Wake Forest Football

Let's begin the breakdown of the conferences by looking at the ACC. Each conference article will include its predicted standings, champion, a breakdown of each team, key players to watch, and big games to mark on your calendar.  Each team breakdown will include its projected record, schedule, returning starters, and a small outlook on each team.

ACC

This should be an interesting year for ACC football.  This will be the year that the ACC reasserts itself in the college football world, overtaking the Big Ten and possibly the Pac-10 in the conference standings.

This will be driven by the two powerhouses of the conference, Clemson and Virginia Tech, the reassertion of power by Florida State and Miami, the continued growth at Wake Forest, and the dark horse for the Coastal title, North Carolina.  All six of these teams will be ranked in the top 20 at some point this season, and possibly the top 15.

The ACC will overtake the Big East in the drama category, as several teams will scramble to win the Coastal division crown.  The Atlantic champion will be Clemson, followed closely by Wake Forest.  The Coastal champion will be North Carolina, followed by Virginia Tech and Miami.

However, each of these teams has holes to fill, and it will be interesting to see how these matchups play out this fall. 

Atlantic

1. Clemson: 10-2 (Offense 8, Defense 8, ST 2)

Clemson is returning several explosive starters on offense, including the RB threats of James Davis and C.J. Spiller, and QB Cullen Harper.  These three did not return because they would not have been picked in the NFL draft—they returned to bring an ACC Championship to Clemson, and possibly a National Title.

The problem I see with this team is the offensive line, where they have to replace four starters.  For this reason I see the Tigers losing their opener against Alabama.  It takes a few weeks of play for an offensive line to come together, and with them opening up against an improved Tide team in Atlanta, I don't see them gelling enough to stop Alabama's defense.

However, they have several games to get their act together afterward before what will be a great game in Winston-Salem against Wake Forest on Oct. 9.

Clemson will also have to replace two linebackers and a second-round CB.  However, Tommy Bowden's recruits such as Scotty Cooper should be able to fill these holes nicely.

But a Clemson schedule would not be complete without one letdown in the ACC, and that loss will come at the hands of the improved Florida State Seminoles on Nov. 8.  I see an ACC Championship and BCS bowl in the future of the Tigers—as long as they don't let Tommy coach too much.

Aug. 30 Alabama L           Oct. 18 Georgia Tech W

Sep. 6 Citadel W              Nov. 1 @ Boston College W

Sep. 13 NC State W          Nov. 8 @ Florida State L

Sep. 20 SC State W          Nov. 15 Duke W

Sep. 27 Maryland W          Nov. 22 @ Virginia W

Oct. 9 @ Wake Forest W    Nov. 29 South Carolina W

2. Wake Forest: 10-2 (Offense 5, Defense 9, ST 2)

Wake Forest will be led by their defense and QB Riley Skinner.  The Demon Deacons are returning nine players on defense, including All-ACC CB Alphonso Smith and second team LB Aaron Curry.  Look for these two to lead a stout defense as they attempt to return to the ACC Championship game this season.

Their season will hinge on their performance against Clemson at home.  This game will determine the winner of the Atlantic division.

Wake Forest will have to get over the loss of All-ACC center Steve Justice and WR Kenneth Moore to avoid going down in Tallahassee early in the season.  However, with Skinner returning along with RB Josh Adams, plus the emergence of RB Brandon Pendergrass, I look for Wake Forest to assemble its best team yet.

Wake Forest, like Clemson, will have to deal with the loss of four starters on the offensive line.  This could prove costly against FSU in their third game of the season.

This team will be helped by its clutch kicker Sam Swank in what looks to be a tight and exciting race in the ACC this season.

Aug. 30 @ Baylor W        Oct. 25 @ Miami (FL) L

Sept. 6 Mississippi W       Nov. 1 Duke W

Sept. 20 @ FSU W           Nov. 8 Virginia W

Sept. 27 Navy W              Nov. 15 NC State W

Oct. 9 Clemson L              Nov. 22 Boston College W

Oct. 18 @ Maryland W      Nov. 29 Vanderbilt W

3. Florida State: 9-3 (Offense 7, Defense 8, ST 1)

I am not an FSU fan, but I am really pumped up about this year's Seminole squad.  They return eight starters on a defense which could be one of the best defenses in the country, if not the best.

Jimbo Fisher will be in his second year as offensive coordinator, and first as head-coach-to-be.  Look for the offense to be more explosive this season, as Fisher will be able to concentrate on tooling an offense for only one QB.  The team will also become more accustomed to his playcalling and schemes.

FSU returns three offensive linemen, which is always a plus.  Hopefully they will be able to open up some holes for senior RB Antone Smith.  Last season FSU ranked eighth in the ACC in rushing offense, which is abysmal.

The major question mark for this team has to be the play of unproven senior QB Drew Weatherford.  He must be more consistent with his passing, and his TD total must go up for FSU to compete against Clemson, Virginia Tech, Miami, and Wake Forest.

This season will be a modest improvement over last season's seven wins, but the possibility is there for this team to win 10 games if Weatherford comes around.

Sept. 6 W. Carolina W         Oct. 25 Virginia Tech L

Sept. 13 Chattanooga W      Nov. 1 @ Georgia Tech W

Sept. 20 Wake Forest L        Nov. 8 Clemson W

Sept. 27 Colorado W            Nov. 15 Boston College W

Oct. 4 @ Miami(FL) W          Nov. 22 @ Maryland W

Oct. 16 @ NC State W          Nov. 29 Florida L

4. Boston College: 6-6 (Offense 6, Defense 4, ST 1)

Boston College lost their QB, RB, top WR, two OLs, DE, S, and a CB.  That's the bad news.  The good news is that they should be able to scrape together enough wins to break even.

Fifth-year senior Chris Crane has to play well and find some new targets to win on the road against NC State, and at home against Maryland and Georgia Tech.  Boston College will not be the team that it was last season, of course.  However, look for the same mentality to be there, unlike other schools that are breaking in a new offense (GT), or have coaches on the hot seat if they don't perform to expectations (Maryland).

BC will play conservative this season as they attempt to find new playmakers.  Their biggest game will be the Georgia Tech game.  This game will be a good indicator of what to expect the rest of the season from Boston College and will be an early test of the team's ability.  If they do not win this game, they will only win four all year.

Aug. 30 @ Kent St. W           Oct. 25 @ North Carolina L

Sept. 6 Georgia Tech W         Nov. 1 Clemson L

Sept. 20 UCF W                    Nov. 8 Notre Dame L

Sept. 27 Rhode Island W       Nov. 15 @ FSU L

Oct. 4 @ NC State W             Nov. 22 Wake Forest L

Oct. 18 Virginia Tech L           Nov. 29 Maryland W

5. NC State: 4-8 (Offense 6, Defense 4, ST 1)

NC State has chosen a terrible year to only return eleven starters and play North Carolina and Miami from the Coastal division.  NC State may be headed in the right direction ,but so is the rest of the conference, and teams like Miami and UNC are headed there a lot faster than the Wolfpack.

Their running game was abysmal last year, ranking 11th in the ACC.  Hopefully the offensive line will come together and they will improve that stat this season.  However, considering the powerful defenses opposing them in the division, I do not see this happening.

Daniel Evans needs to improve.  He is emulating Brett Favre from two seasons ago—any year you throw more INTs than TDs is not a great year.  He needs to step it up a notch this season, or the Pack will find themselves sitting at home again come bowl time.

Another question mark for this questionable team is their defense.  They are only returning four starters on defense.  However, the defense was atrocious last season, ranking 11th in the ACC in total defense, so maybe that's a good thing.

There are way too many question marks on this team.  With this ACC schedule, they should consider themselves lucky to finish .500.

Aug. 28 @ S. Carolina L         Oct. 16 Florida St. L

Sept. 6 W&M W                     Oct. 25 @ Maryland W

Sept. 13 @ Clemson L            Nov. 8 @ Duke W

Sept. 20 East Carolina W        Nov. 15 Wake Forest L

Sept. 27 South Florida L         Nov. 22 @ North Carolina L

Oct. 4 Boston College L           Nov. 29 Miami (FL) L

6. Maryland: 4-8 (Offense 8, Defense 5, ST 2)

Ralph Friedgen may very well be parting ways with Maryland after this season.  Losing records will not cut it for someone who is getting paid so much to put an offensive juggernaut out on the field.

This team will be helped by its new offensive coordinator James Franklin.  They will also be helped by the return of four offensive linemen and one of the ACC's most dangerous players, WR Darrius Heyward-Bey.

However, there are holes to fill at RB and all over the defense, including LB, where All-ACC LB Erin Henderson's departure will be felt heavily.

It will be important for this team to win against NC State at home.  If not, I fear four losing seasons in five years may be too much for the Terrapins to swallow.  Remember, there are two things Maryland is good at: crab cakes and football.  We'll see about the latter.

Aug. 30 Delaware W           Oct. 18 Wake Forest L

Sept. 6 @ M. Tenn W          Oct. 25 NC State L

Sept. 13 California L           Nov. 6 @ Virginia Tech L

Sept. 20 E. Michigan W       Nov. 15 North Carolina L

Sept. 27 @ Clemson L         Nov. 22 Florida St. L

Oct. 4 @ Virginia W             Nov. 29 @ Boston College L

Coastal

1. North Carolina: 10-2 (Offense 10, Defense 8, ST 1)

This is my dark horse pick in the ACC, and I am going to ride them until they give out on me.  That may come very soon, because they play Virginia Tech and Miami back to back, on Sep. 20 and 27 respectively.  If they don't break even, they can kiss their title hopes goodbye.

However, I do not believe that will happen for a couple of reasons.  There is this coach named Butch Davis.  I don't know if you've heard of him, but he's a decent college coach and a decent recruiter (sarcasm).

This team will be the most improved team in the nation aside from Notre Dame.  They have incredible talent at their skill positions.  Look for QB T.J. Yates to break his own school passing records this season.  UNC will reap the fortunes of other teams in their division having down years and having to fill voids on their rosters (VT).

One key area where Carolina lacks athletic ability is on defense.  While they have eight returning starters, it will be imperative for them to step up this season.  Quan Sturdivant will need to step up and become the leader on the defense for this team to win the Coastal.

Look for them to benefit from a weak second-half schedule if they can get through Virginia Tech and Miami.

Aug. 30 McNeese State W      Oct. 18 @ Virginia W

Sept. 11 @ Rutgers W           Oct. 25 Boston College W

Sept. 20 Virginia Tech W        Nov. 8 Georgia Tech W

Sept. 27 @ Miami (FL) L         Nov. 15 @ Maryland W

Oct. 4 UConn W                     Nov. 22 NC State W

Oct. 11 Notre Dame L             Nov. 29 Duke W

2. Virginia Tech: 10-2 (Offense 6, Defense 4, ST 1)

A lot of key players are gone from last year, including leading rusher Brandon Ore, whose presence will be deeply missed.  Two redshirt freshmen will attempt to fill his shoes this season.

The Hokies' top four WRs are also gone, and Sean Glennon will need to find some new targets if he is to stop defenses from keying on the running game and putting eight to nine guys in the box.  Their offense will be a work in progress.

Another downer for the Hokies this season is their road schedule.  They travel to ECU, UNC, Nebraska, BC, FSU, and Miami.  They should win two of those contests handily.  However, they will be doing good to break even in the other four, especially the back to back road games at UNC and Nebraska.

The one shining light for the Hokies will be their defensive backs, and as always, their special teams.  They return two All-ACC candidates at CB and S.  These two have the ability and leadership skills to hold the line on the defense while the defensive front comes together.  They will be in a difficult position against the triple option threat of Georgia Tech early in the season.

Aug. 30 @ E. Carolina W        Oct. 18 @ Boston College W

Sept. 6 Furman W                 Oct. 25 @ Florida St. W

Sept. 13 Georgia Tech W        Nov. 6 Maryland W

Sept. 20 @ N. Carolina L        Nov. 13 @ Miami (FL) W

Sept. 27 @ Nebraska L           Nov. 22 Duke W

Oct. 4 W. Kentucky W            Nov. 29 Virginia W

3. Miami: 9-3 (Offense 5, Defense 6, ST 1)

Miami had a dismal season last year.  I hope the ACC got their licks in while they could, because the U is on its way back.  Miami will benefit from a weak division, just as the aforementioned teams will.

Look for the tandem of Gary Cooper and Javarris James to carry the offense while Miami attempts to find the right fit at QB between two freshmen, as well as targets for them.  They have two tackles which should anchor their offensive line, including All-American candidate Jason Fox, which will help the running game and hopefully give the QBs some confidence.

The Hurricanes' LBs will be their strength on defense, as two outstanding freshman look to pitch in on an already outstanding LB corps.  This program will not be 5-7 again this season—they will have the chance to prove that to everyone early on in the Swamp on Sep. 6.

Aug. 28 Charleston So. W         Oct. 18 @ Duke W

Sept. 6 @ Florida L                  Oct. 25 Wake Forest W

Sept. 20 @ Texas A&M W         Nov. 1 @ Virginia W

Sept. 27 North Carolina W        Nov. 13 Virginia Tech L

Oct. 4 Florida St. L                  Nov. 20 @ Georgia Tech W

Oct. 11 UCF W                        Nov. 29 @ NC State W

4. Virginia: 5-7 (Offense 6, Defense 5, ST 0)

Gone from last year's 9-4 team are two first-rounders (DE Chris Long and G Branden Albert) and two more for academic reasons (DE Jeffrey Fitzgerald and QB Jameel Sewell).

The Cavaliers will go into the fall without a clear number one QB, which always is a cause for concern.  However, they will be helped by the returns of T Eugene Monroe, RB Cedric Peerman, and WR Kevin Ogletree as they come back from injury.

Their LBs will attempt to fill the leadership void left by Long, but that is a tough job to fill.

With the exception of USC, this season opens very well for the Cavs.  I wish the same could be said for their last six games.

An important gauge for this team's season will be the UConn game on Sep. 13.  If they are able to defeat UConn, they could possibly get to six wins.  If not, it will be a long season to be a Virginia fan.

Aug. 30 USC L               Oct. 18 North Carolina L

Sept. 6 Richmond W       Oct. 25 @ Georgia Tech L

Sept. 13 @ UConn W      Nov. 1 Miami (FL) L

Sept. 20 @ Duke W        Nov. 8 @ Wake Forest L

Oct. 4 Maryland W          Nov. 22 Clemson L

Oct. 11 E. Carolina W      Nov. 29 @ Virginia Tech L

5. Georgia Tech: 4-8 (Offense 5, Defense 4, ST 0)

Oh, the team I love to hate, with the coach I completely adore.  Coach Paul Johnson will lead Tech to an ACC title and a BCS bowl.  However, it will not come for at least the next three years.

Georgia Tech has too many things going against it this season.  They return only nine starters and are implementing a completely new offense with players who were not recruited to play in this type of offense.

Everyone wants to know if Tech is still going to throw the ball, and Johnson impressively showed off how Josh Nesbitt can gun it 60 yards in spring practice.  However, he has no targets.  Also, his defense is returning starters on the front line, but only two at LB and in the secondary.

Remember that Jacksonville St. is where former LSU QB Ryan Perrilloux found a home.  It could be a long day for the Jackets if they can't find some players on defense.  Also, their schedule is atrocious with all the improvements in the conference.

Aug. 28 Jacksonville St. W         Oct. 18 @ Clemson L

Sept. 6 @ Boston Col. L             Oct. 25 Virginia W

Sept. 13 @ VA Tech L                Nov. 1 Florida St. L

Sept. 20 Miss. St. L                   Nov. 8 @ North Carolina L

Oct. 4 Duke W                          Nov. 20 Miami (FL) L

Oct. 11 Gardner-Webb W           Nov. 29 @ Georgia L

6. Duke: 2-10 (Offense 7, Defense 10, ST 2)

Duke will remain a bottom feeder for at least the next two years, but these other teams need to take notice that David Cutcliffe's team will not remain there.  They are beginning to get the athletes in place, and the current players in shape, to play an SEC brand of football in the ACC.

If a team does not prepare for this Blue Devil team, they will stumble and maybe even fall once or twice.  However, I don't see that occurring until Cutcliffe gets more of his type of players at Duke.  They do return nineteen starters off a team that finished 1-10 last season.

Look for the Blue Devils to make some noise against Virginia, Vanderbilt, and NC State.  Cutcliffe may only win two games in his first year at Duke, but it could be three or four depending on how this team responds.

Aug. 30 James Madison W      Oct. 25 @ Vanderbilt W

Sept. 6 Northwestern L          Nov. 1 @ Wake Forest L

Sept. 13 Navy L                    Nov. 8 NC State L

Sept. 20 Virginia L                Nov. 15 @ Clemson L

Oct. 4 @ Georgia Tech L        Nov. 22 @ Virginia Tech L

Oct. 18 Miami (FL) L              Nov. 29 North Carolina L

Key Players

Offense

1. James Davis, RB, Clemson

2. C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson

3. Riley Skinner, QB, Wake Forest

4. Jason Fox, T, Miami

5. Preston Parker, WR, FSU

Defense

1. Victor Harris, CB, Virginia Tech

2. Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech

3. Myron Rolle, SS, FSU

4. Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest

5. Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest

Games to Watch

Sep. 20 Wake Forest @ Florida St.

Sep. 20 Virginia Tech @ North Carolina

Oct. 9 Clemson @ Wake Forest

Nov. 8 Clemson @ Florida St.

Nov. 13 Virginia Tech @ Miami

These five games will determine the winners of each division.  They will also show whether Miami and FSU have made it back to the top of the league, and if North Carolina truly is a contender in the conference race.

It could be said that 2007 was a down year for the ACC, as only Wake Forest and Boston College went on to win their postseason contests. Yet, there were signs for optimism even if the ACC is 1-9 in all-time in BCS bowl games. 

Boston College, Virginia and North Carolina all seem to be programs on the rise that could help bolster the overall strength of the conference.  Even Duke grabbed a few headlines in the off season that didn't involve Coach K or stripper scandals.  Will 2008 be the year that the ACC starts flexing its muscle or will it remain just a less criticized version of the Big East?

ATLANTIC

1. Wake Forest- Wake Forest ended last season on a high note by beating UConn in its postseason bowl game after winning the ACC the year before.  Riley Skinner returns at quarterback and could have a good chance at being the standout quarterback in the ACC this season. The Deacons also return their leading rusher in Josh Adams, but will have to find a way to replace top receiver Kenneth Moore.  Wake will benefit from favorable scheduling that exempts them from facing the Hokies, and setting up face offs with Clemson (Thursday night game) and Boston College at home. 
2. Boston College- Many people will be doubting the Eagles as they look to replace the greatest thing to happen to Chestnut Hill since Doug Flutie and Catholicism.  The Eagles will also have to replace defensive stalwarts Jamie Silva, JoLonn Dunbar and Dejaun Tribble. Yet, Brian Toal and B.J. Raji will return this season to the defense and new quarterback Chris Crane performed well in spring football.  Top recruit Josh Haden will lead the back by committee.  The Eagles may not have the same magical run as last year but their recent string of bowl victories is hard to ignore.  It should be another good year for the ACC's distant cousin. 
3. Clemson- The Tigers are always a trendy pick to shoot up the ACC standings each year, yet they always fall short.  Yet, these constant failures were enough to warrant a hefty contract extension for Tommy Bowden.  Something tells me with a different last name, his run may have ended in Clemson a year or two ago.  The Tigers do return 15 of their 22 starters but will have to replace four starters on the offensive line including four year starter and All-American tackle Barry Richardson.  Clemson will be returning 1,000 yard rusher James Davis and 1,000 yard receiver Aaron Kelly.  If the offensive line shapes up, this could be one of the most explosive offenses in the ACC, well at least until that end of season collapse. 
4. Florida State- It will be tough for Florida State to get going this year, figuring they face a myriad of suspensions to open the season.  It will be Drew Weatherford's last chance to turn it around this season as his stay at FSU has mirrored Chris Wienke's pro career more so than his collegiate one.  Leading rusher Antone Smith returns as well as standouts cornerback Myron Rolle and reciever Greg Carr.  The Seminoles should continue their mercurial ways and find themselves sitting right around .500 come bowl season. 
5. NC State- The traitor Tom O'Brien begins his second season at the helm of the Wolfpack.  His first one was mostly something to forget, as the team struggled throughout.  However, they were a very young team which makes them a likely candidate to be this year's sexy upstart team.  Yet, I still don't see them making the leap.  Daniel Evans returns at quarterback, but he is far from a sure thing even to retain the starting job.  Tom O'Brien has done a nice job recruiting but the season really hinges on the production of returning starters TE Anthony Hill and TB Andre Brown to lead the rest of the 'Pack. 
6. Maryland- It will be hard to replace the formidable running tandem of Lance Ball and Keon Lattimore, which could cause the Terps to struggle all season long; losing LB Erin Henderson only adds insult to injury.  The passing attack should be the strength of the team as Darrius Heyward-Bey brings his NFL skill set back to College Park.  Unless the landscape in Maryland shapes up in a hurry the season should mostly proceed at a Terrapin pace all season long. 

A special thanks to Adam Nettina for keeping this blog afloat for the past few weeks. Even though he has a strange infatuation with Phil Steele, he does great work and is a big asset to In The Bleachers. You will see Adam hopefully throughout the offseason and into next season.

I apologize for my lack of writing, the NHL Playoffs have been keeping my mind off of college football, but I am re-energized and ready to start talking more about the 2008 season.

My favorite position to analyze is the quarterback; they are the ones that are either the heroes or the goats of the game. If a quarterback is lucky enough to start as a sophomore or freshman, they are given a little more leeway since they are younger and are more prone to mistakes.

But what makes them an elite quarterback is their ability to take the “next step” to that higher level. I have identified seven quarterbacks that have the talent, started early, and now it is time for them to take the next step.

In 2006, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons were the feel good Cinderella story of the year and one of the big reasons why was the play of their freshman quarterback Riley Skinner. Skinner had a good year as freshman quarterback throwing for over 2000 yards with 9 touchdowns and only 5 interceptions.

In his second year, his passing yards went up a little, as did his completion percentage, but his interceptions went up to 13, and he missed two games in the 2007 season. He did have 12 touchdown passes, but you always want your QB to have more passing touchdowns than interceptions. For Skinner to make that next step, he has to improve on those interception numbers and not turn the ball over as much.

The next person on my list, might be a bit of a surprise, but if you look at his play from one season to the next you will understand why he is on it. Colt McCoy had a stellar freshman season with the Longhorns, which landed him on many lists for Heisman hopefuls in early 2007.

But McCoy’s play early on in 2007 was very much less than stellar. In his first 5 games against less than average opponents, McCoy threw eight touchdown passes and nine interceptions. He ended the season with 22 and 18, and with a lower completion percentage than the year before.

With the losses in the skill positions on offense, the pressure is going to be even greater on McCoy to protect the ball and produce points. So we should find out early if Texas will get back the McCoy of his freshman year or not.

Matt Grothe has been a big pain in the neck to Big East coaches his first two years at South Florida. Each of his first two seasons he has hovered around the 1 to 1 touchdown to interception ratio, which as I stated earlier must improve for him to become elite, but also Grothe disappeared down the stretch for the Bulls in the later half of 2007.

Teams have focused on him and now it is up to the Bulls coaching staff to become creative and find ways for Grothe to exploit opposing defenses. USF has the chance to vault to the top of the Big East, but the Bulls will only go as far as the arm, and legs of Matt Grothe take them.

Some call him the savior, some call him the second coming of Ron Paulus, but any way you put it Notre Dame is excited to have Jimmy Clausen under center. I will be honest here, I was not a big Clausen fan, but he did well in his first season under center considering the fact that Notre Dame had no rushing game and their offensive line had more holes in it than a cheese grater.

But as we all know, Domer fans are not patient, they want results now. Hopes are high for Clausen after his lack luster performance (10-of-27 passing for 183 yards) in the Irish’s spring game. Clausen has a strong arm and the toughness to be a good quarterback, but whether he takes that step up this year or next is another question. If the Irish are going to go bowling this year, it will be because of this man.

At 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, Jake Locker has a big frame which he needs to play quarterback the way he does. In his first season as Huskies quarterback, Locker threw for over 2000 yards and ran for over 900 more. The two glaring bad points with him are that his completion percentage was below 50% and he threw one more interception than touchdown.

Not bad at all for a freshman, so why is he on this list? Well his coach Tyrone Willingham, the guy who recruited Locker, is running on borrowed time. He needs to win now to keep his job for another season, and for that to happen Locker has to improve his offensive output, and decrease his turnovers. That is not going to be an easy task playing in the Pac 10, where the Huskies won two games last year, and four overall.

I save the best for last, well the quarterback with the best name. John Parker Wilson will be a three year starter when the 2008 season begins for the Crimson Tide. It will be his second year under Nick Saban. Unfortunately for him, he will no longer have his favorite target DJ Hall to throw to, but with the way the Tide have been recruiting, there will be some young freshman ready to step in.

The main problem with Parker Wilson is his consistency. He will go stretches of games where he is just plain lack luster, even against team where he should be padding his stats.  In the past two years, Alabama snuck into bowl games with a 6-6 record, and I don’t think Tide fans would be happy if they had anything less than 9 wins this year.

Parker Wilson is a senior now, the leader of the team. He needs to completed over 60% of his passes and keep his interceptions below the double digit mark. If he does that, you will see the Tide challenging for the top of the SEC West, if not, no New Year's Day bowl for Alabama.

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons have experienced gridiron success over the past two seasons that are unrivaled in program history. With twenty victories over two seasons and a conference title, the future is bright for Jim Grobe’s bunch.

With these achievements, however, come new expectations. No longer is a 6-6 record and a trip to Boise or San Francisco enough to have a successful season. 

This season provides another great opportunity for the Deacons to challenge for the ACC Title. The Deacons are a team already finding themselves in pre-season top 25 rankings that are coming out, and are considered by many to be one of the top three teams in the conference alongside Clemson and Virginia Tech.

The schedule is also favorable for the Deacons. The out-of-conference schedule is challenging (at Baylor, Ole Miss, Navy, and Vanderbilt), but the Deacons should be favored in all four.

Clemson and Boston College have to make the trek to Winston-Salem this season, with the former an ESPN Thursday night game, a scenario last season which saw Wake defeat Florida State.

The Deacons benefit from having many key pieces back from last year. Riley Skinner will be back for this third year of starting. The junior-to-be struggled with injuries early last season, but played well down the stretch.

Running back Josh Adams is back looking to improve upon a freshman year that saw him become the second Deacon in a row to win ACC Rookie of the Year. Joining him in the backfield is red-shirt freshman Brandon Pendergrass. The combination of the two in the backfield has Deacon fans salivating.

There will be holes at the receiver position and the offensive line. Kenny Moore has taken his game to the next level, and leaves behind a big hole. Moore set an ACC record for receptions in a season in 2007, and a young corps of receivers will have to combine their efforts to match it. Expect Demir Boldin and Chip Brinkman to start, with sophomore Jordan Williams to be a deep threat.

The defense is where the Deacons find their strength, however. With nine returning starters from a defense that not only was stingy, but scored eight touchdowns of their own, Wake should find themselves never blown out of a game.

Among the nine returning starters are cornerback Alphonso Smith and lineback Aaron Curry. The two had three interception returns for touchdowns each last season, and were both recently named to the Bronko Nagurski Watch List for 2008. Smith is one of the better corners in the country, and will find himself a 2009 NFL Draft pick.

Most importantly, Jim Grobe is back for another season as head coach. After flirting with the Arkansas job in December, Grobe decided he liked where he was. His recruiting philosophy has paid off, as each season the Deacs find themselves with stronger recruiting classes.

As composed, Wake Forest is a good enough team to win the conference.  here is not a team on the schedule that they cannot beat, though at the same time, there are plenty of games where not bringing their best will send them to defeat.

I fully expect the Deacons to improve on their nine wins from last season and find themselves ranked for most, if not all, of the 2008 season.

With Grobe at the helm, Wake Forest will remain in the national spotlight, and I predict will win another conference title in the next five seasons. The college football world should get used to “Little Old Wake Forest” putting up some big results.

After a slow first half start, the Demon Deacons found a way to turn everything around in the second half, scoring 24 unanswered points to beat the Connecticut Huskies 24-10.

Wake Forest scored on a long Josh Adams touchdown run of 38 yards, a 21 yard touchdown pass from Riley Skinner to John Tereshinski, a Sam Swank 42 yard field goal, and finally put the game out of reach with a nine yard touchdown run by senior Micah Andrews.

Except for one unfortunate fumble inside the five yard line, the second half was a thing of beauty for the Deacs. The defense, which only allowed a field goal in the first half (UConn's only TD was a punt return), played well all day long, and the offense began completing drives in the second half (which was the only thing that seemed to be missing in the first).

Although I was frustrated with the score at the half, I felt that Wake was definitely the better team on the field. Unlike UConn, Wake seemed capable of making big offensive plays, and I enjoyed seeing the Deacs stretch the field vertically today more than they have all season.

Nothing made me more happy than Micah Andrews getting to score a touchdown on the last play of his career. It's been a tough couple of years for Micah, and to see him go out on such a high note was really nice. Congrats to Micah on a great career at Wake—I wish him the best in whatever he does next (sounds like it will be something theatrical).

ACC Rookie of the Year Josh Adams struggled at times today, although the real issues seemed to be more a lack of holes than a lack of running prowess. He did finish with 81 yards on the ground, including one beautiful 38 yard touchdown run, and I know he will be a huge part of Wake's offense for at least two and hopefully three years to come.

Riley Skinner had a pretty solid day himself, completing 29 of 38 passes for 267 yards, the most he's had all season. His touchdown throw to Tereshinki was beautiful, and he should have had another to Kevin Marion.

One thing I love about our offense is that it allows for days like today where Riley finds 10 different receivers. Spreading the ball around like that really keeps a defense on its toes. Although the interception was not a particularly good throw, Skinner had a typically effective day, and once again proved that he's the man for the job here at Wake Forest. Hopefully the coaches will be more willing to continue throwing the ball down field next year after Riley and the offense's performance today.

Alphonso Smith moonlighted on the offensive side of the ball today and had three catches, one of which went for twelve yards. I don't know if this is something we'll see regularly next season, or if it was one of those Bowl Game Special type of moves, but I enjoyed seeing the coaching staff trying to find more ways to get him involved. Although he didn't add to his interception or TD totals today, he played a strong game, and I'm more than happy that we can expect to see him in Old Gold and Black one more time next year.

Kenny Moore also deserves recognition for his 11 catches today, which gives him the ACC record for most receptions in a season with 98. Congrats, Kenny, on a great record and an incredible senior season.

The defense played solidly as a whole, sacking Tyler Lorenzen twice and hurrying him on several other occasions. UConn picked up 115 rush yards, but considering that the rush is the strongest part of UConn's offense, I'd say that's a pretty good day. Stanley Arnoux played a great game, grabbing an interception on a tipped ball at a crucial point.

With the win, Wake improves to 9-4 for their 2007 campaign, and has now won twenty football games in the last two years. I know long time Wake Forest fans never thought they'd hear something like that, and it truly is a thing of beauty.

Coach Grobe looked characteristically stoic on the sidelines all day, and barely even cracked a smile until well after the game was over. He did a great job guiding the Deacs all season long, and it calms me greatly to be confident that he'll be back on the sidelines in 2008.

The published attendance of today's game was 53,126. I was hopeful that this number would end up being a little bit higher, but seeing the endzone parts of the upper deck made it clear that the game was nowhere near sold out.

Wake fans were definitely out in force, and several times the "Wake" "Forest" chant could be heard on TV. I will say that I think the MCCB makes a big mistake by not selling the midfield seats to the participating schools. Corporate sponsors who had those seats did not turn out in great numbers, and it was very strange to see the middle of the lower deck looking as spotty as did.

If Wake ends up playing in Charlotte in the future, I hope they fix this issue. Although there did seem to be a reasonably good UConn turnout, I can proudly say that the stadium definitely seemed dominated by Deacon fans.

That's all I've got for now. It was a great afternoon to be a Deacon fan—and this should leave a very nice taste in our mouths until next August rolls around. Who knows, if the cards fall the right way, we could end up in the top 25 when the final rankings are announced, which would certainly be a solid accomplishment.

I'm sure there will be some decent follow up over the next few days, but for now we should all jus enjoy a beautiful win.

Congratulations guys—you make Wake Forest fans everywhere proud to be Deacons!

Update: I somehow failed to mention Kenny Moore's record, so I fixed that. My apologies, Kenny.

Jim Grobe is one well respected man on Wake Forest's campus.

This morning, I received the following email from the Screamin' Demons coordinator:

"Deacs!!! If you love Coach Grobe and you want him to stay please tell as many people as you can to meet in front of Pruitt Football center today at 11am (aka NOW!!) and show Coach Grobe that this community loves him more than any money can buy (ahem Arkansas)!!!!!!

See you then!!! (Tell your friends!)"

Confusion surrounded this story. Sporting News said Grobe would coach at Arkansas, but then changed their story to "Grobe to Stay at Wake Forest."

Good news—everyone can let out a huge sigh of relief! The entire campus is happy that Grobe isn't going anywhere. After all, he's going to bring us lots of championships, championships, championships!

I'll try to restrain myself for now. After all, that Michigan job is still open.

Winter Meeting Update:

It's been a boring morning at the Winter Meetings in Nashville. Not too much has surfaced since the Andruw Jones signing late last night. Keep an eye out for updates, as I'll be reporting any big-time deals or free agent signings as soon as I get 'em, so you're in the loop.

And...football?

Yes, we'll have some Thursday night football tonight, with the Bears taking on the Redskins at 8 p.m. EST. Unfortunately, the game will be on the NFL Network so you probably won't have access to the "premium" channel. If it were my call, I'd make it standard with cable so everyone can enjoy the games and coverage, but in a way, it kind of destroys the purpose of having a weekday game.

According to pregame.com, the Redskins are favored to win by three points. Despite the spread, I think the Bears will come away with a victory in another very close game. After losing by one point to the Buffalo Bills Sunday (on a game winning field goal), the Redskins must be completely drained—physically and emotionally taxed. Look for them to give a good effort, but fall just short tonight.

There weren't too many games in the ACC this week, but there were a few exciting ones.  Many things were settled this week during ACC play and some things left us even more confused.  Here is a recap of week 9 of the college football season in the ACC:

#2 Bost College vs. #8 Virginia Tech

Ahh the Thursday night matchup that everyone was looking foreward to.  We would finally get to see if Boston College was a top notch program deserving the #2 spot, or the fraud that many people that they were.  Well the game was not pretty, but Boston College squeaked out a win in Blacksburg, 14-10.  This late into the season it is not about style points in college football, but getting the win and staying undefeated.  With Florida's loss against Georgia this weekend, Matt Ryan solidfied his top Heisman status, because while he may have had a terrible game this week, he lead his team to victory, and that is what it is all about.  Virginia Tech may not be as good as they once were, but a win in a hostile enviroment shows that Boston College is ready for the big time.

#21 Virginia vs. NC State

A surprise team coming out of the ACC this year has been Virginia, but NC State showed that they were not intimidated, playing possibly their best game of the season and winning 29-24.  Injuries and quarterbacking problems have hurt the Wolfpack this year, but a magnicient game from Daniel Evans-career high 347 passing yards and 3 touchdowns-helped the Pack get their first win in ACC play of the season.  While State looks to be moving upward, Virginia looks like they are falling at the same pace.  With one point victories over both Conneticut and Maryland, and a two point victory over Middle Tenn. State, the Cavaliers may not be the strong team they thought they were.  This game just shows that the ACC Coastal Division is up for grabs, and no one has a strangle hold on the division.

Clemson vs. Maryland

Earlier this season this would have been a huge matchup, but lately its just for positioning in the conference.   Clemson took this game big, 30-17, scoring 20 points in the second quarter alone.  James Davis ran for 129 yards and a touchdown for Clemson, made mistake after mistake, giving the ball away twice.  Clemson is one of those teams that compete year after year for an ACC title, and a matchup with BC in a few weeks may decide the Atlantic Divison in the long run.

Duke vs. Florida State

Florida State may be sliding in the minds of ACC fans over the past two years, but there was never any doubt in anyone's mind of who was going to win this game.  Duke is Duke, and even though earlier this season they snapped a losing streak of 20+ games, they better enjoy, because they will not see another one soon.  Florida State rolled up a season high 534 yards and 30 first downs, in a 25-6 blow out of the Blue Devils.  Florida State won't be compeating for an ACC title this year, but a loss against Duke would have dealt a devistating blow; luckily they won't have to deal with that stigma this season.

North Carolina vs. Wake Forest

And now for the game that I was most interesting in this weekend, my Tar Heels going into BB&T Stadium and taking on the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.  UNC outgained Wake in Total yards, rushing yards, passing yards, and kicking yards, but could not overcome pivitol mistakes, and were demolished by the Deacs 37-10.  I thought that UNC would play better after the bye week, but youth showed its ugly face against, and the Tar Heels just seemed out matched on the field.  Wake maintained their second place spot in the Atlantic Division, and UNC fell to fifth in the Coastal.  Butch Davis will have a good team in a few years, but now chalk this loss up to inexperience for the young Heels.

The BCS

The release of the first BCS standings has predictably rehashed the arguments we hear every year from all parties involved.

Here are my two cents on the contenders:

Ohio State is No. 1 in the country because they were the top ranked team in the preseason polls who have yet to lose a game.

They have played the weaker half of their schedule, and with games against Wisconsin, Penn State, and Michigan down the stretch, they can prove to the country they deserve to make the title game. These are three tough games, no matter how weak the Big Ten may be this season.

However, Ohio State is not the best team in the country. 

South Florida is a fantastic story. They are also a great team, with a great defense and a very good quarterback. They are well-coached and know how to win both at home and on the road. Their win over Auburn should silence the SEC critics, and the win over West Virginia stands tall.

South Florida wouldn't go undefeated in the SEC schedule, but they proved they can win on the road in the conference. They are not to be taken lightly, and if they go undefeated with wins over Rutgers, Louisville, and Cincinnati upcoming, they must make the title game.

Boston College has been up and down this season. Everyone says their best win is against Georgia Tech, but really it was against Wake Forest to open the season.

Matt Ryan is easily one of the top QBs in the country, and he will lead the Eagles down the stretch against Virginia Tech, Clemson, and the other ACC opponents. This team can win all those games and are better than most people think. 

I'm sick of hearing SEC fans complain about how their one-loss teams deserve to be in over undefeated teams from other conferences.

Yes, it's difficult to go undefeated in the SEC, but it's hard to go undefeated in every conference in college football. You need look no further than USC, California, Oklahoma, and West Virginia to see on any given day you can lose in your conference. 

Why should the SEC get an advantage over every other BCS conference in that respect? You want to tell me a one-loss LSU team is more deserving than a one-loss West Virginia team? I will accept the argument because both teams have lost, but for right now they need to accept they lost a game and other teams have not.

I don't want to hear the SEC is so much harder. The SEC is considered the best BCS conference, and has a great deal of exposure. They get the best recruits in the country year-in, year-out. If the advantages the SEC provides to its member schools isn't good enough, I encourage said school to start playing in the Sun Belt. The team can go undefeated, then argue its case.

Little Old Wake Forest

I know I am biased as a graduate, but it astounds me how little publicity Wake Forest gets. The team won the ACC last year, regardless of the strength of the conference. They had a fourth-quarter lead over Louisville in the Orange Bowl before losing a close game.

The team started 0-2 this season, with losses at Boston College and a home loss against Nebraska, a loss that looks worse every week, but a loss that occurred with Wake's starting quarterback out with injury.

Since then, Wake has won four straight, including conference victories over Maryland and Florida State, two teams still receiving more votes in the polls than the Deacs.  With a manageable schedule down the stretch, the Deacs can win 9-10 games again this season. 

After Rutgers had a great season last year, people knew Greg Schiano would have them on the national stage for a while. College football fans should get used to the fact that the Demon Deacons aren't going anywhere. Last season was not a one-shot deal.

Wake is one of a number of cases where the name on the front of the jersey and the logo on the helmet precedes the play on the field.

Quick Observations

-Let me be the next in the long line of people praising Mike Hart. This guy has done everything a team could ask of a player. He has been a leader on and off the field, and is the reason Michigan has won five straight games and controls their own destiny in the Big Ten.

-I'm not sure which one yet, but either Arizona State or Kansas is going to explode over the last half of the season. Both have a lot of talent and have been flying under the radar. Arizona State is a little better, but certainly has the harder schedule. Kansas can take advantage of a weaker Big 12 and doesn't have Texas or Oklahoma on the regular season schedule.

-There are still a handful of ACC teams that can win the conference. While BC is the top dog, Virginia Tech is slowly marching along, although they need need to improve offensively and are battling injuries. Virginia has yet to lose in conference play. Miami, Wake Forest, Maryland, and Clemson all have the ability to turn it on and will be ready to pounce if the division leaders start losing.

-In case you were too busy watching the NFL or MLB, the Boise State-Nevada game Sunday night was unbelievable. Two teams trading punches and fighting through four overtimes. If this were a BCS conference game, the media wouldn't stop talking about it for years.

-Colorado State coach Sunny Lubick might retire at the end of the season. The Rams have started 0-6 and have lost 13 straight.  If he does go, it is a big loss for both the Rams and college football as a whole. He has been a good coach and a good man, and has earned the respect of the fans of rival Colorado.

-Something tells me I'm not the only one who thinks the situation in Lincoln is going to get a lot worse before it gets better. The train is completely off the tracks at Nebraska and Bill Callahan won't get a chance to get it back on.

Wake Forest defeated No. 21 Florida State last night at BB&T Field.

ESPN called it an upset.

Not so fast, my friend.

The Demon Deacons received very little national attention until last night, when they played 60 minutes of great football to defeat a solid Florida State team.

True, Florida State's offense was questionable all game long, largely due to poor quarterback play by Xavier Lee and Drew Weatherford.

But the Wake defense played well, allowing only two big plays.

Has everyone forgotten that the Demon Deacons are the defending ACC champions?

It has been very difficult to figure out just how good this Deacons' squad is. A week after a near upset vs. Duke, they took control of the football last night and played a solid game.

Riley Skinner's mobility was on display, and his decision-making was spot-on.  The running game improved as the game went on, and, as stated before, the defense played exceptionally well.

After starting the season with losses to Boston College and Nebraska, the Demon Deacons are on a four-game winning streak, with victories over Army, Maryland, Duke, and now Florida State.

One thing we can almost all agree on is that head coach Jim Grobe is among the best coaches in the country.

Many Wake Forest students criticize Grobe for his ultraconservative playcalling and shotgun-draw plays, but there's no doubt that his offensive philosophy is effective. 

Sure, you'll never see a Hawaii-esque 60 points from Wake, but Grobe never calls any play that could kill his team's chances of winning a game.

As a student, I've had the opportunity to see every Deacons game this season, and I strongly believe that Wake Forest deserves to be ranked.

If Riley Skinner had remained in the game in Week One, Wake could easily have pulled off the upset in Chestnut Hill. With Skinner's intangibles and pure passing ability, Wake also could have defeated Nebraska in Week Two, where they only lost by a field goal.

Had Wake Forest won those two games, they would have been ranked higher than Florida State was last night—No. 21.

Therefore, I do not see the win over Florida State as an upset. If those two games had gone differently, Wake Forest would be getting more national attention than they are now.

With last night's victory, the Deacons served notice that they're still a force in the ACC—and will contend for a conference title again this season.

I expect to see a number in front of "Wake Forest" in the not-too-distant future...and when it does show up, be prepared for the hype to surge as it did in 2006.

So go ahead:

Jump on the bandwagon before it's too late.

Absent this week will be my predictions for this weekend’s ACC games. I’ve taken the week off because what has gone on this season in college football could best be described as uncontrolled insanity, and I am sick of being wrong.

If I had a ballot, my Top 10 this week would include Boston College, South Florida, and Hawaii, with Cincinnati and Missouri in the Top 15.

Not to discredit these teams in any way (they deserve their ranking in my opinion), but they are not what we consider to be Top 10 programs. They have won on the field, and similar to Wake Forest and Rutgers last season, we are starting to see these “Cinderella” stories captivate college football fans across the country.

The ACC has an unexpected team performing very well this season. As with the past couple of off-seasons, the big story in Charlottesville was whether Al Groh would survive the upcoming season. After a miserable opener against Wyoming - many thought he would not last the month of September - the Wahoos have not lost a game since, including victories over Georgia Tech and Pittsburgh.

Speaking of the Yellow Jackets, a promising start to the season has turned to a miserable conference performance, with losses to Boston College, Virginia, and Maryland. Once ranked, Jackets fans are restless, and the seat under Chan Gailey has gotten a little warmer.

Miami has had perhaps the most up-and-down season in the conference. A bad loss to Oklahoma, a statement win against Texas A&M, and now a puzzling defeat to North Carolina, who had not beaten an FBS school previously. I know, Butch Davis wanted a piece of the Canes, but the talent gap between the teams should have been way too much to overcome. 

North Carolina will savor this victory over Miami, and try to build on it in upcoming games.  Let’s not forget, the other Tar Heels victory this season is over James Madison, and there is a ton of inexperience all over the field for the Heels.

Duke has been a pleasant surprise this season, all things considered.  They have only one win, but have constantly been competitive and given themselves a chance to win games.  Confidence has to be growing in Durham, and I predict that before the season is over Duke will be a surprise victor over a team not named North Carolina.

Virginia Tech has been flying under the radar since their humiliating defeat at the hands of LSU. Three wins followed, but against poor competition and not in the typical Hokie manner, with small margins of victory and erratic play. Beamer Ball made its return this weekend, as three defensive/special teams touchdowns proved to be the difference against Clemson. 

Oh Clemson. When I wrote about their inconsistency last week, I was heavily criticized by the Tiger faithful, including one who told me to have a retraction ready for this past Saturday. Needless to say, Clemson might want to work a little more on special teams this week. QB Cullen Harper put up a lot of yards against Virginia Tech, but had to throw the ball 66 times. James Davis and CJ Spiller have largely been quiet this season after being so productive a season ago.

NC State has easily proven to be the weakest team in the conference. They still lack a victory against schools not named Wofford, and have been pretty much non-competitive in the conference schedule. Tom O’Brien has a lot of work to do to try and fix this team. 

Speaking of Tom O’Brien, Boston College is the class of the ACC this season. Three conference wins to open the season, and a month-long non-conference game slate before five difficult games to end the season.

This is a team that can run the table, as difficult a task as that will be. In every game they play, they will have the better quarterback and a very competitive defense. I would be surprised if they did not reach the ACC Championship game.

Maryland becomes the most interesting team in the conference based on their last three performances. I admit I left them for dead after their collapse at Wake Forest, but the Terps have picked themselves off the mat and started throwing punches that Rocky would be proud of. The road gets no easier, but Maryland has proven to be a resilient bunch that is capable of seriously just about anything, good or bad.

Florida State has also been quiet since a loss in their opener. TCertainly they have looked inconsistent, but the win over Colorado looks better today than it did when it happened, and a win over Nick Saban and Alabama doesn’t look too shabby. A workmanlike victory over NC State and the re-insertion of QB Xavier Lee leaves them with a revenge game at Wake Forest this week.

Speaking of the Deacons, the defending ACC champs should consider themselves pretty lucky right about now. They have not played a lot of great football, and have certainly played a lot of mediocre football. That said, with a lucky bounce here or there, they could be either 5-0 or 0-5, so a 3-2 mark is pretty fair.

With the exception of the last 16 minutes and overtime against Maryland, Wake has played better in their losses than their wins. With Riley Skinner playing, it is quite possible the Deacons would have defeated Nebraska, and played a better game against Army. Giving up 36 points to Duke was not a shining moment for the defense either.  Outside of Matt Ryan, Kenny Moore might be the most valuable player in the ACC this season. 

So, where does that leave the conference with half the season remaining? There are still far more questions than answers at this point.

What we do know is that Duke, UNC, and Georgia Tech will not win the Coastal Division. That leaves Miami, Virginia, and Virginia Tech to battle it out. Virginia is the underdog pick, but they do have to play both the Hurricanes and the Hokies. Virginia Tech is the favorite right now, but Miami will be interesting to watch, as how they bounce back after the upset at the hands of North Carolina will make or break the team.

It would seem Boston College will represent the Atlantic Division in the ACC Championship game, but realistically five teams still have a chance to win it.

BC has to go through Maryland, FSU, and Clemson in the last five weeks of the season. Wake will need some help to go along with better play. Maryland and FSU both have played well the last two weeks.

Clemson can never be discounted, either, since they occasionally go on five week runs where they look like LSU. Clemson also occasionally goes on five week runs where they look like Temple. I will not be surprised regardless of  what happens to them. It also makes them a scary team to play, and the hardest to predict. 

For now, I will stick to a Boston College-Virginia Tech matchup in the championship game, with 9 teams bowl eligible (Duke, UNC, and NC State being the exceptions). There could quite possibly be several teams in a logjam at the 6 and 7 win level, which would create quite the bowl scenario for the conference.

The only other predictable thing in the ACC right now is that neither you nor I have the least bit of a clue what will happen this weekend and for the rest of the season. Starting Thursday night, eight teams will race for the ACC title.

Grab a friend, grab a beer, strap yourself in, and enjoy the crazy wild ride to this season’s end.