The Inagural ACC Football Kickoff Media Poll

[code:1]     School (1st-place votes)      Points
1.  Florida State (49)             925
2.  Miami (36)                     913
3.  Virginia (2)                   697
4.  Clemson (1)                    664
5.  Maryland                       653
6.  Virginia Tech                  511
7.  NC State                       509
8.  Georgia Tech                   365
9.  Wake Forest                    273
10. North Carolina                 184
11. Duke                           114[/code:1]

Quote:New ACC But Old Favorite
By DOUG CARLSON
Tampa Tribune
Published: Jul 27, 2004

GREENSBORO, N.C.Collecting Atlantic Coast Conference championship rings isn't likely to be as easy at it once was for Florida State and Coach Bobby Bowden.
The belief that the Seminoles can do it, however, hasn't changed.

FSU on Monday was picked to win its 12th ACC title in 13 seasons in a poll of 88 media members who cover the league. The vote caught Bowden by surprise.

``If you had asked me, I would have said they would have picked Miami. In a way, it's a compliment,'' said Bowden, whose team returns nine starters on offense and experience at every position on defense.

Miami coach Larry Coker, whose team has defeated FSU five consecutive times, didn't seem to mind being picked to finish second. The Seminoles received 49 first-place votes to Miami's 36 in the closest voting since FSU joined the league.

Miami and Virginia Tech begin play in the ACC this season after combining to make it to three BCS championship games in the past five years as members of the Big East. The Hokies are picked to finish sixth, behind Virginia, Clemson and Maryland.

``To be selected preseason No. 2, first year in it, especially losing six first-round draft choices, I think that's showing our team a lot of respect,'' Coker said.

He hinted that opening the season against Florida State on Sept. 6 in Miami might have something to do with how he feels about being picked to finish behind the Seminoles.

"We have a lot of pride,'' Coker said.  "Obviously, we're going to find out very early what we're all about.''

With the ACC deeper and more dangerous than it's been at any time since FSU joined in 1992, Bowden said he sees a much more difficult path to a possible national championship. But he said he isn't changing his goals, and he doesn't expect his players to.

"Our goal is the same: to win the national championship,'' Bowden said.

To that end, he is optimistic.

"We have an offensive football team that does not have the question marks it had a year ago - everybody is a veteran,'' Bowden said.

"I think if all of us got down and tried to pick out 12 teams you think might win the national championship, I'd put Southern Cal in there, I'd put LSU in there, I'd put Georgia in there, I'd put so-and-so in there, and I'd put Miami in there and I'd put Florida State in there.''

"We're one of those 12 teams that's got a shot, but that's only one out of 12 and out of those teams, one of them is going to get lucky and not have injuries and also one of them is going to get lucky and get a couple of breaks, a couple of bounces that are going to bounce your way and that team is going to end up winning the national championship.''

Clemson, with one first- place vote (Virginia got the other two), is another possible roadblock for the Seminoles - another example of ACC improvement.

"The gap is closing [on FSU], looking at the number of teams that have beaten them,'' said Tigers coach Tommy Bowden, whose team decisively won its final four games of the 2003 season, starting with a victory against FSU.

In fact, all the fuss being made over FSU and Miami might be misplaced, Coker said.

"If I'm one of those other teams, I'm thinking, `I like this,' '' he said.

I'm Surprised we got picked over Miami :eek:

I'm not. I think FSU will have the better team.

Oh yeah, I've gotta beelieve :D

You're catching on MsNole

Can't say that I disagree, Virginia, Clemson, Maryland...... could go either way....I figure Clemson will finish 3rd, but I am an optimist. Another reason I think Clemson will finish higher than Virginia is that the last three years Virginia has had a lot of "hype" about talent....so i guess I just got tired of hearing it.....not that Virginia isn't a tallented team it's just that they never live up to there expectations. Well thats my point of view.