The ACC (Football)

From the official web site of the Atlantic Coast Conference here are the All-ACC teams as voted on by fourty members of the ACC Sports Media Association. There are plenty of UNC players, mostly on the defensive side, including four on the first team. However you will see that the voters did get plenty of Tar Heels on these teams, on all sides of the ball and even on special teams. I think this shows that this program is headed in the right direction and we can expect more great things in years to come.

FIRST TEAM

Offense
QB-Josh Nesbitt, Georgia Tech (50)
RB-Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech (67)
RB-Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech (63)
WR-Demaryius Thomas, Georgia Tech (63)
WR-Donovan Varner, Duke (50)
TE-George Bryan, NC State (39)
TE-Michael Palmer, Clemson (39)
OT-Jason Fox, Miami (57)
OT-Anthony Castonzo, Boston College (53)
OG-Rodney Hudson, Florida State (54)
OG-Cord Howard, Georgia Tech (47)
C-Sean Bedford, Georgia Tech (45)
K-Matt Waldron, Virginia Tech (27)
K-Matt Bosher, Miami (27)
Spc-C.J. Spiller, Clemson (76)

Defense
DE-Derrick Morgan, Georgia Tech (76)
DE-Robert Quinn, North Carolina (69)
DT-Nate Collins, Virginia (47)
DT-Allen Bailey, Miami (38)
LB-Cody Grimm, Virginia Tech (65)
LB-Luke Kuechly, Boston College (53)
LB-Quan Sturdivant, North Carolina (44)
LB-Alex Wujciak, Maryland (44)
CB-Kendric Burney, North Carolina (59)
CB-Brandon Harris, Miami (41)
S-DeAndre McDaniel, Clemson (57)
S-Deunta Williams, North Carolina (53)
P-Brent Bowden, Virginia Tech (57)

SECOND TEAM

Offense
QB-Thaddeus Lewis, Duke (18)
RB-C.J. Spiller, Clemson (62)
RB-Montel Harris, Boston College (39)
WR-Torrey Smith, Maryland (25)
WR-Jacoby Ford, Clemson (24)
TE-Greg Boone, Virginia Tech (16)
OT-Ed Wang, Virginia Tech (31)
OT-Chris Hairston, Clemson (26)
OG-Thomas Austin, Clemson (39)
OG-Sergio Render, Virginia Tech (37)
C-Matt Tennant, Boston College (29)
K-Casey Barth, North Carolina (21)
K-Will Snyderwine, Duke (21)
Spc-Torrey Smith, Maryland (17)

Defense
DE-Ricky Sapp, Clemson (29)
DE-Willie Young, NC State (24)
DE-Jason Worilds, Virginia Tech (24)
DT-Marvin Austin, North Carolina (32)
DT-John Russell, Wake Forest (29)
LB-Vincent Rey, Duke (29)
LB-Darryl Sharpton, Miami (21)
LB-Bruce Carter, North Carolina (17)
LB-Colin McCarthy, Miami (17)
LB-Dekoda Watson, Florida State (17)
CB-Ras-I Dowling, Virginia (26)
CB-Patrick Robinson, Florida State (26)
S-Morgan Burnett, Georgia Tech (51)
S-Kam Chancellor, Virginia Tech (24)
P-Matt Bosher, Miami (37)

Honorable Mentions (10 or more points)

Offense
QB-Christian Ponder, Florida State (16)
QB-Russell Wilson, NC State (13)
QB-Riley Skinner, Wake Forest (13)
WR-Marshall Williams, Wake Forest (16)
WR-Rich Gunnell, Boston College (15)
TE-Zack Pianalto, North Carolina (11)
OT-Andrew Datko, Florida State (18)
OT-Kyle Jolly, North Carolina (14)
OT-Blake DeChristopher, Virginia Tech (14)
OT-Chris DeGeare, Wake Forest (12)
OG-Thomas Claiborne, Boston College (16)
OG-Jeff Griffin, Wake Forest (12)
OG-Orlando Franklin, Miami (11)
C-Beau Warren, Virginia Tech (11)
PK-Robert Randolph, Virginia (14)

Defense
DT-Vince Oghobaase, Duke (26)
DT-Jarvis Jenkin,s Clemson (26)
DT-Joe Joseph, Miami (13)
LB-Brad Jefferson, Georgia Tech (16)
LB-Steve Greer, Virginia (16)
LB-Brandon Maye, Clemson (10)
CB-Rashad Carmichael, Virginia Tech (22)
CB-Leon Wright, Duke (19)
CB-Chris Chancellor, Clemson (15)
CB-Crezdon Butler, Clemson (12)
CB-Kenny Okoro, Wake Forest (10)
S-Rashard Hall, Clemson (13)
S-Randy Phillips, Miami (10)
P-Ryan Quigley, Boston College (18)
SPC-Greg Reid, Florida State (15)

I could say a lot about each of the players that were chosen, but I will stick with just one, because I think it truly proves what he did to make it. Zach Pianalto was hurt this season, missing games, and yet was able to prove to the voters that he belonged on these All-ACC teams. I am not going to start one of my “what if” rants, but you have to wonder if the Carolina tight end had been healthy the whole season would he have made the 1st or 2nd team?

The ACC

The Atlantic Coast Conference announced their weekly honors on Monday, and not one, but two Tar Heels were on it. The first one, if you watched the game between Miami and UNC, should be a no brainer: Kendric Burney. He had not one, not two, but three interceptions, which one was a pick six, in leading a stellar defense against the Hurricanes. The other one is Casey Barth, who hit four field goals in the game against Miami, making that team hate the last name Barth even more! With a season now salvaged and a bowl game garuanteed getting things like this only helps this program, since free publicity is the best type you can get! Here is what the ACC said:

DEFENSIVE BACK – Kendric Burney, North Carolina, CB, Jr., 5-9, 190, Jacksonville, N.C. (Southwest Onslow)

Junior cornerback Kendric Burney intercepted three passes and broke a 29-year old ACC single-game record with 170 interception return yards, including a 77-yard touchdown, in North Carolina’s 33-24 win over No. 12 Miami. Burney’s 170 yards also broke the school-record for interception return yards in a season and upped his career mark to 317, also a new school record. The junior returned his second interception of the game for a 77-yard touchdown, his second career interception return for a score. The 77-yard return is the seventh-longest in school history, while the touchdown tied him with six former Tar Heels who had two career interceptions returned for touchdowns, another school record. Burney returned his third interception of the day 46 yards before losing a fumble to teammate Melvin Williams, who ran the remaining 44 yards for the touchdown.

SPECIALIST – Casey Barth, North Carolina, PK, So., 5-11, 180, Wilmington, N.C. (Hoggard)

North Carolina junior place-kicker Casey Barth extended his streak of made field goals to 13 with boots of 22, 42, 32, and 33 yards against Miami. His 42-yarder in the second quarter matched a career-long and extended the Tar Heels’ lead to six points. Barth has connected on eight field goal attempts in the last two weeks.