ACC power shift?

The ACC has far greater problems right now than the balance of power between its two football divisions.

But it's something to talk about this morning, so off we go...

If a competition actually exists between the Atlantic and Coastal divisions, the Coastal has established a comfortable margin. It's largely because Virginia Tech resides there; the Hokies have established themselves as the supreme being in the conference, with four ACC titles and a commanding conference record since they joined in 2004.

Last year, when the ACC was actually getting some respect before the season, it was because of the perceived strength of the Coastal Division. Some people were actually saying it might've been the strongest division in college football, and that notion was debunked fairly thoroughly by virtue of Miami and Georgia Tech doing little to distinguish themselves, and a suspension-ravaged North Carolina remaining mediocre.

Now the ACC prepares for its seventh season as a 12-team outfit, and the outlook doesn't look good from this corner. Just too few elite quarterbacks, too few elite playmakers at WR and RB, and too many scandals.

A quick aside: At least the SEC actually gets BCS titles out of its alleged cheating. The ACC gets trips to El Paso and Nashville.

But heck ... it only takes two really good teams to improve the ACC's image -- one vying for a spot in the BCS title game, the other earning the conference's first at-large BCS bid ever. Virginia Tech and Florida State look capable. Clemson's talent and new offensive system make the Tigers a threat, assuming the Tigers stay healthy. I guess someone could make a case for N.C. State and/or Maryland, but I'm not seeing it.

Now that we've ventured way off course from the original point, it looks as if the Atlantic can start turning things back in its favor. The Coastal has won four consecutive ACC title games since Wake Forest and Florida State claimed the game in 2006 and 2005, respectively. The ACC's three offseason scandals have struck three Coastal programs (and we'll call Georgia Tech's a mini-scandal), putting the Coastal's long-term prospects in some serious peril.

Georgia Tech will be OK after its slap on the wrist. But Miami and North Carolina are in shambles. Those three programs, plus Virginia Tech, were all ranked in the Top 18 this time last year.

Who knows what happens with Atlantic programs Maryland, N.C. State and Boston College. They could go either way over the next few years, I suppose.

But what if Florida State indeed is on the rise and Clemson is on the verge of finally cashing in on the talent it's been racking up the last five or six years?

Virginia Tech isn't going anywhere anytime soon, but the Atlantic is in position to assert itself as the Coastal takes some serious hits to its foundation.

On to some Wednesday linkage...

Paul Johnson advocates punishing NFL players who get caught breaking the rules in college.

If you don't like the thought of FSU and Sakerlina playing in the BCS title game, don't read this prediction column by Mike Bianchi.

Here's a story on Troy QB Corey Robinson.

Not good times right now if you're Javaris Crittenton.

Jason Whitlock usually goes against the grain, and he does so here with this take on the Miami fiasco.

And Charles Robinson, the Yahoo! reporter who broke the story, responds to Whitlock's assertion that major parts of his bombshell were fraudulent.

Decision: Robinson wins by TKO.



LW