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
BuzztheKiller
December 5th, 2009
11:47 pm
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS! AND IT FEELS GOOD!
Bobby
December 5th, 2009
11:48 pm
Hey Old School,
STFU!!!!!! The reason we are not showing class is because we had to deal with you no class pieces of Sh___T all year. You all talked about how you were going to kill us this year and y’all were going to own us for the next 8 years. So just face it, if you had to play in a real conference (SEC) your high school offense would not work. LSU killed you last year and we killed you this year, just imagine what Florida and Alabama would do to you. Congrats on being our bitches every year
Porch dog
December 5th, 2009
11:48 pm
How many pages did we get on the UGA blog?
Tech Tony
December 5th, 2009
11:48 pm
My thanks to the classy Georgia fans that have joined us tonight. You do your school proud.
To those unclassy ones, doesn’t it make you sick that teams that reach BCS bowls are nationally prominent while teams that are relegated to Nashville or Shreveport are afterthoughts?
bigdawg88
December 5th, 2009
11:48 pm
Kim Z,
Auburn actually has an offense and defense, Nebraska only has a defense. BIG Difference. Bama rolls easy!
Ross
December 5th, 2009
11:48 pm
Between having to read the GD Bible off Tebow’s face and listen to the pissy neckdawgs here, I’m just about sick of dealing with the South when it comes to football. To hell with all of you. Do they have toilet training in this swamp? What’s your excuse then?
BuzztheKiller
December 5th, 2009
11:48 pm
Thanks to the true classy UGA fans for the congrats.
Bristol Jacket
December 5th, 2009
11:48 pm
Stehen is a class act! Thanks!
Kelly Johnson Fan Club
December 5th, 2009
11:48 pm
Serious question for Tech fans, would you not trade the ACC championship for a win over Georgia ?
Between going 13-1 and losing to Georgia or going 1-11 and beating Georgia, I’d probably take the latter.
I hate Georgia.
Orange Julius
December 5th, 2009
11:48 pm
Hey UGA fans…have fun in Shreveport, hahahaha
GT IS A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
December 5th, 2009
11:48 pm
HEY CLASSY YELLOW TICKS YOU ARE THE CHUMPS OF ASS OF CUP CAKES HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAAHHAHMORE HAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHA AND MORE HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHHAHAHHHAHAH AND SOME MORE HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAH FOREVER AND EVER.
ProudTechFan
December 5th, 2009
11:49 pm
and for the record, CJ spiller is all freaking heart man…. if Clemson was playing against anyone else in the country i would be pulling for that guy. Good luck in the future CJ. you are one hell of a football player..
GO JACKETS!!!!
...11-2
December 5th, 2009
11:49 pm
TAKE YOUR 7-6 RECORD AND CRAM IT UP YOUR DOG FOOD
A Rob
December 5th, 2009
11:49 pm
Let’s figure out how to get down to Miami and find a hotel room. We get a shot at Cincy….Gonna be a blast!!
45ACP
December 5th, 2009
11:49 pm
Kim – Be nice. I see a lot of Dawg fans giving the Jackets some love tonight.
AHS
December 5th, 2009
11:49 pm
Hey Kimmie,
Have you finished playing with your sister yet?
Paul in RDU
December 5th, 2009
11:49 pm
I want to thank the classy Dawg fans for their best wishes.
Also every true Jacket would not be unhappy if you beat the poop out of St. Simons and m – we didn’t like them any more than you did.
o-me
December 5th, 2009
11:49 pm
It was good to have you Kim Z’ Package blogging today . Hope to catch u again next time.
woodie
December 5th, 2009
11:49 pm
Georgia fans are so jealous it’s making me chuckle.
GT87
December 5th, 2009
11:50 pm
Nicely said DawgForever.
Gator in the Hootch
December 5th, 2009
11:50 pm
As I mentioned on the SEC Champ blog…and it continues on this blog…most Georgia fans have no class are are complete idiots. Your team won nothing and is going to the Shrevport Bowl…and you have the audacity to come on the ACC Champ blog and blog your classless crap on here as well…just as you did on the SEC Champ blog. Georgia fans will forever be the MOST CLASSLESS BUNCH OF MORRONS, not only in the SEC, but in all of college football!!!! Georgia Tech is ACC CHAMPS and going to the BCS Orange Bowl to play undefeated Cinncinati. Florida is going to the Sugar Bowl to play undefeated TCU. Georgia is going to the Shrevport Bowl to play someone like Navy or Houston. As I said before, most Georgia fans, shut up and go lick your Dawg balls.
GO TECH!!!
December 5th, 2009
11:51 pm
Like I said before. GA, sit back and watch us play. hahhaha
Ekim
December 5th, 2009
11:51 pm
Burgess, would NOT trade the ACCCG win for one over Georgia. Would not trade any conference win for a win against UGA.
TexasguyinGA
December 5th, 2009
11:51 pm
I think we need to scratch the Clemson Defensive Corrd, off our list for Georgia after watching how Gt just folded them up,
but ………30-24 go Dawgs…… that feels good…
http://www.swarmhornetswarm.com
Jackets Keep Rollin'
December 5th, 2009
11:51 pm
11-2, Thank you Jackets! Thank you Paul Johnson!
Orange Bowl Bound!!!
2009 ACC CHAMPS!!!!!!!!
Mike Oxbig
December 5th, 2009
11:51 pm
Bobby,
you took the words right out of my mouth. tech has nothing to be proud of. clemson D makes ours look like ‘Bama. Buford High would give them a better fight then CU.
wordy
December 5th, 2009
11:52 pm
congrats Techies, on to the Orange
GT IS A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
December 5th, 2009
11:52 pm
CHUMPS OF ASS OF CUP CAKES BEATEN BY UGA DAWGS. HAHAHHAHAHHHAHAHAHHHA AND MORE HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAH SOME MORE HAHHAHAHAHHAAHHAHHAHHAHA FOREVER AND EVER.
JMC
December 5th, 2009
11:52 pm
Orange Bowl. Where is UGA playing?
Ekim
December 5th, 2009
11:52 pm
That’d be cool of UGA played Navy in its bowl game and got the crap beat out of them by a disciplined, spread offense team.
Decatur Tech Fan
December 5th, 2009
11:52 pm
Damn nice win…..if the poultry science dui majors can get rid of their d coordinator, even tho he and richtro share a tickle pile, we need to can Woooahmack. Defense has kept us from an undefeated season.
BTW, who did Ugay play today….hahahahaahahahaha. hey dawg fans get off this blog, off ur sister and get to bed. your shift at Walmart starts early tomorrow mornin.
BigC32Dawgfan
December 5th, 2009
11:53 pm
Hey Dawg fans, those who are putting down Tech’s conference and making assumptions of teams they’ll “lose” to in the Orange Bowl. Just shut up and move on off the blog. You are showing low class. From this Dawg fan to Tech and their fans, congratulations on winning your championship and best of luck in the Orange Bowl!!
RedneckDawgs
December 5th, 2009
11:53 pm
Usually, when I meet a UGA fan I ask them what community college they attend . . .
Techredneck
December 5th, 2009
11:53 pm
I’ll admit UGA owns Tech if you mutts admit the Gators, Kentucky, Tenn.LSU, Alabama, own your azz.
G-E-O-R-G-I-A
December 5th, 2009
11:53 pm
Awesome…UGA just won the ACC….guess that puts us in the lower middle of the SEC. What a joke….does the ACC play any defense?
This Just In
December 5th, 2009
11:53 pm
1eyed jack:
Thanks, do you think Mark will share the DC resumes with us
Orange Julius
December 5th, 2009
11:53 pm
Shreveport, hahahahahaha
Gator in the Hootch
December 5th, 2009
11:54 pm
Good luck Tech in the Orange Bowl. That was one fun game to watch. But you better find some defense before you play Cincy or they will put up 70 on you. On the other hand, you might put 70 up on Cincy. The final score of that game might be 75 to 70.
1eyedJack
December 5th, 2009
11:54 pm
To the victors go the spoils…enjoy GT.
BuzztheKiller
December 5th, 2009
11:54 pm
Spiller is a warrior and my god I am glad he is a senior! Fortunately, Nesbitt is also a warrior…How much would UGA pay for either???
Mr Charlie
December 5th, 2009
11:55 pm
How did a team that could not beat a sorry UGA team, and another team that could not beat a sorry USC team, play each other for some sort of championship?
GT IS A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
December 5th, 2009
11:55 pm
HEY YELLOW TICKS YOU MAY EVEN WIN THE PUMPKIN BOWL AND GA DAWGS MAY LOSE AT THE INDEPENDENCE BOWL BUT THE TICKS LOST LOST LOST LOST LOST LOST THE THE UGA DAWGS. HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHA AND MORE HAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHA AND SOME MORE HAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHA FOREVER AND EVER.
Say what?
December 5th, 2009
11:55 pm
Congrats to the Yellow Jackets and all of their true fans. That was a great game! Good luck in the Orange Bowl!
Tech Tony
December 5th, 2009
11:56 pm
In a final note, I’d like to thank God and Greyhound that m has vanished. THINK ABOUT IT.
Jackets Keep Rollin'
December 5th, 2009
11:56 pm
WITHOUT A DOUBT, Way better than beating the cellar-dwelling mutts!!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Have fun in Shreveport with your state championship!!!
HAHAHA!!!! “You run this state”HAHAHAhAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2009 ACC Champions!!!
1eyedJack
December 5th, 2009
11:56 pm
This Just In
I’ll see if I can get an interview…theres no white smoke from the chimney yet.
Burgess
December 5th, 2009
11:57 pm
At least UGA had the good sense to fire their DC, looks like they’re not the only one that needs to.
ORANGE BOWL BOUND
December 5th, 2009
11:57 pm
Where are the uga people? Talk that smack now about clemson beating us…where you at?
Dawg Breath Hater
December 5th, 2009
11:57 pm
The ugly smell of classless Georgia fans comes right through my computer screen. Let me go take a dump so the smell gets better.
GT IS A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
December 5th, 2009
11:58 pm
THE YELLOW TICKS ARE THE CHUMPS OF THE ASS OF CUP CAKES AND GOING TO THE PUMPKIN BOWL, PUMPKIN BOWL, PUMPKIN BOWL. HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHA ADN MORE HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAA