ACC nonconference outlook: Boston College (FS South)
There’s no reason for BC to travel to UCF, plus take on two BCS clubs. This is a very difficult slate, and a 1-3 mark wouldn’t be a huge surprise. But somehow the ground attack manages a 3-1 mark, with the loss coming in South Bend. 3-1.
Award watch lists suggest ACC defensive superiority (ACC Insider)
We’ll learn more in the coming days as the preseason watch lists for college football’s other major awards are announced. But if the early results are any indication, it appears as though most of the best players in the ACC will be lining up on the defensive side of the ball.
Cashman Commits to Boston College; Still Committed to Dawgs For One More Year (Haddonfield, NJ Patch)
"Yeah, it’s a good thing for our program but the most important thing is it’s a good fit for him," Haddonfield head football coach Frank DeLano said. "Here’s a kid that has demonstrated a great work ethic and is a leader both on and off the field. He’s a huge part of our program and I’m so excited that he found a good fit for college.
College Football's Most Famous Tattoos (LostLettermen.com)
[Josh] Haden, the brother of former Florida All-American Joe Haden, apparently didn’t learn everything from his brother; at least we hope not. Josh Haden fell in love with Boston College so much that he got BC’s logo tatted on his chest. So what, you say? Haden then transferred Toledo. Good luck to the tattoo artist put in charge of morphing that into this.
LB Michael Strizak down to three (ESPN Roger Brown Recruiting Blog)
Linebacker Michael Strizak (Fair Lawn, N.J./Don Bosco) has trimmed his list of schools to Boston College, Connecticut and Rutgers.
Opponents / ACC
2011 Season Preview: Potential, Production And The Miami Hurricanes (SBNation.com)
The schedule is, to say the least, trying. The 'Canes open on Labor Day at Maryland, then host Ohio State and Kansas State before the ACC schedule truly gets rolling. Their divisional fate will be decided by trips to Virginia Tech and North Carolina in mid-October, and by the time they reach the @FlaSt-USF-BC portion of their schedule, they could be anywhere between about 8-1 and 3-6. I've talked myself into this team to a certain degree, and I see them winning at least eight games when all is said and done, but 'potential' is the watchword. If we're still talking about potential, and not production, in November, then something went awry.
Interception Rates (Fun Stat Nerd Tidbit: Miami) (Football Study Hall)
Miami's Jacory Harris was a big play waiting to happen in 2010 -- either he was completing a long pass or throwing an interception. New Miami offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch is tasked with getting into Harris' head that checking down to the running back is not the end of the world. If he's successful, then perhaps Harris will rank a little higher on this list. Harris ranked the lowest among prolific BCS quarterbacks last fall.
National experts talk Florida football (OrlandoSentinel.com)
"We like Florida State a lot," said Mitchell Light of Athlon Sports magazine, which has the Seminoles ranked fourth in its preseason rankings. "Their game against Oklahoma, if they can win that game on Sept. 17, then watch out, they will instantly be in the national title discussions."
7/5 Sundry: Freedom links (Barking Carnival)
@bryandfischer makes a case for football independents, including the Oregon Swooshes, Boise State Broncos, and oddly enough the Florida State Seminoles. FSU might want to win a few more ACC titles before going solo but Jimbo is doing quick work in Tallahassee.
Early Week One preview: Northwestern (ESPN Big Ten Blog)
Totally unscientific percentage chance Northwestern wins: 50 percent. I'm calling this a pure toss-up game, as we have one team that likes to score and has had trouble stopping people going on the road against an offensively challenged, defensively minded team. Both Northwestern and BC finished 7-6 last year. Will Dan Persa be all the way back from injury by the opener? This is clearly one of the best Week 1 matchups involving a Big Ten team.
Getting back to a bowl: Wake Forest (ESPN ACC Blog)
Improved red zone and third-down defense. Wake’s defense was one of the worst in the country last season, but where they need specific improvement is inside the 20-yard line. The Deacs were tied for 106th in the country last season in red zone defense, allowing 39 touchdowns in 56 drives. It’s no wonder they ranked 110th in the country in scoring defense. They couldn’t get anyone off the field, and ranked 111th in the country in third-down conversion defense.
How About Bringing The Conference Challenge To Football? (Backing The Pack)
Sounds great to me, though BCI is right about the unlikeliness of the scenario, because we can't be getting in the way of those I-AA cupcakes, now, can we? Still, the fact that most major-conference schools play at least one OOC game against another BCS school gives me some small hope that maybe possibly this could work in the future. I figure once college football gets from 75 to 90 bowl games--which should happen in 2026 or thereabouts--coaches and administrators will be feeling a little better about the idea.
UVA Football Scheduling: Big Risks, Low Rewards? (Streaking The Lawn)
If Virginia Football really wants to get back onto the scene, I'd love to see them start scheduling teams already there. I think it's common sentiment that Virginia generally plays to the level of their opponents. Wyoming 2006. Directional Michigan 2006. Wyoming 2007. UNC 2009. Miami 2011. USC 2011.