ACC Schedule: Was a Mickey Involved?

The ACC has released their 2006 schedule and you can see that the folks at Disney Sports have had their hands all over it. The involvement of Mickey, Donald and Goofy is not automatically a negative as the cupcakes are scheduled throughout the season instead of being completely front loaded front loaded.

Look at October 20: Central Michigan at Clemson, Miami at Florida State, Army at Georgia Tech, Virginia at Maryland, N.C. State at East Carolina, Wake Forest at Navy. Does anything stand out? With due respect to Army and Navy, given the high standards for students at those school, this is a tailor made week for an ABC Saturday Night Prime Time Game of Canes v. Noles. That is if the football gods smile on the ACC in 2007. Not until the following week do we get into serious all out conference play (with the exception of a Duke visit to South Bend November 17) only to conclude with a slew of OOC rivalry games which will not impact the championship game the following week.

Week by week ratings maker:

MONDAY, SEPT. 3--Florida State at Clemson Is that father/son thing is any lamer that the past Labor Day ACC snooze-a-ramas?

SATURDAY, SEPT. 8--Virginia Tech at LSU See the answer to the ACC question are we a megapowerfootball conference yet?

SATURDAY, SEPT. 15--Florida International at Miami The thrilla in the Orange Bowl...The rumble by the sea...The overhyped game in the hood. The media will be all over this one and even NASCAR fans will tune in to see the crash.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 22--Clemson at N.C. State This is maybe the best of a very average slate. Although William & Mary at Virginia Tech does look interesting.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 29--Florida State vs. Alabama (in Jacksonville, FL) and Maryland at Rutgers These maybe two key early season OOC games for the conference. Did the Terps expect Rutgers to be a semi-cupcake when they scheduled this one? Can Saban gel a team early in his first season?

SATURDAY, OCT. 6--Nothing that is noteworthy

THURSDAY, OCT. 11--Florida State at Wake Forest Revenge on a Thursday night. Can little WF repeat the feel good story of 2006? Chance are that this could be UGLY early.

SATURDAY, OCT. 20--Miami at Florida State Could this be misplaced here as well as the Labor Day games?

THURSDAY, OCT. 25--Boston College at Virginia Tech Good solid game with worthy foes. The bonus will be seeing if Tom O'Brien had more of a reason to leave than we know?

SATURDAY, NOV. 3--N.C. State at Miami Now see what Tom is doing in 2007.

SATURDAY, NOV. 10--Florida State at Virginia Tech Not to be repetative but the rest of the games do not look all the earth shaking (in January).

SATURDAY, NOV. 17--Duke at Notre DameYou know this will be on NBC at 2:00 p.m. Can't see a return game on the schedule nor remeber any past meetings.

SATURDAY, NOV. 24--Virginia Tech at VirginiaWill this be the year UVA wins one of these games?