Some Hokie Nuggets....

Happy Holidays all!

There hasn't been much to post since the game in Tampa, but there have been some developments in the past week or so. Instead of single entries, I will keep everything nice and tidy -

(1) Victor "Macho" Harris was named a First Team All-American by the Sporting News this past week. He was named a Second Team All-American earlier in the month. The most impressive stat is this keeps alive an impressive streak that Bud Foster has had an All-American named from his defense in the last 15 seasons that he has been coordinator or co-coordinator at VT. That's silly.

(2) In a matchup that has been in the works for months, it has finally been confirmed that VT will open the 2009 season in Atlanta to face Alabama. If both VT and Alabama win their BCS games, it is likely they will both be preseason top 10 teams. ESPN might hype this game just a little.

(3) Redshirt Freshman Darren Evans was named a First Team All-American to the freshman team. He was one of the lone bright spots on the offense this year and the first freshman at VT to rush for over 1000 yards.

More to come. Happy Holidays all!

Eight points....a measley eight points....

Andy Katz of ESPN wrote a nice blog (as nice as it can be to read) on the Hokies' latest basketball woes.

The good news is, VT is losing to good teams, and barely. But there are precious few out of conference games remaining. If VT wants to dance come March, they will likely need to win some key games in conference play.

I couldn't have said it better myself...

so why try?

Billy Roth has been the 'Voice of the Hokies' for what seems like forever. He hosts the 'Hokie Hotline,' he hosts 'Virginia Tech Sports Today,' and he calls most of the Hokie sport's match ups throughout the year.

He recapped the football campaign of 2008 perfectly.

Give it a read.

Evans

There a million reasons to love this Tech team this year.

Evans is high on my list.

The Bowl Picture

MUCH clearer today - should be close to the below:

Eaglebank Bowl - Wake Forest
Car Care - North Carolina
Champs Sports - FSU
Emerald - Miami (FL)
Humanitarian - Maryland
Music City - Boston College
Chick-Fil-A - Georgia Tech
Gator - Clemson
Orange - Virginia Tech

NC State may go bowling, but it would have to be in a 10th game which the ACC doesn't have a tie-in with. We'll find out tonight!

Orange you glad...

*Macho came back for his senior season
*Tyrod is finally managing the game with his feet and his head
*Jason Worlids and Orion Martin are on your side
*We have Bud Foster as our DC
*Two words - Cody Grimm
*We don't have to deal with Darren Evans running US over
*We have a team that has improved week to week
*We are back in the BCS with a chance at an unprecedented FIVE SEASONS in a row with 10 or more wins
*Corey Holt can knock Beamer out on the sideline and he is STILL dancing in the locker room after the game
*That we have Frank Beamer

ACC Champions....again

They took an unlikely road with an unlikely team, but Virginia Tech is back where they feel comfortable - conference champions. They have not repeated as conference champions since 1995-1996 when they won the Big East back to back. But Frank didn't have this team back then, which makes this trip all the more memorable. Consider the following:

* Tech lost all 4 starting wide receivers to the NFL
* Tech is starting all freshmen at both the running back and wide receiver positions
* Tech is starting a true sophomore quarterback
* Tech lost 8 starters from its tremendous defense to the NFL
* Tech lost THREE contributors in the wide receiver position to injury and suspension

That is A LOT of attrition and injury to deal with as coaches. Frank has always had talent in Blacksburg, at least for the last 13 years or so. But part of recruiting is always having guys waiting in the wings to roll when guys depart. Unfortunately for some dumb luck and bad timing, these guys had to be ready to contribute from day one. Jarrett Boykin and Darrell Roberts are both true freshman wide outs. TRUE FRESHMAN. Meaning they were taking their SATs at this time last year. And they put on one heck of a show yesterday.

This is not even to say what Bud Foster has done with EIGHT new starters. Still a top 10 defense. Still rattling opposing quarterbacks. Still with the non-offensive touchdowns. Enough already, Bud. We get it. You're amazing.

So, we are 9-4. Another conference championship. Another Orange bowl.

What next?

How about winning it? The ACC is a paltry 1-6 in it's last 7 attempts at the BCS. The lone win? We all remember it too well. FSU over Virginia Tech in the 2000 National Championship. It's time to get the ACC back on track. A date with Cincinnati on New Years seems like the perfect opportunity. I tell you, if Tech controls the clock, moves the ball, and plays the defense it did yesterday, they will be tough to stop.

And finally, how about some props to the ACC this year. For all its critics, the ACC had 10 teams with winning conference records. TEN. No conference in the history of college football can boast that. Nor sending TEN teams to bowl games. Sure, there is no elite or great team in the league. But there are some mighty fine ones. Just as LSU when they play Georgia Tech. Or Nebraska when they face Clemson. Or Wisconsin when FSU comes calling....

Or Cincinnati when they meet VT in the Orange Bowl.

Defense, defense, defense......

I think most Hokie fans would agree that after ripping 4 straight in September/October, things were looking bright for winning the division. But then losing back to back games to FSU and BC, things were a little, um....less certain. We needed a few things to happen to get back in mix and take care of business at home - both of which we did.

So, it's down to this. A winner-take-all match up in Tampa tomorrow and to the winner go the spoils. To the loser goes - well, in all likelihood, the Music City Bowl in Nashville. There are a few things I am going to be keeping my eyes on tomorrow:

(1) How does redshirt freshman Dominic Davis fare against Bud Foster's aggressive defense? I am sure Coach Jags is not going to "make" Davis win the game with his arm, but can he manage the game smartly, not turn the ball over and let his own defense close the deal? Can Foster turn the game AGAIN with turnovers?

(2) How does our offensive line handle their front seven? It is no secret that Boston College is stout up front - I mean "darker-then-Guinness" stout. We struggled to run the ball against them back in October, and if we rush for over 100 yards, I will be shocked. The key is to mix certain play calls that loosen up the defense up front.

(3) Can Tyrod have back-to-back good games? Again, I am sure we are going to play it conservative, try to play field position and let our defense get some points or yards for us. But TT may have to make a few passes for us. The problem is BC leads the country with 32 interceptions. Yikes!

This game is a pick-em in most betting circles - meaning there is no line, and it could really go either way. I see the same. VT is #6 in total defense, and BC is #8. Don't expect to see an Oklahoma-Oklahoma State rematch here in terms of yards and points folks. Both coaches will be striving to take opportunities when they can, not force anything that the opposing defense can take advantage of, and win the special teams battle.

If VT wins the game, they will have won the ACC 3 years in the last 5. That's pretty good.

I hope I am wrong, but.....

BC 20 VT 17

GO HOKIES!!!!

Getting Bowled Over

Hokie fans, root for VT to win Saturday.

No, really. I mean REALLY root for them to win. As if you weren't already.

We all know what happens if VT defeats BC on Saturday. Tech would jump to 9-4 on the season, win the ACC, and be the conference representative in the BCS. Orange Bowl. Nice.

Should VT happen to lose? Then it gets dicey.

No Mark, there are plenty of good bowls. Why wouldn't VT get one?

Gator? They have already accepted Clemson. (7-5 Clemson, mind you)
Chick-Fil-A? They are this close to accepting Georgia Tech (local)
Champs Sports? They really, really want FSU

What does that leave us?

Well, Continental Tire really wants UNC.

The Music City in Nashville is the likely destination for the loser of Saturday's game against Vanderbilt. Yes, Vanderbilt.

It's easy Tech. Win Saturday and it's Orange.

Lose Saturday and it's ........

Tuesday thoughts...

I know, I know...it's the biggest week of the year for VT football and you haven't heard a peep out of me since before Thanksgiving. There are a lot of things to talk about here, and I won't try to divide them out into multiple posts.

(1) It seems when we have our best offensive days (and yes, this qualified as one), we have the unenviable issue of not being able to finish drives and capitalize while in the red zone. This game should NOT have been as nail-biting as it was. We dominated all the metrics - time of possession, first downs, yardage. Just not the one that counted - the score. We missed a FG, couldn't convert a 4th and goal, and threw a pick in the endzone. Assuming the worst we would have gotten there was 9 points for the three possessions, the final is 26-14. MUCH nicer. Assume TDs? 35-14. Eek.

(2) Bud Foster deserves a statue. Seriously, the guy loses eight, count them EIGHT players off of his great defense last year to the NFL, has to shift guys around, and still has the sixth best defense in the country? Take a look at the below. If somehow VT can limit yards over the next two games, VT will be the ONLY team in division I to have 5 top 5 defenses since 2004. Um, that's silly.

2008 - 6th
2007 - 4th
2006 - 1st
2005 - 1st
2004 - 4th


Well, it's BC. Again. There are a few reasons I feel better about the matchup this go around. Their QB is out and a guy who has started one game will be facing Bud's D. Ron Brace, the mammoth DT may be out. Our offense is playing much better, especially throwing and catching then we were the last time we met, AND we only lost by 5 then.

Don't expect a lot of points people. VT is 6th in total D and BC is 8th. Points will be at a premium. Both teams love to score non-offensive TDs. That may be the only the way the endzone is reached.

Kudos to Frank and his coaching staff for taking a very young and inexperienced team, riddled with doubt and injuries, back to another ACC championship. The future is bright.

Go Hokies!

Why God loves VT (and hates it....)

We have all seen the shirts.

God must be a Hokie because the leaves turn maroon and orange in the fall.

Clever, no?

Last night just reaffirmed to me why God IS NOT a Hokie. For the second time this season, VT was playing a ranked team with a marvelous opportunity to beef up its RPI and out of conference resume for the tournament in March. And just like Xavier, they lost to Wisconsin at the lost second.

Seriously, how does this happen? It can't be skill. These last second shots are not skillful - they are lucky.

VT is down 13 with 4 to go. Game over, right? I sure thought so.

But somehow VT went deep into their heart and found what it took to claw back in, point by point, possession by possession. Three point shot after three point shot, the game was tied with 7 seconds. OT right?

Wrong.

I personally cannot watch it again, but for those who didn't see it. Here you go.

Add this to the ever growing list of teams that have done this to us.

Duke in 2005
Clemson in 2006
Wake in 2007
UNC in 2007 (will anyone ever forget the last second shot by Hansborough to deny us the championship game?)
Xavier 2008
Wisconsin 2008

Let's hope the list stays there for now.

My heart can't take another one.

All-ACC team announced

The ACC has announced it's all-conference football team, and four Hokies were honored.

For the second year in a row, Victor "Macho" Harris was named a first team corner.

On the second team, R-freshman running back Darren Evans made the team with his impressive first year. Rounding out the second team were offensive guard Sergio Render and defensive ends Jason Worilds and Orion Martin.

Congrats to the boys!