Column and Comment by The Evil Q

jim@accnation.com

This past weekend and early part of the week I kanoodled with ACC staff, some notable and not so notable (but they should be) members of the media, the muckety-mucks from all the schools and some rather sweet Georgia peaches.

The ACC definitely knows how to put together a media event and the folks at The Ritz-Carlton/Reynolds Plantation outside of Greensboro, Georgia understand how to liberally apply southern hospitality.

A quick thanks to Michael Kelly from the ACC for having a sense of humor, Tommy Bowden for recognizing who really does get the last question, his dad Bobby for the good-natured punches to the gut, Al Groh for opening up, Frank Beamer for sharing a personal moment, Allen and Tyler for all that is good about being a radio guy, Randy, Steve, Aaron and Mark for laughing your way through my golfing mis-adventures and Patrick whose hard work earned him a visit to his favorite restaurant Chik-Fil-A.

There are about a hundred others that I had the privilege to work with, eat with, golf with and just have a good laugh with at the event.  You've no idea the amount of time and energy that all of these folks put into making a football season happen. Quite impressive.

BITS AND PIECES

All-ACC Academic Baseball Team.

Why it is the way it is.

All-ACC Academic Women's Tennis.

All-ACC Academic Men's Tennis.

Behind the scenes at the ACC Football Kickoff.

Notes from the Commish.

Some Q&A with Cullen.

All-ACC Academic Women's Lacrosse.

All-ACC Academic Men's Lacrosse.

All-ACC Academic Women's Golf.

All-ACC Academic Men's Golf.

Ex-Hurricanes QB Kelly arrested.

How long for Shannon?

Seminoles basketball.

Bo knows hard work.

Ra'Sean is GONE.

Tech likes Rice.

Saban must earn respect via Clemson.

Clemson an all-time Top 20 team.

So it's the triple option?

The personal side of basketball.

A diamond in the rough.

Hatchell gets four more.

Tar Heel soccer star lifts Olympic team.

Forbes takes on new position.

Cutcliffe continues sliding into home plate.

Golfer takes swing at Duke.

Here we go again.

Wolfies schedule Marquette.

The limelight just sucks sometimes.

That Seth Greenberg.

VT snags another football gem.

Man what if?

No, really. What if?

Rabbits run for Terps.

Mr. Baseball hits a home run.

Interesting argument on behalf of Eagle fans.

Another statistical geek-fest.

Here's one reason I like Heather....the other is her picture does her no justice.

So there we are another week of tasty tid-bits to help you make it through the week. The football season seems to have started earlier this year and basketball is beginning to crank up too.

Have a great week!

#1 Boston College - The defense should be pretty good.  They have a very good front 7 but they have a new, inexperienced QB coming off of Matt Ryan and a freshman runner.  They are also weak in the defense backfield.  They should do well enough to get to a bowl (Emerald Bowl maybe) but I see them just outside the Top 25. 

#2 Florida State - This team has managed to disappoint the last several seasons.  Not too mention the academic scandal that will shelve half the team for the first three games.  The offense is a complete mess.  QB Drew Weatherford has been a major disappointment and I look for him to continue to struggle.  They have a fair running game at best and on defense the line is a disaster.  There is some talent in the defensive backfield and at linebacker but not too much more.  I see them right around .500, maybe the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

#3 Pittsburgh - What is amazing to me is how some preseason polls pick the Panthers as high as Top 10.  The Panthers haven't made a bowl game since Wannstedt showed up on the scene and they might be hard pressed to make it again this season.  Most of the key offensive positions haven't been decided yet.  The defense should be good again but they lost their talented defensive coordinator to Auburn in the off-season.  In my opinion the best case scenario is 7-5 and a birth in the Sun Bowl against Oregon or Oregon St.

#4 Virginia Tech - I like this team but I think they have a couple of issues that is the difference between finishing 9-3 and 7-5.  The biggest issue is that the success of this team is driven by the Frank Beamer defense.  The Hokies lost almost all of its starters from last season, most to the NFL.  They are going to have a lot of youth and inexperience on the defensive side of the ball.  The other issue is WR and RB.  They lost their skill position players and will be depending on almost all freshmen to carry the load on offense.  The schedule isn't too bad so they should win 8 games.  I am thinking just out of the Top 25.  They might squeak in if Notre Dame or Penn State falter.  Should end up in the Champs Bowl vs. Purdue/Penn St.

#5 South Carolina - I want to like the Gamecocks this season.  I think Smelley is going to be a good QB and he has quite a few targets to throw to.  Unfortunately the offensive line isn't very good or experienced so the QB and runners will struggle.  They also have a brutal schedule.  Georgia, LSU and Tennessee are all at home but they finish out the season at Florida and Clemson.  The young line and defense should gain experience as the season goes on but the tough back end of the schedule could kill their bowl hopes.  A 7-5 record and a birth in the Independence Bowl vs. Oklahoma State/Kansas State are possible.

Harper, who set 22 school records and was named second-team All-ACC quarterback in 2007, received 34 votes in the balloting. His teammate, senior running back James Davis, was second, being named on 16 ballots. No other player received more than four votes.

Clemson, which was tabbed by the same media group as the pre-season choice to capture the 2008 ACC title, had four individuals on the preseason squad, as did Florida State and Wake Forest. Nine of the league’s 12 schools were represented in the 25-player group.

Seven players who earned first-team All-ACC honors in 2007 were on this year’s pre-season team – Davis and wide receiver Aaron Kelly of Clemson, tight end Ryan Purvis of Boston College, offensive tackle Andrew Gardner and defensive tackle Vance Walker of Georgia Tech, and cornerbacks Victor Harris of Virginia Tech and Alphonso Smith of Wake Forest.

2008 Preseason All-ACC Football Team

(Offense)
QB – Cullen Harper, Clemson
RB – Josh Adams, Wake Forest
RB – James Davis, Clemson
WR – Aaron Kelly, Clemson
WR – Hakeem Nicks, North Carolina
TE – Ryan Purvis, Boston College
T – Andrew Gardner, Georgia Tech
T – Eugene Monroe, Virginia
G – Rodney Hudson, Florida State
G – Sergio Render, Virginia Tech
C – Edwin Williams, Maryland

(Defense)
DE – Everette Brown, Florida State
DE – Michael Johnson, Georgia Tech
DT – Ron Brace, Boston College
DT – Vance Walker, Georgia Tech
LB – Aaron Curry, Wake Forest
LB – Clint Sintim, Virginia
LB – Brian Toal, Boston College
CB – Victor Harris, Virginia Tech
CB – Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest
S – Michael Hamlin, Clemson
S – Myron Rolle, Florida State

(Specialists)
PK – Sam Swank, Wake Forest
P – Graham Gano, Florida State
RET – Brandon Tate, North Carolina

PRESEASON VOTING TOTALS

PLAYER OF THE YEAR (64)

Cullen Harper – 34
James Davis – 16
C.J. Spiller – 4
Josh Adams - 2
Sean Glennon – 2
Riley Skinner - 2
Drew Weatherford – 2
Aaron Curry – 1
Victor Harris - 1

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[audio http://media.libsyn.com/media/accnation/Bobby_Bowden_-_FSU.mp3]

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Bobby Bowden said that, as of today (or I guess that would have been Sunday when we talked with him) Drew Weatherford is the starting quarterback for Florida State. But Weatherford shouldn't get too comfortable with that title.

"Now he's got a fight on his hands with Christian Ponder," Bowden said at the ACC Football Kickoff. "Then we've got a young man named D'Vontrey Richardson who's got some talent, he's got some talent, you know it. Once he's learns the game, man, he'll be able to push them all."

Bowden also talked about Jimbo Fisher being named coach-in-waiting and how that effected the dynamics of the coaching staff, what he would like to do before leaving the game and more.

(Note: Due to the nature of the press conference format, the audio for the questions may be lower than Bobby Bowden's audio.)

The media at this week's ACC Football Kickoff in Greensboro, Ga., voted Clemson as the preseason favorite to capture not only the Atlantic Division title in the ACC, but the championship. Clemson received 59 first-place votes, while Virginia Tech grabbed 58 first-place votes as the favorite in the Coastal Division. Clemson was also voted as the ACC Championship Game winner by 51 of the 65 media members who voted.

"It definitely puts a bulls eye on you," Clemson coach Tommy Bowden said of the media voting. "It's going to elevate (Clemson's first opponent) Alabama's level of play and probably our conference opponents. That's something that every team has to learn to deal with. My father usually answers that question. He's usually in this position. So it's kind of unchartered waters, not so much for Clemson as it is for us."

Speaking of Tommy Bowden's father, Bobby Bowden and his Florida State Seminoles were picked third in the Atlantic Division, the first time since division play began in 2005 that FSU wasn't picked first. In fact, before 2005, FSU was picked by the media to win the ACC for 13 seasons in a row. The past two years, FSU was picked to win it's division, but not selected to win the ACC Championship Game. The Seminoles did get one first-place vote.

Bobby Bowden's advice to his son on being the target: "He better watch out."

Wake Forest received the rest of the first-place votes in the Atlantic, getting five and finishing second behind Clemson. BC was fourth, Maryland fifth and N.C. State finished sixth.

Over in the Coastal, Virginia Tech was the favorite for the second straight year and the third year out of the last four since the Hokies entered the ACC.

North Carolina was second with four first-place votes, while Miami finished third, Georgia Tech fourth and Virginia fifth. The Hurricanes, Yellow Jackets and Cavaliers all received one first-place vote. Duke finished sixth in voting.

Atlantic Division

1. Clemson (59 first-place votes), 383 points

2. Wake Forest (5), 304

3. Florida State (1), 265

4. Boston College, 154

5. Maryland, 147

6. N.C. State, 112

Coastal Division

1. Virginia Tech (58), 383

2. North Carolina (4), 288

3. Miami (1), 253

4. Georgia Tech (1), 195

5. Virginia (1), 161

6. Duke, 85

Now that I've had a few days to immerse myself in pigskin frivolity at the ACC football kickoff it's time for me to take a stab at my preseason picks.

Let me say that I haven't gone through the spin of the coaches or sports information directors. What I have done is talk with my fellow journalists (those insider tidbits are gems) and I've watched and listened to the players. More often than not their comments tell you more about a program than their coach can or will.

Let's start with the Atlantic Division.

The past has made many fans and especially sportswriters nervous about selecting Clemson as the top dog. Can you blame any of them? The Tigers certainly haven't done much to deserve our faith over the past few years.

Again it is all about the players.Theirs is a quiet calm air of confidence and it speaks volumes. Clemson is a team that is loaded to the gills with monumental talent. The Tigers have offensive weaponry that rivals U. S. Special Forces.
Look for Clemson to take the Atlantic Division, but not without some pressure from Florida State and Wake Forest.

Here are my picks for the ACC Atlantic Divison.
Clemson
Florida State
Wake Forest
Maryland
North Carolina State
Boston College

A quick run down of the teams.

Florida State - The Jimbo Fisher era begins (as far as I'm concerned he is now the head coach). There is a new mindset in Tallahassee. They are no longer the cocky "everyone else has to beat us" group they once were. This has allowed the 'Noles to start taking one game at a time and approach each matchup with something to prove. This makes for a dangerous team, perhaps one with a chip on their shoulder.

Wake Forest - Jim Grobe as Father Knows Best. Grobe's approach to coaching includes life skills and self pride. It is helping build a winning program. The superb application of redshirting players is paying off. The hardest thing that the Demon Deacons will deal with is recruitment. The percentages are just not with them. It is tough to compete with the much larger schools found in the conference.

Maryland -"The Fridge" has handed over the offensive game and is beginning to have some excellent recruiting success. This is a team that can and will sneak up on you. I don't see it being consistent enough to go much furter this year but things should come together in '09 and '10. A smaller, but quicker team will give opponents fits as will a new defensive look.

North Carolina State - Tom O'Brien continues to settle in. New coaches, new plays and the transition to a solid program progresses. Is the stew ready for consumption? Not quite yet. O'Brien and company must begin the re-building process which includes recruits that buy into his way of doing things.

Boston College - "Jags" (almost sounds like a TV show) is a sharp guy. Don't forget though that he needs to build "his program" so the loss column may be heavier for a season or two. Fans are beginning to show "the love" to the Eagles.

The one thing that Doc Walker points out on this week's podcast is this division's parity. No truer words have been spoken. From top to bottom this is the strong side of the ACC this season.
Now a look at the not-so-strong side - the Coastal Division.

I wasn't completely sold on Virginia Tech taking the division this year. After all they've lost mucho (but not Macho) talent.

The Hokies have two diamonds that often outweigh other factors. Frank Beamer and Bud Foster. Let's not forget that even though VT has lost a lot of their portfolio there were numerous stars in the making sitting on the sideline. You'll be introduced to them this season as they walk away from opponents they've left their mark on.

Here are my picks for the Coastal Division.
Virginia Tech
North Carolina
Georgia Tech
Virginia
Duke
Miami

A quick run-down of the teams.

North Carolina - Butch Davis has started something that fans love - winning. He is definitely in the process of rebuilding. The coaches and players are connecting and that is a plus. There is more confidence among both groups now that they realize that Tar Heels can have a winning tradition. Look for a strong comeback on the QB side as the season progresses.

Georgia Tech - Paul Johnson is somewhat miffed over all we numbskulls continually asking about his "new offense". Okay, so I admit we are a slow lot. The Ramblin Wreck is getting ready to take over the Atlanta Journal-Constitution sports pages. Anything beats another 'Dawgs story. Oh, let's not forget a new look on defense as well. Watch out Georgia.

Virginia - Al Groh was dealt a nice hand at the end of last year and then suddenly found himself playing Old Maid instead of Five Stud Poker. Groh is Dr. Frankenstein and is building a brand new monster. It may be like the one in the movie, a bit weak minded but with plenty of good intentions.

Duke - Coach Cutcliffe has done something unheard of in the history of Duke. He has Carolina fans rooting for his success(they won't openly admit it). The school, alumni and fans want a winning program and apparently they are on a fast-track to that goal. Can it be done over-night? The answer is no but three to four wins is very likely and that beats what they've had in the past.

Miami - Randy Shannon is in an unenviable position. A top-rated football program that has fallen from grace is now in his hands and he must rebuild quickly. Okay fans hear this: he inherited a wreck. He needs to untangle the twisted mess with the jaws of life. Tweaked O, D and lots of young guys are great steps. It will be another year or two before the Phoenix rises.

That's how I see the ACC unfolding and, quite honestly, I'm ready for kickoff already. That means I'm looking for my first invite to a tailgate party.

Click below to listen:

[audio http://media.libsyn.com/media/accnation/accnationjuly21.mp3]

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Doc Walker, an analyst for ACC football games on Raycom, joins Patrick and Q in Greensboro, Ga., site of this year's ACC Football Kickoff, to talk some, you guessed it, ACC football. Doc gave his thoughts on where the ACC Football Championship should be held, why James Franklin will be good for Maryland's offense this year, the Bowden boys, why he likes parity in the ACC and much more.

Also on the show,

-- Jeff Adams and Rob Higgins of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission drop by to talk about their city hosting the ACC Football Championship;

-- Patrick and Q give their predictions on the final standings in ACC football;

-- Is it the Ritz-Carlton or the Carlton-Ritz?;

-- Fried mac and cheese;

And much more on this week's podcast.

1. Edgar Allan Poe Museum – Richmond, Virginia (FYI, there’s also an Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site in Philadelphia, and the Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum in Baltimore, but those aren’t quite South.)
2. Booker T. Washington National Monument – Hardy, Virginia
3. Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum – Key West, Florida
4. Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park – Cross Creek, Florida
5. Heritage House Museum and Robert Frost Cottage – Key West, Florida
6. Margaret Mitchell House and Museum – Atlanta, Georgia

Happy travels!

• Museums in Richmond, Jamestown, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, North Carolina's Outer Banks
• Museums in Key West, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami Beach, Boca Raton and Southern Florida
• Museums in Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, Charleston, South Carolina, Atlanta, Savannah, Georgia
• Historical Sites in Philadelphia, Lancaster, the Poconos, Eastern Pennsylvania
• Historical Sites in Roanoke, Asheville, Smoky, Blue Ridge, Shenandoah and Southern Appalachian Mountains

ACC Nation will begin its in-depth (or at least as in-depth as we get) football previewsthe week of July 28. For the four weeks beginning on July 28, we'll have three podcasts per week instead of just one. Each podcast will focus one one team. We'll also have a preview and a feature story on each team on ACCNation.com.

We'll also have lots of good stuff next week from the ACC Football Kickoff at Reynolds Plantation in Greensboro, Ga.

As for this week, not to be outdone by Will, I'd thought I'd give you my preseason predictions on how I see teams finishing this season. I'll give a brief reason why I think each team will finish where I have them, and in parentheses you'll see the date that we'll post both the podcast and website preview for each team.

I've gone out on a limb on some of these, but what's the fun in making predictions if you can't go out on a limb now and again? I'm sure I'll hear from some of you (especially Miami fans), so let me have it (and, when calling me names, be creative).

Coastal

1. Virginia Tech (Aug. 14)-- 11-1, 7-1. I'm sure the Hokies could stumble at several places (ECU, at UNC, at Nebraska come to mind) on the schedule, but I see them losing only at FSU. Something tells me Frank Beamer and Bud Foster will surprise people with this VT team. I just believe Tech is one of those teams that can replace big-time players with big-time players.

2. Virginia (Aug. 13)- 7-5, 5-3 -- I like the skill positions, especially running back. If the line can block and UVa. gets anything from the defense, I think the Cavaliers can manage this schedule. I love the linebackers and I like the secondary. The defensive line situation worries me, but not enough to think it will cause major problems.

3. North Carolina (Aug. 12) -- 6-6, 4-4 -- Can the young players deal with all the preseason hype? I'm not sure, plus I'm not sold that Greg Little is the answer at running back. He'll have to show me more than just two games at the end of the year. The linebackers are young and T.J. Yates missed the spring. Better, but not as good as most everyone is predicting.

4. Georgia Tech (July 30)-- 4-8, 2-6 -- Paul Johnson will get the job done, but it's a little too early to expect much this season. The offense has to learn a completely new system. The defense will also be learning, but I think you'll see a more consistent unit with Dave Wommack replacing Jon Tenuta. Josh Nesbitt will carry a lot of responsibility and the faster he learns the better the Jackets will play.

5. Duke (July 29)-- 4-8, 2-6 -- I really like the hiring of David Cutcliffe, but don't expect too much in his first season. That being said, I love Thaddeus Lewis and his receivers, including Eron Riley, and if the line can give them any time, the Blue Devils will score points this year. The defense will be better, especially up front. Count on it: Duke will win a conference game this year (I'm actually predicting two).

6. Miami (July 31) -- 3-9, 1-7 -- I worry about a team that can lose 48-0 in its last game ever at the Orange Bowl and a coaching staff that lets that happen. This team is young, there is no experience at quarterback and the Hurricanes have a brutal schedule. I know predicting Miami to finish behind Duke seems crazy, but call it a gut feeling.

Atlantic

1. Wake Forest (Aug. 21)-- 11-1, 7-1 -- This is the fastest, and may very well be the best, defense in the ACC. Wake will continue to force turnovers and put its offense in great position this season. You won't see Riley Skinner throwing as much, with the offense relying on Josh Adams and the ground game. The O-line has some question marks. The schedule shapes up nicely with an early trip to Tallahassee before FSU has all of its players back from suspension and a Thursday night home game against Clemson.

2. Clemson (Aug. 6)-- 10-2, 6-2 -- There's not a better set of skill players in the conference, although the offensive line has some holes. So does the defense, especially at linebacker. Clemson seems to be everyone's pick to win the ACC and I think they have a shot, but look for the Tigers to stumble against some team that shouldn't beat them (at UVa.?). Look, I like Clemson, just not as much as I like Wake.

3. Maryland (Aug. 19)-- 9-3, 5-3 -- This is my surprise team. I do wonder who will be the quarterback, but if the Terps can settle on one guy things will be just fine in College Park. Even with losses at running back, the Terps have talent, and the receivers are among the best in the conference. The defense could be a problem, although linebacker looks like a strength for Maryland.

4. Florida State (Aug. 7)-- 6-6, 4-4 -- A tough schedule and questions at quarterback worry me when it comes to FSU. The offensive line will also be a headache all season. The linebackers will be solid, but the Seminoles could struggle up front and in the secondary (again) on defense. If FSU stays healthy and proves it can score points, maybe things improve over recent years, but I don't see it.

5. North Carolina State (Aug. 20)- 6-6, 4-4 -- Like FSU and Maryland in this division, NC State needs to settle on a quarterback. If healthy (a big if) the running backs are very talented and may be the best part of this offense. I like the defensive line, but the rest of the defense could be a problem. Next year this team could contend for a division title, but not this season with Wake and Clemson leading the way.

6. Boston College (Aug. 5)-- 5-7, 1-7 -- Josh Haden will be very good at BC, but I'm not sure that will be the case this season for the true freshman. If Chris Crane is solid, he will have some weapons at receiver, but the offensive line is a concern again. And I don't think Crane will win games late like Matt Ryan did last year. The defense is good enough, but has some questions, especially in the secondary. Last year was magical for the Eagles. This year, not so much.

Click below to listen:

[audio http://media.libsyn.com/media/accnation/accnationphilsteele08.mp3]

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Phil Steele, who publishes and writes one of the most-respect college football preview magazines on the market, joins ACC Nation this week to talk ACC football. Visit Phil's website for more information and to order the magazine.

We discuss all 12 ACC schools and Phil gives us his predictions on which two teams will meet in Tampa for the ACC Football Championship in December. We also ask Phil his thoughts on what the conference needs to do to gain more respect nationally.

**The ACC has won each of the nine ACC-Big Ten Challenges played to date.

**ACC teams have won 56 of the 86 games played in the Challenge.

**Duke (9-0) and Boston College (2-0) are the only undefeated teams in Challenge play.

10th Annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge Schedule

All Times Eastern

Mon., Dec. 1

7 p.m. ESPN2 Wisconsin at Virginia Tech

Tue., Dec. 2

7 p.m. ESPN Ohio State at Miami

7 p.m. ESPNU Iowa at Boston College

7:30 ESPN2 Clemson at Illinois

9 p.m. ESPN Duke at Purdue

9:30 ESPN2 Virginia at Minnesota

Wed., Dec. 3

7:15 ESPN Indiana at Wake Forest

7:30 ESPN2 Penn State at Georgia Tech

7:30 ESPNU Michigan at Maryland

9:15 ESPN North Carolina vs. Michigan State (from Ford Field)

9:30 ESPN2 Florida State at Northwestern

Click below to listen:

[audio http://media.libsyn.com/media/accnation/accnationjuly14.mp3]

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David Glenn of the ACC Area Sports Journal joins the guys to discuss football and the changes to his magazine. As for football, Glenn is on the Clemson bandwagon, but he's stepping lightly, while the magazine will be featuring a few new contributors, including Jay Bilas and John Feinstein.

Also,

-- Billy Packer is finished with broadcasting;

-- Patrick begs for free stuff from the listeners;

-- Has ACC expansion been a success in the first five years?;

-- Did Patrick gush too much over David Glenn?

-- We still want listeners to sign up and beat the bloggers, so if you think you can pick football games better than guys from Eagle in Atlanta, the Good Ol' Blog, the Old Gold and Blog, D.C. Sports Bog and more, e-mail us at patrick@accnation.com or accnation@gmail.com.

Your ACC Preview - Coastal Division

by Walker Sports

Welcome back to part two of Walker-Sports ACC preview. In this section we will take a look at the Coastal Division. Of the two divisions the Coatal is without a doubt the tightest, and will prove to be the most competitive. It could also make for some interesting results come November once all these teams have tangled and a couple upsets go down.

Virginia Tech Hokies: The Hokies have been a terror to the ACC since the day they arrived in the league. They have played in 3 out of 4 ACC Championships. There is no doubt the ACC made the right move bringing these guys in. This year the Hokies are likely the only legitimate threat to the Clemson Tigers if the two can meet in the ACC Championship game. However, this year will take a little more effort than Beamer and company are used to. The Hokies lost several key players on both sides of the ball including star running back Brandon Ore and linebackers Xavier Adibi. The Hokies will also continue their battle at quarterback that began last season between Sean Glennon and Tyrod Taylor. Lucky for the Hokies they have the best of both worlds with these guys, Glennon being a scrambler and Taylor a drop back passer.

No matter who is at the helm at QB you can bank that Virginia Tech will play solid defense and great special teams. That will make them a top contender in the ACC and a possible factor in the BCS.

Record: 10-2

Key Games: East Carolina, Nebraska, Florida State

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: Change was the theme of the off-season for the Yellow Jackets. Paul Johnson's option offense scared off a couple players, but they will be stronger because of it. Josh Nesbitt will be charged with running the offensive this season, and he has the tools to make it happen, if he stays healthy, a groin injury has sidelined him for much of the spring.

What the Rambling Wreck will do very well this year, is attack opposing offenses. The Yellow Jackets have one of the top ends and one of the top tackles in the league, Michael Johnson and Vance Walker will test any offensive line. The D-Line alone will keep the Yellow Jackets in most any game they play this season.

Record: 7-5

Key Games: Florida State, Mississippi State, Georgia

Miami Hurricanes: Don't go crazy with this one, the ‘Canes fell into this spot by accident, not because they have done anything special. Miami will be pretty much all freshmen or first year players. Lucky for them their freshmen tend to be better than an average teams seniors.

The Hurricanes are moving in the right direction, and they appear to be doing it the right way. That meant getting rid of a lot of players and coaches. That will lead to disappointment in the short term, but if the Alumni can hang in there and just trust in their coach, they will find themselves back on track, especially with this talented group of freshmen.

Record: 7-5

Key Games: UCF, Virginia, Texas A&M

Virginia Cavaliers: Al Groh must go, was the chant heard round Charlottesville after an embarrassing opening lost on the road to Wyoming. However, a 9-4 campaign seemed to make many Cavalier fans forget Groh's shortcomings and he even received a contract extension. However, after a meltdown in the Gator Bowl and an embarrassing off season that saw seven players kicked out of school perhaps Groh's job should still be on the line.

Despite all the setbacks the Cavaliers are looking to employ a more wide open attack and actually toss the ball down field some this year, Combine a revamped passing game with the return of Cedric Peermen and Mikell Simpson at running back and the Cav's could have a decent offense, but don't hold your breath.

Seven wins this season would be a phenomenal achievement. (Your Gridiron Goddess says: ESPECIALLY since they open their season against USC.)

Record 6-6

Key Games: Miami, East Carolina, Clemson, USC

North Carolina Tar Heels: Butch Davis is entering his second year as head coach in Chapel Hill, and while that does mean something, Davis alone is not enough to put the Tar Heels back on the winning track. The Heels will be much better than their 4-8 mark of their last year, however due to a tough schedule; the improvement may not be seen in the win column. Out of conference games against Rutgers, Notre Dame and UConn can mean trouble for the Heels.

The bulk of their success will depend on how their backfield gels together. Greg Little is the sophomore who moved to tailback from receiver late last year and he will carry the load this season. T.J. Yates is supposed to be the starter at QB comes August, but he has not thrown much at all since shoulder surgery in December. If he is unable to go the Tar Heels will depend on backups Paulus and Sexton to step up and run the offense.

Record: 5-7

Key Games: UConn, Boston College, North Carolina State

Duke Blue Devils: I won't lie this is just hard to do because, I don't want to be too tongue and cheek, and Walker-Sports is not about sugar coat anything, so sorry Blue Devil fans. David Cuttcliffe has challenged his team to improve their fitness, and their team speed. To this point the team has responded well. However, Duke simply does not have the athletes to compete at the high levels of the ACC. Nonetheless, the Blue Devils will be an improved team.
Record: 2-10

Key Games, James Madison, Northwestern

ACC Championship Game: Clemson vs. Virginia Tech

Clemson wins ACC Title and Tommy Bowden goes to the Orange Bowl where the ACC can hopefully regain some respect on the national level.

That's it for me, hope you enjoyed the preview feel free to drop a line with your comments. This is going to be a special year in college football, there's a lot of variables out there, and a lot of new faces on the scene so buckle up and get ready for what will be a hellUVA a ride.

[Your Gridiron Goddess says: S-O-U-T-H-ERN C-A-L-I-FORNIA SOUTHERN CALIFORRRRRRRNIA. AUGUST 30TH BABY!]

Your ACC Preview - Atlantic Division

by Walker Sports

College football season is just over 50 days away, and I cannot wait. While traditionally Saturday is a Rugby day in Walker-Sports land, even rugby takes a back seat to college football. Walker-Sports originates in ACC territory and lives and breathes ACC football, yes the conference is now 10 years removed from their glory days, but better days are coming, and as out of conference scheduling picks up for many schools the ACC will soon be flexing their muscles for all the NCAA to see once again.

So saddle up, make yourself a pull pork sandwich, pour yourself a shot of Southern Comfort (or a glass of Merlot if you're at a UVA game) and get ready to watch to some ACC football the way it was meant to be. Tough and gritty with a wide open race to the finish.

ACC Preseason Preview Atlantic Division

Clemson Tigers: There is no doubt that the Clemson Tigers are the cream of the crop when it comes to ACC football, they may even be among the elites in the NCAA. However, there is one small problem. They are the Clemson Tigers, their coach is Tommy Bowden and we have all heard this story before and it always has the same sad ending. The Tigers are stacked with talent Cullen Harper at QB is a stud who completes a high percentage of his passes. At tailback Clemson has arguably the best two tailbacks in the ACC with James Davis and C.J. Spiller. On the defensive side Clemson is returning eight starters and will look to use their speed to apply pressure to opposing teams and knock them off their game plan early.

The biggest problem Clemson will face will be keeping focus and finishing what they started. Too often Bowden's crew has been the most talented team in the ACC, but not the most disciplined team and the result is another, 8-4 season; great if you're Duke, but a waste if you were thinking BCS in the preseason. Let's hope they don't do the same this year.

Record: 10-1

Key Games: Alabama, Florida State,

Florida State Seminoles: Okay, so this was a tough one, and I'll be the first to admit that the ‘Noles got the nod because of who they are and prior reputation, but nonetheless they made it into the second spot. Drew Weatherford has been in college since about 1990 it feels like. By now he has to be the most experienced QB in the NCAA, and that will be a big help. Weatherford was aided by the addition of Jimbo fisher as an offensive coordinator last year, and he will look to build on that previous success.

The biggest asset for Florida State is a weak schedule. They open with four consecutive home games. Matter of fact the ‘Noles won't leave the state of Florida till mid October. This means Florida State has a good chance to rack up some quality wins at home and that could go a long way in an average ACC conference.

Record: 8-4

Key Games: Colorado, Virginia Tech, Clemson,

Wake forest Demon Deacons: Wake is in the middle of their greatest run in school history. While the coffers don't have the talent they once had two seasons ago, they still have enough to get the job done. That means they will be .500 at the very least and with a little bit of luck they can jump into the second spot in the Atlantic Division. The bulk of their success will depend on if they can move the all on offense. Last year the Demon Deacons were routinely out gained and it cost them.

Record: 7-5

Key Games: Clemson, Virginia, Boston College

Maryland Terrapins: The Terps have struggled the past few seasons. The bulk of their problems have resulted from inconsistency at the quarterback position. Despite the instability the Terps are a tough out especially for ACC opponents. Ralph Friedgen seems to get his teams to play just well enough to keep his job. That means the Terps will be playing spoiler to a couple of ACC opponents. I would like to say that dropping WVU from the schedule would help Maryland this season, but adding Cal is no cakewalk. Look for the Terps to upset some ACC's teams bid for a title, just hope it's not yours.

Record 6-6

Key Games: Cal, Boston College, Wake forest

Boston College Eagles: The honeymoon is over for Coach Jagodzinski and company. Last year Jags was a first year coach and he feasted on the fruits of Tom O'Brian's labor, mainly his grooming of QB Matt Ryan. Now Ryan along with a load of other talent is gone, and the Eagles are ready to return to earth. BC is only returning 10 starters meaning they will be very inexperienced and that leads to mistakes and close loses. As usual BC will be solid on both lines, but they just won't have enough fire power to be in the mix. This will be one Boston team that does not bring home a championship.

Record 5-7

Key Games: UCF, North Carolina, Wake forest

North Carolina State Wolfpack: Tom O'Brian is a hell of a coach, and he will be put to the test with this NC State team. They lost 10 starters from a 5-7 team, and they only have freshmen to replace them. Combine that with a brutal non-conference schedule and you can bet the Pack will slide before they are ready to climb again. But hang in there NC State supporters, this year may be rough but positive results will be coming down the pike very soon.

Record: 3-9

Key Games: Wake forest, East Carolina

With a little under two months to kick off, and the arrival of the dog days of summer (yes, we have summer here in Minnesota, despite the rumors), now is a good time to start thinking ahead to football season. This week, I'll take a look at the coaches, and where I think they stand in my eyes.

Coach with the most to prove: Tommy Bowden, Clemson. This one was a little tough. You can make a case for a few coaches here (Randy Shannon, Butch Davis, and Bobby Bowden come to mind, among others), but Bowden's team has already been ranked in the top 10 by a lot of sites that claim to know something about football. And we know how Clemson always has a letdown at some point during the season, and they have to avoid that for the sake of the fans, and Tommy Bowden's health.

It seems like the hot seat is always on simmer with Clemson fans, and if there is a bad loss or two, fans will be heading to Death Valley with pitchforks and torches in hand. This is probably one of the best teams Clemson has had in the last 20 years, and anything short of an Orange Bowl appearance will be considered a down year.

Coach with the least to prove: Jim Grobe, Wake Forest. He's done a lot to improve Wake Forest. Once considered fodder by others, playing Wake is almost considered a guaranteed loss nowadays. Grobe signed a 10-year contract back in 2007, and it would seem that his feet will be firmly implanted on the soil in Winston-Salem, considering his winning percentage is the highest since D.C. Walker coached the team back in the 1940s.

He has a team that once again is capable of winning the ACC this year. Grobe will rely on a strong running game and a strong defense, led by Alphonso Smith, who might be one of the most electrifying players in the conference, to win games, and he certainly has both. As long as Riley Skinner manages the game, and Sam Swank continues to be one of the best kickers in the country, this team will be in good shape. It will certainly help that the Deacs will have some key games at home this season, especially the Oct. 9 game against Clemson that may decide the ACC Atlantic Division.

Coach with the hottest seat: Bobby Bowden, Florida State. There aren't a lot of coaches that fit the bill in my opinion, and it's quite possible the elder Bowden has passed his prime in terms of coaching, and if his team doesn't live up to normal Florida State standards, this year could be the swan song for Bobby. This isn't the same coach that coached teams from 1987 to 2000 without having more than two losses, or a total of 19 losses in that span.

Since then, Bowden's teams have lost 32 games. That's almost 40 percent of his total losses at Florida State. But this season is going to be a tough one. He will be without up to 12 players for the first three games, including a pivotal game against Wake Forest in Tallahassee in late September. Keep in mind that Bowden will turn 79 in November, and he can't coach forever. It might behoove him to go out sooner rather than later. Also look for the hot seat to get a little uncomfortable for Ralph Friedgen at Maryland. He's a dark horse candidate for this as well.

Coach with the coldest seat: David Cutcliffe, Duke. It's not just because he's the new sheriff in town, but there's no pressure on him to succeed right now. The only pressure he'll have in his first year is finding a legitimate toilet at the stadium. Cutcliffe has had a knack for developing quarterbacks, and he has who I think might be the most underrated quarterback in Thaddeus Lewis, and a go-to receiver in Eron Riley, who averaged over 20 yards per reception.

Two wins for Duke will probably be a successful season for Duke, and I think they can get to that win total, and possibly exceed it. USA Today went out on a limb and predicted four wins for Duke this season, but I don't know if they will get that far. I can certainly see three wins for Duke, but four might be pushing it. If the defense shows any signs of improvement from last season, this team will win a few games this season.

Most underrated coach: Tom O'Brien, North Carolina State. The guy won on a consistent level at Boston College, but O'Brien couldn't get BC over the hump, and after leaving there to go to Raleigh, he took a team that wasn't supposed to be very good and won five games with it, which doesn't sound like much, but I thought they were going to barely be above Duke levels last season.

Year number two brings more promise for the Wolfpack faithful, and despite some difficult games against South Carolina and South Florida early on, this team will be in contention for a bowl, and if they can win at least half of their road games (two out of four isn't too much to ask), they can get to six or seven wins and that bowl barrier with a team that probably would win four games under a lot of coaches.

Don't be afraid to tell me what you think of your team. I'll be throwing out some thoughts on teams and individual players in the coming weeks as we prepare for another football season, so tell me what you like and don't like about your team. I know I look like a cross between Ethan Hawke and a serial killer, but I don't bite. I promise. Either post a comment or e-mail me your thoughts.

Your SEC Preview

by ByronVolFan

Hello, once again, from the banks of the Mississippi River and the Bluff City. It is getting to that time of year when the sandstorms of the sports year have us crawling through the wasteland of the summer in search of the Promised Land...there it is...COLLEGE FOOTBALL!!! It's juuuuust around that next dune, my friend. We will soon make it there...fear not.

This heat has begun to suck from my memory the idea that a cold fall morning calls for getting the grill ready for the BBQ and a strong and spicy bloody mary. I have forgotten how, no matter how crazy the night before may have been, all God-fearing sports fans are up in time for ESPN's College GameDay. There are very few excuses for missing this and the only REAL excuse you have is that you are en route to an actual SEC game. [This year, I learned, that your roommate will chastise you if you miss GameDay because your fiancé wants to talk on the phone. There is no purgatory big enough for such crimes. We may miss church tomorrowbut Herbie and Corso demand our reverence...even if they malign our beloved alma mater. And, they probably will even as we slam down our red Dixie cups, sloshing our Bloody Marys on the table, and call them every 4-lettered word we have ever heard. In fact, we probably make some up just to let those Yankees know we mean business.

Your Gridiron Goddess says: A commitment to GameDay is no small feat on the West Coast. It starts at 7am out here. And yet, it is my 2^nd favorite time of the week. College Football Saturday is my Holy Day.]

Your humble Southern correspondent also learned some other valuable truths this year. Do NOT assume that your team will not make the conference championship unless it is mathematically impossible to do so. I made the mistake of planning the proposal of marriage on the day of the SEC Championship. When I bought the ring and set up all the necessary surprises, I would not have bet that UT would have made the game. However, we did but to watch that game at a surprise party in honor of your new fiancé...was disheartening, at best, for this Volunteer. Thankfully, my soon-to-be bride loves football as much as I, was equally as disheartened, and was distracted by the wedding magazines her friends had brought her. So, up yours, Football gods!!! You tried to ruin my impending marriage by letting her see me lose my mind over Ainge's "play", however, I outsmarted you with those wedding magazines...the first, last, and only time those things have ever HELPED a guy in need!!

On to football news...last year, I humbly submit to you, that I I was pretty dead-on. Got the championship game right and was fairly close on most teams, with some notable exceptions. So, gloating aside (as this is a new year and ample opportunity to get my butt handed to me) here's the "down and dirty" breakdown of the SEC in the 2008 season.

SEC East

Florida (9-3, 5-3). Tebow is the man. I know that I'm supposed to hate him as the Florida QB, but I can't. However, I've heard the same song and dance out of UF about RB's and D. I'm sorry, but I just don't see the improvement to win the title here and the rest of the conference is figuring Florida out. Good year, close games...but no Atlanta.

Georgia (11-1, 7-1). The hottest team in football last year--well in the 2^nd half of the year at least. Moreno will be in New York at the end of the year and Stafford will prove much better. The Georgia/Florida game will make/break the division...and probably the conference. I've got Georgia beating them again as Moreno will just kill the Gator D. A good deal of pundits are worried about the schedule. Really? Their road games are South Carolina, Arizona State, LSU, Kentucky, and Auburn. So, they lose at LSU and play one INCREDIBLE game at Auburn...but where's the BIG scare here? Other than Richt's inability to close the deal when highly rated, I just don't see it. Conference champs and SEC rep to the Sugar Bowl.

Kentucky (5-7, 1-7) Kentucky's back to their doormat status. Loss of their star athletes and a coach who probably secretly wishes he could run the Full House triple option every game with players with no facemasks...makes for a hard rebuilding process. (Note: It would be cool, however, if someone pulled out that kind of BS consistently...I mean, it works on NCAA Football on PS2!!!)

South Carolina (8-4, 5-3) Spurrier's QB's...Spurrier's QB's...blah blah blah. First, in the interest of full disclosure, I have them beating Tennessee. This is not biased, but I'm just still not sold on them...never have been. The Ol' Ball Coach is slipping. The program will never usurp Georgia, Florida, and UT in the East on a consistent basis (and yes, I know that in my 2008 rankings, they are ahead of UT...I'm talking about the program level). New QB, loss of some key players...mid level bowl and more "aw shucks" from Darth Visor himself.

Tennessee (8-4, 5-3) Bias Alert! Gonna be an ugly year. I'm sorry, Amy, but I just don't see us going back to the Coast and leaving with a victory against UCLA. , I wouldn't put money on that game if I were you. New OC and QB and the same inept banana hammock calling the defense. However, we'll be better than expectations. Crompton is mean as a snake at QB. I like him a lot and the new OC could really take us to the "next level". Also, I wouldn't be super fan if I didn't point this out...there was another time that we lost a superstar QB, had a new QB coming in a great OL, experienced RB's and WR core, and a ready-made-tough-as-nails D...that was in 1998. It's a stretch, I know...and I'm not predicting it! Back to reality, close games but coaching and inconsistent play at QB will eat us alive.

[Your Gridiron Goddess says: UCLA is going to STINK up the joint this year my friend. They barely have a QB that can even WALK right now But they do have Norm Chow, grrrrr..]

Vanderbilt (4-8, 2-6). The only good thing about Vanderbilt being so bad is, as I've spent more time in Nashville for work and personal, the Vandy fans make me laugh. There's always next year. Personal highlight of my Vandy picks...beating Ole Miss!

SEC West

Alabama (8-4, 4-4). But wait, didn't Saban walk on water and bring sight to the blind and cure cancer and find Jimmy Hoffa and figure out what Bob Dylan's "Desolation Row" was about? No. Good QB...but inconsistent QB...will lead you to the Liberty Bowl every time. Just ask South Carolina and Miss. State. Wilson's got the talent and the fire in his gut, but damn, that boy looks stupid sometimes. That, and a ridiculous schedule this year makes it tough for me to find a much better path.

Arkansas (5-7, 2-6). I have to admit, that when I got to Arkansas on my picks sheet, I couldn't believe that they, by default, had this many wins. The latest stop on the Petrino Boat to Nowhere is pretty bare. Casey Dick? Really...a Petrino-style QB? I'm just not seeing it. Thank God for Western Illinois!

Auburn (9-3, 6-2). Year in/year out the toughest team to call but this seems to be about right given the schedule and the fact that, apparently, I'm drinking the Georgia Kool-Aid this year. The only interesting call I'm making here is that Alabama beats Auburn in the Iron Bowl. They're just due for it and I smell something like that brewing in the last month of this year. Incidentally, the month of November will be ridiculous in SEC football. Jobs will be secured and lost in those four weeks.

LSU (11-1, 7-1) SOMEHOW, once again, LSU benefits from a ridiculously great schedule. They'll lose to either Auburn or Florida on the road (my money's on Auburn) and they'll have to play South Carolina on the road (yawn). The rest of the games are at home (or neutral site against Arkansas...yawn). I mean, I don't care who's at QB, they're still loaded and all of those drunk Cajuns (not a term of derision!) provide an incredible home field advantage. Still great on D and have great skill players and one BIG OL.

Ole Miss (5-7, 1-7). As has been noted, I've never been impressed with Houston Nutt. I always thought he was overrated as a coach. All I've heard is "Snead will save the day for the Rebs". Ok, but Snead is not Tebow...who else do you have? Riiiiiight, that's what I thought. Not convinced, here, that this is the year that Houston Nutt sends the Rebs to Atlanta (the only SEC West team never to have done so...tee hee hee!).

Mississippi State (8-4, 5-3). Bias Alert! WOW! Ok, so I should have sent my beloved Bulldogs bowling last year. 8 wins though? Byron, are you crazy? Yes. Sure, they lost some people, but they're stacked behind them. A coach like Croom seizes momentum in his program and uses it to get his guys back in the game. I'm betting on a one game improvement? "8 wins Byron?". Yes, remember, that if Arkansas didn't have one of the greatest RB tandems in football history last year, State would have crushed the mighty Arkansas. They only lost by 2 touchdowns...which for MSU standards vs. a Heisman candidate...pretty dern good! This year, there's no Heisman in Fayetteville and State has a chance to beat up on the new guy, Bobby Petrino.

Championship Game: Georgia vs. LSU...Georgia gets revenge on LSU and heads to the Sugar Bowl.

On a side note, for those of you that like your football to be fun and crazy...pay attention to New Mexico State. Hal Mumme, disgraced former coach at Kentucky who makes Mike Leach look like a run-first coach, and Joe Lee Dunn have teamed up down there. Dunn is notorious for having some of the most odd-ball defensive formations imaginable. Ever seen 2 down linemen on D? He'll show it to you. That combined with Mumme's 158 passes/game, it'll be funny to watch.

So, that's the preview from south of the Mason-Dixon line. I'm not even going to pretend to forecast the nation this year. There's just too many variables and changes this year that it's going to be a toss-up year. Good luck to your teams. If you're a Big 10 fan, can't wait to see OSU be overrated and shown up in the post-season. HA!

(Your Gridiron Goddess says: Sept 13 is the day the Buckeyes dream of another trip to the BCS Championship game dies)

Good luck everyone and continue to check out The Gridiron Goddess for all of your football needs!

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Mike Stevens of WDBJ TV 7 in Roanoke, Va., joins the guys to talk about Virginia Tech football as well as his last few days as sports director at the television station before he leaves for greener pastures. Mike also has a great story about Paula Deen and her undergarments.

Also this week:

-- Patrick and Q go over their picks for the male and female athletes of the year in the ACC;

-- N.C. State's Farnold Degand and UNC's Bobby Frasor are ready to return to action;

-- Patrick cleans out the basement;

-- Should college sporting venues sell alcoholic beverages?;

-- The guys lay out the podcast schedule for the next few weeks as ACC Nation gets ready for football;

And more.

Which non-conference home-and-home series would you most like to see?

I've spoken before of my love for the Oklahoma game; that was my favorite OOC that I've ever been to. There are several games that fit the bill for me and I would be happy with any of, say, Notre Dame, Penn State, Nebraska, USC, Georgia Tech, or Texas. If you had to have one single team though, I'd have to pick Oklahoma.

Which of the following is the most likely win for Alabama this year: LSU, Tennessee or Auburn?

Despite what one of my blogger friends, who happens to pull for UT says, I think the win against Tennessee will be the most likely. Pre-season they would be my pick for least talented, most potential problem team of the three. But if there is a guarantee it is this: after the fifth or six week of the season, the dynamic will have changed and this prediction will be different... or maybe it won't.

Who will be the #2 quarterback coming out of Fall practice?

With no other knowledge than the stereotypical type that freshman really struggle with all the necessary skills to quarterback a team, I believe it will not be Star Jackson. McElroy is older but both him and Fanuzzi have been in the system the same amount of time. Fanuzzi was recruited by Saban and probably is closer to the type of QB that the coach is looking for, so I'm giving my absolutely meaningless endorsement to Fanuzzi.

If you could swap any two SEC schools for any other schools in the Southeast, which would they be?

I'd get rid of the Arkansas (it's just too far away) in the West and swap them for Southern Miss and I'd get rid of Vanderbilt and swap them for Florida State because that would make their rivalry with Florida mean more than bragging rights plus it would be coll to play them more often.

We profiled the males in the running for ACC athlete of the year yesterday and asked for your input. Now it's time for the females.

I briefly considered Amanda McDowell and Rachel Dawson, but in the end I don't think I can go against Virginia Tech's Angela Tincher. She finished the year with a 0.63 ERA and 669 strikeouts, both tops in the nation.

She also went 38-10 this year. Nothing against the rest of the Hokies, but without Tincher, Virginia Tech wouldn't have been in the NCAA Tournament, much less the Women's College World Series. She was the single most dominant player on a team sport this season, men's or women's, and for that reason alone she gets my vote.

What do you think?

The nominees:

KASEY HILL, Boston College, senior, track and field

Placed seventh in the heptathlon with a new personal best and Boston College record of 5,666 points; earned her second All-America nomination with her NCAA performance; qualified for the Olympic Trials in and is ranked 13th nationally in the heptathlon; in the ACC Tournament, Hill won the heptathlon with 5,521 points, which was her second ACC individual championship.

ANI MIJACIKA, Clemson, sophomore, tennis

Earned All-America honors in singles and doubles; helped lead Clemson to the 2008 ACC Championship; was a finalist for the Honda Sports Award for tennis; named to the 2008 All-ACC team; rose to the No. 1 singles ranking in the Feb. 20 poll, the first Clemson tennis player, man or woman, to earn the top ranking …spent every poll of the spring season in the top five.

AMANDA BLUMENHURST, Duke, junior, golf

2007-08 Golfweek and PING National Player of the Year; won the Golfstat Cup and the Dinah Shore Trophy; tied her own school record with a 71.00 stroke average; ACC Player of the Year; finished the season ranked No. 1 in the Golfweek/Sagarin Performance Index for a third straight year.

MAMI YAMAGUCHI, Florida State, junior, soccer

Recipient of the 2007 Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy, presented to the top female player in NCAA Division I soccer; guided the Seminoles to their third straight College Cup appearance; led the country in points (66), while finishing second in both goals (24) and assists (18).

AMANDA MCDOWELL, Georgia Tech, sophomore, tennis

2008 NCAA Singles Champion; 2008 ITA National Player of the Year; All-ACC selection; led the Yellow Jackets to their second straight ITA National Team Indoor Title; set a new school record with 45 singles wins in 2008.

CRYSTAL LANGHORNE, Maryland, senior, basketball

Associated Press and USBWA All-American for the third-straight year, and WBCA All-American for the second-straight year; ACC Player of the Year; Maryland’s leading scorer (17.1 ppg) and rebounder (9.4 rpg), leading the Terps to a 33-4 record and a second NCAA Elite Eight appearance in three years.

KHADIJA TALLEY, Miami, senior, track and field

Named the NCAA Southeast Region Field Performer of the Year by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association; qualified for the NCAA National Championships in both the discus and the shot put; finished second at the NCAA East Regionals in the shot put with a career-best mark of 17.02 (55-10.25).

RACHEL DAWSON, North Carolina, senior, field hockey

2007 National Player of the Year and recipient of the Honda Award as the nation's top field hockey player; first-team All-America; helped lead UNC to a 24-0 season and NCAA and ACC titles, voted ACC Defensive Player of the Year; while being recognized as the top player on the nation's best defense, also led the country's top offense in goals.

KHADIJAH WHITTINGTON, NC State, senior, basketball

Averaged a team-best 16.8 points per game and led the conference with 11.7 rebounds per contest; named first-team All-ACC and to the All-ACC Defensive Team; helped lead the Wolfpack to a 21-13 record.; she played in 129 games, never missing a contest in her four years.

BECKY SAUERBRUNN, Virginia, senior, soccer

2007 NSCAA First Team All-American, ACC Defensive Player of the Year; anchored a defense that led the nation with a 0.40 goals against average and posted a school-record 15 shutouts; helped lead Virginia to a 13-4-6 record and the NCAA Round of 16.

ANGELA TINCHER, Virginia Tech, senior, softball

USA Softball National Player of the Year; Honda Award National Softball Player of the Year; helped lead her team to its first-ever NCAA Women's College World Series; led the nation in ERA and strikeouts; went 38-10 with a 0.63 ERA; helped lead the Hokies to the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament title and was named MVP of the tournament.

MICHELLE LOYD, Wake Forest, senior, track and tield

Loyd was Wake Forest's only representative at the 2008 NCAA Track and Field championships after qualifying with a school record 58.06 performance at the Regionals in Tallahassee, Fla.; 2008 Outdoor All-Region selection; placed first among female collegiate competitors in the 400m hurdles at the Penn Relays with a 58.95 finish.

As a member of the ACSMA, I get to vote on the ACC athletes of the year. I'd like to get some feedback from you, the readers, on who should receive the award.

I'll list the candidates for the men's award (the Anthony J. McKevlin Award) today and the women's award (the Mary Garber Award) tomorrow.

For the men, I'll tell you that I'm leaning toward Virginia's Somdev Devvarman. He won the NCAA singles title for the second season in a row and was in the finals for the third straight year. While the rest of the nominees had great years and put up fantastic numbers, Devvarman actually won a title, doing it all on his own without the help of teammates.

But maybe I should consider someone else. Let us know in the comments section who you would select and why. Keep in mind that the deadline to turn in my ballot is July 15.

The nominees:

MATT RYAN, Boston College, senior, football

2007 ACC player of the year; 207 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award winner; led to team to 11-3 record and a berth in the ACC championship game; completed 388-of-654 passes for 4,507 yards and 31 touchdowns.

CLIFF HAMMONDS, Clemson, senior, basketball

Third-team All-ACC; ranked in top 10 in ACC in assists, assist-to-turnover ratio, & steals per game; led Clemson to first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1998 and first ACC Tournament championship game appearance since 1962.

ZACK GREER, Duke, senior, lacrosse

2008 Lt. Col. J. I. (Jack) Turnbull Award honoree as the nation’s top attackman; USILA First Team All-America selection; All-ACC and ACC All-Tournament honoree; led the nation in goals scored (65) for the third time in his career, while ranking second in total points (95)

BUSTER POSEY, Florida State, junior, baseball

2008 Dick Howser Trophy winner; guided the Seminoles to the Tallahassee Regional and Super Regional championships and a berth in the College World Series for the first time since 2000; finished the year leading the country in batting average (.463), hits (119), RBI (93), slugging percentage (.879), on-base percentage (.566) and total bases (226); named Collegiate Baseball, Baseball America and Rivals.com Player of the Year.

JAMES LEMONS, Georgia Tech, senior, track and field

Earned All-American honors in the triple jump at the NCAA Outdoor Championships; garnered All-American honors in the triple jump and long jump at the NCAA Indoor Championships; 2008 ACC Outdoor Field MVP; earned second-straight ACC Outdoor triple jump championship with a best mark of 53 feet, 6 inches.

HUDSON TAYLOR, Maryland, sophomore, wrestling

2008 ACC Wrestler of the Year; 2008 ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year; All-American; ACC Champion; finished third at NCAA Championships; fifth wrestler at Maryland to finish in the top five all-time; 37-3 record.

JACK MCCLINTON, Miami, junior, basketball

Became the first Miami Hurricane in school history named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference first team; led the ACC this season in three-point field goal percentage (.442), three-point field goals per game (3.00), and free throw percentage (.900), while ranking fifth in scoring with 17.4 points per game.

TYLER HANSBROUGH, North Carolina, junior, basketball

Named National Player of the Year by The Associated Press, USBWA, NABC, The Sporting News, Los Angeles Athletic Club (Wooden Award), Atlanta Tipoff Club (Naismith Award), Sports Illustrated, ESPN.com, CBS/Chevrolet, Commonwealth Club of Kentucky (Rupp Award) and Basketball Times; scored 882 points and grabbed 399 rebounds; led the ACC in scoring and rebounding.

DEXTER ADAMS, NC State, senior, track and field

Won the ACC indoor long jump title and finished sixth nationally with a jump of 25 feet, 10 3/4 inches at the NCAA Indoor Championships; earned NCAA Indoor All-America honors; one of just three long jumpers in school history to clear 26 feet; ran a 6.75 in the 60m dash, the second fastest time in school history for the event.

SOMDEV DEVVARMAN, Virginia, senior, tennis

2008 NCAA Singles Champion, becoming the 13th player in the 124-year history of the tournament to win consecutive titles and just the fourth in the past 50 years (the only ACC player ever to win an NCAA Championship); 2008 Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Player of the Year; ended his career with a record 18 career NCAA Singles Championship wins.

PATRICK NYARKO, Virginia Tech, senior, soccer

2007 MAC Hermann Trophy runner-up; was one of four Atlantic Coast Conference players selected to  the 2007 NSCAA/adidas All-America First Team; led the way for Tech in its most successful postseason run in school history and scored the only goal of the game to lead the Hokies to a 1-0 NCAA quarterfinal win at No. 1 UConn en route to their first-ever College Cup appearance.

WEBB SIMPSON, Wake Forest, senior, golf

2008 ACC Player of the Year; finished third in the conference in stroke average at 71.44; won the ACC Championship in April with a five-stroke win over North Carolina’s Chase MacFarland; earned first team All-America honors on the PING squad; named second team All-America by GolfWeek.

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It's never too early to talk ACC hoops and Bob Rathbun stops by to chat about basketball. Rathbun, who calls ACC games for Raycom and is the Voice of the Atlanta Hawks, discusses the U.S. Olympic basketball team, a couple of ACC players taken in the NBA Draft and the outlook for ACC hoops in 2008-09.

We also discover that, in spite of his lofty credentials that include being a multiple Emmy Award winner and a member of the 2008 class of the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, Rathbun -- much like Paul Johnson last week -- can't keep his dog quite.

Also this week:

-- ACCNation.com columnist Will Ojanen makes his debut on the podcast;

-- Q receives many e-mails telling him why he's wrong about Duke football and its lawyers;

-- Is Patrick and easy date?;

-- Patrick defends Paul Johnson against those who weren't happy with his appearance on the podcast last week;

And more.

How the NBA Draft affected the conference, the individual and overall ACC Sportsmanship Award, baseball has wrapped up another year and time once again for those hidden tidbits in our Bits and Pieces segment. There is really no telling what you might find this week.

As always we encourage you to call us on the Buzz Line at 206-202-1706 with your thoughts and comments on stories affecting your favorite ACC team. Be sure to listen to the weekly podcast when we play back select calls.

ACC MEN'S BASKETBALL

North Carolina State's J.J. Hickson assured the ACC of at least one first round draft pick in the NBA. With Hickson the conference now has 20 straight years of first round draft selections.

Three other players out of the conference, Deron Washington, James Gist and Sean Singletary were also selected in the draft.

ACC SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD

The Atlantic Coast Conference has named Virginia Tech the receipient of this year's overall sportsmanship award.

Individual team recognition is noted here.

BITS AND PIECES

A "Pack" mentality is what it will take with Gamecocks.

The "Lowe-down" on State w/o Hickson.

Would you bet on Duke?

The old coaching switcheroo.

Junior Morgan passes.

Blue Devils do well in U.S. Women's Open.

Cutcliffe licks wounds and comes out winner.

*I gave Duke a bit more attention this week to make up for past sins.

FSU on the "Chopping Block".

Okay but how about today?

Xavier Lee dropped by Baltimore.

Now we're down to begging.

Big Time Backstop.

Better days ahead for Ramblin' Wreck.

Johnson builds on youth.

Friend of the Nation Wes Durham gets new partner.

Hokies head to Olympic trials.

VT builds basketball program.

Beamer Ball in action.

Edu credits Terps.

Women's lacrosse reloads.

Skeen on skids.

Wake player has last laugh.

Gaudio. He was the right pick.

Don't crown UNC Champs just yet.

Tar Heels heading to Beijing.

Miller rounds out coaching staff at Phoenix.

Pollock will be missed.

Tigers send six to swim trials.

Safety charged.

Good lord. A bit early don't you think?

Boston College picks up offensive threat.

Can Jags shine?

Best all-around sailing team.

Cavs grab Renfrow.

UVA tabs walk-on center.

 New pronunsticator at Virginia.

With the recent elimination of North Carolina from the College World Series, the 2007-08 ACC athletics season has come to an end. And as much as I would like to sugar coat the success of the conference as a whole, I just can't. There were plenty of opportunities for the conference to represent itself in the big time sports, and, like seemingly every team I root for, they choke it away.

Let's start with baseball. The ACC sent three teams (North Carolina, Florida State, and Miami) to the College World Series in Omaha. Miami and Florida State both lost their first games in their half of the bracket, and they were forced to play each other. Miami won, but was eliminated in the next game by Stanford. North Carolina, on the other hand, beat LSU in the first game, lost to Cinderella Fresno State in the next game, beat LSU again, beat Fresno State to force a third game with the Bulldogs, which Carolina lost. That eliminated the Tar Heels.

Now we move on to football. Eight teams were selected to bowl games last season. And once again, the results weren't pretty. Only two teams won bowl games. Boston College and Wake Forest won their respective bowl games, while Maryland, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Clemson, Virginia, and Virginia Tech were all losers. The Hokies loss might have been more disturbing given the fact that it was a BCS game (Orange Bowl) that they were widely regarded as the expected winner of the game. However, they lost to Kansas, and in an opportunity on national TV, with the world watching, the ACC once again falls short.

Next up is men's basketball. It was sort of a down year conference-wise in terms of bids. The conference only sent four teams to the tournament. North Carolina, Clemson, Duke, and Miami were the chosen four. Clemson was upset in the first round, and Duke and Miami were eliminated in the second round. North Carolina, on the other hand, was basically unchallenged through the first three rounds, winning by 39, 31, and 21 points respectively. UNC then beat Louisville by 10 and advanced to the Final Four. The vast majority of people picked UNC to win it all leading up to their Final Four match up with Kansas. And for some reason, UNC failed to show up, losing by 18, and ending the season for the Tar Heels.

Even women's basketball failed to represent. Six teams were chosen to the NCAA tournament, third most of all of the conferences in the women's tournament. Of the six teams, Georgia Tech was the only team to lose in the first round. Virginia and Florida State were taken out in the second round, leaving three ACC teams heading to the Sweet Sixteen. Duke was defeated in the third round, leaving Maryland and North Carolina left in the Elite Eight. Twent-five percent of the teams left in the tournament were from the ACC. Unfortunately, after that round, zero percent of the ACC was left, as both Maryland and UNC were defeated. By the way, is anyone noticing a trend with North Carolina here?

And let's not forget men's lacrosse. The ACC had half of the Final Four left in Duke and Virginia. In fact, a certain someone went on national TV and pretty much guaranteed victory for one team. Thus was born the Curse of Patrick Hite. Both Duke and Virginia fell victim in their matchups, leaving another sport for the ACC without a championship.

You want more negativity? You got it. There were a couple of other teams on the cusp of the national title before falling short. Florida State lost the national championship in women's soccer, and Virginia Tech made the College World Series in softball before getting beat.

But there is some positivity after all. There were some national championships won by the ACC. Wake Forest won the title in men's soccer, North Carolina won the national championship in field hockey, and the ACC dominated in tennis, as Somdev Devvarman of Virginia and Amanda McDowell of Georgia Tech (a recent guest on the ACC Nation podcast) won the national title in men's and women's singles respectively. Florida State captured the men's track and field title for the third consecutive season, and Walter Dix destroyed the field in the 200m, helping the Noles to the three peat. And even though there is no ACC hockey, the Boston College men's team won the national title in men's hockey.

Now that I have put you all in a depressed mood, there is some light ahead. The 2008-09 season looks promising for the ACC. In football, Clemson is ranked very high in a lot of national publications heading into the season (in the top 10 in some), and Wake Forest is also ranked highly in the national publications.

Men's basketball looks very promising as well. With almost everyone returning, North Carolina will probably be the consensus number one ranked team heading into the season, and Duke and Miami are also ranked in the top 15 according to ESPN. And you know there's always going to be someone that doesn't get a good look that will be a very good team. I would look at Virginia Tech. I said it before in my season recap column, but I really like this team heading into the upcoming basketball season.

It wasn't a good year overall for the conference in the big time sports, but the "non-revenue" sports picked up the slack and made this a somewhat successful athletic season for the ACC. Now all we need is for a team in a big time sport to step up and make noise on the national scene so the ACC can get the praise it deserves.

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Georgia Tech football coach Paul Johnson joins the guys this week to talk about installing a new offense in Atlanta, why that offense will work despite what critics say, the rivalry with Georgia and more.

Also,

-- Which ACC football coaches are on the hot seat?;

-- Duke football admits it stinks;

-- Patrick needs vacation advice;

-- Is Carolina baseball a failure?;

-- Thanks to Doug Adams for his ACC football Q & A with Patrick;

-- Rank your school's sports in order of importance;

-- Three former ACC players are on the U.S. Olympic team;

And more on this week's podcast.