AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2008 > March > 04 > Entry

Breaking down the ACC Atlantic

For the next four days we’re going to break down each team in the ACC and SEC going into spring practice. Today: The ACC Atlantic.

BOSTON COLLEGE

Last season: 11-3, lost to Virginia Tech 30-16 in ACC championship game; beat Michigan State 24-21 in Champs Sports Bowl.

Starters returning: Offense 6, defense 7.

Top story lines: Job No. 1 in spring back is finding a quarterback to replace the great Matt Ryan. Chris Crane and JUCO transfer Codi Boek will lead the competition; Return of LB Brian Toal, who missed all of 2006 season with an injury.

CLEMSON

Last season: 9-4; lost to Auburn 23-20 (OT) in Chick-fil-A Bowl.

Starters returning: Offense 7, defense 8.

Top story lines: Running backs James Davis and C.J. Spiller return, but the Tigers have to find three new starters on the offensive line; two linebackers must step up to replace Nick Watkins and Tremaine Billie.

FLORIDA STATE

Last season: 7-6, lost to Kentucky 35-28 in Music City Bowl.

Starters returning: Offense 8, defense 7.

Top story lines: This will be the second year under offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher, who has been named the head coach in waiting; QB Drew Weatherford will be challenged for his starting job by Christian Ponder.

MARYLAND

Last season: 6-7, lost to Oregon State 24-21 in Emerald Bowl.

Starters returning: Offense 9, defense 5.

Top story lines: Head coach Ralph Friedgen has given up calling the plays and will turn the offense over to new coordinator James Franklin; The Terps lost six starters on defense who combined for 148 career starts.

N.C. STATE

Last season: 5-7.

Starters returning: Offense 6, defense 4.

Top story lines: This will be the second spring under coach Tom O’Brien; running back Toney Baker, who missed all but one game last season because of injury, is back and is expected to have a big year; QB Daniel Evans will be challenged for his job.

WAKE FOREST

Last season: 9-4, beat Connecticut 24-10 in Meinke Car Care Bowl.

Starters returning: Offense 6, defense 9.

Top story lines: There is some work to do on the offensive line as three starters plus the tight end are gone; Wake Forest must also find a big-play receiver to replace Kenneth Moore, who caught 98 passes (ACC record) last season.

Wednesday: The ACC Coastal.

Permalink | Comments (47) | Post your comment |

Comments

By Munson's Call

March 4, 2008 9:02 AM | Link to this

Who cares? When is the SEC break down coming?

By SC

March 4, 2008 9:12 AM | Link to this

FSU is going to be much better this year.

By trevor

March 4, 2008 9:14 AM | Link to this

Tigers should win the division. Road games in Boston and Talahassee will be tough, but they have the talent to run the board in the ACC. If they can win against Alabama this could be a really special year for Clemson.

By SEC Rules

March 4, 2008 9:22 AM | Link to this

As the late Lewis Grizzard said: “Kind of like two mules wrestling over a turnip, who cares?” Go Dawgs!

By Brad Logan

March 4, 2008 9:23 AM | Link to this

Tony,

First off, thanks for all of your commentary and journalism throughout your career. I have really enjoyed it. I’m writing to see if you have heard anything about Nolan Richardson to Georgia? There is a lot of rumbling from here in Birmingham and also from friends close to the Richardson family. It is noted that Ark. State is courting him as well but the UGA rumors interested me.

All my best,

Brad

By Early&Often

March 4, 2008 9:23 AM | Link to this

I want to say this before every forthcoming post from some blowhard Ugag dawg, but to Hell with Georgia…stay on your own pages and let Barnhart do his job. Don’t pretend as if the entire paper hasn’t covered the mutts for the last week with their precious depth charts and spring practice reports. Amazingly enough the entire world doesn’t resolve around the SEC and petty disputes about license plates. Get a job, life, and a meaningful degree.

By 5timers

March 4, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this

CANES ARE BACK BABY, ALL OTHERS BOW DOWN THE BEST RECRUITING CLASS IN YEARS, AND A HUNGER TO GET A SIXTH RING…IT DOESN’T BODE WELL FOR THE REST OF THE ACC AND COLLEGE FOOTBALL. ALL YOU HATERS COME ON OUT AND PLAY…. IF YOU AIN’T TOO SCARED!!!!!

By Grandpaw

March 4, 2008 10:01 AM | Link to this

Two mules a-rasslin’ over a turnip? That’s entertainment.

By BT

March 4, 2008 10:09 AM | Link to this

Apparently you cared enough to click the link and post a comment.

By Good Writeup

March 4, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this

In other news “Stafford comes out hot in spring practice”. Granted, it was with no pads and no defense. Excuse me while I go throw up. I can tell that it’s gonna be a long off-season with articles like these already. The Bulldog Bandwagon will be at an all time high.

By Bravesfan79

March 4, 2008 10:19 AM | Link to this

What does it matter, we already know year in and year out what football teams will have a chance to be “voted” into the title game. And it shure as heck isnt any ACC teams!

By LESD

March 4, 2008 10:32 AM | Link to this

The “Coastal Division” or the “Atlantic Division”: Which is the better division within the “Atlantic Coast Conference?” It’s one of those primordial questions of universal significance. Even more important than “paper or plastic?”

By RAMBLE ON!

March 4, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this

TONY, PLEASE, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, DON’T PICK FSU TO WIN THE DIVISION THIS YEAR LIKE YOU DO EVERY YEAR

By David

March 4, 2008 10:51 AM | Link to this

Sec? Who cares? Don’t bother with the sec report.

By Spike

March 4, 2008 11:02 AM | Link to this

Early and Often… Get some decaff.

By A voice of reason...

March 4, 2008 11:20 AM | Link to this

What an irrelevant blog. Everyone knows the ACC is garbage.

By Dick Rod

March 4, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this

With so much time before the season starts, Tony could spend a day looking at each team in the College Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly 1-A). And still have enough time to keep the pup fans happy. Or not. I’m holding out for that all important UAB update.

By ATLdog

March 4, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this

Haven’t FSU fans been predicting their team is going to get better every year since 2002? And they’ve got progressively worse. Bowden can’t cheat so he is done. Which means FSU is done. At least you always have mens track.

By RickNole

March 4, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this

To everyone ragging on FSU, at least we have won a NC in the past 25 years without the lobbying efforts of SEC officials. 2 loss teams winning the NC, give me a friggin break.

Funny thing is, it took everyone taking our coaches to become relevant.

By Sweet Home Alabama

March 4, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this

With Bama being a Top Ten team again,we need more articles about Bama.Quite writing about Nerd schools.

Our worse SEC school could put a whopping on them Nerds.Get REAL

By JB

March 4, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this

Paul Johnson has been a Head Coach for 11 years and averaged 4 loses a year. Sounds about right for Tech.

By KneeJerk

March 4, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this

FSU almost beat Kentucky with half a team last year.

By DR

March 4, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this

Sweet Home Alabama, maybe you should learn some grammar before picking on “nerd” schools.

By gt in sc

March 4, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this

all you ugay trailer park trash get back to work and stay off the computer now. i think you rednecks have your own problems with fat mat staferd and his little spooning fetish, he`s just not sure of his orientation yet, is he. i hope the butt sniffers are ranked #1 cause the losses will be that much sweeter!

By North GA Nole

March 4, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this

Sweet Home Alabama: Hilarious!! Alabama lost to FSU last year I do believe. I guess Alabama isn’t as good as the SEC’s worst school, uh right? And BTW, FSU has two titles since UGA’s title.

By UL Monroe

March 4, 2008 1:38 PM | Link to this

Sweet Home Alabama - Is UL Monroe a nerd school?

By I Really Hate Tech

March 4, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this

THWGT

By JJ

March 4, 2008 2:42 PM | Link to this

JB,

UGA has lost 32 games the last 11 years. One loss shy of 3 a year. UGA will lose at least that many this year!

By JM

March 4, 2008 3:45 PM | Link to this

Tony, Thanks for the ACC breakdown. There’s more and more ACC fans in Atlanta every year.

By ALLEN

March 4, 2008 4:00 PM | Link to this

This is the year of the Tiger. Been 17 years and the wait is finally over. The ACC championship comes back home to C L E M S O N… T I G E R S.. Fight tigers fight tigers fight fight fight

By JE

March 4, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this

JB,

Paul Johnson has also won a national title in his 11 years as coach. UGA hasn’t won one in 25+ years.

By reservoirDAWG

March 4, 2008 4:34 PM | Link to this

JJ Mark Richt has been a head coach for 7 years and averaged over 10 wins per year. What is your basis for UGA losing at least 3 this year. Is it hope?

By ramblinwreckman

March 4, 2008 6:01 PM | Link to this

THWG

By garyhharrison

March 4, 2008 6:15 PM | Link to this

Munson’s call: You are an uncouth idiot. No wonder you are an UGA/SEC fan. Stay off the ACC blog if you are so hot for the SEC breakdown. For sure nobody invited you or your boorish comments. AND nobody wants you. Go chop wood or dig a latrine or some other skill compatible with your lack of couth. Better yet, crawl back in your hole or back under the porch.

By For the Nerds

March 4, 2008 6:30 PM | Link to this

Lest the calculi driveling bathe once a week nerds forget, you’ve lost SEVEN to the state flagship school, THE University of Georgia. And,…one thing we’ll count as certain is it’ll be EIGHT by this time next year. Save your hot air for warming your bath water.

By Dan Wiggins

March 4, 2008 6:39 PM | Link to this

Let’s go ahead and give Georgia the National Championship Trophy! They don’t need to play that tough schedule to prove they are the best in the land. They are the best at every position of any team in America!!Southern Cal was the unbeatable last year -on paperthat is- but uh oh Booty got hurt and they lost to lowly Stanford !!! Moreno or Stafford would never get hurt- Oh! So that’s why they play the season- It’s a matter of who’s lucky and can avoid the critical injury bug. Southern football Freak

By Diocles

March 4, 2008 8:38 PM | Link to this

As stated so poignantly in a previous blog, all you $EC dolts need to troll your own rag…for the love of god, just go away with your asinine commentary. Some of these remarks are so damn laughable, it just feeds the bad stereotypes at so many of your joke schools. Winning is everything, sure, but college football is a cyclical game you see. One way or another the usual suspects in your conference will either get put on probation or sink back to irrelevance — no matter how many cheeseballs you fill up in your stadiums. The likes of us will always look down or noses at the likes of you!

By War Eagle

March 4, 2008 9:03 PM | Link to this

I hope Tech has a successful season, Coach Johnson will have to really coach next couple of years…

By lol

March 4, 2008 9:32 PM | Link to this

“For The Nerds”

Sure must suck knowing that even though you beat us 7 straight, you still haven’t won a title in about 28 years, and we’ve won one before you have. Also, what about those horrible UGA teams in the late 80s, early 90s? 6-6? 4-7? 5-6? Sure was the flagship university then. Can’t wait for the bandwagoners to jump off after the annual UGA losses to either Tenn, Auburn, South Carolina, or Florida.

By Leslie Brent Bowie

March 4, 2008 10:07 PM | Link to this

Hey Sweet Home , who said Bammy was a top ten team? You been hitting that hooch again haven’t you???

By Leslie Brent Bowie

March 4, 2008 10:11 PM | Link to this

Hey lol, I am tempted to rebut you but it’s like picking on your little brother—it might be fun but it’s NOT challenging. I wish we didn’t have to play you LOSERS every year.Mark it down, we will win the NC next year and you losers will be lucky to get a pre Xmas bowl!!

By WFC

March 5, 2008 6:46 AM | Link to this

I always wonder what the UGA guys who come on this blog and hate have accomplished in their own lives? Do they have lives beyong UGA football? Or do they siimply lock themselves in the bathroom with depth charts and lists of recruits?

By Jan Kemp

March 5, 2008 7:15 AM | Link to this

UGA lies and cheats. Trust me. I went to court over it.

By Jimmy

March 5, 2008 2:57 PM | Link to this

Diocles,

Why would such an all knowing yet arrogant and pompous jackass such as yourself have accomplished in your life to “look down your noses on the likes of us?” It really doesn’t matter anyway, since this is a SPORTS blog. So get off your high horse and realize that the ACC will never be as good as the SEC.

By Diocles

March 5, 2008 8:08 PM | Link to this

Jimmy, nice comeback…pure eloquence. What time are you do back at Boy’s Town? Do us all a favor and just go away.

By Jimmy

March 6, 2008 8:32 AM | Link to this

“Do us all a favor and just go away.” And you talk about my comeback?? What’s next? I’m rubber, your glue? I would think more class than that, Mr. ACC elitist snob.

By Diocles

March 8, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this

Yep…good that you recognize your place. No be a good boy Jimmy and run along now

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