ACC Football Kickoff Quick Hits

'11 Football ACC Media UNC Scandal12

The 2011 ACC Football Kickoff is ongoing in Pinehurst. Here are some quick tidbits:

*The media picked Florida State and Virginia Tech to repeat as Atlantic and Coastal champions, respectively (TheACC.com), and picked State to finish third in the Atlantic (GoPack.com).

*Redshirt sophomore cornerback Jarvis Byrd will miss the season with a torn ACL (WRAL.com).

*Fan-favorite George Bryan talks about every State fan’s favorite topic (and perhaps, biggest concern), Mike Glennon (WRAL.com):

“I definitely think Mike’s got think skin,” said senior tight end George Bryan. “He’s definitely focused on what he needs to be focused on and doesn’t let anything else bother him.”

In addition to complementing Glennon’s focus, Bryan touted his leadership and work ethic.

”I like the way Mike has come in and been a leader of our offense,” Bryan said. “He commands respect in the huddle and that’s a key thing for a quarterback to have. Everybody basically (wants) to be a follower behind him because he’s the guy that gets everything started on the offense. He’s proved himself on the field because he has great talent and is a hard worker.

*Travis Sawchik talks about the inexperience at quarterback in the ACC (Charleston Post & Courier). With Wilson gone, this is certainly true. But, to be fair, in the past seven years since Philip Rivers and Matt Schaub graduated, with a few exceptions (such as Wilson), even the experienced among the ACC’s quarterbacks haven’t been all that impressive (although Danny O’Brien’s Heisman performance against State in College Park last season would suggest otherwise).

*Heather Dinich talks about being in Pinehurst’s magnificent pine tree heaven John Swofford’s push for “change” (ESPN.com).

Meanwhile, John Swofford deflects criticism of his alma mater with some fancy rhetoric perpetuating the myth that if UNC is in trouble, then the entire “league” must have a problem following the rules. First, on Sunday (WRAL.com):

Those probes have combined to make for yet another long summer across the ACC, and the man who heads the league wants those questions answered so the focus can return to competition — not compliance.

“Any time one of our schools has an NCAA problem, wherever it is and whichever one it is, I’m disappointed and concerned because that’s not who we are as a league,” commissioner John Swofford said. “When you have those kinds of problems, you don’t step back from what your cornerstones are and what you’re all about. You try to fix them and move forward.”

Then, again today (WRAL.com)

Swofford said he wants three things from the 12 members of the ACC: win, play by the rules and graduate players.

Georgia Tech is on probation for violating NCAA rules and the University of North Carolina has received a Notice of Allegations and is awaiting a hearing.

“I’m disappointed and concerned because that’s not who we are as a league,” Swofford said.

Two of the 12 member institutions are in trouble, so clearly it’s the league rather than those individual institutions.

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'11 Football ACC Media UNC Scandal

12 Responses to ACC Football Kickoff Quick Hits

  1. IamGumbyDammit 07/25/2011 at 4:48 PM #

    Per WRAL – “I definitely think Mike’s got think skin,” … “think skin”? I guess their copy editor or proofreader hasn’t arrove yet (or if from UNX, maybe he/she has).

  2. wolfpacker 07/25/2011 at 4:50 PM #

    Well, Swofford doesn’t have to worry about unc graduating players, they hand out As, Bs, and Cs to the athletes the best they can so as to make certain they are eligible and able to graduate.

    What a JOKE!

  3. IamGumbyDammit 07/25/2011 at 4:53 PM #

    “Two of the 12 member institutions are in trouble, so clearly it’s the league rather than those individual institutions.” come on now. Any UNX fan will tell you UNX IS the league. Just ask them. (And all this time I thought the ACC was a conference)

  4. Hungwolf 07/25/2011 at 5:06 PM #

    ACC, All Carolina Conference! Even Swofford putting a spin on the UNC scandle. Amazing he can mention Ga. Tech or an FSU girls team, but can’t say UNC!

    He should have stated, UNC is the conference leader once agian. Nine major NCAA violations, no other conference school has ever accomplished that!

  5. TheAliasTroll 07/25/2011 at 5:22 PM #

    “*The media picked Florida State and Virginia Tech to repeat as Atlantic and Coastal champions, respectively”

    Surprise, surprise!

  6. wolffpride 07/25/2011 at 6:46 PM #

    Man that sucks for Jarvis Byrd. Apparently it is his other knee this time. I really hope he makes a comeback from this, though it will be hard. Tom O’brien also tagged DT Markus Kuhn and TE Mario Carter as the potential breakout players on defense and offense. With Sweezy, Kuhn, and Reiskamp our D-line could be pretty sick. Mustafa Greene not coming back until early October? Damn, well maybe he will come back a little earlier. Missing Wake game not so bad, but would like to have him for the Cincy and GT games.

  7. DC_wolf 07/25/2011 at 7:35 PM #

    Picked up a copy of Lindy’s college fb preview today; man, I should have peeked inside 1st before I plunked down my 8 bucks: they have State finishing FIFTH in their division, TWO slots behind MD (man, that burns my bacon). & they have WVU taking on FSU in the BCS Orange Bowl(!)

    I mean, I know Russell is no longer the QB, & no offense WV_Wolf – but we embarrased the Mountaineers in the Champs Bowl & still get no respect? Sometimes I think the so-called “media” are sorely overpaid.

  8. 61Packer 07/25/2011 at 8:30 PM #

    After picking State 6th in the division last season, Phil Steele picked the Pack 3rd this season. I think this might be too low; this season’s schedule should help us a great deal, and I think we’re overdue for another double-digit win season. I predict 9 wins plus a bowl win.

  9. SuperStuff 07/25/2011 at 9:05 PM #

    I read all that and all I could think was damn it sucks for Jarvis Byrd. I feel for that young guy. You know he wanted to help this year and now the same thing. I hope he stays strong mentally.

  10. john of sparta 07/25/2011 at 10:33 PM #

    the injury drumbeat continues.
    it just never takes a break.

  11. PackerInRussia 07/26/2011 at 12:09 AM #

    john of sparta, injuries are part of football. Sort of like $$, agents, jetting all across the country, par-tays, academic cheating, and lying are part of football.

  12. JSRy2k 07/26/2011 at 11:58 AM #

    “…with a few exceptions (such as Wilson), even the experienced among the ACC’s quarterbacks haven’t been all that impressive…”
    Don’t forget Matt Ryan.

    I read a recent quote from TOB about his 4 NFL QB’s from BC and thought that’s damn good for 10 seasons. Almost equally impressive as his rep w/ the OL. Glennon should also be a good one to watch!

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