By Doug Roberson, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
July 26, 2010
GREENSBORO, N.C. --- ACC commissioner John Swofford seems happy with the state of the ACC.
Conference expansion dominated the college football landscape over the summer. Every day a new spitball was thrown against the wall: The ACC will lose Georgia Tech, the ACC will gain Texas, the ACC will become a 16-team mega-conference.
From his office in Greensboro, Swofford watched all of this play out and planned. While happy with 12 teams, his conference has looked at 14- and 16-team scenarios should the need arise.
"We know what it would look like and what the advantages and disadvantages would be," he said. "It gets a lot more complicated. There's a reason it hasn't happened. But that doesn't mean it won't happen."
Following slim crowds, Charlotte gets its chance
Swofford wouldn't rule out one day taking the ACC championship game back to Florida, where it was played in front of sparse crowds the past five seasons.
The next two games will be in Charlotte, closer to the geographic base of the conference.
"We are going to do everything we can possibly do to make it a resounding success," he said.
Peters said defense nearly cost three wins
Georgia Tech's Jason Peters said last year was very frustrating for the defense, which gave up 361.3 yards per game. The number wasn't that damaging, except when considering that the Yellow Jackets' offense held the ball for a conference-best 33 minutes, 49 seconds per game.
As a result, defensive coordinator Dave Wommack was fired and Al Groh was hired. Peters wouldn't say anyone was at fault. Things just weren't working. He thinks poor play by his side of the ball almost cost Tech three games last season.
"We could have played a lot better," Peters said. "There were times when there wasn't an answer for us. We will be going into this camp to improve on what we are doing."
Rule change could hamper Yellow Jackets
There are several rules changes for the 2010 college football season, according to Doug Rhoads, the ACC coordinator of officials, and one of them noticeably could affect Georgia Tech:
1. Wedge blocking: No more than three players can be within two yards of each other, shoulder to shoulder, for purposes of blocking for a return.
2. Concussions: If an official recognizes any sign of a concussion suffered by a player, that official is required to send the player to the sidelines. The player must stay out for at least one play and can't return until a team's medical official clears him.
3. Spearing: The official term is no longer in the rule book. However, no player on offense or defense can initiate contact with the point of his helmet.
4. Crack-backs: Players who are positioned more than five yards away must be on a line perpendicular to the ball if they are moving in to block. This is where Georgia Tech, which employs a lot of crack-back blocks with its offense, could have trouble.
Rhoads said the American Football Coaches Association discussed making blocks below the waist illegal. However, as the coaches have done every year when the matter has been brought up, according to Rhoads, they dismissed it. The difficulty for officials is deciding in a split second if what they see is a legal below-the-waist cut block or an illegal chop block.
Wolfpack LB declares himself healthy now
N.C. State linebacker Nate Irving said he feels pretty good. That's a good thing. Irving was involved in a horrific one-car crash on June 28, 2009. He suffered a broken rib, punctured lung, separated shoulder and, most gruesome of all, a compound fracture to his leg.
The injury occurred when he fell asleep while driving from his hometown of Wallace, a small town in eastern North Carolina, back to Raleigh.
Irving missed the 2009 season, but recovered in time to participate in spring practice. Georgia Tech will host Irving and N.C. State on Sept. 25.
His team needs him. He was an honorable mention All-ACC player in 2008, averaging 8.7 tackles. He also led the team in interceptions (four). Last season, the Wolfpack allowed 31.2 points per game, 11th in the ACC.
Bowden already missed in Greensboro in 2010
It's odd to look at an FSU media guide and not see Bobby Bowden on the cover. Instead, the front features Heisman hopeful Christian Ponder and coach Jimbo Fisher.
Swofford said it was even more odd to not have the Seminoles' longtime coach at the ACC media event. Bowden retired after 34 seasons that included winning two national championships.
"We're going to miss his humor, his sayings, his quality, his dadgumits," Swofford said. "He was one of those icons. I don't know how you couldn't like him. I don't know how you couldn't respect him. When someone like that leaves the game they are going to be tremendously missed."
