The ACC's Spring Practices and Games are Set for 2012

Given our distinct lack of actual football being played lately, it’s welcome news that ACC spring practices and games are on the horizon (and by horizon, we mean about a month away for most). While many pundits like to over-analyze what happens in the spring, we’ll view it similarly to the NFL’s preseason. Occasionally, a team or player foreshadows a big year, but for the most part, it’s just a run-through before the real work begins in July and August. Below you’ll find the schedules for all 14* (yes, the 2012 season will once again feature a forced, early union of the two expansion schools), along with commentary.

Boston College — Practice Begins: February 18 | Spring Game: March 31

Clemson — Practice Begins: March 7 | Spring Game: April 14

Duke — Practice Begins: February 22 | Spring Game: March 31

Florida State — Practice Begins: March 19 | Spring Game: April 14

Georgia Tech –Practice Begins: March 26 | Spring Game: April 20

Maryland — Practice Begins: March 10 | Spring Game: April 21

Miami — Practice Begins: March 3 | Spring Game: April 14

NC State — Practice Begins: March 23 | Spring Game: April 24

North Carolina — Practice Begins: March 14 | Spring Game: April 14

Pittsburgh — Practice Begins: March 15 | Spring Game: April 14

Syracuse — Practice Begins: March 20 | Spring Game: April 21

Virginia — Practice Begins: March 19 | Spring Game: April 14

Virginia Tech — Practice Begins: March 28 | Spring Game: April 21

Wake Forest — Practice Begins: March 1 | Spring Game: April 14

Some brief observations:

• Duke’s spring practice is done just 11 days into spring. Given how poorly Duke’s performed on the field, it would make sense they’d want to be practicing as long as possible. BC’s done on the same day, but they also start four days earlier than Duke.
• Seven of the conference’s 14 spring games occur on April 14.
• Georgia Tech is assuming they don’t have any TCU problems, with their spring game occurring on April 20.
• Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech are only at it for three-and-a-half weeks. Wake, Miami, Maryland and Boston College are there for about six weeks each.
• Boston College has the earliest start (February 18), while Virginia Tech has the latest (March 28). There are just three days of overlap between the teams’ spring practices.
• The latest spring game in the conference belongs to NC State, on April 24.

As news begins to surface on all the spring developments, we’ll continue to provide more updates.