1. I find myself rooting for Georgia Tech, just to mess things up for people down there.
2. In case you didn't know, North Carolina hired Gene Chizik as its new defensive coordinator. I don't know what UNC had to pay to get him, but it probably didn't come cheap. I'm guessing that basketball schools like Indiana, Kansas and Duke wouldn't have been able to pay what UNC paid for this assistant coach. UNC football can cry about being overshadowed on its own campus by basketball, but I've never thought they were low on resources.
3. I'm not sure Narduzzi could have taken over a better program for him at a better time. I don't know how well Paul Chryst was recruiting at Pitt, but at least he was recruiting the type of bodies to play the type of football Narduzzi wants to play. Narduzzi undoubtedly will want to keep upgrading, but it's better to take over for a bowl team with power tools than if he were taking over a spread program at a place like Indiana or Illinois.
Here's the notebook from ESPN:
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DUKE
How good are the Blue Devils 2.0? David Cutcliffe worked a miracle in turning around Duke, leading the Blue Devils to three straight bowl games. But the primary architects of that resurgence are gone -- including linebacker Kelby Brown, who figured to be a key cog on D until a knee injury earlier this month ended his career. So can Matt Skura and Jeremy Cash -- two of the few remaining veterans -- carry on the legacy? What’s to be expected from a new-look offense led by Thomas Sirk? Is the defense ready to take the next step behind a talented secondary? Building the program was a tall order, but how much Cutcliffe and his veterans can maintain that success through a second generation will be the big question as the Blue Devils get set to open fall camp.
GEORGIA TECH
Are the Yellow Jackets ready for the burden of expectations? A year ago, virtually everyone in the Coastal was getting preseason love except Georgia Tech. Then Paul Johnson’s crew went out and won the Orange Bowl. Justin Thomas returns, which gives the Tech the role of decisive Coastal favorite -- and perhaps even a team with playoff aspirations -- a stark difference from last year at this time. Thomas is the star,D.J. White is a leader on an emerging defense, and, for once, Johnson doesn’t have to worry about defending his program to outsiders. Instead, he'll be prepping the team for hefty expectations.
MIAMI
How hot is Al Golden's seat at Miami? At this point, there might not be a more frustrated fan base in the country than the folks at Miami. Golden has made some inroads in recruiting, as evidenced by the number of stars the Hurricanes sent to the NFL this offseason, but the wins have been harder to come by. Brad Kaaya returns this season, and he’s a potential difference-maker, but Golden needs to find talent to surround his QB and reignite some confidence from his fan base. That might be tough going.
NORTH CAROLINA
Has Gene Chizik found answers on defense?It'll be Larry Fedora in the spotlight at ACC kickoff, but odds are the offensive-minded head coach will be answering plenty of questions about the D. He brought in Chizik in the offseason to revamp one of the worst units in the country, but Fedora also has an offense led by Marquise Williams that can put up plenty of points. Chizik won't need to turn the Heels into a dominant force on D, but he will need to make some serious strides in Year 1 for UNC to be a real contender.
PITTSBURGH
Is Pat Narduzzi ready to take Pitt to the next level? Paul Chryst walked away from the program to head to Wisconsin after a middling 2014 campaign, but Pitt still landed a gem in Narduzzi, who's been a rising star leading the defense at Michigan State. The Panthers now have some of the top offensive stars in the ACC and a coach with a reputation for building tough-minded defenses. That combination could lead to a special season, and ACC Kickoff could be the chance for Narduzzi to set the external expectations for a program that's spent too long residing in the middle of the pack.
VIRGINIA
Is Mike London a dead man walking?Remember in 2013 when London’s job security was a hot topic at ACC Kickoff? Or what about when that was the storyline once again in 2014? Well, here we are yet again, and the talk hasn't changed much. London has recruited talent at UVa, but the wins have been few and far between, the attendance has dipped consistently, and this year's schedule won’t make things easy for the Cavaliers. But if there's something to be said for consistency, London will get the opportunity to prove he's worth the school's faith in him. That’ll have to start with saying all the right things at ACC Kickoff.
VIRGINIA TECH
Is the offense really ready to compete in 2015? The defense has remained steadfast under Bud Foster, but the offense hasn’t had much success the past three years, and that's put Frank Beamer -- a legend at Virginia Tech and the dean of college football -- in the crosshairs. This spring, everyone raved about the improvement the offense made, and Michael Brewer will get the chance to add to that chorus at ACC Kickoff. But promises aren't worth much in Blacksburg, Virginia, these days, so the real questions can't be answered until the season kicks off against the defending national champs.
2. In case you didn't know, North Carolina hired Gene Chizik as its new defensive coordinator. I don't know what UNC had to pay to get him, but it probably didn't come cheap. I'm guessing that basketball schools like Indiana, Kansas and Duke wouldn't have been able to pay what UNC paid for this assistant coach. UNC football can cry about being overshadowed on its own campus by basketball, but I've never thought they were low on resources.
3. I'm not sure Narduzzi could have taken over a better program for him at a better time. I don't know how well Paul Chryst was recruiting at Pitt, but at least he was recruiting the type of bodies to play the type of football Narduzzi wants to play. Narduzzi undoubtedly will want to keep upgrading, but it's better to take over for a bowl team with power tools than if he were taking over a spread program at a place like Indiana or Illinois.
Here's the notebook from ESPN:
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David M. Hale, ESPN Staff Writer
How good are the Blue Devils 2.0? David Cutcliffe worked a miracle in turning around Duke, leading the Blue Devils to three straight bowl games. But the primary architects of that resurgence are gone -- including linebacker Kelby Brown, who figured to be a key cog on D until a knee injury earlier this month ended his career. So can Matt Skura and Jeremy Cash -- two of the few remaining veterans -- carry on the legacy? What’s to be expected from a new-look offense led by Thomas Sirk? Is the defense ready to take the next step behind a talented secondary? Building the program was a tall order, but how much Cutcliffe and his veterans can maintain that success through a second generation will be the big question as the Blue Devils get set to open fall camp.
Are the Yellow Jackets ready for the burden of expectations? A year ago, virtually everyone in the Coastal was getting preseason love except Georgia Tech. Then Paul Johnson’s crew went out and won the Orange Bowl. Justin Thomas returns, which gives the Tech the role of decisive Coastal favorite -- and perhaps even a team with playoff aspirations -- a stark difference from last year at this time. Thomas is the star,D.J. White is a leader on an emerging defense, and, for once, Johnson doesn’t have to worry about defending his program to outsiders. Instead, he'll be prepping the team for hefty expectations.
How hot is Al Golden's seat at Miami? At this point, there might not be a more frustrated fan base in the country than the folks at Miami. Golden has made some inroads in recruiting, as evidenced by the number of stars the Hurricanes sent to the NFL this offseason, but the wins have been harder to come by. Brad Kaaya returns this season, and he’s a potential difference-maker, but Golden needs to find talent to surround his QB and reignite some confidence from his fan base. That might be tough going.
Has Gene Chizik found answers on defense?It'll be Larry Fedora in the spotlight at ACC kickoff, but odds are the offensive-minded head coach will be answering plenty of questions about the D. He brought in Chizik in the offseason to revamp one of the worst units in the country, but Fedora also has an offense led by Marquise Williams that can put up plenty of points. Chizik won't need to turn the Heels into a dominant force on D, but he will need to make some serious strides in Year 1 for UNC to be a real contender.
Is Pat Narduzzi ready to take Pitt to the next level? Paul Chryst walked away from the program to head to Wisconsin after a middling 2014 campaign, but Pitt still landed a gem in Narduzzi, who's been a rising star leading the defense at Michigan State. The Panthers now have some of the top offensive stars in the ACC and a coach with a reputation for building tough-minded defenses. That combination could lead to a special season, and ACC Kickoff could be the chance for Narduzzi to set the external expectations for a program that's spent too long residing in the middle of the pack.
Is Mike London a dead man walking?Remember in 2013 when London’s job security was a hot topic at ACC Kickoff? Or what about when that was the storyline once again in 2014? Well, here we are yet again, and the talk hasn't changed much. London has recruited talent at UVa, but the wins have been few and far between, the attendance has dipped consistently, and this year's schedule won’t make things easy for the Cavaliers. But if there's something to be said for consistency, London will get the opportunity to prove he's worth the school's faith in him. That’ll have to start with saying all the right things at ACC Kickoff.
Is the offense really ready to compete in 2015? The defense has remained steadfast under Bud Foster, but the offense hasn’t had much success the past three years, and that's put Frank Beamer -- a legend at Virginia Tech and the dean of college football -- in the crosshairs. This spring, everyone raved about the improvement the offense made, and Michael Brewer will get the chance to add to that chorus at ACC Kickoff. But promises aren't worth much in Blacksburg, Virginia, these days, so the real questions can't be answered until the season kicks off against the defending national champs.
