http://www.yardbarker.com/content/team/160 Recent articles about the Virginia Cavaliers en-us Welcome to the beginning of the hype, where each and every type of poll will come out to find out who is the best in one conference or another. Yes, this is the beginning of we fans/bloggers/lovers of the college gridiron begin to come out of the summer shell and develop that good feeling about our football team once again. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:56:54 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294300 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294300 There is not much of a buzz at the ACC Football Kickoff this year. The chances an ACC team will be in the BCS Championship Game is remote which tones down the hype but the big buzz kill is lack of star power. The most recognized quarterbacks here are Drew Weatherford of Florida State and Virginia Tech's Sean Glennon - QB's like the economy right now, up and down with rumors of recession. (More about ACC Football Kick-off, Day One...) Sun, 20 Jul 2008 22:43:29 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/292995 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/292995 How close are we to the college football season? So close that we are beginning to see Las Vegas oddsmakers are begging to put out the odds on the first games of the season. Fri, 18 Jul 2008 07:25:30 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/292097 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/292097 College Football season begins this weekend for me. Sunday the ACC Football Kickoff begins and the College Football pre-season hype goes full speed. I am heading over to Reynolds Plantation in Georgia, which is hosting the ACC media event to get my share of coach speak and over used cliches. I'm sure they all going to play as a team and take it one game at a time, blah, blah, blah. Same ole' well, you know what I mean. This is an interesting year for the ACC because 5 years after expanding the league really hasn't made an impression on the national scene. The ACC finds itself 5th or 6th when the BCS leagues are ranked. I don't think I have all the answers but here are a few issues the ACC has... (more...) Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:30:39 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/292000 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/292000 Whether you believe he's a legend in the making or a liar, Urban Meyer stokes passions on all sides. Legend advocates will cite his second-year National Championship and a sophomore Heisman Trophy winner. Liar advocates are lining up against Meyer as stories continue to build, just as bridges linking Meyer to other coaches continue to burn. Consider these recent stories from other sites and sources on Meyer's recruiting tactics. It's unlikely the following schools have Meyer on their Christmas card list. LSU: Florida was ready to take all-star corner Patrick Johnson with what they thought was a bogus test score, but he committed to LSU. How did Florida respond? "Florida flagged my scores," Johnson said. "They called the compliance office." "I'm not upset," Johnson said. "Florida made an issue about the ACT score. They're cowards. They had to go behind my back. But that's OK. We play them this year (on Oct. 11 at Florida)." FSU (posted on noledigest.com): "While Gator fans will sit and give excuses or spin the details of what is going on, there is no denying that it seems like the UF staff flat-out lies to these kids. "Here is a quote from Trent Pupello (a player they initially compared to Jeremy Shockey), who is looking to leave the program this year: 'Coach (Steve) Addazio (UF tight ends coach) told me to work on my speed,' Pupello said. 'He didn't say that my speed was slow or anything. He just said that everything (at this level) is faster. "'I need to work on speed and getting stronger, which is pretty much what we all need to work on. He said that they need me at tight end, that I'll have an early chance to play and that all of the tight ends will play on the special teams.'" Michigan site (on the recruitment of Daryl Stonum): The University of Florida stayed on the four star pass-catcher well all the way through. Things crescendoed recently after a conversation with Urban Meyer. According to Stonum, Meyer had a compelling reason why he should become a Gator. "He told me that he talked to Coach Carr and Coach Soup and that they told him that I would be a much better fit in the Florida offense than I would be in the one at Michigan," Stonum recalled. "I thought, wow, my coaches are selling me out? I confronted them about it. I asked Coach Carr and Coach Soup about it, and they said they never talked to that guy and that there was no way they ever said anything like that and that they think I should be a Wolverine. I believed them. Right then, I knew just how Florida rolled." Just Funny: You can't tell the story about Jevan Snead enough (recounted in the book Meat Market). The funniest thing I read in it concerned what Urban Meyer told Jevan Snead. Snead had watched the Outside the Lines special on Tebow, which showed Meyer and OC Dan Mullen in the stands. Problem was, Meyer had told Snead, committed at the time, that he was the only quarterback they were going after. When Snead asked Meyer about it, Meyer responded, "We are recruiting him for linebacker." I had heard that before, but got a big kick out of reading it in the book straight from Snead. More LSU from Fox 26 in Houston: "Hempstead's Terrance Toliver, one of the nation's top high school football recruits, says negative recruiting tactics by the University of Florida first had him confused and bewildered. But in an unusual move, two Hempstead High School employees went above and beyond the call of duty to help Toliver make the biggest decision of his life. "After a vigorous early recruiting rush, it came down to LSU and Florida for Toliver, considered by many the No. 1 high school recruit in Texas and the best wide receiver in the nation. He ended up signing a letter-of-intent with LSU on National Signing Day Wednesday, but not before Florida coaches took several shots at LSU, leaving Toliver unsure what to do next. "'Every time (Florida recruiters) came, they just said LSU doesn't qualify their players,' Toliver told FOX 26's Mark Berman Wednesday. 'About (how) their academics are not all that. It kind of had me confused.'" "Eventually a bewildered Toliver asked his football coach Rick Sargent and Hempstead instructional coordinator Tina Johnson to go to Baton Rouge to find out the truth about LSU. The two went last weekend. 'They went and checked (LSU's) academics out and their facilities,' Toliver said. 'They just came back and told me whatever Florida was saying about the academics wasn't true.'" Notre Dame Blog: When Meyer recruited Justin Trattou he did so by the cover of night. Not that it's illegal, but he told Trattou not to tell anyone he was talking with Florida. Keep in mind that Trattou was committed to Notre Dame at the time. Amongst other things, Coach Meyer talked to Trattou about how the 3-4 defense was not a good fit for him and his football future (read: NFL, which is garbage—the Cowboys, Patriots, and Chargers all use the 3-4). Former Gators assistant coach Greg Mattison's favorite topics about Notre Dame (with several recruits), despite his previous love for the school, included how the weather sucked and the social life suffered. Case in point No. 2: Omar Hunter, same deal as before. Omar was snookered into lying to everyone from Notre Dame coaches and players to likely even his parents, especially his father, who wanted him at Notre Dame due to the academics. Hunter said that he was not talking to other schools, when in fact he was—Florida included—while being a Notre Dame commitment. In the end, Hunter was a fraud himself, but he was not the one who was truly taken for a ride. Coach Mattison recruited Hunter. He had an ax to grind with Notre Dame after leaving South Bend on not so good terms, and he definitely took it to another level with Hunter. Mattison, you see, had an assistant coaching job lined up with the Baltimore Ravens long before this past National Signing Day came around. So when Hunter switched his commitment to UF after initially deciding to attend Notre Dame, Mattison and Meyer did what came naturally. They lied to Hunter about the entire situation, telling Hunter that Mattison was not leaving Gainesville. Just by complete and total coincidence, Mattison ended up taking a job with the Ravens right after National Signing Day. Shocking! And oh yes, Notre Dame assistant coach Bill Lewis, who recently retired as a football coach, told Hunter what was about to happen. Hunter did not listen and signed with the Gators. Urban continues to build the best talent base not located in Southern California. Success certainly breeds enemies, but so does recruiting. Urban Legend or Urban Liar? Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:09:09 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/291802 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/291802 Welcome back to part two of Walker-Sports ACC preview. In this section we will take a look at the Coastal Division. Of the two divisions the Costal is without a doubt the tightest, and will prove to be the most competitive. It could also make for some interesting results come November once all these teams have tangled and a couple upsets go down. ACC Preseason Coastal Division Virginia Tech Hokies: The Hokies have been a terror to the ACC since the day they arrived in the league. They have played in 3 out of 4 ACC Championships. There is no doubt the ACC made the right move bringing these guys in. This year the Hokies are likely the only legitimate threat to the Clemson Tigers if the two can meet in the ACC Championship game. However, this year will take a little more effort than Beamer and company are used to. The Hokies lost several key players on both sides of the ball including star running back Brandon Ore and linebackers Xavier Adibi. The Hokies will also continue their battle at quarterback that began last season between Sean Glennon and Tyrod Taylor. Lucky for the Hokies they have the best of both worlds with these guys, Glennon being a scrambler and Taylor a drop back passer. No matter who is at the helm at QB you can bank that Virginia Tech will play solid defense and great special teams. That will make them a top contender in the ACC and a possible factor in the BCS. Record: 10-2 Key Games: East Carolina, Nebraska, Florida State Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: Change was the theme of the off-season for the Yellow Jackets. Paul Johnson's option offense scared off a couple players, but they will be stronger because of it. Josh Nesbitt will be charged with running the offensive this season, and he has the tools to make it happen, if he stays healthy, a groin injury has sidelined him for much of the spring. What the Rambling Wreck will do very well this year, is attack opposing offenses. The Yellow Jackets have one of the top ends and one of the top tackles in the league, Michael Johnson and Vance Walker will test any offensive line. The D-Line alone will keep the Yellow Jackets in most any game they play this season. Record: 7-5 Key Games: Florida State, Mississippi State, Georgia Miami Hurricanes: Don't go crazy with this one, the 'Canes fell into this spot by accident, not because they have done anything special. Miami will be pretty much all freshmen or first year players. Lucky for them their freshmen tend to be better than an average teams seniors. The Hurricanes are moving in the right direction, and they appear to be doing it the right way. That meant getting rid of a lot of players and coaches. That will lead to disappointment in the short term, but if the Alumni can hang in there and just trust in their coach, they will find themselves back on track, especially with this talented group of freshmen. Record: 7-5 Key Games: UCf, Virginia, Texas A&M Virginia Cavaliers: Al Groh must go, was the chant heard round Charlottesville after an embarrassing opening lost on the road to Wyoming. However, a 9-4 campaign seemed to make many Cavalier fans forget Groh's shortcomings and he even received a contract extension. However, after a meltdown in the Gator Bowl and an embarrassing off season that saw seven players kicked out of school perhaps Groh's job should still be on the line. Despite all the setbacks the Cavaliers are looking to employ a more wide open attack and actually toss the ball downfield some this year, Combine a revamped passing game with the return of Cedric Peermen and Mikell Simpson at running back and the Cav's could have a decent offense, but don't hold your breath. Seven wins this season would be a phenomenal achievement. Record 6-6 Key Games: Miami, East Carolina, Clemson North Carolina Tar Heels: Butch Davis is entering his second year as head coach in Chapel Hill, and while that does mean something, Davis alone is not enough to put the Tar Heels back on the winning track. The Heels will be much better than their 4-8 mark of their last year, however due to a tough schedule; the improvement may not be seen in the win column. Out of conference games against Rutgers, Notre Dame and UConn can mean trouble for the Heels. The bulk of their success will depend on how their backfield gels together. Greg Little is the sophomore who moved to tailback from receiver late last year and he will carry the load this season. T.J. Yates is supposed to be the starter at QB comes August, but he has not thrown much at all since shoulder surgery in December. If he is unable to go the Tar Heels will depend on backups Paulus and Sexton to step up and run the offense. Record: 5-7 Key Games: UConn, Boston College, North Carolina State Duke Blue Devils: I won't lie this is just hard to do because, I don't want to be too tongue and cheek, and Walker-Sports is not about sugar coat anything, so sorry Blue Devil fans. David Cuttcliffe has challenged his team to improve their fitness, and their team speed. To this point the team has responded well. However, Duke simply does not have the athletes to compete at the high levels of the ACC. Nonetheless, the Blue Devils will be an improved team. Record: 2-10 Key Games, James Madison, Northwestern ACC Championship Game: Clemson vs. Virginia Tech Clemson wins ACC Title and Tommy Bowden goes to the Orange Bowl where the ACC can hopefully regain some respect on the national level. That's it for me, hope you enjoyed the preview feel free to drop a line with your comments. This is going to be a special year in college football, there's a lot of variables out there, and a lot of new faces on the scene so buckle up and get ready for what will be a hellUVA a ride. Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:00:34 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/290157 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/290157 As I begin to prepare for the all out football preview that I'm going to do for the Tar Heels, I figured I would start by talking about the head coaches in the conference and tell all of you who I think is the top of the list and who is on the bottom. Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:33:42 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286976 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286976 The ACC isn't deep in fantasy options for 2008, but fantasy owners should be able to find solid starting options at the top of each position. AthlonSports.com kicks off the college fantasy conference previews with a look quarterback battles, sleepers and freshmen to watch. Mon, 07 Jul 2008 08:27:40 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286461 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286461 The ACC isn't a deep conference for fantasy options, but Clemson owns four solid options - including receiver Aaron Kelly. Kelly had a solid 2007 season, and the return of Cullen Harper at quarterback should give him a chance to post career-best numbers. Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:57:16 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/280978 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/280978 Athlon Sports continues to take a look at the preseason college fantasy options and up next is the ACC running backs. New Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson is breaking in a new offense, but the Yellow Jackets aren't short on options at running back. Additionally, the conference gets a boost with the return of Clemson duo James Davis and C.J. Spiller. Tue, 17 Jun 2008 09:04:27 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/278816 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/278816 While not nearly impressive as Joe Paterno's 300th victory in 1998, this is Zombie Nation's 300th post. I'm proud to say, it's been so much fun, and worth every second. To honor this occasion (or, maybe just a cool coincidence) Penn State Sports Information released its football schedules through 2012. I love schedules, and big games, so this is right in my corner. Here ya go: Tue, 17 Jun 2008 06:46:34 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/278753 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/278753 The college fantasy football season is just around the corner and Athlon Sports has launched their college fantasy section to help you win your league. Starting this week, rankings will be released from each position, along with conference previews. On Monday, ACC and Big East quarterback rankings will be posted, along with an introductory article to help setup your league. Mon, 09 Jun 2008 09:46:04 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/276049 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/276049 This is the second post in my series of ranking college team offenses and defenses with this one focusing on the ACC defenses. This should be beneficial to those fantasy players that play fantasy college football that uses offensive and defensive units like Sporting News with their game. I will throw some players out there on teams that you could also use in individual player leagues, too. I'm using various methods to determine my rankings which include, but are not limited to, returning starters, skill level on that side of the ball, balance, schedule strength, etc. Having inexperience or lack of skill on each side of the ball can have a direct effect on how they do on either side of the ball, so each intrical part is important and could explain why they are performing well or not. Also, these are my rankings, and in no way reflect or necessarily pick how I predict teams to finish in the standings of each conference in terms of won-loss records. Here we go..... Thu, 05 Jun 2008 07:21:25 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/274693 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/274693 I originally compiled this list in early January but have revised it to reflect early entries into the NFL Draft, injuries and player dismissals. My top 25 for the 2008 season takes into account returning starters, including the vile creatures known as punters and kickers. In addition, I've factored in each team's schedule and coaching changes. Thu, 05 Jun 2008 00:05:19 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/274618 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/274618 A list of names has surfaced from the Golden Dome today for the successor of departed Athletic Director Kevin White. Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:54:27 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/273417 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/273417