Andre Cisco named top ACC defensive rookie, Dino Babers snubbed for coach of the year

Following up on yesterday’s outrage at the ACC’s panel of voters, we have more to get irate about on Tuesday.

But first, congratulations to Syracuse Orange safety Andre Cisco for earning the large majority of votes for ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year. Cisco was a first-team All-ACC selection after tying for the national lead in interceptions, with seven. He also had 51 tackles, a tackle for loss, a forced fumble and nine total pass break-ups.

He took home 40 of the 60 votes from media and coaches, with Clemson’s Xavier Thomas being next-closest at 10. Cisco also received one vote for overall conference rookie of the year (which went to the Tigers’ Trevor Lawrence, who had 57 of the votes).

Where we’re pissed off, however, is the other honor: ACC Coach of the Year. That award went to Clemson’s Dabo Swinney after he went undefeated and barely beat Syracuse with a bunch of blue-chip players... just like he was supposed to. Swinney beat Dino Babers by five votes (27-22) despite the fact that the Orange outpaced expectations by a mile, winning nine games with three-star talent.

Perhaps even more confusing, Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi received nine votes, while Steve Addazio (BC) and Bronco Mendenhall (Virginia) each received a vote, too. Sure, the Panthers won the Coastal but the division was bad. There were two good teams in the conference this year: Clemson and Syracuse. Votes for any other coaches beyond Dabo and Dino are nonsensical at best. It seems ridiculous that Dabo beat Dino anyway. But it’s a much more understandable result if they’re the only two coaches that received consideration.

Again, it’s a case of the inherent bias of the conference’s media and coaches, preferring to support the local choice over “Northerners” and/or newcomers to the league (like Syracuse).

Might as well just accept the fact that we’re not going to get the same respect as other ACC programs for the time being, at least until we win more consistently. Could also just pack the attendee list the way others do.