2002 ACC Football

[BigMark]

With all the smack that's been going around in some of the basketball thread, I figured we should just bring it out here in the open.

My prediction, FSU back on top of the ACC, but dropping at least one ACC game. Which one?? Not only was the Pack teh first to beat the Noles twice, but they were and ARE the only ACC team to win down in Tallahassee. I'm going out on a limb and saying they also become the first team to beat the Noles in back to back seasons. Keep in mind, over the past 4 years, the Pack is batting .500 against them boys.

[blueblood1]

FSU will be back on top. NCS has a lot of tough road games next year. UNC will only lose TWO games this year in FBALL. One loss will be at FSU and the other will probably be against Texas. Three losses is a possiblity but that would be worse case, IMO! UNC has a favorable home schedule next year. State will be better, as will UVA. Maryland comes back to earth. To early to post order of finish yet though! I think the Pack stole one at FSU last year. Caught the young Noles looking ahead a bit. FSU will be loaded and pissed this season. My preseason pick to win a national title.

[wolverine]

I agree on winning the ACC but not to sure on the National Championship. I do think UNC can and will beat the noles again this season.

[BearBryant]

when did the A She She start playing football?

[LarryD]

fsu will most definately be back -- and with a vengance. i'm going to go out on a limb and predict at LEAST one national championship over the next three years.

you guys just don't know how loaded this team is. they have a TON of playmakers.

what a lot of people don't realize about last season is that they were just a couple of injuries away from going 10-2. losing anquan boldin before the season was devastating. he was the best athlete on the team and a superstar playmaker.

they struggled early on because they had no identity. no proven receivers, no proven runningback, no proven quarterback and this was the first year of a new offensive coordinator/philosophy in almost a decade. and that's just on offense. fsu lost a four-year starter at runningback and a three-year starter at quarterback. that's a lot of transition.

on defense, they had to overcome losing the linebackers and defensive line, plus 4-year playmakers in the secondary.

and then there's dealing with the death of a player and the stabbing of another one during an attempted robbery.

it takes time to gel and i'll bet that no other team in the country could go through that kind of transition and not drop SOME games. finishing 8-4 and playing in a new year's day bowl was a heck of an accomplishment -- and a credit to the raw talent on the team.

fsu's recruiting class this season is probably it's fastest, most athletic group of playmakers they've ever brought in. you'll see at least three of these guys get good playing time this season.

fsu will bring the heat in waves. darnell dockett has to overcome his knee injury sustained on the last play of the bowl game, but he should be an absolute terror in this his junior season.

rix will be back and he'll have REAL targets to throw to this year and a full off-season of working with the receivers and OC jeff bowden to better understand how to score and not turn the ball over -- which cost the noles two games.

i'm telling you guys, this team is going to be quick as cats next season and will challenge for the title. if everyone stays (most notably greg jones and darnell docket) for the 2003 season, this team will roll to the national title.

2002: 12-1 (but it wont be an acc game and it wont be florida)

[BigMark]

UNC doesn't ahve a Prayer in Tallahassee. The only reason the Pack has a chance against them is that they have the best qb in the conference and they'll be at home. I'd also be very shocked to see UNC take State. The biggest fluke last season wasn;t FSU's struggles, it was Carolina's success.

[LarryD]

Originally posted by BearBryant
when did the A She She start playing football?


is alabama allowed to play next year?

[BearBryant]

yes...

[LarryD]

and if anyone thinks im blowing smoke because im an fsu fan, you'll remember that on the other board i correctly predicted fsu's woes last season and said they'd finish 7-4.

[SandMan]

Originally posted by LarryD
you guys just don't know how loaded this team is. they have a TON of playmakers.


Which is exactly why I think the Winkster is overated. He had a ton of playmakers... guess will find out soon enough if the shotgun will help his NFL game. I hope so...

[mathmajors]

Originally posted by blueblood1
FSU will be back on top. NCS has a lot of tough road games next year. UNC will only lose TWO games this year in FBALL. One loss will be at FSU and the other will probably be against Texas. Three losses is a possiblity but that would be worse case, IMO! UNC has a favorable home schedule next year. State will be better, as will UVA. Maryland comes back to earth. To early to post order of finish yet though! I think the Pack stole one at FSU last year. Caught the young Noles looking ahead a bit. FSU will be loaded and pissed this season. My preseason pick to win a national title.

NCSU does have a lot of tough road games (Navy doesn't count just yet), but I think UNC's new defense will take it on the chin more than 3 times when all is said and done.

[Piper]

Thanks Bear, for giving the Vols the best prospect in the State of Alabama. The only problem is we don't know where to play Allen.

Quietly, the Vols had another solid recruiting class, stealing largely from our neighboring states.

Thank you, North Carolina for Aaron Kirkland. Thank You Charlotte for Omar Gaither.

[slydevl]

I dont know why you guys are arguing this is Duke's year for greatness. #1 here we come. If Maryland can do it so can we. Fear the Devil! Fear the Devil! (Intense flashback to Sunday in church) Fear the Devil! Muuuuhahahaha!

[wossa]

Sly - I suddenly get a picture in my mind of you running up to a car, painted blue screaming "DEVILS! DEVILS! DEVILS!" and giving a Priest a heart attack like Puddy did on Sienfeld.

LMAO!

[blueblood1]

No question UNC's defense will be in transition but the offense should be pretty damn good. Almost everybody will be back. UNC's secondary will be very good. Up front is where the experience will be lacking. I have tremendous faith in Bunting and the assistants as well as CONNORS for having them in prime condition come kickoff. Taterhater, and I were the only two that had any faith in the HEEL team last year, well I'm still on the wagon. No more than 3 losses for my boys this year. AND NC STATE won't be one. MY GOD, how many years have we beaten you guys and you still think you're going to spank us? That game in Chapel Hill last year was A FLUKE! I said it then and I'm sayin it now!

[Quick Willie]

I agree with Blueblood that the Heels will be very good on offense and that the big question mark next year will be the defensive front.

The Heels will probably have the best group of receivers in the ACC next year ( with or without Allen ). If the Offensive line can protect the QB's the Heels will have the potential to light up the scoreboard and hopefully take some of the pressure off the defense until they can come around.

It's going to be really difficult to replace players like Peppers and Simms but I feel that Bunting and Co. will have the new faces ready to compete and hopefully we will shock the college football world again this season. All this is speculation however and we should wait at least until spring practice is over before we speculate on just how good and/or bad the defence will be. Bunting has already said that some players will be changing positions next year (players moving from offense to defense, etc).

Fla. State will be loaded this season and will probably be picked to win the ACC. There's a lot of time between now and the beginning of the season and, as seen in the past, the police will once again visit the campus and pluck some of that talent away. I telling you a Heels victory against Fla. State this year would be really sweet.

State too should be a really good team next year but until they are able to throw the ball down field ( more than 5-6 yards )with success they will finish the season in the middle of the ACC.

Who knows what will happen though, hell Ga. Tech., Maryland and/or Virginia may shock everyone and be on top of the ACC at the end of the football season. Hell, Duke may even win a game or two this season.

Oh! and let's not forget those guys in Greenville, N.C. They should win their conference this season:D

:) :) TAR HEEL TO THE BONE:) :)