Ron Morris

MORRIS: Dulcet tones help explain ACC

Published: November 2, 2012 

Presenting the 10th annual musical tribute to ACC football, with country star Tim McGraw leading the tunes.

Boston College: “Something’s Broken”

Frank Spaziani went 8-5 and 7-6 in his first two seasons at Boston College. Now it appears as if “Something’s Broken” after a 4-8 season in 2011 and a 2-6 start this go-round.

Clemson: “Who Are They?”

The Tigers are 7-1 and ranked 10th nationally. All seems to be well at Clemson, until you realize the Tigers do not have a single quality win. It makes you wonder “Who Are They?”, and are the Tigers a legitimate top-10 team?

We might not find out until Clemson plays South Carolina.

Duke: “A Place In The Sun”

Even if the Blue Devils do not win another game, they have found “A Place In The Sun” this season by being bowl eligible for the first time since playing in the 1994 Hall of Fame Bowl.

Florida State: “Back When”

Remember “Back When” Florida State dominated the ACC, winning 11 championships in 12 seasons at one point? Well, since winning the inaugural ACC Championship Game in 2005, Florida State has made an appearance in that game once since — and lost.

Georgia Tech: “Forget About Us”

What happened? Paul Johnson’s first four seasons at Georgia Tech produced nine, 10, six and eight wins. There also was an ACC championship in there, although it was vacated by NCAA sanctions.

But who thought Georgia Tech would be saying “Forget About Us” this season, one in which the Yellow Jackets sit at 3-5 including a 49-28 thumping at the hands of Middle Tennessee.

Maryland: “Hard On The Ticker”

The Terrapins season has been “Hard On The Ticker” for its coaching staff and fan base. Maryland has won four games by an average margin of 5.5 points. It has lost four games by an average margin of 4.2 points. It also has turned to its fifth quarterback because of injuries.

Miami: “The Great Divide”

With a 44-37 victory over N.C. State in late September, Miami stood at 4-1 and on the verge of cracking the Top 25. Then came “The Great Divide.” Miami since has lost consecutive games to Notre Dame, North Carolina and Florida State. A once-promising season could be slipping away.

North Carolina: “Set This Circus Down”

Maybe it actually should be “Shut This Circus Down,” for North Carolina’s football season is all for naught anyway. Because of NCAA sanctions, the Tar Heels are ineligible for the ACC championship and a bowl game.

So who really cares that North Carolina lost to rival Duke in the final seconds one week and defeated rival N.C. State in the final seconds the next?

N.C. State: “Ain’t That Just Like A Dream”

The Wolfpack were rolling along, a third consecutive win all but assured and a 6-2 record and a shot at the ACC Atlantic Division championship in hand. But “Ain’t That Just Like A Dream,” that it came to an end when UNC returned a punt 74 yards with 13 seconds remaining to shatter it all.

Virginia: “Things Change”

Mike London was the ACC coach of the year in 2011 when he led Virginia to an 8-5 record and Chick-fil-A Bowl appearance. When Virginia opened this season with wins against Richmond and Penn State, more of the same was expected.

But “Things Change,” and Virginia has inexplicably lost six consecutive games.

Virginia Tech: “Tickin’ Away”

Just because it is Virginia Tech, you tend to believe things will turn around for the Hokies and they will finish with a decent season. But time is “Tickin’ Away” at 4-4 with remaining games against Miami, Florida State, Boston College and Virginia.

Wake Forest: “Refried Dreams”

It is a cyclical thing for coach Jim Grobe and Wake Forest. It takes three or four or five seasons for Wake Forest to build winning teams. After a 6-7 mark a season ago, the Demon Deacons are 4-4 this season with “Refried Dreams” of again posting 11, nine and eight wins as they did from 2006 to 2008.

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