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With a combined 10-4, the ACC enjoyed what appeared to be a successful weekend. It came with a price: Injuries to some high-profile players.
The most recent was Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Brewer, who will have surgery on Tuesday after breaking his left collarbone in Monday night's loss to Ohio State. The news added injury to insult as Brewer and the Hokies were ahead of the top-ranked team at halftime. He went out in the third quarter.
He wasn't the only quarterback to be injured. Syracuse’s dual-threat QB Terrel Hunt (Achilles) is done.
Meanwhile, Pitt’s Heisman hopeful running back James Conner (knee) is out for the season.
Clemson’s all-ACC wide receiver Mike Williams had to be carted off the field after slamming into the field goal post while making a touchdown catch. That diagnosis? A small fracture of the neck, if there is such a thing.
Hunt, a senior, went down during the first quarter of the Orange’s 47-0 victory over FCS Rhode Island. Hunt had not played a full season since 2013.
His college career got off to a promising start two years ago when he completed 61.2 percent of his passes for 1,638 yards and 10 touchdowns. Stats that were expected to increase the following season.
In 2014, Hunt threw for 983 yards and a score in the month of September, but on Oct. 4 he cracked his fibula and finished the year on the sideline.
Syracuse would go on to finish 3-9, making Scott Shafer’s seat a little warmer heading into the 2015 season. Hunt’s healthy return was supposed to mark the resurrection of Syracuse football, but with the athletic passer finished the Orange will face an uphill battle to reach .500.
Freshman Eric Dungey filled in and completed 10 of his 17 pass attempts for 114 yards and two touchdowns.
While Hunt’s situation was saddening, Williams’ injury was downright scary. The Tigers’ 6-4, 210-pound wide receiver smashed his shoulder into the field goal post while making an amazing touchdown catch during Clemson’s opening drive of its 49-10 win over FCS Wofford. In this video you can see Williams kept his foot inbounds while making the catch.
The junior wide receiver had to be carted off the field and was taken to a local hospital where he was treated for a neck injury.
“The only thing I can tell you right now is that they are calling it a neck sprain," Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “They took him off to do an MRI to do some further evaluations. He's walking and got good movement and has good strength. They got him in a neck brace, just kind of a stabilizer but had good strength, good movement and his spirits are good. That's really all I know until we get the MRI back and see if there's anything long term as far as keeping him out I have no idea."
In Pittsburgh, the hire of head coach Pat Narduzzi lifted the spirits of Panthers fans, but you have to believe that their enthusiasm took a hit after hearing the news about Connor, who had to leave in the second quarter of the Panthers' 45-37 victory over FCS Youngstown State when he sustained a MCL injury on a nine-yard run.
Connor, a junior, rushed for 1,765 yards and 26 touchdowns last season and had tallied 77 yards and two scores before he was hurt.
FSU Cook-ing with gas
Florida State running back Dalvin Cook missed a majority of fall camp after being suspended indefinitely for being accused of striking a women.
Cook was found not guilty of misdemeanor battery and reinstated to the team a week before the Seminoles opener and showed no signs of rust during FSU’s 59-16 romp over FCS Texas State.
The sophomore running backed rumbled for 156 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Seminoles to an easy victory.
Bragging rights up for grabs in Week 2
Bragging rights will be up for grabs next week as four ACC teams will play games against in-state opponents.
The grudge matches begin on Friday when Florida Atlantic University hosts Miami at 8 p.m. The action resumes on Saturday when Florida State hosts South Florida and is followed by N.C. Central at Duke and N.C. A&T at North Carolina.
