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We're six weeks away from the start of the college football season. But for the ACC, the new year officially kicked-off Sunday, with the start of the conference's media day in Greensboro.
Players from all 12 teams fielded a flood of questions, many going to Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech's representatives, who will open their season on Labor Day Monday in a pivotal Coastal Division game.
"We know we got to go out there and get game one,” said Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas. “There's no doubt about it. We're excited to have them game one, especially having them at home."
"Practicing hard all off-season and we're at that point now that we're ready to start the season," said Georgia Tech’s Tevin Washington.
"Prepare ourselves this camp as far as being focused and knowing what they are going to do with that unique offense,” said Hokie cornerback Kyle Fuller,
Commissioner John Swofford addressed a variety of topics in Sunday's state-of-the-conference address. He gave a shout-out to Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer for his career success and Charles Steger for leading the BCS oversight committee. Swofford said the league is in a position to succeed under the future playoff format.
"We have as much access to one of those four as anybody if we perform,” Swofford said. “You have to perform."
Penn State, out of the Big Ten, was in the news again as the Joe Paterno statue taken down on Sunday and penalties from the NCAA are coming on Monday. Commissioner Swofford addressed those issues, as did Virginia's Perry Jones. The Cavaliers host the Nittany Lions in week two of the season.
"A tragedy from every angle,” Swofford said. “Starting with the young kids that were victims."
"Unfortunately they are going through a few things,” Jones said. “But we can't feed too much into that. We have to approach that game like it's any other game and give 100 percent effort."
Virginia was the surprise team in the ACC a season ago, ending a four-year postseason drought with a trip to theChick-fil-A Bowl.
"We understand we're not going to be able to sneak up on teams like we did last year,” said UVA’s Steve Greer. “We might have a little bigger target on our backs. We've got to be that much more focused and disciplined in what we do."
On Monday the ACC coaches will take center stage in Greensboro.