ACC preview:
They'll
passby Brian Hamilton,
CNN/SI
Posted: Fri Aug 21, 1998
In six seasons in the ACC, Bobby Bowden has coached Florida State to a 47-1 record in conference play. (Bob Rosato) | |
Projected Order
of
Finish
|
1.
Florida
State
2.
North
Carolina
3. Virginia
4.
Georgia
Tech
5. Wake
Forest
6.
N.C.
State
7.
Clemson
8.
Maryland
9.
Duke
|
|
| |
|
|
Offensive Player of the
Year
|
|
Joe
Hamilton, QB, Jr., Georgia
Tech
| | Racked up more than 2,300 yards passing and nearly 500
yards rushing in 1997. Led a strong group of
ACC quarterbacks in both completion percentage (64.6) and
rushing yards. This guy's got an air-and-ground attack to
make the Armed Forces
jealous.
| |
|
Defensive Player of the
Year
|
|
Dre'
Bly, CB, Jr., North
Carolina
| | Simply cuts the field in half, since smart QBs won't throw
his way. Two seasons, two-time first-team All-America
selection.
| |
|
Newcomer of the
Year
|
|
Warren
Lott,
LB, Jr.,
Clemson
| | The Tigers' defense may have to carry the burden of their
inexperienced offense all season long, and
juco transfer Lott will instantly become a pillar at inside
linebacker.
| |
|
Coach on the Hot
Seat
|
|
Fred
Goldsmith, Duke (2-9, 0-8 in '97)
| | Has won exactly one of his last 26 conference games. School
officials have confidence in Goldsmith, but it would be
nice to have a reason to be so
supportive.
| |
|
Conference
Game-Breaker
|
|
Peter Warrick, WR, Jr., Florida State (53 rec., 8
TDs)
| | A dual threat: will be ranked among the best receivers and
return men in the nation. Big Play written all over
him.
| |
|
Most Underrated
Player
|
|
Torry
Holt, WR, Sr.,
N.C. State (62 rec., 14
TDs)
| | Posted ACC highs of 1,099 yards and 14 scores without much
help. Imagine what he could do if the Wolfpack could find a
second threat to catch the
ball.
| |
|
Best
Name
|
|
Ebenezer
Ekuban, DE, Sr., North
Carolina
| | Runner-up:
Jackie
Robinson, WR, Fr.,
Clemson
| |
|
Toughest
Schedule
|
|
Virginia
plays six games on the road, including the season-opener at
Auburn and all the
ACC toughies except
North Carolina.
| |
|
Creampuff
Schedule
|
|
Wake Forest
tackles non-conference patsies like Air Force, Navy and Appalachian
State. Plus, all the conference heavies visit
Winston-Salem.
| |
|
Red-Letter
Games
|
| Florida at Florida
State, Nov. 21 | | Is there really any need to explain this
selection? The Gators haven't won
in Tallahassee since 1986, but that doesn't make the annual
tussle any less
thrilling.
|
|
North Carolina at
Virginia, Nov. 14 | | Anything from
an Alliance bid to state pride could be at
stake.
|
| North Carolina at Florida
State, Oct. 31 | | The Heels have so much talent, yet they've never
toppled the
Seminoles. Carolina's record against
FSU is now
0-0-0, including a 20-3 drubbing last year in Chapel Hill. Hey,
it's Halloween, anything can
happen.
|
|
|
Drop This Name to Make Yourself Sound Smarter at the Water
Cooler
|
|
Donald
Heaven, G, Soph.,
Florida State
| | After just one year, Heaven isn't too far away from being
the next great offensive lineman for the Seminoles. The
6'5", 305-pounder started all 11 games at tight guard
in
1997.
| |
|
Going
Bowling
|
Locks: Florida State,
North Carolina,
Virginia
Maybes: Clemson, Georgia
Tech, N.C. State, Wake
Forest
No
Way: Duke,
Maryland
| |
|
Top Three
Storylines
|
|
Armed and
Dangerous
| |
Nearly every team boasts a talented, explosive, experienced
quarterback—which should make for excitement
galore.
|
| Wake,
Up?
| |
Wait—the Deacs
good at football? Is Tim Duncan moonlighting? Seriously, a soft
slate may give Wake Forest a chance to become the ACC's big
surprise.
|
| (To the Tomahawk Chop tune) Oh-oh-only the
Lo-oh-oh-nely
| |
Though things look dicey at QB, Seminoles will once again
stand headdresses and shoulders above the rest of the
ACC.
| |
|
