If by bang you mean all the excitement and bubbliness that comes with opening a five year old bottle of Andres then yes, it was bang-tastic.
The Wolfpack prove that perhaps the preseason hype wasn't exactly warranted while Stephen Garcia and the "Shamecocks" prove that its a lot harder to orchestrate touchdown drives than it is to drink underage, keycars and fight the Man.
Russell Wilson, suffers from sophomore jinx-itis.
At least that's the unofficial diagnosis. Symptoms include overthrowing wide open targets, underthrowing sure touchdowns and basically being the man-sized equivalent of "is it in yet" for the entire game.
Toney Baker does his best TA McLendon impersonation; coughing up the ball like it had swine flu.
So score one for the SEC, albeit an ugly one. This win is the sort of lay where you don't tell your friends who she is, you just add her quietly to your tally sheet and hope to God that no one asks for her information. Best case scenario people will forget this game ever happened, worst case scenario both teams prove this was a bigger pillow fight than Auburn-Mississippi State circa 2008.
This week’s ACC game of the week takes place in Atlanta where the second annual Chic-Fil-A Kickoff Classic gets underway pitting the Hokies against the Alabama Crimson Tide. A year ago this game had a devastating effect on the ACC’s overall national perception and rightfully so as the Clemson Tigers were blitzed by Nick Saban’s Alabama squad. Not only do the Hokies need this game to start their ’09 season off on the right foot, the league needs Beamer’s team to show the nation that it’s much improved from last years beat down.
Most Intriguing Storylines: Redemption and Distraction
Distractions
For the Hokies the biggest distraction has been answering questions concerning star running back Darren Evans’ torn ACL. The teams best player in 2008 and Orange Bowl MVP Evans was expected to tote the rock heavily for the run reliant Hokies.
Most programs would be reeling from this loss; however, Frank Beamer is not most leaders. His reaction was, in short, I’ve got more players on the bench than I’ve got on the field. The stoic, no nonsense coach will rely on three talented young guns to pick up the slack; Ryan Williams being the most dynamic with David Wilson and Josh Oglesby helping out.
On the Bama side distractions are also abound. Terrence Cody and several other Alabama players were stricken with Swine Flu, Mark Ingram and Julio Jones recently emerged from amidst a fishing trip scandal and most recently defensive end Brandon Deaderick was the victim of a robbery/shooting in his apartment complex.
Nick Saban, the master of focus and blocking out distraction gets Ingram and Jones back into the line up, the swine flu appears to have left Tuscaloosa just Deaderick remains unresolved. With Saban’s new contract, the slap on the wrist from the NCAA plus the aforementioned issues there’s no doubt Saban has circled the wagons.
Redemption
Twice in the Georgia Dome the ACC was embarrassed lasts season; opening the season when Clemson got steamrolled by Alabama and closing the year out with LSU’s drubbing of Georgia Tech. Virginia Tech not only needs this game to kickoff their 2009 campaign but they need to show the nation that the ACC is better than the 72 – 13 margin of last season’s whippings.
The onus is on the Hokies in the spotlight to carry the torch for the ACC against a very nasty Alabama squad.
Match Ups To Watch
Stephan Virgil and Kam Chancellor vs Julio Jones
The two Hokies are the best players in the secondary for Bud Foster’s defense and they will face their toughest test of the season in containing world beater Julio Jones. Jones diced up LSU (128 yards), Georgia (94 yards) and Florida (124 yards) just a season ago and looks to build on his stellar freshman campaign. Virginia Tech’s defense is known for their stout play in the back end and Chancellor, one of the nation’s premier safeties, will get a chance to prove his worth against Jones, the nation’s top receiving talent.
Mount Cody vs Hokies Offensive Line
Terrence Cody, coming off the swine flu is still listed at a stout 354 lbs by Alabama. The Mount spent his junior year at Alabama proving double teams inadequate and dominating the line of scrimmage. The Hokies have an experienced offensive line featuring guard Sergio Render, one of the nation’s elite interior linemen.
At 319 lbs Render is still outweighed by the Alabama behemoth but the All-ACC guard is a dominating road grader in his own right. Look for Render, along with fellow mates RG Jaymes Brooks and C Beau Warren, to force the big man to battle cut blocks, double teams and trap blocks to keep him from getting that big body moving forward.
Key to the Game: Quarterback Play
Both teams will come out looking to run the football; Bama with Ingram and Virginia Tech with Williams, Wilson and Oglesby. Both teams will come out looking to stuff the box and shut down the other teams’ ground game. Both teams feature coaches that are cut from the hardnosed, no nonsense, no gimmick school of pure football. The parallels between the two teams are truly remarkable.
With an abundance of similarities the divergence is where the game will be won. The most obvious difference is the quarterback situation. VT features Tyrod Taylor, while the Tide trots out Greg McElroy. Experience versus Inexperience. Dual Threat versus Game Manager. 10-3 record in 2008 as a starter versus 11 total pass attempts in 2008.
The quarterbacks could not be more different and here lies the key to this Saturday evening match up. Taylor’s experience in big games and dual threat ability will come in handy against an Alabama defense that is chomping at the bit to atone for their last two outings that ended in embarrassing fashion. Saban’s got a heck of a defensive mind but due to Taylor’s scrambling capability and the talent to extend plays with his legs the Tide defense will be forced to play a passive defense that contains Taylor rather than attacks the junior.
On the other hand, McElroy is an inexperienced quarterback walking into his first major battle against Bud Foster’s highly vaunted defense. The Hokies, with an experienced secondary and defensive line, will throw confusing pre-snap looks, difficult zone blitzes and complicated pressure schemes to discombobulate the first year starter.
As the teams are so evenly matched this game boils down to McElroy’s ability to make plays with his arm against Foster’s defense.
South Carolina @ North Carolina State (ESPN, 7pm) Sean McDonough, Jesse Palmer, Craig James, Erin Andrews
The return of Erin Andrews sees the tables turned in a rematch of last season's major college football opener. This year NC State has answers to their question marks while South Carolina's quarterback, receiving core and offensive line are veritable unknowns going into the game in Raleigh.
Russell Wilson is arguably the ACC's best quarterback and with the return of mega recruit Toney Baker to the lineup the Pack should have a lethal one, two punch in the backfield.
On defense look for the Pack to replace injured backer Nate Irving with sophomore Audie Cole, a physical specimen in his own right who should prove adequate in the Pack's stout front seven. Willie Young is the unquestioned leader and the Pack front should stop the run and put a ton of pressure on Stephen Garcia.
Garcia is a redshirt sophomore, however thanks to a little trouble 2009 was the talented quarterback's first spring practice on campus. The Gamecocks lost their top two receivers to graduation, they look to start an inexperienced tailback and have holes along the offensive line. On defense the front seven is stout but, as they showed a season ago, prone to late game collapses due to the offenses ineptitude and frequent three and outs.
NC State 27 South Carolina 17
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Five ACC schools open with FCS programs while Clemson jumps out against the Sun Belt's mighty behemoth Middle Tennessee. Nothing to see here but if any of these teams loses "Hello Dolly" strike up the band and get ready to scoop gallons of egg off our face.
Seriously, don't be that guy.
Georgia Tech vs Jacksonville State (1pm)
Paul Johnson's team beat Jacksonville State 41-14 a season ago in their option offense infancy. This year with two springs, two training camps and 18 returning starters expect the Jackets to be more efficient and thus more lethal against the Gamecocks.
Georgia Tech 52 Jacksonville State 14
Boston College vs Northeastern (2pm)
New coach Frank Spaziani has plenty of question marks at quarterback, especially with projected starter David Shinskie suffering from cracked ribs entering this week. The defense is missing their top four talents from a season ago but the Eagles have plenty for their semi-crosstown rivals.
Boston College 28 Northeastern 7
Virginia vs William & Mary (6pm)
Al Groh's seat has never been hotter as he enters the 2009 season with three viable quarterback options and a revamped coaching staff. The Tribe is a disciplined group of FCS players who may keep it close against Virginia's inexperienced linebacking core but the Wahoos will avoid a possible deathblow.
Virginia 24 William & Mary 10
North Carolina vs The Citadel (6pm)
Entering year three of the Butch Davis era the Tar Heel faithful will be reminded of last season's opening game nightmare; a nail biter against McNeese State in Kenan. The Citadel is a similarly modeled team; quick passes to neutralize UNC's girth up front but the Heels more experienced linebackers and secondary core won't make the crowd sweat like they did a season ago.
North Carolina 42 The Citadel 17
Duke vs Richmond (7pm)
Cutcliffe's number one goal since arriving in Durham has been to increase the Blue Devils team speed. This first game won't offer quite the same test as their ACC slate but the Spiders are coming off an FCS title and return their dynamic quarterback Eric Ward. Duke must come out the gate hot to have a shot at reaching bowl eligibility.
Duke 35 Richmond 17
Clemson vs Middle Tennessee (6 pm)
New coach, new defense and a new quarterback mean that Clemson is somewhat in flux for Dabo's first season. Middle Tennessee is a team that beat Maryland by ten the week before the Terps beat Cal. They've got talent at running back but the Tigers' defense should definitely be up to shutting them down under new defensive coordinator Kevin Steele.
Clemson 38 Middle Tennessee 7
And seriously Duke; I know they're the "reigning FCS Champions" but don't do this to us.
I apologize for the Black Eyed Peas Lyric, -15 for that
The ACC Week 1 Preview Part I
South Carolina @ North Carolina State (ESPN, 7pm) Sean McDonough, Jesse Palmer, Craig James, Erin Andrews
Entering this game images of last year should be dancing in the head of the Pack faithful.
The return of Erin Andrews sees the tables turned in a rematch of last season’s major college football opener. This year NC State has answers to their question marks while South Carolina’s quarterback, receiving core and offensive line are veritable unknowns going into the game in Raleigh. Russell Wilson is arguably the ACC’s best quarterback and with the return of mega recruit Toney Baker to the lineup the Pack should have a lethal one, two punch in the backfield.
On defense look for the Pack to replace injured backer Nate Irving with sophomore Audie Cole, a physical specimen in his own right who should prove adequate in the Pack’s stout front seven. Willie Young is the unquestioned leader and the Pack front should stop the run and put a ton of pressure on Stephen Garcia.
Stephen Garcia is a redshirt sophomore, however thanks to a little trouble 2009 was the talented quarterback’s first spring practice on campus. The Gamecocks lost their top two receivers to graduation, they look to start an inexperienced tailback and have holes along the offensive line. On defense the front seven is stout but, as they showed a season ago, prone to late game collapses due to the offenses ineptitude and frequent three and outs.
In just over two days we will be shoving off on the voyage that is College Football 2009. The season will see plenty of ups and downs but for right now everyone is undefeated. Everyone is in the hunt for the national title. Everyone is tied for first place in their league.
Sure quarterback question marks surround Boston College; especially with David Shinskie suffering a cracked rib and Justin "Give Me A" Tuggle getting the apparent (?) nod from Spaz.
Sure Duke's battling the weight of a half century of being quagmired in abject mediocrity. Too generous? Ok we'll say the Blue Devils have lived in the Treblinka of college football success and their loan escape attempt, the Spurrier era, was cut short by a pack of swastika wearing German Shepherd from Gainesville clad in Blue and Orange.
Sure the Hokies lost Darren Evans; they're freshman All-American beast mode running back. But its ok Ryan Williams and Co will be there to literally shred the flesh from defenders and pop out ACL's with their thumbs. The stable at VT is nice, be ready because their eternal hope can only be buoyed by a beating of Alabama.
Perhaps the most perplexing quandary approaching the season is why Miami's two back up quarterbacks transferred a week and change before the first game. Surely one of them could have stayed to, oh, I don't know play just in case the rail thin Jacory Harris gets dinged up? Guess not. Every time Harris takes off running Randy Shannon will be sweating like a whore in church.
Speaking of church the Wahoos had better pray for a bowl game OR for no bowl game if you're not in the Al Groh camp. Either way trotting out the triple threat of Vic Hall, Mark Verica and Jameel Sewell doesn't necessarily terrify the nation but it should scare the entire coaching staff.
Just some thoughts don't worry I will casually continue to ruminate on the ACC and be ready the podcast starts soon.
Its game week! So that's healthy helpings of Evan Williams' "frat water" and plenty of beer to chase the chest hair wooing swill. There's no need to class it up beyond Wild Turkey as we show everyone why college football is God's gift to the south.
Its the first week of the season and if that doesn't make you stand up tall like a "wedding Richard" then you'll never get it up. The ACC has the honor of not only kicking off the season but also being in the nation's showcase game Saturday.
We're getting the podcast up and running again as the season starts and we'll also be cranking out the silly, serious and down right badass content that should make you wanna do something strange for some change.
Stick with me and I'll get you're mind right for the season, obviously Carolina news shall follow and peep your boy on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/michaelfelder
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