Talkin’ football with ESPN’s Bruce Feldman

ESPN.com’s Bruce Feldman was kind enough to make his second appearance at ACC Mania this week. This time around, we talked about the biggest news in the ACC this off-season, and started to look ahead to the 2011 season. Bruce is my favorite college football writer in the business, and a great guy to boot. His books, Meat Market and Cane Mutiny, are both great reads.

Here’s what he had to say:

ACC Mania – True or false, Butch Davis will be North Carolina’s head coach in 2012? Why or why not?
Bruce Feldman – False. I am skeptical UNC can keep the head of a program when his long-time close friend and righthand man acted as a runner for an agent. Davis also presided over a program with widespread agent issues with numerous players and where you had a rogue tutor who among other things spent four figures to pay parking tickets for players. Not knowing ANY of that I think will ultimately be too tough for UNC brass to stomach and no re-consider pushing the “reset” button in the face of huge NCAA sanctions.
The program had significantly built up its talent base in Davis first four seasons, although in fairness a lot of that was due to the efforts of John Blake. Still, Davis hasnt even had a winning season in ACC play yet, and now you’re looking at a future where it’s going to be even more challenging for this program to get much traction over the next five-plus years.

AM – We’ve been so eager to proclaim the resurgence of Florida State in recent years, yet this year it seems more within reach than before. What’s your stance on the future of the Seminoles under Jimbo Fisher?

BF – I’m on the bandwagon. I have FSU in the top six this season. I’d spent some time there this spring and noted how there has been impressive buy-in at all levels. Fisher’s staff is recruiting very well and with the staff he assembled I dont see that slowing down. It also helps that Fisher took over right as their two arch-rivals, Miami and UF were about to go through their own transitions.

AM – There was a plethora of restless Hokie fans after the team’s embarrassing Orange Bowl loss to Stanford in January. Frank Beamer made changes to his coaching staff the following month. Has Virginia Tech hit a wall, or can they break through to being a more serious national championship contender?

BF – Good question. I do think its very hard for any coaching regime to go someplace it hasn’t gone in the previous decade. The energy that comes with some new assistants can be very good, but for as good as Tech has been, I’m not sure they’ll push it to an even higher level.

AM – Did Tom O’Brien do the right thing in “benching” Russell Wilson, eventually leading to his departure?

I don’t know enough about what was really going on there behind the scenes. I’m curious how the majority of the guys in the locker room really feel about Wilson and how his departure was viewed there. (Mike) Glennon will be around longer, but given how productive Wilson was, it certainly has the potential to blow up in O’Brien’s face.

OBrien’s only 25-25 in four seasons there. If the offense really struggles and the Pack goes, say 5-7, while Wilson ends up leading Wisconsin to the Big Ten title it’s only going to inflame even more State fans.

AM – Georgia Tech struggled last season after winning the 2009 ACC Championship. They clearly lacked a receiving threat was Demaryius Thomas to keep defenses honest. Was that the biggest difference last season, or have teams begun to figure out how to defend that offense?

BF — I think teams in the league have got a better sense on how to handle that scheme. It doesn’t mean it’s not a big problem, but without some of the dimensions, it makes it that much more manageable.

AM – Clemson is a sleeping giant. Excellent facilities, fan base, and recruiting grounds. Why aren’t they more successful?

I’m not sure they have the right head coach. Lots of places can be transformed from underwhelming to powerhouse if they have the right guy pushing buttons at the top, setting the right tone. In the case of Dabo, it’s never easy for a first-time head coach to have a major college job the first time around.

AM – Who makes it to the conference championship game, and who comes out on top this year?

BF — I’ll say FSU over VT.

Independence Bowl Preview – Georgia Tech vs. Air Force

The matchup – Just three days after Tulsa and Hawaii threw for a combined 842 yards in the Hawaii Bowl, Georgia Tech and Air Force will turn back the clock in the Independence Bowl.

The Falcons and Yellow Jackets are the two most prolific rushing offenses in the country. Both schools run the triple option, giving this game a pre-1970’s feeling to it.

The Yellow Jackets average 327 yards per game on the ground, while the Falcons average 317.9.

Air Force beat both Army and Navy – who also run the triple option – by a combined scored of 56-28.

Season summaries –

The Falcons’ four losses all came to formidable opponents; Oklahoma, San Diego St. and TCU on the road, and Utah at home. The only one of those game decided by more than five points was a 38-7 TCU victory.

Georgia Tech, meanwhile, had ACC championship aspirations before the season, but those unraveled quickly. A loss at Kansas in the second week of the season took the wind out of the Jackets’ sails. They were still in the picture for the league title when Joshua Nesbitt broke his arm in a crushing 28-21 loss at Virginia Tech on Nov. 4.

Key players –

It all boils down to quarterback play in this game.

Nesbitt’s status for Monday’s game has yet to be determined, though it appears unlikely he’ll be able to go. If that is the case, Tech will rest its laurels on sophomore Tevin Washington. Since replacing Nesbitt at halftime of the Virginia Tech game, Washington has rushed for 334 yards and thrown for 372 while leading the Yellow Jackets to 1-2 record in three starts.

Washington struggled mightily against the Hokies and again the following week against Miami, but showed improvement in a win over Duke and close road loss at rival Georgia. He should be much more comfortable against Air Force with the extra two weeks of practice with the first-string offense.

For Air Force, it all starts with quarterback Tim Jefferson, who ironically enough is from Atlanta, Ga.

Jefferson rushed for 769 yards and 15 touchdowns this season. In his first full season as the starter under center for coach Troy Calhoun, Jefferson has operated this offense at a consistently high level. The Falcons averaged 32 points per game, the highest mark of any wishbone-based option attack in the country.

Who has the edge?

Georgia Tech never in its wildest dreams thought it would spend Christmas in Shreveport. Late in the week leading up to the game, the Jackets learned they would be without four key players who failed to qualify academically.

Wide receiver Stephen Hill – the only true receiving threat on the roster – as well as safety Mario Edwards, defensive end Robert Hall and linebacker Anthony Barnes all will miss Monday’s game. It’s just another spoon of salt in the Jacket’s wounds.

Air Force, meanwhile, is extremely well coached and hungry to beat not only a BCS automatic-qualifying foe, but also a fellow triple-option team. The Falcons would love nothing more than to beat the big, bad Yellow Jackets at their own game.

Prediction – Air Force 31, Georgia Tech 21

Weekend Forecast – October 9

1. Florida State at Miami

This game is nearly always a classic. Who could forget last year’s ending, when Christian Ponder thought he’d thrown the game-winning touchdown pass on the final play, only to see the official waving his arms signaling an incompletion?

The Seminoles looked strong last week at Virginia, especially on defense. Their secondary is extremely young but also very talented. Jacory Harris continues to struggle with his decision-making, but thankfully the Miami defense has played lights-out (leads the ACC allowing just 15 ppg).

Miami has the better combination of talent and experience, but Florida State has a more reliable signal-caller. It’s a tough call, but I think Miami’s defense does just enough to lead the ‘Canes to victory.

Miami 31, FSU 28

2. Boston College at North Carolina State

The Eagles will start a banged-up true freshman at quarterback in Chase Rettig, who looked good in limited action last week against Notre Dame. North Carolina State, meanwhile, is still licking its wounds after a monumental collapse against Virginia Tech.

The Wolfpack’s woeful run defense was exposed last week, allowing 306 yards on the ground to the Hokies. Boston College has a great running back in Montel Harris, except he’s struggled to get the ball rolling in 2010. So far, he’s averaging just 84 yards per game and has scored only one touchdown, and hasn’t exactly come against a who’s who of good defenses.

The Eagles’ secondary is average at best. They have allowed 230 passing yards per game, including 277 in the season opener to Weber State. While the group as a whole has matured over the past month, they’ve seen nothing like the passing attack that State will bring with Russell Wilson.

NC State will put up big numbers through the air and rebound from last week’s stunner.

NC State 35, Boston College 17

3. Central Michigan at Virginia Tech

The Hokies return home for a full month of games inside Lane Stadium, the first of which against the downtrodden Chippewas. The Hokies have yet to lead by more than seven points at halftime in any of their five games, but they’d love to do just that on Saturday.

CMU leads the MAC in scoring defense, giving up just 17.6 points per game. However, the most explosive offense they’ve faced belonged to Northwestern.

Ryan Williams is out for the third straight week for Tech, but it shouldn’t matter, as Darren Evans is back to his 2008 form after a 160-yard, two-touchdown showing last week.

The Hokies learned from the James Madison debacle not to overlook anyone, so expect a big win for the home crowd.

Virginia Tech 49, Central Michigan 14

4. Virginia at Georgia Tech

The Groh Bowl, as fans are putting it, pits former Cavaliers’ coach and current Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Al Groh up against his old team in a must-win game for both sides.

Virginia was embarrassed last week in a home loss to Florida State, while Georgia Tech has looked nothing like the team everyone expected to contend for the ACC title.

UVA coach Mike London is former assistant of Groh’s and has spent countless hours studying his style of defense. If you want to know whether or not that matters, look no further than Steve Sarkisian’s success at Washington against USC the past two seasons.

The Wahoos have a severe lack of playmakers offensively, but right now the Yellow Jackets can’t stop much of anything. Groh should throw some new wrinkles in the gameplan this week to try and rejuvenate his bunch.

Meanwhile, London may have trouble scheming against Paul Johnson’s triple option in his first try. It may not be pretty, but the Yellow Jackets move to 3-1 in the conference.

Georgia Tech 24, Virginia 20

5. Clemson at North Carolina

The Tar Heels get back another of their star defenders this week, safety Kendric Burney. Linebacker Quan Sturdivant is listed as questionable heading into the game.

Clemson looked as ugly as could be last week against Miami, yet the Tigers were a fourth-down conversion away from possibly winning that game. North Carolina has played so remarkably well in the absence of a multitude of starters that it’s starting to get hard to pick against them.

The play of Tar Heel quarterback T.J. Yates has been outstanding. The senior has completed 68 percent of his passes this season while throwing seven touchdowns and just one interception.

Kyle Parker threw three interceptions last week in what coach Dabo Swinney called the worst game of his young career.

I can’t help but to think that North Carolina will keep Clemson’s offense at bay again this week. The Heels are giving up just 2.8 yards per carry in the past two games.

At home, the Heels pull off another improbable win and nab their first conference win.

North Carolina 20, Clemson 13

6. Navy at Wake Forest

The Midshipmen are in a world of hurt right now after losing their first game to another service academy in seven years. Wake Forest lost in demoralizing fashion last week to Georgia Tech, when Joshua Nesbitt’s touchdown pass with 15 seconds left sealed the Deacons’ fate.

Tanner Price will start at quarterback for Wake Forest, after injuries to Ted Stachitas and Brendan Cross have depleted the Deacs’ supply of healthy arms.

Price has appeared in four games this season as a true freshman while completing 48 percent of his passes. He did not play in the loss to Georgia Tech last week, but Jim Grobe has confirmed Price will get a majority of the snaps on Saturday.

Wake’s opponents this year average 4.85 yards per carry, but they did hold Georgia Tech to just 4.3 yards per rush last week.

Facing the triple option after just playing against it the week before is a huge benefit that most teams never have. Navy is reeling right now, and despite the fashion of last week’s loss, Wake Forest took comfort in the fact that their young team hung with the defending ACC champions.

Wake holds on at home in a nail-biter.

Wake Forest 17, Navy 14

ESPN’s Bruce Feldman Talks ACC Football

The landscape of sports journalism is littered with, more or less, nerds and geeks who have a lifelong passion for whatever sport they cover.

Not so for one distinguished character in the college football sector. Bruce Feldman was an art major in college, before a part-time job covering high school sports at the Miami Herald turned him onto journalism.

Fast-forward to 2010, and Feldman is a senior college football writer for ESPN the magazine and also has a daily blog on ESPN.com Insider.

He’s the author of two books, Cane Mutiny and Meat Market: Inside the Smashmouth World of College Football Recruiting. Over the course a week earlier this summer, I read Meat Market, which Feldman wrote after spending one year with all-inclusive access to the Ole Miss coaching staff in 2006 under recruiting guru Ed Orgeron.

Feldman basically took the Hubble Telescope and pointed it at the Rebels’ program, specifically the aspect of recruiting. What it showed was a coach who gave up an addiction to alcohol for an addiction to recruiting (and Red Bull Energy Drink), while also depicting just how time-consuming, complicated, and out-of-this-world stressful recruiting in the Deep South can be.

Feldman was kind enough to speak with ACC Mania one evening last week, and he had plenty to opine about the current environment within the conference.

ACC Maniac: Between Jacory Harris, Ryan Williams, Christian Ponder and Joshua Nesbitt, who has the best shot at the Heisman Trophy?

Feldman: I’d say it’s probably Ponder over Harris. I think Ponder is more consistent. Quarterbacks always have the best shot, especially when they can put up good passing numbers. I think Nesbitt is as tough a guy as there is in college football, but I’m not a guy on that bandwagon.

I’ve seen Miami this spring, and I was really impressed by how they look. I think Ponder has been more consistent, but at this point I’d say him, but it wouldn’t shock me if Harris were in the Heisman hunt.

ACC: Do you place any value in Heisman campaigns at places like Florida State?

Feldman: Those programs are so big. I think it would help if you were the Maryland quarterback, or another school that feels like more of a mid-major level.

I’ll use Carson Palmer as an example. Palmer had been a pretty inconsistent quarterback for most of his career. People knew his name, but until his senior year, he really didn’t get cranked up. He really didn’t get mentioned as a Heisman guy until really about Halloween (in 2002). It helped that guys said he had NFL size and an NFL arm. Having the NFL Draft guru approval certainly doesn’t hurt.

I have a feeling if Boise State beats Virginia Tech and Oregon State, people may talk about Kellen Moore. But there is going to be another side that’s going to ask “how good can this guy be?” He’ll be a free agent in the NFL one day, and whatever. I don’t think that helps a Heisman candidacy, but you can spend all the money you want on posters and pins and whatever, but if your guy doesn’t win big games it’s not going to matter.

If Ponder’s team wins the ACC and plays for the BCS title, people are going to find out about his story; they’ll know. He’ll be in enough big games where he’ll be talked about on College Gameday all the time and featured in magazines. People will constantly be talking about him, and why FSU – a program that had dropped – all of a sudden is back up and look who is the reason why.

There is no elaborate Heisman campaign that got everyone fired up about Mark Ingram. It was just about playing well in big games on national TV that does it.

You don’t beat out a guy because your Heisman campaign was better orchestrated than his. It might help you win a Butkus…it’s too scrutinized

ACC: You wrote a book on recruiting; who do you think is the best recruiter in the ACC?

Feldman: I’m tempted to say Eddie Gran, The running back coach at Florida State. He pulled a lot of kids out of south Florida when he was at Auburn and Tennessee and definitely did the same when he got to FSU. I think he is a really, really good recruiter. He’s a fairly low-key guy.

(UNC defensive line coach) John Blake has a big reputation as a recruiter, too, but I just don’t know. I think Graham might be a bit of an upset, but I’ll say him.

ACC: Virginia Tech just lost two huge recruits to UNC in Landon Turner and Marquise Williams. Tech needed Williams a lot more than UNC. Also, with Mike London raising UVA’s profile in-state, Tech is losing some ground in the state quickly. Williams was from North Carolina, but Turner was from Harrisonburg. Butch Davis is doing a good job.

Feldman: He’s a good evaluator. Let’s see how this NCAA probe may impact them. One of the little side cushions of the USC hit is that I wonder how much recruits will be gunshy when they hear “NCAA probe” than they were a while back.

ACC: What is the best stadium you’ve been to in the conference?

Feldman: I’m going to sound like I’m pandering, but I’m going to say Lane Stadium. I‘ve been there for a lot of games. I don’t like heavy metal or anything like that, but even when you just start hearing Enter Sandman that whole place rocks.

Every year, ESPN has a preseason seminar where everyone that works with college football comes in. One year they were playing the open to Virginia Tech-Miami in 2005. I remember just sitting there getting goosebumps. I remember being at that game. There is something there that is great.

It’s a really scenic part of the country. I’m kind of partial to that place. I have not been to Clemson for a game and I’ve heard great things about there. Otherwise I’ve been to pretty much every place in the ACC.

There is just something at Virginia Tech that I am in to.

ACC: Are you surprised that Tom O’Brien has not had more success at NC State?

Feldman: A little, given his track record. For as much as people take shots at the league, it’s not that easy to all of a sudden (improve). He has a good quarterback. Chuck Amato recruited pretty well, and he didn’t really win either. I’m not saying NC State is as tough as Duke to win at.

In a way, at Boston College you’re little more on an island and it has its charms to it. NC State is a little trickier spot. I’m not saying you can’t win there. I didn’t go in thinking oh he’s going to turn that place into the next Virginia Tech seasons. I expected 7-5 and the occasional 8-4 season. But I thought he’d be more along the lines of what Al Groh was able to do at Virginia.

I think people underestimate BC a little bit. They always have good offensive linemen. They also recruit New Jersey very well. New Jersey football is actually very good, and that is the Eagles’ lifeblood. As long as you have a really good line and mix in some other good players, you’re going to be good. It’s always been a well-coached program. They’ve never been bad. I don’t think you all of a sudden go to a different league and just fall apart.

ACC: Who is the best coach in the ACC?

Feldman: I think a lot of people would say Jim Grobe (at Wake Forest). Paul Johnson has done a lot at Georgia Tech. Beamer has obviously elevated Virginia Tech to an unthinkable level. I’d say it’s one of those three. I feel like Grobe probably gets the most out of the least, and Beamer takes it to another level. He’s had guys on his staff for a long time, there’s a lot of loyalty there.

ACC: Not a lot of people expected Paul Johnson’s offense to succeed in the ACC. I think a lot of his success predicates on how unique it is and how different it is to prepare for. When facing it, you have to completely change everything. Do you think Tech can maintain this, and do you think the triple option could show up at more schools in the future?

Feldman: I think they can maintain it. I don’t think it’s going to show up at so many other places, because coaches coach what they know. That is such a radical departure from places like the Big 12 where there are all these variations of the spread, but are pass-happy offenses.

Johnson is a good coach. Whatever system you run, it’s about how well you execute it. I just don’t think you’re all of a sudden going to see Norm Chow say, “I’m going to become an option guy,” or Mark Whipple or Jimbo Fisher either.

I think watching what Navy has done over the few years, what they’ve done is good. I just don’t think it’s going to be widespread, it’s not a part of other coaches’ DNA right now, offensively.

ACC: Who wins the ACC this year?

Feldman: There are four schools in the mix: Virginia Tech, Miami, North Carolina and Florida State. The more this investigation talk starts to bubble up, it doesn’t help UNC. You worry about chemistry.

I think Virginia Tech is a proven commodity, which definitely helps them.

FSU and Miami are both similar to me. Both programs have been really good, and now are trying to get rebuilt under new leadership. They have a lot of firepower. I think Miami has more talent on defense.

I feel like it comes down to Virginia Tech having to go to Miami this year. I think that game is going to determine the best team in the league.

2010 BCS Buster? Navy Baby!

It’s time to turn the clock back about a half-century.

In 2010, Navy has all the tools to finish the season as a top 10 team.

No, Roger Staubach is not back under center, and Joe Bellino isn’t lining up at tailback. But the guys who will aren’t too shabby themselves.

Ricky Dobbs, the first Navy player in 25 years to have a school-sponsored Heisman Trophy campaign, is pegged as the best quarterback at the academy since Staubach. His ability to lead (he’s also vice president of his class), combined with his exquisite speed and accurate arm make the comparisons to the 1963 Heisman winner easy.

Dobbs is far from a one-man show, however.

The Midshipmen return seven starters on an offense that ranked fourth in the nation last year. When we last saw them, they were running up 385 yards on the ground in a 35-13 destruction of Missouri in the Texas Bowl. More importantly, five of the top six rushers from a year ago are back.

Fullback Vince Murray averaged 5.3 yards per carry last year en route to 971 total yards and 6 touchdowns. His backup is Alex Tiech, who rushed for 376 yards on 70 carries in 2009.

Slotback Marcus Curry was dismissed from the team in the off-season, which was a huge loss. He averaged more than seven yards per carry last season, including five touchdowns.

Dobbs, meanwhile, broke the NCAA single-season record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 27. The man who co-owned the record before him was none other than 2007 Heisman winner Tim Tebow.

The fact that you’re 250 words into reading a story about Navy football and you’ve seen the word “Heisman” three times already is a statement in and of itself.

Last year, Navy lost four games – three by a total of 14 points. In week one, the Midshipmen came within an unsuccessful two-point conversion of tying Ohio State in the final minutes of the game in Columbus. They are not afraid to play with the big dogs.

Funny thing is, there aren’t any on the schedule this year. The three toughest games for Navy will be Maryland, Notre Dame (both on neutral fields) and Duke. If that’s not a slate primed for an unbeaten run, heaven only knows what is.

If Navy wants to spoil the BCS party, it has to finish 12-0. The schedule is light, but anything less than a perfect season will send them back to Houston to face the sixth choice from the Big 12.

The biggest concern for coach Ken Niumatalolo is replacing the entire corps of linebackers. Navy returns two starting defensive linemen in their 3-4 scheme, as well as three members of the secondary. However, the linebackers in a 3-4 are of paramount importance to defensive efficiency, so the newcomers will have to mature quickly.

An integral part of making it through a full season without a loss is having a reliable kicker to bail you out a time or two. Navy has that with senior Joe Buckley, who was 10-for-13 last season, including a 50-yarder.

Under Niumatalolo, Navy proved that the triple option could succeed with someone not named Paul Johnson calling the shots. The Middies could easily surpass 300 yards per game on the ground this season.

The key is Dobbs. When healthy, he is the most versatile threat Navy has had at quarterback in more than forty years. In that season opener against the Buckeyes last year, Navy opened the game with two consecutive pass plays – considered sacrilegious in the triple option offense – just to show how much confidence they had in Dobbs’ arm. Whatever Navy needs this year, it will call on Dobbs to answer the bell.

With a favorable schedule, and a potential breakout star quarterback, Navy seems to have just the right formula for a run at the BCS. Anchors Aweigh!

The five most important games for the ACC this year

In 2004, ACC Commissioner John Swofford offered up a half-century of basketball dominance as a sacrificial lamb in favor of the more financially rewarding football supreme conference. He never could have imagined that the very conference he pillaged for expansion (The Big East) would be viewed by some as a better football conference (and basketball, for that matter) today.

Whether or not you concur with opines like Brian Bennett’s (go figure, ESPN’s Big East blogger) or not, the fact that there is even a debate over whether or not the ACC is the worst of the BCS conferences is certifiably depressing.

In a league that boasts longtime powers Miami, Florida State as well as Virginia Tech, a newcomer to elite program status, the ACC should be at the forefront of college football.

Since expansion, the Hokies’ 2009 Orange Bowl win over Cincinnati (from the Big East, for what it’s worth) is the league’s only BCS bowl win since expanding – and only its second since the BCS’ inception in 1998.

Last year saw the ACC suffer embarrassing losses in the non-conference slate, as well as another group of good-but-not-great teams knock each other off week after week.

If you don’t include the Hokies, no ACC team has finished in the Associated Press’ Top 25 rankings since 2004 (the Hokies have four times). There have been 10 double-digit win totals between the teams since expansion. Compare that to the rest of the BCS conferences in that same time span:

CONFERENCE	DOUBLE-DIGIT WIN TEAMS SINCE 2004
SEC	18
BIG 12	15
BIG 10	14
PAC 10	13
ACC	10
BIG EAST*	9

*(It should be noted that in 2004 the Big East had Boston College, but had yet to add Louisville, Cincinnati, and South Florida – Louisville went 11-1 in 2004).

2010 is put up-or-shut up time for the ACC.

The Hokies have their best offense in a decade or more, Miami has its best combination of talent, experience and discipline under Randy Shannon, Florida State has a Heisman Trophy candidate at quarterback, and Butch Davis has more future Pro Bowlers on its defense than the Carolina Panthers.

ACC backers are cautiously optimistic about the upcoming season. There are some heeeeeeyuge games throughout the year, and the conference needs to make a name for itself this year or risk earning the uncontested label as biggest underachieving conference in the nation.

Here’s a look at the five most important games for the ACC this year, where the very reputation of the league will hang most treacherously in the balance.

1. Florida at Florida State, November 27

Seminole fans need not be reminded that it has been seven years since they beat the mighty Gators (that even includes once in the Ron Zook era…yikes). In the past three seasons, the ‘Noles have been outscored by a combined 90 points.

This game used to be THE one to watch on the season’s final weekend. There was Michigan-Ohio State the week before in a top-10 clash, followed by the battle for supremacy in the Sunshine state. Quite frankly, this game hasn’t been a match of true titans in a decade.

Jimbo Fisher has a lot of pressure on him to return the program to greatness, and that consists of two not-so-simple tasks: winning the ACC and beating the Gators.

Make no mistake about it, Florida still has plenty of separation in terms of overall depth and talent, but the Seminoles are closing that gap.

It’s very likely this will be Florida State’s last tune-up before the ACC Championship Game. It will also definitely be Christian Ponder’s final game in Doak Campbell Stadium, and perhaps his best chance to cement his legacy in Tallahassee and his chances at the Heisman.

If Florida State is in fact still in the hunt for a BCS bowl heading into this game, a win over Urban Meyer and one of the giants of college football would be a huge step for a conference that has no marquee wins in November or later in years.

2. Miami at Ohio State, September 11

There are a few reasons why this game is more important for the ACC than the Virginia Tech-Boise State matchup five days earlier. For one, this is a road game for Miami, not to mention beating Ohio State has more cache than beating the Broncos. Also, despite its hot start last season, a win over the Buckeyes would be the biggest in the Randy Shannon era.

There is a lot of hype surrounding Ohio State, mainly because people believe it is finally quarterback Terrelle Pryor’s time to shine. The Hurricanes have the fastest defense Pryor will see all season.

This will also be the biggest road test of any team in the ACC this season (with a slight edge over Florida State at Oklahoma the same day). The league has not fared particularly well in that department recently, and this is a golden opportunity for Miami to stamp itself as a national contender. If Florida State also knocks off the Sooners, it will be a banner day for the ACC.

3. UNC vs. LSU (in Atlanta), September 4

This game became a lot less attractive once the news of the NCAA probe in Chapel Hill broke late last week. If the Tar Heels lose a couple starters and key back-ups for the year, especially on defense, the Tigers should take this game.

However, the SEC is the league against which all others are measured, and LSU should be a top-15 team this year. The Tigers have their fair share of concerns, primarily at quarterback, where Jordan Jefferson has been wildly inconsistent the past two years.

North Carolina has come out of nowhere to become the trendy pick to win the ACC (those dreams may fade depending on the NCAA findings), and Butch Davis’ program would explode if they knocked off LSU in Atlanta. The SEC has yet to lose in this Chick-fil-A kickoff game.

If the Tar Heels lose this game, it would take quite a bit of wind out of their sails very quickly. They follow that game up with a date with Georgia Tech two weeks later, and would be staring a 0-2 start right down the nose. The league could use another 10-win-caliber team.

Right now, the ACC’s calling card is depth, but the lack of a dominant team. The Heels may not be far from becoming one.

4. Florida State at Miami, October 9

This is without a doubt the best intraconference rivalry in the ACC. Even during the pair of once-dominant programs dark ages of late, the game has provided some memorable moments. Last year’s season opener on Labor Day came down to a Christian Ponder incompletion in the end zone on the final play giving Miami the win.

There is a very good chance both teams will be hovering around the top 10 when they meet, which would give the league its first marquee conference game with national implications in who knows how long.

If by god’s grace both teams are unbeaten when this game come around, make no mistake about it – Chris, Kirk, Lee, (sigh) Desmond and (YES!) Erin will be in South Beach for College GameDay. The eyes of America will be on a prime-time ACC showdown that will all but eliminate at least one team from the national title race. As far as the winner? They just might find themselves partying like it’s 2000, in the Top 5.

5. Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech, November 4 (Thursday night)

This is one of the best-kept secretly budding rivalries in college football. Hokie fans were afraid when Jeff Jagodzinski left Boston College that they no longer had an ACC coach to despise. Paul Johnson made the transition into that role seamlessly.

Johnson drew the ire of Hokie fans when, after Virginia Tech complained to ACC officials over what they believed were illegal chop blocks in the Jackets’ win over the Hokies last year, went public saying “they didn’t complain about this last year when they won”. There was more where that came from, too.

This game will take center stage on Thursday night in Blacksburg, which is an all-too-familiar stage to college football this decade. This begins a treacherous month for the Hokies, who should enter this game with at most one loss, therefore very highly ranked.

Georgia Tech will likely be a top 25 team as well at the very least, and it’s hard to believe this won’t be a tight game.

This will be a chance for the nation to see one of the league’s fiercest rivalries, not to mention some hard-hittin, slobber-knockin’ football under the lights at Lane Stadium. As long as this game doesn’t get away from either team, and fans are still tuned in during the fourth quarter, it will be a victory for the ACC.

So what do you think? There’s plenty of room for argument; this is just one man’s list. Keep in mind, these are the game I think will have the biggest impact on the ACC – not the best games, or most important for the teams, per se. Feel free to nit-pick away in the comments.

Talkin’ ACC football with Sports Illustrated’s Stewart Mandel

It’s been 11 years since Stewart Mandel started covering college football for Sports Illustrated.

Nearly fresh out of college himself (Northwestern ’98) at that time, Mandel has been one of the most prominent writers in the sport over the last decade. His book, Bowls Polls and Tattered Souls, was published in 2007 (later updated in 2008), covered everything from the chaos of the Bowl Championship Series to the crapshoot that is the NFL combine.

It is a great book for both the avid college football die-hard and the casual fan that only follows his or her alma mater. It’s informative and precise, but written simply enough that just about anyone can follow.

I was scheduled to talk to Mandel on Wednesday afternoon – in the middle of what was expected to be a “slow week.” Turns out, Vanderbilt head coach Bobby Johnson surprisingly retired, and our conversation was pushed back until Thursday.

We talked about his career as a journalist, which I humbly admire, and also much about his book.

At the end of the conversation, we started talking ACC football, and he had some very interesting thoughts on the upcoming season.

That conversation went as follows:

ACC Maniac: Who’s closer to being “back”, Florida State or Miami?

Mandel: Miami. They got a head start…both programs kind of went in the tank at the same time, (but) the difference was that Miami made a coaching change and brought in Randy Shannon, who’s had three years to install his system and recruit his players. Even though Jimbo Fisher was there on the staff, it really wasn’t his program until Bobby (Bowden) retired – or was forced to retire.

I may be wrong, but I don’t agree with these prognostications that say they are going to be a top 15 or 20 team. Their defense was just so bad last year. I think it will take them a couple years to get the talent level back up to where they need it to be, where as Miami seems to be right on the brink.

ACC: So you’re not on the (Newly hired FSU defensive coordinator) Mark Stoops bandwagon I guess?

Mandel: No I mean, I’m sure it will help, but Mickey Andrews was the old defensive coordinator, and they were great on defense every year until last year. I don’t think that can be attributed entirely to coaching.

ACC: Between Jacory Harris, Ryan Wiliams, Christian Ponder, and I’ll throw Joshua Nesbitt in the mix…who has the best chance at winning the Heisman?

Mandel: The Heisman is based as much on how your team does. If Miami competes for the national title, Harris will be in the mix. If Virginia Tech competes for the title, Ryan Williams will be in the mix. I do think Ponder will get a lot of acclaim because he’s considered a top NFL prospect, too.

So…I would go with Ryan Williams, with my only concern that with (Darren) Evans back maybe it will cut into Williams’ yardage. If he can put up another season like last year or better, and if Virginia Tech turns out another great season, he’s got the best chance.

ACC: I wrote a story last week about how Christian Ponder didn’t need his Heisman campaign website…

Mandel: People know how good he is. How you distinguish him from Ryan Mallett (Arkansas), Jake Locker (Washington)…any number of quarterbacks who will compete for it this year will depend on how their team does.

ACC: What do you think Mike London will do at Virginia over the long haul?

Mandel: It’s hard to say; I don’t know that much about him. I know he did very well when he got to Richmond. Having not really dealt with him, I don’t know what to predict, other than it seems like on paper he has great credentials. And Virginia is a sleeping giant. They should have done better under Al Groh and there is some history there. So there is no reason London can’t get them eventually competing for ACC titles.

ACC: London seems more likable than Groh, but looking at London’s first real recruiting class and Groh’s early classes…they are similar. But Groh couldn’t win, and the great recruiting classes stopped.

Mandel: In the recruiting chapter in my book, my theory about first-year coaches and their second recruiting class being their first full class is…almost always at a major school the class is highly ranked. That’s when the excitement is at its highest, because they haven’t played a game yet. New coach, full of energy…I’ve seen that story over and over again…you’ve got to start winning. Minnesota had a great class a few years ago (when Tim Brewster took over as head coach in 2007), but that’s not happening anymore.

ACC: Who is the best coach in the ACC?

Mandel: I’m going to go with Paul Johnson…no…Frank Beamer deserves it.

Johnson is the more recent guy. He might be the next best coach, but Beamer has done more overall over time. Beamer is probably under respected in that he’s not obviously talked about like Bob Stoops, Mack Brown or Urban Meyer because they’ve all won national titles.

Beamer has never done that, and obviously it’s been…gosh, 11 years since they played for one. But in time, he’s not at a school that’s expected to do that. Those guys are at programs with great history, where as Tech’s history started with Frank Beamer. The consistency he’s shown over the years…is a remarkable accomplishment.

ACC: What happens to Virginia Tech when he leaves? Can they sustain this success?

Mandel: It’s hard to say. One thing Tech has benefited from since they joined the ACC is the fact that FSU and Miami have been down. If those programs get back to what they were, it becomes a lot harder for Tech to stay at that level, with or without Beamer.

I think the ACC is becoming more competitive. It was kind of a laughing stock during the first few years of the 12-team league. You can see each year that Georgia Tech is now a factor, and UNC with Butch Davis is a factor.

Because of that, it’s going to be hard for Virginia Tech to sustain this level, and if you lose your coach it depends on who the next guy –whether it’s Bud Foster or somebody else – has the CEO skills. Tech has X’s and O’s down and they’ve kind of patented the defense/special teams mantra.

But can Foster, or whoever else, run a program? We’ll have to see.

ACC: I’ve seen first-hand what Foster has done, and he has as much respect from the fans, players, boosters, and fellow coaches as Beamer. I don’t know any other program where you see that.

Mandel: Yeah, it’s stunning that he hasn’t gotten a head-coaching job to this point. He might not have been appreciated as much outside Virginia Tech, but they are going to be a top 10 team this year despite losing so many big players on defense, now people just expect that they’ll reload and put out another great defense. But that’s what Bud Foster does.

ACC: What is your favorite stadium to visit in the ACC?

Mandel: I’ve never been to Clemson’s stadium, which I’ve heard is great. But of the ones I’ve been to, it’s Lane Stadium. It’s so loud. I just happened to see the other day that the capacity is 66,000 (Actually 66,203)?

It’s just as loud as an 80,000-seat stadium somewhere else. It’s a little hard to get to, but once you’re there it’s a great stadium.

ACC: I talked to Tom O’Brien when he was at Boston College, and he said that Lane Stadium blew Penn State’s Beaver Stadium (Capacity: 107,282) out of the water.

Mandel: It’s loud. I can name louder ones, like LSU, Florida and Oregon actually, but it’s up there. The Penn State thing is not entirely surprising to me. Penn State’s stadium looks cool. I went to a game where they did “White Out,” and it looked really cool. Then the game started, and it wasn’t that interesting to me.

ACC: Who wins the ACC this year?

Mandel: This is the most competitive that it has been. There are four teams in the same division (Coastal) that could win it. I like Virginia Tech. It’s not because of the defense for once, but the offense. It’s finally, after years of having to watch those struggles to move the ball; I think it’s going to be exciting this year.

I mentioned Ryan Williams (as a Heisman candidate), but I wonder if Tyrod Taylor will get himself in the mix, because people love those dual-threat quarterbacks, and he could put up big numbers this year.

I give Tech the slight edge over North Carolina, who I think will rise up this year and contend for the title, because they could have an epic season.

I’m confident to pick them to win the ACC, but I have no idea to pick the Boise State game. I’ll probably not know until the day of the game.

ACC: Were you at the game against USC (at FedEx Field) in 2004? Virginia Tech was in that game until the very end. I don’t think Boise State is 2004 USC and I think this Tech team is better than in 2004. I know it’s apples and oranges, but…

Mandel: The ’04 Tech team was a surprise. They weren’t picked to do much, and I was really surprised when they hung with USC. I don’t know if the crowd will be a factor; Boise State has won at places like Oregon and big bowl games. It’s more a question of how Boise handles the expectations of a 9-month build-up and how big this is for them.

Virginia Tech comes into the game knowing they can still win the ACC and even contend for the national title with a loss, but this is Boise’s season.

ACC: Both teams have a lot of pressure, though. Boise’s season is riding on this game, but Tech faces the pressure of finally winning an early season game against a big-time opponent. They’ve got to win one of these games.

Mandel: Tech will definitely feel some backlash, because they have gone out and lost these big opening games. The 2007 team, when all hell broke lose and they actually finished third in the BCS standings, I said there was no way they were the third best team in the country, I watched them get humiliated by LSU. They need to step up and win one of these big non-conference games.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Tell it like it is, Stewart. So there you have it, he thinks Virginia Tech will win the ACC, and he loves coming to Lane Stadium (though he’s never been to Death Valley).

It sounds like he’s high on the Hokies this season, and he’ll be in Landover on Labor Day to watch the Boise State showdown.

It was a pleasure to talk to Mandel, and if the ACC eventually gets back to the forefront of college football like he thinks it might, fans all along the coast will surely be reading much more from one of the sport’s most distinguished journalists.

Five games from 2009 we won’t soon forget

2009: The Year of the Yellow Jacket.

OK, not really. There was no magical run, no breakthrough season or standout performer in the ACC last season, to be honest.

2009: The Year of Nothing Special.

The conference championship game featured two teams coming off embarrassing, shocking upset losses in the final week of the regular season. Hell, the losing team ended up taking the fifth bowl slot allotted to the conference.

It was a weaker year than most for the ACC.

Nevertheless, there were several games that provided the fans with quite a few memorable images.

Here’s a look at the five best games from the 2009 season from the ACC:

5. Georgia Tech 39, Clemson 34 (ACC Championship Game)

Georgia Tech won its first ACC title in 12 years and stamped a signature victory on coach Paul Johnson’s tenure in just its second year. Jonathan Dwyer scored on a 15-yard run with 1:20 remaining for the game-winning touchdown.

Despite the monumental victory for Johnson and his team, Clemson do-it-all running back C.J. Spiller stole the show.

The Tiger senior couldn’t help but find the end zone that night. He scored four touchdowns, setting a new school record with 20 on the season.

The game went back and forth all the way until the end. Georgia Tech held the largest lead of the game at 33-20 in the third quarter, but Clemson responded with two touchdowns early in the fourth to take the lead.

Spiller, who was hobbled with a toe injury no less, carried the ball 20 times for a ridiculous 233 yards. The Georgia Tech defense, chock full of future pros, had no answer for Spiller all night long.

After the Dwyer score, Clemson’s drive began in reverse gear. A holding penalty on the drive’s first play set the Tigers back 10 yards, and even a Kyle Parker-to-Xavier Dye 18-yard completion on third down and 20 was not enough to move the chains. Parker was brought down short of the first down marker on fourth down, and the celebration was on for the Yellow Jackets.

For anyone who had yet to get a good look at Spiller, this was their chance. The phrase “put the team on his shoulders and carried it” is used far too often, but that’s just what Spiller did this night, but it wasn’t enough to stop the thunderous and explosive rushing attack from Tech.

We should have expected such a classic, after what the teams showed us earlier in the year:

4. Georgia Tech 30, Clemson 27

So many nicknames, so little space to use them.

“The Fake Field Goal Game”

“The Comeback”

“The Almost Comeback”

“The Crying Clemson Fan Game”

Any of the above refer to Georgia Tech’s narrow victory at home on Thursday night over the Tigers.

Tech’s first offensive play resulted in an interception. It’s second play went for 82 yards and a touchdown courtesy of Anthony Allen on a perfectly executed option play.

Clemson punted on its next possession, which Jerrard Terrant returned 85 yards for a score.

If that was not enough, the Tech offense infiltrated the Tigers’ side of the field again, getting in good enough position for a field goal attempt…or a fake.

Kicker Scott Blair handled a direct snap and lofted a ball to the right sideline for Demaryius Thomas, who had inexplicably been unaccounted for by the Clemson defense in the midst a faux pas substitution.

Thomas grabbed the pass just outside the reach of two Tigers, and strode into the end zone for a 21-0 lead.

Faster than you could say “here we go again,” it was here we go again for Clemson: talented team yet not enough gumption to follow through in big games.

Georgia Tech led 24-7 at halftime.

In an unpredictable second half turnaround, freshman quarterback Kyle Parker came alive, throwing a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter to draw Clemson within a field goal.

The Tigers added two field goals of their own in the early fourth quarter, and had stolen the lead away from a stunned Tech team.

In a fine display of what those in the coaching business like to label “the grit of a champion,” Tech dug in and evened the score with a Blair field goal, then won the game with another in the game’s final minute.

Georgia Tech racked up 301 yards of rushing offense on the Tigers, and the infamous fake field goal play, which conference officials admitted the following week was actually illegal, turned out to be the difference in what was almost a comeback for the ages.

3. North Carolina 20, Virginia Tech 17

The Hokies, two weeks removed from the thick of the national championship picture, loss their second consecutive game in stupefying fashion to the Tar Heels.

For the second time in three years, the seemingly invincible Thursday Night Edition of the Hokie football team had gone down in the final moments.

In 2007, it was Matt Ryan playing the role of most hated man in Blacksburg. In 2009, UNC kicker Casey Barth held the honor after his 21-yard field goal split the uprights as time expired.

The Hokies never generated any semblance of an offense against a stingy Carolina defense. It was star freshman running back Ryan Williams’ toughest game of the season. He managed to gain 96 yards on 23 carries, but it was the last of those carries that stuck with him.

Williams carried the ball around the right side of the line on third down and six when he lost control of the football. Deunta Williams recovered the ball for the Tar Heels with 2:02 remaining on the Tech 24-yard line.

It didn’t take much for the Heels’ offense to put Barth in position for the easy game-winning kick. The field was swarmed with Carolina blue as the Lane Stadium crowd sat in utter disbelief, still trying to grasp what had just unfolded.

UNC used the momentum from such a huge road victory to turn its season around. The Heels had lost three of their last four entering the Tech game, but went on to win four straight after leaving Blacksburg.

2. Miami 38, Florida State 34

The Sunshine State sure kicked off the College Football New Year with one hell of a bang, battling to a last-minute barn-burner on Labor Day. Jacory Harris placed the first installment in his month-long Heisman Trophy campaign with 386 passing yards and two touchdowns. No Miami quarterback had ever amassed as many passing yards against the ‘Noles before.

His counterpart with the tomahawk on his helmet, Christian Ponder, matched Harris’ stellar play, throwing for 294 yards and two touchdowns.

It was an aerial display that had both fan bases salivating over the prospects of a season to remember.

Neither team ended up having such good fortune throughout the year, but the first game was unforgettable among the many games in this rivalry that have been etched in college football’s mind’s eye.

Instead of a missed field goal, it was an incomplete pass from Ponder to Jarmon Fortson as time expired that sealed the Seminoles’ fate.

The game was a breakout for Harris, who won the starting job by default in the off-season when Robert Marve, whom Harris split time with under center in 2008, transferred to Purdue. He won over any critics with the destruction of the FSU defense.

It was yet another in a long line of last-second thrillers between the two schools, and this one came at a imperative time for the conference.

The ACC had been embarrassed over the weekend, including Virginia’s loss to William and Mary and Duke’s loss to Richmond. Virginia Tech had failed to upend Alabama, and the conference was hurting for something to legitimize itself.

This game provided that for the time being, although both teams, along with the league, failed to live up to expectations by the end of the year.

1. Clemson 40, Miami 37 (OT)

The Tigers avoided falling below .500 by stunning Miami on the road. Kyle Parker had perhaps his best performance of the season with 326 yards passing, three touchdowns and one interception.

The last of the three touchdown passes came in overtime, when he found Jacoby Ford on third down and 11 from the 26-yard line for the game-winning score.

The score capped off Clemson’s first road win over a top-10 opponent in eight years.

C.J. Spiller was phenomenal as always. Playing like his usual versatile self, he topped the century mark in receiving with 104 yards on six catches and a touchdown.

Neither team ever led by more than four points the entire game. There were twelve total lead changes.

It was a see-saw of a game that would never have made it to overtime if not for the usually unreliable Clemson kicker Richard Jackson’s game-tying 30-yard field goal with five seconds left in regulation.

Jacory Harris’ downslide during the second half of the season really began to gain wind with a three-interception game that kept Clemson in a game it really should not have had a chance in.

Turnovers dotted the landscape of the game; there were seven in all.

Harris would say after the game that it was his “toughest loss” since joining the program.

The win helped Clemson gain momentum towards an Atlantic Division crown, while Miami’s once promising season continued to unravel with the crushing defeat.