Daniel on 
Sambo on 
Chili on 
Willy Mac on 
Beau on Since there aren’t any MTSU bloggers out there, I figured that we should reach out to Mark Packer, of syndicated radio fame. Mark, as you may or may not know, is Class of ’85 but unfortunately got stuck up in North Carolina trying to entertain the snobs above the border. You can check out his personal sports blog Pack Smack. Also, don’t forget to check out this year’s Southern Fried Football tour and remember to check out the babes sections of seasons past while you’re there too.
In preparation, I talked to Mark about the Blue Raiders to see what he knew about them and he knows about as much as we do: The Stockstill connection and the fact that they’re around 19 point dogs right now. Then I asked Mark some general, slightly crazy, slightly left field questions when I apparently had anger sharks swimming around and this is what we came up with. This should be a great reminder of why he’s syndicated on radio stations across the southeast and I, uh… well I just run a blog in my spare time.
From what I’m seeing, the ACC is going to be largely dominated by 7-8 win teams again this year with Virginia Tech hopefully breaking the mold and winning our BCS game. Briefly, what are your thoughts on how things will shake out. Will we have a ton of bowl invites again? Will we be doormats for everyone else?
I think the ACC is primed for another year of quality depth and a lack of star-power at the top. With all the solid returning QBs in the league, it wouldn’t surprise me to see at least 8 ACC teams qualify for bowls this season. Granted it is becoming ridiculous that we have 34 bowl games, so it screams for a ton of 6-6 and 7-5 teams in the post-season. I don’t think the ACC will be the “doormats” in ’09, that distinction should land to the Big East which couldn’t place a single team in the pre-season Top 25. But the ACC title still goes through Blacksburg in 2009.
Do you think there is a good chance that ACC will break the mold in the coming years and become a “stronger” conference with a “clear” leader? Or will the SEC homers just yell louder and more frequently about how great they are? (We did beat them head to head in regular season last year…)
It’s hard to rip the SEC when they continue to dominate the BCS and the post-season. You don’t have to like them, but you must respect them. The last three seasons, the SEC is 19-7 in bowl games, won 3 BCS titles and has lost only 1 BCS game (Bama to Utah last year in the Sugar)….that’s impressive.
The ACC needs the combination of the Sunshine state and Clemson to step up….it’s that simple. Those schools consist of the “football mentality” that have either a reputation of winning titles and/or a rabid fanbase. The Hokies are carrying their entire load for the ACC…if FSU, Miami or Clemson could get it going along with VT….the league would be much better off.
Hypothetical situation: If we got the Chik-Fil-A or Gaylord bowls again, would you like to see a rematch of Clemson vs. South Carolina (Considering any result of the post-Thanksgiving showdown)?
I would hate to see a rematch between USC and Clemson under that scenario. What makes the game so special is that it’s once a year…loser leave town match….bragging rights at stake….it’s a great game for the fans regardless if it’s played in Death Valley or Columbia. I would not be in favor of a rematch between these two teams or anybody else. Just a few years ago, there was all this rhetoric that Michigan and Ohio State should have a rematch after their epic #1-#2 showdown in Columbus. They both proceeded to get smashed in the bowl game. South Carolina and Clemson should meet once a year on the gridiron.
If we’re actually wanting to present a stronger image as a conference, then why does our championship game move around every chance they get??? Couldn’t we hold the bad boy in Charlotte or something so it’d be semi-neutral? What can we do to get a stronger fan showing at the championship game instead of having it look like a televised Division II game?
The ACC title game moves around because of politics. Jacksonville and Tampa have been given gifts from the ACC, and to be honest with you, neither city has done squat with the event. I’ll predict that when the game gets to Charlotte, it will find it’s permanent home.
Keep in mind that as great as the SEC and Big XII title games have become, both of them moved around before finding the “right fit”. At least the SEC in Atlanta makes sense, and the Big XII still is a work in progress. The ACC Championship game will be a hit in the Queen City.
What is unfortunate for the ACC this year is that the title game is in the prime time slot….the league better hope that the “right teams” make it. Can you imagine a Georgia Tech – Boston College game in prime time? That would not help the league’s reputation…..but Charlotte will support the event better than Jacksonville and Tampa.
Do you think that Swofford even really cares about ACC Football as much as he does ACC basketball. I mean, it’s obvious that we’re stronger in round ball, but it seems as if we’re getting surpassed by other conferences and he just seems to roll his tongue around in his mouth and do nothing. Perhaps we were jinxed as a conference after raiding the Big East?
John Swofford absolutely cares about football. After the SEC’s latest TV bonanza, he better figure out a way for the conference to match the TV rights-fees that they have received from the television partners. We all know that ACC basketball pulls their weight, it’s time for the football to start carrying the load, too. It is imperative that the conference gets a couple of big-time football teams to join the BCS mix….Virginia Tech has done it…who else is going to step up? It is a prime opportunity for Clemson, but can they do it?
How do you think Dabo will pan out at Clemson?
The Dabo question is a tough one. I really like the guy. How can you not like Dabo? The question is can he coach? I know he can recruit…I know he can get along with the boosters, fans and potential recruits and players…..but can he put together a quality staff and win consistently on gamedays?
At this moment, I don’t know the answer…and I don’t think anybody else knows, either. It’s so early in his tenure, but I thought he did a nice job under a tough circumstance in 2008. What I do know is that if he does win, and win big…he will be a dominant force in the ACC. Everything is in place for Clemson to get back to the glory days…now they have to prove it by winning. It sounds easy, but it’s not.
1Willy D
on Sep 2, 2009 at 8:41 am:
“but can he put together a quality staff and win consistently on gamedays?”
We know the answer to the first part of that question, the coaching staff he has assembled is ridiculous. We’ll find out the second part soon enough.
2CUTigersinDV
on Sep 2, 2009 at 9:14 am:
I like how everyone is so high on Virginia Tech right now…they won’t even win their division. It’s Georgia Tech that will be a cut above the rest of the ACC not the Hokies.
3AParker
on Sep 2, 2009 at 9:37 am:
@2 You are so leaving out the fact that Duke will be the top dog this year in the ACC, they will win like 5 games and be like you know, top dog. YEah, thats right, you know you gotta be scurred of them devils cause they are going to be the shizzzzzznit
4CUTigersinDV
on Sep 2, 2009 at 9:52 am:
Mm hmm.
5Kyle
on Sep 2, 2009 at 10:18 am:
Virginia Tech is the default until proven otherwise.
6ichaseferalcats
on Sep 2, 2009 at 10:20 am:
@ 2,
Tell me why I shouldn’t be suspect of G Tech’s Defense after what they lost from it last year? They have a stud at DE and Safety – beyond that there are a lot of unknowns.
7PenthouseTiger
on Sep 2, 2009 at 10:26 am:
unless the rest of GT’s dline steps up, that DE will just get double teamed every play and get eliminated
8PenthouseTiger
on Sep 2, 2009 at 10:27 am:
If Ponder steps up , I really think the ACC Championship could land at FSU
9CUvinny
on Sep 2, 2009 at 11:09 am:
I’ll admit, I shed a few tears when kelly dropped that pass… then got hero drunk
Anyways, I love Packer’s show and listen to it almost everyday. Good job getting the interview.
@1 I disagree, I think the offensive staff is weak. I don’t like giving the O-Coor to Napier. Brad Scott has been bad with the o-line and don’t like hiring his son to coach receivers. Pearman was a good pick up and giving him responsibility over the tackles was a good call but overall I think we dropped the ball on the O side, D side is great though.
Also go to http://en.gravatar.com/
10Willy Mac
on Sep 2, 2009 at 11:19 am:
I really think that Brad Scott should have been O coordinator of Billy effing Napier. Lets take a look at their history.
Billy Napier: Former Furman QB
Brad Scott: Former offensive coordinator for a national championship team…
WHAT… THE… FUCK… … DABO…
11CUvinny
on Sep 2, 2009 at 11:37 am:
@10 he had his chance and was horrible. Tommy had to take over play calling. I have no idea why Scott has degraded as a coach as much as he has. Must be something with USC.
12ichaseferalcats
on Sep 2, 2009 at 12:00 pm:
@ 10,
Seriously? “Former” being the imperative word here…just like Spurrier was formerly a QB guru and offensive genius – but Spurrier has a hell of lot more left on the plate than Brad Scott.
Brad Scott has sucked donkey balls since he left FSU – or he left FSU’s ridiculous deep talent. He was just GOD AWFUL at Sakerlina and he was the OC for one year under Tommy (you know you suck when Tommy demotes you after one year) and our offense was MUY TERRIBLE (which was an improvement from his USC stint).
Napier may turn out to be a bad OC (a terrible OC) but Brad Scott is not the answer. If he can’t put an average OL on the field consistently then how the hell is he supposed to go back to running the entire offense with any success?
If I had to choose from a washed up Brad Scott and a hungry Billy Napier. I’d choose Napier every time.
13clem
on Sep 2, 2009 at 12:47 pm:
Why THAT picture!! Oh man, that was the ACC championship decider. now I am depressed…back to the gnomes to watch the motivational video again.
14tyge
on Sep 2, 2009 at 1:06 pm:
Seriously, why does that have to be the first picture I see when I come here. The season hasn’t started yet and I’m already being bombarded with negative imagery and thoughts. I’m fully aware of all the reasons why we will continue to be mediocre this season, but can’t we at least enjoy a couple of weeks of optimism before we have to face reality?
15JasonL
on Sep 2, 2009 at 1:16 pm:
Yeah. @12 is right.
16Willy Mac
on Sep 2, 2009 at 1:20 pm:
@11 & 12 – And an untested young guy like Napier is better??? Brad Scott is a good coach.
@13 & 14 – hover your mouse over the pic and read the description. Pkease, as a friebd, go ahead and take off the orange tinted shades. This year is gonna be a blast to watch, but dudes, we’re gonna be slightly better than average as always. I want us to be the biggest, most badassed team as well. It’s just not in the cards this year.
17tyge
on Sep 2, 2009 at 1:59 pm:
Didn’t see the caption at first, but I still cringe when I see those pictures. I’m not saying we are going to be great by any stretch of the imagination. Like I said, I know all the reasons we will have another average year, and realistically, that’s about what I expect.
Here’s the thing though, we’ve been talking for months about why Clemson will or will not be good this year and whether or not the right decision has been made here or there. Now that we are finally here, with the first game only 3 days away, all expectations of mediocrity are greatly out weighed by the excitement and anticipation of another football season and all that comes with it. We can get back to doom and gloom after a couple of games have come and gone, but for now, I’m just too damn excited to tailgate and see some football.
18Daniel
on Sep 2, 2009 at 2:00 pm:
I’m not 100% sold on Georgia Tech’s offense. Paul Johnson is a very good coach who has had a ton of success, no question. I know everyone said that Urban Meyer’s offense wouldn’t work and we see how that has turned out but I think Johnson’s offense is just too one-dimensional to make them a championship-caliber team (whether it be ACC or national). I think he will probably win an ACC title because the league is so up-and-down at some point, but I don’t think they are going to be perennial challengers. If I’m wrong then dammit I’m wrong and that’s fine with me, but it’ll be interesting to see how well he can recruit kids in to play that and how teams will prepare for it with a year’s worth of tape to review.
19Willy Mac
on Sep 2, 2009 at 2:53 pm:
FYI, Daniel goes to USC now… You hear that? That’s all of Daniel’s Gamecock logic flying out of the window. WHAMMY!!
20CUTigersinDV
on Sep 2, 2009 at 4:12 pm:
It doesn’t matter who, what, when, why, or where you guys suspect GT’s defense or aren’t sold on their offense or whatever-the-fuck-ever. I’m telling you, they’re winning 11 games this year and an ACC title. Not suggesting. Telling. Bet.
21Daniel
on Sep 2, 2009 at 4:27 pm:
@ 19: Oh you just wait ’til next year.
@ 20: Maybe they will. They could certainly win the ACC, no question. But if and when it happens kudos to you (and Tom) for calling it early. I will say though that the Hokies are going to have a tough time Saturday night against ‘Bama. Not sure how they’ll do in conference but they’re probably leaving Atlanta with some hurt feelings.
22CUTigersinDV
on Sep 2, 2009 at 5:56 pm:
When run properly the option cannot be stopped. It should be in full effect this year. We should have hired PJ when we had the chance…already won an ACC title by now…PJ is the best…blah blah blah. Sorry just channeling Tom there for a minute. But srsly…all PJ man love aside…the man can flat out coach and yes I watched the LSU game last year. Don’t expect that to happen this year.
23Danny's spit cup
on Sep 2, 2009 at 7:39 pm:
If any coach needs to go, it’s Andre Powell. He had two of the most talented rbs in
Clemson history and couldn’t get 1,000 yards out of each with a 13 game schedule.
He is what is going to cost us with Lattimore.
24Willy Mac
on Sep 2, 2009 at 8:51 pm:
Dude, Lattimore isn’t going to commit to Clemson, period. He’s been paid for already.
25Kyle
on Sep 2, 2009 at 11:55 pm:
Seconding the Lattimore thing. He’s not even gonna land in state. A definite SEC guy. I don’t now about being “paid” and I won’t speculate, but he’s not coming here and he never was.
Also, it’s hard to assign that much blame to Andre Powell when he’s given no offensive line to block for his RBs.
26CUTigersinDV
on Sep 3, 2009 at 9:58 am:
Yeah, how does Brad Scott escape any blame for what happened to the running backs and Andre Powell gets nailed to the wall for it? It’s clearly partially the offensive lines fault…it’s not like Cullen Harper ever had enough time to [DABOISM]sit back there and smoke a pack of cigarettes[/DABOISM] or anything. It’s not really Scott’s fault either. It’s already been pretty much established that Spence was strong arming him and holding him back.
27PenthouseTiger
on Sep 3, 2009 at 12:56 pm:
Thanks for nothing, Rob Spence
28Kyle
on Sep 3, 2009 at 5:49 pm:
@26 It was in fact also Cullen’s fault for avoiding the use of his protection when it actually existed. He seriously ran backwards and towards the sidelines half the time like an amateur PS2 player. :-p