By Steven Wright, Wake Forest Media Relations (@SIDeacons)
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Wake Forest has been predicted to finish fourth in the Atlantic Coast Conference's Atlantic Division, as voted on by the media members in attendance at the ACC Football Kickoff at the Grandover Resort.
The Demon Deacons tallied 241 points, finishing behind Florida State, Clemson and NC State in the Atlantic Division. The Seminoles received 72 first-place votes and earned 543 points to secure the top spot in the voting.
"I'm disappointed, because I always like to be picked last. The year we won the ACC we were picked last," said Wake Forest head coach Jim Grobe. "We just want to be able to look back at the end of the year and feel like we proved we were better than people thought."
Boston College and Maryland were selected in the final two spots of the Atlantic Division.
In the Coastal Division, Virginia Tech was the top vote getter with 83 first-place ballots and 558 total points. Georgia Tech (10) and North Carolina (2) also picked up a first-place votes, while Virginia, Miami and Duke rounded out the list.
A Florida State victory over Virginia Tech was the overwhelming top pick for the championship game, garnering 56 votes. An outcome of the Hokies taking down the Seminoles received 12 votes.
Wake Forest starting quarterback Tanner Price earned one vote and tied for seventh in the projected ACC Player of the Year voting. Clemson's Sammy Watkins earned the most votes with 25, while Virginia Tech's Logan Thomas (21), Florida State's EJ Manuel (19) and Clemson's Tajh Boyd (18) all received double digit votes.
"I think it's fantastic that Tanner received the vote. If had received a lot of votes for player of the year we'd be a little nervous," said Grobe.
Former Wake Forest quarterback Riley Skinner also earned a vote for preseason ACC Player of the Year back in 2009.
The Demon Deacons will begin the 2012 campaign on September 1 at home against Liberty at 6:30 p.m. The ACC schedule will kick off just one week later when North Carolina travels to Winston-Salem on September 8 at 3 p.m.
Atlantic Division (First-place votes)
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
