Raise your hand if you feel old looking at the above picture of James Davis. That's him making an immediate impact in his first college game, a 25-24 victory over Texas A&M in 2005.
Doesn't seem like five years, does it?
Anyway, last night we unveiled the first of our series of "TI Trends" pieces. We opened by examining Clemson's running game in the first five years of the 12-team ACC, and the Tigers' 162.8-yard average ranks third in the conference over that period behind Georgia Tech (216.8) and Virginia Tech (164).
Here's a look at the complete list:
1. Georgia Tech 216.8
2. Virginia Tech 164
3. Clemson 162.8
4. Wake Forest 148.7
5. Miami 133.2
6. Maryland 130.6
7. Florida State 128.8
8. Boston College 128.1
9. N.C. State 115.4
10. Virginia 114.3
11. North Carolina 113.8
12. Duke 91.8
And here's a look at the rankings in conference-only games, a statistic that I believe is more important because it tends to weed out gaudy totals compiled against Division I-AA tomato cans:
1. G. Tech 210.5
2. V. Tech 164.4
3. Clem 148.6
4. W. Forest 132.2
5. Miami 129.6
6. Fla. State 126.6
7. B.C. 116.6
8. Maryland 116.1
9. UNC 111.2
10. N.C. State 108.9
11. Virginia 107.4
12. Duke 102.8
There's very little surprise at the top. Georgia Tech ranks No. 1 largely because of its rushing success the past two years under Paul Johnson. They averaged 295.4 yards on the ground last year, and 273 in PJ's first year.
Interestingly, last year they averaged more yards rushing in conference play (312.9) than overall (295.4). And that does not include the ACC title game, where the Yellow Jackets piled up 333 rushing yards in a 39-34 victory over Clemson.
The Jackets actually had pretty healthy rushing averages before Johnson arrived. They ran for 199.3 yards per game in 2007, 162.4 in 2006 and 153.8 in 2005.
Here's what Virginia Tech's overall numbers look like:
2009: 208.2
2008: 174.4
2007: 133.6
2006: 113.4
2005: 190.7
As noted in the story, Clemson's numbers are boosted by a 218-yard average in 2006. And they're also aided by the fact that a woeful clip in 2004 (107 per game) is not included.
But overall, a pretty healthy clip for the Tigers over the five-year period.
I was a little surprised that Boston College's numbers weren't higher.
Here's what it looks like overall:
2009: 136.9
2008: 143.3
2007: 101.1
2006: 114.5
2005: 145
And in conference play:
2009: 138
2008: 120
2007: 83.8
2006: 106.1
2005: 135.2
If you hadn't watched the ACC over the last five years and looked at Boston College's rushing numbers, you'd probably find it hard to believe that the Eagles went to the ACC title game in 2007 and 2008. Or that they have the second-winningest overall record behind Virginia Tech.
Really enjoying doing all the research for this series. Right now I'm working on turnover margin, and the numbers are interesting. Stay tuned.
On to some links...
I don't often, if ever, post anything on the NBA. But this photo of a Magic fan was just too hard to pass up.
Goodness. Has there ever been a more apt image for "that guy?"
Tigers baseball team continues its hot streak, and Wilson Boyd can be excused if he pushes for all remaining Clemson home games to be played in Greenville.
Boyd hit a grand slam and drove in five runs Tuesday night as Clemson University stretched its winning streak to seven games with a 12-1 victory over Furman University before 3,417 fans at Fluor Field.
“I like it here,” said Boyd, a career .300 hitter with a .437 average in eight games at Fluor including two home runs 13 RBI. “I like the big wall over there. It lets me stay on balls and hit that way so it works out for me.”
Greg Wallace of the Independent-Mail was at the game and says the softest part of the Tigers' schedule is coming at a great time.
Tuesday marked the Tigers’ fourth straight game against a team with an RPI 134 or higher; Furman entered at No. 245. Wake Forest entered Tuesday No. 134, and next Tuesday’s foe, Presbyterian, is No. 262.
When I first opened this column on expansion, I wasn't optimistic: Washington Post columnist I've never heard of takes her stab at a topic without taking a deep look at the nuances of said topic.
But the piece is actually quite good.
In Newport News, David Teel wonders if the ACC has a false sense of security amid all this expansion fever.
The Wilmington Star-News has a piece on expansion, and it's notable mostly for the fact that it features perhaps the biggest picture of John Swofford ever.
There's been considerable speculation for a while now that Arkansas would jump to the Big 12 if it had the chance, but Mistuh College Football says it'll never happen.
Would Florida State bolt for the SEC? The Seminoles brass appears to be at least giving the idea some thought.
Apparently Murphy Holloway isn't inclined to pay his own way to school, which would rule out Sakerlina and Clemson assuming Mississippi does not grant his appeal.
I can think of one person who might be happy about that.
LW
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