2011 ACC Conference Football Preview: ACC Conference Football Preview 2011

2011 ACC Conference Preview

With the exception of the Big East, no conference has been more maligned for the quality of its football than the ACC. This league and the Big East remain the only BCS conferences to not earn two BCS bowl bids in the same season, and neither conference has produced a national champion in over a decade. The ACC was poised to be a national powerhouse with the additions of Florida State, Miami, and Virginia Tech in 2004 but has little to show for it seven years later. Miami and Florida State each floundered through uncharacteristic struggles after being perennial challengers throughout the 1990s. Virginia Tech has carried the league’s mantle, but the Hokies haven’t challenged for a national title since Michael Vick left for the NFL.

After a decade of difficulties, things may be looking up for the top of the ACC. In his first year as head coach at Florida State, all Jimbo Fisher did was rout both in-state rivals ( Florida and Miami), win the ACC Atlantic Division, beat SEC East champion South Carolina in a bowl game, and sign the nation’s top recruiting class. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney hired former Tulsa offensive coordinator Chad Morris for the same position with Clemson. Swinney hopes the move will finally allow the Tigers to take advantage the NFL-caliber talent on the roster that has gone relatively untapped.

Elsewhere in the league, other changes are afoot. After years of fan grousing about the boring offense, even Virginia Tech and conservative head coach Frank Beamer made a sharp turn, bringing in Mike O’Cain to coach the offense after eight seasons with Bryan Stinespring calling the plays. Finally, Miami parted with Randy Shannon following a disappointing end to the 2010 season and replaced him with Al Golden. The tie-wearing Golden completed a miraculous turnaround at Temple, and he hopes to complete an equally impressive rebuilding job at a talent-rich program that has underachieved since the Canes moved to the ACC from the Big East.

In the Coastal Division, the question facing all of the contenders is at quarterback. Virginia Tech must replace the electric Tyrod Taylor. North Carolina must replace the steady veteran T.J. Yates. Georgia Tech must find a replacement for Joshua Nesbitt, no easy task in Paul Johnson’s option offense. Miami returns both Steven Morris and Jacory Harris, however, it remains to be seen if that will be a positive as neither played particularly well to end 2010 or in the Hurricanes’ spring sessions. Duke and Virginia are both squarely in rebuilding mode but appear to have quality head coaches in Mike London and David Cutcliffe. Both men are capable of elevating these programs in the years to come.

In the Atlantic Division, Florida State stands at the head of the class, even with questions at quarterback. Christian Ponder is gone to the NFL, but E.J. Manuel was a highly touted recruit out of high school who played well in relief of Ponder when called upon. The ‘Noles should be able to rely on a young but stacked defense while Manuel gets comfortable at quarterback. Similarly, Clemson returns loads of talent on offense, but needs quarterback Tajh Boyd to live up to his recruiting hype at the helm of Chad Morris’s no-huddle offense. If he does, the Tigers will be able to score with anyone.

Maryland and new coach Randy Edsall have a reliable quarterback in Danny O’Brien, but it is always difficult to predict how a team with many returning starters will perform under a new coach. Edsall’s style at Connecticut was much more conservative and simple compared to the complex offense run by former coach Ralph Friedgen. N.C. State took a leap forward under Tom O’Brien, but now finds itself trying to develop an offense without all-purpose threat Russell Wilson at quarterback. Questions on the offensive side of the ball alone will likely keep Wake Forest, Boston College, and N.C. State from challenging for the Atlantic Division in 2011.

By Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior College Football Correspondent

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2011 ACC Conference Preview

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