Live from Tampa: Tech goes for a title in a windy setting
The ACC motto: Nothing says college football like a pirate ship in the end zone. (Photo by M. Bradley)
Tampa — The ACC tried Jacksonville. Didn’t work. Then it tried here. Hasn’t worked. Next year it tries Charlotte. Probably won’t work.
The ACC has this problem. It wants to be seen as a big-time football conference but lives cheek-by-jowl with the big-time football conference. The SEC championship game — the granddaddy of such events, at least in the upper tier of college football — dwarfs all else. Best teams, loudest fans, nicest setting. (Atlanta, Ga., thank you very much.)
The ACC expanded to 12 teams in 2005. Its first title game — between Florida State and Virginia Tech — drew 72,749. Last year’s title game — staged here, in the stadium rigged out with the pirate ship — drew an actual crowd of 27,360. (Nearly twice that many tickets were sold.) Tonight’s game between Georgia Tech and Clemson will do better than that because these schools are much closer to Florida than were Boston College and Virginia Tech, but nobody is predicting a sellout.
Raymond James Stadium has a pirate ship — and it’s a cool pirate ship, I must say — but it also has an inherent drawback: It lacks a roof. And if you’re going to play a football game outdoors in December, even on the Gulf Coast of F-L-A, it would behoove you to control the climate. Especially if your target audience is a conference that isn’t exactly the essence of football fandom. (Basketball is another matter, but the ACC has long been really good in basketball. And most basketball games are staged indoors.)
Just for fun, I checked the weather in Charlotte as of 5 p.m. Saturday — 42 degrees with a 70 percent chance of rain. Bank of America Stadium, the next home for this wayfaring event, is likewise open-air. Ouch, babe.
It had rained for several days here, but the rain ceased this morning. Now it’s just gray and windy. (The Dunedin boat parade was canceled today because of the wind, FYI.) Temperature was 57 degrees at 5 p.m. and was expected to drop into the 40s by the time the ACC anoints its champ. Mercifully, there was only a 10 percent chance of rain.
OK, you’re saying: “This is football, dude, and football is supposed to be played outdoors come Hades or high water!” My reply: The ACC is largely a Southern-based conference. We Southerners aren’t used to sitting and shivering. And if you’re neutral wondering if you should pay money to go watch Tech and Clemson play in Tampa — heck, even if you’re a Tech or Clemson fan — you might feel more inclined to trot out the credit card if you knew you weren’t going to be miserable throughout.
And there’s the ACC’s biggest problem: The only real alternative stadium from Boston to Miami that bears a roof is the one already booked this weekend. The Georgia Dome is exactly what the league needs, but the SEC got there first. And the SEC loves the Dome. And the feeling is mutual.
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney suggested Friday that the ACC might pair its title game with the SEC championship in Atlanta, which would make great good sense. Reps from the conferences already oppose one another in both the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic and the bowl formerly known as the Peach, and those games do sellout business. (And Atlanta is, by dint of Tech’s location, technically an ACC city.)
But would the ACC ever want to play alongside Big Brother? Would it want its status as the JV league underscored with a side-by-side comparison? In an ideal world, no. But the first five installments of the ACC title game haven’t been ideal. The event needs a lift. The Dome would supply one. I say try it.
And with that, I’ll open the floor to comments, questions and venue suggestions. I’ll be here until Tech wins — I say the score will be 31-27 — and even if it loses. Join me, won’t you?
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2,008 comments Add your comment
ITS OFFICIAL
December 5th, 2009
11:42 pm
UGA=2009 ACC Champions!!!!
Mr Charlie
December 5th, 2009
11:42 pm
You mean a lot better than a UGA loss.
Kelly Johnson Fan Club
December 5th, 2009
11:42 pm
The trash talk is funny.
Good game, Jackets. They played well. So did Clemson.
GT Fan
December 5th, 2009
11:42 pm
Burgess, Hell No!!!!!!!!!!!
Starring Robert Stack as Rex Kramer
December 5th, 2009
11:42 pm
SUCK IT NECKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (39-34) ORANGE BOWL BOUND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SugarPikeGang
December 5th, 2009
11:42 pm
What happened last week? Who CARES!?!
DawgForever
December 5th, 2009
11:43 pm
Please forgive the lunatic fringe like Oxbig. I’ve been a Dawg fan since 1959 and I say congrats to Tech. Your team has a lot of heart. We whipped you, but you won a championship and will be going to a BCS Bowl. Represent our state well!!
BuzztheKiller
December 5th, 2009
11:43 pm
YES! YES! that is called a CHAMPIONSHIP!
Kim Z' Package
December 5th, 2009
11:43 pm
Now my BAMA daddy can give me a RED ELEPHANT TRUNK and I will give him a STINGER. All you guys like a girl with BENEFITS. LOVE like you do in the CLOSET.
UGA RUNS THIS STATE
December 5th, 2009
11:43 pm
30-24
Flowery Branch Yellow Jacket
December 5th, 2009
11:43 pm
Burgess … you can’t possibly be serious! A conference championship is the result of superior effort throughout an entire season … not based simply on the outcome of one isolated game. Your question would be like asking the Pittsburgh Steelers if they wouldn’t want to trade in a Super Bowl ring in exchange for a win over the Eagles. The correct answer is NO WAY!
45ACP
December 5th, 2009
11:43 pm
SOUTHGADAWG88 – yeah, we don’t want him.
Mike Oxbig
December 5th, 2009
11:43 pm
Old School–
tech is not worthy of any class. your program is a joke and is simply fun to beat on and make fun of. are you going to put total rushing yards by clemson and UGA on your A She She rings?
Megan Fox
December 5th, 2009
11:43 pm
Well, that’s final: Clemson and UGA in the chicken bowl.
GT IS A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
December 5th, 2009
11:43 pm
HEY YELLOW TICKS IF YOU ARE STILL IN YOUR LAVATORIES DOING EGGSPERIMENTS, YOU ARE THE CHUMPS CHUMPS CHUMPS OF THE ASS OF CUP CAKES.
Barkin'Dog
December 5th, 2009
11:44 pm
Great Game, Tech!! Congratulations!! Made us Georgians proud. WOW! What a day of great games all over, including Texas’ great ending – and Cincy’s 45-44 win. Just WOW!
Let the Bowl Games soon commence. It can’t top these championship games today, but they should be fun. Good night all!
GT baby!!!
December 5th, 2009
11:44 pm
ACC CHAMPIONS!!!
oh by the way, what channel was the UGA game on? i couldn’t find it and i didn’t see it on the ESPN ticker
BuzztheKiller
December 5th, 2009
11:44 pm
BCS! Orange Bowl BABY!
ProudTechFan
December 5th, 2009
11:44 pm
right now the ACC championship feels pretty dam good. UGA comments dont mean squat to me right now because, TECH just won the ACC in CPJ second year. thats awsome..
GO JACKETS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Savannah Fan
December 5th, 2009
11:44 pm
Great win -Thanks CPJ for bringing the program back
Mr Charlie
December 5th, 2009
11:44 pm
ACC is a joke.
SLIM PICKENS
December 5th, 2009
11:44 pm
……………..NESBITT FOR HEIISMAN
BigC32Dawgfan
December 5th, 2009
11:44 pm
Congrats, Tech!! Way to represent the state of Georgia!! Now win the Orange Bowl!! From a Dawgs fan.
GT IS A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
December 5th, 2009
11:44 pm
ASS OF CUP CAAKES CHUMPS BEATEN BY A TEAM GOING TO INDEPENDENCE BOWL.
pilgrim
December 5th, 2009
11:45 pm
Burgess – Serious answer: rather beat Ga than be runner up in ACC. Rather win ACC than beat Ga. But that has a lot to do with the win last year. Here’s to a renewed quality rivalry.
Buckhead Bulldog
December 5th, 2009
11:45 pm
Great game Jackets!
GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS – 2009 ACC CHAMPIONS!
Good luck in the Orange Bowl…..
45ACP
December 5th, 2009
11:45 pm
The Dawgs beatdown BYE this Saturday.
SLIM PICKENS
December 5th, 2009
11:45 pm
SEC IS A REDNECK JOKE
cdawg92
December 5th, 2009
11:45 pm
Congrats to Tech, that was one heck of a game, great win and good luck in Miami.
Stephen
December 5th, 2009
11:45 pm
Fellow Dawg Fans- do you remember how obnoxious GT fans have been for the last year? Well DON’T DO THAT. Congrats to GT, and best of luck. (But Go Dawgs!)
BuzztheKiller
December 5th, 2009
11:46 pm
Mike- anytime anywhere little girl- admit you are jealous and just go to bed punk
1eyedJack
December 5th, 2009
11:46 pm
Yellow Jackets…congratulations…big win…ACC Champions. Believe me I’m being sincere here. I don’t know who ya’ll are gonna be matched up with but ya’ll’s defense is going to get you embarrased.
DawgForever
December 5th, 2009
11:46 pm
How about it Oxbig and GT is a 4th rate? It asses like you who give UGA a bad name. Hell, I bet you were a couple of guys who were saying after the KY game that you hoped Tech whipped us so we would have to fire Willie and the Boys. You don’t support your team by tearing another one down!
IDJacket
December 5th, 2009
11:46 pm
It would be a sweeter end of season if we managed to pull it off in the UGA game, but nothing any Mutt fan can say can take away our excitement tonight.
Kim Z' Package
December 5th, 2009
11:46 pm
TEXAS won like BAMA won against Auburn. What did the DAWG win today? More muustard on their boloney sandwich in JAIL? HHAHHAHAHHAHA
Mark Bradley
December 5th, 2009
11:46 pm
Here’s the game column. Sorry to duck out.
Bill
December 5th, 2009
11:46 pm
GT ACC Champions=thanks Coach PJ and Rads.
Where did you go Mark?
bigdawg88
December 5th, 2009
11:46 pm
Colt Mccoy counts like Reggie Ball!
OB-Wan222
December 5th, 2009
11:47 pm
There are a bunch of GA fans that are a class act but some even when they win a game do everything they can to lose everyone’s respect.
Way to go Tech and good luck to GA.
AHS
December 5th, 2009
11:47 pm
Lord help GA Tech if they ever have to play a team that can run the football and has a good defense! (That could be ugly!)
GT IS A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
December 5th, 2009
11:47 pm
ORANGE BOWL TEAM BEATEN BY TEAM GOING TO INDEPENDENCE BOWL. HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAH AND MORE HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHH FOREVER AND EVER
...
December 5th, 2009
11:47 pm
SHREVEPORT HALL OF SHAME for dawgs………….
……….ORANGE BOWL FOR 11-2 JACKETS
To GA Fans
December 5th, 2009
11:47 pm
Your win made your season…that win made ours!
Browncoat
December 5th, 2009
11:47 pm
Enter your comments here
1eyedJack
December 5th, 2009
11:47 pm
Enter your comments here
GO TECH!!!
December 5th, 2009
11:47 pm
Yes!!!!!! Tech, you are good!!. Now I need to study for finals. Damn….that was nice!!!
PhoneHome
December 5th, 2009
11:47 pm
Off to South Beach!
The Alpha Male
December 5th, 2009
11:47 pm
Congrats, Tech…. I can’t think of a more appropriate representative for a second rate, overly hyped, underachieving conference…… Shreveport sucks, but 30-24, eight out of the last nine will keep me smiling for 358 more days.
Georgia Tech…. 2009 Champions of the All-Cupcake Conference.
LostDawg
December 5th, 2009
11:47 pm
Congrats Tech..Not real impressed with ACC but ya’ll are obviously the best team in your conference. CJ Spiller played his guts out and I hope heisman voters took notice that you can lose like a man unlike crybaby superman
CHAMPIONS!
December 5th, 2009
11:47 pm
of the worst conference in the nation… This is what Bobby Dodd had in mind when he ran from the SEC!!! Dream come true!