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By Marc Hudgens
SouthernPigskin.com ACC Columnist
SouthernPigskin.com ACC Columnist Marc Hudgens reflects on week 12 in the ACC.
Clemson finally gets over the hump, as they were always one coach away as I’ve suspected for three years. Never thought it would be an inexperienced, obscure receivers coach who did it but who cares? The recently-crowned, undisputed Atlantic champ licks its chops at the prospect of taking on the Yellow Jacket juggernaut for the second time this season. Tech coach Paul Johnson knows Clemson will be looking for payback, so this year’s ACC championship game should be the best in a long time.
Running Tally
Non-Con mark: 29-15 overall (8-8 BCS & Notre Dame)
In-Conference Thoughts
Georgia Tech didn’t have to play, so they got to sit around and watch No. 23 Clemson make their ACC title game berth official.
How cool is it discover that you’ve bagged it just minutes before you ran down that Hill? That was Clemson’s case, as they clinched the Atlantic Division the moment North Carolina defeated Boston College in Chestnut Hill, which was roughly a 30 minute difference between the Tar Heel win and the Clemson/Virginia opening kickoff. The Tigers ran down the hill as the Atlantic champs on C.J. Spiller’s and other seniors’ last game in Death Valley and ended it with a 34-21 win. Talk about a magical day in Tigertown. Game-wise, If I were to be nit-picky I’d first say that Clemson’s defense needs to get back to basics, or something. Last week the Tiger-D looked a little sloppy against N.C. State, and this Saturday they got bamboozled in the first half by one of the worst offenses in the nation via the Wildcat and other trick formations that just screamed desperation by Virginia. Not the Clemson defenses I remember. But that was SO first half -- halftime adjustments and ensuing improved second half play kept the Cavs at bay and making proper adjustments is what it’s all about. But that pales to what Clemson has accomplished this season. Not only are they the Atlantic champs for the first time, their first official championship since 1991, but the Tigers also finished the regular season with their best conference mark (6-2) since 2000. What coach Dabo Swinney has done in his first year as head coach in terms of keeping the Tigers focused or, if they lose focus, to refocus them, has been remarkable. Many, including me, thought Clemson had effectively coughed up another ACC title shot after its inexplicable loss to Maryland early in the season, but That Boy prove me and thousands of others wrong. That’s leadership, and this upcoming ACC title game should be the most anticipated in a long time.
Virginia, however, will likely be sending coach Al Groh off in December. Armed with a 3-8 (2-5 ACC) record, it’s beyond clear that Groh has done all he can in Charlottesville. With a history of antagonism toward the media, almost zero attendance and more than enough money to buy the contract out, athletic director Craig Littlepage has made it abundantly clear that replacing The Cantankerous One will be no issue. Now the waiting game, as we look to a week or two now and try to figure out who will be the next Cavalier coach. Because now it’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.
Two great defenses or two bad offenses? I’m willing to go with the latter in the North Carolina at Boston College bout, where it was turnovers galore in an ugly 31-13 Tar Heel victory. Just awful. Specifically, Tar Heel quarterback T.J. Yates and his Eagles counterpart, Dave Shinskie, could not stop throwing picks (three and four, respectively). Backup Eagle QB Mike Marscovetra felt left out so he threw one himself. Furthermore, Boston College was flat-out poor on third down conversions (0-13). Don’t let the score fool you either - two of North Carolina’s touchdowns were defensive (one pick-six, one scoop-six) and a third was about six inches from being a second pick-six. It didn’t help that UNC defensive back Charles Brown committed two pass interferences that led directly to a BC touchdown but overall you gotta hand it to the UNC defense. It appeared the only bright spot on either offense was Heel tight end Zack Pianalto, who seemed to catch anything Yates threw to him, and that’s saying a lot because Yates was terrible.
Florida State and its Nike Pro Combat get-up escaped Tallahassee with a close win over Atlantic cellar-dweller Maryland, 29-26. On the surface you’d think this win would save coach Bobby Bowden’s job because it secures the Noles a bowl berth, but has it gotten to the point where a bowl berth justifies the status quo in Tallahassee? Bowden’s best days are long behind him, and there’s little chance the Noles will every win another ACC title as long as Bowden reigns. Perhaps it’s time for that cruise since, as wife Ann has said, they really don’t need FSU as much as FSU needs them. So go ahead, Bowdens, show Florida State you mean business by leaving. I’m sure you’ll easily find people who are more than willing to help you pack.
Duke put up a noble fight against No. 20 Miami but couldn’t hold on, as the Canes went on for the 34-16 victory. Much like last week against Georgia Tech, the Blue Devils started off fast but petered out fairly early. Stamina should be next year’s goal for coach David Cutcliffe. At least we can say Miami coach Randy Shannon is no longer on the hot seat he was on during the preseason. Eight wins so far with a chance at nine next week at South Florida, I’d say that’s a very good improvement from recent years. With quarterback Jacory Harris returning next year, Miami should be exceptionally strong.
During the preseason I thought No. 15 Virginia Tech’s offense was going to take a hit when running back Darren Evans tore his left knee’s ACL during fall camp. Wow was I wrong. Freshman running back Ryan Williams has more than compensated for the loss, as in just this game he racked up 128 yards and four touchdowns against N.C. State in a 38-10 route. Including a 19-yard touchdown scamper where he dragged a defender 12 yards into the end zone. With this performance, Williams has broken the Hokies’ and the ACC’s freshman season rushing yards record and is the ACC’s leading rusher (to wit: ahead of Georgia Tech’s Jonathan Dwyer and Clemson’s Spiller). If there were a college football award for nation’s best freshman (let’s tentatively call it The Adrian Peterson Trophy), Williams would be in my top three at least. In the words of Larry Munson, “my God, a freshman!” Now imagine next season, when Tech has Evans, whose record Wiliams just broke, back. We may see a high-octane, two-headed monster of an offense in Blacksburg in 2010...in spite of coordinator Bryan Stinespring.
The Wolfpack? Ugh! Perched at 4-7 (1-6 ACC), this is the third season under coach Tom O’Brien, and in these three seasons none of them have ended with winning marks. Sure, injuries have devastated this team, so O’Brien gets a pass. But how many will he get? What about next season? Will the Pack finish with a winning mark? Will they go to a bowl? If not, the clock may start ticking for their coach.
Next week is everyone’s favorite, Rivalry Week. And the ne’er-do-well conference will have four BCS bouts, three of them against the SEC. Clemson travels to South Carolina, Florida State travels to Florida, Georgia Tech hosts Georgia and Miami travels north to South Florida in Tampa. Clemson, Georgia Tech and Miami should all win. The Gamecocks are terrible (again), the Dawgs are a shell of their former selves this year, and, well, Miami/USF is a tossup really but I’ll give the edge to the Canes. Noles/Gators? Forget about it. The Fighting Tebows roll the Legend by at least 30 points in what (hopefully) is his last game in Tallahassee. If the ACC can go 3-1 in Rivalry Week, which is do-able, that’ll give the conference an 11-9 mark against BCS opponents heading into bowl season.
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Stories written by SouthernPigskin.com columnists are done independently. Views do not always coincide with those of the remainder of the staff or the ownership of SouthernPigskin.com.
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Comments
I think the ACC has done well this year and is building towards a better 2010. I still dont see why you call it the Ne’er-do-well conference. How come? If they choke up the non-conference rivalries next week then I will agree but until then I think 4 in the top 20 makes a do-well conference.
Make Yourself Heard
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