2008.08.31
ACC stinks it up
Arkansas State won at Texas A&M. Bowling Green upset Pitt. Louisiana Tech beat Mississippi State. But the ACC laid the biggest egg of all in Week 1, reinforcing its reputation as a weak conference. Preseason ACC favorite Clemson was squashed by Alabama. ECU upset the Hokies. USC flattened UVa. Maryland only beat Delaware by a 14-7 score, and UNC had to rally to beat McNeese State. On Thursday, South Carolina shut out N.C. State. At least Wake Forest beat Baylor. But the ACC was an object of ridicule on national sports talk radio Saturday night, and rightly so. And it won’t get any better next weekend when Miami visits Florida. — Mark Berman
What kind of record would V Tech or UVA have if they played some of the SEC teams????????
Comment by Boyd A. Walker — August 31, 2008 @ 10:33 pm
I have hoped for the last 30 years that Va. teams would be able to compete as respectable national teams. It doesn’t seem now that we have progressed at all from the Dooley years. The Hokies were a national “power” only courtesy of Micheal Vick, and have not gone beyond that, and given the performance against ECU, it doesn’t seem that the future is any brighter. UVA appears to be clueless.
20 years ago,a marvelous conference could have been formed in the Northeast if Saint Joe Paterno had not been given total control of Penn St. and gone on his hopeless quest to do whatever he wanted to do in the Big 10. With PSU in the big East, recruiting would have been far more successful, and would have been competetive with the SE Conference, where VA Tech should be now.
ACC football stinks because the ACC is a basketball conference. What recruit wants to go to a place where his sport is second class?
ACC fans -get used to second class football for the forseeable future.
Comment by Earl Robinson — August 31, 2008 @ 10:51 pm
Once again, the ACC shows that it is a basketball conference…not a football conference. Of the BCS conferences, the Big East and ACC are definitely not up to the same level of the Big 12, SEC, Big Ten, or Pac Ten. VT shows that one every time they get a BCS game by losing it, and this weekend showed yet again why they are still a second-tier football conference, despite a grouping of teams with fairly respectable histories. With teams like VT,m FSU, Clemson, and Miami…who were generally thought to be the cream of the crop not just in the ACC, but all of college football, the fact that they have dropped so many bombs the past couple of years is sad. I hope VT can shake off the loss, but I feel that until they totally revamp the offense (from coordinator to quarterback), they won’t stand much of a chance this season given the major holes that they have.
Comment by Other John — August 31, 2008 @ 11:33 pm
Clemson in the preseason top 10? Are you kidding? Va Tech a Top 25 team. Get real. The ACC is, as all authentic college football fans know, is a push-over, overated, pretend conference.
Comment by John — August 31, 2008 @ 11:41 pm
Yes the ACC appears to be down again this year and has been for several years but how quickly everyone forgets the past. I’m a Tech fan but I can remember when UVA and GT played in Charlottsville as the top 2 ranked teams in the country. VT has been a legitimate top 25 team for the past 10 years granted maybe more like top 50 this year. I can also remember when USC, Texas, Ohio State, Oklahome were down. These things are cyclical and the ACC will be back.
Comment by TJ — September 1, 2008 @ 7:12 am
Right. And the SEC is a “football conference” that just so happens to have been basketball champions 3 out of the last 10 years…
How many for the “basketball conference”? A commanding three…
1998 Kentucky
1999 Connecticut
2000 Michigan State
2001 Duke
2002 Maryland
2003 Syracuse
2004 Connecticut
2005 North Carolina
2006 Florida 73-57
2007 Florida 84-75
Comment by Tim — September 1, 2008 @ 7:45 am
ACC probably could compete in with Big East teams, except WVU. VA.Tech,with all of its potential just cannot get in done. The offense is high school at best. How can you throw a pass over the middle on 3rd. and 16 with around 2 minutes left to go in the half and you are on your on 15? I thought they where going to use Boone in a positive manner, maybe like Fl. QB when he was a freshmen? Tech really needs help with offenses schemes and play selection.
Comment by frankpochick — September 1, 2008 @ 8:23 am
I find it funny that the ACC has gotten worse after VT,Miami and BC joined and that the Big East has gotten better. That tells you all you need to know about the sorry state of ACC football.
Comment by Jeff Huffman — September 1, 2008 @ 8:49 am
Hokie fans, this should be nothing out of the ordinary. We have come to expect this excuse of offense calling over the years. Why complain. As long as we have the same OC; get used to these late game bumbles at play calling. Are you reading this Frank and Jim???
Comment by Todd — September 1, 2008 @ 9:33 am
Hey, don’t forget, GA TECH (a.k.a. the real TECH) beat Jacksonville State!!
Comment by roudyred — September 1, 2008 @ 9:58 am
Seems that J. Swofford and the ACC execs have no idea how to run a business, if they base it on creating a major player in the BCS world. The “cream” of the football ACC (Miami, FSU, VPI, Clemsom) can only compete with the top football dogs if they can do things under the table and get away with it. That includes questionable recruiting, easy academic loads for players (“student-athlete” at those schools is a farce), and NCAA rules violations. If the ACC plays by the rules, no way it’s a power conference.
Comment by Greg — September 1, 2008 @ 9:59 am
al groh does nothing to progress his players,the qb looked liked he was lost at times,,we will never beat vtech as long as groh is the coach,i have had enough of al groh
Comment by al groh must go — September 1, 2008 @ 10:42 am
It wasn’t a long time ago that Miami and Florida State were so dominant.
But, Florida is the class of the state. And, last year even South Florida and Central Florida were good. South Florida amazingly got up to #2 at one point.
But, when you have so many teams like Clemson, Virginia Tech, Virginia, and NC State lose in embarrassing fasion. Plus, others that struggled against weak foes.
It does seem like the ACC may be the weakest of the 6 BCS conferences.
It seems like the ACC will be battling the Big East for the title of “weakest BCS” conference.
SEC, Big 12, Pac 10 and even the Big 10 are better.
Comment by Dragon — September 1, 2008 @ 4:47 pm
I am a lifelong Hokie fan growing up in Christiansburg, so this pains me to say this. I think it is time for Beamer to hang it up so we can get to the next level. We would not be where we are today if not for coach Beamer but I just feel that we just can’t get over that “hump” on the national scene with him at the helm. With all the receivers gone why would you start the “passing” QB and redshirt the two way threat??? This was also a talking point on ESPN. I think we have recruited too many troublemakers at Tech and individual success has superceded team success. I know I rambled but I think we should get back to running the ball down peoples throat, smacking people in the mouth (and not standing over them when we do it) and just play physical, smart, Virginia Tech football!!!
Comment by Lee — September 1, 2008 @ 5:20 pm
Well, as a VT alum and ardent fan, allow me to suggest we all slow down here. It’s only one game into the season. The USC/UVA result was expected, and I’m pretty sure most wahoos would agree. The NC State score was disappointing. Clemson just didn’t show up, players and especially coaches, at all. Clemson’s loss was by far the most damaging to the ACCs rep, although I still think Clemson can put together a big season. As for the Hokies, I thought we would win that game all the way up until Glennon was named the starter. Sean may have the physical tools to play, and he may even be smart enough. But he shows very little heart or courage when gametime rolls around. In addition, most interviews he does seem to include a lot more “I”s and “me”s then “we”s. He is no Bryan Randall. ECU is a solid, experienced team, whereas the Hokies are a youth movement, unfortunately except for the QB posiion. For VT to take the step up to consistent NC contender, we need to go out and get a top notch OC. Beamer has got to see that VT has the talent year in year out to compete (per NFL draft results), the Defensive system and staff to compete, and an Offense that consistently disappoints. VT seems to only have success with running QBs because they improvise the plays the OC can’t. VT still has a chance to make some noise this year. To me, if we win the GT game, that’s big for our confidence and sets us up well for UNC. VT could be 3-1 going out to Neb, and that’s a nice opportunity for the ACC to get some credibility back.
Comment by Rivermill — September 1, 2008 @ 7:47 pm
The ACC is a basketball conference, plain and simple. Outside of FSU and Miami there isn’t any football history in the ACC. Therefore, recruiting is very difficult but school do a decend job considering. I know VT fans want to think of themselves as a power and a school with tradition but that just isn’t the case. One good season doesn’t make you a power, just a team that had a good season. The rest of the every year 2,3 or 4 lost seasons are typical Tech and don’t make you a power. If Tech is the class of the ACC in any sport that isn’t good news for the ACC. I’m not saying Tech fans shouldn’t be happy to have a solid team year in and year out, but acting as if they are a power house, national and big time program is a joke.
Comment by ACC FAN — September 2, 2008 @ 12:31 am
VT, the players and the fans, deserve a better OC…
Comment by GTVTPROF — September 2, 2008 @ 6:08 am
YES the acc is overrated of course.Im a hokie fan but I think we went in a little overrated ourself. but I guess they had to put somebody from the acc in the top 25.AS FOR THE HOKIES you also need to remember you recruit the thugs your’e going to get the thugs. Let’s hope we stick with keeping Tyrod redshirted and next year FRANK. “LETS SPREAD IT OUT”.
Comment by Tony — September 2, 2008 @ 8:03 am
Get rid of Beamer? You’re kidding, right? Do you remember what Tech football was like before he got here? And don’t kid yourself: nine out of ten coaches would have left Tech for more money or a more prestigious job (and there are plenty of more prestigious, better paying coaching jobs out there). Who is going to be better than Beamer, or even as good? Beamer is a Hokie for life, and is the best thing that ever happened to Virginia Tech sports. Thankfully the Tech athletic director has more sense than some of Tech’s “fans”…..
Comment by Appalbird — September 2, 2008 @ 8:40 am
People are forgetting to mention Tech started TEN freshmen. Give the young kids a break already. They should have a decent season after this I think
Comment by Greg — September 2, 2008 @ 8:46 am
The OC coordinator at Tech needs to go. This was a total team collapse from defense to special teams. Once again, we could not run the football. What about getting rid of Newsome as well. Since he has come to Tech, the OL has not performed. Hope it gets better but I have my doubts. It could be a long year
Comment by darkday — September 2, 2008 @ 11:27 am
The offensive coordinator and Frank Beamer’s loyalty to him is the problem. We’ve had too much talent on offense to struggle like we have since Stinespring became OC. The defense is young and won’t be able to bail out the offenses’ consistant on-field errors and the OC’s inept play calling this year as in years past. Time for a change is way overdue.
Comment by HOKIE81 — September 2, 2008 @ 12:32 pm
I agree with Appalbird and Greg. I do remember sitting in the cold in Lane Stadium during the 80′s watching yet another team beat us. I was a die hard fan then and I have thoroughly enjoyed the Beamer Years. I also want to give Foster credit too, where would we really be without our defense?
After watching the game I realized that we do, as usual, have another quarterback problem. I like Gennnon and think that he will pull this out again this year. However, we are just not getting good talent in this area on a consistent basis.
This is a young team, we are not going to be dominant in the ACC as we have, let Tyrod sit this year out. With what I saw Saturday, we are going to have our run at glory again in the next few years. We have some awesome talent on both sides of the field that needs to mature. I would much rather not see us struggle because we wasted a year of Tyrod’s eligibility.
The only real problem I have with Hokie Football is the strength of schedule. I was really upset when I saw it this year. If we are not going to get into a bowl game I would much rather we don’t get into it because of who we lost to, not what weak team we played and beat. We need to be playing tougher teams, actually we always rise up to meet those teams.
As far as the strength of the ACC, I am more concerned with what is going on in Florida with Miami and Florida State than in Blacksburg. Let’s face it, we need those two teams to get back to where they once were to make the ACC strong once again. I hate em both with a passion, but we need them to compete with us in the big games.
I think that NC State and North Carolina show great promise as well. Tommy Bowden and Ralph Friedgen need to pull it off this year for sure, no doubt about it. We have great teams in Wake Forrest and Boston College. If those coaches can pull it together we will have a great conference. And why can’t we have a great basketball AND Football conference? Who ever said you couldn’t? If Va Tech Football can come from the team of the 70′s and 80′s to the team of today so can the ACC.
Comment by aunt_tonja — September 2, 2008 @ 1:06 pm
In reading this I find great humor. The state of ACC football is abysmal at best. I look back to last years drubbing that Va. Tech took at the hands of LSU. I recall how two years in a row a highly overrated Ohio State team came into the national championship game, a media darling, and got their heads handed to them by Florida and then LSU last year. I am reminded how Va. Tech rolled over on Georgia a few years ago and got beat. This list can on and on. Then we look at Clem and son, # 9 ranking and believing the hype all over again were the Tiger faithful. Each year Clemson continues to be a legend in their own minds. OH my how badly did they stink it up. Again, there are very few conferences that can compete with the level of talent that the SEC produces, not only at the player level but the coaching level as well. Opening with teams in the ACC is like a scrimmage game and it allows real hitting for maybe the first time of the season. I had someone this weekend actually tell me that VT could compete in the SEC, and I know my face was stunned, so much so that he had to correct and say well maybe in a few years. In his defense he quickly added he thought Tech would have done better in the SEC. My reply to him was they would never get the invite. The SEC’s only blemish this week was UT’s loss to UCLA. So I ask you who is the real USC, if you are still wondering Go Gamecocks!
Comment by SEC Rules — September 2, 2008 @ 1:36 pm
I agree with Appalbird, getting rid of Beamer is an ignorant suggestion from a fair-weather fan. The day Frank leaves for retirement will be a dark day for the Hokie Nation, he’s a long ways from a JoPa who’s outlived his usefulness – see the last 4 consecutive 10-plus win seasons and two conference titles to prove it – so let’s be careful what we wish for people, seriously, who do you think is going to step in and have more success?
Also, I’m not hearing anyone give ECU any props, and I think we should. I for one knew months ago that this was a strong possibility. The Pirates handled us last year in exactly the same manner, we just got lucky on a few key mistakes. We had every chance to put the Pirates away in much the same fashion again this year – they handed us opportunity after opportunity – but instead we returned the favor with even worse mistakes of our own and the better team – on that particular day – came out on top. ECU deserved to win and VT deserved to lose on Saturday, we were outplayed and out husseled, but that is not VT football and I fully expect to see a different team in the weeks ahead.
I also think that this loss could be exactly what this young team needs to come together. In ‘04 another young team with a senior QB suffered not one, but two heartbreakers early in the season. One was to a superior team (USC) and one to an inferior team (NC State). That team bounced back and won 8 straight to capture the ACC title and go on to play another undefeated team that probably should have been in the national title game (Auburn) neck and neck into the final minutes of the Sugar Bowl. And then just last season, after a heartbreaker to BC, a more experience crew rallied back to once again capture the ACC crown. I could go on, but the point is that Tech has faced adversity before and we have always come back stronger than ever. As fans, we should not be so quick to turn our backs now and forget that history. Tech has always played better in an underdog role, and now this young team will get the chance to do exactly that. The season is long and the ACC is still wide open for the taking, there’s everything left to play for, where’s the faith and hokie pride (and did any of you really think we were going to contend for the NC this year? Get real people.)
One critical note, however, for this team to have success this season the O-line MUST improve immediately, and there is no excuse for that to not happen. They have the experienced personnel this year, the coaches and trainers have all done their part, now the players just have to get out there and get the job done. Tyrod or no Tyrod, it all starts up front, and without all those playmaking receivers from a year ago our offense has too many holes to be able to compensate for rotten o-line play again this year. Better play calling and a return to a smash-mouth, up-the-gut ground attack would be great, but without better blocking there is no chance of that happening, so the line’s play will make or break this entire season.
Comment by Hokie Fan 19822005 — September 2, 2008 @ 1:38 pm
Two words Sean Glennon. First pass of the season an interception, and he has an interview and he’s laughing after the game. I’m sorry but he just doesn’t get it. The players don’t respect him, the fans don’t, why are the coach’s putting up with this. This is a young team and I think this year is a learning year for the team. They need the seniors to step up and give some leadership and Sean does not know how to do that. I stand behind the Hokies win or lose. I don’t try to be a coach in the stand and for that matter neither should anyone else, because if you were that good why don’t you apply for the job and stop complaining about the coach’s.
Comment by hokiegrl — September 2, 2008 @ 2:26 pm
The Big East as a whole may not be up to par with the SEC, Big XII or Pac-10, but still it’s conference champion has gone 3-0 in the last three BCS bowls against league winners from the SEC and the Big XII. WVU has proven it can not only hold its own against elite teams, but it can beat them too. The ACC is 0-8 in BCS bowls and puts up staggering records versus non-conference competition. Wake is one of 12 teams in that conference that deserves to be in the top 25.
Comment by Jeremy — September 2, 2008 @ 2:26 pm
Fairweather fan??? Are you kidding me??? Growing up in the shadows of Lane stadium I think I am a little more than just a fan when the Hokies are doing well. The reason I said maybe Beamer should go is because he is way “too” loyal to his OC and if he can’t pull the trigger to let him go then maybe he should go himself. And to the question of who would replace Beamer, the answer is simply….No one!!!! But I believe Bud Foster has earned the right and displayed the skill of a coordinator that is ready to take the helm of his own football team. I sure don’t want to play against a team coached by Bud. I know the season is early and I sure hope we turn things around, I just think changes need to be made to shake things and pump new life into Hokie Football.
Comment by Lee — September 2, 2008 @ 7:18 pm
It’s not so much that the ACC is over-rated (which it is), it’s that VPI has to be the most over-rated team in the country. Why we consistently rank in the top 10 or there abouts is beyond my understanding. We are not far removed from the old days, when Beamer was a player, of 3 yards and a cloud of dust. It is time for a new offensive coordinator.
John D. Smith, Class of 1969
Comment by John D. Smith — September 2, 2008 @ 8:04 pm
As low as the ACC is rated this year, it is hard to describe it as over-rated. But VT is young and finally rebuilding after great success. We will be back with the ACC. BTW the three teams with the best records in the last 3 years are USC, Ohio State and VT. You can be on top every year.
Comment by Randy Ramsey — September 2, 2008 @ 10:23 pm
I hate to say this, but the hype around the ECU game and the fact it was in a neutral stadium filled to capacity made it feel too much like a bowl game. Let’s face it, we don’t do well in bowl games!
Comment by Hokie fan — September 3, 2008 @ 10:02 am
Didn’t mean to direct that fair-weather fan comment at Lee alone, that’s more a general sentiment I get about all the negativity over one game that is basically meaningless in the big picture (a nonconference loss in a year we weren’t going to contend for a NC anyway is probably a more valuable learning experience for this team than any conference win ever could be.) But I still disagree 100 percent about Beamer, we need to keep him as long as possible, any talk to the contrary is asinine. Am I the only person who remembers we’ve won 10 or more games each of the past FOUR years?! (Obviously not, thanks Randy) If that’s not the definition of a Fair-weather fan, I don’t know what is.
That said, if Foster is still around when Beamer does hang it up, I agree he’d be the strongest candidate for the head job, and I hope that’s what happens. But he is still a DEFENSIVE coordinator, so how would Beamer leaving and Bud stepping in now solve the current offensive problems?
Another reality we all need to face is that the players – pretty much all of them – didn’t execute on Sat, so on top of inexperience we got less than their best effort, and that’s not going to get us too many Ws this year, we need everyone as sharp as they can be at all times. The O-line play was just as bad as it was most of last year, the inexperienced receivers were running the wrong routes and that caused the QB to stare them down, the running game was barely present, the defense tackling was atrocious, and the special teams made a bad mistake that cost us the game… in short this is a VERY YOUNG team, and no amount of coaching was going to fully prepare them for a full-speed game environment.
The good news is that Beamer and his staff have always done a good job of bouncing back after tough losses, and even more so over the last few seasons (See USC/NC State in ‘04, Miami in ‘05, GT/BC in ‘06 and ‘BC last year, each time we came back stronger than ever over the following weeks), so I just think we should all give them a little time to really coach these young players up before we get carried away. But even with Taylor in there now I still say it all starts up front with the O-line, if that doesn’t improve immediately then even Peyton Manning or Tom Brady couldn’t make this offense go, so hopefully those seniors will step up and get the job done from here on out.
Go Hokies!
Comment by Hokie Fan 19822005 — September 3, 2008 @ 2:18 pm
I appreciate that Hokiefan, I agree that Bud Foster becoming the head coach won’t solve the offensive problems, but with a new skipper usually comes some changes and that is what I would like to see in a perfect world. I am a Hokie fan through and through and just hate hearing other people say we’re are overrated and then we consistently prove them correct.
Now with the QB change, I hope they don’t play T-Mobile too much against Furman, god only knows that we don’t need him getting hurt against Furman. I just can’t wait to see him go up against Nebraska where his speed and agility might create havoc on the Cornhusker defense.
So i’m done blogging here but it was awesome to see all the comments and while some of my suggestions might of offended some folks, you won’t find a bigger Beamer fan, I just don’t see us winning A NC with him unfortunately, I hope he proves me wrong!!!
Comment by Lee — September 3, 2008 @ 3:03 pm
Yes, an ACC team will probably win a national championship. Too bad we have to wait until late March to see it.
The ACC has this sport’s best rivalry. It makes VT-Miami football rivalry look like a joke. Or VT-UVa in football a tremendous laugh.
None of the football rivalries are anywhere near UNC-Duke in basketball.
This is a basketball-dominated conference. Always has been and always will be.
Expansion was a joke. I hated it.
Comment by JLM — September 3, 2008 @ 5:41 pm
Come on people, Michigan lost to 1-AA App State last year (and Utah this year) nobody says that Michigan won’t be back or that the Big 10 doesn’t deserve to be in the BCS! These things go in cycles, Tech will be back, Miami will be back, FSU will be back, UNC will play well; losing to USC is not a disgrace, a lot of folks have done that. The Hokies may have had a brain cramp on Saturday, or they may just be an uncommonly young team. This year, the ACC may have been over-hyped, all air and no ice cream. But we wanted to hear good things about our teams. Blame us.
Comment by Brian Messitt — September 4, 2008 @ 7:41 am
It is not overrated because no one thinks its any good now. So how can it be overrated?
Comment by Jeff Self — September 4, 2008 @ 12:07 pm
I think UVA fans need to come to reality. They started a QB with very very little expierence and a offensive line with one maybe two true returning starters. The line only allowed two sacks and Lalich stayed in the pocket and took his thumps like a true QB should. All this being done aginst the then #3, now #1 team in the nation. Give the new guys some credit and give them time to mature.
Comment by JAL — September 4, 2008 @ 3:20 pm
In order for the ACC to be overrated, it would have to ranked as a top tier conference. I don’t know of any knowledgeable football fan that would consider the ACC to be a top tier conference.
Comment by Joe V. — September 4, 2008 @ 9:25 pm
Fine, overrated is wrong.
I just hated the conference expanding. It was fine as it was.
The expansion hurt the conference. The basketball is definitely worsened and that’s the most important factor in ACC sports.
Even if Miami and FSU were still great football programs, I wouldn’t have liked expansion. They don’t bring much to the basketball. VT is all right, but still not even close to an elite program. BC does bring some real positives to basketball, but not enough for expansion to have happened.
Plus now everybody doesn’t play each other in basketball.
Basically this conference watches football, while waiting for the excitement of ACC basketball.
Comment by JLM — September 5, 2008 @ 2:08 pm