At the ACC Football Kickoff '09 commissioner John Swofford said that the league needs a team to step up into the national spotlight for the sake of their football reputation. The opportunity was there opening week and the ACC punted.
Virginia Tech had the nations attention Saturday night against Alabama at the Georgia Dome and played well for 3 quarters but Alabama was too strong, too fast and too good beating the Hokies 34-24.
That was a big opportunity lost for the ACC and Virginia Tech, who was probably the best the ACC had as far as a potential national championship contender.
2 days earlier, NC State, who has gotten a lot of love during the off-season, layed an egg in front of a huge and frenzied crowd at Carter-Finley Staduim losing to South Carolina 7-3.
And the ACC hole gets deeper.
Maryland travelled 3,000 miles to Berkley, California to take on the Cal. Bears, who will give USC a run for their money in the Pac 10, and was thoroughly thrashed the Terps 52-13.
The fact that Maryland lost was not that surprising but being blown out like that was because the Terps have more talent than that.
Wake Forest felt they were disrespected in the pre-season predictions picked to finish near the bottom of the Atlantic Division. Well the Deacs didn't help their cause losing to a Baylor team that's expected to finish at the bottom of the Big 12 South at home.
"I think from a confidence standpoint, it would have been better if we started faster on both sides of the football." Wake Forest head coach Jim Grobe said. "I think that hurt us a little bit. But basically if you look at the whole football game, we got what we deserved. When you turn the ball over as many times as we did, and then you give up as many big plays - a couple of them for scores on defense - it's hard to beat a good football team. And I've got to tell you, I think Baylor's a pretty good football team."
What does it say about the league is the project bottom feeder of the Big 12 South can defeat a at the least middle of the road ACC team?
Then again, what does it say about the ACC when not one, but two Football Championship Subdivision teams defeat your schools.
You knew Virginia had some issues this year but William & Mary, yes the Tribe, forced the UVA offense to commit 7 turnovers in beating the Cavaliers 26-14.
"We turned the ball over seven times ... and it's clear that we need more work on what we're trying to do." Virginia head coach Al Groh said. "That's the answer to this game. Turnovers"
Reportedly there were chants of "Groh Must Go" toward the end of the game. Sounds like the death watch has begun in Charlottesville.
Then their is the Duke Blue Devils. Head coach David Cutcliffe believes that this team is capable of winning 7 games and going bowling. Cutcliffe said as much during the pre-season. Losing to Richmond 24-16 will dampen that enthusiasm with the Duke fans but coach Cutcliffe is keeping the faith.
"I've created those expectations and I still have them." Cutcliffe said following the game. "Nothing changes and I have good reason to have those expectations."
I've got to give Duke a little bit of a break. Richmond is the reigning Football Championship Subdivision champion and did play with the swagger of a champion.
The ACC doesn't get that break though.
Hey at least North Carolina, Georgia Tech, Clemson and Boston College live up to their end of the bargain.
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