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Football Preview Schedule (July 11-August 30) |
July 27, 2005
By Jessica Garrison
CSTV.com
If there was a better way to introduce Boston College to the charm of the ACC, I can't think of it. In addition to big, greasy breakfasts and sweet tea, there were the players playing checkers in the lobby during check in. There was Maryland coach Ralph Friegden hitting the links with reporters. There was Bobby Bowden, holding court for a swarm of writers, easy as you please. And there was a beautiful view of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which the Eagles will have to cross several times this year as they begin ACC competition.
There was, however, no cell phone service, which led Virginia quarterback Marques Hagans to declare Hot Springs, "a little too country for me." Florida State running back Leon Washington said he was "blown away by the scenery," but less happy that N.C. State's Tramain Hall beat him in a game of pool. The rest of the 24 players in attendance hung out at the pool, took advantage of the bowling alley or strolled around between interviews. Even the Boston boys looked right at home.
Whether BC's Will Blackmon and Mathias Kiwanuka feel quite as comfortable with their ACC counterparts when they travel to Death Valley to face Clemson in September remains to be seen. For now, everyone was friendly, optimistic about the addition of BC, the ACC title game and instant replay as they faced the media for the first official interviews of the 2005 season. Some of the highlights:
Best golf shot: Clemson quarterback Charlie Whitehurst, who slammed a ball almost 360 yards to the envy of coaches and reporters alike.
Best player in EA's NCAA '06: This one goes undecided, as most of the guys voted for the video game versions of themselves. Of the players at the kickoff, more than a few had been made "impact players" for their teams. "I'm a beast!" Washington declared. Virginia Tech's Darryl Tapp put it more delicately. "I am very sweet," he said. Either way, when a player gets the extra burst of power that the Maryland players call "pulsating," it can be murder for opponents in the game.
Most shout-outs: Young Jeezy, the Atlanta rapper who seems to be in heavy rotation on every other CD player or Ipod in ACC locker rooms, southern or not. UNC's Tommy Richardson claimed to be listening to Al Green and Teddy Pendergrass, and shook his head at the mention of Jeezy: "It's just a new trend, everybody loves him."
Most underground shout-out: N.C. State linebacker Oliver Hoyte defected from the Young Jeezy camp, claiming he was listening to his cousin, an underground rapper. When a reporter asked whether it was his real cousin or a rapper named "My Cousin," Hoyte could barely keep a straight face while he explained, "Nah, his name's C-4, `cause he's explosive!"
Most Disney moment: From Wake Forest's John Abbate: "I've always been an underdog all my life and that's why I chose Wake Forest. I wanted to make history and turn things around." Although Abbate's team was much better than its 4-7 record last season indicates, Wake Forest has a quarterback controversy and Florida State to solve before it can climb to the top of the Atlantic Division.
Most frank comment: UNC's Tommy Richardson, on whether quarterback Matt Baker can handle stepping into Darian Durant's shoes: "When I think of Matt, I think of confidence. He's a cocky little S.O.B."
Best post-college plan: Virginia quarterback Marques "Biscuit" Hagans, who refused to explain the origins of the nickname he picked up in high school. Instead, Hagans joked that he'd wait three years out of college before coming back to Virginia and selling tickets for a dollar each to the unveiling of the story. "I'll see if I can sell out Scott Stadium," he winked at teammate Brennan Schmidt. If that doesn't work, he's also thinking about business, or designing his own line of clothing.
Best body art: Hagans, again, this time for his 21 tattoos including a cross, the word "WARRIOR", a demonic clown, and a "757" in flames (Hagans' home area code). Perhaps the shirts he designs will be sleeveless?
Best non-football football story: Clemson coach Tommy Bowden, who said his earliest football memory was sleeping in the luggage rack of his father's team busses on football road trips.
Most entertaining coach: Bobby Bowden, who made a turbulent offseason seem like a lark and the loss of his experienced quarterback and cornerback like less trouble than lumps in gravy. It's obvious that Bowden loves his job, loves Florida State and loves an audience. He drew a map of the new ACC with his hands in the air, saying BC was a natural fit for the conference because it "dotted the i" on the East Coast, maintained that the Northeast was where "everybody lives," dismissing the populations of Alabama, Mississippi and much of the rest of the South. He called BC a "wholesome program," and then chuckled: "If they do have problems, they know how to hide `em." Bowden is college football royalty, and no one enjoys him the way he does.
If Whitehurst can throw the ball the way he hits one, Bobby Bowden's cool head prevails at FSU and the conference's players put their hearts into the games they way they did the buffet, it would be hard to find a more entertaining conference than the ACC this season.
Special thanks to Chris Kelly of the Cavalier Daily for his help with this story. Jessica Garrison is an Assistant Editor for CSTV.com. She can be reached here for questions or comments.
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 Florida State coach Bobby Bowden appears confident as usual. |
