The Confidential

The ACC Sports Blog

Archive for the month “April, 2013”

30 Apr 2013

Pittsburgh Removes Football Players From Program

This weekend’s NFL draft featured the selection of exactly ZERO players from Pittsburgh.  This is odd because Pitt usually had among the best recruiting classes in the Big East.  They are able to keep a lot of that great Pennsylvania talent to stay at home… but it rarely translates into wins.  And now the team is going backwards—having to dismiss two players and indefinitely suspend two others.

Head coach Paul Chryst did a nice job to keep the team bowl-eligible in 2012, after yet another coaching change.  One ugly part of the coaching job is discipline issues.  And it has reared its head in Pittsburgh lately.  As noted above, Chryst had to remove two players from the team permanently and indefinitely suspend a third:

Tight end Drew Carswell and defensive back Eric Williams, both juniors, have been removed from the team. Carswell, Williams and defensive tackle Khaynin Mosley-Smith were all suspended last week after police made a drug raid on their house.

Yikes.  Not a good thing when a drug raid occurs at the house of players.

And then, in a separate incident, Chryst gave the indefinite suspension penalty to yet another player–QB Tra’von Chapman.  Chapman was arrested in Ohio over the weekend for assault and something called “unlawful restraint.”  Whatever it is, it isn’t good.  ESPN had Chapman as the 20th best QB coming out of high school.

Pitt has had better football weekends, that’s for sure.

 

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Football, Scandal and tagged , , , , , ,
28 Apr 2013

And the ACC Dominates Again…

If you ignore the fact that it says that this article was posted on May 17, 2011, this is really great for the ACC. Actually, it’s really great for the author too, because apparently they can predict the future. A 50 Most Amazing College Campuses for 2013 list two years in advance? That’s really meeting your deadline. But no matter when it was published, it’s still true. The ACC has the best schools, and that starts on campus. Here’s how all of the major BCS Conferences ranked-

http://www.thebestcolleges.org/most-beautiful-campuses/

ACC (6)- #49 Wake Forest, #43 Florida State, #35 Duke, #27 North Carolina, #17 Virginia, #16 Notre Dame

Big 12 (0)- ……is anyone surprised?

Big Ten (4)- #50 Minnesota, #47 Northwestern, #29 Wisconsin, #15 Indiana

Pac-12 (3)- #48 Colorado, #20 Washington, #19 Stanford

SEC (3)- #44 Texas A&M, #33 Alabama, #28 Ole Miss

Random Private Schools (1,000,000)- Everyone else…

Posted by Mr. Tar Heel in Uncategorized
28 Apr 2013
4 Comments

FSU Sets School Record – Tops for NFL Draft

This is my first post for ACC Confidential as the new contributor for the Seminoles of Florida State. I grew up in the middle of Big 10 country (Indiana), but fell in love with all things FSU during my first game at the Doak. Im looking forward to a turn around in ACC football and total domination during the basketball season.

Let’s begin…

Florida State had 11 former players drafted in this week’s NFL draft setting an all-time school record and leading all teams. 2012 Champion Alabama had 9 players drafted. The Noles got off to a fast start with three players drafted in the first round on Thursday evening and another two in the early portion of the second round accounting for 5 of the first 42 picks.

Seminoles drafted in the Top 42 picks:
EJ Manual QB 16th (Bills)
Bjoern Werner DE 24th (Colts)
Xavier Rhodes CB 25th (Vikings)
Tank Carradine DE 40th (49ers)
Menelik Wilson OT 42nd (Raiders)

Obviously the cupboard was filled with talent for the Noles last year.

Jimbo and Quarterback U?

With the selection of EJ Manual in the first round of the draft, Jimbo Fisher has solidified his reputation for developing quarterback talent. Fisher has now coached three recent quarterbacks that were drafted in the first round. In addition to Manual, Christian Ponder (2011) and JaMarcus Russell (2007)-from Fisher’s days in LSU-were drafted in the first round.

Posted by wtnoleacc in ACC only, Draft, Football, FSU Correspondent and tagged , , , , ,
28 Apr 2013

Rick Pitino gets his tattoo!

After the Louisville Cardinals last loss of the season, a 5 overtime heartbreaker to Notre Dame, he demanded that they win their last 7 regular season games, the BE tourney and the National Championship. They agreed if he would get a tattoo. They lived up to their end of the deal and so now has head coach Rick Pitino. Pictures of the tattoo were tweeted out yesterday. It is on his left back shoulder and features a prominent Louisville L with 2013 running down the left side with NCAA Champions 35-5 written below it. The ‘L’ is about wallet size. Pictures in links below.

Russ Smith has made his decision to come back for his senior season at Louisville official this past Wednesday. With Kevin Ware and Smith this will give the Cards a nice mix of youth and experience at the guard positions.

Related articles
Posted by lenvillecards in Basketball, Louisville Correspondent and tagged , ,
28 Apr 2013
4 Comments

ACC Draft Recap

Regardless of how well or poorly the ACC does in BCS games, the conference is putting people in the NFL.  Just take a look at all of the ACC players drafted this weekend.  So that you can keep tabs on your former favorites (or even enemies) as they take their talents to the NFL, here is the complete list:

Round 1:

  • Jonathan Cooper, G, North Carolina, Arizona Cardinals
  • EJ Manuel, QB, Florida State, Buffalo Bills
  • Justin Pugh, OT, Syracuse, New York Giants.
  • Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame, Cincinnati Bengals
  • Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State, Indianapolis Colts
  • Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State, Minnesota Vikings
  • DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson, Houston Texans
  • Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina, Denver Broncos

Round 2:

  • Giovani Bernard, RB, North Carolina, Cincinnati Bengals
  • Manti Te’o, ILB, Notre Dame, San Diego Chargers
  • Cornellius Carradine, DE, Florida State, San Francisco 49ers
  • Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State, Oakland Raiders
  • David Amerson, CB, North Carolina State, Washington Redskins

Round 3:

  • Mike Glennon, QB, North Carolina State, Tampa Buccaneers
  • Brennan Williams, OT, North Carolina, Houston Texans

Round 4:

  • Ryan Nassib, QB, Syracuse, New York Giants
  • Shamarko Thomas, SS, Syracuse, Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Malliciah Goodman, DE, Clemson, Atlanta Falcons

Round 5:

  • Earl Wolff, SS, North Carolina State, Philadelphia Eagles
  • Oday Aboushi, OT, Virginia, New York Jets
  • Jonathan Meeks, SS, Clemson, Buffalo Bills
  • Brandon McGee, CB, Miami (Fla.), St. Louis Rams
  • Chris Thompson, RB, Florida State, Washington Redskins
  • Brandon Jenkins, DE, Florida State, Washington Redskins

Round 6:

  • Corey Fuller, WR, Virginia Tech, Detroit Lions
  • Vinston Painter, OT, Virginia Tech, Denver Broncos
  • Jamoris Slaughter, SS, Notre Dame, Cleveland Browns
  • Dustin Hopkins, K, Florida State, Buffalo Bills
  • Nick Moody, OLB, Florida State, San Francisco 49ers
  • Andre Ellington, RB, Clemson, Arizona Cardinals
  • Mike James, RB, Miami (Fla.), Tampa Buccaneers
  • Theo Riddick, RB, Notre Dame, Detroit Lions
  • Kapron Lewis-Moore, DT, Notre Dame, Baltimore Ravens
  • Vince Williams, ILB, Florida State, Pittsburgh Steelers

Round 7:

  • Travis Bond, OG, North Carolina, Minnesota Vikings
  • Tommy Bohanon, FB, Wake Forest, New York Jets
  • Kevin Dorsey, WR, Maryland, Green Bay Packers (just in case you still care about the Terps)
  • Everett Dawkins, DT, Florida State, Minnesota Vikings
  • Zeke Motta, SS, Notre Dame, Atlanta Falcons
  • Sean Renfree, QB, Duke, Atlanta Falcons

Schools with nobody drafted: Boston College, Georgia Tech, Louisville, and Pittsburgh

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Draft, Football and tagged , , , , , , , ,
27 Apr 2013

Web (Internet) Gems

Here are some amusing sports-related things from across the Internet.

If you are lamenting how the middling sports of the Big 10 can become so rich, you are not alone.  The SEC is gazillions times better in football.  And, excepting 2012-2013, the ACC and Big East usually were better than the Big 10 in hoops.  So let’s all mock the Big 10 and its latest round of expansion.  Someone over at Every Day Should Be Saturday goes to the forefront of that mocking though:

Oompa Loompa doopity doo!

I’ve got another puzzle for you!
Oompa Loompa doopa-dee-dee
If you are wise you’ll listen to me.
What do you get when you guzzle down schools?
Buttgers, Lil’ Red, and a turtle that drools.
Your Fourteen teams make you terribly fat
What do you think will come of that?
I don’t like the look of it.
Oompa Loompa do-ba-de-da
Too bad Pasadena is so very far.
Don’t eat rotel and barbasol too
Like the Jim Delaney
Doopadedoo!

That is saxattack29 getting 55 recs and counting.  Head over there and get that number higher.  Oh, and while you are over there, reminisce about the Blockbuster days.  Good great stuff.

The Sportspickle has a couple of semi-amusing articles.  There is a rundown of some notable NFL busts–only the news articles describing their future right after being drafted.  And here are some draft philosophies for several NFL teams–sometimes the truth is pretty funny.

And if you can tolerate some NSFW humor–type Prevail and Ride into Google and check out some of the best entries by Thujone.  Do it at home though.  It may be cartoons drawn crudely, but it is what it is.  Just sayin’.

Enjoy.

Posted by acaffrey in Uncategorized
27 Apr 2013
2 Comments

Saturday Morning Orange Juice – Ryan Nassib and Lax

The fall of Ryan Nassib is quite surprising based on all the post season hype and Doug Marrone’s departure to Buffalo.  I think most Orange followers, if asked where you think Nassib might go during the season, would have probably said somewhere in the middle rounds.  It wasn’t until afterwards that his stock shot up, mostly due to the intangibiles.  It seemed almost too obvious that Dougie would pick the QB that got him the Bills job.  This is just another reminder about things being strictly business.  Marrone showed business first acument when ditching his dream job at his alma mater.  Skipping the QB who helped him seems like a locial next step for Marrone.  I think Nassib will be better off somewhere where he is not directly linked to Marrone anyway and it will be better for him in the long run.  Here’s hoping he gets the call early this morning from KC, Philly, or Jax – all places he will have a chance to compete right away.

I will be at the Big City Classic at MetLife Stadium (Giants Stadium).  Cornell and Princeton face off first and then future ACC opponents #1 Notre Dame vs. #7 Syracuse at 6:30 p.m.  The Orange have had multiple close games all season and the outcome will have an impact on the Big East and NCAA Tournaments.  Obviously more at stake today for the Orange and the hope is the goaltending situation stabilizes as the postseason begins.  Should be a great evening of lacrosse capped by a great Big East/future ACC matchup.

Posted by tjcuseacc in Uncategorized
26 Apr 2013
1 Comment

ACC All Over the 1st Round of the 2013 NFL Draft

When previewing the NFL draft, it was noted that there were numerous players with ACC connections expected to be taken in the first round.  With the first round completed, the ACC more than held its own.

  • Jonathan Cooper, a guard from North Carolina, was taken by the Arizona Cardinals at pick #7
  • In one of the true draft surprises, the Buffalo Bills selected Florida State quarterback E.J. Manuel with the 16th pick.
  • Syracuse’s Justin Pugh, an offensive lineman, was taken nineteenth by the New York Giants.
  • Tyler Eifert, a tight end from Notre Dame, was taken by the Cincinnati Bengals at pick #21.
  • The Indianapolis Colts selected Florida State defensive end, Bjoern Werner with the 24th pick.
  • In a mini-run on Florida State Seminoles, the Minnesota Vikings followed up by taking cornerback Xavier Rhodes.
  • The Houston Texans selected Clemson’s DeAndre Hopkins, a wide-receiver, with the 27th pick.
  • The 28th pick was North Carolina’s Sylvester Williams, a defensive tackle.

Thus, of 32 players taken, 25% have ties to the present or future of the ACC.  Even excluding Pugh and Eifert, the ACC contributed nearly 20% of the first round.  That is fine by any standard.

In case you were wondering, the SEC had 12 players drafted and the Pac-12 had 5 players drafted.  The Big XII had three players drafted.  Brigham Young, the AAC (Houston), the Mac (Central Michigan), and the Big 10 (Wisconsin) had one player drafted each.  There is no doubting the supremacy of the SEC, but the ACC has, once again, supplied players to the NFL disproportionate to its success on the field.

Notably, no players from Virginia Tech, North Carolina State, Georgia Tech, Miami, Louisville, or Pittsburgh were selected in the first round either.  It is hard not to be excited about the potential for the new-look, newly-revenued ACC when it comes to football.

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Draft, Football and tagged , , , , , , , , ,
24 Apr 2013
18 Comments

How do you solve a problem like Maryland?

This week’s announcement that the ACC presidents have agreed to a Grant of Rights was truly monumental and provides the conference with much needed stability and significantly closes the gap between the power conferences. Moving forward the 14 schools, plus ND, have firmly established themselves as one of the “Have” Conferences and can enjoy the bright future of the ACC.

Everyone is excited about the future…except for Maryland.

Poor Maryland. They went chasing after B1G-time dollars and the Midwestern glitz & glamour, only to find their “former” conference mates have actually improved as a result. Read more…

Posted by Vinnie Saltine in Uncategorized
24 Apr 2013
3 Comments

College Football Playoff

The elite of college football will begin meeting soon to decide many important things, such as the name to give the soon-to-be here college football playoff.  ESPN sources are already revealing the name of this college football playoff.  The college football playoff will be called the College Football Playoff.

Hmmm….

Hopefully, the NCAA did not waste a lot of money to determine that the best way to name the college football playoff would be to simply use capital letters.  Of course, this is the same organization that has the following logos for teams:

Yes… capital letters mean a lot to the NCAA.

There is plenty more on the agenda though:

  • “Other items on the agenda this week include the naming of the first national title game site as well as the six bowls that will make up the semifinal rotation for the next 12 years.”  No word on whether “First National Title Game Site” will be the name for this first site.  We’ll see.
  • “Sources told ESPN the Fiesta, Cotton and Chick-fil-A bowls will join the Rose, Sugar and Orange bowls in the six-bowl semifinal rotation for college football’s new playoff.”
  • Arlington, Texas, specifically Cowboys Stadium, will be awarded the first national championship game on Jan. 12, 2015.
      Very interesting discussions will be held on determining who makes up the committee to determine which four teams make the playoffs.   If you think selection Sunday is a big deal, when 95% of the teams are beyond dispute, just imagine the furor that will be caused in determining which 4 of several possible candidates will make the playoffs.  There will be 1-loss teams excluded.  Yikes.  Witness protection program might be in order.

Speaking of the witness protection program… here is an amusing clip to finish the article, a favorite of the Confidential:

Posted by acaffrey in Football and tagged ,

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