(05-04-2015 02:39 PM)omniorange Wrote: (05-04-2015 02:29 PM)Lou_C Wrote: Honestly, I think it's all about recruiting. I think the ACC recruits better than it gets credit for, considering how bad the football was for a decade. And perception of the ACC's recruiting was definitely hampered by having several schools that rated near the bottom in the likes of Syracuse, Duke, Wake, BC. But a couple years ago I went through ESPN's classes from the time since they started rating classes...the ACC had clearly more top 25 recruiting classes than anyone besides the SEC. Just like draft picks.
Now, even those traditionally poor recruiting schools are doing better. In 2015, 247 rated Syracuse as the conferences worst class at #64. That's not good...but the Big 12 had two teams worse than that (that's right...20% of their conference recruited worse than Syracuse), and the PAC and B1G each had a team rated lower. So even the floor is coming up in the ACC.
There is still a lot room for recruiting improvement, but I think the ACC has the second most draft picks because they're recruiting the second most talent.
Which has been the contention of some on these boards for quite a while now. The issue seems to be coaching (and not just the head coach but assistant coaches as well), which speaks more to investment probably than the ability to recruit.
If ACC teams invest more, then the recruiting will likely be even better. Maybe not quite to SEC level, but enough to put a distance between the ACC and the other conferences.
Of course, for some, it's SEC level or the conference is a bust.
Cheers,
Neil
Yeah, I really think it's coaching...head coaching and staff. ACC programs just put up with more mediocrity...and there isn't one program that can absolutely claim that they haven't in the past. Maybe Louisville? Hell, probably Wake Forest made the biggest recent statement about that.
I believe FSU and Clemson are on the right page...they've seen the benefits of not slipping back...I really don't see either of them wandering in the woods for 10+ years again.
I think Louisville hiring Petrino back, warts and all, tells you where their mind is.
Wake, for whatever it's worth, has made their position clear, that they have expectations.
I think UVA has made it clear they are NOT with the program.
The rest of the conference is on the clock. Are they with Louisville and Wake Forest (??LOL??), or are they with Virginia? If we see Golden and Fedora jettisoned after a 7-8 win season...and we see what kind of replacements they can pull, we'll see if the ACC can take the step from being "not clearly the worst" football conference, to right there with where the PAC is, sniping at the SEC's heels.
These draft picks are making an impression on recruits for sure, but don't think potential coaches aren't seeing it as well. Jobs like Miami, North Carolina, and Virginia Tech could be a pretty attractive destination, as long as the money isn't clearly substandard.
Let's face it...there's maybe ten final destination jobs in college football, and that's being generous considering the call of the NFL. Everyone is coaching for their next job. Those teams offer the chance to work with elite athletes in a conference that's not the meat grinder of the SEC. I think as long as ACC schools don't get short pockets, there is no reason why they can't land good replacements.