ACC Media Days: 12 Burning Questions for Head Coaches Going into 2012

With the SEC media days out of the way, the ACC will kick off its two-day special on July 22.

Media days give us a chance to catch up with players and coaches and talk about the upcoming season, which is almost a month away from kicking off. They also give us the opportunity to ask the questions that we have been waiting all offseason to hear an answer to.

Which teams will bounce back in 2012? How will this team respond after the recent scandal? What is going on with the quarterback position?

With ACC media days quickly approaching, here is one key question for each ACC team that must be answered when each team's respective coach takes the podium.

Boston College: What Will It Take to Get off the Hot Seat?

Boston College has struggled mightily with Frank Spaziani as head coach. He took over in 2009 and is 20-19 since, with only one win in three bowl appearances. Last year, the Golden Eagles only won four games and missed a bowl game for the first time since 1998.

The school has had one of the worst offenses in the country since Spaziani took over the team. It's also 0-5 against teams ranked inside the Top 25.

The Golden Eagles return a total of 16 starters in 2012. A much better performance will be expected for Spaziani to remain employed.

Clemson: Why Are You Letting a Kid Punk You and Your School?

Robert Nkemdiche is the top player of the 2013 class and is considered a difference-maker on the defensive side of the ball.

While the 5-star recruit is committed to Clemson, it does not come without a price. He is requesting that the program offers scholarships to all of his high school buddies as well.

Is one terrific player truly worth four scholarships? 

I'm sure this isn't the first time something like this has taken place, but it is certainly a question that coach Dabo Swinney will have to answer on media day.

Duke: What Will It Take for the Blue Devils to Take That Next Step?

Duke has not reached a bowl game since 1994 and has won a combined six games the last two seasons. This year, the Blue Devils return 17 starters, including nine on the offensive side of the ball. The schedule isn't easy for this team, but Duke did lose three games by a combined seven points last season.

This team certainly has experience, with one of the more talented receivers in the conference, Conner Vernon, leading the way. 

Could this actually be the season that Duke snaps a horrible streak with so much talent returning?

Florida State: How Is That Offensive Line Looking?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know: The hype is surrounding Florida State once again.

The defense is absolutely loaded, Jimbo Fisher is entering his third season and the schedule is manageable. But the one thing that may hold this Seminoles team back from breaking through is the offensive line.

Florida State allowed a total of 40 sacks last season, which was dead last in the ACC and 112th in the country. All of those hits on quarterback E.J. Manuel played a huge part in his inconsistency and eventually led to an injury in the Oklahoma game.

What makes things even worse is that Florida State also lost both starting tackles from a year ago.

If the Seminoles can cut those sack totals in half, this is a team that will likely win the conference.

Georgia Tech: Who Are Your Wide Receivers?

Want the stat of the year?

Georgia Tech only had two wide receivers who caught passes last season, and both of those receives are gone in 2012.

The Yellow Jackets had several running backs who caught passes—and even a backup quarterback—but there wasn't a tight end or receiver not named Stephen Hill or Tyler Melton that caught a single pass in 2011.

So, again I ask, who is going to step up and help quarterback Tevin Washington?

Maryland: How Do You Feel About Your Job Security?

Randy Edsall did a fabulous job at UConn, but he could not fulfill expectations his first year at Maryland, leading the Terrapins to a 2-10 record. Maryland went 1-7 in the conference and ended the season on an eight-game losing streak.

Maryland returns a total of 10 starters on defense, but has a difficult road schedule that includes trips to West Virginia, Virginia, Clemson and North Carolina.

It may only be Edsall's second season in College Park, but things got off to such a horrible start that it may be all he's going to get.

Miami: How Is Stephen Morris Doing?

Stephen Morris is the favorite to be the starting quarterback for the Miami Hurricanes in 2012. The problem is that he is coming off of back surgery that has kept him out for majority of offseason drills. 

Miami only returns four starters on the offensive side of the ball, but this is Miami after all. The athletes and playmakers are there, including a deep backfield led by Mikes James and Eduardo Clements.

If Morris is fully recovered from his injury and can get back on the field by the time the fall begins, the Hurricanes could easily become one of the surprise teams in this conference.

Morris has thrown for 1,523 yards and seven touchdowns in limited action throughout his career.

NC State: Will Mustafa Greene Be Ready for the Season?

Mustafa Greene is a solid running back who could help add depth and a spark to this North Carolina State offense. He has great size at 6'0", 215 pounds, sees the field extremely well and has above average acceleration. During the 2010 season, he had over 800 total yards and scored seven touchdowns. 

However, Greene missed the entire 2011 season due to legal issues and injuries.

The Wolfpack were one of the worst rushing teams in the country last season, averaging just 104 yards on the ground a game. If Greene is in playing shape and gets his act together before the season starts, watch out for North Carolina State, a team that won eight games last year.

North Carolina: How Do You Keep Your Team Motivated?

The North Carolina Tar Heels are banned from postseason play for what happened during Butch Davis' tenure at the program. With really nothing to play for in 2012, it will be interesting to see how head coach Larry Fedora keeps his team motivated throughout the entire season.

The Tar Heels have tough road games early in the season, with matchups against Wake Forest and Louisville. If things start off shaky, how will Fedora keep his team upbeat with no bowl season ahead?

Virginia: Can You Guys Win the ACC This Season?

While everyone is paying attention to Virginia Tech and Florida State, the Virginia Cavaliers are quietly drifting in the background. Virginia won eight games last season and reached a bowl game for the first time since 2007. They return 11 starters from a year ago, including seven on the offensive side of the ball.

The Cavaliers also have one of the deepest backfields, led by running back Perry Jones, who rushed for over 900 yards and nine touchdowns.

If this team can build on last year's success, it is a prime dark horse for the ACC crown.

Virginia Tech: Who Will Replace David Wilson?

The Virginia Tech Hokies averaged nearly 28 points per game last season, but much of that production came from running back David Wilson. The first-round pick rushed for over 1,700 yards a year ago and scored 10 total touchdowns.

Now, with that production gone, it will be up to Frank Beamer and company to find a solid replacement. J.C. Coleman and Michael Holmes appear to be the front-runners for playing time, but much like the young blood coming into Virginia Tech, neither has much experience carrying the football for this Hokies team.

This team must find some offensive production if it expects to return to a BCS bowl in 2012.

Wake Forest: What Can You Do Different to Have a More Consistent Season?

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons were a field goal away from playing in the ACC title game last year. With that said, the season was a roller-coaster ride throughout the entire year.  They won five of their first seven games, but ended the year losing five of their last six.

This season, they return 10 starters, including seven on the defensive side of the ball. Don't expect another surprising year from this team in 2012, but a little more consistency from Jim Grobe's club would be very much appreciated by fans in Winston-Salem.