Richmond September 1/Home
2000 Record: 10-3
Key Players: QB Sean Gustus, OL Ken Farrar, DL Josh Spraker, DB Chad Blackstock, KR Cordell Roane
Musical quarterbacks: Coach Jim Reid's Spiders are among the top teams in Divison 1-AA, ranked 13th in the ESPN/USA Today preseason poll. Not bad for a team that can't even decide on a quarterback. Sean Gustus started 12 of 13 games last year, but fellow senior D'Arcy Wills will also see plenty of playing time. Gustus led the Spiders in rushing with 909 yards and threw for 808 yards and six touchdowns. The defense, led by second-team preseason All-American Josh Spraker, also will be strong. Defensive backs Blackstock and Jason Hill make the Spiders tough against the pass. Cordell Roane is one of the best kickoff returners in the country.
Penn State September 13/Home
2000 Record: 5-7
Key Players: QB Matt Senneca, TB Eric McCoo, WR Eddie Drummond, DT Jimmy Kennedy, LB Shamar Finney
Bouncing back: Last season was supposed to be a victory tour for coach Joe Paterno, who was set to break Bear Bryant's all-time victory record. However, the Nittany Lions began the season by going 1-4, which included a shocking home loss to Toledo. It doesn't look much better this year, with the Lions breaking in a new quarterback in Matt Senneca. However, talented freshman Zack Mills may have Senneca looking over his shoulder. Whoever plays quarterback will have the luxury of handing off to Eric McCoo and throwing to Eddie Drummond, two of the Big Ten's best weapons. The defense was decimated by graduation but returns some strong players in Jimmy Kennedy, Shamar Finney and safety Yaacov Yisrael.
Clemson September 22/Memorial
Stadium, Clemson, S.C.
2000 Record: 9-3, 6-2 ACC
Key Players: QB Woodrow Dantzler, TB Travis Zachery, WR Matt Bailey, LB Chad Carson, CB Brian Mance
Woody's world: Any talk of Tommy Bowden's Clemson football team has to start with senior Heisman Trophy candidate Dantzler, who led the Tigers with 1,871 passing yards and 1,028 rushing yards despite missing the equivalent of three games with injuries. Dantzler lost his top target in NFL first-round draft pick Rod Gardner but has a stable of talented receivers returning, led by Matt Bailey and sophomore Kevin Youngblood. Defensively, Chad Carson is one of the nation's top linebackers, and Brian Mance is a weapon at cornerback and as a return man. Kicker Aaron Hunt is one of the ACC's best.
Duke September 29/Home
2000 Record: 0-11, 0-8 ACC
Key Players: QB D. Bryant, RB Chris Douglas, WR Kyle Moore, DE Charles Porter, CB Terrell Smith
Nowhere to go but up: The Blue Devils hit rock bottom in 2000, but there are encouraging signs for coach Carl Franks's program. The Duke offense ended the season on a high note, averaging 26 points over the last three games. The defense gets an infusion of talent with the return of defensive end Nate Krill and safety B.J. Hill, both of whom missed last season with injuries. Another intriguing prospect is linebacker Jim Scharrer, a 24-year-old freshman who spent the last six seasons playing minor league baseball. However, any Blue Devil fans looking for a team with a winning record should hole up until basketball season.
Maryland October 6/Byrd
Stadium, College Park, Md.
2000 Record: 5-6, 3-5 ACC
Key Players: QB Shaun Hill, WR Guilian Gary, C Melvin Fowler, LB Aaron Thompson, P Brooks Barnard
Questions and answers: New coach Ralph Friedgen, formerly the offensive coordinator at Georgia Tech, has fans excited about a program that has been on the verge of success for several years. However, the Terrapins must replace the program's all-time leading rusher, LaMont Jordan. Speedster Bruce Perry and big back Marc Riley are the leading candidates to replace Jordan. Shaun Hill, who opened last season as the starter at quarterback, will be the starter again in 2001. However, leading returning receiver Guilian Gary sprained his neck in practice, and it is uncertain when he will return. Melvin Fowler is the leader of an experienced offensive line. Defensively, the Terrapins have a strong linebacking corps with Aaron Thompson and freshman All-American Mike Whaley, but the line and backfield are unsettled. Brooks Barnard is one of the best punters in the country.
North Carolina October 13/Kenan
Stadium, Chapel Hill, N.C.
2000 Record: 6-5, 3-5, ACC
Key Players: QB Ronald Curry, WR Bosley Allen, DE Julius Peppers, DT Ryan Sims, LB Quincy Monk
Getting defensive: The Tar Heels have long been known for their strong defense, and the hiring of former New Orleans Saints linebackers coach Jim Bunting as head coach ensured that won't change. This year Julius Peppers, the nation's best defensive player and a backup on the basketball team will lead the Tar Heels. The rest of the defense is nearly as strong, featuring talents like Ryan Sims, Quincy Monk, linebacker Merceda Perry and cornerback Errol Hood. But as strong as the defense appears, the offense is filled with question marks. Ronald Curry, the man Virginia fans love to hate, is back for his fourth season at quarterback. But the running backs are inexperienced, the line is young and small, and the tight ends and fullbacks are unknown. The Tar Heels need more weapons to emerge on offense before they enter the ACC's upper echelon.
Florida State October 20/Home
2000 Record: 11-2, 8-0 ACC
Key Players: QB Chris Rix, RB Davy Ford, WR Robert Morgan, DT Darnell Dockett, FS Chris Hope
Ripe for a fall?: Bobby Bowden's Seminoles have been top dog in the ACC since they joined the league, having lost only two conference games in the last decade. While the Seminoles are still the ACC's favorite by a long shot, this appears to be their most precarious season at the top. Chris Weinke has taken his Heisman Trophy to the NFL, leaving the quarterback job in the hands of redshirt freshman Chris Rix, who has never taken a snap in college. Wide receiver Anquan Boldin tore his ACL in preseason practice, leaving the team with precious little depth at wideout, putting more pressure on Davy Ford and the other running backs to produce. Combine that with the loss of offensive coordinator Mark Richt, and Florida State could struggle on offense. The defense will be a strength as always, but the Seminoles must replace five All-ACC players. Darnell Dockett, Chris Hope and linebacker Bradley Jennings will lead the defense, which also features linebackers Kendyll Pope and Michael Boulware, who are undersized but make plays. The kicking game is an area of concern after a season in which Bowden auditioned several placekickers with little success.
N.C. State October 27/Carter-Finley
Stadium, Raleigh, N.C.
2000 Record: 8-4, 4-4 ACC
Key Players: QB Philip Rivers, RB Ray Robinson, WR Bryan Peterson, LB Levar Fisher, SS Terrence Holt
Unknown no more: The Wolfpack burst onto the national scene in a big way in coach Chuck Amato's first season. Philip Rivers, ACC Rookie of the Year in 2000, is back, but top receiver Koren Robinson left school early for the NFL. Rivers also will be without his mentor, offensive coordinator Norm Chow, who left to become the offensive coordinator at Southern Cal. The Wolfpack's other Robinson, running back Ray, is back after rushing for 894 yards last season and will be counted on to produce while the receivers develop. Levar Fisher, a preseason All-American, leads a defense that returns five of its top seven tacklers from 2000. Terrence Holt, the brother of former Wolfpack standout Torry Holt, was named second-team All-ACC last season.
Wake Forest November 3/Home
2000 Record: 2-9, 1-7 ACC
Key Players: QB Anthony Young, FB Ovie Mughelli, C Vince Azzolina, LB Marquis Hopkins, KR John Stone
Changes: The Demon Deacons are turning over a new leaf in 2001, having replaced pass-happy coach Jim Caldwell with run-oriented Jim Grobe. That means that Anthony Young, who split time with James MacPherson in 2000, has the edge at the quarterback position. Young is the better runner of the two and MacPherson is the better passer. Running back Tarence Williams came on strong at the end of last season and has capable backups in Jamie Scott and Nick Burney, in addition to one of the best blocking fullbacks in the country in Ovie Mughelli. Vince Azzolina and tackle Michael Collins are all-ACC candidates on the offensive line. The defense returns nine starters, including Marquis Hopkins, lineman Nate Bolling, cornerback Quentin Williams and one of the ACC's best names in linebacker Ed Kargbo-Okorogie. John Stone, also a star on the Wake Forest track team, is one of the nation's best kick returners.
Georgia Tech November 10/Home
2000 Record: 9-3, 6-2 ACC
Key Players: QB George Godsey, WR Kelly Campbell, DE Greg Gathers, DE Nick Rogers, PK Luke Manget
The golden Goose: George Godsey, nicknamed "Goose," did the unthinkable last season: he made the Yellow Jacket faithful forget about record-setting quarterback Joe Hamilton. Godsey led coach George O'Leary's Jackets to a second-place ACC finish and recorded the second-most productive season in Georgia Tech history, passing for 2,906 yards and 23 touchdowns with only six interceptions. He sat out spring practice with a torn ACL, but is expected to be ready for the season. Godsey's favorite receiver, Kelly Campbell, is back after catching 59 passes last season, including 10 touchdowns. The offense must adjust to new offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien after longtime coordinator Ralph Friedgen left to become the head coach at Maryland. The defense is also strong, led by All-ACC defensive ends Greg Gathers and Nick Rogers, who combined for 22 sacks in 2000. The special teams, led by Luke Manget and punter Dan Dyke, are among the nation's best.
Virginia Tech November 17/Home
2000 Record: 11-1
Key Players: QB Grant Noel, RB Lee Suggs, WR Andre Davis, DT David Pugh, LB Ben Taylor
Back to basics: The Hokies must adjust to the loss of electrifying quarterback Michael Vick, the first pick in the NFL draft and the most famous athlete in Virginia Tech history. Grant Noel has the inside track to replace him, but all eyes are on true freshman Bryan Randall, the closest thing to Vick remaining on Frank Beamer's roster. Whoever plays quarterback will have a capable supporting cast at the skill positions, led by Heisman Trophy candidate Lee Suggs and speedster Andre Davis. However, four of five offensive line starters are gone. Without Vick, the Hokies will win with their traditional strengths of defense and special teams. The defense is led by Lombardi Trophy candidates David Pugh and Ben Taylor, and the secondary features two potential stars in cornerback Ronyell Whitaker and safety Willie Pile.
Compiled by Chip Knighton
Read More
Virginia baseball boasts the best catcher in the country — a Division III transfer
By Xander Tilock | 11 hours agoFerence has replaced Teel admirably, and will look to lift Virginia back to the College World Series.
Lacrosse defenseman Cole Kastner announces transfer to Stanford basketball
By Michael Liebermann | YesterdayKastner is reviving a hoops career that has lain dormant since he graduated high school.
Virginia gets second Notre Dame rematch in a dynamic ACC Tournament bout Friday
By Michael Liebermann | 2 days agoThe Cavaliers will get a shot at redemption against a vaunted ACC foe, in a game with serious postseason seeding implications.
