The ACC was so topsy-turvy in 2006 that no one knows what to expect from it this year. Wake Forest excelled, Miami struggled. Maryland emerged as a strong contender. Florida State fizzled as a perennial powerhouse.
"Nobody has a really good feel for matchups -- who's going to match up against each other the best, who's going to be fortunate enough to not have too many injuries, and all those kind of things," Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe said.
Wake Forest was crowned the conference's champion for only the second time ever.
Florida State and Miami, perennial conference contenders both finished the regular season at a mediocre 6-6, 3-5 ACC. It was Bobby Bowden's worst season since taking the reigns at FSU in 1976.
"I've convinced myself this is the nature of the game," Bowden said. "You're never safe."
While Bowden's failures caused him to incur harsh criticism, Miami coach Larry Coker was fired for his team's shortcomings. N.C. State and North Carolina also dismissed their coaches. Former N.C. State coach Chuck Amato returned to FSU, where he had previously coached for 18 years, to take the linebacker coaching position.
UNC filled its gap with Butch Davis, a former Dallas Cowboys and Miami Hurricanes coach who brings Super Bowl rings and BCS bowl experience to Chapel Hill.
"When you get Butch Davis, you've got as good as you can get," Bowden said.
N.C. State lured former Boston College coach Tom O'Brien to the Wolfpack after taking the Eagles to seven straight bowl game victories. O'Brien said one reason he left Boston College is because the talent in North Carolina is superior to that in Massachusetts. He said he also believes that he can bring a higher level of talent to the Wolfpack.
Miami promoted defensive coordinator Randy Shannon to head coach, where change has been made quickly to improve the team's discipline.
"When you hold people accountable, the expectations from each other is great," Shannon said. "When something goes wrong, they motivate well and know what they've done wrong. When they do that, it's easier for a coach to make a transition to the things he wants to do on and off the field."
Not only do Virginia fans not know what to expect of Virginia's competition this season, fans know little of what is to come for the 2007 Cavaliers.
Virginia coach Al Groh is convinced that his team is stronger.
"A lot of [the players] were just sticking their toes in the water for the first time last year," Groh said. "We needed a little time to see how they were going to perform. Now we've got a much better picture."
Nevertheless, Virginia was picked to finish in the middle of the ACC Coastal Division, suggesting that sports analysts are not very confident in Groh's development theory.
Luckily, fans have just one week left to see where this year's squad is headed. Only then will there be answers to all the questions.
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