ACC Notebook: Clemson leery of Virginia Tech

WILL TIGERS POUNCE?

BY TAFT COGHILL JR.

Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney calls Virginia Tech “the measuring stick” in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

If that’s the case, the Tigers have measured up quite well lately.

Clemson soundly defeated Virginia Tech twice last season. The Tigers will aim for a third straight victory over the Hokies on Saturday when Virginia Tech visits Clemson Memorial Stadium.

The No. 14 Tigers (5–1, 2–1 ACC) are coming off a bye week. Virginia Tech (4–3, 2–1) rebounded from two straight defeats with a 41–20 win over Duke. The Hokies scored 41 unanswered points to earn that victory.

“They got it going against Duke,” Swinney said Wednesday. “It looked like they started to click, get their confidence, probably played some of their best football of the year in that game on both sides.”

AN HONOR FOR RODRIGUEZ

Clemson will honor Brooke Point High School graduate Daniel Rodriguez on Saturday for Military Appreciation Day.

Rodriguez, a walk-on wide receiver, served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was wounded in Afghanistan and received a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.

He later returned to Stafford County, attended Germanna Community College and focused on playing college football. Rodriguez also applied to Virginia and Virginia Tech.

“Yeah, we had conversations and we told him—he knew exactly what he had to do to get admitted to Virginia Tech,” Hokies coach Frank Beamer said. “I’m glad to see; he’s a deserving guy, served his country, very impressive and so I’m glad to see him reach his goals.”

RIVALRY BACK ON TRACK

The rivalry between Florida State and Miami is historically one of the top-rated ones in the country. But in the past several years it has tailed off. This season, however, there is something at stake when the No. 12 Seminoles (6–1, 2–1) visit the Hurricanes (4–3, 3–1). Miami sits in first place in the Coastal Division. Florida State is second in the Atlantic Division.

“This is one of the reasons you come to Florida State to play,” Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher said. “They’re No. 1 on their side, we’re second on our side. A lot of implications in the state. To us, it’s one of the major, major games of the year, and a huge game for us.”

A SURPRISING ATHLETE

Florida State’s Dustin Hopkins isn’t the stereotypical kicker. He’s 6-foot-2 and runs the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds. His vertical leaps are in the mid- to high 30s. He can also dunk a basketball.

Hopkins is pretty good at doing what he’s on scholarship for, as well. He set an ACC record for most points scored in a career on Saturday when he booted a 51-yard field goal in Florida State’s 51–7 win over Boston College. Hopkins has 402 career points, good for fifth all-time in NCAA history. He needs 38 points over the final five games to top all-time NCAA leader Kyle Brotzman of Boise State (439 points).

A WELCOME SIGHT

Larry Fedora doesn’t like to assume someone is going to be a good player based on the eye test. But the first-year North Carolina coach was taken aback when he saw running back Giovani Bernard in spring practice. Bernard (5-foot-10, 205 pounds) has lived up to Fedora’s first impression. He has 652 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in five games. He’s scored nine total touchdowns (seven rushing, two receiving).

“I never like to make assumptions in spring ball, especially in the first couple days, because you’re in shorts and helmets,” Fedora said. “But he’s one of the guys in shorts and helmets that it was a no-brainer.”

Taft Coghill Jr.: 540/374-5526

tcoghill@freelancestar.com

• WHO’S RISING?

  MARYLAND

  The Terrapins’ defense is ranked ninth in the country. They have a chance to reach 3–0 in league play against N.C. State Saturday.

• WHO’S FALLING?

  BOSTON COLLEGE

  The Eagles rank 117th in the nation in rush defense. It doesn’t get

  any easier with a visit to Georgia Tech and its triple option.

• SCHEDULE

  BOSTON COLLEGE (1-5) at Georgia Tech

  Saturday, 3 p.m. (CSN)

  CLEMSON (5-1) vs. Virginia Tech

  Saturday, noon (ABC)

  DUKE (5-2) vs. North Carolina

  Saturday, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)

  FLORIDA STATE (6-1) at Miami

  Saturday, 8 p.m. (ABC)

  GEORGIA TECH (2-4) vs. Boston College

  Saturday, 3 p.m. (CSN)

  MARYLAND (4-2) vs. N.C. State

  Saturday, 3:30 (ESPNU)

  MIAMI (4-3) vs. Florida State

  Saturday, 8 p.m. (ABC)

  NORTH CAROLINA (5-2) at Duke

  Saturday, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)

  N.C. STATE (4-2) at Maryland

  Saturday, 3:30 (ESPNU)

  VIRGINIA (2-5) vs. Wake Forest

  Saturday, 12:30 (Raycom)

  VIRGINIA TECH (4-3) at Clemson

  Saturday, noon (ABC)

  WAKE FOREST (3-3) at Virginia

  Saturday, 12:30 (Raycom)

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