ACC bowl-game performance
With Virginia Tech's Orange Bowl victory, Atlantic Coast Conference teams were 4-6 in bowl games, breaking an eight-game conference losing streak in BCS bowl games. Is that about what you expected?
Biggest disappointment: Georgia Tech getting thumped 38-3 by LSU, and in an Atlanta-based bowl no less. I had thought Paul Johnson's group was better than that.
Most exciting game: West Virginia 31, North Carolina 30. There were a bevy of big-time offensive plays in this one. Would have been fun to see Terps-Mountaineers, though.
Obviously it wasn't a banner year for the ACC. But I think there are some positive signs for the conference in the future -- notably freshman quarterbacks Russell Wilson of N.C. State and Jacory Harris of Miami. North Carolina is a team on the rise, Florida State finished strong and ended with nine wins, and Virginia Tech had another good year.
Footnote: Will be fun to see if Maryland can again shut down talented Cal running back Jahvid Best next season. Best had 186 yards in Cal's Emerald Bowl win over Miami. Maryland will travel to Cal early in the '09 season.
Comments
ACC bowl record of 4-6 is less than I expected.
*I agree with Jeff that biggest embarrassment was GT getting beat-down within a mile of their campus by LSU. Where's the state pride?
*Next was Clemson as "Thunder & Lightning" again showed up as "Drizzle and Rain" against Nebraska combining for 46 yds rushing. Embarrassing!!
*Lastly UNC snatches defeat from the jaws of victory with fumble that sets up 1pt loss.
These 3 that got away would have left ACC 7-3.
Posted by: TerpsFan | January 2, 2009 9:28 AM
I firmly believe that this will be a similar record with vitually the same teams next year. The problem is the ACC is just not that good. Granted there are many young players, but I see plenty of youth in other conferences too playing at a much higher level.
Also, I disagree on the 2 young QB's you mentioned. NCState certainly showed some life under Wilson, but it was more a case of the team playing to it's potential rather than anything Wilson does. Same can be said for Harris as I feel the best QB there (Marve) was not a good fit for their scheme - whatever the hell that is!
Posted by: EricB | January 2, 2009 10:59 AM
Cullen Harper....preseason POY....may be the worst QB in the ACC. He was absolutely terrible against Nebraska. At least the ACC isn't the Big 10
Posted by: ryan | January 2, 2009 11:16 AM
My expectations were a lot higher, I thought for sure the ACC was going to record 7-3, with Miami losing, and either NC State or Maryland dropping their games. Here are my thoughts, though:
- NC State would have easily won had Wilson not gotten injured.
- Clemson could have won but played badly. A FSU/Nebraska, Clemson/Wisconsin match-up would have been much better in my opinion. Still Clemson seemed more talented than Nebraska.
- LSU was a lot better than I had thought, and GT played flat. Also, I didn't consider that LSU had about a month to prepare specifically for the option. GT's advantage all season has been teams hadn't had enough time to prepare for the rarely seen option.
- UNC could have won, but errors gave the game to WVU.
- UMD should have won by several more scores except for a few big errors that continually put Nevada back in the game.
- BC was unmasked as the pretenders that they have been all season. UMD should have beaten them but played terribly, probably hungover from their shattered ACCCG aspirations (and their fake FG attempt shouldve been blown dead as there was movement from the kicker with Fluties knee down). Still, BC shouldve come out with a win against a mediocre Vanderbilt.
Posted by: J | January 4, 2009 10:23 AM