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THE PIG IS IN THE AIR!
Marc Lawrence’s 2003 College Football Power Plays
By Marc Lawrence • www.PLAYBOOK.com
Thanks to our 2003 PLAYBOOK FOOOTBALL HANDICAPPERS’ YEARBOOK magazine, hot of the presses and on sale now at newsstands across the country, our freshly windexed crystal ball looks into the prospects of each of the 117 Division 1-A football teams for the upcoming campaign. Journey with us for a date with history as we examine the BEST and the WORST situations and games surrounding each team this season. We’ve penciled in the games of interest, and the parameters surrounding those games. Get your scorecards ready as we look to make a little extra bacon this college football season as we take a look inside the ACC for 2003…
ACC
On the whole the ACC appears as competitive as it’s been since the admission of Bobby Bowden and all of his ole boys from Florida State back in 1992. With the Seminoles stuck in a stall pattern and Maryland making major moves under the ‘Fridge’, the league appears wide open and up for grabs. Add to the mix steadied improvement from the likes of NC State, Virginia and Wake Forest and you suddenly have a conference whose thinking their next motto should be “Miami Who?”
CLEMSON
At first glance the Tigers look like most college football teams, losing 12 starters from last year’s 7-6 squad. The difference here, however, is a lot of the backups found plenty of playing time last year and many of them return. In addition, their even-game home slate would appear fortuitous. A closer look, though, finds both Florida State and Georgia traveling to Death Valley together for the first time since 1995. A tougher journey ensues when the Tigers take to the conference road, as all four ACC foes were bowl teams in 2002. The feeling here is that by the time they make to Columbia this team could be leaking oil.
PLAY AGAINST: as DD FAV vs Duke
DUKE
It’s time to turn off the valve on the laughing gas. For the first time since 1994 the Blue Devils look to be in position to actually finish above the .500 barrier. Yes, that’s a bit of a bold statement to make for a team that has not won a conference game in over three years. There’s simply too much talent on hand to think otherwise. The senior RB tandem of Chris Douglas and Alex Wade have combined to rush for 3,278 career yards, improving Duke’s ground game every year since they arrived in Durham in 2000. Add to that a rush defense that improved 125 YPG last season and suddenly there’s a huge run of confidence building within this program. It doesn’t hurt, either, knowing that a compliment of 20 starters is back. We’re not jokin’ – the Dukies could be bowling in ’03.
PLAY ON: as Dog vs Wake Forest
FLORIDA STATE
For the first time since 1996 the Seminoles will open the season against three straight ACC foes. Not only did they win those games but also every other game on their regular season schedule, too. While that possibility is remote, at best, this year, it does serve a purpose as it figures to get the Seminoles in the right frame of mind right out of the gate. In an attempt to protect QB Chris ‘Turnoversauras’ Rix, Bowden elected to run the ball more than he passed last year for the first time in 15 years. Knowing his final seven games are all against bowl teams, a 5-0 start is mandatory. It’s Game Six that Bowden will want the most, especially knowing the loss here in 2001 to the Hurricanes snapped a 37-game home win streak. Playing with triple revenge, Bobby gets what Bobby wants.
PLAY ON: vs Miami Florida
GEORGIA TECH
You know Chan Gailey is a quarterbacking-coaching guru when he says, “the QB job is wide open this year.” Imagine how returning incumbent A.J Suggs feels after having started all 13 games last year. Gailey’s 28 years of coaching experience, including 14 at the NFL level, hopes to help land the Yellow Jackets a school record 8th straight bowl bid this year. To do so he’ll go toe-to-toe with eight other fellow bowlers, against only two of whom he beat last year. A lightning fast defensive backfield is keyed by three all ACC track stars, including I-Perfection Harris (yes, you read it right… I-Perfection). What we don’t like is the fact they slipped 42 ypg on offense and 21 ypg defensively in Gailey’s inaugural campaign.
PLAY AGAINST: as Fav vs Vanderbilt
MARYLAND
Off back-to-back double-digit victory seasons for the first time in school history, and the first back-to-back winning seasons since 1984-85, the Terrapins are on full throttle. Third year head coach Ralph Friedgen is literally and figuratively the BMOC (Big Man On Campus) in College Park. The return of former All-American RB Bruce Perry (back from injury) and the emergence of senior QB Scott McBrien figures to solidify Maryland’s chances for a 3rd straight double-digit victory season. That and another cupcake filled non-conference schedule should help, too. It should all serve the Big Turtle well again in 2003. Expect a big effort in Tallahassee as the Fridge looks to atone for his only home conference blemish to date.
PLAY ON: as Dogs vs Florida State
NORTH CAROLINA
The Tarheels took a beating in John Bunting’s 2nd season. Dropping from 8-5 to 3-9, UNC closed out a dismal 2002 campaign on a 1-6 run. Chief culprit was a defense that was 157 YPG worse than it’s predecessor. That will have to become ‘priority one’ should the hope to improve in 2003. Things on the offensive side of the ball look promising as all five starters from the line are back. In addition, blossoming 6’3” / 275 lb tight end Bobby Blizzard makes this line as solid as any inside the ACC. The schedule finds them on the road five different times against bowl teams. If they can tend to business at home, and plug the aforementioned leak on defense, it could be happy days in Chapel Hill once again.
PLAY ON: vs Wake Forest
NORTH CAROLINA STATE
Somehow it seems that whenever you’re fortunate enough to knock off Florida State in a conference game you should be in position to win an ACC championship. Thus was not the case for the Wolfpack last season as they somehow managed to take it on the chin against three other conference foes and thus fritter away a golden opportunity. They did mange, however, their first 10-win season in 111 years thanks to a school best 9-0 start. The return of 6’5” 235 lb senior quarterback Philip Rivers (currently ranked 3rd among active passers) and star sophomore running back T.A. McLendon (18 TD’s and 1,110 rushing yards last year) makes this unit as powerful as any. If Rivers can somehow improve on his so-so 13-11 mark against fellow conference foes it could be a big year in Raleigh this season.
PLAYON: vs Georgia Tech
VIRGINIA
Former NY Jets head coach Al Groh earned ACC coach of the year in honors when Virginia went from 5-7 to 9-5 in his 2nd season with the Cavaliers last year. 6’5” senior QB Matt Schaub, who tossed the ball for over 3,000 yards and 28 TD’s enroute to earning ACC player of the year award in 2002, leads his pro style offense. Somehow this was accomplished with 42 freshmen on the roster, thus probably explaining the fact that they were outgained in 11 of their 14 games. Seventeen returning starters hold a lot of promise for this season. Our problem, however, is a dislike for backing winning teams with leaky defenses that are continually outgained on the playing field… especially as favorites.
PLAY AGAINST: vs Wake Forest
WAKE FOREST
We think they like Jim Grobe. Signed to a 10-year extension, he’ll be put to the test this year as Wake Forest will look to going bowling three years in a row for the first time since 1950-52. “I don’t know if there’s anybody who loves the game more than I do,” Grobe exclaims. This year he’ll bring in highly touted freshmen QB Ben Mauk to run the ship. Mauk led the nation in career passing yards and TD passes while leading his high school team the state title in Ohio last year. He’ll have to replace most of his running backs and the entire corps of wide receivers, so expect some problems early when they take on five bowl teams in their first six games of the season. Given Grobe’s love of the running game, it will be interesting to see how things shake out. Stay tuned.
PASS
EDITOR’S NOTE: Marc Lawrence publishes the 248-page PLAYBOOK FOOTBALL HANDICAPPERS’ YEARBOOK magazine, sold on newsstands nationwide. The 2003 edition examines the 32 NFL teams and 117 Division 1-A college teams in depth. To obtain a copy visit www.PLAYBOOK.com or call 1-800-PLAYBOOK.