THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 12, 1996 TAG: 9609120562
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 94 lines
So, how big were those upsets by ACC teams over a couple of nationally-ranked teams last weekend?
Wake Forest's victory over No. 13 Northwestern and North Carolina's win over No. 9 Syracuse stand pretty tall, according to the record book.
In fact, it was the biggest weekend against outside ranked teams since the first year of the league in 1953 when Maryland defeated No. 11 Mississippi and South Carolina (then a member) defeated No. 8 West Virginia on the same day.
Only two other times had ACC teams dumped a pair of ranked outsiders on the same weekend - in 1957 when North Carolina defeated No. 6 Navy and South Carolina defeated No. 20 Texas, and in 1989 when Clemson defeated No. 16 Florida State and Virginia defeated No. 12 Penn State.
BACK-SLAPPING: Several coaches said during Wednesday's weekly teleconference the wins would help improve the league's image and recruiting.
``Those two wins have to give our conference the recognition it deserves to start out the season,'' North Carolina coach Mack Brown said.
``But I think the league has been better all along than some people wanted to admit.''
Duke coach Fred Goldsmith said the wins should help every school in the league in recruiting.
``A lot of disparaging things have been said about the ACC in recruiting out there,'' Goldsmith said, ``and this definitely helps the rest of us in recruiting. I just wish it had been us knocking off one of those teams.''
The Blue Devils play Northwestern Saturday, but the Wildcats' loss to Wake Forest knocked them out of the national rankings.
Virginia coach George Welsh was surprised by Wake Forest, but not by the Tar Heels.
``I knew Carolina had a great defense and if the quarterback (Chris Keldorf) came through that it would be a formidable team.
``I said all along, too, that the conference might be as good as it's been in a long time from top to bottom,'' Welsh said.
The wins also excited Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, who had insisted the league was not as soft as his Seminoles often make it look.
``Those wins will open some eyes about the strength of the conference,'' Bowden said.
``I am proud of both teams, and proud of the league. But I feel sorry for me because we've got to play them.''
Meanwhile, Clemson's Tommy West gives credit to Bowden's Seminoles for the improvement of the league.
``Everyone has been chasing (FSU) and that's made the whole league better,'' West said.
SAME OL' DEACS: Wake Forest coach Jim Caldwell said beating the defending Big Ten champion was a confidence builder for his young team, but it does not signal a breakthrough.
``We are still struggling and haven't changed that much,'' he said. ``We are still trying to keep our heads above water.''
The Deacons played 14 freshmen against the junior/senior-dominated Wildcats.
Up next for Wake Forest is Georgia Tech, which already knew to respect the Deacons.
Tech's coach George O'Leary recalled his team won last year ``by the skin of our teeth (24-23).''
Tech also is the last ACC team the Deacons beat, 20-23, in 1994.
STILL CLEANING: After cleaning up against Clemson and Syracuse, North Carolina is cleaning up this week from Hurricane Fran.
With an open weekend coming up, coach Mack Brown is reducing practice time so players can join with other students in cleaning up the mess on campus left behind by Fran. Carolina's next game is against Georgia Tech on Sept. 21.
NO BIG DEAL: Virginia coach George Welsh had a logical explanation when asked why he is acting as if being the winningest ACC coach is no big deal.
``Because I don't think it is any big deal,'' said Welsh, who got his 99th win as an ACC coach last Saturday.
``I have been here 15 years and if I hadn't won that many games I probably wouldn't be here now.''
GO GATORS: FSU's Bowden finds himself in the unusual position of rooting for rival Florida this weekend.
Bowden wants the Gators to beat No. 2-ranked Tennessee so his team will have a chance of moving up to No. 1 or No. 2 to play for the national championship.
``If someone doesn't knock off (No. 1) Nebraska or Tennessee, we won't have a chance of making it to the championship bowl. If Florida doesn't beat Tennessee, who will?'' Bowden asked.
The No. 4-ranked Seminoles, Clemson, North Carolina State and UNC have open dates this weekend.
HOOP NEWS: ACC schools already have received six verbal commitments from high school basketball seniors.
The biggest catch in the group is 6-6 guard Max Owens of Mount Zion Christian Academy in Durham.
New N.C. State coach Herb Sendek has received promises from three players: 6-8 power forward Kenny Inge, formerly of Atlantic Shores Christian School; and 6-6 guard Ron Anderson, Inge's Hargrave Military Academy teammate; and 5-9 point guard Archie Miller of Beaver Falls, Pa.
Wake Forest has a commitment from 6-2 guard Larry Morrisey of Fayetteville, N.C., and Maryland from 6-8 wing forward Terrence Morris of Frederick, Md.
The early signing period for basketball recruits is Nov. 13-20. by CNB