This is a portion of Stewart Mandel's answer to one question in his college football mailbag:
Quote:Q: With Clemson's big win over Georgia, it seems like the perception of ACC football may be changing. This would be especially true if Miami can pull off the upset over Florida this weekend. Could the ACC finally be considered a great football conference in the near future? With the addition of Louisville and the "partial" addition of Notre Dame, it seems like the league is on an upward trajectory.
-- Ben Stafford, Denver, Colo.
A: I'm hesitant to predict all-out greatness because I feel like the league has teased us many, many times in the past. However, while watching the Jameis Winston Show on Monday night, it occurred to me that the ACC may have a chance to enjoy the long-awaited national spotlight it envisioned back when it went all-in on football in 2003. Florida State, as I suspected, is really freaking good. I knew the 'Noles had top-five-caliber talent, but so much was dependent on the performance of their redshirt freshman quarterback. Well, it turns out that redshirt freshman already has the poise and command of a fourth-year junior to go with his size, cannon of an arm and running ability. Meanwhile, Clemson has knocked off consecutive top-10 SEC foes dating back to last year's bowl game. Behind Tajh Boyd and Sammy Watkins, the Tigers boast one of the most dangerous offenses in the country.
...if Florida State and Clemson do meet each other as unbeatens, they would likely be two top-five teams playing in an ACC game with national championship implications in the second half of the season. That last happened in 2005 (Miami-Virginia Tech). If the 'Canes were to beat Florida this week, suddenly they'd join the national conversation, too. So there's definitely an opportunity this year for the ACC to make some noise before even bringing Louisville into the fold.
(09-04-2013 03:59 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote: This is a portion of Stewart Mandel's answer to one question in his college football mailbag:
Quote:Q: With Clemson's big win over Georgia, it seems like the perception of ACC football may be changing. This would be especially true if Miami can pull off the upset over Florida this weekend. Could the ACC finally be considered a great football conference in the near future? With the addition of Louisville and the "partial" addition of Notre Dame, it seems like the league is on an upward trajectory.
-- Ben Stafford, Denver, Colo.
A: I'm hesitant to predict all-out greatness because I feel like the league has teased us many, many times in the past. However, while watching the Jameis Winston Show on Monday night, it occurred to me that the ACC may have a chance to enjoy the long-awaited national spotlight it envisioned back when it went all-in on football in 2003. Florida State, as I suspected, is really freaking good. I knew the 'Noles had top-five-caliber talent, but so much was dependent on the performance of their redshirt freshman quarterback. Well, it turns out that redshirt freshman already has the poise and command of a fourth-year junior to go with his size, cannon of an arm and running ability. Meanwhile, Clemson has knocked off consecutive top-10 SEC foes dating back to last year's bowl game. Behind Tajh Boyd and Sammy Watkins, the Tigers boast one of the most dangerous offenses in the country.
...if Florida State and Clemson do meet each other as unbeatens, they would likely be two top-five teams playing in an ACC game with national championship implications in the second half of the season. That last happened in 2005 (Miami-Virginia Tech). If the 'Canes were to beat Florida this week, suddenly they'd join the national conversation, too. So there's definitely an opportunity this year for the ACC to make some noise before even bringing Louisville into the fold.
So close, I can almost smell it.
You and me both Brother!!!!!!
This New and Improved ACC is going to ROCK!!!!!!!
FlossY out...
Clemson has been in the ACC for many decades and FSU has been in over 20 years. They are the ones carrying the ACC right now. There is nothing "new and improved" about it so far. The new was the team that FSU hammered on national TV on Labor Day.
It's still FSU, Clemson, Miami, Va Tech. Hopefully UNC and GT get better and the other new ones improve as well. But right now it isn't the new members that are carrying the banner
(09-04-2013 04:45 PM)Ragu Wrote: Clemson has been in the ACC for many decades and FSU has been in over 20 years. They are the ones carrying the ACC right now. There is nothing "new and improved" about it so far. The new was the team that FSU hammered on national TV on Labor Day.
It's still FSU, Clemson, Miami, Va Tech. Hopefully UNC and GT get better and the other new ones improve as well. But right now it isn't the new members that are carrying the banner.
Why does being new or not matter when it comes to perception of the conference's football strength?
Quote:He swatted at the notion Clemson played this game for conference pride.
“We have all the respect in the world for the SEC but it’s not about a league. It’s about a program,” he said. “These guys don’t feel like they take a backseat to anybody.
And in the ACC teleconference today when asked if it was a statement win for the ACC:
Quote:"I don't know if it's a statement for the ACC. It's a statement for Clemson. That's just what I believe."
(09-04-2013 04:45 PM)Ragu Wrote: Clemson has been in the ACC for many decades and FSU has been in over 20 years. They are the ones carrying the ACC right now. There is nothing "new and improved" about it so far. The new was the team that FSU hammered on national TV on Labor Day.
It's still FSU, Clemson, Miami, Va Tech. Hopefully UNC and GT get better and the other new ones improve as well. But right now it isn't the new members that are carrying the banner.
Why does being new or not matter when it comes to perception of the conference's football strength?
Multiple posters have said "the new and improved" ACC is going to rock when the article is talking about mostly teams that have been here for awhile.
Also what ND does really doesn't reflect on the ACC. They are a partner but they aren't an ACC football team
(This post was last modified: 09-04-2013 05:13 PM by Ragu.)
And Swinney is right on. It is about the program and not the league. Pitt, Syracuse and Duke fans taking credit for what the tops teams are doing would be just as stupid as Miss St and Kentucky fans chanting "SEC SEC" especially after Kentucky just lost to Western Kentucky for the 2nd year in a row...
RE: Is ACC football on the verge of a return to greatness?
Fixed the title for you.
If FSU, Miami, and Clemson can become forces this year and if the promise of UofL and VT is realized, then the ACC will be a force to be reckoned with.
(This post was last modified: 09-04-2013 05:48 PM by Dasville.)
(09-04-2013 04:45 PM)Ragu Wrote: Clemson has been in the ACC for many decades and FSU has been in over 20 years. They are the ones carrying the ACC right now. There is nothing "new and improved" about it so far. The new was the team that FSU hammered on national TV on Labor Day.
It's still FSU, Clemson, Miami, Va Tech. Hopefully UNC and GT get better and the other new ones improve as well. But right now it isn't the new members that are carrying the banner.
Why does being new or not matter when it comes to perception of the conference's football strength?
Multiple posters have said "the new and improved" ACC is going to rock when the article is talking about mostly teams that have been here for awhile.
Also what ND does really doesn't reflect on the ACC. They are a partner but they aren't an ACC football team
The ACC has 5 opportunities to beat ND. A ND win means little to the ACC, but an ACC win over ND means a lot! If we beat them multiple times in one season on national TV, that carries some weight!
I think if Miami wins this weekend we start to rock that ship in the right direction. A win over Florida puts us Top 15 at least and like some have speculated into the BCS spotlight too. Assuming we win...
If we do, it could be one of the biggest wins we've had since the 2001 national championship game over Nebraska.
I think by "new" they just mean since the addition of Miami who was the major football player the ACC added (along with VT). Since that point it's felt like the ACC has underachieved compared to the hype of having Miami on board.
I'm also going to throw this out there - for as good as FSU is, Pitt is likely awful. It's going to take a few weeks to sort out who's who in the zoo. I just look at FSU and think they did what they should have in the opener, perhaps a bit better than expected. Still, there's a real chance Pitt is a terrible team. It's hard to gauge how good FSU is based on just that one game.
(09-04-2013 06:59 PM)ndlutz Wrote: I'm also going to throw this out there - for as good as FSU is, Pitt is likely awful. It's going to take a few weeks to sort out who's who in the zoo. I just look at FSU and think they did what they should have in the opener, perhaps a bit better than expected. Still, there's a real chance Pitt is a terrible team. It's hard to gauge how good FSU is based on just that one game.
Terrible? If you are then Chryst isn't the right coach.
A lot easier to gauge how good FSU is than it is to gauge the 15-20 teams in the top 25 that played scrubs the first week.
(09-04-2013 04:45 PM)Ragu Wrote: Clemson has been in the ACC for many decades and FSU has been in over 20 years. They are the ones carrying the ACC right now. There is nothing "new and improved" about it so far. The new was the team that FSU hammered on national TV on Labor Day.
It's still FSU, Clemson, Miami, Va Tech. Hopefully UNC and GT get better and the other new ones improve as well. But right now it isn't the new members that are carrying the banner.
Why does being new or not matter when it comes to perception of the conference's football strength?
Multiple posters have said "the new and improved" ACC is going to rock when the article is talking about mostly teams that have been here for awhile.
Also what ND does really doesn't reflect on the ACC. They are a partner but they aren't an ACC football team
The ACC has 5 opportunities to beat ND. A ND win means little to the ACC, but an ACC win over ND means a lot! If we beat them multiple times in one season on national TV, that carries some weight!
And 5 games on national tv against a quality opponent in front of a significant audience. Another selling point for everyone's recruiting effort.
(09-04-2013 08:22 PM)Marge Schott Wrote: ACC greatness? You hear this same crap every year.
You should know better than to spew that garbage... in the past, some ACC teams would've lost to FCS teams and/or lower-ranked FBS. That didn't happen this year (and, oh by the way, it DID happen to every other P5 conference - including the SEC).
I think it's very hypocritical to complain about how being in the ACC drags down your program, but then when YOUR team wins, it isn't an ACC win. Bull. Either every team affects every other, or they don't - you can't have it both ways (IMO they do affect each other, but don't take my word for it, ask some team that was lousy before joining the SEC - like S. Carolina)
You guys (and you know who you are) seem to be able to find something bad to say even in the best of situations. Give me a break!
[/rant]
(09-04-2013 08:22 PM)Marge Schott Wrote: ACC greatness? You hear this same crap every year.
You should know better than to spew that garbage... in the past, some ACC teams would've lost to FCS teams and/or lower-ranked FBS. That didn't happen this year (and, oh by the way, it DID happen to every other P5 conference - including the SEC).
I think it's very hypocritical to complain about how being in the ACC drags down your program, but then when YOUR team wins, it isn't an ACC win. Bull. Either every team affects every other, or they don't - you can't have it both ways (IMO they do affect each other, but don't take my word for it, ask some team that was lousy before joining the SEC - like S. Carolina)
You guys (and you know who you are) seem to be able to find something bad to say even in the best of situations. Give me a break!
[/rant]
What exactly did the ACC have to do with Clemson's win over UGA other than two paint spots on the field and some embroidered letters on our jersey?
(09-04-2013 10:10 PM)Kaplony Wrote: What exactly did the ACC have to do with Clemson's win over UGA other than two paint spots on the field and some embroidered letters on our jersey?
Straw man argument. The real question is: "what does the success of ACC football have to do with Clemson getting into the BCS Title Game or the 4-team playoffs"? Answer: strength of schedule. If the rest of the conference loses OOC, it won't matter whether you beat them. On the other hand, as long as the rest of the ACC does well, your team's victories matter, nationally.