Spring Break
Ranking the Carolinas
Death Valley has an ACC title on its mind
Jared Jackson, Staff Writer
Issue date: 7/30/08 Section: Sports
We continue our march toward the start of the college football season by ranking the top five teams of the Carolinas. In a list sure to cause controversy, the only requirement is that a team must be 1-A. Of course, that means no Appalachian State. While the Mountaineers are certainly a great team demonstrated in that they have won three straight division 1-AA titles, they don't play nearly the schedule that teams on this list do. For every Michigan and LSU, there is a Western Carolina or Chattanooga on the schedule.
1. Clemson
The Tigers are without a doubt the deepest team in the Carolinas and could be poised for a national championship run. Last season, Clemson went 9-4 overall and 5-3 in the ACC, culminating in a 23-20 overtime loss to Auburn in the Peach Bowl. While the conference record wasn't outstanding last year, fellow ACC coaches and media ranked the Tigers as No. 1 in the ACC preseason poll released last week. If the offensive line can hold up this season, the Tigers could be destined for great things. They must be prepared however, as they open against Alabama in one of the most anticipated games of the season.
2. Wake Forest
The Demon Deacons are considered to be strong ACC championship contenders this season. While perhaps they are not the national championship contender like Clemson, the attitude at Wake Forest has come to expect conference championships after posting back-to-back winning seasons the past two years. Last season, Wake Forest went 9-4 overall and 5-3 in the ACC. The Demon Deacons capped off the season by winning the Meineke Car Care Bowl, 24-10 over Connecticut. This year, Wake Forest figures into the ACC race in the latter part of the season.
3. UNC-Chapel Hill
Many will wonder why the Tar Heels rank so high on this list; after all, they won only four games last year. While Carolina only went 4-8 overall and 3-5 in the ACC, progress in the team started to shine through in the latter part of the season. The ACC coaches and media picked the Tar Heels to finish second in the coastal division behind Virginia Tech in the preseason. If Carolina can get off to a good start, a 9-3 or 8-4 record in the regular season is not out of the question--or they could be in exactly the same place they were at the end of last season.
1. Clemson
The Tigers are without a doubt the deepest team in the Carolinas and could be poised for a national championship run. Last season, Clemson went 9-4 overall and 5-3 in the ACC, culminating in a 23-20 overtime loss to Auburn in the Peach Bowl. While the conference record wasn't outstanding last year, fellow ACC coaches and media ranked the Tigers as No. 1 in the ACC preseason poll released last week. If the offensive line can hold up this season, the Tigers could be destined for great things. They must be prepared however, as they open against Alabama in one of the most anticipated games of the season.
2. Wake Forest
The Demon Deacons are considered to be strong ACC championship contenders this season. While perhaps they are not the national championship contender like Clemson, the attitude at Wake Forest has come to expect conference championships after posting back-to-back winning seasons the past two years. Last season, Wake Forest went 9-4 overall and 5-3 in the ACC. The Demon Deacons capped off the season by winning the Meineke Car Care Bowl, 24-10 over Connecticut. This year, Wake Forest figures into the ACC race in the latter part of the season.
3. UNC-Chapel Hill
Many will wonder why the Tar Heels rank so high on this list; after all, they won only four games last year. While Carolina only went 4-8 overall and 3-5 in the ACC, progress in the team started to shine through in the latter part of the season. The ACC coaches and media picked the Tar Heels to finish second in the coastal division behind Virginia Tech in the preseason. If Carolina can get off to a good start, a 9-3 or 8-4 record in the regular season is not out of the question--or they could be in exactly the same place they were at the end of last season.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 13
Michael
posted 7/30/08 @ 2:50 PM EST
how in the crap could you possibly think that ECU is better than the Gamecocks!?!??!?! if ECU played in the SEC they wouldnt win a single game!
Edge
posted 7/30/08 @ 3:25 PM EST
One need only consider the source to see why The Gamecocks are rated so low........this guy is not serious!
Chad
posted 7/30/08 @ 3:37 PM EST
Ha ha...this article is funny. Definately some ACC and ECU bias, but I guess that's expected from North Carolina. Even though, I would put South Carolina above ECU and UNC. (Continued…)
Dave
posted 7/30/08 @ 7:41 PM EST
ha this is comical
If I recall correctly THE CAROLINA beat unc in chapel hill and as for ECU they do not even belong in the same breath as USC
I can see CLEMPSUN as 1 but the 2nd team should come from the palmetto state as well if this article was not so ACC/NC biased
Jolly
posted 7/30/08 @ 8:41 PM EST
If I recall correctly, #7 "THE CAROLINA" barely held on to beat a 2-5 the other Carolina-a team with little experience. They weren't picked second this year for nothing. (Continued…)
C-Dawg
posted 7/30/08 @ 9:56 PM EST
Must be some good weed over in Greenville, NC..
Clemson is the best team in the Carolinas... Hands down... But come on, UNC will get better, but South Carolina will be much improved. (Continued…)
Jason
posted 7/31/08 @ 7:45 AM EST
C-Dawg, as much as I hate to admit it, your rankings make MUCH more sense than the article's.
Simply stated, ECU is BY FAR outclassed by the Gamecocks, and by NC State. (Continued…)
Jimmy
posted 7/31/08 @ 8:55 AM EST
Let's be honest... these rankings are a joke. The Division I-AA classification is no longer used, as the Football Championship Division is the correct terminology. (Continued…)
Ryan
posted 7/31/08 @ 9:33 AM EST
1) Clemson
2) South Carolina
3) Wake Forest
4) App St.
5) NC State
6) ECU
Chris
posted 7/31/08 @ 9:58 AM EST
No one with any objectivity or judgement can take this seriously. ECU is much like App St. A great team, as compared to their (C-USA) schedule. The same can be said for Clemson, as they would not be BCS bowl bid contenders in the SEC. (Continued…)
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