2008 Atlantic Coast Conference football season

Last updated

2008 ACC football season
League NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision
Sport football
DurationAugust 28, 2008 January 1, 2009
Number of teams12
Regular season
Season MVP Tyrod Taylor
Atlantic championsBoston College
Coastal championsVirginia Tech
ACC Championship Game
ChampionsVirginia Tech
  Runners-upBoston College
ACC seasons
 2007
2008 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Atlantic Division
Boston College xy  5 3   9 5  
No. 21 Florida State x  5 3   9 4  
Maryland  4 4   8 5  
Wake Forest  4 4   8 5  
Clemson  4 4   7 6  
NC State  4 4   6 7  
Coastal Division
No. 15 Virginia Tech xy$  5 3   10 4  
No. 22 Georgia Tech x  5 3   9 4  
North Carolina  0 4   0 5  
Miami (FL)  4 4   7 6  
Virginia  3 5   5 7  
Duke  1 7   4 8  

Championship: Virginia Tech 30, Boston College 12
  • $ BCS representative as conference champion
  • x Division champion/co-champions
  • y Championship game participant
  • North Carolina vacated 8 wins, including 4 ACC wins
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2008 Atlantic Coast Conference football season was the 56th season that the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) participated in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) college football. As a Bowl Championship Series (BCS) conference, the ACC's constituent members competed within the framework of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).

Contents

The media widely recognized the 2008 season as one of the most chaotic in the conference's history. [1] [2] At season's end, the ACC fielded an NCAA-record of ten bowl eligible teams from its twelve conference members. [3] [4]

Virginia Tech secured its second consecutive conference championship when it won the 2008 ACC Championship Game against Boston College. Likewise, it was the second consecutive season that Boston College finished as the conference runner-up. Virginia Tech went on to represent the conference in its BCS game, the 2008 Orange Bowl, and, with a victory over Cincinnati, ended the ACC's eight-year BCS game slump. [5]

Statistical leaders

Passing
PlayerSchoolCompAttYdsTDsIntRat
Russell Wilson N.C. State1502751,955171133.9
Cullen Harper Clemson2213602,6011714126.2
Riley Skinner Wake Forest2323632,347137126.2
Thaddeus Lewis Duke2243612,171156123.0
Chris Turner Maryland2143742,5161311119.3
Rushing
PlayerSchoolAttYdsAvgTDs
Jonathan Dwyer Georgia Tech2001,3957.012
Da'Rel Scott Maryland2091,1335.48
Darren Evans Virginia Tech2871,2654.411
Cedric Peerman Virginia1537745.17
Montel Harris Boston College1799005.05
Receiving
PlayerSchoolRecYDsAvgTDs
Hakeem Nicks North Carolina681,22218.012
DJ Boldin Wake Forest8184810.53
Kevin Ogletree Virginia5872312.55
Aaron Kelly Clemson6772210.84
Jacoby Ford Clemson5571012.94
Tackles
PlayerSchoolSoloAsstTotal
Michael Tauiliili Duke6377140
Alex Wujciak Maryland5677133
Quan Sturdivant North Carolina8735122
Mark Herzlich Boston College8129110
Vincent Rey Duke6148109
Sacks
PlayerSchoolSoloAsstYds
Everette Brown Florida State13197
Clint Sintim Virginia9486
Michael Johnson Georgia Tech8285
Jason Worilds Virginia Tech8285
B. J. Raji Boston College7148
Interceptions
PlayerSchoolIntYdsTDs
Trimane Goddard North Carolina71561
Paul Anderson Boston College61491
Macho Harris Virginia Tech61422
Mark Herzlich Boston College61212
Michael Hamlin Clemson61110

Noteworthy games

Awards

National awards

Conference awards

Awards selected by ACSMA (Atlantic Coast sports media association)

Honors

All-conference teams

Postseason awards are selected by the Atlantic Coast sports media association by votes

Offense

First teamSecond team
Pos.SelectionSchoolVotesPos.SelectionSchoolVotes
QB Russell Wilson NC State106QB Thaddeus Lewis Duke28
RB Jonathan Dwyer Georgia Tech134RB Darren Evans Virginia Tech58
RB Da'Rel Scott Maryland76RB C. J. Spiller Clemson50
WR Hakeem Nicks North Carolina130WR Eron Riley Duke57
WR DJ Boldin Wake Forest76WR Aaron Kelly Clemson56
TE John Phillips Virginia88TE Ryan Purvis Boston College45
OT Eugene Monroe Virginia117OT Garrett Reynolds North Carolina42
OT Andrew Gardner Georgia Tech107OT Anthony Castonzo Boston College41
OG Rodney Hudson Florida State99OG Sergio Render Virginia Tech48
OGCliff RamseyBoston College78OG Cordaro Howard Georgia Tech45
C Edwin Williams Maryland62C Thomas Austin Clemson48

Defense

First teamSecond team
Pos.SelectionSchoolVotesPos.SelectionSchoolVotes
DE Everette Brown Florida State131DE Orion Martin Virginia Tech61
DE Michael Johnson Georgia Tech99DE Jason Worilds Virginia Tech39
DT B. J. Raji Boston College103DT Ron Brace Boston College52
DT Vance Walker Georgia Tech62DT Darryl Richard Georgia Tech50
LB Mark Herzlich Boston College118LB Clint Sintim Virginia79
LB Michael Tauiliili Duke110LB Alex Wujciak Maryland43
LB Aaron Curry Wake Forest106LBMark PaschalNorth Carolina40
CB Alphonso Smith Wake Forest134CB Ras-I Dowling Virginia49
CB Victor Harris Virginia Tech125CBKendric BurneyNorth Carolina34
STrimane GoddardNorth Carolina105S Morgan Burnett Georgia Tech85
S Michael Hamlin Clemson89S Myron Rolle Florida State55

Special teams

First teamSecond team
Pos.SelectionSchoolVotesPos.SelectionSchoolVotes
K Graham Gano Florida State127K Matt Bosher Miami34
P Travis Baltz Maryland105PMatt BosherMiami60
SP C. J. Spiller Clemson66SP Michael Ray Garvin Florida State41

Source: [33]

ACC players in the NFL Draft

In the 2009 NFL draft, 32 former ACC players were selected. The ACC was second only to the Southeastern Conference (SEC), which had 37 former players selected. The Big 12 and Big Ten each had 28 and the Big East had 27 former players selected. Of the ACC schools, Maryland and North Carolina tied for most former players selected at five. Clemson, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, and Virginia each had four former players selected. [34] [35]

#ConferencePlayers
selected
1 SEC 37
2ACC32
3 Big 12 28
3 Big Ten 28
5 Big East 27
6 Pac-10 23
7 MWC 16
8 C-USA 10
8 MAC 10
8 WAC 10
All others24
PlayerPositionSchoolPickRoundTeam
Aaron Curry OLBWake Forest41 Seattle Seahawks
Darrius Heyward-Bey WRMaryland71 Oakland Raiders
Eugene Monroe OTVirginia81 Jacksonville Jaguars
B. J. Raji DTBoston College91 Green Bay Packers
Hakeem Nicks WRNorth Carolina291 New York Giants
Alphonso Smith CBWake Forest372 Denver Broncos
Ron Brace DTBoston College402 New England Patriots
Everette Brown DEFlorida State432 Carolina Panthers
Clint Sintim OLBVirginia452New York Giants
Richard Quinn TENorth Carolina642Denver Broncos
Michael Johnson DEGeorgia Tech703 Cincinnati Bengals
Kevin Barnes CBMaryland803 Washington Redskins
Brandon Tate North Carolina833New England Patriots
Dorell Scott Clemson1034 St. Louis Rams
Chip Vaughn Wake Forest1164 New Orleans Saints
Stanley Arnoux Wake Forest1184New Orleans Saints
Anthony Hill NC State1224 Houston Texans
Andre Brown NC State1294New York Giants
Garrett Reynolds North Carolina1565 Atlanta Falcons
Victor Harris Virginia Tech1575 Philadelphia Eagles
Brooks Foster North Carolina1605 St. Louis Rams
Chris Clemons Clemson1655 Miami Dolphins
Michael Hamlin Clemson1665 Dallas Cowboys
Spencer Adkins Miami1766Atlanta Falcons
Andrew Gardner Georgia Tech1816Miami Dolphins
Cedric Peerman Virginia1856 Baltimore Ravens
James Davis Clemson1956 Cleveland Browns
John Phillips Virginia2086Dallas Cowboys
Vance Walker Georgia Tech2107Atlanta Falcons
Moise Fokou Maryland2307Philadelphia Eagles
Darryl Richard Georgia Tech2347New England Patriots
Jaimie Thomas Maryland2367 Indianapolis Colts
Dan Gronkowski TEMaryland2557 Detroit Lions

References

  1. Strelow, Paul. "ACC is a BCS mess" Archived 2009-03-17 at the Wayback Machine , The State. November 21, 2008. Accessed November 28, 2008.
  2. Latter, Sam. "ACC faces confusing playoff fight", The (Hanover) Evening Sun. November 21, 2008. Accessed November 28, 2008. Archived 2009-05-21.
  3. Prisbell, Eric (October 25, 2008). "Work of Art?". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 17, 2009.
  4. NCAA-Record 10 ACC Teams Head to Bowls, Atlantic Coast Conference, December 7, 2008, retrieved January 21, 2009. Archived 2009-05-21.
  5. Virginia Tech earns ACC's first BCS victory since' 99, ESPN, January 1, 2009.
  6. East Carolina turns back Virginia Tech with punt block for a TD, ESPN, August 30, 2008.
  7. Wake Forest edges Ole Miss with field goal in final seconds, ESPN, September 6, 2008.
  8. Craddock, Middle Tennessee surprise Maryland, ESPN, September 6, 2008.
  9. Cranes turns it around in second half as BC rolls, ESPN, September 20, 2008.
  10. Duke capitalizes on five second-half turnovers in rout, ESPN, September 27, 2008.
  11. Crane scores touchdown in final minutes as BC edges NC State, ESPN, October 4, 2008.
  12. Bowden gets Florida State past Colorado in 500th game, ESPN, September 27, 2008.
  13. Crane scores touchdown in final minutes as BC edges NC State, ESPN, October 4, 2008.
  14. FSU dumps Miami behind Smith's career-best four touchdowns, ESPN, October 4, 2008.
  15. QB Crane struggles, but Boston College beats Va. Tech behind stingy defense, October 11, 2008.
  16. Egekeze's field goal with 6 seconds remaining lifts Terps, ESPN, October 28, 2008.
  17. RB Spillers sets receiving record as Clemson interim coach Swinney gets first win, ESPN, November 1, 2008.
  18. Peerman carries load as Virginia continues hot streak, ESPN, October 25, 2008.
  19. Georgia Tech snaps 0-12 skid against Florida State, ESPN, November 1, 2008.
  20. Popham hits 28-yard field goal in OT to propel Wake Forest past Duke, ESPN, November 1, 2008.
  21. FSU bowl eligible for 27th straight season on Bowden's birthday, ESPN, November 8, 2008.
  22. Anderson helps Boston College extend streak to six over Irish, ESPN, November 8, 2008.
  23. Clemson lights up Duke as Kelly sets ACC mark for receptions, ESPN, November 15, 2008.
  24. "Maryland - Team Notes". USA Today. Retrieved December 31, 2008.
  25. QB Wilson key as NC State easily upends No. 22 UNC, ESPN, November 22, 2008.
  26. BC sneaks past Wake Forest in final minutes to keep ACC title hopes alive, ESPN, November 22, 2008.
  27. Virginia Tech edges Virginia for spot in ACC championship game, ESPN, November 29, 2008.
  28. Davis' 3 TDs help Clemson drop South Carolina for 6th time in 7 games, ESPN, November 29, 2008.
  29. Ga. Tech overcomes 16-point halftime deficit, snaps 7-game skid to Georgia, ESPN, November 29, 2008.
  30. Another Flutie makes key play to carry BC into ACC championship, ESPN, November 29, 2008.
  31. Wilson key as NC State rebounds from 2-6 start to earn bowl eligibility, ESPN, November 29, 2008.
  32. Florida wins 8th straight while continuing dominance in intrastate rivalry, ESPN, November 29, 2008.
  33. Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association Announces 2008 All-ACC Football Teams, The Atlantic Coast Conference, December 1, 2008. Accessed 2009-03-22. Archived 2009-05-21.
  34. Draft picks by school, conference [ permanent dead link ], The Baltimore Sun , April 27, 2009.
  35. ACC Again Scores Big At 2009 NFL Draft Archived 2012-03-07 at the Wayback Machine , Atlantic Coast Conference, April 26, 2009.