European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 25, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday August 25, 1991 the stars and stripes b Page 21 College football 91south expanding its horizon acc guns for top 10 in 2 sports by Bill Taggart United press International the Atlantic coast conference is not just for basketball anymore. The leagues football reputation got a huge boost in 1990 when Georgia tech posted an 11-0-1 record and was voted no. 1 in the final up poll bringing the acc its first rational football title since Clemson won it All in 1981. The conference added to its growing football prestige with he off season addition of perennial Power Florida state beginning in 1992. The Seini noles yellow jackets and traditional acc Leader Clemson now give the league three legitimate top 10 teams. The seminoles Are the Best team in the acc but they wont get a Chance to contend for the league title until the 1992 season. That leaves the 1991 Crown As a Battle Between no. 4 Georgia tech and no. 13 Clemson. Georgia techs offence features quarterback Shawn Jones the leading passer returning in the conference and a contender for the Heisman trophy. A Shawn is an outstanding football player and continues to do Well a Georgia tech coach Bobby Ross said. A the biggest void in our team is in replacing William Bell in the  Bell the third leading rusher in the acc in 1990, and fullback James Reese both were suspended for the season after being charged with stealing textbooks. Eight starters including All America safety Ken Swilling return to Lead a Georgia tech defense that did not allow a touchdown until the fifth game last year. Clemson also has proven leadership at quarterback with 1 Dechane Cameron named map of the 1990 Hall of Fame bowl. He will direct a Clemson offence that also features tailback Rodney Williams acc Rookie of the year. The defense no. 1 in the nation last season again should be Strong. Linebackers Levon Kirkland and de Mcdaniel Anchor the squad that allowed Only 9.9 Points per game. A file a. Tech Qushawn Jones. Acc a Best passer there is a drop off to the next level of Competition. Virginia North Carolina and North Carolina state will Battle each other for third place while Maryland Duke and Wake Forest seem Safe bets to stay near the Bottern. The Cavaliers Are coming off a 1990 season that saw them no. 1 in the ratings for the first time in history then slide late in the season losing four of their last five games. The slide should continue despite tailback Terry Kirby who led the acc in Rushing in 1990. North Carolina is on the Way up having improved to 6-4-1 last year after Back to Back 1-10 seasons. The tar heels return 19 starters and the defense led by linebackers Dwight Hollier and Tommy Thigpen should be very Tough. . State is looking to improve on two straight 7-5 seasons. The Wolf Paek has its entire Backfield returning but the defense must replace three deep backs and most of the line. Maryland went to the Independence bowl after a 6-5 season but a return trip to the postseason is unlikely. Quarterback Jim Sandwisch completed Only 12 of 22 passes last season and the defense is thin beyond the line. Maryland a schedule also features Penn state West Virginia and  Crown in picture for gators by David Moffit United press International the Florida gators figure they should have been awarded the Southeastern conference championship last year and they done to want to leave any doubt about this years Winner. The gators had the leagues Best record in 1990, losing Only to  Champion Tennessee in seven Sec games. But just like 1984 and 1985, Florida was denied what would have been its first Sec football title because of Mcaa sanctions. Now that the most recent penalty has ended the gators and Many Sec observers feel this will be the year Florida finally wins that Long elusive Crown. A we should be at least As Good As last year and have a Chance to be better a said Florida coach Steve Spurrier the 1966 Heisman trophy Winner who returned to his Alma mater last season after successful runs in the Usel and at Duke. A now that we re off sanctions our goals arc the Sec championship and the sugar bowl although we done to use the word a championship anymore but talk about finishing no. 1.�?� quarterback Shane Matthews was one of 1990�?Ts surprises throwing for 2,952 Yards and 23 touchdowns. However the Lith ranked gators have lost All of their starting receivers and half their defensive starters. But Spurrier Isnit worried. A on offence we return the nucleus of our team and Are improved a he said. A i think they can play better than last years team which set a slew of records. A was for our defense it will be just As solid As last year when we were fifth in the nation. Some of our players think we can be better than that and that is our goal this year.�?�. Auburn which had won or shared the Sec title in each of the three previous seasons was the conference favorite a year ago. The tigers would have been co champs with Tennessee if they could have beaten Alabama. Auburn will enter the season with the Apfl to Florida a a Shane Matthews. 23 to passes no. 19 ranking in the country by the up off ratings panel. Tennessee is the top to rated Sec team at no. 9, but coach Johnny majors believes that is a bit High. Quot you have to Start with Florida when you try to predict How the Sec race is Likely to go a majors said. A but you have to remember there Are a number of teams capable of winning the championship. You talk about Florida Auburn us. But you a better keep an Eye on  no. 22 Alabama slipped from 10-1 in 1989 to 7-4 in its first season under coach Gene Stallings. But the Crimson tide won seven of its last eight games including its first win Over Auburn in live years and Stallings vows it wont Start 0-3 again. Alabama counting on running Back siran Stacy to Bounce Back from his 1990 injury to his 1989 All Sec form should get a Quick line on its championship chances since the  second game is a visit to Florida. Mississippi also bears watching. The rebels were 9-2 last fall the losses to Auburn and Tennessee. But Ole miss lost running Star Randy Baldwin to the pros and Coath Billy Brewer said a if we re going to make a run for it we re going to have to have some Good things happen to  in new Job Sherrill accused of old ways by David Moffit United press International  you know it Only a couple of months after he returned to College coaching Jackie Sherrill was embroiled in controversy again. Sherrill out of College football for two years after being fired at Texas a amp a despite five straight winning seasons resurfaced at Mississippi state. Not Long after he took the Job Mississippi coach Billy Brewer questioned Sherrill a recruiting. Brewer later asked at a Media gathering if he had patched things up with his new Cross state rival said a a in be seen Ery Little of the reverend Sherrill. I done to think he has my phone number and i sure done to have  Sherrill has had a successful coaching career. He was head coach for one year at Washington state and six at Pittsburgh where he had three straight 11-1 campaigns before jumping ship for a big Money Deal with Texas a amp a. He spent seven seasons with the aggie before leaving after the 1988 season. A i missed coaching a he said. A but i knew if i stayed out More than three or four years i  come  Sherrill says the Layoff has Given him a new perspective. A i can still coach and i can still win a he said. A but i done to know if i can win at Mississippi state coming off its ninth straight losing season. Whether it can be done remains to be seen. I think it  Sherrill is one of three new coaches in the Southeastern conference. While Sherrill was replacing Rockey Fulker at Mississippi state former Southern miss coach Curley Hallman succeeded Mike Archer at leu and former Colorado assistant Gerry Dinardo took Over at Vanderbilt from Watson Brown Sherrill a offensive coordinator. Felker Archer and Brown were All energetic Young coaches who suffered from the same affliction a too Many losses. There have been 13 other 1-a coaching changes since last season including Southern Mississippi where former Oklahoma state offensive coordinator Jeff Bower returned to his Alma mater to replace Hallman. There have been three coaching changes in the East. Paul Pasqualoni takes Over at Syracuse from Dick Macpherson who left the College ranks to coach the new England patriots Tom Coughlin succeeds Jack Bicknell at Boston College and Bob Sutton replaces Jim Young at army. Macpherson left behind an outstanding 17-year College career during w hich his teams won 111 games while losing 73 and tying 5 a giving him a 60 percent winning Mark. Young was an even better 120-71-2 for his 17 years and Bicknell was 77-90-2 in 15 years. Long Beach state selected Willie Brown to succeed the late George Allen the former Washington Redskin Mentor who last season at 72, was the second oldest Active head coach in the history of College football. The oldest was Amos Alonzo Stagg who was still coaching at 84. In other changes Jerry Petti Bone left Northern Illinois where he was replaced by Charlie Sadler to succeed Dave Kragthorpe at Oregon state Jim Colletto replaces bred Akers at Purdue Gary Blackney replaces Moe Anancy at Bowling Green Pete Cordelli replaces Dick Crum at Kent state Tom Rossley replaces Forrest Gregg at sum Gary in Mel replaces Nick Saban at Toledo and Joe Tiller replaces Paul Roach at Wyoming. Coaching changes by United press International army a Bob Sutton army assistant replaces Jim Young retired. Boston College a Tom Coughlin nil assistant replaces Jack Bicknell it Rod. It a Gary Blacker replaces Moe notre Crum Bone to Oregon state. Oregon state Bowling Green a Gary Blackno Ohio state assistant replaces Moe Ankney tired. Kant state a Pete Cordelli Dame assistant replaces Dick fired. Long Beech state a Willie Brown Long Beach Stato assistant replaces Goorge Allen died. Louisiana state a curly Hallman South Fri Mississippi replaces Miko Archer fired. Mississippi state Jackie Sherrill for Morty Pitt Texas asm Roll cos Rockey Felker fir Raj. Northern Illinois a Chulio Sadler Oklahoma assistant Rop Locos Jorry Petti Oregon. Slot Northern Illinois Thorpe fired. Purdue a Jim Colletto form state assistant Rop Lacos i Rod arcs food Southern methodist Lorn Hossley nil assistant Root docs i a rest Gregg to and. Southern Mississippi Jon Bower u jew assistant replaces Curley Hallman to leu Syracuse a Paul Pas Geatoni Syracuse assistant  do h Macpherson to of l. Toledo a Gary  Washington assistant replaces  Caban to fit l Vanderbilt a Gerry Uin Ardo Colorado  replaces Watson Brown tired. Wyoming a Joe titter Washington state assistant Roperr its Paul Roach retired Jivery pct Timono Rop Lacos Dave King r