Category Archives: Weekly Lessons

ACC Football 2012 Week 13 Lessons: SEC Dominates ACC on Showdown Saturday

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Favored By a Touchdown, the Seminoles Still Proved No Match for the Rival Gators This Weekend

Each Monday morning, we compile our top five takeaways from the weekend’s action. Here’s what we got out of Week 13 of ACC football action:

1. Nothing’s changed: We thought that Clemson and Florida State — the class of the ACC — could come out of this weekend’s matchups with their SEC rivals victorious. We were so very, very wrong. FSU struggled right out the gate, and quarterback EJ Manuel was happy to hand the ball right to Florida several times during the mistake-laden, forgettable contest. Clemson’s high-flying offense — considered among the best in the nation — was held to just 17 points against South Carolina. Georgia Tech and Wake Forest were also thumped by SEC foes, making the ACC 4-0 against its southern brethren on Showdown Saturday. Instead of a perception boost, the weekend provided an even bigger hit for the already-wobbly ACC.

2. Notre Dame‘s never been further away: While the ACC would love to see Notre Dame’s continued success, both before and during their partnership, the Irish’s impending shot at a national title proves how far away they are. There was plenty of talk they could potentially be coaxed into a full-time membership with the ACC, but I doubt that’s likely anymore. In going 12-0 this season, Notre Dame proved they stand apart from the system. They don’t need a conference to compete for championships, and if they end this season with a title in hand, there’s little doubt they’ll remain independent for decades.

3. Realignment holding pattern: There are murmurs that a decision could come this week as to the ACC’s replacement for Maryland. But who will it be, and will there be more than one add? Thoughts of a 16-team superconference (adding Louisville, UConn and Cincinnati) have seemingly been shot down for the time being, but the choice has essentially come down to those three schools. Personally, I’d like to see the league make some calls to a few bigger fish first, but for all I know, they’ve already done this.

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ACC Football 2012 Week 12 Lessons: Maryland Move Shows Conference Realignment Truly Never Ends

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Just When We Thought Realignment Was Over, Maryland Jumps to the Big Ten

Each Monday morning, we compile our top five takeaways from the weekend’s action. Here’s what we got out of Week 12 of ACC football action:

1. Conference realignment never stops: With Maryland and Rutgers headed to the Big Ten, the wheels are turning once again, and no one’s really sure what the next steps are. We thought it was over after Notre Dame joined the ACC. And then again when the playoff system was hashed out. Instead, any number of things can happen now — from the Big East ceasing to exist, to the Big 12 getting aggressive or even the ACC imploding. As an ACC blog, we’re obviously on edge until there’s some indication of what’s next, but even then, realignment will always be there to ambush fans and conferences alike.

2. Someone hand Tajh Boyd an award… any award: The Clemson quarterback has lit the league on fire all season, but Saturday’s performance may have taken the cake. Rewriting the school and conference record books, the junior accounted for 529 total yards and EIGHT scores. I don’t care whose defense you’re facing; those are impressive figures. But yet, Boyd has heard very little chatter in terms of any individual awards. He has over 3,500 total yards and 41 touchdowns on the season, with two games to go. You can’t tell me he’s not deserving of some sort of recognition.

3. Georgia Tech‘s season is reborn: Winning versus Duke on Saturday, coupled with Miami‘s announcement today that they’ll be imposing yet another postseason ban, means the Yellow Jackets are headed to the ACC Championship Game. And regardless of the circumstances around the division title, it counts, and can be considered a huge mark of resilience for this team. Sitting at 3-5 around Halloween, all looked lost in Atlanta. Instead, the squad is one big upset from ending the regular season at 7-5, and could still wind up in the Orange Bowl.

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ACC Football 2012 Week 11 Lessons: Florida State Very Lucky, Yet Still in Control

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Florida State Was All Smiles Last Week, But the ‘Noles Weren’t Too Far Away From a Loss Either

Each Monday morning, we compile our top five takeaways from the weekend’s action. Here’s what we got out of Week 11 of ACC football action:

1. Florida State still in the Atlantic driver’s seat… barely: While we’re happy to commend the Seminoles for pulling out their last-minute victory over Virginia Tech last Thursday, we must look at the other side of the coin, too. Despite their talent on both sides of the ball, FSU could’ve very well lost their second game to a double-digit underdog this year. And much of it is due to Jimbo Fisher’s overly-conservative play-calling, along with some luck that could have easily gone the other way. The late safety could’ve instead been a touchdown for Tech. EJ Manuel‘s late strike to Rashad Greene — had the Hokies taken proper pursuit angles, maybe they never see the end zone. Or Logan Thomas‘s deep ball to Demitri Knowles on the final drive may have been part of a game-winning drive, instead of an INT. So, yes, Florida State won. But they have work to do.

2. Does anyone want to win the Coastal division?: After this past weekend’s action, it sure doesn’t look like it. Virginia Tech just couldn’t seem to hang on against FSU on Thursday. Miami took its commanding lead and squandered it in a 41-40 upset to Virginia. And North Carolina — while ineligible to play for the league championship this season — gave up its shot at possessing the division’s best record by losing a barnburner to Georgia Tech, a team suddenly very much alive in the race again. No one in the division will have a record better than 8-4, and the champion very well may finish 7-5. Ugh.

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ACC Football 2012 Week 10 Lessons: After Defeating Virginia Tech, Miami Controls Its Own Destiny

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Miami Looks Poised to Take Care of Business Down the Stretch and Get to the ACC Championship Game

Each Monday morning, we compile our top five takeaways from the weekend’s action. Here’s what we got out of Week 10 of ACC football action:

1. Miami controls the Coastal Division: Following Miami’s big win over Virginia Tech last Thursday night, the ‘Canes can only be stopped by their own failure to execute now. Despite their reputation, Miami does actually play defense, though their strength comes from patience. Make the necessary plays, and then let the opponent pressure themselves into mistakes. And then there’s the running game. As long as Duke Johnson‘s able to get going, the Hurricanes have remained competitive. As the season finishes out, they’ll need to show more dedication to getting both Johnson and Mike James a sufficient number of carries.

2. Virginia Tech barely has a pulse: Stemming from the previous point, Virginia Tech also proved themselves incapable of playing a complete game. In nearly every contest this year, the Hokies have appeared M.I.A. for a large stretch of time, with Thursday being no different. And we’ve harped on it over and over, but: Logan Thomas can’t do this by himself. Sure, he also has some flaws that have been exposed by a young O-line, but with little help on the offensive side of the ball, he’s feeling the pressure to win games on his own – something that obviously isn’t working.

3. NC State, Virginia moving in opposite directions?: Prior to Saturday’s game between the two teams, the Woflpack appeared to be trending upward while the Hoos looked dead in the water. Now, following a 33-6 drubbing by UVa, maybe things are the other way around. The Cavaliers looked aggressive on defense, forcing turnovers and holding a dynamic Woflpack offense to just six point. State, on the other hand, found themselves shredded by the running game and off-balance against a solid pass-rush. Tom O’Brien has to fix things immediately, after three tough weeks.

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ACC Football 2012 Week 9 Lessons: Giovani Bernard Shows He’s One of Best Players in the Country

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Is Giovani Bernard the ACC’s Best Player? After Saturday’s Huge Effort, It’s a Plausible Theory

Each Monday morning, we compile our top five takeaways from the weekend’s action. Here’s what we got out of Week 9 of ACC football action:

1. Giovani Bernard is unstoppable: Or at least that was the perception of the North Carolina running back as he carried his team to a huge victory on Saturday. After jumping out to a big lead over NC State, the Heels faltered badly and needed a lift. Cue Bernard, who racked up 304 all-purpose yards on the day, with three scores. The most important, however, was a phenomenal 74-yard punt return TD with just 13 seconds left on the clock. The score broke a 35-35 tie and handed UNC their first win over the Wolfpack since 2006. Bernard is obviously a game-changer, and yet still travels predominantly under the radar to national pundits.

2. Florida State‘s back in the National Championship picture: Everyone knows the old college football adage: if you’re going to lose, lose early. So was FSU’s upset defeat in early October early enough? Now at seventh in the Coaches Poll and ninth in the BCS, the Seminoles are refocusing on their original goal of contending for a National Championship. Obviously, they’ll need some help on the way, but if they win out — and continue beating teams as impressively as they did this weekend — there’s still hope a title game berth is in the cards.

3. Clemson looks poised to avoid last year’s disappointing finish: The Tigers were ready to set the world on fire this past Thursday night, running through Wake Forest‘s defense with their best performance of the year. This Clemson team remembers the disappointment of last year, and is determined not to repeat it. If they win out, Clemson finds themselves in the thick of the BCS conversation, and could very well earn themselves a trip to a major bowl game even without winning the division.

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ACC Football 2012 Week 8 Lessons: Duke Finally Comes Through When it Counts

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Jamison Crowder’s Game-Winning Catch Propelled Duke to a Landmark Win Over North Carolina

Each Monday morning, we compile our top five takeaways from the weekend’s action. Here’s what we got out of Week 8 of ACC football action:

1. Duke gets the monkey off its back: With a huge final drive to take the lead for good at 33-30 over North Carolina, Duke finally came through when it mattered most, and as a result, find themselves bowl eligible for the first time since 1994. After leading for nearly the entire game, the Blue Devils gave up one of the most bizarre touchdowns you’ll ever see, and found themselves down 30-26 with three minutes to go. Undeterred, they marched back down the field to tally the go-ahead score with just 13 seconds remaining.

2. Clemson has Virginia Tech‘s number: The Hokies have lost three games in 12 months to the Tigers, by a combined score of 99-30. And surprisingly, this time, it was Clemson’s defense that made the biggest difference. With the offense struggling, Brent Venables’ defensive unit forced four turnovers (and scored a touchdown of their own) to help get past a Tech team that came out firing. Each of the last three games between these two, it’s been something different, and this time, turnovers would write the story of the day.

3. Syracuse‘s defense continues to impress: After allowing 84 points in their first two games, the Syracuse defense has let up just 80 in the last five, and for once found themselves on the right side of the turnover margin this weekend. Needing a victory to stay alive in the postseason hunt, SU’s defense pitched a second-half shutout and took pressure off the offense en route to a huge 40-10 victory over UConn. The Huskies were the third opponent the Orange have held to 14 points or less this year.

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ACC Football 2012 Week 7 Lessons: Duke Gets Wake-Up Call in Virginia Tech Loss

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Duke Played a Forgettable Second Half This Saturday, En Route to a Crushing Loss

Each Monday morning, we compile our top five takeaways from the weekend’s action. Here’s what we got out of Week 7 of ACC football action:

1. Duke‘s rude awakening: Up 20-0 against Virginia Tech on Saturday, it appeared that Duke was well on their way to win number-six, and halfway to the Coastal division crown. But then Tech had other ideas, and the Hokies reeled off the final 41 points in the contest. The Blue Devils have now been outscored 51-10 in the second half against its two more prestigious opponents (VPI and Stanford), casting doubts on their readiness to succeed on a larger stage. Things get no easier the rest of the way, either, with four of their final five contests against league teams above .500.

2. North Carolina is the class of the Coastal division: After all these years of talented teams, the Heels are finally the king of the hill, so it seems. Except they’re ineligible to win their division. Now that Giovani Bernard‘s back at full-strength, UNC appears well-prepared to win any type of football game, and they stand a very good chance to have their division’s best record. Just a shame it had to be this year.

3. Virginia‘s in a tailspin: The Hoos have already lost as many games through seven as they did all of last season, and now find themselves on the brink of missing a bowl game altogether. From an inconsistent running game, to the revolving door of mediocre quarterback play, and an atrocious secondary, UVA has looked worse and worse with each contest. Similar to Duke’s slate, the Cavaliers’ remaining schedule also provides little assistance when it comes to righting the ship.

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