Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Cover stories
Aaron McFarling
Recent columns
There were debates about polls, discussions about quarterbacks and more than a few Bobby Bowden jokes. But here's the biggest thing most of us reporters took away from the ACC Football Kickoff this month:
Media guides.
These books will be in shreds by mid-October -- if not before -- so now's the time to enjoy their glossy, recruit-grabbing covers while they last.
And make no mistake: You can learn a lot about a program from its media-guide cover. There's only one canvas, 812 inches by 11 inches, so the design had better be good. And the content? Well, consider that the first hint at a program's 2008 outlook.
Here's a glimpse at the 2008 ACC covers and what they indicate, plus the records foreshadowed by the quality of the covers:
VIRGINIA TECH 12-0
Remember Sportsflicks, those baseball cards with multiple images? That's what this looks like. From one angle, it's players celebrating in the end zone of Lane Stadium during a night game. From another, fireworks explode atop the page and a player in the foreground holds his helmet aloft.
Analysis: Really cool. The idea came from coach Frank Beamer, who saw Texas do it. No doubt this gets your attention. My only beef is that nowhere does it mention that the Hokies are the defending ACC champions. When you've got that label, flaunt it.
CLEMSON 10-2
Dominant images are quarterback Cullen Harper cocked in the pocket and defensive back Michael Hamlin towering over the right side of the page. Four other players are pictured under them. "Clemson" -- written in shiny, raised letters -- sits atop it all.
Analysis: You know you're good when supreme talents such as C.J. Spiller, James Davis, Dorell Scott and Aaron Kelly aren't even the headliners. Offensive linemen are nowhere to be seen, but then again, neither is Tommy Bowden. Hmm ...
GEORGIA TECH 9-3
New coach Paul Johnson stands tall on the left side of the page, hands on hips, whistle around his neck. Behind him, a blurry player sprints by. "The Perfect Option," reads the slogan.
Analysis: Are you paying attention, Duke? This is how you welcome a new sideline leader. Extra points awarded for the pun playing off Johnson's offensive philosophy at Navy.
FLORIDA STATE 8-4
Chief Osceola atop a horse, spear in hand. Eight players in garnet and gold standing in the foreground, staring menacingly at the reader.
Analysis: Simple. Clean. Eye-catching. All in all, a fabulous football cover. Just don't look too closely, or you'll realize who that guy is front and center -- underachieving quarterback Drew Weatherford. And you'll notice Bobby Bowden's absent. Since when was he media-averse?
WAKE FOREST 8-4
Seven players in various football positions grace the top. At the bottom, safety Chip Vaughn holds his thumb and index finger together next to BB&T Field.
Analysis: Vaughn is probably giving a defensive signal there, but it sure looks like the "OK" sign. As in: "Don't worry, folks. Everything's OK!" And it should be, considering the talent Wake has returning at the skill positions. But you probably want to aim a little higher than that.
MARYLAND 7-5
Coach Ralph Friedgen mans the middle, with four players you've probably never heard of orbiting him. On the bottom left, there are three squares. They say "Fb Football," "27 Sports," and "1 Team."
Analysis: The squares represent the athletic department's all-for-one philosophy, but you'd only know that if you followed the program. The cover is no place for this kind of confusion. And I'd like to see home-run threat Da'Rel Scott somewhere.
NORTH CAROLINA 7-5
A lot like Maryland's, but instead of orbiting Friedgen, the players are circling a UNC helmet. A half-dozen athletes in all.
Analysis: Clean enough, but I'm really not a big fan of this one. A lot of people -- myself included -- think Carolina has a chance to be pretty good this season, and coach Butch Davis is a big part of that. He needs to be on there, as does some slogan about taking the next step. Too safe, Heels.
VIRGINIA 7-5
A nighttime atmosphere at Scott Stadium graces the bottom while four players -- Cedric Peerman, Vic Hall, Clint Sintim and John Phillips -- highlight the top.
Analysis: Al Groh gets some credit here for modesty. He's the reigning ACC coach of the year but not on the cover (or the back). Still, he probably should be. And I'd feel a whole lot better about this team if it said "quarterback" under Hall, the former record-breaking signal-caller at Gretna who now plays in the defensive backfield.
BOSTON COLLEGE 4-8
Second-year coach Jeff Jagodzinski is flanked by two senior players and cheering students. Above the slogan: "The BC Way: Winning, Graduating, Caring," is wide receiver Brandon Robinson in a cap and gown.
Analysis: Winning I get. Graduating is good. But "CARING?" With apologies to Tom Hanks, there's no caring in football! Matt Ryan broke a lot of hearts in these parts last year, and I doubt he'll be weeping on Dr. Phil's couch about it anytime soon.
MIAMI 3-9
White. Lots and lots of white. And a helmet. And a hand holding the helmet.
Analysis: It's like they're not even trying any more in Coral Gables. The only flair is that the helmet is slightly raised off the page. If you had a magnifying glass, you'd see the program's five national championships are listed in the upper left. Make 'em bigger, Miami. It's only been seven years since your last one -- a historical heartbeat. You're still "The U," aren't you?
DUKE 0-12
A "D" in the middle and "2008 DUKE FOOTBALL" in small print on the bottom. That's it. Oh, wait. There's also a faint, bespectacled face on the left side.
Analysis: This is how you usher in a new era? With Cutcliffe the Friendly Ghost? Unreal. Freshly hired coach David Cutcliffe -- highly respected by his peers and the SEC coach of the year just five seasons ago -- ought to be splashed all over. Your logo isn't that cool, Duke. And Lord knows this team needs all the hope it can get.
N.C. STATE 0-12
The cover is divided into 24 squares, each with its own image. Four players are pulled out as (somewhat) dominant images.
Analysis: What on earth is this? It's like they couldn't pick any one thing to be particularly proud of, so they threw every single moment in the program's history on there. This is a very, very bad sign.
