Virginia Picked By Media to Finish Sixth in ACC Coastal Division
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GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Virginia football team was picked to finish in sixth-place of the ACC’s Coastal Division, which was announced during the 2010 Atlantic Coast Conference Football Kickoff on Monday at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro. The media voted Virginia Tech as the league’s favorite to win the ACC’s Coastal Division and defeat Florida State for the 2010 ACC Football title. The predicted order of finish is UVa’s lowest since the league went to the divisional format in 2005.
First-year Cavalier head coach Mike London took the news in stride and even poked fun at the prediction. “We got them right where we want them,” London said regarding the selection by the media in attendance.
“It is what it is right now,” said London. “People that are not associated with the program as far as what is going on – have to start somewhere regarding predicting our order of finish – and that is where we are starting. By no means is this where our mindset is – that is what other people are saying and all we are worried about is how we think and what we say about ourselves.”
A record number of ballots were cast at the Kickoff with 98 media members voting.
Virginia Tech was chosen on 50 ballots to win its fourth ACC football title in just its seventh year in the league. Florida State finished second with 26 votes, followed by Miami (10), Georgia Tech (8), Boston College (2) and North Carolina (2). The Hokies were tabbed to win the ACC’s Coastal Division with 532 points and 62 first-place votes outdistancing Miami (444 points, 20 first-place votes), Georgia Tech (408), North Carolina (379), Duke (169) and Virginia (126). Florida State compiled 565 points and 78 first-place votes to claim the Atlantic Division title over Clemson (479), Boston College (389), NC State (283), Wake Forest (203) and Maryland (139).
Florida State senior quarterback Christian Ponder (Colleyville, Texas), who led the ACC in total offense in 2009 (321.8) after nine games before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury, was a runaway selection as the ACC’s Preseason Player of the Year. Ponder garnered 45 votes to finish ahead of Virginia Tech tailback Ryan Williams (16) and quarterback Tyrod Taylor (11), NC State senior quarterback Russell Wilson (6) and North Carolina defensive end Robert Quinn (6). In all, 12 ACC players received votes for ACC Preseason Player of the Year.
The preseason All-ACC team will be released on Wednesday.
Atlantic Division
1. Florida State (78)…… 565
2. Clemson (16)……….. 479
3. Boston College (4)….. 389
4. NC State…………….. 283
5. Wake Forest………… 203
6. Maryland……………. .139
Coastal Division
1. Virginia Tech (62)……532
2. Miami (20)………….. 444
3. Georgia Tech (11)……408
4. North Carolina (5)……379
5. Duke………………… 169
6. Virginia……………… 126
ACC Championship Votes
1. Virginia Tech……….. 50
2. Florida State……… … 26
3. Miami…………………. 10
4. Georgia Tech…………..8
5. Boston College (tie)…..2
North Carolina ………. 2
ACC Player of the Year
Christian Ponder, Florida State………. 45
Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech…………. 16
Tyrod Taylor, Virginia Tech…………… 11
Russell Wilson, NC State………………… 6
Robert Quinn, North Carolina…………… 6
Joshua Nesbitt, Georgia Tech…………… 4
Kyle Parker, Clemson…………………… .3
Mark Herzlich, Boston College…………. .2
Jacory Harris, Miami……………………. .2
Montel Harris, Boston College……… …. 1
Darren Evans, Virginia Tech……………. 1
Bruce Carter, North Carolina……………. 1
ACC Championship Game Predictions
Virginia Tech over FSU………………… 35
Virginia Tech over Clemson……………..13
Florida State over Virginia Tech…………11
Florida State over Miami………………… 10
Miami over Florida State………………. 9
Georgia Tech over Florida State………… 7
Florida State over North Carolina……… 3
Virginia Tech over Boston College……. 2
Florida State over Georgia Tech……….. 2
Miami over Clemson……………… 1
Georgia Tech over Clemson…………… 1
Boston College over Georgia Tech…….. 1
Boston College over Virginia Tech…….. 1
North Carolina over Florida State……… 1
North Carolina over Clemson…… 1