When Boston College joined Miami and Virginia Tech in jumping from the Big East to the ACC, I decided to buy season tickets for BC football. The decision was not about rooting for the Eagles, it was about the chance to watch what I thought was going to be a top flight football conference in action because in addition to the Hurricanes and Hokies, Boston College would be facing the likes of Florida State and Clemson.
Like most decisions in my life, this one backfired. At the same time the ACC expanded, the level of their football teams dropped more quickly than Kevin Kolb's chances to lead the Philadelphia Eagles. Sure, I got the opportunity to watch Matt Ryan's career blossom and drank my share of cold beers before and after the games but my dreams of watching the elite teams in major college football were shattered.
Sitting on my couch this afternoon getting ready for a lineup of games that includes Oklahoma-Texas, Oregon-Stanford, and Alabama-Florida, I had the bad fortune to get stuck watching Miami take on Clemson. Miami is ranked in the Top 20 nationally but they are far from the dominant college football powerhouse that they were from 1983-1993 or even at the turn of the century. Watching the 'Canes these days is like watching the Three Stooges with Shemp in a starring role. The swagger is still there for the Green and Orange but the level of play just isn't up to par.
For the sake of the ACC - a league that cannot compete with the SEC, Big 10, Pac 10, or Big 12 in football - they had better hope that Miami, Forida State, or Virginia Tech emerges as a national power or else they will be continually relegated to the noontime slot on ESPN2 like the Miami-Clemson game was today.
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