Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009

Closer look at ACC Atlantic

Head coach: Frank Spaziani (first season as a head coach).

2008 record: 9-5 (5-3 ACC).

Players to watch: RB Montel Harris (900 rushing yards, five touchdowns in 2008); WR Rich Gunnell (551 receiving yards, four touchdowns); C Matt Tennant.

Game of the year: Oct. 3 vs. Florida State. The Eagles face the team that was picked by ACC preseason media to win the division in a showdown that could quickly tell their fate.

Spaziani says: “There are a lot of positive things even though the problems are always there. Winning minimizes the problems and losing magnifies them but the problems are always there. We have to manage them and we will do the best we can.”

Ledger-Enquirer says: This offseason has been quite unkind to the Eagles. First, there was the firing of former head coach Jeff Jagodzinski in January — after reports surfaced that he was interested in an NFL coaching vacancy. Then, in May, the team learned that it would be without heart-and-soul leader and tough-nosed linebacker Mark Herzlich due to cancer. While new head coach Frank Spaziani stresses that he doesn’t want the college football world to pity his team, it’s hard not to.

Schedule: Sept. 5 vs. Northeastern; Sept. 12 vs. Kent State; Sept. 19 at Clemson; Sept. 26 vs. Wake Forest; Oct. 3 vs. Florida State; Oct. 10 at Virginia Tech; Oct. 17 vs. North Carolina State; Oct. 24 at Notre Dame; Oct. 31 vs. Central Michigan; Nov. 14 at Virginia; Nov. 21 vs. North Carolina; Nov. 28 at Maryland.

Head coach: Dabo Swinney (4-3 in one season as interim head coach; entering first full season as head coach).

2008 record: 7-6 (4-4 ACC).

Players to watch: RB C.J. Spiller (629 rushing yards, seven touchdowns in 2008); QB Willy Korn (216 passing yards, 68.4 percent completion rating); WR Jacoby Ford (four touchdowns); LB Brandon Maye (87 total tackles).

Game of the year: Sept. 10 at Georgia Tech. The last time Clemson played at Georgia Tech, the Tigers lost. They’re also seeking revenge after dropping a close one to the Yellow Jackets in Death Valley last season. The 21-17 loss came in Swinney’s first game as interim head coach.

Swinney says: “We’ve got to sustain blocks better. And that’s not just inside, that’s out on the perimeter; everywhere. It’s everybody holding on to their block just a little bit longer. Because the thing is, you got a guy like Spiller, you ain’t got to block them long.”

Ledger-Enquirer says: In Swinney’s first full season, expect to see a much more exciting team. After complications with the midseason firing of former coach Tommy Bowden, as well as the season-opening loss to Alabama on national television at the Georgia Dome, the Tigers never jelled and had a disastrous season.

Schedule: Sept. 5 vs. Middle Tennessee; Sept at Georgia Tech; Sept. 19 vs. Boston College; Sept. 26 vs. TCU; Oct. 3 at Maryland; Oct. 17 vs. Wake Forest; Oct. 24 at Miami; Oct. 31 vs. Coastal Carolina; Nov. 7 vs. Florida State; Nov. 14 at North Carolina State; Nov. 21 vs. Virginia; Nov. 28 at South Carolina.