This past week, I read a wonderful article by a fellow Odyssey writer that compared each of the 13 schools is the South Eastern Conference (or, as it is better known, the SEC) to a character from Harry Potter. While I think the article was extremely creative, I do think it was a bold move to compare some mediocre college football teams to some of the best characters known to man. So, in all due respect towards the Harry Potter characters, here are the best teams in college football compared to the best book characters of all time. If the ACC schools were characters from Harry Potter, they would look like this:
1. Virginia Tech is Neville Longbottom
They're just kind of there, but every now and then, they'll bring a good fight and do something miraculous.
2. University of North Carolina is Minerva McGonagall
UNC is always respected, even if they are getting a little old.
3. Georgia Tech is Hermione Granger
They are most definitely the nerds and know-it-alls of the ACC, but every now and then, they do come in pretty clutch (like when they embarrassed Florida State in 2015 by returning a blocked field goal for a touchdown and winning the game with 6 seconds left on the clock)
4. Notre Dame is Dudley Dursley
They like to talk a big game, and they think very highly of themselves. But when it comes game time, they don't have much to show.
5. Clemson is Albus Dumbledore
With Clemson being this year's reigning national champs, and frankly, the best team in the nation, they are most definitely Albus Dumbledore. Even though some still try to argue, everyone knows deep down that Clemson isn't a team you would want to face.
6. Wake Forest is Professor Flitwick
Wake Forest exists, and most people have heard of them once or twice, but what do they really do?
7. Duke University is Serverus Snape
They're great at basketball, but they're bad at football. They have two sides, just like Professor Snape.
8. Boston College is Nearly Headless Nick
They're always trying to fit in with the cooler schools, just like Sir Nicholas tries to fit in with the Headless ghosts. So close, but sorry, no.
9. North Carolina State University is Lavender Brown
Because NC State is mostly just annoying
10. University of Pittsburgh is Crookshanks
They were recently added to the conference, and you hear about them every now and then, but we all just ignore them for the most part.
11. University of Miami is Harry Potter
Harry is the type of character that you either love or hate. There isn't much in between, but for some reason, there is always a lot of hype around him, just like with the Canes.
12. Syracuse University is Luna Lovegood
Like Luna, Syracuse is just off in their own little world up there in the frigid winters of Northern New York. But hey, we don't have a problem with them, so we keep them around
13. University of Virginia is Rubeus Hagrid
They'll win a game here and there, but mostly they just want to be everyone's friend.
14. Florida State is Voldemort
Nobody likes Florida State. Enough said.
15. University of Louisville is Ron Weasley
Louisville is Ron Weasley because they try very hard, but usually have little to nothing to show for their efforts. And when they do happen to get ahead and start doing alright, they will pull a Louisville and end up right back where they started.
