2008 ACC Football Pre-Season Selections

Posted Tuesday, July 22, 2008

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Greensboro, GA - The ACC Pre-Season Poll was released on Monday, with Clemson predicted to win the Atlantic Division and Virginia Tech to top the Coastal Division. In the three years of divisional play and the ACC Championship Game, the media has only picked three of the six championship game participants. They have found more success predicting the ACC champion, however, getting it right two of the three years. I’m sure Tommy Bowden hopes that holds true this year as his Tigers were picked to win it all.

Atlantic Division Points
1. Clemson (59) 383
2. Wake Forest (5) 304
3. Florida State (1) 265
4. Boston College 154
5. Maryland 147
6. NC State 112

Coastal Division Points
1. Virginia Tech (58) 383
2. North Carolina (4) 288
3. Miami (1) 253
4. Georgia Tech (1) 195
5. Virginia (1) 161
6. Duke 85

ACC Championship Game Winner: Clemson (51 votes)

(First Place Votes in Parentheses)

At the Monday night dinner, the winners of the 5th Annual Marvin “Skeeter” Francis Championship were announced. Over 130 golfers had gathered at the crack of dawn to tee off at The Oconee for a Captain’s Choice tournament. Eighteen holes decided a winner, but a three-way logjam at second place forced a tiebreaker.

Paul Hazelwood (Golf Pro, Oconee Golf), Bob Griese (ABC/ESPN), Jeff Jagodzinski (Head Coach, Boston College) and Chris Knight (FedEx Orange Bowl) shot a 59 and claimed victory by one stroke. (There were jeers from the crowd when this stacked team was announced as the winner. Doug Flutie quickly jumped up to accept the $100 gift card on behalf of the absent Eagle head coach.)

Buck Belue (WCNN 860), Joe Giglio (Raleigh News & Observer), Mark Schlabaugh (ESPN.com) and Ray Goodrich (FSN South/SportSouth) were second after the tiebreaker with a 60.

Fred Seely (Jacksonville Daily Record), AJ Henderson (ACC Office) and Carl Danbury (Sports Unlimited) posted a third-place finish despite playing as a trio.

The long drive competition was won by Ray Goodrich on the first hole and Betsy Gafaell (Meineke Car Care Bowl) on the tenth hole. Harris Prevost (Grandfather Mountain) and Gary Petit (Wake Forest Media Relations) knocked it closest to the pin on the eighth and 15th holes, respectively.