They are roads traveled and journeys lived, defined objectively by wins or losses and defined subjectively by passion and emotion – they are the seasons of each college football team. As autumn pushes forward, the sun retires earlier and the leaves softly rush to campus grounds, there are constant reminders of a bittersweet culmination rustling somewhere in the wind. Although seniors have bid their final farewells to hometown faithfuls and stadiums across the country have begun hibernation, the spirit of college football never truly departs; in 12 words or less, here is an ode to the road’s end.
Atlantic Division
Boston College (4-8, 3-5 ACC) - “Carry On My Wayward Son” by Kansas
“Masquerading as a man with a reason/My charade is the event of the season/And if I claim to be a wise man, well/It surely means that I don’t know.”
The ACC’s most consistent program of past decade will return from anomaly.
#20 Clemson (9-3, 6-2 ACC) - “Here’s To The Night” by Eve 6
“Here’s to the nights we felt alive/Here’s to the tears you knew you’d cry/Here’s to goodbye/Tomorrow’s gonna come too soon.”
It took 11 games to realize Clemson has not changed at all.
Florida State (8-4, 5-3 ACC) - “(Don’t You) Forget About Me” by Simple Minds
“Don’t you forget about me/I’ll be alone, dancing you know it baby/Going to take you apart/I’ll put us back together at heart, baby.”
High expectations became disappointment, but brighter days (and E.J . Manuel) will return.
Maryland (2-10, 1-7 ACC) - “It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday” by Boyz II Men
“I don’t know where this road/Is going to lead/All I know is where we’ve been /And what we’ve been through.”
Terps transition to the Randy Edsall era has started as a train-wreck.
N.C . State (7-5, 4-4 ACC) - “Believe It Or Not” by Joey Scarbury
“Just like the light of new day/It hit me from out of the blue/Breakin’ me out of the spell I was in/Makin’ all of my wishes come true.”
Plagued by injuries and uninspired play, State showed heart to battle back.
Wake Forest (6-6, 5-3 ACC) - “One Step At A Time” by Jordin Sparks
“You wanna show the world, but no one knows your name yet/Wonder when and where and how you’re gonna make it/You know you can if you get the chance/In your face as the door keeps slamming.”
After settling for surprising bowl berth, the young Deacs set to move forward.
Coastal Division
Duke (3-9, 1-7 ACC) - “Road To Nowhere” by Talking Heads
“They can tell you what to do/But they’ll make a fool of you/And it’s all right, baby, it’s all right/We’re on a road to nowhere.”
Through four years, coach David Cutcliffe is apparently not Duke’s football messiah.
Georgia Tech (8-4, 5-3 ACC) - “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen
“Someday girl I don’t know when/We’re gonna get to that place/Where we really want to go/And we’ll walk in the sun/But till then tramps like us/Baby we were born to run.”
Nobody looked as indestructible when they executed the run game.
Miami (6-6, 3-5 ACC) - “Closing Time” by Semisonic
“So gather up your jackets, move it to the exits/I hope you have found a friend/Closing time/Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.”
Self-imposed sanctions symbolize beginning of a dark era in Miami football.
North Carolina (7-5, 3-5 ACC) - “Long Road To Ruin” by Foo Fighters
“Here now don’t make a sound/Say have you heard the news today?/One flag was taken down/To raise another in its place.”
Carolina’s future direction completely revolves around Withers’ eventual successor.
Virginia (8-4, 5-3 ACC) - “We’ve Only Just Begun” by Carpenters
“Before the risin’ sun, we fly/So many roads to choose/We’ll start out walkin’ and learn to run/And yes, we’ve just begun.”
Ahead of the program’s schedule, Mike London’s team has potential staying power.
#5 Virginia Tech (11-1, 7-1 ACC) - “Live To Win” by Paul Stanley
“Live to win, ’till you die, ’till the light dies in your eyes/Live to win, take it all, just keep fighting till you fall/Day by day, kickin’ all the way, I’m not cavin’ in/Let another round begin, live to win.”
Year in and year out, Hokies represent class of the conference.
