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ACC Preview: On The Line

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By JOEY JOHNSTON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 3, 2008

DRAWING A CROWD?

When the first three ACC Championship Games were held in Jacksonville, attendance decreased each year.

It went from 72,749 in 2005 (Florida State-Virginia Tech) to 62,850 in 2006 (Wake Forest-Georgia Tech) to 53,212 in 2007 (Virginia Tech-Boston College).

Tampa Bay area fans probably would have immediately warmed to an FSU-Miami matchup. But Saturday's ACC title game is a rematch of last season - BC (9-3) vs. Virginia Tech (8-4) - and the campuses are long distances from Tampa's Raymond James Stadium.

Will there be a local buzz?

"It was a huge stadium last year, and it wasn't full," BC senior TE Ryan Purvis said. "I thought BC fans were loud and showed up as they normally would. You look at the atmosphere when you're warming up and stretching and stuff. Once the game starts, it's kind of hard to pay attention to what's going on in the stands."

Tampa also will host the ACC title game in 2009. The game goes to Charlotte, N.C., for 2010 and 2011.

FOR THE FANS

ACC Championship Game tickets are available through Ticketmaster at (813) 287-8844 or www.ticketmaster.com. Prices are $25 through $120. Tickets include a postgame concert with country-music artist Blake Shelton.

Other things to do:

Friday, Channelside's Toast to the Atlantic Coast Conference is from 7 p.m.-midnight at the Channelside Entertainment Complex in downtown Tampa. It will include the school bands and cheerleaders.

Saturday, the ACC FanFest is in Lot 6D of Raymond James Stadium from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. It includes 200,000 feet of interactive games, autograph signings, food and beverage. At 11 a.m., there is an ACC Mascots Game with all 12 conference schools represented. The FanFest is free to everyone in the morning, but only fans with game tickets can attend the postgame party and concert.

More information on game events is at www.theroadtotampabay.com.

SOUND FAMILIAR?

When BC defeated Maryland 28-21 on Saturday, clinching the ACC Atlantic Division and a trip to Tampa, one of the biggest plays was made by an iconic name.

Flutie.

Billy Flutie.

He's the nephew of Doug Flutie, the former BC quarterback who won the 1984 Heisman Trophy and has a statue in his likeness erected outside Alumni Stadium.

It wasn't a "Hail Flutie" play by any means, but it will resonate.

With BC leading 14-7, K Steve Aponavicius came in for an apparent 26-yard field-goal attempt. But Flutie, the holder, picked up the snap and rolled right. He hit TE Jordan McMichael for a 9-yard touchdown.

Flutie said he made the call at the line of scrimmage for a play that had been practiced all week.

With the name back in the spotlight, Flutie said he doesn't feel pressure following his football-playing uncles, including Darren Flutie, a receiver at BC.

"I don't downgrade it at all," Billy Flutie said. "I am a Flutie, and I take a lot of honor in my last name. Darren and Doug did great things when they were here, and I'm looking to do my best here."

Billy Flutie, a redshirt sophomore, was recruited as a quarterback, but shifted to receiver. When starter Chris Crane broke his collarbone on Nov. 22 at Wake Forest, Lakeland's Dominique Davis took over and Flutie was moved to backup quarterback.

"I'm up for the responsibility, and I'm ready to go if I have to go in," Billy Flutie said.

Boston College has been nicknamed "Offensive Lineman U." for its ability to produce NFL-level players at that position (including Bucs OT Jeremy Trueblood). That's a competitive challenge heartily embraced by the Hokies.

"That line is the strength of their offense," Hokies DE Orion Martin said. "They're big, strong, physical."

And tall. The offensive tackles are Anthony Castonzo (6-7, 287) and Rich Lapham (6-8, 322). All-ACC LG Clif Ramsey is 6-6, 311, while RG Thomas Claiborne is 6-3, 323 and C Matt Tennant is 6-4, 294.

"I would have to rate that unit near the top," said Virginia Tech sophomore DE Jason Worilds (6-2, 252). "Their size poses a different challenge. It's definitely tough. We're going to have to come up with something to level the playing field."

Joey Johnston

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