One last bonus post

I only post this on TechSuperfans because this was in a game between Marshall and ECU this past weekend and the Hokies played and beat both of them earlier this year. Anyway, prior to this game, the best two catches I ever saw in my life were this catch by Tyrone Prothro 5 years ago and this catch at the 1:45 mark of this video by Charles Rogers 9 years ago.

But on Saturday, I bumped those catches down one spot because this is now the greatest catch I've ever seen.

Game Review - VT vs. Virginia

Thanksgiving doesn't get much better than that does it? Two Hokie wins in basketball and one of the worst smashings in the history of the Virginia Tech-Virginia rivalry as they blanked the Wahoos 38-0 in Charlottesville. It was the first shutout of the season for Coach Foster and Co., the first home shutout for the Cavaliers in DECADES and a proud weekend for Fighting Gobblers everywhere to be sure. Let's get to the meat and potatoes.

3 Key Plays - VT vs. Virginia

1) After going up 7-0, the Hokies were unable to keep the Cavaliers from marching down the field on the Cavs best drive of the day. The Hoos took it 73 yards down to Hokie 7 yd-line where they faced a 4th and 2. Trying to make a statement, Coach London decided to go for it and called the same running play that won the game against Florida State the week before. It was the Hokies who made the statement, instead. LB Jack Tyler who played great football all day, knifed in past the guard and got enough of RB Kevin Parks' leg to knock the back off balance where he was finished off by a contingent of Hokies short of the first down. The Hokie offense didn't do anything with the ball, but the tone for the day had been set. The defending ACC champions had made their point.

2) The Hokies were ahead 14-0 late in the 2nd quarter when the Cavs mounted their 2nd best drive of the day, getting all the way to the Tech 20 yd line. With less than a minute to go in the half, QB Michael Rocco dropped back and Kyle Fuller came on the blitz. Fuller made a spectacular play, getting both hands on the ball and knocking it to the ground and Mr. Everywhere Jack Tyler was there to fall on the loose ball. The UVa threat ended, the Hokies went into halftime with all the momentum.

3) The momentum was evident as the Hokies drove the field on the opening possession of the third quarter. With 11:00 left in the third, RB David Wilson took the handoff and dashed 27 yards into the end zone, delivering a dismissive stiff arm on the UVa safety at the 3 yd line. This was the dagger in the heart for the Cavs as they seemed to lose all their steam and realized the fate that awaited the Commonwealth Cup was a trip back to its 8-yr home in Blacksburg for yet another 365 days.

TSF Poll (through games ending 11/26/11)

Controversy. Is Tech as good as it's #3 ranking in the Coaches Poll. The computers like Oklahoma State better. One could say that OSU has no defense. One could say Tech has beat no one. Clemson and Georgia Tech didn't help Tech's case this pass weekend either.

1	LSU (3)	75
2	Stanford	71
3	Alabama	69
4	Oklahoma State	63
4	Virginia Tech	63
6	Boise State	60
7	Oregon	53
8	Southern Cal	51
9	Houston	50
10	Georgia	47
11	Arkansas	45
11	Michigan State	45
13	South Carolina	39
14	Michigan	38
15	Oklahoma	35
16	Wisconsin	34
17	Kansas State	27
18	Nebraska	20
19	Baylor	19
20	Texas	18
21	Clemson	12
21	Penn State	12
23	West Virginia	10
24	Texas Christian	9
25	Cincinnatti	4
25	Southern Miss	4

Whew!

Real quick... I'm glad I don't have to remove that counter to the right for at least another 366 days!

Go Hokies! Beat Clemson!

Commonwealth Cup and More... Much More

Bedlam. The Iron Bowl. The Red River Shootout. The Great Cocktail Party. The Backyard Brawl. Sibling Rivalry. Army-Navy. The Holy War (the Boston College vs. Notre Lame one). Border War (which, by the way, is a football game that has traditions that lead back to an actual war between Missouri and Kansas that started before and led into the Civil War). These rivalries and more are among the reasons why I love college football.

The Commonwealth Cup earns its place among these games as one of the great storied rivalries. The Cavaliers and Hokies have met ninety-two times with the Hokies taking fifty of them. The first of these games took place back before they had the Internet in 1895. Early on, the Cavaliers dominated -- winning the first eight meetings. To be fair, the Virginia Agriculture and Mechanical College Fighting Gobblers were a young squad back then. Only coming into existence three seasons prior, the Gobblers got blanked 38-0 to open that season. [The Cavaliers started playing football in 1888.] Despite the loss, the Gobblers were able to achieve a 4-2 season that year!

I know right! Only six games in a season!? [Later that season the school was renamed and so was the mascot.]

TSF Poll (Week ending 11/19)

Upset Saturday has us all scratching our heads. LSU vs Alabama is the obvious choice right now for the national title. I think few would argue that they are the best two teams in the nation and despite it being a rematch it is the right game to play. Unless of course, Arkansas manages to knock of LSU...

Tech Escapes Senior Day Scare

First of, I apologize for the late review. Various factors, including fixing the toilets (yes all of them) in my house before 30 people descend upon my house for Fogo de Turkey (a Tuesday night version of Turkey Day.) So, secondly, I apologize again for this review will be short and sweet.

3 Key Plays - VT vs. North Carolina

1) At the 2:28 mark of the first quarter, things were looking TERRIBLE for the Hokies. Trailing 7-0, they saw the Tarheels taking a snap on first and goal from the 5 yard line. UNC RB Ryan Houston got the carry, Luther Maddy grabbed his legs and Antone Exum playing from the rover spot for the first time this season, came in high and hit Houston. The ball popped out and Derrick Hopkins fell on it, causing a GINORMOUS swing in momentum which carried the Hokies on the best drive they've had all season - a 95 yard TD drive to tie up the game 7-7. Basically it was a 14 point swing on the fumble and transformed the game.

2) WIth 4:49 left in the 2nd quarter, UNC RB Giovani Bernard took the carry off the left side and ran 11 yards for a first down. It gave him 10 carries for 45 yards at that point and he was badly hurting the Hokies throughout the first half. But this time there was unintentional helmet-to-helmet contact on the play and Bernard left the game with a concussion. The UNC offense would go dormant until the 4th quarter, not scoring a point until there were 7 minutes left in the game.

3) This play is the very definition of the 3 Key Plays segment. One of those plays that you just don't realize at the time how huge it is. With 12:10 left in the game, the Hokies were ahead 24-7, but UNC was driving. The Heels had 2nd and 9 from the Hokie 13 yard line. Kyle Fuller came off the right side on a blitz and popped UNC QB Bryn Renner for a 7 yard loss on the play. The subsequent play on 3rd down was incomplete and UNC kicker Thomas Moore came in to try and 37 yard FG. It fell 2 yards short. If Kyle Fuller doesn't get that sack, the FG would have been long enough. And what was the final margin of victory for Virginia Tech? 3 points. It could very well have been a game-winning sack and it came with 12 minutes left in the game.

Game Preview - VT vs. UNC

This game coming up on Thursday against the Tarheels is an odd game. If the Hokies win, they keep their momentum going, on a Thursday night home game when the crowd will be nuts, and it will put all the pressure on Virginia to have to beat Florida State on Saturday. If they lose.........they can still reach the goal of the ACC title game by beating Virginia the following week no matter what happens in the Virginia-FSU game on Saturday.

Allstate Tailgate Tour

I'm posting this only because it sounds fun and I wish I could be there for it.

WHAT:  The Allstate Tailgate Tour, a unique and interactive fan experience visiting college football stadiums across the country, is heading to Blacksburg this week as the Virginia Tech Hokies take on the North Carolina Tar Heels on Thursday, November 17.

Game Review - VT vs. Georgia Tech

There's a new feeling in the air around Virginia Tech football. Yes, the Hokies beat Georgia Tech 37-26 on Thursday to take a commanding lead in the ACC Coastal Division, but that isn't new territory. After all, the Hokies have either been in position to win or won the Coastal Division every year since joining the ACC in 2004. And every year they've beaten the Yellow Jackets, they've won the Coastal Division. But that new feeling this year? It's OFFENSE.

TSF Poll (Through 11/13/11)

With Boise State and Stanford losing, there was some shake up at the top. We're down to three undefeated teams (2 in AQ conferences.) The Hokies move up two spots with the Tigers close behind. There are still two regular season games to play and each are very important for the Hokies if they wish to ponder the rematch in the ACCCG.

3 Key Plays - VT vs. Georgia Tech

This was the easiest 3 Key Plays I can ever remember doing. There were dozens of plays made all night long by both teams but the three most important in the outcome of the game were blatantly obvious.

1) After taking over at their own 12-yd line, the Hokies were in the midst of one of their most promising drives of the season. They were in the process of answering a Georgia Tech score that had cut VT's lead to 21-19 and were re-capturing the momentum with several huge third down conversions. And then, at the 7:31 mark of the 3rd quarter, after driving all the way down to the GT 19 yd-line, RB David Wilson took the ball on 1st and 10 and after scooting through a hole, Yellow Jacket LB Julian Burnett got his hand on the football and knocked it out. Georgia Tech recovered and the air came out of the Hokies' sails. Wilson has had a remarkable season but these fumbles can be game changing and he just has to carry that ball tighter to his body when he runs on the inside like that. This fumble led to another GT touchdown which gave them the lead and all the momentum back.

2) After recapturing the momentum, GT had the Hokies pinned deep on a 3rd and 19. Trailing 26-19, things were looking ugly for the Hokies. QB Logan Thomas dropped back at the 3:15 mark of the third quarter and not finding anyone open he took a hit for a sure sack. The game was slipping away. But Logan Thomas didn't give up. He didn't quit driving his legs and fighting the three Yellow Jackets trying to bring him down or take the ball away. Finally as the refs blew the whistle, Yellow Jacket LB Jeremiah Attaochu punched Thomas in the head out of frustration. The scene was eerily reminiscent of J.R. Collins losing his temper and throwing the ball at Jacory Harris in the Miami game, giving the Canes a free first down when they had been stopped. In this case, the personal foul gave the Hokies a first down and they proceeded to drive the field, converting it into points and a lead they would never relinquish. And Attaochu assured himself of a suspension for next week's game.

3) With 11:54 left in the game and VT clinging to a 1 point lead, they faced 4th and 1 from the Georgia Tech 22 yd-line. Yes, the Hokies had just stopped the Jackets on a 4th down play a few minutes earlier but it would be for nothing if they didn't convert here. Logan Thomas, on a QB sneak, DROVE the pile forward for 5 yards and a first down. VT would go on to score a critical touchdown on the drive. Coach Beamer showed a lot of guts, not kicking the 39 yd FG to make it a 4 point game. He really put the entire game on the offensive line and Thomas' shoulders. And those young men delivered.

Triple Option Smoption

Here we go! The battle of the Techs once again has big implications in the ACC title race. Since the formation of the divisions the winner of this game has gone on to represent the Coastal Division in the ACC Championship Game. While neither team can lock it in with a win, the winner will definitely be in the drivers seat.

What's more, both teams will be coming off bye weeks. Both teams will be rested. Georgia Tech is returning some key starters on offense (see Hokies on Defense). In all, this is a big test for the Hokies.

The nation's 2nd best rushing offense vs. the nation's 6th best rushing defense. Not only is a potent offense it's also one that most teams rarely face and have trouble preparing for. Rushing for 328 yards a game, the Yellow Jackets come out with the spread option offense. This is a very intelligent offense that can cause several headaches if executed to the level that Coach Paul Johnson has been able to. Despite slipping two games to Virginia and Miami, the Jackets bounced back knocking off Clemson with 383 yards on the ground. Quarterback Tevin Washington had 176 of those yards -- a Georgia Tech record for a quarterback -- and knocked the Tigers out of contention for the national title.

TSF Poll (through 11/06)

1	LSU (3)	75
2	Oklahoma State	70
3	Alabama	68
3	Stanford	68
5	Boise State	64
6	Oregon	57
7	Arkansas	56
8	Houston	53
9	Virginia Tech	50
10	Clemson	48
11	Oklahoma	46
12	Penn State	45
13	Cincinnati	41
14	Michigan State	28
15	Georgia	23
15	Wisconsin	23
17	South Carolina	22
18	Georgia Tech	21
19	Texas	20
20	Southern Cal	19
21	Michigan	18
21	Nebraska	18
23	Kansas State	17
24	Southern Miss	16
25	Arizona State	5

TSF Poll (through 10/29)

Clemson's loss dropped them six spots. It really is a shame because they were playing so well. Georgia Tech will be tough next week.

1	Alabama (2)	73
2	LSU	72
3	Oklahoma State (1)	69
4	Stanford	67
5	Boise State	64
6	Michigan	49
6	Nebraska	49
6	Oregon	49
9	Houston	47
10	Virginia Tech	46
11	Arkansas	44
11	Clemson	44
13	Oklahoma	43
13	South Carolina	43
15	Penn State	40
16	Kansas State	36
17	Cincinnati	31
18	Michigan State	21
19	Wisconsin	17
20	Georgia	15
21	Southern Miss	11
22	Southern Cal	10
23	Texas	9
24	Arizona State	8
24	West Virginia	8