FSU-Clemson game takes on greater meaning
November 4, 2009
Posted by ESPN.com’s Heather Dinich
Three conference losses? No problem. Not in the ACC. Just ask Florida State. Or Virginia Tech. Or Boston College.
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| Stew Milne-US PRESSWIRE | |
| Christian Ponder has completed 72 percent of his passes over his past four games. |
Last year, four teams including division winners Boston College and Virginia Tech finished tied for first place with 5-3 ACC records. In 2005, the last time Florida State was crowned ACC champs, the Seminoles finished with a 5-3 record.
That’s why, as Florida State prepares to head into Saturday’s critical Atlantic Division game at Clemson with a 2-3 record in conference play, anything is still possible. The ACC’s unpredictability is a big reason why nobody in the Atlantic Division has given up, and why Saturday’s game, despite a disappointing start to the season for both programs, suddenly means something.
“Every year it always is like this,” FSU quarterback Christian Ponder said. “The ACC race is always crazy. It hurt losing to Miami, Boston College, and Georgia Tech. But we just stayed focused and we knew the last couple times there’s been a three-loss team going to the ACC championship game. I think even when we won it the first year I think we were a three loss team. So we knew we still had a chance.”
It’s Clemson’s division to lose, though.
About a month ago, it seemed improbable for Clemson to make any kind of a serious run for the ACC title in coach Dabo Swinney’s first season. Back-to-back losses to TCU and Maryland had the naysayers out in full force, but since the Oct. 10 bye week, the Tigers have turned things around and won three straight games, including a key upset on the road in overtime against Miami.
“I knew this team was very capable of turning this season around,” Clemson wide receiver Jacoby Ford said. “We just have to go out there and get a whole new mentality and start practicing a lot better and a lot harder, and playing together as a team more instead of playing against each other like we did before.”
Florida State, meanwhile, has put itself in contention again with wins over North Carolina and NC State. If the Noles win on Saturday, they will have made an astoundingly quick ascension from last place in the division to second place. Because Florida State lost to Boston College, the Eagles still stand in their way.
“I don’t care what their record says or whatever, these guys have really created some momentum, going up and winning at North Carolina, and winning against NC State,” said Swinney. “It’s the biggest game of the year for us.”
If the Tigers win, their toughest conference opponent will be behind them, and Clemson would be two wins shy of playing in the ACC championship game. The Tigers should then be favored over NC State and Virginia, which have combined for a 2-6 record in conference play so far.
The difference at Clemson over the past few weeks has simply been a matter of executing better on offense, and the Tigers have their coaches to thank for that.
“If we don’t execute in practice,” said Ford, “we have to go over there and do it again. It’s that simple.”
In Tallahassee, Ponder has been the answer. He’s No. 13 in the nation in passing efficiency, and over the past four games has completed 72 percent of his passes for 1,372 yards and nine touchdowns. (“I will be healthy, yes,” said Ponder, who bruised his ribs last week against NC State.)
“I’m doing what I’m supposed to do,” he said. “I’m just trying to put my team in the best position to win. Obviously we haven’t won as many games as we would’ve liked to. There’s still some more things personally I can do to get even better, and that’s the thing that makes me real excited. As we get more wins, more of the attention is going to come. For me, it’s all good, but I’d much rather be in the race for the ACC.”
And as long as the Noles keep it to three losses, he still will be. After all, it is the ACC.
