I'd imagine most Clemson fans weren't all that excited about watching last week's ACC title game.
Virginia Tech versus Florida State was a good matchup and all, but several times during the game I couldn't help but ask myself:
Why isn't Clemson here?
The answer to that is pretty simple. The Tigers found a way to lose 16-13 in Tallahassee late in the season, and that defeat ended up costing them another Atlantic Division title.
Had the result of that game been different and all others after it stayed the same, there would've been a four-way tie atop the division among Clemson, Florida State, Maryland and N.C. State. The Tigers would've gone to Charlotte by virtue of their wins over all three of those foes.
The Tigers are going to Charlotte, but for the Meineke Car Care Bowl and not the ACC title game. Talk about a cruel twist.
So it's one trip to the ACC title game in six seasons for Clemson.
Here's the breakdown of division winners since the conference split into two divisions in 2005, with conference titles in parentheses:
ATLANTIC
Florida State 2 (1)
Boston College 2
Clemson 1
Wake Forest 1 (1)
COASTAL
Virginia Tech 4 (3)
Georgia Tech 2 (1)
The Hokies cemented their ACC dominance by running the table in conference play this season after the losses to Boise State and James Madison.
Over the last six seasons, each team has played 48 regular-season conference games. Here's the breakdown:
1. Virginia Tech: 39-9
2. Georgia Tech: 32-16
3. Boston College: 30-18
4. Clemson: 28-20
5. Florida State: 27-21
6. Miami: 25-23
7. Wake Forest: 22-26
8. Maryland: 21-27
8. North Carolina: 21-27
10. N.C. State: 19-29
11. Virginia: 19-29
12. Duke: 5-43
Clearly, the biggest surprise has been the abject mediocrity suffered by Florida State and Miami. Everyone expected those two teams to dominate the conference, yet the Seminoles have won just one ACC title. And the Hurricanes have not even been to the ACC title game.
It is still completely staggering that, entering this season, the two traditional powers had combined for a 41-39 record in ACC play over the first five seasons of the two-division format.
And that's what really has to bother Clemson fans the most: The Seminoles and Hurricanes have been down, and yet the Tigers have not been able to capitalize -- not enough, anyway.
We've documented this before, but the biggest nemeses for the Tigers since 2005 have been Boston College, Georgia Tech, Maryland and Wake Forest. Clemson took care of three of those teams this season, but the Eagles rose up and bit the Tigers again.
Clemson's record against Boston College since 2005: 2-4.
I've said this over and over and over again, but it bears repeating:
Clemson fans are often mocked for harboring out-of-whack expectations, but I can't remember the last time I spoke to a Clemson fan who demands that this program get back to winning national championships.
What I hear most often are complaints that this program can't compete for and win ACC titles on a regular basis.
Given the resources Clemson possesses compared to the ACC competition it has struggled against the most, it is completely understandable for Clemson fans to look at the past six years and wonder what the heck happened.
It's completely reasonable for them to have watched last week's ACC title game and wonder why the heck their team wasn't there.
On to our final rankings:
1. Virginia Tech--Another 10-win season for Beamer and Co. The national pundits still mock this team for its awful loss to James Madison, but the Hokies are playing darn good football right now.
2. Florida State-- A successful first season for Jimbo Fisher. But I'm not sold on E.J. Manuel.
3. N.C. State-- Boston College fans had to get a laugh out of the Wolfpack's meltdown at Maryland with everything on the line. They've seen it before.
4. Maryland-- We said in October the Terps would affect the Atlantic Division race in their final two games against Florida State and N.C. State. Ralph Friedgen's team benefited from a weak schedule, but eight wins is a sure sign of progress.
5. Boston College-- This is where the rankings get difficult. The Eagles get the nod here by virtue of their five-game winning streak.
6. North Carolina-- We'll give the Tar Heels the edge over Miami and Clemson because of superior coaching.
7. Miami-- Mike Leach in South Florida? Not gonna happen, but we can dream.
8. Clemson--Is it baseball season yet?
9. Georgia Tech-- Maybe Al Groh needs to retire and start playing chess full-time.
10. Virginia--Four wins in Mike London's first year. Not bad, given the expectations.
11. Duke--David Cutcliffe is an excellent coach. But Duke is Duke.
12. Wake Forest-- Deacs closed the regular season with a win at Vanderbilt. ACC! ACC! ACC!
LW
No comments:
Post a Comment