Hurricanes, Hokies Bring Football To ACC, But What Else?

Most local sports fan know that Miami and Virginia Tech bring football powerhouses to the Atlantic Coast Conference.

In turn, that brings in the dollars.

But the schools offer a lot more athletically than just football, just as there's a lot more to a car than its engine.

Though football is the engine that powers Miami and Virginia Tech, it is time to kick the tires and raise the hood to see what else the ACC gets with the Hurricanes and Hokies.

Miami brings a more well-rounded athletic program to the ACC than Virginia Tech. The Hokies have work to do to catch up with, not only Miami, but the rest of the ACC in overall athletics success.

Not since the days of Ace Custis in the 1990s has Virginia Tech enjoyed winning basketball. The years 1993 through 1996 produced winning teams and one NCAA appearance. But only once in the last seven years have the Hokies fielded a winning basketball team.

Miami has been much more competitive than Virginia Tech on the hardwood. Last year was the Hurricanes' first losing season in nine years. They went 23-7 in 1998-'99, advanced to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 in 2000 and went 24-8 in 2001-'02.

Each year, the NCAA awards a Directors' Cup to the nation's top overall college athletics program.The award is based on a cumulative points system in which a school's winning teams earn more points.

The Directors' Cup competition is a way to measure the success of an entire athletic program and compare it to others.

This past school year, the University of North Carolina was tops in the ACC and ranked No. 8 nationally. Virginia, Duke, Maryland and Wake Forest rounded out the ACC's top five.

Miami would have checked in just ahead of Florida State and North Carolina State. Clemson finished in the nation's top 50, and Georgia Tech ranked No. 53.

Virginia Tech, with 19 varsity sports, would have finished in the basement of the ACC in Directors' Cup scoring -- 215 points behind Georgia Tech.

The Hokies' big-scoring sports were football and women's basketball. Wrestling also ranked in the top 50 nationally.

Miami's athletic program had nine sports teams that finished in the top 50 nationally. Football and baseball were the biggest points producers.

In women's sport, tennis, track and field and volleyball were among the top 20.