Miami Loses!!

Picture this, Virginia Tech runs the table for the rest of the season and they have won the ACC. With Miami's loss today, Va Tech controls it's own fate.

But winning out is not going to be a simple task by any means. Before Saturday's games, I would have said the easiest game would be in Chapel Hill next week. But with UNC's upset victory over Miami, even that game cannot be overlooked. The Hokies finish their season (their 12 game season by the way) against the aforementioned UNC in Chapel Hill, Maryland in Blacksburg on Thursday night, Virginia on Thanksgiving weekend in Blacksburg, and finish up with a trip to Miami for the season finale quite possibly with the conference title and guaranteed BCS bowl bid on the line.

On a tangent, Va Tech could arguably be undefeated if it weren't for two plays. It's not often you can look at two plays so distinctly and argue that the season could have been changed so dramatically.

• 1) The absolutely horrible offensive pass interference call in the first game against USC. Hokies up 10 - 7 and the field position (and momentum) change dramatically for the worse.
• 2) The missed field goal against N.C. State that would have been the game winner (although it never should have come down to a winning field goal attempt if the punter doesn't just drop the ball in the third quarter).

Let's hope that Frank Beamer can get this team to do the unexpected in what was supposed to be a 'down' year for the Hokies. And let's really hope that his playcalling changes offensively....more on that later.....

Final Score 34 - 20

GT fans are slowly coming to the realization that the real 'Tech' doesn't reside in Georgia....

Not looking good at halftime...but ya gotta keep the faith....

Hokie Nation loud and proud. There was also a pretty solid section of Hokies fan sitting where the visiting band would sit.

Va Tech's first play from scrimmage after a squib\onside kick attempt. Ga Tech kicked squib kicks for the entire first half so I'm not really sure if the opening kickoff was intended as an onside kick or what.

Here come the HOKIES!!!!

Stretching it out....

The scoreboard about an hour before the game. We got there a little early since we both work downtown. I wanted to find a local watering hole so I could tweak my sobriety but to no avail. Ended up with coke, smoked sausage and cotton candy....

What A Game!!!

I'm still flowing off adrenaline right now. That was an amazing game. The Hokies played with my emotion for nearly 4 hours last night on their way to a 34 - 20 win over a game Georgia Tech team. The story in this one is the Virginia Tech passing game!

Wait, did I just say passing game? In the same sentence with Virginia Tech? 305 yards worth of 'Yes I did'. Against a very good GT defense, the Hokies amassed 445 yards of offense.

Further analysis and pictures will appear throughout the weekend as I gather my thoughts....everything is still racing right now!

Thursday Night!!

Yours truly will be in attendance as the Hokies meet Ga Tech at Bobby Dodd stadium. The game will be televised on ESPN's Thursday night football. I can't wait...I don't even know if my seats are particularly good but I will be trying to bring the feel of the game to the website (provided I bring my camera which I have a horrible habit of forgetting for key events).

This game scares me a little bit. It seems as if the Yellow Jackets are up again down again and that always makes them a dangerous team. Add to that, a national TV audience on a Thursday night and anything is possible.

But what scares me most is this is the time of the year the Hokies tend to struggle most, at least in years past. Granted most of that was due to a sudden uptick in level of competition but it still is a cause for concern for me.

My Prediction: Va Tech will continue with the ball control offense hopefully getting big games out of Imoh and Randall. The X-factor in this game may be the Hokies ability to contain this Ga Tech offense. They haven't exploded yet andlet's hope that is still the case come Friday morning. Hokies 27, Ga Tech 14.

ACC Divisions Announced

Yesterday, the ACC announced it's football divisions for 2005-2006. Surprisingly, the divisions are called the Atlantic and the Coastal....whole lot of originality there! Below is the breakdown of the divisions:

Atlantic

• Maryland
• Clemson
• NC State
• Wake Forest
• Boston College
• Florida State

Coastal

• Virginia Tech
• Miami
• Virginia
• Duke
• North Carolina
• Georgia Tech

As a Hokie, you gotta love this division. You get to play UVA and Miami every year so your rivalries continue without the blasphemy of playing every other year. Plus, you get Duke!!!! Nothing says victory like Duke Football!

Vick Suspension - Good For the Hokies

Often times, living in die hard SEC country, I am looked at as an anomaly when my local sports bar patrons discover that I am a Virginia Tech fan and alumni. Immediately after finding out, I am asked one of two questions: 1) What is a Hokie; and 2) What do ya think of Vick's brother?

Well as we all know a Hokie is a fighting gobbler which is a stronger, meaner, nastier version of a turkey. But you will never eat a Hokie on Thanksgiving, keep that in mind!

As far as Marcus Vick (some folks here in Ga don't even know his first name, he's just Vick's brother), I personally am ecstatic that he was suspended for the year. I'm not happy about the reasons he was suspended but I am rather pleased that his suspension has and will continue to have on the Hokies.

Last year, there were several games that I think we lost due to Beamer going with a two quarterback system. That does not work. It never has and more than likely never will. There were multiple times where Bryan Randall was playing a pretty good game, the Hokies were in control, and then Beamer mysteriously decides to put Vick in. The result? Rhythm is thrown off, and Mr. Momentum changes his address.

With this being Randall's senior year (in football, he's actually a graduate student academically), it is only appropriate that he get to play the game outside of a 'Vick' shadow. Coming to Tech, he was the one after Mike Vick. Then, he has to fight to keep his job from Marcus Vick. A lot of folks don't realize how good of a quarterback Bryan Randall is. His numbers don't astound you from game to game but he makes plays and he leads the team. Not to mention he is closing in on quite a few records at Va tech for the quarterback position.

Hopefully, for Marcus Vick this will be the learning experience necessary for him to get his head out of his hind parts and realize the fortunate situation he has in front of him. Next year, he can come to spring training and compete for the starting qb job....and I do want to see a competition. I don't want the job just handed to him. We have two true freshman qb's backing up Bryan Randall now that are probably getting quite a lesson from watching Randall. Best performer should get the job. Maybe, Marcus can come back and be the quarterback that he was hyped to be upon returning to the team.

Va Tech Makes the Rankings

After what has been a rather impressive 'rebuilding' year for the Hokies, we have finally cracked the Top 25. We are also ranked number 25 in the BCS, though in years past I thought the BCS only ranked the top 15. Oddly enough, UAB is ranked 24th. I can honestly say I have no idea who UAB has played but I don't remember them having a particularly tough schedule before. Quacky computers.