http://espn.go.com/blog/acc/post/_/id/39...c-football

Seems like a good guy, reasoned responses and positive outlook. He expects that the ACC will be challenging for a NC soon.

"I think we’ve got a lot of good programs. In five years from now, we’ll look back and say this is where it changed. You look at the SEC and some of the traditionally really good teams that maybe haven’t been as good of late. They’ll get back. It’s the same thing in our conference. Heck, it’s been 20 years since we won the ACC. Twenty years. I was still playing 20 years ago. We’re heading in the right direction as a conference. This is a tremendous conference. At some point we’ll produce a national champion again, there’s no doubt in my mind about that."

Could be toeing the conference line, but could also mean it. As a newcomer, I really don't know. What are your thoughts on the outlook and on Swinney as a coach?

Fans want to play in the toughest conference possible... coaches, not so much.

(05-16-2012 02:32 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  Fans want to play in the toughest conference possible... coaches, not so much.

Fans don't look past their noses, they see only what they want to see.

Regardless of conference, there will be winners and losers, a zero-sum-gain. Wins MUST equal losses. As such, in a conference the distribution of winners will be a few at the winners end, bulk in the middle and few losers at the losers end.

If you form a conference with historical football winners:

USC(west)
Notre Dame
Ohio State
Michigan
Penn State
Nebraska
Florida State
Miami
Texas
Alabama
LSU
Oklahoma
Clemson
Florida
Pitt
Syracuse

There will be an even distribution over time of winners, middle of the pack and losers. Assuming 2 divisions, each divsion can have only one perfect team, the two would them play for the Conference chamopionship.

You are free to substitute any teams you like, the result will be the same.