In the span of 12 days, Virginia Tech has gone from being a legitimate BCS title contender to an ACC Coastal Division also-ran. Simply amazing.
The Hokies' previous loss, a 28-23 decision at Georgia Tech, was disappointing, but nothing compared to Thursday night's 20-17 pratfall at home to a North Carolina squad that was previously winless in ACC play.
While many will focus on freshman running back Ryan Williams' crucial fumble (pictured) with two minutes remaining, the blame should be placed squarely on the shoulders of the Hokie defense . . . again.
On Oct. 17 against the Yellow Jackets' triple-option attack, it was somewhat understandable that Virginia Tech melted down the stretch, allowing 272 rushing yards in the second half. But surrendering 181 yards on the ground to the Tar Heels at Lane Stadium is totally different.
North Carolina, which hadn't beaten a ranked opponent on the road since 2001, entered the game ranked 85th in rushing and 114th in total offense.
Further illustrating the woes of Frank Beamer's defense, UNC was 10-of-19 on third down and easily converted on a fourth-and-seven late in the ballgame with a routine 19-yard pass from quarterback T.J. Yates to wide receiver Greg Little.
Poor ACC. Already surely saddled with a championship game featuring only one ranked opponent, what's next?
Hmmm . . . the last time that happened was in 2005 when an 8-4 Florida State squad held on to upset No. 5 Virginia Tech, 27-22, in the inaugural ACC title game.
That sort of thing rearing its ugly head once again would be an appropriate capper to the type of season it has been up and down the Atlantic Coast.
Who cares about the ACC when you're getting amazing college football each week?
People always whine about how they hate rankings and that rankings should be abolished or significantly altered, but once a "ranked" team loses to an "unranked" team, people cry and complain and tell their coworker how amazing the upset was.
This is what happens when you try to handpick teams in certain divisions trying to create a handsome ACCCG.
This is the same thing that happens in every conference. A Top Ten team is upset every year by a lowly team in the same conference. It's always why the play the games instead of just NAMING a champ.
I feel for my Alma Mater, Georgia Tech, because now this doesn't help their SOS. If VT and Miami had won out, and GT won out, they had an outside chance at NC.
And regarding realigning the ACC, there's no way to get it "right." As soon as you spread out the teams to fix it, one of the power schools starts sucking. FSU and Clemson were supposed to be two of the powers in their division, and they are floundering. Then you've got GT, VT, and Miami who at least keep it interesting.
conference records and winning percents to date:
ACC - 50-40,.556
Big East 39-18,.684
Big 10 - 52-34,.604
SEC - 56-33,.629
Pac 10 - 42-30,.583
Big 12 - 54-33,.620
Aren't they all just chasing the Big East?
Who are the sportswriters going to love on now? VPI is finally exposed...you cann't hide their over rated turkeys any longer. This means that if they lose another game they might not be in consideration for the BCS championship game.
What a joke the ACC is in football.
John Swofford what kind of powerplay are going to put on ESPN now?
Hmmmmm...
Boston College, Miami & Va Tech all left the Big East for a better conference. Meanwhile, the B.E. gets stronger (in football AND basketball) and the ACC rolls down hill.
I wonder if they'd like to come back?
I'm hopeful that door is closed!
How is it when there's an upset in any conference other than the Big 10 or SEC it hurts the conference? Shouldn't Iowa's ranking be dropped because Ohio St's sorry ass couldn't beat Purdue? College football could use some common damn sense from the people who cover it.
Facts:
The ACC was 6-4 vs the SEC one year ago.
Clemson beat SC
GT beat UGA and Miss St.
Wake beat Ole Miss
Duke beat Vandy and so on.
Three of the SEC's 4 wins were Bama and UF beating up on the middle of the pack. Take those games out of the equation and the SEC was 1-6.
But let's not let commons sense get in the way of ESPN's investment. BTW the didn't Va Tech spank Cincinnati in the Orange Bowl a year ago? Does anyone realize that Florida's only played one ranked team this year. Barring a miracle finish by South Carolina to end the year, it stays that way for Florida?
Give me a f-ing break.