schools have adjusted to play to the level of their competition.
They should have joined the SEC……but that didn’t guarantee a cupcake lined path to the MNC….and that was why they did what they did.
Lane "Shirt-Rippin" Kiffin
May 11th, 2009
9:01 am
I thought Boston College was in the Ivy League
Fools Gold
May 11th, 2009
9:12 am
What we do know about UGa…. Sorry defense, No proven QB with a lot of game experience as well at RB. WRs unable to make catches and in clutch situations. Strenght and conditioning lacks. Discipline problems are now rearing its ugly head again. CMR afraid to travel to play good football programs. The slide continues just like the baseball team. Need I say more!
Saint Nick
May 11th, 2009
9:14 am
Who cares!!!! If you lose to Vandy, you should be automatically sent to FCS!!!!
Huh?
May 11th, 2009
9:16 am
Once again Tony, we still don’t know why anyone should care about the ACC Atlantic. That question alone could generate days worth of discussion. The ACC is the most boring and irrelevant football conference in the BCS. This is without dispute.
Not Disappointed
May 11th, 2009
9:20 am
“Don’t Throw Stones in a Glass house SEC!!” “Ramble Wreck!”
Otto
May 11th, 2009
9:22 am
The PAC10 puts up a good debate on the most boring. Really who is going to challenge USC? The ACC is a bunch of decent teams and irrelevant.
JB
May 11th, 2009
9:23 am
damn fools gold, one 3 point win in eight years has made you , well, a typical Tech Fan….Let me tell you, we feel about ya’ll like Florida did about us when we beat them in 2007. ” ONCE IN A BLUE MOON “.
Achtung baby
May 11th, 2009
9:40 am
Otto, look for Oregon to give USC a run for their money in the Pac 10. And BC to step up in the ACC-A.
Seriously
May 11th, 2009
9:41 am
I love when uga fans will talk about UF dominating them to try and prove a point to GT fans! Seriously JB, thats embarrassing. I would say that the Big 10 is the most boring, followed by BE.
ACC Fan
May 11th, 2009
9:42 am
The last 3 ACC-CG winners have come from the ACC-Coastal, and it looks like it will continue to for a while. FSU dominated previous years. But….this aint the same FSU and Miami teams of the past. So, I dont expect those two teams to own the ACC for a while.
Given all of the teams and their current & recent status, I just dont see FSU, NCSt, Wake, MD, Clemson, or BC winning the ACC for the next 3-4 years.
So, that means it’ll be the Coastal, and likley GT, VT, UVA, or UNC as likely ACC champs over the next 3-4 years. Further, it’s likely to come down to GT and VT.
And, knowing where GT stands right now, IMHO, GT stands to win a few ACC crowns over next 3-5 years.
RAMBLE ON!!!
May 11th, 2009
9:43 am
Will Roddy Jones will be able to run 16.9 yards per carry against any of these teams like UGAg?
I don’t think so but it should be interesting.
Huh?
May 11th, 2009
9:50 am
At least the Pac 10 puts up some points and is fun to watch. When Oregon State beat USC last year that was a highlight of the season that affected the entire college football landscape. Did anybody give two craps when some two bit ACC team like Miami upset the eventual ACC champion last year? I think not. The ACC is like watching a bunch of drunk monkeys fight over the last bannana. Its an embarrassment to the sport to be quite honest. 90% of the posts on this blog will be about the SEC and/or Georgia. And these idiots wonder why everyone says the ACC is so irrelevant. They aren’t the brightest bulb on the christmas tree. That’s for sure.
JB
May 11th, 2009
9:53 am
Seriously seriously, being a Tech fan would be embarrassing to me. you guys think you’ve arrived with Johnson, and you are better, but thinking you are going to beat us regularly is not going to happen. You won by THREE points with the most disappointing team in the Mark Richt era.
Dorsey Hill
May 11th, 2009
10:07 am
ACC Atlantic: Why we still don’t care
gotech 610
May 11th, 2009
10:12 am
Otto, and who is going to challenge Florida? LSU, Alabama maybe but other than that, USC has usually has their one loss as well. PAC-10 and the SEC are going to have a lot in common this year as far as that goes. Auburn has got a certified coach who went 2-10 last year, he’s really going to make the Tigers great. The ACC beat up on each other the most last year IMO and had more challenges as far in interconference battles goes that any other conference. Not saying the ACC is more powerful than any other conference but last year was anything but boring. In fact, it was probably the most interesting to watch because each week someone was knocking off another. Unlike the SEC where it was a run away with LSU and Bama, everyone knew they were the front runners way early.
DawginLex
May 11th, 2009
10:12 am
I will stay on topic and take the road les traveled. I want to see NC state put a butt whooping on the ol’ ball coach on opening day.
I want to see South Carolina have a losing season.
I want the fans and alumni to run him out of Columbia.
I want to see somebody put up 50 on him at home and kick a FG with under a minute to go while winning by 40.
ACC Fan
May 11th, 2009
10:19 am
JB:
HAHAHAHAHAHA….the most disappointing team in the CMR era???? Good one!!!!
I got BAAAAAAAAAAAAAADDDD news for ya. Looking at the Mutts 2009 schedule, you can just go ahead and book losses to: OKSt, Ark, and LSU…even BEFORE you get destroyed again by FL. And those losses dont even factor in games vs. USC, Auburn, Ky, or GT.
No, 2009 will definitely be THE WORST season in CMR’s tenure at UGA. Watching all you Mutts throw Superman CMR under the bus at end of season is gonna be a thing of beauty to watch.
gotech 610
May 11th, 2009
10:21 am
JB, that should have been the best team under the Mark Richt Era. Mark Richt will never win a NC, if he had the type of players he had last year and couldn’t do it, much less even win their division, embarrassed by Bama, beaten by GT by giving up 28 points in one quarter. Let’s see shall we, here is the difference between Paul Johnson’s GT team and Mark Richt’s UGA team. GT down 18 points at the half 28-10 in a hostile environment between the hedges. Mark Richt’s team let’s down, quits fighting, thinks they won the battle. Paul Johnson’s team keeps fighting, overcomes a large margin of points, still beats their opponent even though UGA scores 2 more TD’s. There’s the difference and exactly why UGA will never win a NC under Mark Richt, they may make some noise in the division but that’s about it. But whatever that’s fine Saint Richt does no wrong, eventhough 3 more of his players are kicked off the team and/or stripped of playing time over the weekend. Paul Johnson’s camp is quiet, players are behaving, we have one back from an accusation, and that’s the way we like it.
JB
May 11th, 2009
10:22 am
WOW, ACC Fan,tell us about the economy in the 3 rd/4th Quarter……..
Otto
May 11th, 2009
10:27 am
Tech has a coach that won in AA and a few games at the Academy. Auburn’s coach had 2 perfect seasons as DC in the 2 toughest conferences and then went to one of the historical worst CFB programs in the country.
Bama, LSU, Auburn, Ole Miss, UGA and possibly Arky can challenge UF in the near future. Fortunes can change very quickly in the SEC. One upset is all it takes to change the SEC standings. Last year it came ealry with Ole Miss over UF. The question is which game and how important will it be. Upsets were the standard in the ACC last year. One team gets rolling only to be let down. There is no tension.
The PAC10 games aren’t exciting if I wanted points I’d watch BasketBall. A 14-10 slugfest in the SEC is vastly more exciting than 35-28 games in the PAC10.
RAMBLE ON!!!
May 11th, 2009
10:29 am
JB, keep it coming. You are a genius!!!
BHWHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
JB
May 11th, 2009
10:36 am
Ramble on……..nice handle……One win in eight years and you guys are out of the closet everywhere.
The fact is the ACC has no National appeal, including your beloved Jackets. It’s a boring brand. Very few people care.
Atlanta Gator
May 11th, 2009
10:43 am
Predicted 2009 finish for ACC Atlantic Division—-
(1) Florida State (6-2);
(2) Wake Forest (4-4);
(3) Maryland (4-4);
(2) Boston College (4-4);
(5) Clemson (3-5);
(6) N.C. State (3-5)
Florida State begins to reassert itself because of great talent, not great coaching. With a first-year coach, Boston College slides back into the middle of the pack. Wake Forest, with great coaching, struggles to escape the middle of the pack. Maryland is a half-step behind Wake Forest. Clemson, with a newly minted permanent head coach, shows signs of life but does not better its 2008 win-loss record. NC State is among the ACC’s two or three weakest of the weak (the others being UVa and Duke).
Saint Nick
May 11th, 2009
10:46 am
Having an 8-4 team in your CCG is BORING!!!!!!!!!
Saint Nick
May 11th, 2009
10:47 am
Playing a CCG for a chance to go to the BCS NC is PRICELESS!!!!!!ROLLS TIDES!!!!!
Atlanta Gator
May 11th, 2009
10:50 am
As for several of the silly comments about the dominance of the Gators, and the weakness of the rest of the SEC, I say “nonsense.”
The Gators have the talent and coaching to potentially repeat as SEC champions, but, as I have repeatedly written on other occasions, even a very good team has to get a little bit lucky to win it all. The Gators have one eight SEC football championships in the last 19 seasons, and three MNCs during that same time. The Gators have had one undefeated regular season (1995), and proceeded to get destroyed by a great Nebraska team in the Bowl Alliance MNC game that year.
As Ole Miss proved last season, on any given Saturday, virtually any SEC team can beat any other SEC team. Any comment to the contrary is nothing more than smack talk or ignorance of the facts.
Atlanta Gator
May 11th, 2009
10:52 am
Oops—-typo! I meant to write “won eight SEC football championships” not “one eight SEC football championships.” This new blog software could use a spelling/grammar check function.
ACC & SEC grad
May 11th, 2009
10:54 am
AthensDawg: Your argument comparing FSU and Miama is weak because Miama has never won a conference title and we know how Free Shoes U. dominated basically the entire ’90s. Plus, a better argument would be that the Criminoles’ slide, which hasn’t included a losing season like the Canes, started with the exodus from T-hassee of long-time assistants like Richt.
JB: Good analysis with your apt analogy on Tech to Georgia as Georgia is to Florida. It’s refreshing when Dawgs have perspective instead of coming on here with the same old “Who cares?!?” or “the ACC sucks!” Plenty of folks care about this division of the ACC.
Seriously: Good follow-up to JB! And I agree with you on the Big Hen.
ACC Fan: you’re wrong. Wake Forest won the title game in 2006. When your first statement is false, it doesn’t exactly lend great credibility to the rest of your observations/predictions.
JB (again): Still Tech won in the new coach’s first year in the first year of a complete overhaul of the offense and on your home turf. The Jackets will beat you regularly if your team’s tackling performance continues.
Huh?: “Embarrassment to the sport” — really?!? While your drunk monkey simile scores you some points, the over-the-top denunciation of the ACC makes it seem like a 14-year-old with hurt feelings is posting. Come on, dude, you can do better.
Marble Rye
May 11th, 2009
11:04 am
WIth all the hype surrounding Russell at NC State, it’s clear from Tony’s blog entry that LB Nate Irving has completely been overshadowed. Expect this kid to step-up big time this season and show. Don’t be surprised if the sophomore slump hits Russell upside the head.
Last season’s FSU looked far better than they have in the past 5 or so years. I just wonder how all their WR problems will affect the team. Outside of that, I expect them to win the Atlantic. If they fall flat, this is Bobby’s last year.
Clemson will be average yet again as this so-called football-first program hired its third inexperienced coach in a row. Clemson is quickly closing in on the two-decade mark in which it has won absolutely ZERO titles at all. Clemson is becoming the next Ole Miss; a NC too long ago to matter but they still hype themselves anyway. At least the Rebs hired a proven coach because they value what an experienced candidate can do. Clemson doesn’t. Soon they’ll fire Swinney and promote Kevin Steele as HC, assuming Steele sticks around for two years.
Who knows about BC and Wake. Wake is clearly competitive in the ACC but I wonder if their 2006 title was an aberration. Grobe will keep them competing but I’m not certain if he has another ACC title year in his future.
ACC Fan
May 11th, 2009
11:06 am
OKSt is on a title run, at home, first 2009 game. OKST will make a statement by routing UGA. UGA might be lucky vs. USC. Then, Hawgs CRUSH the mutts in Fayetteville. (CMR is no match for Petrino). Then, the hand-wringing in Athens begins. UGA recovers with close win vs. AzSt. Then, the body blow, LSU pounds mutts in Athens. UGA escapes the next week with close win at Tenn(kiffin is a clown). UGA gets close win vs. Vandy. Then, the knock-out punch vs FL, as Urban D-E-S-T-R-O-Y-S CMR, again, on national TV. The following Monday, CMR then makes it official: Martinez is out, telegraphing to UGA fans and players, that the season is officially “OVER.” Mutts then recover vs. TennTech creampuff. UGA beats Auburn, and then loses to Ky. Then, for the final “Kill Shot,” GT rolls 52-18 in a complete laugher in Atlanta.
Yeh, Woof woof. Woof woof.
Pago Flyer
May 11th, 2009
11:06 am
Can the DAWGS just beat fl and gt in something!?
Snooze
May 11th, 2009
11:07 am
Enter your comments here
Snooze
May 11th, 2009
11:08 am
Huh? What? They’re talking ACC football? Going back to sleep. Snooooooooooooooooooooooozzzeee!!!
Reality Check
May 11th, 2009
11:09 am
JB is right. You GT fans milk more out of one 3 point win than CBS did with the Survivor series. You won the game last year but the fact is you have not won a relevant bowl game since your 1990 C0- National Championship which was played in a second tier bowl against a team with 3 or 4 losses. I define meaningful bowl as major (Rose, Fiesta, Sugar, Orange and BCS NC. I was born in early 70’s and do not remember one of these bowls that GA Tech has played in. Another thing is the ACC is boring, try watching Boston College-NC State, Maryland- Wake Forest, I could go on but the boring matchups in half filled stadiums is endless.
Kid Ray
May 11th, 2009
11:10 am
BC will slowly fall apart – Like the U did after Davis left. Spaz and Tranquill together??? recipe for disaster.
ACC Fan
May 11th, 2009
11:11 am
Oh, more UGA players suspended/arrested/convicted, going back to sleep now.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Stay Away
May 11th, 2009
11:18 am
I’ve enjoyed these blogs so much more now that a certain one letter username has disappeared!
Saint Nick
May 11th, 2009
11:19 am
M’s mother took his computer away from him!!!!!
ugablows
May 11th, 2009
11:23 am
“90% of the posts on this blog will be about the SEC and/or Georgia. And these idiots wonder why everyone says the ACC is so irrelevant.”
no Huh? that would be because 90% of georgie fans are a$$holes
Otto
May 11th, 2009
11:28 am
Kid Ray, I agree with BC. Also who would want to coach in a program that is not Elite and is not allowed to interview for other jobs?
FSU is interesting as they seem to be close to winning an ACC title if they can keep players from being suspended.
ACC Fan
May 11th, 2009
11:31 am
The fact that GT went to Athens and won with practically all Freshman players makes a HUGE statement. IThat fact is: UGA couldnt win at home with a Stafford/Moreno led team against a bunch GT freshmen & sophmores. CPJ is the new sheriff in town.
Gator Growl
May 11th, 2009
11:32 am
Atlanta Gator…I must respectfully (of course) disagree with your analysis of FSU for the coming season as the best I see for them is another status quo performance per the last few years. While I do see some improvement in QB and OL play, there are still far too many question marks at other vital positions both offense and defense. They just lost a top recruit, Willie Downs, to academics and will probably lose one or two more. Also, I think if BB stays much beyond this seasons or perhaps it’s next, they will owe Dumbo Fisher a WHOPPING cool $5 Mill. On second thought maybe he’s not so “dumbo” after all. I think from just the standpoint of improvement thru talent, Miami has got the better chance but I’m convinced that Shannon is Miami’s Ron Zook.
ACC Fan
May 11th, 2009
11:39 am
With a much improved O-Line, and the 2009 GT backfield will lead the nation in rushing and scoring. With the 2009 GT Secondary, GT will lead the nation in INTs.
Forgot to add , UGA had 2 weeks to prepare for GT game….and still lost.
Woof woof.
Seriously
May 11th, 2009
11:41 am
Yeah, and Vandy-UK, Tenn-Vandy, Miss St-Auburn (3-2, are you f-ing serious?) are all thrilling games as well there Reality Check. It goes both ways….like you do
G8R GRAD
May 11th, 2009
11:44 am
DawginLex:
Dang, son, don’t sugar-coat the way you feel about SOS, tell us how you REALLY feel!
Reality Check
May 11th, 2009
11:45 am
ACC fan… Not such a big statement when you figure other teams consistently made UGA defense look horrible. Kentucky put almost 40 points up with a quarterback making his first or second start ever and could not throw. With that being said if UGA defense is not turned around 360 degrees it will be a long year without Stafford/Moreno to prop up defense. LSU and SEC did not have such a big problem with GT with a few more weeks to prepare. It was a bad year all around with beatings by UA, UF, and narrow loss to GT.
Slugfest?
May 11th, 2009
11:50 am
14-10 slugfest? Don’t see many of those in the SEC anymore (outside of Auburn’s 3-2 yawners). Does 41-30 count as a slugfest? What about 49-10? 42-38?
WTF??
May 11th, 2009
11:56 am
I do LOVE COX!!!
Otto
May 11th, 2009
12:00 pm
Tenn Vandy has been more interesting than many ACC games. ‘05 Vandy breaks the UT streak. ‘07 Vandy is a field goal away from knocking Tenn out of the SECCG. A Vandy win would also put UGA in the SECCG for a playoff game to go to the BCS title game. IIRC a Vandy win in ‘07 also puts Vandy in a bowl.
ACC fan I’m glad to see Stafford gone. UGA needs a solid QB and OL more than a top draft pick. The ‘09 team has fewer question marks than ‘08 when both the OL and DL were thin.
Gator Growl, FSU is a long way away from challenging UF but they do have the talent to win the ACC IMO. BB and Andrews will most likely be gone in the next 2 years and FSU falls to atleast 3rd in the State of Florida maybe 4th. Jimbo cashes out and is fired in 4 years or less. FSU goes on their own version of Bama’s hunt to find another Bear.
ACC Fan
May 11th, 2009
12:02 pm
Reality Check: In 2009, the beatings WILL continue.
Otto
May 11th, 2009
12:10 pm
Reality Check the Defense was not up to UGA standards but a bad kicking game and an explosive offense that lived on and often died on big plays didn’t help them. A more steady offense with an experience OL and improved kicking game will help just as much as depth on the DL.
Tide rising
May 11th, 2009
12:11 pm
Otto,
Ya got me confused. Bama’s hunt to find another Bear? There will never be another Bear. Nobody will ever dominate college football again like the Bear. Hell, the guy even had a ferocious critter named after him. I don’t think we are searching for another Bear when we already have Saban. Are you saying that although we have Saban that we’re still looking for another Bear? No such thing exists. There will also never be another Paterno, Bowden, etc.
Huh?
May 11th, 2009
12:16 pm
Otto, did I read that right? Did you seriously just blame the Georgia Tech loss on the frikkin’ OFFENSE? Please restore my faith in humanity and tell me that I read that wrong.
Jumbotiger
May 11th, 2009
12:16 pm
Well said Atlanta Gator
BLAZER
May 11th, 2009
12:20 pm
WONDER WHY PEOPLE POST ON AN ARTICLE ABOUT ACC FOOTBALL IF
IT IS OF NO IMPORTANCE TO THEM??? ACC TEAM MUST HAVE WON LAST YEAR!
Saint Nick
May 11th, 2009
12:25 pm
GT fans you beat UGA last year, SO WHAT, you guys act like that is a great thing to accomplish!!! 49-10, AND 41-30!!!!
SEC Rules
May 11th, 2009
12:28 pm
Blazer,
When the ACC can have a winning bowl season or a winning head to head record against the SEC or when the ACC runnerup BC can beat SEC doormat Vandy in a bowl game then come talk to me.
mexdawg
May 11th, 2009
12:42 pm
You dirt dobbers are really funny.You play in a high school stadium that you can’t fill even with a free hot dog and coke.We will probally outnumber you again at your own stadium.We are gonna beat you like a red headed stepchild and you can take that to the bank.
Brock
May 11th, 2009
12:46 pm
ACC did have a winning record head to head last year vs SEC. 6-4.
burritodawg
May 11th, 2009
12:53 pm
60,000+ is a pretty big high school stadium, hombre.
Brock
May 11th, 2009
12:56 pm
I still don’t understand why the size of GT’s stadium and that games are not sold out is such a popular topic for Ga fans to bring up. Please explain.
BS Patrol
May 11th, 2009
12:58 pm
SEC Rules,
I’ll talk to you NOW.The ACC was 6-4 against the SEC (The BIG TWO Conference) during the regular season toe-to-toe. Know what you’re talking about before you blog. The SEC is overrated.
Huh?
May 11th, 2009
12:59 pm
“ACC did have a winning record head to head last year vs SEC. 6-4.”
No it did not. The ACC went 6-6 versus the SEC last year, which marks the first time in ages that it didn’t have a losing record against the SEC. The SEC has worked the ACC like a bad rodeo clown for the past 10 years. Anyone without their head 10 feet up their rear end knows this.
Saint Nick
May 11th, 2009
1:02 pm
Last 3 of 4 is not overated!!!! 1 in 10 is overated!!!!!!
Saint Nick
May 11th, 2009
1:04 pm
The ACC will go 2-8 against the ACC with wins over VANDY and MSU!!!!!!
ACC Ace
May 11th, 2009
1:11 pm
I hope our conference has plenty of games against SEC weak sisters Allbarn and Tennessee.
BLAZER
May 11th, 2009
1:15 pm
still wondering why sec people post on an article about acc?
if it is a such a bad conference-i would not bother to talk about it.
some sec people are still wondering about 45-42 i think. the acc team won
Brock
May 11th, 2009
1:18 pm
Huh, you need some anger mangmt or something. I looked it up and it said the ACC went 6-4 over SEC. If you have better proof then show it to me and I will stand corrected. But coming on here and spouting off just shows what a jerk you are.And I wasn’t even responding to you. I see you on the blogs all the time and all you do is try and belittle people with your tough guy talk. You’re a douche.
BS Patrol
May 11th, 2009
1:18 pm
Brock,
Because it’s the ONLY thing they can try to fall back on. It’s so BIG!
MyWhiskeyClear
May 11th, 2009
1:29 pm
Not to do something so unpopular as return to the intended topic of discussion, but I think FSU and Clemson run the Atlantic this year. As for the entire ACC I think VPI&SU is still the team to beat. Personally, I hope the Jackets avenge last year’s “narrow loss” (since we’re now using that term to make losses feel better) and go to the CCG against rival Clemson. I’m not convinced NC State or Wake present anything more than the upset threat they always are.
I think an earlier commenter had a decent point about the ACC being mired in bad branding. I think this is because it’s too odd an assortment of programs. All of the schools except FSU and NC State are ranked very highly in academics, but some of them are still historically football-first schools. The problem at the heart of this cobbled-together conference scheme, in my opinion, is driven by a lack of regional understanding. All conferences suffer from this. For example, is college football a big deal in Massachusetts or North Carolina? Not really. Is it a big deal in Virginia? Well, for one school it is, but still not very much. What about in Arkansas? Maybe, but now what about South Carolina, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia? Florida? These plus Texas, Ohio, and California are the places where college football is an outright religion. The SEC and ACC have both types of fanbases in their conferences. I’m not saying this affects the programs as much, but it definitely affects things like stadium sizes, merchandising, TV viewing, etc….CASH FLOW. In the ACC there is no reason, in my opinion, that fans of Clemson or FSU should have to go all the way to Chestnut Hill, Mass. or try to cram into a tiny stadium in Durham, NC to see their team play. I’m sure SEC fans who are faced with seeing games in Starkville or at Vandy feel the same way at times.
I don’t propose a solution, but like the BCS system, conference branding seems like it could have made more sense of regional teams and fanbases. All they’d need is a map and some knowledge of regional culture.
Otto
May 11th, 2009
1:33 pm
Tide, I’m saying Bama fans have not been happy with the exception of Stallings and Saban and that Bama has gone through several coaches in the process of finding those two. I am not saying that is a good thing or a bad thing. You either win SEC and national titles at Bama or you go find another job. I think FSU will be the same way.
Saban isn’t going anywhere and is a great fit at Bama. He has everything needed to make Bama a national power and will be richly rewarded if he can do it. I also think Saban is a better coach than Miles putting Bama in the drivers seat in the West.
Speaking of Bama, can’t wait to see the GT vs Bama game return. Bama’s top DL against CPJ’s option will be fun.
I think Penn St. will also go through several coaches after JoePa leaves Happy Valley. It happens more times than not after a legend.
Huh?
May 11th, 2009
1:33 pm
Where did you look it up Brock? I looked it up in the win-loss records and the ACC went 6-6 vs. the SEC big guy. Your boy BS Patrol said it himself: the 6-4 record is a REGULAR SEASON record. Maybe that’s why the ACC sucks so much in bowl games. They don’t think it counts. You are dismissed.
Reality Check
May 11th, 2009
1:35 pm
The ACC’s big bowl win last year VT versus Cincinnatti. Outside of that, no real bowl wins of significant nature. I beleive this was the first BCS win for ACC in last 5 or six years. The conference has a lot of mediocre teams and even the last champions have been mid level teams (see WF). GT is the only team that has the up side to break into the nation spotlight as long as CPJ is there and compete at a chmpionship level. But until that happens it is a mediocre conference with less big wins than the Mountain West (See Boise, Utah).
As mentioned, the SEC has a good run in BCS titles with 4 this decade. Also multiple years there has been a 2nd SEC team play and win in the Sugar bowl while UF played for BCS (LSU 2006, UGA 07). So it appears the SEC rulz in football strength.
Munson
May 11th, 2009
1:36 pm
The ACC was 6-4 against the SEC in the regular season. The bowls evened it up at 6-6 because BC Lost to Vandy and Tech got trampled by LSU.
tip
May 11th, 2009
1:39 pm
The ACC used to have good branding and regional importance but when you have teams as far away as BC and Miami it’s hard to get that cohesive, regional passin that a conference needs. I would think they would be better off without Miami, BC and FSU and plug in West Virginia, Pitt and maybe East Carolina.
tip
May 11th, 2009
1:40 pm
Sorry, I meant to say “passion” that a conference needs.
RAMBLE ON!!!
May 11th, 2009
1:47 pm
This is the most balanced division anywhere in the nation. Correctly predicting the finish of this div. would be due more to luck than knowledge. I could see any of these teams wining it.
The two Supreme Powers belong on the other side though, VT and the Champions of the great state of Georgia.
tip
May 11th, 2009
1:49 pm
It’s an abslute shame that these subdivisions are split up this way. It’s obvious that they did this to try and get FSU and Miami in the championship game every year. It’s stupid and shortsighted. I’m happy that it has compeltely failed for the conference thus far.
MyWhiskeyClear
May 11th, 2009
1:56 pm
I think what might be more fun would be to have the SEC drop Ark, Vandy, Kentucky and MSU. Then they could take GT, VT, Clemson and FSU. The ACC would then be free to pick up Vandy, WVU, Pitt. and Kentucky. If the ACC dropped Miami back to the Big East they could maybe consider ECU. I guess it would then be fun to see the Big East take Georgia Southern.
This doesn’t fix a lot of issues, but I think those 4 ACC teams have more historical relevance within the SEC (not that they’d win many games until money could eventually buy top coaching staffs and bigger stadiums), and they are DEFINITELY (perhaps, VT excluded) in the heart of SEC territory.
sidewalk74
May 11th, 2009
2:10 pm
Hey JB,
Tech has won 4 of the last 5 against UGA when not coached By Chan Gailey. He is the reason for the GT loosing streak and CPJ is the reason we are going to win our 2nd in a row this year !!!!!!!
MikeMah71
May 11th, 2009
2:21 pm
You have to remember last year FSU fumbled in the endzone… GT is much better… but I think we all know who will win the ACC this year… FSU! Here is why… dominate Offensive Line- Punishing Defense, and two great fast backs… Ponder will have more time, and will need help developing the reciever core… we all really do not know what we have there… We will have players step up… FSU is a more complete team on offense… Defense will give some plays away, but will hold when needed…I am looking forward to this year! Go Noles…
JB
May 11th, 2009
2:22 pm
We won 14 of 17 against Florida when not coached by Spurrier. What’s your point. Please tell me you are not a Tech grad with that statement…..
sidewalk74
May 11th, 2009
2:27 pm
JB, you really don’t want to compare UGA vs. FLA to UGA vs. GT because our record is better over the past 25 years than yours is against FLA. lol.
I wonder if you blog this much on the UGA blogs. Because as I Tech fan I never read any of articles about you Mutts.
Bo Williams
May 11th, 2009
2:31 pm
Beat your chest all you want. I had rather have UNC, GT, UVA, WF, Duke, on my diploma, rather that UGA, SCAR, Ole Miss, MSU, and so on down the line. Athletes are learning this as well. Look at UNC recruiting. Even Duke is making strides. Now go back to shouting about how big SEC stadiums are.
JB
May 11th, 2009
2:41 pm
Good, I was afraid Tech fans couldn’t remember more than one year of history. You were beginning to make me think the previous 7 years didn’t happen……..
JB
May 11th, 2009
2:44 pm
Bo, are there any Americans still going to those schools?
ACC fun to watch in '09
May 11th, 2009
2:46 pm
After reading the article I can’t see a CLEAR front-runner in ACC Atlantic Div. Whether it’s questions with personel, coaching, or a combonation of both, I don’t see any team that has a solid grasp on where it could go in 2009. And I think that makes for a VERY interesting/exciting season in the ACC-Atl.Div. — every team could win it.
Take the ACC Coastal for example…Altough it’s easy to see that Duke will be even more improved in year 2 under Cutcliff, I don’t think anyone would pick the Blue Deveil or Viginia to win that div. So it’ll be anyone from the Atlantic vs. either GT, VT, UNC or Miami in the ACC CG. That makes for an interesting/exciting season.
Now, look at the SEC ….. It’s UF from the East vs. either LSU or BAMA from the West for the SEC CG as the vast majority would say. Kinda boring unless there are upsets.
And take the PAC-10 … It’s USC. Kinda boring until 2 or more OTHER programs start winning the Conf. on a more regualar basis.
The Big 10 … it’s now just OSU (from OSU or UM) unitl others start consistently winning.
The Big 12, formerly the Big 2+6 …. BORING until the league expanded, and teams other than Nebraska or Oklahoma won the conf.
And I’ll bet Notre Dame will be the top Independent team, or that either BYU or Utah wins the Mnt. West.
Take a bow ACC, you’ve the leque parity thing down; nobody knows who will win the league in ‘09 — kudos!
JB
May 11th, 2009
2:47 pm
sidewalk, you must be a numbers guy and all…….Try 7 of 8 on your slide rule.
Bo Williams
May 11th, 2009
2:50 pm
Do your homework BJ. UNC is truly a state school, serving its graduates first. By the way, SEC schools would love to attract high-achieving foreigners. They can’t get them to come there. Look at how many high school grads with sat scores over 1400 go to SEC schools, not to mention those above 1500.
sidewalk74
May 11th, 2009
2:54 pm
Ya, they definitely happened. I have the emotional scars to prove it. lol But I am tired of UGA fans calling it a “fluke”. This series has always been filled with streaks. I think CPJ may be getting a streak going for GT.
And when you go 8 years between wins, you go a little overboard with the celebration.
ACC Ace
May 11th, 2009
2:57 pm
This blog was missing some ignorance and xenophobia until JB stepped up. Way to class things up, man! By the way, are you holding a club or oversized drumstick right now?
JB
May 11th, 2009
2:58 pm
sidewalk, no team can win every year. I realize Chan and Reggie Ball had ya’ll handcuffed, and Richt had some pretty good teams during that time….my hats off to you guys for last year.
Huh?
May 11th, 2009
3:01 pm
Bo, this is a sports page. If you want to talk academics go to the princeton review. I can promise you that nobody gives two craps what school you want on your diploma. They came here to read and talk about football. Your refusal to discuss that topic tells me that ACC foootball is every bit the heaping pile of crap that I thought it was. Thanks for confirming that. Good day.
JB
May 11th, 2009
3:01 pm
drumstick…..
sidewalk74
May 11th, 2009
3:02 pm
Reggie F_____g Ball. don’t remind me. Throwing the ball out of bounds on 4th down.
That is another reason GT fans are SO happy with CPJ. His attitude is different and he only puts players on the field that perform.
Otto
May 11th, 2009
3:03 pm
How does VT, FSU, and Clemson have stronger ties to the SEC than ACC. VT has only played SEC teams as of the past decade and even then without a winning record. Clemson is UGA’s traditional OOC border rival but no other ties to the SEC. FSU is a traditional OOC rival to UF with no other real SEC ties.
Clemson was the ACC’s dominant football school before the expansion. It would really help the ACC if they could win the ACC title game and BCS bowl.
I think the ACC has good mix of schools and the problem is not geography. The problem is none of the teams are really good and traditional powers Clemson, FSU, and UM are down. The ACC needs top teams to win big games.
Kentucky is not leaving the SEC. The football team has improved greatly under Brooks and they will return to being a SEC baketball power. Vandy has improved greatly as well. I also do not hear many fans complain about visiting Nashville as it is a fun town with a nice campus. Arkansas is a bit out there but what exactly is any of Arkansas close to?
The only trade that historically makes much sense is S. Car for GT as both teams used to be in the other conf. However how many new freshman remember GT as rivals to Bama and Auburn?
I could see Arkansas to the Big 12 South with Baylor joining a non BCS conf. GT to the SEC West. S. Carolina back in the ACC. FSU into the SEC East. The SEC would have to adopt 2 non rotating games from the other division. The ACC could bring in a Big East team.
Huh?
May 11th, 2009
3:04 pm
“sidewalk, no team can win every year.”
True, but Georgia comes pretty darned close when it comes to owning Georgia Tech. We’ve won 28 of the past 40. The series is indeed very “streaky.” The only problem for Tech fans is that most of the streaks obviously go in Georgia’s favor.
Reality Check
May 11th, 2009
3:08 pm
Sidewalk74, You would be a good publicist. It is very convenient to also forgot that three of the four tech wins came against Jim Donnan who got fired for losing too many games. CMR has one loss against GT, last year. No other losses period.
Also- this is not a GT blog, it is about the whole ACC. I have lived for about 40 years and by and large Tech has been an afterthought with the exeption of the Goff years and mid 90’s. All GT has known is the Sillicon Bowls, Humanitarian Bowls, etc. If the biggest bowl game I had watched for UGA was the Gator Bowl in my lifetime I would give up watching College Football. lol.
SpreadToption
May 11th, 2009
3:14 pm
45-42 State champs in Football 2008. Looking for Back to Back champs in 2009. maybe ugag fans would like to talk about basketball. no!!! What about baseball. Didn’t think so. Just go sit on the porch and take notes.
GO JACKETS!!! THWG
JB
May 11th, 2009
3:18 pm
Tech Basketball ???????? give us a history lesson because there’s no current news about that team.
I’ll take out baseball team thank you………….did he bring up Tech Basketball….I can hear slide rules breaking after reading that…….Don’t believe I’d brought that up Bro.
GT
May 11th, 2009
3:22 pm
You know the truth be told nobody in any league is that good any more. That causes a lot of confusion, but Southern Cal is about the only super talented team and the fat gutted boys lick their chops when USC goes down during the season escorting them as far away from the action as possible as quickly as possible so Ohio State can play a Southeastern Conference team. Florida loses to Miss. State which has got to be a weak team on anybodies schedule and never misses a beat, USC loses by one point to OU and is forgotten forever.
SpreadToption
May 11th, 2009
3:23 pm
The point is “they beat UGA in all three sports”.
JB
May 11th, 2009
3:25 pm
good year for ya’ll……..finally………
Otto
May 11th, 2009
3:36 pm
GT what are you babling about?
staff fan now
May 11th, 2009
3:40 pm
to mex dog…did that full stadium help the dogs last year in Athens on Dooley day?
And without staff and morono, the dogs will not bark very loud on “O” and does anyone know if your “D” man really changed anything?
to Huh?, Tech does not “own” that old clunker of a coach and now has a new johnson so don not claim you “own” anything!
One think has not changed….headlines about your boyz.
sidewalk74
May 11th, 2009
3:55 pm
Hey Reality Check,
CMR had the benefit of coaching against Chan Gailey 6 times. All I care about now is that CMP is 0-1 against CPJ.
Streaky yes, and GT still holds the longest streak at 8.
sidewalk74
May 11th, 2009
3:59 pm
I mean,
CMR is 0-1 against CMP.
Sorry for the typo
SEC Overrated (What a Shock)
May 11th, 2009
4:02 pm
SEC fans kill me. They act like they are the gods of college football. If the SEC is so dominant and we are talking about here and now, not what you did 10 years ago. Then why did the SEC have a losing record in the regular season against the ACC LAST SEASON?
The SEC is Florida and Bama (even though they got smoked by UTAH, yes I said UTAH) and then a rest are the middle of the pack teams right now.
After all last season an average Wake Forrest team took out the fast and rising Ole Miss team that beat all mighty Florida last year. Ga. Tech went into Athens and beat UGA. This is the same UGA team that just had the #1 pick in the NFL draft and had a running back picked in the top 15 and you still couldn’t beat Ga. Tech on your on field.
Keep barking Dogs fans but the fact is you dominated Ga. Tech under Chan Gailey. Chan Gailey is long gone and Paul Johnson in his 1st year with only 70 scholarships players AND THE YOUNGEST team in the ACC ran up and down the field on UGA like they where a bad middle school football team (which you were).
Keep living in the past and what you guys did while Gailey was at Ga. Tech. But the FACT is Paul Johnson (1), Richt (0) in head to head match-ups. You fair wheather UGA fans will be calling for Richt’s head after you lose to Ga. Tech next year.
SEC Overrated (What a Shock)
May 11th, 2009
4:10 pm
Do SEC fans want to talk about the worst team in the ACC (Duke) going into Vandy’s stadium and beating Vandy last year. The same Vandy who represented the SEC in a bowl game last year.
Probably not because that’s just more proof the SEC is an OVERRATED conference.
But please SEC fans keep telling the ACC fans how bad we are and how great you the SEC isdespite the facts the ACC’s worst team can beat a bowl bound SEC team on it’s home field.
Otto
May 11th, 2009
4:20 pm
THat same Bama team that lost to Utah destroyed an ACC Clemson. Who were the ACC wins against Ole Miss by 2 in Houston Nutts 2nd game, Miss. St., Vandy, UGA by 3.
Vandy lost twice late in the regular season and came back to beat BC with a healthier team. The SEC schedule is far more brutal than the ACC. Have fun beating up on the Mississippi teams with Houston in his 2nd year and Mullens at Miss St.
Keep living in your hopes and dreams, CPJ won once and heated the series up. Thank you for reminding the UGA players they have to show up for all 4 quarters.
ACC a joke
May 11th, 2009
4:25 pm
“The same Vandy who represented the SEC in a bowl game last year.”
Gee, and just who did that Vandy team beat in a bowl game?
Oh yeah, a team from the AIN’T COMPETITIVE CONFERENCE
SEC Overrated (What a Shock)
May 11th, 2009
4:26 pm
As bad as Tech’s basketball team was last year, and they were bad. They were still better than the pathetic UGA team. But keep talking JB. UGA has a pathetic incoming class (wow two 2 star players), while Tech has the 5th best class in the country coming in, including the #1 player in the nation. Hmmm …. I wonder what program has a brighter future?
Lets see football check, basketball check, and baseball check. Seriously can UGA beat any Tech team RIGHT NOW!!! Hey you always have your gymnastic team to fall back on.
Reality Check
May 11th, 2009
4:28 pm
Reality time again. CPJ is 1-0 versus every team that GT beat last year. This does not logically mean that GT will dominate every team that it beat last year. Weather it is Pepper Rogers, Bill Curry, George O’Leary, Chan Gailey or now CPJ, history and records since 1970 suggest that UGA will continue to dominate the series. For a couple of years GT may have success but it will not last. All GT fans hit us over the head with how smart you are, so tell me what the mathmatics say about the series since 1970?
Do not think you want to answer that one. lol.
LOL
May 11th, 2009
4:33 pm
Hey, you always have academics to fall back on….oh wait, nevermind.
SEC Overrated (What a Shock)
May 11th, 2009
4:34 pm
Great job…. Vandy you beat Boston College and there back up QB. But the fact is VANDY LOST TO DUKE!!! Let me repeat that for UGA fans because I know most of you are slowwwww. VANDY LOST TO DUKE!!! One more time, they lost to DUKE!!! Seems like UGA fans are also forgetting that you lost to Ga. Tech LAST YEAR!!! This is the same Ga. Team that played with only 70 scholarship players and was the youngest team in the ACC last year.
2008: Year one of Paul Johnson vs. Mark Richt. Paul Johnson 45, Richt 42.
Jim n Buckhead
May 11th, 2009
4:35 pm
ACC fan I agree somewhat with your break down but I would say it would come to VT and UNC…with GT contending……The jury is still out on CPJ and his offense…yeah it worked great for a half against UGA and certainly looked awesome against MS St… but it took a miracle play for you guys to beat FSU…it stuttered against one of the 1-AA schools….and of course was awful in a bowl game against a team UGA beat easily at their place…..
Huh?
May 11th, 2009
4:37 pm
“Reality time again. CPJ is 1-0 versus every team that GT beat last year. This does not logically mean that GT will dominate every team that it beat last year.”
If you have an engineering degree from the great institution of Georgia Tech that is apparently exactly what it means. You obviously live in a trailer and work the night shift at Waffle House. Carry on…
SEC Overrated (What a Shock)
May 11th, 2009
4:37 pm
Gosh, I realize I don’t know the difference between “their” and “there” but don’t hate me because
VANDY LOST TO DUKE!!! Let me repeat that for UGA fans because I know most of you are slowwwww. VANDY LOST TO DUKE!!! One more time, they lost to DUKE!!!
Otto
May 11th, 2009
4:39 pm
Cutcliff has played Vandy how many times? Vandy just came off Auburn, Miss St. and UGA in back to back to back games going into Duke and then a off week before UF. Is it really a shock. BC lost to Vandy because of a backup QB. BC lost to VANDY. COME ON LISTEN BC LOST TO VANDY. Vandy had not won a bowl in 53 YEARS. You hear that 53 years.
Reality Check Checked
May 11th, 2009
4:40 pm
Keep in mind that Georgia has every advantage you can think of over Ga. Tech. The Dawgs are the N.Y. Yankees of athletics in this state. Most unbiased pundits would agree that the team with advantages in tradition, facilities, athletics budget, alumni base and much more should win 3 times out of 4 at least.
SEC Overrated (What a Shock)
May 11th, 2009
4:41 pm
Who gives a crap about 1970????
It’s 2009 and in Paul Johnson’s 1st year he beat UGA who was a pre-season #1 team in the country with 70 scholarship players and the youngest team in the ACC on there on field. But keep believing it was a one-time thing. It only makes it that much sweeter when we run up and down the field on you guys this year.
Reality Check Checked
May 11th, 2009
4:47 pm
Forgot one of the biggest UGA advantages — less demanding academic requirements.
Huh?
May 11th, 2009
4:49 pm
“Keep in mind that Georgia has every advantage you can think of over Ga. Tech. The Dawgs are the N.Y. Yankees of athletics in this state. Most unbiased pundits would agree that the team with advantages in tradition, facilities, athletics budget, alumni base and much more should win 3 times out of 4 at least.”
Uh, is that supposed to be some kind of insult? We know that UGA craps all over Georgia Tech when it comes to the game of college football. This is not news. Thanks anyway though.
Gator Growl
May 11th, 2009
5:13 pm
Current bottom line: Florida, Bama, LSU would be favored over ANY ACC team if the game was being played this Saturday. Georgia and Ole Miss over most. Barring a really down year or a major upset in the SECCG, you will find the SEC champ in the NC game any givin year!
macrotech
May 11th, 2009
5:16 pm
Huh?, were are all the trophies to back up your statements? The New York Yankees?! Are you serious?! uga, i confess, is an easier team for the ‘common’ folk to identify with. Georgia is filled with people of all levels of stature, but is known throughout the country as a collection of trailor park, uneducated, cousin mating, dentally challenged rednecks…ask anyone outside the state lines. Having lived in Georgia for a number of years, I don’t buy it any more than I buy that uga students OR fans fall COMPLETELY in this catagory. Tech, the ‘nerd’ school, doesn’t appeal to ANY of these ideals. Our fan base is MUCH smaller, but not, in any way insignificant. Ours is a history rich tradition filled with ebbs and flows (like uga). We have the trophies to support this. You keep believing that the ACC is inferior to the sec….there is an ebb and flow and things appear to be flowing in our favor! You’re a dawg fan and i say more power to ya! I’m a Tech fan and I could give a flip about your thoughts regarding the ACC. My response is based on entertainment value and you DO entertain me. I thank you for that. We’ll see, in november, which team is THE team….right now, TECH IS THE TEAM! In regards to the ACC, things are looking pretty good. FLOW TECH!!!
MyWhiskeyClear
May 11th, 2009
5:30 pm
Otto, that makes sense. Maybe my verdicts on Kentucky and Vanderbilt were a little hasty, but my thoughts were that a VT, FSU or Clemson fit the “type” of SEC school a little better than those two. Biggest stadiums in the ACC, loudest fans, probably the most merchandising and out-of-state fan loyalty…and probably the most televised teams. I didn’t mean to make it sound like these three had history IN the SEC, but history as rivals to SEC teams and in the same region with fans that talk the same smack is good enough to me. GT fits that model plus their 5 very dusty SEC championships.
As a GT fan, I’d be content with your restructuring. I personally would love to see Tech back in rivalry matches with Auburn and Bama. I mean, we play them every five years or so, but it’s not what it could be. There won’t be another grudge match like Dodd vs. Bryant, but maybe Johnson vs. Saban could be interesting. We’ll see in 2011 I guess…
Now don’t get me wrong here, I think for GT to argue that this is even a good point it needs to be dominant (and I mean really…no more “co-division championships) for a good 5 years. But I figure if Texas programs came to the Big 12 as a packaged deal which included Baylor then it just seems cruel that GT was kept out of the SEC market when it’s literally surrounded by SEC programs. And money really is what turns programs around over time (OKState anyone?).
Reality sets in
May 11th, 2009
5:48 pm
In looking at reality checks handle it reminds me of when Jimmy Clausen commited to ND as a high school senior and said at a national awards banquet that he couldn’t wait to see if they could win 4 straight ncs.
Then in his freshman year as ND dropped to something like 0-4 and were getting the hell beat outta them by Mich. or someone it was late 4th qtr when the announcer brought up the statement at the banquet. As Clause walked off the field following an int he said “lLooks like reality is setting in on young Mr. Clausen”. Too funny if you dislike ND as much as I do.
macrotech
May 11th, 2009
5:49 pm
ok, huh?, i JUST noticed that you were quoting someone else on the New York Yankees thing….my bad. Whoever said it, YOU’RE not even in the same ball park with that lame analogy! GO TECH!!!
Otto
May 11th, 2009
5:50 pm
MyWhiskeyClear, No prob. CPJ vs. CMR or Saban could be very interesting. The Okie St comment could not be more true. If you search youtube Switzer said in an interview Ok St is a prgoram to watch out for.
I really don’t see any changes to the conf. structure for the SEC, ACC, or Big 12. I always enjoyed the UGA vs Clemson matchup. It would be fun to see GT back in the SEC. Unfortunately it comes down to politics and money.
SEC Overrated (What a Shock)
May 11th, 2009
5:54 pm
Jim in Buckhead
It didn’t take a miracle play for Ga. Tech to beat FSU. If Nesbitt doesn’t get hurt the game is never close to begin with. And the miracle play was made by a true freshman that laid a licking on the ball carrier, nothing lucky about hitting somebody hard.
If you think the jury is still out on Tech’s offense I don’t know what to tell you. You seem to forget the week before Tech put up 400+ rushing yards on UGA they did the same thing to Miami who was ranked #18 when we played them.
Ready or not Ga. Tech will be the best offensive team in the ACC and one of the best in the country this year. It may take a year or two for people to realize that Paul Johnson is one of the best, if not the best offensive minds in the country but you will understand it soon enough. You don’t have to believe me. Just read what his peers say about him.
Have fun trying to contain Bebe, Nesbitt, Dwyer, Jones, Wright, and Allen. UGA fans can act all confident but in 2008/2009 you are Ga. Tech’s whipping boys.
One more time .. Football check, Basketball Check, and Baseball Check. Maybe UGA can win a game of cricket against Tech.
Paul Johnson: 1
Mark Richt: 0
45-42
Paddy
May 11th, 2009
6:07 pm
Arkansas has a chance???? Have you all forgotten that no-backbone coach still lives there.
Saint Nick
May 11th, 2009
6:18 pm
GT doesn’t want to be back in the SEC!!!! They would go to the PapaJohns.com Bowl every year!!!!!
BS Patrol
May 11th, 2009
7:28 pm
Huh?
Reality Check is a doggie fan you moron!
BS Patrol
May 11th, 2009
7:33 pm
Reality Check Checked,
ga wins 3 of 5. Give Tech some credit!
BS Patrol
May 11th, 2009
7:46 pm
Gator Growl,
What I have said all along. UF & one of the other two.THE BIG TWO CONFERENCE.
BS Patrol
May 11th, 2009
7:51 pm
macrotech & Whiskey Clear,
Please, you don’t need to defend or explain yourself to the servants.
staff fan now
May 11th, 2009
7:51 pm
Some seem to forget just what a coaching change can produce….for a few years…Dooley and CMR at georgie are good examples…and now the most significant change at Tech in a few years…..Johnson. Look out dogs! And look out Always Competitive Conference!
Frozen_Gator
May 11th, 2009
10:12 pm
I just don’t see F$U being that good; their QB and wideouts will have to prove they are considerably better for me to buy it. The defense needs to do the same thing and become more creative. Just because a kid signs with f$u, it doesn’t make them worldbeaters anymore. I think the coaching staff hasn’t found the continuity they had hoped for and are a state of flux. 8-9 wins at very best.
Miles
May 12th, 2009
1:33 am
Cut to the chase. The post spring top 25 will undoubtedly have the Florida Gators on top. Am I wrong, Mr. Barnhart? Let’s hear about the new book, i.e., Larry Munson and his legacy with the Bulldogs.
UGASlobberknocker
May 12th, 2009
6:11 am
What I dont know about the ACC Atlantic is:
Who cares?
AltamahaDawg
May 12th, 2009
7:23 am
You guys cry every week and ask why that there isn’t more ACC coverage, and when there is, all you want to talk about is the Georgia game. Does that answer your question?
m=saintsimonslover
May 12th, 2009
7:27 am
What we still don’t know is if the ACC is a bona fide 1-A football conference.
Reality Check Checked
May 12th, 2009
7:33 am
I realize I’m not dealing with many Einsteins here (besides the Tech folks) so I’ll spell it out:
NY Yankees — money, influence and history gives them an edge in acquiring players each year
Dawgs (just comparing in-state, mind you) — all the advantages listed above make it much, much easier for it to sustain a high-level program vs. Tech
These are the facts, folks. Yet the Dawgs and their Wal-Mart alumni will yap on (well, before CPJ arrived, that is).
KjBO
May 12th, 2009
9:55 am
Wake Forest all the way. 2-0 vs. SEC. All the haters, sec, need to go and worry about the SEC before they rip the ACC.
Tiger
May 12th, 2009
3:10 pm
uga…you should get you facts straight. The ACC had a winning record last season against the SEC.
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11:26 am
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