A look at ACC Football this decade (Coastal Division).

The decade is quickly coming to end, and ACC Football has changed plenty. Florida State's run of dominance came to an end; there was conference expansion, and the beginning of the ACC Championship game. Through the decade some programs improved, some didn't and some just keep treading water.

I'd recommend also taking a look at On The B.Rinks blog "An Ode to the 2000s: The Decade in the ACC Football ." ACC Decade awards are given and an All ACC-Decade team is named.

Let's check out team through the decade starting with the Coastal Division squads, and in my next article I will look at Atlantic Division teams. For Boston College, Virginia Tech and Miami we'll only consider their ACC years.

Coastal Division

Virginia Tech Hokies

The ACC's most consistent program since they joined in 2004. They've won three ACC Titles, 2004, 2007, and 2008, and they have won the ACC Coastal Division three times, 2005, 2007, and 2008. Frank Beamer has done a great job, and the Hokies show no signs of slipping back.

Decade Highlight Game: January 1, 2009

It was the ACC's first BCS bowl victory since 1999. The Hokies defeated the Cincinnati Bearcats 20-7 in the Orange Bowl.

Decade LowLight Game: September 9, 2007
The Hokies are always fighting for national respect, and the Hokies went down to LSU only to get embarrassed 48-7 on national TV.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Georgia Tech has started the decade under coach George O' Leary and in the middle three-game winning streak over the Georgia Bulldogs. They look ready to challenge for ACC Titles for years to come. A consistent bowl team, ACC Titles never materialized under Chan Gailey. Then Paul Johnson came and the Jackets won their first ACC Title of the decade. As long as Johnson is at Tech, the Jackets look like they are in good shape.

Decade Highlight Game: December 5, 2009
It has to be the 39-34 win over Clemson win this year that sent the Jackets to Orange Bowl for their first major bowl in over 30 years.

Decade Lowlight Game: November 30, 2002
Chan Gailey never recovered from the 51-7 debacle in his first game against the Georgia Bulldogs. Jacket fans never felt worse this decade.

Miami Hurricanes
Miami Joined the ACC in 2004. In the previous 20 years to 2004, they were one of the country's best programs. Gradually the Canes declined leading to the departure of Larry Coker. After 2009's 9-3 season Randy Shannon appears to have the Hurricanes headed back to national prominence.

Decade Highlight Game: October 3, 2009
A 21-20 win over then No. 8 Oklahoma in 2009 told the rest of the nation the yes indeed Miami was the verge of being back to the U.

Decade LowLight Game: November 10, 2007
The final game at the Orange Bowl was a humiliating performance against the Virginia Cavaliers in a 48-0 loss.

North Carolina Tar Heels
After Mack Brown left North Carolina at the close of 90s, the Heels struggled with Carl Torbush and Jim Bunting for several years. Former Miami coach Butch Davis arrived in 2006, and the Tar Heels again became an ACC Contender and looked poised for more in the next few years

Decade Highlight Game: October 30, 2004
A 31-28 upset of the then No. 4 Miami Hurricanes was the biggest win of the Jim Bunting era.

Decade Lowlight Game: August 31, 2002
A nine turnover 27-21 loss to Miami OH to open the 2002 season was the wrong way to start the year. This began a two year period where the Heels only won five total games.

Virginia Cavaliers
Al Groh took over from legendary Virginia head coach George Welsh at the end of the 2000 season. Groh was a great recruiter, but couldn't get the Cavs over the hump and he never won an ACC Title or ACC Division Title. The next decade will start with new head coach Mike London.

Decade Highlight Game: November 10, 2007

The Cavaliers went to down Miami where the Hurricanes were playing their final game in the Orange Bowl. It didn't matter to the Cavs as they steam rolled Miami 48-0.

Decade Lowlight Game: September 5, 2009
The seven turnover 26-14 oss to FCS school William & Mary this season set the wheels in motion for the dismissal of head Al Groh at the end of the year.

Duke Blue Devils
The decade began for Blue Devils with two straight winless seasons, and only 10 total wins from 2000 to 2007. In comes new head coach David Cutcliffe who has brought Duke Football back to respectability. He's won nine games in two years, and nearly got Duke to a bowl game this year.

Decade Highlight Game: September 28, 2008
The Duke snapped a 25 game ACC losing streak with an inspired 31 - 3 win over the Virginia Cavaliers. You knew at this time new David Cutcliffe was already making a difference.

Decade Lowlight Game: December 1, 2001
There were a lot of ugly losses for Duke in the decade, but I give the edge to this game. A 59-31 loss to the Clemson Tigers completed the Blue Devils second straight winless season.

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