Sports

How Bad Is The ACC?

This website has been pretty harsh on the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). In fact in its formative years, we used to refer to it as the “Anybody Can Compete” conference. And just last month we referred to said “competition” derisively we wrote about “Wake Forest dry humping Maryland up and…

This website has been pretty harsh on the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). In fact in its formative years, we used to refer to it as the “Anybody Can Compete” conference. And just last month we referred to said “competition” derisively we wrote about “Wake Forest dry humping Maryland up and down the field in front of 35,000 not-so-screaming fans.”

Pretty funny, huh?

Sure … unless you’re an ACC fan. But the numbers don’t lie.

Like “7” – which is the number of consecutive Bowl Championship Series titles won by the mighty Southeastern Conference. The ACC has just one BCS title – and has recently been singled out as undeserving of its automatic BCS bowl slot. In fact it was thoroughly undeserving of that spot in 2012, when West Virginia rewrote the postseason record books with a 70-33 dismantling of Clemson.

This week ESPN’s Heather Dinich has a column chronicling the ACC’s difficulties – and the strides conference leaders say they have made in overcoming them. While her piece focuses mostly on the ACC’s big first week (North Carolina plays at No. 6 South Carolina, eighth-ranked Clemson hosts No. 5 Georgia and Virginia Tech goes up against top-ranked, two-time defending national champion Alabama), it also provides some historical context.

“Since 1953, in the history of the conference, the ACC has had only two seasons in which it finished with a winning record against nonconference opponents ranked in The Associated Press Top 25,” Dinich writes. “In each of the past three seasons, the ACC has won only two games against ranked nonconference opponents (2-11 in 2012, 2-8 in 2011 and 2-12 in 2010). The conference deserves credit for its aggressive scheduling, though, as nobody lines up against the SEC more than the ACC.”

Wait … “aggressive scheduling?” Last time we checked the ACC was preserving traditional rivalries, not so much scheduling aggressively. Oh, and speaking of rivalries, the conference got its hat handed to it last year on “Rivalry Weekend.” Don’t believe us? Ask Phil Steele …

The ACC’s best hope in 2013? Clemson. The Tigers have one of the best offenses in America – led by Heisman Trophy candidate Tajh Boyd. Thanks to Boyd’s heroics, Clemson earned a measure of respect for the ACC when it captured a thrilling come-from-behind victory over SEC powerhouse LSU in last year’s Chick-fil-A Bowl. A win over SEC powerhouse Georgia – which boasts its own Heisman candidate in first-team All-SEC quarterback Aaron Murray – will firmly establish Clemson as an “elite program.”

And give the ACC something to crow about for the first time in a long time …

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52 comments

Scrappy August 24, 2013 at 11:41 am

I sure hope North Carolina has something to “Crow” about this coming Thursday! That would be sweet!

I guess when you count the National Championships and Bowl wins won by ACC teams since 1953 it really drives home just how fucking sorry Carolina football has been for centuries. I guess thats all over now though? right?

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Frank Howard August 24, 2013 at 12:17 pm

Did you play football for me, boy, or for Danny? Jim Tatum @ Maryland, Bobby Ross @ Ga. Tech., or Bobby Bowden @ Florida St.?

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Jackie Chiles August 26, 2013 at 3:04 pm

North Carolina sucks like the rest of the A She She.

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La Gloria Cubana August 24, 2013 at 11:45 am

First of all, I’m a PROUD GAMECOCK. And yeah, I think the SEC pretty much rules. That said, as I’ve noted on here before, I could easily see the ACC being the 2nd best football conference in the USA. To me, the biggest thing holding them back is their divisional structure. If they’d simply throw all of their football talent – FSU, Clemson, Miami, VT, Louisville, GT, etc. – into a “southern” division, the enthusiasm for football in their conference – at least within such a Southern division – would take off and would immediately lead to top rate recruiting. Thankfully, the ACC is too stupid to figure this out and just dilutes their football talent with that Atlantic/Coastal nonsense.

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Tallaman August 26, 2013 at 10:16 am

As an FSU fan I totally agree. You gotta have some meaningful regular-season games and rivalries to get the fire going rather than water it all down with teams in areas that don’t care. North v South…I like it. Go Noles!

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BeaufortTiger August 24, 2013 at 12:28 pm

Yes, the ACC has aggressive scheduling. Clemson plays two major SEC teams (yes, go congratulate yourselves Cocks, you are finally a major team; enjoy it while it lasts). In the first month alone, UNC opens against USCe. Virginia Tech plays Alabama. Virginia plays BYU and Oregon. BC plays the real USC. Syracuse plays Penn State and Northwestern. Miami plays Florida.

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La Gloria Cubana August 24, 2013 at 12:38 pm

Sorry, but aggressive scheduling alone isn’t going to solve the weak image of the ACC. Only through consistently winning against such opponents – something that the ACC has struggled with for years – will the ACC begin to gain any respect. Your argument reminds me of when South Carolina was an independent years ago. Sure, we scheduled fantastic opponents (e.g. Notre Dame, USC, FSU) year in and year out.. to whom we promptly lost. Did nothing for us except waste time.

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but. August 25, 2013 at 1:22 pm

yes but to play a good opponent the ACC Has no choice but to go out of conference. If they don’t they will only be as strong as the Southern Conference or worse. So I guess your point collapsed on itself. Remember USC has the 14th ranked SOS while Clemson is only 55 (according to Phil Steele who thinks Tajh is a Heisman finalist) and if it weren’t for playing USC and UGA Clemsux would be out of the top 100.

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Squishy123 August 24, 2013 at 12:58 pm

So what’s worse, ACC football or SEC basketball?

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La Gloria Cubana August 24, 2013 at 1:17 pm

Without a doubt, ACC football.

SEC basketball has yielded 6 NCAA championships in the past 20 years (w/Kentucky winning as recently as 2012). Compared with the ACC’s 8.

Football? The SEC has won 9 NCAA championships in the past 20 years (and amazingly, the last 7). The ACC? Just 2.

In other words, case closed…

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CNSYD August 24, 2013 at 5:03 pm

There is no NCAA championship in FBS football.

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Dabo is Spurrier's Bitch August 24, 2013 at 1:44 pm

Squishy Wish not worth a Pissy doesn’t know the SEC basketball is still better than football in the ACC

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lawzoo August 25, 2013 at 12:06 pm

Uh, Wake Forest has a perfect record (1000.00% ) in ACC Championship
games.

Too bad they were upset in the BCS American or Federal Express Not Impress
Sour Orange Bowl .

But don’t count ’em Deacons out yet ! “If Bowman- Gray’s Rockin’don’t come Knockin’!”

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CNSYD August 25, 2013 at 2:20 pm

Interesting in that Wake hasn’t played in Bowman-Gray in decades.

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lawzoo August 25, 2013 at 3:27 pm

Gee I missed the Announcement ! How could that happen? I’m sure it was breaking news ! Did Wake move to the new DeaconDome?

Oh just insert whatever wherever for Bowman Gray.

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CNSYD August 25, 2013 at 4:55 pm

You are just displaying your ignorance of college football. If you would open your eyes, you would see that private schools who use and pay for their facilities tend to have smaller venues than “government-run” (to use Sic Willie’s favorite phrase) schools. The only exceptions are private schools that use city or pro team owned facilities, e.g. the real USC, Tulane, Miami, etc.

lawzoo August 25, 2013 at 5:31 pm

Ignorance of college football? Uh no. I am devoid of ignorance in that area. You seem to be humorless and state things that are
common knowledge like it’s a great revelation.
Gee Wake is private ? Uh yeah. So what? So is Duke.Both have
Furman-like stadiums. No big deal.

CNSYD August 25, 2013 at 6:11 pm

Your post was humorous? Appears to be more arrogance than humor. The point, which totally escapes your puerile brain, is that private schools who pay their own way tend to have smaller venues for sports. You want to ridicule them for it.

lawzoo August 26, 2013 at 9:32 am

Ridicule ? If you can’t have a sense of humor at least have a sense of perspective. There is no device that could accurately
determine how little I care about the name of Wake’s stadium.
Not concerned with how it’s funded or the size. My response
was to being “called out” for apparently misstating “Bowman-Gray” for whatever it is now(Groves??).

“Meanwhile in Syria chemical weapons……… “

but, August 26, 2013 at 10:10 am

Or Vanderbilt says hello, oh wait everyone already knew that?
Well they still say they shoulda woulda coulda had a bigger stadium

Squishy123 August 25, 2013 at 4:35 pm

So you’re saying Wake Forest is to football what USC is to law schools.

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Dabo is Spurrier's Bitch August 26, 2013 at 10:12 am

Squishy Wish not worth a Pissy talking all big with his degree from Phoenix University.

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allseeingeye August 26, 2013 at 6:07 pm

I have you pegged as a sore little man, not popular among your peers, with a serious need to be noticed. How’s your mom?

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RHood2 August 24, 2013 at 4:22 pm

Clemson doesn’t get that “come-from-behind” thriller against LSU if bonehead Les Miles doesn’t make a bonehead Les Miles decision. It was not talent of Clemson that won it. It was stupidity by the LSU coach.

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CNSYD August 24, 2013 at 4:29 pm

woulda, coulda , shoulda

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Scrappy August 24, 2013 at 5:43 pm

And IF y’all had something in your trophy case besides that 1969 ACC and a SEC east and some trophy that looks like a pizza you would have a reason to be so arrogant…………but you don’t. So before you say anything you can go ahead and shut the fuck up!

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9" August 24, 2013 at 6:43 pm

You need a spanking. You don’t like pizza? Liberal!

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historybuff August 26, 2013 at 10:09 am

Clemson has a losing football record vs : Georgia, Ga Tech, Florida, Fla State, Alabama, Auburn, Kentucky, Tennessee, Vandy, LSU, and Ole Miss. 1-1 vs Miss State. Nice.

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Norma Scok August 26, 2013 at 12:19 pm

And UCS is 3-12 vs Alabama, 7-13 vs Arkansas, 1-9-1 vs Auburn, 6-23-3 vs Florida, 15-42-2 vs Georgia, 15-7-1 vs Kentucky, 2-16-1 vs LSU, 7-8 vs Ole Miss, 8-6 vs Mississippi St., 6-22-2 vs Tennessee, and 17-4 vs Vanderbilt. That’s correct, Carolina leads the all-time series against 3 SEC teams…Kentucky, Miss St. and
Vanderbilt.

Buts just the SEC. UCS also sucks against the “easy” ACC as well: 40-65-4 vs Clemson, 17-24-3 vs Duke, 6-23-3 vs Florida, 15-42-2 vs Georgia, 9-11 vs Georgia Tech, 11-17 vs Maryland, 17-32-4 vs North Carolina, 3-16 vs Florida State, 6-22-2 vs Tennessee, 21-12-1 vs Virginia, and 34-20-2 vs Wake Forest. That’s correct, South Carolina leads the all-time series against 2 of these 11 teams…..Virginia and Wake Forest.

And Conferences? Well…UCS sucks aginst them, too: South Carolina is 156-173-15 vs the ACC, 4-7 vs the Big 12, 6-17 vs the Big East, 5-4 vs the Big Ten and 1-1 s Pac12.
What’s that about “losing” again?

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Ed August 26, 2013 at 2:15 pm

Thought this article was about the ACC and Clemson. Guess when you can’t defend your team you just attack someone else’s.

Anyway, the original post was dead-on. No other coach in college football has many as many stupid 4Q decisions as Less Miles. He is an idiot when it comes to the end of the game and had he not thrown the ball on 2nd and 3rd down, and stopped the clock for Clemson, LSU wins that game. Not that Clemson didn’t play well, but LSU lost that game. Plain and simple.

Norma Scok August 26, 2013 at 10:21 pm

I’m sure there is a star beside the “W” in the record books that denote that.

historybuff August 26, 2013 at 2:31 pm

Congratulations on your research project. That’s exactly my point. Carolina has a pretty poor overall football tradition. In fact, it’s terrible. So why crow about Clemson’s record against such a pitiful “rival”? All the Cocks can do is keep beating Clemson and see what happens. Talking to sad-sack Clemson fans these days is like listening to someone tell you how hot his grandmother was at 19. Probably true, but nobody cares.

Norma Scok August 26, 2013 at 11:08 pm

So are you a bigger UCS fan, or an SEC fan? Talking to cock lovers, I can’t tell.

I mean the ACC sucks, that’s no newsflash, is it? But I guess if all I had to fall back on were our fellow conference members records, I’d do that too.

teenie tiny man August 26, 2013 at 3:27 pm

thanks “tiny penis”, you made a point that wasn’t even brought up, but one more question, If Carolina sucks so bad, why cant you beat them anymore? What does that say about the state of Clemsux now? think about that tiny and get back to us

Norma Scok August 26, 2013 at 10:16 pm

You girls get really pissed when the truth is spoken.

historybuff August 26, 2013 at 4:48 pm

I had no idea Clemson’s record against the SEC was actually worse than Carolina’s. That’s hard to believe. We actually have winning records against Kentucky, Vandy, and Miss State? Clemson has a losing record versus ALL current SEC teams except Miss State,(1-1). You really do learn something new every day!

historybuff August 26, 2013 at 5:31 pm

I was reviewing your research and noticed two slight omissions. The Gamecocks have winning records vs NC State and VPI. Are they still in the ACC?

Norma Scok August 26, 2013 at 11:05 pm

You tell me; you started with the conference stats. Its not my fault that in 122 years of football UCS has sucked so much.

TontoBubbaGoldstein August 26, 2013 at 7:08 pm

17-24-3 vs Duke

clempigasssniffer August 26, 2013 at 9:34 pm

26-50-2 vs Ga. Tech. Not that it matters to an historian.

the boogieman August 26, 2013 at 4:00 pm

Finally beat us again before you run your fucking mouth dicknose!! remember you have nothing of real meaning in your trophy case either from the last 3 decades.
“well you see way back when we payed for a team we was good, but then they done caught us cheating, then they done brought in better teams to the conference that we made suck too” -All Tater fans say to each other

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Norma Scok August 26, 2013 at 11:11 pm

I’m sure “tater” (what the hell IS that?) fans say that ALL the time.

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Polyphemos August 24, 2013 at 6:51 pm

Clemson could easily play in the SEC. That said, Pride goeth before a fall, and I would be loathe to CROW about the Gamecocks just yet. However, I will be screaming my lungs out for my favorite team on Thursday, and hoping the Carolina Curse settles this year on the Tarheels.

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Mike at the Beach August 25, 2013 at 1:46 am

WV just scored again…

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Squishy123 August 26, 2013 at 5:38 pm

Did another former Gamecock commit suicide?

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Mike at the Beach August 26, 2013 at 10:40 pm

Sooooo… from a quick joke (a little tired, I know, but still makes me chuckle) to someone’s suicide? You really may be as sad and self-loathing as everyone else on here says you are. Cheer up, bro. We’re only kiddin’ around.

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Norma Scok August 26, 2013 at 11:21 pm

^^^Butthurt

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Mike at the Beach August 26, 2013 at 11:49 pm

Wow, really?! That is AWESOME. Maybe next time you can say that he “pwned” me, or maybe even throw in some OMG’s and LOL’s. You obviously don’t read much of the stuff he sends up from his mom’s basement!

Mike at the Beach August 25, 2013 at 1:46 am

WV just scored again…

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Jeffy01 August 25, 2013 at 11:05 am

One for the thumb

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cockey August 25, 2013 at 9:51 pm

How Bad Is The ACC?…Clemson’s in it. <"

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9" August 26, 2013 at 1:10 am

What is the Clemson player trying to do to that hot white guy?

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