We expect that Atlantic Coast Conference to announce the 2008 Football Schedule any moment now.
But, the brass at the conference office cannot be happy about the fact that Boston College has leaked their 2008 schedule to the public before the conference’s announcement. We found this link at Boston.com this morning that details the Eagles’ 2008 schedule.
Looks like the ACC is going to play-up the Tom O’Brien angle as much as they can as the conference has scheduled NC State to host Boston College on the last weekend of the year (two days after Thanksgiving). So much for the Chuck Amato-Maryland hatefest. Say hello to BC!
Actually, I expect State to continue to host the last game of the year because attendance at Carter-Finely is so reliable even during Thanksgiving weekend. So, expect to see Maryland and Boston College (and maybe sometimes UNC-CH) rotate as the Wolfpack’s last game of the season in the future.
We’ll have more as it becomes available.
BC doesn’t have reliable attendance you say? Shocking. Just shocking. I thought they went to a bowl game every year for the last few years?
I think it’ll be nice to have a nice post-matt ryan BC stomping before our bowl game next year, I think this is a good move by the ACC.
Glennon throws to Graham. He’s got him. Down the right sideline. 45, 40, 30, 20, 10. Touchdown! Glennon and Graham conect again for their 4th touchdown of the game.
Wait, wait, wait. Thats the 2009 season. Sorry.
^^
“BC doesn’t have reliable attendance you say? Shocking. Just shocking.”
Wrong! BC has very reliable attendance, you can count on 8,000-10,000 to show up for every home game. You can bank on it.
Does anyone know why State always has to host a game on Thanksgiving weekend?
Quite frankly I can never go because of family Thanksgiving travel and I feel I am not getting my full season ticket package value each year
Is there a groundswell of support by season ticket holders for us to always host on Saturday after Thkgvg? I haven’t been to one in three+ years so is the attendance significant enough so that Fowler keeps asking the ACC to give us that date every year?
SFN: It is the nature of college football now to play the week of the Thanksgiving. The conference is going to schedule games that weekend, period. So, they are going to naturally schedule the games at the home field of teams that they know will fill their stadiums and not embarass them on television. So, Wake, Duke, Maryland, BC and UNC-CH are therefore generally out. GT-UGA, UVA-VPI, USC-CU, and UF-FSU are already set for that weekend.
UNC-Ch’s traditional last game is always against Duke. I don’t think the ACC powers-that-be have the mojo to force those two schools to give up their traditional last game. I don’t think those athletics department are going to let their traditional last game go, unlike NCSU closing out the last regular season game at Reynolds against FSU, instead of Wake Forest or anything.
I doubt that we will see a game versus UNC as the last game of the season any time soom. I have heard TOB say that he would not want to play a team from the other division one week and then have to play them again in the ACC Championship game the next week. Hopefully, that will be something we have to worry about in the very near future. Also, like BillyVest said, there would be too much whinning from the Blue Boys to ever let that happen. Especially with Swafford in charge.
I understand the ACC’s reasoning entirely — home games where the attendance will be highest. Besides, I presume the majority of State LTR holders live within a 2-hour drive of Raleigh. But I, personally, despise the fact that we always have a home game Thanksgiving weekend against a non-rival. Not only do a lot of people miss due to family obligations (completely understandable), but the atmosphere, at least in my opinion, has always been found disappointing.
The SEC follows a standard schedule that works beautifully. But I guess the ACC lacks the fundamental football culture for this to even matter.
Hey, at least we don’t end the season in Charlotte.
LRM - I think they may be saying it -but I’m starting to wonder if all of these “flukes” aren’t flukes at all.
I didn’t even know Rhode Island played football.
I think that the ACC is trying to stoke the fires of a rivalry. Really, I couldn’t care less about Boston College. My unabashed opinion of them is that they are narcissistic snobs that bring next to nothing to the ACC, and that letting them in to the conference was one of the biggest mistake that the ACC has made in some time.
Really, the final game for UNC and NC State should be playing each other, and not in Charlotte.
RAWFS - They bring to the ACC the same thing Miami brings to the ACC: A city where pro sports rule the day. A fantastic city/area to visit.
I’ve been to both of our games at BC and have enjoyed the hell out of the trip. This year, we took the train from Boston to BC and partied at a local Chestnut Hill college bar -(Mary Anne’s) had a blast. Boston is an amazing city with historic sites, lots of entertainment options and stunning scenery. BC also plays “Shipping Out to Boston” (from the Departed) when they come onto the field - that’s pretty cool too.
I’ll go back as long as my wife lets me. It’s a fun stop and something unique in the ACC. (It kicks the crap out of Atlanta.)
Jaybird, I cannot imagine having to worry about UNC playing in the championship game in football. That would take too much away from basketball season! Just my opinion, but what the heck do I know!
Chop — Boston is a great town, no doubt about it. And the areas around BC are pretty good too, though my personal preference is for a town like Athens (it is what Chapel Hill thinks they are), Austin, or even Palo Alto. But each to his own.
Anyway, my complaint about BC being in the ACC is that they don’t bring a large fanbase that travels, and they don’t command that large of a TV rating either in their home market or nationally. In other words, they don’t really add a lot to the conference from a financial standpoint. Their football reputation is one of “oh, no anyone but them” in the eyes of bowl scouts. That’s why they get slim pickings come selection time.
The ACC really would have done better with a West Virginia or another school that could bring the fans to the games and put them in front of the TVs.
But Highstick, I thought that UNC was “only one or to players away from competing for a Championship.” LOL
RAWFS - You’re dead-on. They don’t bring a lot to the table. The academic fit is fine - but they don’t help the ACC when it comes to commandeering better bowls.
Never been to Athens. I’d like to go there and look forward to the day/night when I can go to Baton Rouge to see a game.
I have also been to both BC games. BC is the best road trip in the ACC IMO.
Mr O - I agree. But let’s face it - if you went to Boston w/ a bunch of your wife or buddies for the weekend and took away the football game Boston would still be a blast.
Boston is great and I look forward to my next trip, but it ain’t about the football game. Now, Columbus, Tallahassee, Clemson, Blacksburg, Charlottesville, etc. - you probably don’t set foot in those towns for a weekend unless there’s a game.
choppack - in Boston with a bunch of your wives?
first - I need to party with you dude.
second, I thought that was only possible at BYU games.
Off topic, but I am sitting in the Vegas airport after 3 days here for work.
This is the most goddawful, depressing place on earth. I just don’t get the attraction.
Whoops - typo.
And EB - Provo is not at the top of my road trip list!
choppack-
Utah is a great place, especially if you like the outdoors. I got to spend a little time in Utah this summer driving through it and it’s definitely one of the most beautiful places in the USA. SLC is gorgeous, there’s 5 national parks, skiing, where so many western films were shot, just an incredible place . I didn’t go to Provo though.
You are right jaybird. There Kenan Stadium is packed everygame as well.
And Tim Stevens at the N&O says that UNC recruiting is going great with all the #1’s Butchy is going after. Doesn’t matter if he signs any, just that he is going after them. Doesn’t matter if State has outsigned UNC 3 to 1. UNC recruiting is tops just because Butchy is going after the #1’s.
Remember at UNC “Image is Everything”.
To hell with reality.
God I hate it when that happens.
To correct the statement above. THEIR Kenan Stadium is packed every game as well.
Had to get that in before every baby blue smurf says that I can’t spell.
Off topic, but an intersting conversation going on right now on WFNZ.com about Costner and State. 7:12 PM
Dogbreath, that’s what I thought about the Phoenix airport too. Get out of the airport and find you a “lady”!
I think our last game should be against Wake. And we would obviously alternate sites. Wake would be full as I suspect we would take enough fans to help fill it up.
I hate not having a long time rival on the last game.
I hate the thanksgiving home game every year. Every other year would be more tolerable.
For me, we are always out of town for the labor day weekend game (always against a weak opponent) and thanksgiving weekend. That is 2 of the home games. I generally make it back just for the game while the family stays put.
Why would we play Carolina the last game of the year? Remember, we are not their rival! It’s Duke! Both of those teams should end their season in the Toilet Bowl!
By the way, any of you guys planning on coming to Columbia for the game this year? I’ll keep you posted on ticket sources and tailgating later!
SLC & Provo are both beautiful - but not what you’d call party towns.
Seems I am always driving home that weekend - though it may be my high school reunion that weekend. For regular attendees, I can that it would be a tough weekend. For those of us coming back to see family, it can work out great.
My school is looking at going till mid to late october before the first home game this fall. Nice planning huh? One team canceled on us, the other wants to reschedule because they can’t get hotel rooms for the team (It would be during Talladega) This as the Trustees embark on a big push for ticket sales to justify adding luxury boxes.
“… the N&O says that UNC recruiting is going great with all the #1’s Butchy is going after. Doesn’t matter if he signs any, just that he is going after them. ”
The media trumpeting of the next ‘about to be’ UNX triumph is constantly amazing to me. Press releases as news. Two recent, and hilarious examples:
1. Butchy announces to great fanfare all of the big additions the program will make to Kenan. No money allocated, no actual architectural plans, nope, nothing but hot air, a recruiting charade.
In the meantime… NC State has renovated and upgraded nearly every sports facility it has and its football, baseball, basketball, tennis, and soon to be track and field and soccer facilities are as good or better than nearly any in the nation. The Murphy Center and multiple Dail facilities are nothing short of stunning. Money raised, architectural plans approved, facilities built.
2. UNX continually triumphs the impending ground breaking of its high-tech public/private campus, the vaunted “Carolina North.” It will be built once they have the money, convince the town of Chapel Hill to let them build it, and close the airport that currently occupies the space.
Meanwhile… at NC State the dream of Bruce Polton, Centennial Campus, is built. It is home to dozens of private companies, houses the schools of Engineering and Textiles in state of the art classrooms and labs, and is the site of a booming mixed-use community, a cool alumni club and soon a championship golf course. The internship, co-op, and after graduation employment opportunities for State students is off the charts! Today. Now.
I live in Athens. I’m a PhD student at UGA. Athens is a heck of a lot better than Chapel Hill in every way, except for its proximity to home.
Yes, and they even arrest football players in Athens, then Richt suspends them for 1 OOC football game! Don’t let ‘dem Dawgs brainwash you down there!
He lengthened the suspension to two games after hearing of their blatant disregard for authority figures. Should it have been even longer? Most definitely.
It’s hard not to pull for the Dawgs when you’re around here. Especially when they’re doing so well, and in the SEC to boot. I justify it by saying that earning two degrees (and working on a third) entitles me to pull for two college teams. At least they’re both red! But the Pack will ALWAYS be closest to my heart. Thanks to my family, that loyalty has been instilled in me since birth. Hopefully in the near future I’ll get to watch State enjoy the same football success Georgia has enjoyed recently.
heck ya tooyoung - you get to pull for every school you get a degree from - if you want - plus the schools your folks went to, and the one you grew up loving. I’ve got 5, but the Pack are always #1 in my heart.
A professor I had at Ole Miss, who grew up in Chapel Hill, always described Oxford as what Chapel Hill was like before it went to hell. Despite that, its one rocking college town, minus the size of Athens.
Slightly off topic but — We need to get rid of the ridiculous BC rule for ACC bowl selections. If the bowls are continually forced to take a team that can’t sell tickets, it’s going to affect our payouts which ultimately affects all ACC schools.
Given the direction BC is going, I don’t think there would be too many worries in the future- as the team would have to be bowl-eligible, at least beyond Boise. I don’t see a lot of that in BC’s future as is.
I expect that the next time bowl contracts come up that the “BC Rule” will have its come-to-Jesus day. As the guys here on SFN reported last month, BC would have sunk down to Boise, and the good folks down in Orlando are surely none too pleased by the dozens of fans that BC brought to their bowl game. Add in Jags insult to Atlanta, the Gator folks bypassing them for Virgina and UVA being, well, UVA, and you simply do not have a pretty picture for the ACC and bowls.
The conference really needs NC State to have a good season next year and even better, one that gets the Pack in the hunt for a Peach or Gator slot. I don’t think it will happen, as TOB is still rebuilding the team, but look at the ultimate FY to BC - we beat them the last game of the year, and then bowl officials pick us over them and hopefully relegate them to Boise once again.
As for Utah…I skied in the Wasatches out there last week and it’s one of the most truly beautiful places I’ve ever seen (and I’ve skied the Alps).
Too bad the Southern Baptists didn’t get there before the Mormons!
LRM-HAHAHAHA
I was born in Utah- my parents Mormon, I am not. Its my favorite place in the world. I love it. Its beautiful. My sister graduated from BYU, and Provo is just as beautiful as the rest of the state(women included). And trust me… if your looking for a beer, you will find one.
oh… and the football atmosphere in Provo is great!
Tooyoung,
Put a “qualifier” on Beez’s comment about getting to pull for every school you graduated from” to exclude East Carolina. I went to grad school there and while the academic experience was fine, I just can’t pull for their football team…ever!!!
I’m right there with you. Undergrad Degree at State and 2nd undergrad Degree at ECU. I just can’t seem to pull for the Pirates either. I’ve tried, but I just don’t think it’s going to happen. Growing up in Georgia, I have always pulled for UGA and even attended school there my frosh year when I was too immature to handle academics and social life. I love the Pack down to my very soul, but there is nothing in this world like SEC football. I’m hoping that type of atmosphere can migrate up to ACC country because it is one of life’s great experiences. Imagine the excitement that the ACC Tourney generates and give it a big dose of HGH and that’s what you get.
My friend’s give me a hard time because of my apparent lovefest for SEC football and atmosphere. But I’m a NC boy so I rationalize the ACC’s football lack of atmosphere or any defining history like this: nothing compares to January-March on Tobacco Road, with the penultimate sporting experience being at the Friday games of the ACC Tournament.
When I was taking the GMAT, the East Carolina band was practicing outside the window of the classroom where we were taking the test. I think the proctor filed a complaint or something, but I can assure you that the noise did not positively impact those of us taking the test.
^^^^^^Dogbreadth, I’m sitting in 29 Palms, CA - same desert but without the neon. I’d trade it for Vegas any day. Can’t wait to get back to VA.
heck ya tooyoung - you get to pull for every school you get a degree from - if you want - plus the schools your folks went to, and the one you grew up loving. I’ve got 5, but the Pack are always #1 in my heart.
My dad went to UNC, played football for UNC in the 50’s, and that is probably why I grew up a Tarheel fan. That being said, I would pull for the Heels vs. Duke, but other than that, I just can’t pull for them — love ya Dad, but you’re not getting me to root for the Heels!!
You see - I think the ACC Tournament has lost a LOT of it’s atmosphere recently. I don’t know whether it’s the play-in games, the 12 teams, the dominance of Duke or the diminished importance by the at-large bids, but the feeling isn’t nearly the same as it used to be when you were lucky enough to score tickets to Friday’s 4 game set w/ 8 teams around.
Schedule is out:
NC State
Aug. 28 at South Carolina (Thu.)
Sept. 6 William & Mary
Sept. 13 at Clemson
Sept. 20 East Carolina
Sept. 27 South Florida
Oct. 4 Boston College
Oct. 16 Florida State (Thu.)
Oct. 25 at Maryland
Nov. 8 at Duke
Nov. 15 Wake Forest
Nov. 22 at North Carolina
Nov. 29 Miami