2008 Atlantic Coast Conference football season

2008 ACC football standings
Conf     Overall
Team   W   L         W   L  
Atlantic Division
Boston College xy   5 3         9 5  
#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
#15 Virginia Tech xy   5 3         10 4  
#22 Georgia Tech x   5 3         9 4  
North Carolina   0 4         0 5  
Miami   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).

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
Player School Comp Att Yds TDs Int Rat
Russell Wilson N.C. State 150 275 1,955 17 1 133.9
Cullen Harper Clemson 221 360 2,601 17 14 126.2
Riley Skinner Wake Forest 232 363 2,347 13 7 126.2
Thaddeus Lewis Duke 224 361 2,171 15 6 123.0
Chris Turner Maryland 214 374 2,516 13 11 119.3
Rushing
Player School Att Yds Avg TDs
Jonathan Dwyer Georgia Tech 200 1,395 7.0 12
Da'Rel Scott Maryland 209 1,133 5.4 8
Darren Evans Virginia Tech 287 1,265 4.4 11
Cedric Peerman Virginia 153 774 5.1 7
Montel Harris Boston College 179 900 5.0 5
Receiving
Player School Rec YDs Avg TDs
Hakeem Nicks North Carolina 68 1,222 18.0 12
D.J. Boldin Wake Forest 81 848 10.5 3
Kevin Ogletree Virginia 58 723 12.5 5
Aaron Kelly Clemson 67 722 10.8 4
Jacoby Ford Clemson 55 710 12.9 4
Tackles
Player School Solo Asst Total
Michael Tauiliili Duke 63 77 140
Alex Wujciak Maryland 56 77 133
Quan Sturdivant North Carolina 87 35 122
Mark Herzlich Boston College 81 29 110
Vincent Rey Duke 61 48 109
Sacks
Player School Solo Asst Yds
Everette Brown Florida State 13 1 97
Clint Sintim Virginia 9 4 86
Michael Johnson Georgia Tech 8 2 85
Jason Worilds Virginia Tech 8 2 85
B.J. Raji Boston College 7 1 48
Interceptions
Player School Int Yds TDs
Trimane Goddard North Carolina 7 156 1
Paul Anderson Boston College 6 149 1
Macho Harris Virginia Tech 6 142 2
Mark Herzlich Boston College 6 121 2
Michael Hamlin Clemson 6 111 0

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 team Second team
Pos. Selection School Votes Pos. Selection School Votes
QB Russell Wilson NC State 106 QB Thaddeus Lewis Duke 28
RB Jonathan Dwyer Georgia Tech 134 RB Darren Evans Virginia Tech 58
RB Da'Rel Scott Maryland 76 RB C. J. Spiller Clemson 50
WR Hakeem Nicks North Carolina 130 WR Eron Riley Duke 57
WR DJ Boldin Wake Forest 76 WR Aaron Kelly Clemson 56
TE John Phillips Virginia 88 TE Ryan Purvis Boston College 45
OT Eugene Monroe Virginia 117 OT Garrett Reynolds North Carolina 42
OT Andrew Gardner Georgia Tech 107 OT Anthony Castonzo Boston College 41
OG Rodney Hudson Florida State 99 OG Sergio Render Virginia Tech 48
OG Cliff Ramsey Boston College 78 OG Cordaro Howard Georgia Tech 45
C Edwin Williams Maryland 62 C Thomas Austin Clemson 48

Defense

First team Second team
Pos. Selection School Votes Pos. Selection School Votes
DEEverette Brown Florida State 131 DE Orion Martin Virginia Tech 61
DE Michael Johnson Georgia Tech 99 DE Jason Worilds Virginia Tech 39
DT B. J. Raji Boston College 103 DT Ron Brace Boston College 52
DT Vance Walker Georgia Tech 62 DT Darryl Richard Georgia Tech 50
LB Mark Herzlich Boston College 118 LB Clint Sintim Virginia 79
LB Michael Tauiliili Duke 110 LB Alex Wujciak Maryland 43
LB Aaron Curry Wake Forest 106 LB Mark Paschal North Carolina 40
CB Alphonso Smith Wake Forest 134 CB Ras-I Dowling Virginia 49
CB Victor Harris Virginia Tech 125 CB Kendric Burney North Carolina 34
S Trimane Goddard North Carolina 105 S Morgan Burnett Georgia Tech 85
S Michael Hamlin Clemson 89 S Myron Rolle Florida State 55

Special teams

First team Second team
Pos. Selection School Votes Pos. Selection School Votes
K Graham Gano Florida State 127 K Matt Bosher Miami 34
P Travis Baltz Maryland 105 P Matt Bosher Miami 60
SP C. J. Spiller Clemson 66 SP Michael Ray Garvin Florida State 41

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]

# Conference Players
selected
1 SEC 37
2 ACC 32
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 others 24
Player Position School Pick Round Team
Aaron Curry OLB Wake Forest 4 1 Seattle Seahawks
Darrius Heyward-Bey WR Maryland 7 1 Oakland Raiders
Eugene Monroe OT Virginia 8 1 Jacksonville Jaguars
B.J. Raji DT Boston College 9 1 Green Bay Packers
Hakeem Nicks WR North Carolina 29 1 New York Giants
Alphonso Smith CB Wake Forest 37 2 Denver Broncos
Ron Brace DT Boston College 40 2 New England Patriots
Everette Brown DE Florida State 43 2 Carolina Panthers
Clint Sintim OLB Virginia 45 2 New York Giants
Richard Quinn TE North Carolina 64 2 Denver Broncos
Michael Johnson DE Georgia Tech 70 3 Cincinnati Bengals
Kevin Barnes CB Maryland 80 3 Washington Redskins
Brandon Tate North Carolina 83 3 New England Patriots
Dorell Scott Clemson 103 4 St. Louis Rams
Chip Vaughn Wake Forest 116 4 New Orleans Saints
Stanley Arnoux Wake Forest 118 4 New Orleans Saints
Anthony Hill NC State 122 4 Houston Texans
Andre Brown NC State 129 4 New York Giants
Garrett Reynolds North Carolina 156 5 Atlanta Falcons
Victor Harris Virginia Tech 157 5 Philadelphia Eagles
Brooks Foster North Carolina 160 5 St. Louis Rams
Chris Clemons Clemson 165 5 Miami Dolphins
Michael Hamlin Clemson 166 5 Dallas Cowboys
Spencer Adkins Miami 176 6 Atlanta Falcons
Andrew Gardner Georgia Tech 181 6 Miami Dolphins
Cedric Peerman Virginia 185 6 Baltimore Ravens
James Davis Clemson 195 6 Cleveland Browns
John Phillips Virginia 208 6 Dallas Cowboys
Vance Walker Georgia Tech 210 7 Atlanta Falcons
Moise Fokou Maryland 230 7 Philadelphia Eagles
Darryl Richard Georgia Tech 234 7 New England Patriots
Jaimie Thomas Maryland 236 7 Indianapolis Colts
Dan Gronkowski TE Maryland 255 7 Detroit Lions

References

  1. Strelow, Paul. "ACC is a BCS mess", 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, Baltimore Sun, April 27, 2009.
  35. ACC Again Scores Big At 2009 NFL Draft, Atlantic Coast Conference, April 26, 2009.

External links