The Crippler's Preseason Take on the 2001 Atlantic Coast Conference Football Season





TEAM BY TEAM BREAKDOWN IN ORDER OF PREDICTED FINISH

1. Florida State - Will this finally be the year Bobby Bowden releases his stranglehold on the rest of the ACC? Well, if you believe the talk around the conference, this year will be the rest of the conference's best chance to take the Noles down. Now, will it happen? That's a whole different ball game. FSU does have some weaknesses. Who will play QB, Rix or Boldin, and who will they throw to and who will carry the load at RB? All of the questions aside, FSU still has one of the nation's best defenses and that will be enough to get them back into the BCS but I do see the Noles losing a couple of games this year. Unfortunately for the rest of the ACC, they won't be to anyone outside the state of Florida.

2. Georgia Tech - Georgia Tech returns almost everyone from last year's conference runner-up team and all the talk in Atlanta is about beating Florida State. The Jackets can do it. I think they are the most talented team in the ACC with Godsey, Burns, Campbell and a stellar defense almost completely in tact from last year. Unfortunately for Tech, they travel to Tallahassee. Sorry, no dice. If the game was in Atlanta, the Jackets take it but they won't win in Bobby's backyard. That will be Tech's only loss but it will keep the ACC Championship in Tallahassee yet again.

3. Clemson - Offense is the name of the game in Clemson as the Tigers have plenty of it. Heisman candidate Woody Dantzler returns to take a shot at being the only player ever to amass 2,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing. Barring injury, he will get the rushing yards easily as some of the weaker defenses in the conference simply can't match his speed and his ability to dodge tackles. The passing yards will be harder to get. The Tigers lost go-to receiver Rod Gardner from last year and have no proven receiver returning. If one of the returning receivers or one of the much heralded freshman step up and become the big play receiver Gardner was, watch out because the Tigers will score, score and score again.

4. North Carolina State - Philip Rivers returns to continue his assault on the Wolfpack record books and despite losing Koren Robinson to the NFL, he has plenty of offensive weapons at his disposal. A solid, yet unspectacular group of receivers return and RB Ray Robinson returns to man the backfield for the Pack. The defense should be solid and I expect the Pack to challenge Clemson for third place in the conference this year but road games at Florida State and Georgia Tech will keep them just a tick below the upper echelon.

5. North Carolina - You have to admire UNC's scheduling, brutal as it may be. The Heels are proving they will not dodge anybody and even though that will not translate into many wins on the field, it will make them a better team and help prepare them for conference play. If Ron Curry can stay healthy, he is one of the most exciting players in the league but that is a big IF and the Heels deperately need him to be healthy cuz there isn't much offense past his playmaking ability. The defense begins and ends with Julius Peppers, who had more sacks than anyone last season. He will anchor the defensive line and will give opposing QBs nightmares for weeks but the out of conference games against Oklahoma, Texas and East Carolina will most likely keep the Heels home for Christmas this year.

6. Virginia - George Welsh is out at UVa and Al Groh is in. Groh can be very successful at Virginia, just don't expect miracles right away. The Cavs will rely heavily on senior RB Antoine Womack for the bulk of their offense and he can carry them into a bowl game, provided he keeps his head on straight. Womack has had any number of problems that have kept him from reaching his full potential but the coaches say he is focused and ready for his senior season, which is good news for Virginia faithful cuz the rest of the team is thin.

7. Wake Forest - Wake Forest is another one of those middle of the pack ACC teams that you could put into a hat and draw out and one will not be that much better than the other. The Deacs are not as talented as NC State but not nearly as bad as Duke. What does this mean for Wake fans? Well, it means another mediocre season but I do see them improving upon last year's 2-win campaign and I really think RB Tarance Williams can be a very good player but Wake is nowhere near ready to take the next step to bowl contention.

8. Maryland - If Maryland was going to make any noise in the ACC, it would have happened last year with Lamont Jordan in the backfield. Now, that he's gone, so are the Terps chances of postseason but look on the bright side Maryland fans, you now have a head coach who, if given the time, can make Maryland a force. Friedgen will implement an up-tempo offense that has been lacking in College Park and I do expect Maryland to be competitive...next year. This year will be more of the usual from Maryland but look out once Friedgen starts to get his kinds of players in the system.

9. Duke - Can Duke's football program get any worse? Not only are the Devils coming off a winless 2001 season but they have to open 2001 against Florida State and then have a road game at Clemson in week 3. OUCH! If QB D Bryant can keep himself under control, he can be a very solid QB and Duke may actual win a game or two. Besides, what are the odds of them losing all 11 again this season? If they do, look on the bright side, basketball practice starts in just a couple of months.


The Crippler's Conference MVPs and All-ACC Selections


OFFENSIVE MVP: Woody Dantzler, senior QB Clemson

DEFENSIVE MVP: Julius Peppers, senior DE North Carolina

Offensive Team Defensive Team
QB - Woody Dantzler, Clemson DL - Julius Peppers, North Carolina
RB - Joe Burns, Georgia Tech DL - Greg Gathers, Georgia Tech
RB - Antoine Womack, Virginia DL - Nick Rogers, Georgia Tech
WR - Kelly Campbell, Georgia Tech DL - Darnell Dockett, Florida State
WR - Atrews Bell, Florida State LB - Levar Fisher, North Carolina State
TE - Willie Wright, North Carolina State LB - Chad Carson, Clemson
OL - Will Merritt, Clemson LB - Bradley Jennings, Florida State
OL - Brett Williams, Florida State CB - Errol Hood, North Carolina
OL - Montrae Holland, Florida State CB - Malcolm Tatum, Florida State
OL - Kyle Young, Clemson S - Chris Hope, Florida State
OL - Melvin Fowler, Maryland S - Jeremy Muyres, Georgia Tech
K - Jeff Reed, North Carolina P - Mike Abrams, Virginia
KR - Kelly Campbell, Georgia Tech



The Crippler says don't miss these ACC games!!


September 15 - Georgia Tech at Florida State
ACC Officials have to be kicking themselves for letting this game be so early in the schedule as if all goes as expected, the ACC crown will be virtually decided in this game. Georgia Tech has the horses to keep up with Florida State but do they have what it takes to beat the Noles in Tallahassee? We'll see but one thing is for sure, you do not want to miss this one.

September 29 - Clemson at Georgia Tech
What are the odds these two play a close game again this year? I'd say better than another 20 "reality" tv shows being introduced by the networks this year. Clemson and Georgia Tech have played several consecutive close games. Unfortunately for the Tigers, they havent won any of them. Clemson wil be looking for a little payback for Kerry Watkins diving TD catch with 8 seconds left last season that ended Clemson's hopes at a BCS bid. Can Clemson finally get over the hump in Atlanta? It doesnt get any better than a Godsey-Dantzler duel if you are an ACC fan.

October 11 - Maryland at Georgia Tech
Why is this a "can't miss game" you ask? Well, Georgia Tech will surely run all over Maryland but this is Ralph Friedgen's return to Atlanta and he just might have a trick or two up his sleeve. Probably not but it makes for a good storyline when an assistant takes a head coaching job and returns to play his former employer.

November 3 - Florida State at Clemson
If the ACC Championship is not determined on September 15, then it will be determined with this game. Bowden Bowl III. Daddy comes into Son's turf a little vulnerable this year. Woody's offensive explosion against FSU's stingy defense. Should be a good one. I don't expect last year's 54-7 rout but I'm still not sure Clemson has the depth to matchup with the Noles.


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