Each week, I'll (hopefully) talk to a beat writer who covers Duke's opponent. Today we have Andy Bitter, who covers the Hokies for the Roanoke Times/Virginian-Pilot. Links to his work can be found here and check out his blog here. Andyis also on Twitter at @AndyBitterVT.
1. After last year's 7-6 campaign and near-losses to Conference USA's Marshall and East Carolina, many were declaring the end of the Frank Beamer era of dominance. Since then, though, the Hokies have gone 3-0 in conference play and risen to No. 16 in the AP Poll. Is everything back to normal in Blacksburg?
In a way, yes. The offense, at least since Michael Vick left Blacksburg, has never really been anything special. Even during the Tyrod Taylor years, Tech had some pretty statistically bad offenses. So the fact that Scot Loeffler's crew ranks 110th nationally in total yards isn't really too much of a departure from what the Hokies have been like in the past decade. But they're doing some things more effectively on offense. Quarterback Logan Thomas looks sharper, especially with his progressions and mechanics. The receivers are making plays. They're not making crippling turnovers like they were last year. In essence, they're doing just enough.
And just enough is more than enough for this defense, which is a vintage Bud Foster group, limiting the yards but also disrupting things by getting to the quarterback and forcing turnovers. Even the tight wins against Marshall and East Carolina -- who I think are actually pretty decent teams -- were how Virginia Tech normally wins games: lean on the defense and get enough offense to do the trick. It's been a successful formula for Beamer for the last 20-plus years. It makes sense that it's working again this season.
2. Last year's defense was a surprise disappointment, but this year's has been a pleasant surprise, ranking No. 2 in the country in total defense. Why is this year's group so much better?
If you ask Foster, he'll say experience and depth. The starting defensive line and inside linebackers have five seniors among them. The secondary has everyone, except for Antone Exum so far, back and in the same spot they were playing last year (they shuffled things around in the 2012 offseason). And on top of that experience, Tech doesn't drop off significantly when it gets to the backups, especially up front. The d-line goes about eight deep. It's good enough that the Hokies are trying to find a role for sophomore defensive end Dadi Nicolas, who had three sacks in a hybrid DE/OLB position against Pittsburgh.
The other big thing has been the true freshman cornerbacks, Kendall Fuller and Brandon Facyson. They've played well beyond their years, enough that the Hokies haven't had Exum, a second-team All-ACC performer last year, play in a game this season and they still rank third nationally in passing defense and interceptions. Fuller has been able to play both a regular cornerback spot and a nickelback position, which Tech has used the vast majority of the time (and will against Duke). Facyson has thrived when he's been in, with a team-high four picks (although he's dealing with a concussion this week). Last year, Tech didn't have anybody after Kyle Fuller and Antone Exum at corner. This year, they do.
3. If Duke is going to stay in this game, it's going to be because the offense is putting up points. Where is the weakest spot in the defense?
There aren't a ton of weaknesses, although I will say the Hokies have occasionally been vulnerable on passes across the middle. Safety Detrick Bonner hasn't had the most consistent season in pass coverage and has given up some yardage in one-on-one matchups across over the middle. Other than that, there aren't many chinks in the armor. The key is probably protection. The Hokies' pass defense has been good, but that's in large part thanks to the pressure the defensive line is putting on the quarterback. Duke will have to protect well and Anthony Boone will need to get rid of the ball quickly, because Virginia Tech's opponents haven't had a whole bunch of time to throw this year.
A mobile quarterback has a much better shot. Pitt's Tom Savage was a sitting duck a few weeks ago (Tech sacked him eight times and probably could have had 12), but Marshall's Rakeem Cato and North Carolina's Marquise Williams had some success moving around in the pocket and getting some decent yardage scrambling. It definitely gives the Hokies at least one more thing to think about.
4. Part of the reason the Hokies almost lost to C-USA teams was because of that anemic offense, led by the uneven performances of QB Logan Thomas. You look at the point totals from the three ACC wins - 17-10 over Georgia Tech, 27-17 over UNC and 19-9 over Pitt -- and they don't jump off the page. Has the offense improved of late, though?
I think it has, even though the running game has still been abysmal, one of the worst the Hokies have had under Beamer in fact. But Thomas has played better. In ACC play, he's completing 65 percent of his passes for 251 yards a game, with five touchdowns and no interceptions. He's thrown 109 straight passes without an interception, which is approaching his career-best streak. It's helped that the receivers, who had about 10 drops in the season-opening loss to Alabama, have come around, turning into viable options for Thomas to throw to. The offensive line has been OK at pass blocking but leaves plenty to be desired on the ground.
The Hokies aren't going to have an offense that goes up and down the field and put up great stats, but with a defense like they have, they don't really have to. So far, they've controlled the clock (36th nationally in time of possession) and haven't turned the ball over. Last year's team struggled with both of those things, and it stressed a defense that wasn't quite up to the task of carrying things. This year, Tech has that defense, so Beamer is content with winning ugly. The key is Thomas. If he's off, there aren't many players on the offense who can carry the day.
5. How and why is Cody Journell still the Hokies' kicker? He's 7-of-11 on field goal attempts this year and has missed at least one kick in the last four games he's lined up for a field goal (and he went 0-for-2 against ECU)?
Beamer seems to have a soft spot for Journell, who was the first scholarship kicker he's had straight out of high school since Shayne Graham and who has had some missteps -- an ugly breaking and entering arrest that led him to miss the '11 Sugar Bowl and a recent one-game suspension for a violation of team rules -- that most coaches wouldn't put up with.
On top of that, he was genuinely bad in the East Carolina game earlier this year. He technically only finished 0-for-2 on field goal attempts, but he also missed an extra point and had another field goal miss from a reasonable distance wiped out by a penalty. He was suspended for the Marshall game and has since been OK, although he has some strange misses. He was good from 39 at Georgia Tech but then had a dead pull from one of the hashes on a 25-yarder that would have put the game away. He went 4-for-5 with a career-long 48-yarder against Pittsburgh (earning ACC Specialist of the Week honors), but he also missed from 33.
Bottom line: he's a senior and Tech doesn't really have anybody else. Ethan Keyserling stepped in during Journell's suspension against Marshall and went 0-for-3 (although the weather was horrible that game). Journell is good enough to hit from 50, and he saved the Hokies' butt on three or four occasions last year, but I don't know if anyone in Blacksburg, outside of Beamer, is entirely comfortable whenever he's lining up for a kick.
Bonus: I was asked to do this after dropping the ball last weekend in Charlottesville: where are good breakfast spots in Blacksburg for the early arrives, and where should out-of-towners head to get dinner and a drink after the game?
I don't know of too many good breakfast spots. Don't get out that early too often. I think Lefty's Main Street Grille has a solid breakfast. Bull & Bones also has a breakfast, although I haven't sampled it yet.
As for afterward, both of those places are good dinner options too. Cabo Fish Taco is one of my personal favorites for lunch/dinner. I recommend the Soy Ginger Shrimp Tacos. Downtown, TOTS is probably the bar most people will suggest for post-game drinking (order a Rail). I'd also suggest Bull & Bones for drinking afterward. It's a little bit away from downtown and they brew their own beer.
Thanks to Andy for his time. Be sure to check Duke Now for more Duke football news.
- Laura Keeley
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Duke vs. Virginia Tech: Ask a Hokies’ beat writer
Friday, October 18, 2013
UNC coach Larry Fedora has difficulty explaining costly delay-of-game penalty
CHAPEL HILL — At the end of a confounding loss, the greatest question that surrounded North Carolina focused on its most confounding play: With three timeouts and with less than six minutes to play, how could the Tar Heels, inches away from a first down, take a costly delay of game penalty?
UNC allowed Miami to drive 90 yards to score the game-winning touchdown that gave the Hurricanes a 27-23 victory on Thursday night. The Tar Heels faltered in the red zone, and scored a touchdown on just one of their five trips inside Miami’s 20-yard line.
Amid all that went wrong, though, the delay of game penalty might have stood above the rest. Before it, UNC was preparing for a 3rd-and-inches play from its own 49-yard line. The Tar Heels needed less than a yard for a first down. Had they converted it, they likely could have burned at least another minute or two off the game clock.
Instead, the penalty moved UNC back five yards. Instead of a 3rd-and-inches, it was now a 3rd-and-5. And then it was 3rd-and-10, after Jon Heck, the freshman right tackle, committed a false start penalty. In the span of two whistles, UNC lost 10 yards without even taking a snap.
On the 3rd-and-10 play, Miami sacked UNC quarterback Bryn Renner and the Tar Heels punted, setting up the Hurricanes’ final drive. Had UNC called a timeout on 3rd-and-inches, maybe the game ends differently. Instead, the Tar Heels were left to wonder, again, what-if?
Larry Fedora, the UNC coach, afterward explained the delay penalty like this:
“I was hoping to pick up a first down,” he said. “And it was third and about one yard or less than a yard. We substituted and (the officials) felt like they needed to stand over the ball until we couldn’t snap it. So I’m not sure I still understand that yet. I’ll have to get an interpretation there. … That’s my fault.”
UNC made substitutions on the play, and Fedora said the officials told him that because of that substitution, Miami needed to be allowed three seconds to make its own substitutions.
“I thought there was a lot more than three seconds on the clock when we substituted,” he said. “Maybe there weren’t. I don’t know. I thought there was well over that.”
Either way, UNC had three timeouts left. There were less than six minutes left. It needed just inches. A quarterback sneak likely would have gotten the job done. The Tar Heels finished the game with 500 yards of offense, but they didn’t have an opportunity to get the one yard they needed most.
A screenshot that began circulating early Friday morning shows one of the officials standing over the ball with one second left on the play clock before the delay of game call. InsideCarolina.com posted the picture on its Twitter account, and the screenshot verifies Fedora’s explanation that an official was standing over the ball.
Even so, it doesn’t explain why UNC simply didn’t just call a timeout.
-- Andrew Carter
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
UNC football holds invite-a-professor-to-practice day
CHAPEL HILL -- North Carolina coach Larry Fedora on Wednesday night addressed his team after practice, like he usually does. Then he walked over to a group of UNC professors, who had gathered to watch the Tar Heels' practice as part of the football team's "invite a professor to practice" day.
This has become something of a tradition, Fedora said. Each player has an opportunity to invite one of their professors to watch UNC practice. A crowd of about 20 professors showed up on Wednesday. Tom Ross , the president of the University of North Carolina system, was among the attendees, though he arrived toward the end of practice.
Fedora said he held a similar event during his days as the head coach at Southern Miss. When Fedora arrived at UNC, he spoke of the importance of bridging the gap between academics and athletics. After a two-year investigation into impermissible benefits and academic fraud, the NCAA in March 2012 placed the UNC athletic department on probation, cut football scholarships and handed out a one-season postseason ban, which kept the Tar Heels out of the ACC championship game last season.
Since then, questions have been raised about how suspect classes in the Department of Afro- and African-American Studies helped keep UNC athletes eligible over a range of years.
Fedora has said that one of his goals is to work more closely with the academic side of the university. Which is part of the reason, he said, why professors were invited to practice on Wednesday. Fedora said when he greeted the professors after practice, many of them asked him questions - mostly about football.
"They had a lot of questions - why we were moving from where we were moving," Fedora said. "Who was on this field, who was on that field, why we play music. Those kinds of questions.
"And then it was just why we're doing this in the first place - to bridge the gap between academics and athletics that's on every campus everywhere in the country, and to try to get both sides more involved."
Fedora said the crowd of professors who came to practice on Wednesday was the largest yet. Kareem Martin , a senior defensive end, said he invited one of his policy professors from a 600-level class. The professor couldn't make it, though, Martin said.
Even so, Martin said the event allows professors to better understand the players' daily schedule, and the demands of practice.
"They only know us from the classroom, and I guess what they see on Saturday," Martin said. "So they don't see all the hard work that we put in. It's hard being a student-athlete - all the hours that we put in on the field and the practice fields, and in the classroom and study hall, and all.
"So it gives them a chance to see how hard we really work."
Fedora said the professors would receive a post-practice tour of the Loudermilk Center, which houses UNC's athletic academic support department. While professors received that tour, Fedora said the players would shower and then meet their professors for dinner in the team dining hall.
"I think the best part of it is that they actually sit down and they actually talk and communicate," Fedora said. "They find out about each other, and the player, the kid realizes that the professor is a normal person, and then I think the professor also finds out the kid's a normal person."
- Andrew Carter
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Q&A: UNC coach Larry Fedora speaks about SI report on Oklahoma State
CHAPEL HILL — Before becoming the head coach at North Carolina, Larry Fedora was the head coach at Southern Miss. And before that, he was the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma State, where he worked from 2005 through 2007.
That time period is right in the middle of one that is the focus of a lengthy Sports Illustrated investigation into the Oklahoma State football program. SI’s series, which is being released in installments, alleges that Oklahoma State players were paid, that they had coursework done for them and that drug use was rampant, among other things.
Fedora after UNC practice earlier Wednesday addressed the SI report. Here’s his Q-and-A with reporters:
Q: What has been your reaction to the Oklahoma State report in Sports Illustrated?
A: It was shocking when it came out. It was shocking to me. But I also understand it’s accusations and allegations. That’s what they are. They’re allegations. So whether or not there’s any truth to them or not, I don’t know, but I do believe this – I believe (Oklahoma State president) Burns Hargis, I believe (Oklahoma State athletic director) Mike Holder, I believe they will be aggressive and I think they’ll be transparent in their investigations. And I think if there is any wrongdoings, I have complete faith that they’ll get it straightened out and they’ll accept whatever’s coming to them and they’ll move on down the road.”
Q: During your years there did you see anything suspicious or anything that raised concerns?
A: Nothing. And let me tell you – I’ll tell you this. There was no doubt on my mind and every guy on that staff that it was clear from that administration and Mike Gundy that you were going to do things right there. No doubt.
Q: Have you read the two SI stories that have come out or read summaries?
A: I haven’t had time to read all of it. I’ve had people telling me things, you know. But I haven’t had time.
Q: Have you taken exception to anything SI reported, or disagreed with anything?
A: Well, what do you have five or six more parts, or I don’t know what it is. So I’ve had to wait until it’s all out and see what’s said.
Q: Did you get any advance warning that the report was coming out?
A: No, I didn’t. I didn’t.
Q: Have you had any discussions with UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham about the story?
A: Bubba and I and I have talked about it, yes.
Q: What were the nature of those conversations?
A: Well, because I was obviously at Oklahoma State from 2005 through 2007, and so it was just a natural conversation on what my thoughts were about the situation.
Q: Have you talked to Gunter (Brewer) about it?
A: Yes, I’ve talked to Gunter.
(NOTE: Brewer, UNC’s wide receivers coach, was on Oklahoma State’s staff from 2005 through 2010.)
Q: And what were those discussions like?
A: Same way. Same thing. Both of us were kind of in shock that all this came out.
- Andrew Carter
Monday, September 9, 2013
UNC, Chapel Hill leaders announce plans for Tar Heel Downtown
-Free game day parking will be available at University Square. Fans are advised to arrive before 3:30 to take advantage of that free parking.
-Multiple locations downtown will be available for parking. See www.tarheeldowntown.com for details.
-UNC’s fall break begins the day before, on Oct. 16.
- Andrew Carter
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Duke's Jamison Crowder among ACC Players of the Week
Boyd completed 18 of 30 passes for 270 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions in Clemson’s 38-35 win over fifth-ranked Georgia. He also had 13 rushes for 42 yards and two scores, giving him 312 yards of total offense. He finished the game with five total touchdowns rushing and passing. It was the seventh win for Boyd against a top 25 team as the starting quarterback, tying the school record.
Norton, the only first-year starter in Clemson’s veteran offensive line, played all but one snap (78 total) at center in his first career start and was Clemson’s highest graded offensive lineman at 91 percent with four knockdown blocks. He was a big reason Clemson gained 467 yards and scored 38 points on offense and controlled the clock for 9:08 of the fourth quarter.
Linder, a preseason All-ACC selection, anchored Miami’s offensive line that paved the way for 303 yards rushing – 8.0 yards per carry – and three rushing TDs in the Hurricanes’ 34-6 win over Florida Atlantic. Liner led an offensive line that produced 503 yards of total offense, the Hurricanes’ third consecutive game with 500-plus yards of total offense dating back to the 2012 season. Linder graded out at 94 percent with five cut blocks, three pancakes and no sacks allowed.
Watkins had six receptions for 127 yards and a touchdown in Clemson’s win over fifth-ranked Georgia. That performance included a 77-yard touchdown reception from Tajh Boyd in the first quarter that gave Clemson a 14-7 lead. It was the longest reception of Watkins’ career. The play took place on Clemson’s first play after Georgia had scored on a 75-yard run by Todd Gurley and provided an important momentum swing. Watkins finished the game with 154 all-purpose yards.
Against Penn State, Welsh recorded six tackles, including four solo and a sack for a loss of four yards, and added an interception in his first career start. Welsh returned the interception 31 yards to the Penn State 1-yard line, setting up Syracuse’s touchdown that brought the Orange to within six, 23-17, with just less than seven minutes to play. His first tackle during the Nittany Lions’ first offensive series was on a 3rd-and-1 play on which he stopped the ball-carrier for no gain.
Shuey’s 12 tackles were a team-high and five more than any other defender as he led the Clemson defense in the win over Georgia. He also had a key fumble recovery that led to a Clemson touchdown. Shuey’s tackles were important during a 10-possession stretch from the second quarter to the fourth period, when the Bulldogs scored just one touchdown and had six possessions of four plays or less.
Harris was named the Walter Camp Football Foundation Defensive Player of the Week after recording 11 tackles, including three solo stops, one quarterback sack (first in his career), a blocked punt and an intercepted a pass in Virginia’s season-opening 19-16 victory over visiting BYU. Harris’ blocked punt in the third quarter set up Virginia’s first touchdown. Then, with the Cavaliers trailing 16-12 and three minutes left to play, Harris picked off a third-down BYU pass, returned it 10 yards and then pitched the ball to linebacker Henry Coley, who ran another 23 yards. Virginia scored the winning touchdown on the next play.
Crowder sparked the Blue Devils in Saturday’s 45-0 win over North Carolina Central with 113 yards on five punt returns, including a 76-yarder for a touchdown. The 76-yard runback was the seventh-longest punt return in Duke history. Crowder also logged a 25-yard punt return to set up Duke’s first scoring drive. The 113 punt return yards marked the fourth-highest total in Duke school history and the highest Week 1 total in 2013 NCAA action. Crowder’s 22.6 yards per punt return average was the sixth-highest single-game mark in school history. Crowder also registered team-highs of six pass receptions and 62 receiving yards for 175 all-purpose yards on the day.
Winston delivered a school-record setting performance as the 11th-ranked Seminoles opened their season with a 41-13 ACC road win at Pitt on Monday night. Winston completed 25 of 27 passes for a 92.6 completion percentage, topping the previous Florida State single-game record of 87.5 posted by Danny Kannell against NC State in 1995. Winston finished the game with 356 passing yards while throwing for four touchdowns and running for one more.
Read more here: http://blogs.newsobserver.com/accnow/dukes-jamison-crowder-among-acc-players-of-the-week#storylink=cpy
Friday, August 30, 2013
Video: UNC Tar Heels at USC Gamecocks
A one hour and forty-four minute weather delay couldn't slow down No. 6 South Carolina on Thursday night, as the Gamecocks took down the North Carolina Tar Heels 27-10. North Carolina QB Bryn Renner was 26-43 for 194 yards and a touchdown. The Tar Heels play Middle Tennessee State next Saturday back in Chapel Hill.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Elijah Hood, top running back prospect, commits to UNC
CHAPEL HILL — Elijah Hood, a Charlotte running back who is considered one of the top prospects in the class of 2014, has committed to North Carolina. Several outlets that cover recruiting reported the news on Tuesday night, including 247Sports, which was first to report it, and Inside Carolina.
Friday, August 23, 2013
UNC coach: Clowney best defensive player ever game-planned against
Larry Fedora began his Division I college
coaching career in 1990. Before becoming the head coach at North
Carolina, he was an offensive coordinator at Middle Tennessee, Florida
and Oklahoma State. Then came his four years as a head coach at Southern
Miss.
So Fedora has been around a while, in a different parts of the
country, in a variety of conferences. I asked him earlier today to name
the best defensive player he’d ever had to game plan against.
His answer came quickly.
“I’m going to say Clowney,” Fedora said of Jadeveon Clowney,
the South Carolina defensive end whom UNC will face next Thursday night.
“Yeah, I’m going to say Clowney. Because the guy – I’ve never played
against a guy that’s 272 pounds and runs a 4.4.
“And it’s obvious on film. He plays at a different speed than other
guys, because he is faster than other guys. And then he plays hard. And
you see him out (there) – I’m trying to remember which game it was where
I saw them hand the ball off to a back on a sweep, and he broke and I
think Clowney caught him about 25 yards down the field. So he can run.
When you have that kind of speed, it’s always a difficult situation.”
Chances are Clowney will be the answer to that question – best
defensive player you’ve game planned against – for a lot of coaches this
season. As for who sticks out in Fedora’s mind as second best? I asked
him that, as well.
“I’ve been coaching a long time now,” he said. “Probably Urlacher.”
Brian Urlacher, remembered for his All-Pro NFL years with the
Chicago Bears, played in college at New Mexico. As part of the offensive
coaching staff at Air Force in the late 1990s, Fedora had a chance to
see Urlacher up close.
“What I remember about him,” Fedora said, “(is0 he lined up at free
safety, he lined up at linebacker, he lined up at defensive end, he
lined up at outside linebacker, he lined up at defensive tackle and he
returned punts in that game.”
At least Clowney won’t be returning punts. We think.
-- Andrew Carter
Read more here: http://blogs.newsobserver.com/uncnow/jadeveon-clowney-is-best-defensive-player-unc-coach-larry-fedora-has-ever-game-planned-agains#storylink=cpy
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
UNC football concludes camp: What we learned
Vic Koenning, the UNC defensive coordinator, might refer to this as a “MOTO” statement. That stands for master of the obvious. Koenning broke that out after a practice one day not long ago, and I found it humorous. But as obvious as it might be that the Tar Heels’ defense will be a work in progress, it’s probably fair to say this was a more difficult-than-expected preseason for the defense.
Entering the preseason, no position group on offense faced more uncertainty than the offensive line. It lost three starters from last season, and all three were selected in the NFL draft. Among those draft picks wasJonathan Cooper, the left guard who was perhaps the best lineman in school history.
Much has been said, and written, about Eric Ebron, the UNC tight end who must catch at least 12 touchdown passes to meet Fedora’s expectations. Ebron, Fedora and his staff believes, has the talent to be a future first-round NFL draft pick, and it’d be difficult to find a more physically-able tight end in the nation. He should have a big year.
Read more here: http://blogs.newsobserver.com/uncnow/unc-football-concludes-camp-what-we-learned#storylink=cpy
Friday, August 16, 2013
Gamecocks' Jadeveon Clowney admits fatigue; Dez Bryant rips NCAA
South Carolina's Jadeveon Clowney admitted that he felt "out of shape" last season despite a big year. Meanwhile, Cowboys WR Dez Bryant ripped the NCAA for their treatment of Johnny Manziel.
Monday, August 12, 2013
Belk Bowl to get SEC for six years
Charlotte's Belk Bowl is entering a six-year agreement with the SEC which will begin with the 2014 season.
The bowl at Bank of America Stadium will now feature a regular matchup of SEC vs. ACC teams.
For the past decade, the Belk Bowl has featured the ACC playing a team from the Big East, which has become the American Athletic Conference.
The Belk Bowl will be part of a six-bowl rotation (including the Outback, Gator, Music City, Texas and Liberty bowls) to determine where SEC teams will play in the postseason -- after potential berths in the new college football playoff and the Capital One Bowl are locked up.
"This is a big step for us with ratings and ticket demand," said Will Webb, the Belk Bowl's executive director. "This is where we want the Belk Bowl to be." -- David Scott
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
ACC football: Bowl partnerships finalized for 2014-2019
The ACC finalized its bowl lineup for the upcoming seasons Wednesday by announcing five bowl partnerships.
Starting with the 2014 season and running until 2019, the ACC will send teams annually to the Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman in Annapolis, Md., the AdvoCare V100 Bowl in Shreveport, La., and a new bowl game in Detroit, Mich., hosted by the NFL's Detroit Lions. The Military bowl opponent will come from the American Athletic Conference and the Detroit bowl will feature an opponent from the Big 10 Conference.
Additionally, the ACC will send a team to the Beef 'O'Brady's Bowl in St. Petersburg, Fla., after the 2014 and 2016 seasons and will serve as the bowl's first conditional choice for the other four years if its primary partners can't fill the slot.
The ACC will also have a second conditional bowl with the Birmingham Bowl, if the league has an available team beyond the Beef 'O'Brady's Bowl choice. The ACC will be the first conditional choice of the Birmingham Bowl.
"It's very satisfying to finalize our future ACC bowl partnerships that collectively provide great flexibility, matchups and depth for our 15 member schools," said ACC Commissioner John Swofford. "We are pleased to continue our relationship with the Military and AdvoCare V100 Bowls while beginning new ones with the new bowl game in Detroit, hosted by the Detroit Lions; the Beef 'O'Brady's bowl game and Birmingham."
Here is a rundown of bowls the ACC has tie-ins with between 2014 and 2019:
Discover Orange Bowl, Miami, Fla.
Russell Athletic Bowl, Orlando, Fla.
Capital One Bowl, Orlando, Fla.
Hyundai Sun Bowl, El Paso, Texas
Belk Bowl, Charlotte, N.C.
Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl, Nashville, Tenn.
Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl, Jacksonville, Fla.
New Era Pinstripe Bowl, New York City.
Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman, Annapolis, Md.
AdvoCare V100 Bowl, Shreveport, La.
Detroit Bowl, Detroit
Beef 'O'Brady's Bowl, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Birmingham Bowl, Birmingham, Ala.
UNC loses Shakeel Rashad, Sam Smiley and Dalton Stogner for season
CHAPEL HILL — One week into practice, North Carolina has already lost three players to season-ending injuries.
Tar Heels coach Larry Fedora said on Wednesday that sophomore bandit Shakeel Rashad, sophomore safety Sam Smiley and freshman receiver Dalton Stogner had all suffered season-ending injuries.
Rashad (knee) and Smiley (toe/foot) were competing for starting positions. Stogner (knee) is a walk-on who showed promise in the spring.
“Any time you lose one guy, it’s concerning,” Fedora said. “And to lose three – that’s why you’re constantly talking about depth. Building that depth and doing the things that it takes, depth-wise.”
Rashad, who enrolled in January 2012, played in 11 games last season and started at bandit – the hybrid defensive end and linebacker position – in the season finale against Maryland. He finished last season with 18 tackles – 3.5 for loss – and also had 1.5 sacks and an interception.
Smiley started at safety in five of the seven games he appeared in last season. A nagging toe and foot injury kept him out of the Tar Heels’ other five games. Stogner had a promising spring and was listed on the preseason depth chart as the backup to Quinshad Davis at one of UNC’s three starting receiving positions.
- Andrew Carter
Monday, August 5, 2013
UNC LB Travis Hughes faces court date for misdemeanor paraphernalia charge
North Carolina junior linebacker Travis Hughes faces a Sept. 24 court date in Durham County on a charge of misdemeanor drug paraphernalia possession.
A clerk of court said Hughes was charged in January.
Hughes, who had 38 tackles last season, entered the preseason atop the depth chart at strong-side linebacker.
--Andrew Carter
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Miami QB Nico Pierre commits to Duke
Even when Duke was in the midst of back-to-back 3-9 seasons, head coach David Cutcliffe had his reputation of developing successful NFL quarterbacks.
Now, with the Blue Devils reaching new levels of success, he is getting the recruits to match the pedigree.
Miami Coral Reef quarterback Nico Pierre, ranked a 4-star recruit by ESPN, chose Duke last week on an unofficial visit. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound dual-threat quarterback is arguably Duke’s top recruit of the Cutcliffe era (with Parade all-American and Elite 11 QB Sean Renfree as his main competition). Pierre’s other suitors included Nebraska, Wisconsin, Mississippi State and Wake Forest.
“When I went up there, I felt good,” Pierre said. “I felt like I was at home. The program just felt right, too.”
Pierre felt so strongly about his decision that he and his high school coach, Chevas Clements, scrapped their plan to visit Wake Forest and instead headed home to Miami.
Pierre, who has attended college camps around the country, decided to visit the Blue Devils first because they were on top of his list. The coaches kept in constant contact with him and made him feel like he was already part of the team, he said. And when he arrived on campus and confirmed his feelings about the school, he made his commitment.
“Over 95 percent of all black athletes graduate,” Clements said. “Things like that catch your eye.
“The school, Duke University, kind of speaks for itself,” Clements added. “But then with the coaching staff and their reputation of developing quarterbacks, that was a big thing. Because if he goes there and is able to play and develop under Coach Cutcliffe for four years, he’ll most likely have a opportunity to play on Sundays.”
Kurt Roper, Duke’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, has visited Pierre in Miami. But both Pierre and Clements cited associate head coach Scottie Montgomery, who rejoined the Blue Devils in February after three years with the Pittsburgh Steelers, as the recruiter that sealed the deal (South Florida is one of Montgomery’s main recruiting territories).
“Picking up some of these Miami and South Florida guys, Duke is on the rise,” Clements said. “This is where the speed is at, this is where all the major programs come to get talent. Duke had a presence this recruiting season because of Scottie Montgomery. He does a great job.”
Duke now must keep Pierre committed until he can sign a national letter of intent in February, a task far easier said than done in college football. But if Pierre is drawn to Cutcliffe’s quarterback legacy—both of his Duke starters, Thad Lewis and Sean Renfree, are in the NFL, as well as his most famous protégées, Peyton and Eli Manning—the Blue Devils could be hard to beat.
Pierre is the 12th commit in a class expected to only have around 15 players. Here is a rundown of the others, complete with highlight videos (stars are taken from Rivals.com rankings):
• Tinashe Bere, LB, Cincinnati (Ohio) Sycamore
• Zavier Carmichael, OLB, Mobile (Ala.) St. Paul's Episcopal
• Christian Harris, OT, Suwanee (Ga.) Collins Hill
• Jonathan Lloyd, QB/ATH, Graham (N.C.) Southern Almanace
• Trip McNeill, OT, Mocksville (N.C.) Davie County
• Nico Pierre, QB, Miami Coral Reef
• Alonzo Saxton, CB, Columbus (Ohio) Bishop Hartley
• Kameron Schroeder, OT, Elk Grove (Calif.) Cosumnes Oaks
**Zach Harmon, C, Toldeo (Ohio) Central Catholic
**Jake Sanders, OG, Carrollton (Ga.)
**Taariq Shabazz, DE, Kennesaw Mountain (Ga.)
**Chris Taylor, WR, Pompano Beach (Fla.) North Broward Prep
For all the latest Duke news, like Duke NOW on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.
- Laura Keeley
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Davidson's Reese Williams named All-Pioneer Football League
The preseason accolades continue for Davidson tight end Reese Williams, as he was named to the preseason All-Pioneer Football League team, the league office announced Wednesday
Williams (Abilene, Texas/Abilene Cooper) had a breakout season last year and earned first-team all-conference honors. He hauled in a career-best 51 receptions for 522 yards to rank second on the team in both categories and 11th and 13th, respectively, in the PFL. His top performance came in an overtime win at Valparaiso, in which he caught 10 passes for 131 yards to earn the College Football Performance Awards National Tight End of the Week award.
Returning players who were selected to the league’s 2012 All-PFL teams were automatically selected to the 2013 preseason team in order of voting. Thirteen preseason selections were first-team selections last season.
Williams has also been recognized by Phil Steele’s and CollegeSportsMadness.com this preseason.
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Video: No fear for UNC's Larry Fedora, Tar Heels
At ACC Kickoff, UNC head coach Larry Fedora said he is not afraid of South Carolina star Jadeveon Clowney. Senior quarterback Bryn Renner and senior defensive end Kareem Martin also represented the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Video: N.C. State's Dave Doeren embraces recruiting challenges
N.C. State head coach Dave Doeran spoke about the Wolfpack's chances to win an ACC championship plus recruiting within North Carolina. Cornerback Dontae Johnson talked about the talent level in Raleigh.
Thursday, July 25, 2013
UNC football: Ranking 2013 schedule in order of difficulty
CHAPEL HILL -- And welcome to football season.
It hasn't been much of an offseason. Between baseball, a trip to Omaha, furloughs and covering the missteps of a certain prominent North Carolina basketball player, my mental clock hasn't quite registered that football season is upon us. But this is a good thing. The blog is about to become a lot more active than it has been in recent weeks, so please make this a part of regular reading rotation.
I have a few things planned between now and when the Tar Heels begin the season on Aug. 29 at South Carolina. Look out in the coming weeks for a primer on each of UNC's opponents, for a countdown of the players that will be most influential to the Tar Heels' success this season and a position-by-position rundown of the team. For now, we'll start nice and easy: With a look at UNC's schedule.
And it is:
August
29 - at South Carolina
September
7 - vs. Middle Tennessee State
21 - at Georgia Tech
28 - vs. East Carolina
October
5 - at Virginia Tech
17 - vs. Miami
26 - vs. Boston College
November
2 - at N.C. State
9 - vs. Virginia
16 - at Pittsburgh
23 - vs. Old Dominion
30 - vs. Duke
First reaction: That's kind of strange, for a team to playing nearly half of its games in November. Second reaction: That's a difficult opening stretch, with UNC's three most difficult games among the first five - and, really, four most difficult games among the first six.
Here's how I'd rank the games, by most difficult to least:
-at South Carolina
-at Virginia Tech
-at Georgia Tech
-at N.C. State
-vs. Miami
-at Pitt
-vs. Middle Tennessee State
-vs. ECU
-vs. Virginia
-vs. Boston College
-vs. Duke
-vs. Old Dominion
Usually when you look at a schedule, several tiers emerge. There are the guaranteed victories. There are the "should wins." There are the toss-ups. The games in which a team will be a sure underdog. And those that seem nearly impossible to win.
But when I look at UNC's schedule, I see fewer of those tiers. I see six games that I'd give UNC at least an 80 percent chance or better of winning. Then I see three toss-ups. And in the rest, UNC will be the underdog - one of them a significant underdog.
Here's the percentage I give the Tar Heels of winning each game:
-at South Carolina: .15
-vs. Middle Tennessee State: .8
-at Georgia Tech: .4
-vs. East Carolina: .85
-at Virginia Tech: .35
-vs. Miami: .55
-vs. Boston College: .9
-at N.C. State: .6
-vs. Virginia: .85
-at Pittsburgh: .55
-vs. Old Dominion: .99
-vs. Duke: .9
Add all those percentages up and it comes to: 7.89.
Or, translated to a 12-game football season, about eight wins. 8-4 That sounds about right. I'm not quite ready to make my season predictions yet - those will come later, closer to the start of the season - but 8-4 is probably a pretty good baseline in terms of expectations for this team. With some mild luck, 9-3 isn't out of the question. With some very good fortune, a 10-win season could be in the realm.
I really only see one sure defeat - the season-opener at South Carolina. Beyond that, UNC should be starting the season with six wins: Middle Tennessee State, ECU, Boston College, Virginia, Old Dominion and Duke. Win two of the five games against Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Miami, N.C. State and Pitt, and that'd be eight wins total. Win three of those five, and 9-3 becomes realistic.
Of course, the Tar Heels would significantly raise expectations with a victory at in Columbia, S.C., near the end of August. The season is upon us, folks ...
- Andrew Carter
Monday, July 22, 2013
Laura Keeley's preseason ACC football ballot
An old-time tradition: predicting the end results of a season before any teams have taken the field. For football, it made sense to go through and attempt to predict the outcome of every conference game. After that task was done, I tallied the results, broke a few ties and filled out my ballot.
Before you make fun of my ballot, though, check out a few stories from Sunday: Andrew Carter on the overall state of the ACC, Luke DeCock on the new arrivals, Pittsburgh and Syracuse, and yours truly with notes from Duke, UNC and N.C. State (Kareem Morris's comments on South Carolina are worth checking out).
Now, in the spirit of transparency, here are my preseason ACC predictions.
Atlantic
Clemson
Florida State
Syracuse
N.C. State
Boston College
Maryland
Wake Forest
Coastal
Miami
Virginia Tech
Georgia Tech
North Carolina
Duke
Pittsburgh
Virginia
ACC Champion
Clemson
Preseason ACC Player of the Year
Tajh Boyd, Clemson
The main takeaway from this exercise: both divisions have two tiers of teams. In the Atlantic, there's Clemson and Florida State, a large gap and then five mediocre teams that could really win or lose any game against a fellow mediocre team.
In the Coastal, there are more contenders. Miami, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and UNC all have a shot to win the division, in my estimation. Draw a line, and then there's Duke, Pittsburgh and Virginia to fight for fifth place.
I had both UNC and Georgia Tech finishing 5-3 in ACC play. Georgia Tech took third by virtue of a head-to-head tiebreaker. My other tiebreakers: Duke over Pittsburgh and Boston College over Maryland.
Feel free to disagree.
For all the latest Duke news, like Duke NOW on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.
-- Laura Keeley
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Video: Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier: Notre Dame should join ACC for football, too
South Carolina Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier questioned why Notre Dame was allowed to be treated as a conference by itself getting to sit in on all the College Football Playoff meetings.
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Video: Alabama's Nick Saban, A.J. McCarron speak at SEC Media Day
Alabama coach Nick Saban and quarterback A.J. McCarron addressed the media on Day 3 of SEC Media Days. Saban discussed the upcoming season while McCarron shared his thoughts on Johnny Manziel.
Video: Manziel, Clowney on potential Aggies-Gamecocks clash
Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Johnny Manziel and South Carolina Gamecocks defensive end Jadeveon Clowney have differing opinions on the outcome of a potential encounter in the backfield.
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
The numbers behind FSU football's ACC domination
Florida State dominated the ACC last season in football last season. The Seminoles won seven regular-season games and the ACC title.
FSU was really good. Sometimes you don't need advanced stats to tell you the obvious but sometimes they can explain just how good a team was.
The Seminoles led the ACC in yards per play on offense and defense (see chart below). On offense, FSU averaged 6.99 yards per play in nine conference games (including its 21-15 win over Georgia Tech in the ACC title game). The Noles held their conference opponents to just 4.02 YPP (Virginia Tech was only other ACC team with an average of less than 5.0).
The difference between FSU's offensive YPP and defensive YPP was 2.97 (the best difference among ACC teams the six years of data available on CFBstats.com). Clemson was second in the league with 0.68.
Interestingly enough, the five teams with the most conference wins last season had the five best difference in YPP. None of the teams with a negative average differential had a winning record in league play.
N.C. State, 4-4 in the ACC last season and the only team to beat FSU, was the only team with a negative average differential to have at least a .500 league record.
Duke, which went 3-5 in ACC play, had the worst difference in YPP at minus-2.02. The Blue Devils gave up a league-worst 7.07 yards per play in eight conference games. Wake Forest averaged the fewest yards per play on offense with 4.09.
Team | YPP-O | YPP-D | +/- | Wins |
FSU | 6.99 | 4.02 | 2.97 | 8* |
Clemson | 6.54 | 5.86 | 0.68 | 7 |
Georgia Tech | 6.35 | 5.77 | 0.58 | 5 |
UNC | 6.29 | 5.75 | 0.54 | 5 |
Miami | 6.52 | 6.16 | 0.36 | 5 |
Virginia Tech | 5.14 | 4.85 | 0.29 | 4 |
Virginia | 4.95 | 5.20 | -0.25 | 2 |
N.C. State | 5.30 | 5.87 | -0.57 | 4 |
Boston College | 4.99 | 5.74 | -0.75 | 1 |
Maryland | 4.40 | 5.29 | -0.89 | 2 |
Wake Forest | 4.09 | 5.33 | -1.24 | 3 |
Duke | 5.05 | 7.07 | -2.02 | 3 |
Note: *-counts FSU's win over Georgia Tech in the ACC title game.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
A closer look at Duke's returning running game
A few ACC beat writers run offseason previews of the upcoming football opponents. I recently helped The Roanoke Times' Virginia Tech beat writer Andy Bitter with the Duke one. Sometime soon, my Duke preview for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Pitt beat writer, Sam Werner, will go live, too.
It's come to my attention that a further explanation of my comments on the running game might be helpful to some. I took the time to give a more detailed explanation in the preview I wrote for Sam, but, seeing as I'm on furlough next week, I'll post said explanation here.
Basically, my theory on Duke's running game is this: until proven otherwise, I’m not expecting a whole lot out of this group.
Now put down the pitchforks and read.
Yes, Jela Duncan, the former three-star recruit out of Mallad Creek, showed flashes last year (532 yards on 99 attempts) that would lead you to believe he will develop into the best Duke running back of the Cutcliffe era. Cutcliffe and his staff are firm believers in the running back-by-committee approach, though, so expect that to continue, as opposed to seeing one feature back emerge (typically, each back will take a turn being the featured back for a series).
The three main rushers—senior Juwan Thompson, redshirt junior Josh Snead, and Duncan, a sophomore—are all back. So is sophomore Shaq Powell, a four-star recruit who couldn't crack the rotation last year but should be in the mix this season. The message boards didn't take too kindly to my suggestion in another preview that, until proven otherwise, I'm not expecting much out of this group, so let me take the time to explain why:
I don't think there's much to be gleamed from season-long averages that factor in games against I-AA opponents and terrible nonconference teams. So, here were Duke's rushing totals against bowl-qualifying teams last year (8-4, postseason ineligible North Carolina and 7-5, postseason ineligible Miami are included):
Date | Opponent | Rushing Yards | Result |
---|---|---|---|
9/8/12 | Stanford | 27 | L, 50-13 |
10/13/12 | at Virginia Tech | 22 | L, 41-20 |
10/20/12 | North Carolina | 234 | W, 33-30 |
10/27/12 | at Florida State | 103 | L, 48-7 |
11/3/12 | Clemson | 85 | L, 56-20 |
11/17/12 | at Georgia Tech | 77 | L, 42-24 |
11/24/12 | Miami | 151 | L, 52-45 |
12/27/12 | vs. Cincinnati | 200 | L, 36-18 |
I could go back and break down how many rushing yards came in the first half of the Florida State game—it was 31-7 at halftime—but I think the point has been made. I will point out, though, that Miami had the worst rushing defense in the league last season. And that the win over North Carolina was, truly, one of the finest moments in Duke football history.
You can't talk about the running game without mentioning the offensive line, and last year's team featured four returning starters (those same four are all back this year, as well). The unit took several drive-killing false start penalties, with a few holding calls thrown in, at Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech, in particular. If those tendencies don't change, it won't matter who is collecting the handoff in the backfield.
Duke finished 8th in the league last year in rushing offense, snapping a three-year stretch of finishing last in that category. In Cutcliffe's first year, the Blue Devils finished second-to-last. So, forgive me for repeating myself, but until proven otherwise, I'm not expecting much from this group.
Despite a healthy dose of skepticism on the running game, I do expect the Blue Devils to go bowling once again.
- Laura Keeley
- For all the latest Duke news, like Duke NOW on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.
Jela Duncan leads Duke's quartet of returning running backs. Credit: CHUCK LIDDY |
Thursday, May 9, 2013
ACC releases list of 51 undrafted players getting NFL shots
Greensboro, N.C.—A total of 51 players from Atlantic Coast Conference schools have signed free agent contracts or received invitations to attend free agent camps from teams in the National Football League.
Combined with the 31 ACC players drafted by the NFL, a total of 82 players from ACC schools will head to NFL training camps this year.
When draftees (3) and free agents (10) from Pittsburgh and Syracuse are included, teams which will join the ACC this July 1, the number of players headed to the NFL grows to a total of 95 players.
ACC NFL Free Agent Signees (as of May 9)
Boston College (5)
Nick Clancy LB Atlanta Falcons
Emmett Cleary T Indianapolis Colts
Jim Noel DB Seattle Seahawks
Chris Pantale TE New York Jets
John Wetzel T Oakland Raiders
Clemson (6)
Dalton Freeman C New York Jets
Xavier Brewer DB Dallas Cowboys
Spencer Benton PK Dallas Cowboys
Tig Willard LB Tennessee Titans
Brandon Ford TE New England Patriots
Jaron Brown WR Arizona Cardinals
Duke (3)
Jackson Anderson LS Houston Texans
Tony Foster DB Kansas City Chiefs
Conner Vernon WR Oakland Raiders
Florida State (3)
Anthony McCloud DT Minnesota Vikings
Lonnie Pryor FB-RB Jacksonville Jaguars
Rodney Smith WR Minnesota Vikings
Georgia Tech (5)
T.J. Barnes DT Jacksonville Jaguars
Izaan Cross DE Buffalo Bills
Rod Sweeting CB New Orleans Saints
Orwin Smith RB Tampa Bay Buccaneers (invited to free agent camp)
Tyler Morgan LS Carolina Panthers
Maryland (5)
Devonte Campbell TE Atlanta Falcons
Darin Drakeford LB Kansas City Chiefs
A.J. Francis DE-DT Miami Dolphins
Matt Furstenburg TE Baltimore Ravens
Joe Vellano DE-DT New England Patriots
Miami (3)
Dalton Botts P (Tryouts with Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints)
Ramon Buchanan LB Seattle Seahawks
Jeremy Lewis OL Tampa Bay Buccaneers
North Carolina (4)
Casey Barth PK Atlanta Falcons
Jheranie Boyd WR Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Erik Highsmith WR Minnesota Vikings
Kevin Reddick LB New Orleans Saints
NC State (6)
Zach Allen G Carolina Panthers
Brandan Bishop S Minnesota Vikings
R.J. Mattes OL New England Patriots
Tobais Palmer WR Jacksonville Jaguars
Cameron Wentz C Minnesota Vikings
C.J. Wilson CB Chicago Bears
Pittsburgh (4)
Ray Graham RB Houston Texans
Hubie Graham TE Tamp Bay Buccaneers
Mike Shanahan WR New York Jets
Ryan Turnley C New York Giants
Syracuse (6)
Lou Alexander T New Orleans Saints
Zack Chibane G Buffalo Bills
Dean Goggins DE Atlanta Falcons
Alec Lemon WR Houston Texans
Marcuse Sales WR Atlanta Falcons
Brandon Sharpe DE Washington Redskins
Virginia (5)
Paul Freedman TE Dallas Cowboys
Steve Greer LB Washington Redskins
Perry Jones RB Baltimore Ravens
Colter Phillips TE Tampa Bay Buccaneers
La’Roy Reynolds LB Jacksonville Jaguars
Virginia Tech (5)
Nick Becton T San Diego Chargers
Marcus Davis WR New York Giants
Antoine Hopkins DT Pittsburgh Steelers
Bruce Taylor LB Cincinnati Bengals
Alonzo Tweedy LB New York Giants
Wake Forest (1)
Kenny Okoro DB San Diego Chargers