Virginia Tech – Stanford: pre-game keys

We’re closing in on kickoff of the Discover Orange Bowl, where No. 13 Virginia Tech will face off with No. 4 Stanford in Miami.

The Hokies enter the game as a 3.5-point underdog, despite riding an 11-game winning streak.

Both teams are among the most disciplined in the country with two highly respected coaches in Tech’s Frank Beamer and Stanford’s Jim Harbaugh.

The game figures to come down to the wire in the most highly anticipated bowl game for the Hokies since the 2004 Sugar Bowl (16-13 loss to Auburn).

Here’s a look at what Virginia Tech has to do if it wants to win its second Orange Bowl in three years.

1. Don’t fall behind early

The Hokies have fallen behind by double-digits in the first quarter eight times this season. Hard to believe they’re 11-2 given that number. Stanford meanwhile averaged 1.6 touchdowns in the first quarter this year.

Cardinal quarterback Andrew Luck has been flawless early on in games. His first-quarter numbers this year: 12 touchdowns, zero interceptions, 998 yards and a 73.3 completion percentage. Luck is the hub of the wheel that spins the Cardinal, and the Hokies can’t afford to let him get Stanford rolling out of the gates.

Nickel back Antone Exum – a key defensive contributor in passing situations – is suspended for the first quarter after missing curfew on New Year’s Eve. He’ll be replaced by true freshman Kyle Fuller. Fuller played very well all season, but struggled in his biggest test to date in the ACC Championship Game against Florida State.

2. Establish the running game

The outstanding depth of the Hokies’ backfield is well-known, however it is a little thinner than usual tonight. Darren Evans will start at running back, while Ryan Williams will play despite re-aggravating a lingering hamstring injury during bowl practice.

Associate head coach Billy Hite said Williams will play barring any setbacks in pre-game warm-ups, but it sounds like Williams’ production will be limited tonight. The Hokies were a scoring machine when he was injured in the middle of the season, but no one can argue that when he was back in the rotation towards the end of the season he took the offense to another gear.

David Wilson was with Exum on New Year’s Eve and will also miss the first quarter, meaning it will be up to Evans to get the ball rolling for Tech. This should scare Hokie fans. Does offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring rely on the passing game early on with only one healthy running back? Tech has had the most success this year when it has used a heavy dose of the running game to set up the pass.

Quarterback Tyrod Taylor is a much more efficient passer in the second and third quarter this season (156.63 and 194.5 passer rating, respectively) than he has been in the first (136.9 rating).

If Stinespring suddenly loses faith in Evans to shoulder a heavier load tonight than he has all season, it could cost the Hokies. Having three running backs to rotate all season has been a luxury. Evans set the school record for rushing yards by a freshman in 2008 when he was all alone in the Hokies’ backfield. He’s yet to carry the ball more than 15 times in a game this year. If Tech wants to control the game and keep the ball away from Stanford’s 40-plus points per-game offense, Evans will have to touch the ball more tonight than he has all season.

3. Win the turnover battle

Tech has transformed its defense from a mistake-prone unit to one of the most opportunistic defenses Bud Foster has ever coached. Tech led the nation in interceptions during the regular season with 22. Their 30 total takeaways are currently tied for eighth in the country.

Foster thrives on devising complex zone blitz schemes to rattle young quarterbacks. Tonight, he faces the stingiest of opponents in the future NFL star Luck. He has been incredibly well protected all season. The Cardinal is tied with Air Force for fewest sacks allowed this season (and the Falcons should hardly count, considering they pass about twice a month).

It might be hard for Foster to create a lot of pressure on Luck, so he’s going to have to rely heavily on the back end of his defense to hold up in coverage. He’s got Rashad Carmichael back at full health after a late-season ankle sprain, which will help. Jayron Hosley leads the country with eight interceptions, and he’d love nothing more than to tie or break the school record of nine tonight.

Stanford has turned the ball over just 15 times all season, and just four in its last six games. Many of the Hokies’ wins this season have been sealed by key takeaways in the fourth quarter (Florida State, Miami, Georgia Tech, NC State). If the Hokies win tonight, expect Foster’s unit to come up big late yet again.

PREDICTION –

Both teams are extremely confident yet with the utmost respect for their opponent. Both teams have had their fair share of unwanted distractions this week.

Harbaugh has had to constantly fend off questions about vacant coaching jobs, both in college and the NFL. Luck is considered the front-runner for the top pick in the NFL Draft, should the sophomore decide to leave (a decision which is rumored to be closely tied to whether or not Harbaugh stays at Stanford).

Beamer had the Exum/Wilson suspension to deal with, as well as having to send six scout team players home for an undisclosed violation of team rules (all I’ve been told is they were out past curfew). Even if those particular players have no output on the game, it’s a situation on the team that Beamer surely wanted no part of dealing with this week.

And of course, there’s the constant question of the future of Williams and Evans with the program. Both have filed paperwork to the NFL Draft, and as I’ve said before, everything I’ve heard for people who know Williams best say he’s leaving. The dynamic will be interesting tonight with Williams needing a good showing for the draft scouts while playing through the pain of the injury that potentially cost him millions of dollars.

Which team manages those off-field distractions best will likely hoist the championship trophy late tonight.

Beamer made a significant change in the program’s approach to bowl games two seasons ago, and it produced back-to-back wins. He’s made it clear that the Hokies are in Miami on a mission. This is the seventh postseason game the senior class will have played in for Tech – and the first for Stanford. I give the slight edge to the old guard.

HOKIES 34, Cardinal 31

Enjoy the game!

Is Ryan Williams leaving school? Yeah. Is Darren Evans? Maybe not…

It’s the question Hokie fans have been dreading to hear the answer to, but the time has come to face it once and for all.

Ryan Williams is ready to bolt to the NFL...Darren Evans may not be so sure.

The Orange Bowl is less than a week away, which means the impending NFL Draft decisions of Virginia Tech’s running back tandem of Darren Evans and Ryan Williams is near.

Both players submitted paperwork to the draft’s advisory board earlier this month, and are still waiting to receive feedback on where they figure to be drafted.

The consensus opinion is that Williams is a second-round pick, no worse than early third-round. Evans, on the other hand, seems to be a fifth-round selection or worse.

After speaking to people close to Williams in a variety of capacities, I can guarantee that, barring a major injury in the Orange Bowl, he will forgo his final two seasons of eligibility and enter the draft.

It’s a smart move. He’s rebuilt his draft stock enough in the final month of the season that he needs to bankroll that success now. As running backs coach Billy Hite has always said, if you are a second-round pick, get paid now.

Evans, on the other hand, is in a precarious situation. He’s had an incredibly productive season despite splitting carries with Williams and David Wilson. His son, James, is now four years old, and without any real knowledge of his financial situation, you tell me if a 22-year-old college kid has all the means necessary to raise a child – not to mention with a potential million-dollar career is a possibility.

Also, Evans is six credit hours (two classes) from earning his degree, something that is extremely important to him.

“My main focus is just getting my degree. That’s really about it, to be honest. I mean, I care about football and I love football to death. I just think me being here eight hours away from home, four years away from home, missing my mom the way I do, missing my family as much as I do, if I don’t get that degree, it would just be four years of my life just wasted down the drain. So that’s basically my biggest thing,” Evans said earlier this month.

He does, however, have the dangerous label “injury-prone” thanks to a torn ACL that forced him to miss the entire 2009 season. It’s the only serious injury he has ever suffered; yet it’s going to raise red flags on every draft board.

In order for Evans to shake the injury concerns and low draft stock, he would need to withdraw from school and train vigorously in preparation for pre-draft workouts. Even then, there’s no guarantee that he moves up the boards very far, it at all.

The scare for Evans is clear. Leave school, get picked up late in draft, get cut during training camp, and be unemployed with no degree and no way to go back to school.

The crop of running backs for this year’s draft is potentially much stronger than it would be a year from now. If Alabama’s Mark Ingram and Oregon’s LaMichael James bolt for the draft this season, it would leave the 2012 running back class with only one headline player, Ingram’s teammate Trent Richardson. Evans could go from a fifth or sixth-rounder this year to a second-round pick next season.

He could also return to school and split carries with Wilson next season, as was the case for four games this season hen Ryan Williams was out with a torn hamstring. In that stretch, Evans averaged 5.8 yards per carry and scored seven of his 11 touchdowns this season (after Williams returned, he was the primary goal-line back).

There is also, of course, the concern of the pending NFL labor negotiations, which if it does not cause a lockout, is expected to restrict rookie salaries significantly starting in 2012.

Alabama coach Nick Saban publicly urged his players to stay in school and avoid the mess altogether, while pro agents are taking a different approach, trying to convince prospects to take the money while you can.

“With the labor situation and the strike [potentially] coming up, it could really affect how much a guy could develop this year if there is no minicamp, there is no training camp. It will be much more difficult for guys to learn the system and make an impact,” Saban said.

Clearly, there’s a lot weighing on Evans’ mind at this point. Even though Williams appears to be as good as gone, it’s not certain his mentor will follow him out the door just yet.

Football weekend wrap-up: November 20

One division title was decided on Saturday, while the other saw its race whittled down to two teams.

Virginia Tech overcame a slow start to dominate Miami in the second half, winning 31-17 on the road. It was the Hokies’ ninth straight win; their longest streak since 1999.

With the Coastal Division in hand, they will face Virginia next Saturday for a chance to become the first team to run the table in the ACC since 2000.

Ryan Williams said his hamstring wouldn’t be 100 percent until he could rest it after the season. Whatever percent it is now, it’s still better than just about anyone else. Williams showed the explosiveness that made him a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate with a 142-yard, two-touchdown output.

The day kicked off with a thrilling rivalry game between North Carolina and NC State. The Wolfpack trailed 19-10 in the third quarter, but came back to win 29-25. They had to hold on late when North Carolina scored to come within two points, but a failed two-point conversion try left NC State standing.

The win moved the Wolfpack to 5-2 in ACC play, tied with Florida State for the time being.

The Seminoles edged Maryland in a tough environment, 30-16. The Terps were knocking on the door in the final minute down a touchdown, but Nick Moody intercepted a Danny O’Brien pass and returned it 96 yards for a touchdown.

Banged-up FSU quarterback Christian Ponder completed 16-of-26 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown. It was the Seminoles’ defense, however, that won the game. Mark Stoops’ unit forced four turnovers despite giving up 432 yards of total offense.

Maryland’s hopes for an improbable ACC title run were shattered with the loss, while Florida State now must hope the Terrapins can play spoiler next week against the Wolfpack. If NC State beats Maryland, the ‘Pack will play in their first ever conference championship game. If not, the Seminoles will face the Hokies on Dec. 4 in Charlotte.

Granted, there’s still a week left, but you’ve got to hand it to the Tar Heels. Despite all the turmoil, not to mention severe attrition of key players, they’ve been competitive every week. Of their five losses, three have come by six points or less. It’s a bit of a backhanded compliment, but Butch Davis was pretty darn good at keeping his team afloat despite the chaos surrounding his team.

The ACC Player of the Year appeared to be locked up a few weeks ago; and it would belong to Tyrod Taylor. Over the past three weeks, Taylor has cooled off significantly. In that span, he’s completed 35-of-67 passes (52%) with four touchdowns. He’s also only rushed for 62 yards in that time. He’s still the front-runner because of the plays he makes that don’t show up in the stat book.

Headed in the opposite direction, however, is Boston College’s Montel Harris, who continued his streak of 100-yard rushing games in the Eagles’ 17-13 win over Virginia.

Through five games, Harris averaged just 77 yards per game. Since then, he’s gained 142.6 yards per game and scored seven touchdowns. He’s the reason Boston College has won four straight games and is bowl eligible for the 13^th straight season. Linebacker Luke Kuechly may bring home more hardware this winter, but if it weren’t for Harris, the Eagles would never have been 6-5 today.

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

On the Docket: Labor Day Special

Maryland vs. Navy (in Baltimore), 4:00, ESPN

Why it matters: Maryland is trying to erase the memory of last year’s 2-10 finish. Navy has its sights set on more than another nine or 10-win season. Terps’ coach Ralph Friedgen is on the hot seat, and a poor showing against the Midshipmen would make the pressure near unbearable. Navy quarterback Ricky Dobbs is an extreme darkhorse candidate for the Heisman Trophy, he could use a fast start on national television to boost his profile.

Player to Watch: Da’Rel Scott missed half of last season with a broken wrist, and he never really reached the form of his 2008 season when he earned All-ACC honors with 1,133 yards and eight rushing touchdowns. He is the key to Maryland’s offense, especially in the early part of the season while new quarterback Jamarr Robinson gets settled.

Who has the edge?

Navy returns almost its entire running game from a year ago, but it must replace seven starters on defense. Dobbs’ presence gives the Midshipmen the advantage, but Maryland’s run defense was the strongest part of the team last year and it should be better in 2010. The Terrapins played with a lack of heart at times last year, but don’t expect to see too much quit in them today.

Prediction: Navy 31, Maryland 21

Virginia Tech vs. Boise State (in Washington, DC), 8:00 p.m., ESPN

Why it matters: It’s one of two games this weekend matching two top-25 teams, and the only one with two teams in the top 10. Boise State knows a loss will all but eliminate them from the national title hunt. This game is also one more opportunity for the Broncos to prove they belong on a stage like this one. The Hokies have lost a marquee game in the first or second game of the season three years in a row, and have been hearing about it for nine months now. If Frank Beamer wants to take his program to the next level, the Hokies need to start by winning this game.

Player to watch: Kellen Moore put up mind-boggling numbers as the Broncos’ quarterback last season, throwing for 39 touchdowns with just three interceptions. From the returning players offensively, they have 100 percent of last year’s rushing yards and 98 percent of last year’s receiving yards accounted for. Moore has weapons. The Hokies’ defense is throwing seven new starters into the fire to try and contain Moore and the Broncos’ complex offense. Moore has to capitalize on the Hokies’ inexperience to give the Broncos a chance.

Who has the edge? This game is a virtual dead heat. The Broncos are more experienced, but the Hokies are playing at nearby FedExField, which one Tech player described as “like Lane stadium plus 20,000 people.” The Hokies have as much talent offensively as Boise, it’s just a matter of producing. Granted, the Broncos did lead the nation with 42 points per game last season – but they played in the WAC. Both teams are extremely well-coached. Frank Beamer is a legend, but Petersen is one of the best young minds in all of college football. It’s going to be a shootout, but take the Hokies and the home field advantage.

Prediction:

Virginia Tech 38, Boise State 28

The Crystal Ball – How the ACC will fare in 2010

After all the waiting, the season is upon us. This Thursday, the college football season will officially begin. And it begins with Wake Forest hosting Presbyterian at 6:30, the first game to kick off the 2010 season.

That also means it’s about time to make an idiot out of myself by trying to predict what will happen this year. Here is my comprehensive breakdown of the upcoming season for the ACC, otherwise known is idiocy at its finest.

Championship Game: Virginia Tech over Boston College

This was my story a month ago, and I’m sticking to it. The Eagles have a strong defense and a workhorse running back. David Shinskie is back under center, and he can only improve on his freshman season – his first year of football in half a decade.

I’ve lost faith in Florida State’s chances enough to take the Eagles as the Atlantic champs. BC faces an easier conference schedule, where I think they can sneak six conference wins in.

The Hokies, meanwhile, figure to be either 7-1 or 8-0 when the calendar hits November. Their three-game stretch of Georgia Tech, North Carolina and Miami is treacherous, but with the uncertainty around the Tar Heels’ season, that stretch is a little calmer now, it seems.

When it comes to the Eagles-Hokies matchup, it really doesn’t do justice to call it a match up, because it hardly resembles one. The gap between the two divisions this year is immense. Whoever wins the Coastal Division wins the championship.

Player of the Year: Christian Ponder, FSU

Ponder, if healthy, could put up ridiculous numbers in his senior season with the ‘Noles. It figures to be more of the same with Florida State in terms of the offense loading up the scoreboard, while the defense struggles to do its job.

Ponder has the athletes around him to make big plays. He has a shot to become the first Heisman winner from the ACC in nine years, and he could also shoot up NFL Draft projections with a strong year.

Biggest upset of the year: Duke over Miami, Oct. 16

Before you stop reading, hear me out.

Miami will either be coming off a huge win over Florida State, or a devastating loss the week before. The ‘Canes have a history of sleepwalking through road trips to Duke.

In 2008, they trailed the Blue Devils 24-14 in the third quarter before coming back to win 49-31.

In 2006, the Hurricanes needed a last-second interception on the goal line to avoid falling to the winless Blue Devils, winning 20-15.

If Duke came that close when they had significantly inferior talent, the Blue Devils have a much better chance this time around when the talent pool is much better.

Duke has a strong offense capable of scoring on anyone. Donovan Varner is the most productive receiver in the league, and Sean Renfree was a highly recruited quarterback two years ago and the coaches have high hopes for him.

If Miami doesn’t watch its step coming off a potentially mammoth rivalry game the week before, it’s not absurd to think Duke could win that game.

Best newcomer: Jeff Luc, LB Florida State

Luc, the most prized recruit in the ACC in the class of 2010, saw his chances for playing time rise when projected starter Nigel Carr was booted off the team in July.

Luc is slotted to back up Kendall Smith at middle linebacker, but he could move around if need be as a backup. Everything I’ve heard is the Luc is the next great linebacker at FSU, following in the footsteps of Peter Boulware, Ernie Sims and Dekoda Watson.  Expect him to make an immediate impact on a defense desperate for that type of player.

Biggest disappointment: Clemson

The return of Kyle Parker was supposed to salvage the Tigers’ season. It will make nary a difference with a lack of supporting cast. Andre Ellington has 1,000-yard potential at running back, but there is no semblance of a receiving corps.

Clemson’s early-season schedule is too tough to overcome. The Tigers face Auburn, Miami and Georgia Tech in a four-week span. I don’t think Clemson wins any of those games.

A 7-5 season would impress me. A 6-6 year would be just about right.

Best offense: Virginia Tech

There are more proven weapons for the Hokies than anyone else. Florida State has Ponder, Miami has an abundance of former blue-chip recruits who should emerge this year, but the Hokies have by far the best combination of talent and experience.

David Wilson may emerge as the backup running back instead of Darren Evans, meaning the Hokies might have a former 1,000-yard rusher at third string.

Senior quarterback Tyrod Taylor has his entire receiving corps back intact for the third consecutive year. Also, new starting tight end Andre Smith will be an improvement in the passing game over Greg Boone.

Ryan Williams should put up gaudy numbers again after breaking a number of school and conference rushing records as a freshman.

Best defense: Miami

I’m sorry, but until I know who will or won’t play for North Carolina, I’m not touching that team when it comes to predictions. So Miami earns this recognition with studs like Allen Bailey, who could be a top 10 pick next spring, and Colin McCarthy and Sean Spence at linebacker.

Brandon Harris anchors a secondary that is closing the talent gap between recent years and the early part of the decade.

Miami will have the fastest and fiercest defense this year, and Randy Shannon finally has the pieces in place again to wreak havoc on opponents like the ‘Canes used to do when Shannon was defensive coordinator.

Game of the year: Virginia Tech at Miami, November 20

This is the de facto ACC Championship game, if everything unfolds as planned. These are the two best teams of the year facing off in the next to last week of the season. Both teams have some road bumps before this date, but it’s possible both could be ranked in the top 10 come game time, maybe even the top five.

The winner of this game will likely punch their ticket to the ACC Championship Game two weeks later.

It’s going to be a great year for the ACC. Virginia Tech and Miami should carry the torch at the forefront of the national rankings most of the season.  Still, nine teams should reach the postseason, showing the true depth of a league that has taken it’s fair share of criticism in recent years.

Five ACC players who could contend for Heisman

There is a lot of hope surrounding the ACC this season. Miami and Florida State are relevant again (we think), Virginia Tech has a chance to be a national title favorite with a win in week one, and there is a laundry list of players with a legitimate shot at the Heisman Trophy.

The last Heisman winner from the ACC was Florida State quarterback Chris Weinke in 2000. There is a breadth of talent at several positions that could produce the next winner from right here in the ACC.

Here is the list, in order.

1. Christian Ponder, Florida State QB

Ponder is not just the symbol of hope for the ACC. He’s carrying the pressure of resurrecting the Seminole program. If he’s able to return FSU to glory, there’s no doubt he’ll be on the short list for the award. If he stays healthy, there’s little doubt he’ll put up close to 4,000 passing yards and approach 40 touchdowns.

2. Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech RB

Williams would likely get more attention for this award if people weren’t skeptical that Darren Evans will steal too many of Williams’ carries. It’s not going to be an issue. Williams will touch the ball between 20-25 times per game at least, which is plenty to put up Heisman-worthy numbers. The coaching staff knows Williams is a game-breaker, while Evans is much more suited to be a supplemental back. If the Hokies make a run at the national title, Williams will be the biggest reason why.

3. Jacory Harris, Miami QB

Harris knows something that nobody else in the ACC does. He knows what it’s like to be the Heisman favorite, albeit very briefly. Harris was the center of attention last September thanks to two prime-time performances against Florida State and Georgia Tech. This year, he’ll need to string together more than just two great games if he wants to finish the year in the mix for the award. Wins over Ohio State and Pittsburgh would be a good start. He needs to cut down on his turnovers, improve his decision-making and hope his offensive line protects him better than it did at the end of last year.

4. Joshua Nesbitt, Georgia Tech QB

Nesbitt is the darkhorse of the national Heisman race. He’s been largely discounted for the award because of the option he operates in. Do people forget what Eric Crouch did nine years ago? If the Yellow Jackets are in the national title hunt, or at least in the top 10 when the season ends, and Nesbitt dominates like many expect him to, there’s no reason his name shouldn’t be mentioned for the Heisman. He’s one of the best college football players in the country.

5. Montel Harris, Boston College RB

Harris is the best running back nobody has ever heard about (apologies to Kansas State’s Daniel Thomas). Harrs carried the Eagles last season when no quarterback could. He might have to do the same this year, but he’s up to the task. He was handed the ball 308 times last year, and that might touch 350 this year. He has no backup, and the receiving corps is thin. Basically, Harris could put up unavoidably impressive numbers. The Eagles aren’t going to be a national contender, and Harris isn’t going to be a future NFL star, but he’s going to get so much action that he just might make some noise in the Heisman race (see: Larry Johnson).

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.

Going for two: Monday July 12, 2010

For the sake of avoiding being too repetitive with these team-by-team previews , I’m going to post a couple thoughts of mine on anything relevant to the ACC at least a few times a week (not sure if I can keep up with it daily). Anything that’s on my mind, I’m going to say. Some of them may spark debates, others may be fairly blatant, I don’t really know.

THOUGHT ONE

I think the idea that Darren Evans and Ryan Williams should split the carries in the Virginia Tech backfield is insane. Williams proved last year he is the quintessential every-down back.

He ran harder as the game wore on, and was equally adept at running between the tackles as he was at turning the corner on the perimeter. Evans is a north-south back who averaged 37 yards fewer per game in 2008 than Williams did in 2009. Evans also scored 10 fewer touchdowns.

Evans was starting to turn the corner in the final month of his freshman season in terms of his vision and physicality. The biggest difference between November Darren Evans and September Darren Evans was his confidence with the ball.

Will that confidence be there after ACL reconstruction? Not immediately. Either way, there isn’t anything Evans does that Williams doesn’t do better. If Williams gets less than 65 percent of the carries this fall, “Fire Bryan Stinespring”  will return as the battle cry in Blacksburg.

THOUGHT TWO

I think that the SuperHeat may or may not help Randy Shannon recruit at Miami, and it’s up to Randy Shannon.

In a city like Los Angeles, where former USC coach Pete Carroll made the celebrity-infused culture of the city is as much of a sell as the program itself, it can be a big advantage when recruiting blue-chip prospects.

That theory could soon apply to Miami, which is on the cusp of exploding after LeBron James announced he was moving to South Beach. I think for the next year or two, it will give Miami a boost in “street cred”. The scary thing about that is they are one of the two or three schools with the most already.

Randy Shannon, masterful recruiter that he is, is no Pete Carroll. Shannon is much more straight-laced, and I don’t know how much he’s going to sell the entertainment value of the city to his prospects.Recruits already come to Miami for that aspect without Shannon having to emphasize it.

He’s much more concerned about the football field to use LeBron James and Dwayne Wade as serious recruiting tools.

Agree/Disagree? Posts your thoughts in the comments section.

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.