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Monday, July 21, 2008
Clemson knows Bama game in Dome will be huge
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Greensboro, Ga.-A look behind the scenes here at the ACC preseason football meetings at Reynolds Plantation:
1. Alabama has Clemson’s attention: As was the case last season, when Clemson opened at home with Florida State, the Aug. 30 opener with Alabama at the Georgia Dome has the ACC favorites very focused on getting ready for the season.
“We were focused in spring practice. We were focused during summer workouts and we’ll be focused when we get to camp,” senior quarterback Cullen Harper said. “We’re opening with an SEC team on national television. This is a big stage and a whole lot of people are going to be watching. To get where we want to go, we have to get this season off to a good start. This is our chance to do that.”
Clemson will be favored. The Tigers have more players. But it is still Alabama. Alabama wants to win. Clemson HAS to win. Should be interesting.
2. Eagles already miss Matt Ryan: Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan came to this event a year ago and made his presence felt. He was an impressive guy and it was clear from listening to him talk that Ryan was going to have a big year. He did and became the No. 3 pick in the draft by the Falcons. On Sunday Ryan still had a strong presence at these meetings. “I’ve done 10 television interviews and they all started with a question about Matt,” said tight end Ryan Purvis. “It’s hard to replace a guy like that. He was just a vocal leader.” Ryan just wasn’t a vocal leader. He led by example. He made things happen. BC folks will tell you and Ryan has joined Doug Flutie as the best leaders the school has ever had in football. Ryan will be replaced by Chris Craine, a senior from Mechanicsburg, PA. Crane threw four passes, completing two, as Ryan’s backup last season. He has skills but has not been tested. After opening with Kent State in Cleveland, Boston College hosts Georgia Tech on Sept. 6.
3. Miami gets rid of “cancerous” attitudes: It sounds like Miami was not a very fun place to be last season. The Hurricanes were 5-7 overall (2-6 ACC) in their first year under coach Randy Shannon. But Miami didn’t just lose last season, they were embarrassed more than once. The worst moment was a 48-0 loss to Virginia in the last game in the old Orange Bowl. Dozens of former players had come back for the occasion and the Hurricanes went out and laid a goose egg. Things have changed since last season, said offensive tackle Jason Fox, who expects a different level of commitment this season.
“The difference in the attitude of this team and last year’s team is like night and day,” Fox said. “We got rid of a couple of guys who had cancerous attitudes. They only cared about themselves. Now we have a bunch of guys who are focused on becoming a team.”
Fox is part of a new players’ committee at Miami with the power to identify these kinds of problems and take action.
Miami opens its 2008 season on Aug. 28 against Charleston Southern. It will be the Hurricanes’ first game in their new home, Dolphin Stadium. The Orange Bowl Stadium, in case you had not heard, was taken down by the wrecking ball.
4. Florida State’s “identify crisis”: Drew Weatherford, Florida State’s senior quarterback, said the 7-6 records of the past two seasons have been a reality check to the players in the Seminole program.
“I think some of our guys just thought because we had a spear on our helmet we were supposed to go out there and win 10-11 games,” Weatherford said. “I think we had an identity crisis at some point. We forgot what it means to play at Florida State.”
Weatherford, who threw for 2,049 yards and nine touchdowns last season, was brought here to represent Florida State at media days. But I’m hearing that offensive coordinator/head coach in waiting Jimbo Fisher really likes the ability of sophomore Christian Ponder to make plays. Weatherford will also be pushed for playing time by sophomore D’Vontrey Richardson of Leesburg. So Weatherford, who is an impressive individual, is probably going to have to fight to keep his job before this season is over.
5. Wake not satisfied with nine wins: You know that Jim Grobe has changed the culture at Wake Forest when the Deacons say they were not satisfied with last season’s 9-4 record. The season before Wake Forest won 11 games and their first ACC championship since 1970.
“We were very disappointed with the way we finished last season,” said Aaron Curry, who set an NCAA record for linebackers when he returned three interceptions for touchdowns. “We set a standard the year before and we don’t want to go back.”
Wake Forest started 0-2 last season and then won nine of its last 11 games. One of the losses was by one point (17-16) to Virginia on the road. In that game Sam Swank, one of the best kickers in college football, missed a 47-yard field goal with two seconds left.
And keep this in mind. Clemson will be picked to win the Atlantic Division by the media at this event. Clemson should win the division and the championship game. But if the Tigers stumble, don’t be surprised if Wake Forest jumps up and wins the division again. Clemson goes to Wake Forest on Oct. 9, a Thursday night.
Here’s a bonus note that is not ACC related:
Georgia State coaches go to work: There should be announcement pretty soon but Georgia State’s first three assistant coaches-offensive coordinator John Bond, defensive coordinator John Thompson, and George Pugh-are scheduled to be in their new offices today. Georgia State will begin playing a limited schedule in football in 2010.
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