The perception was that FSU had a relatively easy road though to the ACCCG and would probably get there more years than not.

However, Miami got stuck with a lot of the better programs at the time the divisions were selected. I think most expected that Miami would get there more than the others in the division but that others like VT and... yes UVA would get chances to represent the Coastal too.

Instead what happened is that Miami fell off a cliff, UVA stagnated into good but not great for a few years before falling apart completely, and Virginia Tech controlled the division for the first several years (winning 5 of the first 7 Coastal championships). And doormat Duke has more ACCCG appearances than Miami. In the Atlantic, FSU was good but not great in those last few Bowden years. Clemson continued to be a sleeping giant for about 7 or 8 years, as they had been for the couple decades or so. Oh yeah, Maryland fell apart as a program too.

And of course, I can just imagine the excitement in Greensboro for the Georgia Tech vs Wake Forest ACCCG in 2006.