ACC Sends Two Teams To Bowl Championship Series
by Brian Favat on Dec 5, 2011 8:20 AM EST
in Boston College Football
Email
Print
In one of the biggest surprises of yesterday's bowl selection, the ACC hits paydirt.
Greensboro, N.C.--For the first time in its 14 years in the Bowl Championship Series (BCS), the Atlantic Coast Conference has had two teams selected to participate in BCS Bowl games in the same year.
We all knew that Clemson would represent the ACC as the conference champion in the Orange Bowl, but were surprised to hear that the conference placed a second program in the BCS' Sugar Bowl:
"The 78th Annual Allstate Sugar Bowl Football Classic will feature the University of Michigan, from the Big Ten Conference, against Virginia Tech, from the Atlantic Coast Conference, on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012. The game is scheduled to kick off at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome at 7:30 p.m. and will be televised by ESPN. This will be the first meeting between the two programs."
To recap, that's a program that benefited from NOT playing in its conference championship game and a program that benefited from no one watching its conference championship game, presumably (or at least flipping to Bedlam or the Big Ten Championship Game at halftime).
We've been hoping that the ACC would finally get two teams into the BCS to, I don't know, validate conference expansion (?) and silence the conference's football critics. But frankly, I didn't want it to come like this.
Virginia Tech played no one in non-conference play. Like, literally, no one. Four non-BCS AQ opponents in Appalachian State, East Carolina, Arkansas State and Marshall. The Hokies struggled to put away Duke, East Carolina, Miami and North Carolina, beat all of one ranked opponent all season (and no teams that finished in the BCS Top 25) and got waxed by Clemson ... twice. This even caused CBS's Dennis Dodd to joke that the Sugar Bowl should be marketed as Clemson's B---- vs. Michigan.
Sugar Bowl boss Paul Hoolahan cited Virginia Tech's ability to sell tickets and strong travel as justification for selecting the Hokies. Bowl selection about more than on-field results? Not new news, but no less ridiculous.
I'm happy the ACC is going to benefit financially from this, but this still makes the conference look bad. Real bad. And when the Hokies invariably get smoked by the Wolverines (which will happen because VT isn't facing a team from the Big East in this year's bowl game), we'll be subjected to even more criticism about how the Hokies, and by extension, the ACC didn't belong.
And on the BCS National Championship Game rematch, this. So, so hard.
34 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Bam! A whole ’nother batch of season tickets Gene can afford to have dropped.
by DCash on Dec 5, 2011 9:41 AM EST via mobile reply actions 2 recs
VT selection is a joke
Well said.
And, gee, the bowl was non-refreshingly honest — ‘we picked VT because they will bring fans to the game.’
When that “qualification” is publicly stated as the standard, which of course, was always the standard, it shows that unless BC wins the ACC outright or losses the ACCCG and is 7-1 (6-2 won’t do it) , and has a 2+ game lead on the next eligible ACC team (and thus the “BC rule” kicks in) BC will always get a dog-shit bowl!
But talk about “woe is me,” look at Boise. They went from a possible BCS bowl to a Las Vegas bowl against a very bad 6-6 Arizona State team. Wow!. Say what you will about BSU, that ain’t right. BSU did beat Georgia and deserved better.
So I must say I agree with your “THIS” link to B.O.N. This year (ok, every year) the BCS is contrary to the interests of fielding the most competitive bowl games.
BC isn’t necessarily going to a BCS bowl game even if the Eagles finish 7-1 in the ACC and 11-1 overall. A second loss in the Championship game is BCS poison. It would have to be an especially bad year for a non-ACC Champ BC to make the BCS as an at-large imo.
Editor, BC Interruption
BCS is tough
I did not mean that if BC lost in the ACCCG it could get a BCS bid. Very unlikely. We’d have to be undefeated, and a top 10 team losing to another ACC top 10 team, and losing by a FG. even then …..not likely.
what i meant was that BC will only get picked for an ACC #2, #3 or #4 bowl if it is 7-1 in conference and the “BC rule” applies. No way any bowl in the South picks BC over one of the locals unless they are forced to pick BC.
Also curious that the Peach Bowl (Chik-FU-Bowl) picked UVA. FSU was eligible too and would certainly bring more fans….even if they played in it last year…..I see the manipulative hand of ESPN at work
Virginia to Peach is a joke
Almost like the Chick-Fil-A folk found out in the 11th hour that the Sugar was taking VT and err, uhh, oh sh-t … We need an ACC program to replace the Hokies.
UVa … lost to North Carolina and NC State (by two TDs) and got waxed by the Hokies, who just got slapped around by Clemson (again). Lost to Southern Miss. Beat hapless Indiana by a field goal. Needed OT to beat Idaho.
ACC #2? C’mon. Put FSU or NC State or Georgia Tech in that bowl. Not Virginia. UVa is roughly the fifth or sixth best team in the ACC this year.
/ end rant
Editor, BC Interruption
by Brian Favat on Dec 5, 2011 12:07 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Virginia ranked 61 in this week’s Sagarin rankings, behind …
48. North Carolina (7-5)
47. Miami (6-6)
45. Georgia Tech (8-4)
28. Florida State (8-4)
25. Virginia Tech (11-2)
23. Clemson (10-3)
Editor, BC Interruption
Another "woe is me"
TCU went from Mountain West champ / BCS buster and the Sugar Bowl to San Diego to play … Louisiana Tech.
Editor, BC Interruption
agreed
If you are not a GIANT state school with a rapid fan based devoted to football and in the SEC, BIG TEN, OU, UTex or USC — you are screwed. Even an impressive K-State team got hosed.
Big 12 = double screwed
Oklahoma State and Kansas State. Nick Saban voted OK State fourth behind Stanford. No conflict of interest there.
Editor, BC Interruption
by Brian Favat on Dec 5, 2011 12:09 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
but Saban can taste a second national championship. . . . so it is hard to blame him for slanting everything in favor of his team. NC opportunities do not come along that often — even if you are ’Bama
I think ‘Bama will beat LSU by 2 touchdowns. LSU’s magic is going to wear out by January. Recall they were unable to gain a single first down in the first half against Georgia this weekend. Crazy.
Not blaming Saban. Blaming the system that allows him to do this.
Editor, BC Interruption
by Brian Favat on Dec 5, 2011 12:39 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Every game counts
Bama had four missed FGs and an INT at the LSU 1 in the first game. Alabama could roll.
Roll tide.
Editor, BC Interruption
by Brian Favat on Dec 5, 2011 12:40 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Where BC would have been??
Say BC did beat Duke and also beat Wake and/or NorthWestern, or both. Say BC was 6-6 or even 7-5, BC was headed to Bowl HELL — The Military Bowl.
Here are the only choices for BC had mediocrity been achieved >>>>>>>>>>
……………………………………………………….
The Belk Bowl Dec. 27 Charlotte, N.C. Big East No. 3 vs. ACC No. 5
………………………………………………………………………….
Who is in it: Louisville vs. N.C. State (7-5)
…………………………………………………………………………
Music City Dec. 30 Nashville, Tenn. ACC No. 6 vs. SEC No. 7
……………………………………………………………………….
Who got in?: Wake Forest (6-6) vs. Miss. State
………………………………………………………………….
Independence Dec. 26 Shreveport, La. 5 p.m. MWC No. 3 vs. ACC No. 7
…………………………………………………………………..
Who got in? Missouri vs. N. Carolina (7-5)
……………………………………………………………………
Military Dec. 28 Washington D.C. 4:30 p.m. ACC No. 8 vs. Navy
………………………………………………………………..
Who got in?: Air Force vs. Toledo
if BC became Bowl eligible, it would have been playing Air Force in UNAPPEALLING Washington, D.C. on a Wednesday afternoon. Barf.
Now say, Miami decided to go bowling instead of opting out, where would BC have wound up? NO CLUE, other than it would be baaadddd.
I am almost (just, almost) glad we are not going BOWLING
Regardless of where BC would have landed, going to a bowl will always trump not going based purely on the extra month of practice time. Helps build towards next season.
As it stands, eight ACC programs get the next month to practice and improve for 2012 while BC (and Maryland, Duke and Miami) are standing still.
Editor, BC Interruption
by Brian Favat on Dec 5, 2011 12:17 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Yes, prohibited.
Editor, BC Interruption
by Brian Favat on Dec 5, 2011 12:40 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
And Just Think
Of the people , led by GDF himself, who will be crowing about the wisdom of GDF when we get back to “where we belong,” i.e., 7-5 mediocrity – again. We can still blame Jags for “recruiting” failures for a couple of more years, at least!! We won’t mention the fact that no great players will want to come and play for this program, we can always fall back on “academic standards.” Talk about Catch-22!!. A portion of the BC fanbase is its own worst enemy.
EO — still think Syracuse is headed in the right way as compared to BC? You know how much you have to suck to not make a bowl game playing in the Big East?
Editor, BC Interruption
by Brian Favat on Dec 5, 2011 12:18 PM EST via mobile reply actions
If you schedule 4-5 cream puffs in non-conference play, literally only have to win 1-2 games to go bowling in Big East.
Editor, BC Interruption
by Brian Favat on Dec 5, 2011 12:42 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
not by losing last 5 games
Sat, Oct 29 @Louisville L27-10
Sat, Nov 5 @Connecticut L28-21
Fri, Nov 11 vs South Florida L37-17
Sat, Nov 26 vs Cincinnati L30-13
Sat, Dec 3 @Pittsburgh L33-20
Sagarin ratings
85. Syracuse (5-7) SOS: 61
91. Boston College (4-8) SOS: 45
We’ll shortly have company in the bottom of the ACC.
Editor, BC Interruption
How So??
I mean that GDF could not continue his iron-fisted rule of destruction of the football program if a large portion of the fanbase did not buy into the “we are what we are,” “our academic standards are too high”" Spaz got unlucky with injuries;" “Spaz is still left with the effects of Jags’s failure to recruit” – ad nauseum- nonsense. Moreover, their apathy is reinforced by the media, which reinforces the spin and the resultant apathy (when it bothers to even cover BC, that is.) The students barely care any more.
i do not think anyone is buying the GDF spin, including the 4 cited favorites of GDF and cronies
But I agree that there are higher than normal levels of apathy.
I think GDF keeps control because he insinuated himself long ago with Father Leahy. GDF has an audience of one: FL
The realtionship goes all the way back to when GDF started, and includes the UConn suit agaisnt BC, GDF and FL. GDF and FL are comrades-in-arms and we are the worse for it.
I feel like the no-name chick in The Matrix
not the main girl but the one we saw like twice…Cypher was pulling people’s plugs and just before she dies (our season ends), she says: “not like this….not like this….” then falls over.
GO BC!
Epic reference
Editor, BC Interruption
by Brian Favat on Dec 5, 2011 1:56 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
The Ironic Thing
is that I perceived much more anger during the Toby years, especially over his failure to play to win and his refusal to use the players who gave us the channce to win. . As frustrating as O’Brien was, things were much, more better than they are now. Now I sense more apathy and indifference. Most BC fans seem to have taken on the defeated demeanor of the head coach,
Most BC fans seem to have taken on the defeated demeanor of the head coach,
Not so.
apathy about the team and being a defeatist are totaly different.
You sound like a defeatist!
Not me and not most BC fans — apathetic or not. No one feels defeated. Most fans believe better days are coming – when is the question.
Well you’re picking at straws now, if you want to argue for the sake of argument, go right ahead. I equate the two. Most of the people I know might go to BC football (even that is falling off) but they are certainly apathetic. And yes,, I absolutely admit to feeling defeated. I think the program has been set back years while and I sincerely hope I am wrong.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
