Tobacco Road Report

In this article we present our final TRR All-ACC Awards. Some of these awards are quite unconventional, including the TRR Coach with Brass Award, the TRR Shut-up Dickie V. Award, and the TRR Jason Vorhees Award for the team that comes back from the dead. That and much more is just a click away.

Tobacco Road Report Coach With Brass Award:
What is it? The award for the coach who shows ethics despite its impact on the team. The hands down winner here is Al Skinner. Kicking Sean Williams off the team ended their shot at a deep run in conference play and the post-season, but it is nice to see a coach with the “brass” to hold players accountable.

Tobacco Road Report Shut-Up Dickie V. Award:
We give this award to the most annoying Dickie V. topic of the season. You know, the topic he brings up again and again until you just scream, "Oh, shut up already!".

This year we have a tie:

1. Dickie V. talking non-stop about naming Indiana’s basketball floor or new complex after Robert Montgomery Knight. Note to Dick: I think the wounds are still a little fresh with Knight’s lawsuit against Indiana finally getting dismissed. New coach No. 2 that's not Bob Knight (i.e. Kelvin Sampson) doesn't need this. Of course, ramblings like this during games allow you to NOT provide any relevant analysis about the game. Hmmm...Maybe this is on purpose?

2. Dickie V. talking non-stop about Coach K’s "excellent" coaching job of the Blue Devils this season. Note to Dick: Coach K is one of the top 5 college coaches of all time. We know this. However, he does have 6 McDonald’s All-Americans on his roster right now and had nearly all of their non-conference games at home. Coaching excellence is relative. Try this argument on Southern Illinois who played a bucket of road games, Dave Leitao at Virginia, or Dennis Felton at Georgia who has players few teams even recruited.

3. Dickie V. talking non-stop about how "McRoberts can be an absolutely dominant player, but he's too unselfish." This award should really go to Dickie's side-kick in the booth. Puh-leeeaase! He's a very well-rounded player who contributes in a variety of ways, but dominant he's not.

Tobacco Road Report Jason Vorhees Award:
This one goes to the team that comes back from the dead to cause panic in the conference.
Hands down, Maryland. The Terps were fading fast six games ago. Now, they look like the second best team in the conference.

Tobacco Road Report Comeback Player of the Year:
We award this to the player with a disappointing 2006 campaign who delivered in a big way in 2007. Our winner? James Mays. He is the key to the success of the Clemson press. Mays is the biggest reason that Clemson surged in the early part of the schedule. Unfortunately, he did not have enough help as the Tigers faded down the stretch.

Tobacco Road Report Biggest Disappointment Award:
To the player, team, or writer that underperforms on the biggest stage. Here we have another tie.

1. Clemson. With a peak ranking in the top 20 and an RPI in the top 10, the Tigers faded quickly in conference play. We thought they would be exposed, but we also thought they would hold on and get an NCAA bid.

2. Georgia Tech. TRR felt that the Jackets had a better talent grouping than anyone in the conference other than UNC. The Jackets have only recently begun to play at a high level after wandering through another mediocre conference season. The road record, if you call that a record, is just horrendous.

3. TRR. Yep, we picked Tech to finish second in conference. Our other picks seem ok in review.

Tobacco Road Report Best Student Sign:
Student body of the Virginia Cavaliers: "Sports Center is Next Unless Duke Needs More Time."

Tobacco Road Report "I let my team down but I don't care since it will only increase my cred in the NBA" Award:
Sean Williams. 'Nuff said there.

Tobacco Road Report Award for Worst Southern Hospitality: Virginia Cavaliers, for going 8-0 in conference at home in the new John Paul Jones arena. In this case, bad hospitality is a good thing.

Tobacco Road Report Worst Headband Award:
Shamari Spears, Boston College. What's up with that?!? Does it stop sweat from collecting on top of your head?

With that, we conclude the 1st Annual Tobacco Road Report All-ACC Awards. As usual, your comments are always welcome.