July 23, 2012
GREENSBORO, N.C. – In a preseason poll of media attending the 2012 ACC Football Kickoff at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro, N.C., the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets were picked second in the Coastal Division.
Tech racked up 10 first-place votes in the Coastal Division race, and was also one of four schools receiving votes to capture the 2012 Dr. Pepper ACC Football Championship.
Virginia Tech, who the Jackets open the 2012 season with on Labor Day night in Blacksburg on ESPN, was the preseason pick to win the Coastal with 83 first-place votes. Georgia Tech received 10 first-place votes, followed by North Carolina, Virginia, Miami and Duke.
Florida State was favored to claim the Atlantic Division, and the Seminoles were tabbed by the media to beat the Hokies in Dr. Pepper ACC Championship Game, set for December 1 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. FSU was followed by Clemson, NC State, Wake Forest, Boston College and Maryland in the Atlantic Division race.
Clemson sophomore WR Sammy Watkins was selected as the Atlantic Coast Conference preseason player of the year, edging Virginia Tech QB Logan Thomas for the honor.
Coastal Division
1. Virginia Tech (83) 558
2. Georgia Tech (10) 421
3. North Carolina (2) 341
4. Virginia 326
5. Miami 245
6. Duke 104
Atlantic Division
1. Florida State (72) 543
2. Clemson (17) 470
3. NC State (5) 402
4. Wake Forest 241
5. Boston College 181
6. Maryland 148
ACC Championship Votes
1. Florida State 60
2. Virginia Tech 18
3. Clemson 13
4. Georgia Tech 3
5. NC State 1
