Hokies Hosed...Again

Naturally, when my colleagues and I emerged from our battered sedan after a 350-mile journey Sunday evening, we didn’t expect to be greeted with bad news.

Perhaps I shouldn’t have been surprised, but once again in it’s infinite wisdom, the NCAA Tournament selection committee decided Virginia Tech just wasn’t good enough to be invited to it’s “dance”.

“Keep in mind there’s 10 committee members, and we all have different criteria,” tournament selection committee chairman Gene Smith said recently.

At best, a curious statement from a man chairing a committee that claims to have 15 quantifiable criteria they look at each season.

If I can be so bold as to read into that statement, I think he meant to say that each member can approach and interpret the criteria in a different way. Still, that doesn’t sit well with me.

Why isn’t there a clearer set of criteria? Why can’t we have any consistency in what the committee values most? One season it’s how you finished the year, others it’s your team’s strength of schedule or their “body of work”.

There’s enough hyperbole floating around the selection process to burst a dozen bubbles, but not nearly enough concrete answers.

As is stands now, the NCAA Tournament selection committee is nothing more than a Politburo, secretly meeting behind closed doors deciding the fate of everyone in the land.

Much like the Soviet system where holding a government office wasn’t a requirement for leadership on that committee, supreme basketball knowledge isn’t a prerequisite for appointment by the NCAA.

The committee is made up of athletic directors and conference commissioners representative of the top programs as well as the “lower-tier” schools from smaller conferences, but at best, any given year only half the members have some kind of significant basketball experience.

It just doesn’t feel right to me. For many years, I’ve felt that the NCAA Tournament is one of the most democratic way to decide a champion in sports.

Every team, at least in theory, has a say in who’s crowned No. 1. If you win, you are allowed to continue regardless of what anyone says. That is of course if you’re in it to begin with.

And so, I won’t fill out a bracket for myself this season. I’ll make picks for our dog Remus based on which mascot he prefers and then I’ll never look at them again.
I’ll avoid the bars and quickly change the topic of conversation whenever it comes around to the “Big Dance” regardless of whom I’m talking to.

The television set will be disappointedly set to ESPNU where I’ll closely follow the Hokie Invitiational (NIT) with as much anticipation as I can muster, and then once our season is over, I’ll lock myself in my room until no one mentions basketball again.

Or perhaps, I’ll just move to Russia.

Orange Bowl Fail

A lot has happened in recent days. We've entered a new year, had our 400th blog post and Virginia Tech has once again fallen flat in a big time bowl game.

Of course the Capitals handled Pittsburgh in the not-so-wintry classic and presumably much else has happened.

We shall attempt to recapture our blogging momentum shortly. We're coming off a monumental year statistically (more to follow).

In the meantime, here's the one positive highlight from the Orange Bowl.

Reflecting on Nearly Two Decades of Hokie Bowl Games

As I sit and watch the final minutes of the "Advocare V100 Independence Bowl", I'm reminded of the fledgling start to Virginia Tech's consecutive bowl streak in the 1993 Independence Bowl, then sponspored by Poulan Weed Eaters in case you're wondering.

Following a 2-8-1 season in 1992 that almost cost Frank Beamer his job, wholesale changes were made to the coaching staff and the moves paid off.

1993 saw the Hokies' first winning season under Beamer and the No. 22 Techmen took on No. 21 Indiana.

The Hokies led 14-13 just before halftime with the Hoosiers driving when Tech defenders George DelRicco and DeWayne Knight hit Indiana quarterback John Paci knocking the ball loose for Hokie end Lawrence Lewis to scoop up and scamper 20 yards for a score.

The Hoosiers then returned the kickoff into Tech territory where their efforts led to a field goal attempt. It failed miserably which is where the video comes in.

Credit to Jeff Holland on the block and Antonio Banks on the return. Also, that's the quarterback of my youth the versatile Maurice DeShazo pictured above. The Hokies went on to win 45-20.

Ain't No Sunshine

PHOTO CREDIT BRIAN SEWELL

TALLAHASSEE- It's been raining for nearly 24 hours consecutively, but supposedly things will clear up tomorrow for gameday. Today, we'll take a brief look at what to expect when the Hokies and Seminoles meet Saturday at 3:30.

When Tech and FSU have met in the past, the Hokies often find a way to outgain their opponent, but the 'Noles usually make some big special teams plays in a reversal of Beamerball. Special teams has been a problem for Tech this season. The Hokies rank 117 (out of 119 teams) in net punting, and 118 in punt return yardage defense.

On the flip side Tech has returned kicks fairly well, ranking 22 in punt returns but strangely 118 in kick returns. That can be explained at least in part by the fact that Macho Harris returns punts and he is probably Tech's best overall athlete and playmaker this season, but he doesn't return kickoffs.

It's a fairly safe bet to say the team that comes out on top will make the most big plays on special teams.

Both offenses are pretty mediocre. Tech's struggles are well documented on this blog, but for a concrete number Tech rank's 110 in total offense. FSU ranks 29 in total O, but I don't buy it. The 'Noles have faced such powerhouse defenses as NC State (ranked 103) Western Carolina and Chattanooga (who rank 84 and 110 respectively in total D at the 1-AA level). When FSU faced a defense similar to Tech's, that of Wake Forest, they put up a season-low 220 total yards.

Overall, it's an interesting match up and both teams will certainly be fired up. One stat that is decidedly in Florida State's favor, as an unranked team playing a ranked team on the road the Hokies are 2-28 all time. Yikes. The good news for Tech fans? Frank Beamer was involved in both of the other wins, including a 1968 win at FSU as a player.

I think this one could go either way. Unless the Hokies have some offensive tricks up their sleeves though, I don't have a very good feeling about it.



PREDICTION

Florida State 24
Virginia Tech 21

Improving Hokies Edge Huskers

With all the question marks surrounding the Virginia Tech offense, they stepped up and turned in an impressive performance defeating Nebraska 35-30 in Lincoln Saturday night.

Sophomore Tyrod Taylor completed 9 of 15 passes for 171 yards and added 87 yards on the ground.

The Hokie defense absolutely shut down the Big Red Rushing attack, holding Nebraska to just 55 yards on the ground.

Meanwhile between Taylor, Darren Evans and Kenny Lewis Jr. who had 72 and 50 yards respectively, the Techmen amassed 206 yards rushing and Evans had two touchdowns.

The performance was by far the best offensively this season, and despite some struggles in the first half, Taylor settled down and really showed some impressive progress as both a passer and a runner.

Some critical defensive plays, including Macho Harris' interception deep in Cornhusker territory in the first half along with Stephan Virgil's blocked punt to open the scoring gave the Hokie offense enough help to secure the victory.

The Hokies are now 4-1 overall and 2-0 in ACC play. The Hokies find themselves ranked #20 in the AP Poll and will now return to Blacksburg for a match up with Western Kentucky next Saturday. WKU is coming off a 41-3 loss to Kentucky.


OTHER NEWS AND NOTES

-Sophomore Davon Morgan tore his ACL and will be out for the rest of the season. Davon was the starting rover, and will likely be replaced by Dorian Porch.

-The Hokies wore their new white throwback uniforms for the first time on the road. Tech previously wore them in their victory over Furman.

-Tyrod Taylor remains undefeated as a starting quarterback in college. His record now stands at 8-0.

Hokies Outlast Heels

It was ugly and at times downright embarassing, but the Hokies found enough offense in the second half to sneak past ACC foe North Carolina 20-17 in Chapel Hill Saturday.

Tyrod Taylor struggled in his second outing after being named the sole starter. Taylor finished 11 of 21 for 125 yards and 2 interceptions while rushing 12 times for 35 yards before leaving the game with an ankle injury late in the fourth quarter.

Despite that, Taylor is now 7-0 in his young career as the starter in Blacksburg.

Tech's offense was anemic in the first half, but found some rhythm on some good drives in the second half. Darren Evans ran the ball well, especially late, toting the rock 14 times for 61 yards and an all-important touchdown.

Despite a wildly inconsistent offense, the Hokies managed one of the best comebacks in the Frank Beamer era scoring 17 unanswered points and climbing out of a 14-point hole.

“We never claim to be pretty,” Beamer said. “But I give our players and coaches credit for hanging in there and finding a way to win. And that’s the bottom line – to be able to win. And win together as a football team. I thought our team did a great job of that.”

Next up for the Hokies they step out of conference and head to the "Sea of Red" to take on Nebraska in an 7pm primetime match up on ABC.


ANALYSIS

At the risk of beating a dead horse, the most villified man in Blacksburg (not Sean Glennon) offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring did little to help his case in this game. The Hokies managed less than 100 total yards in the first half, but managed to finish the game with 268 to UNC's 307. UNC also lost starting quarterback T.J. Yates to a sprained ankle in the third quarter. That seemed to be the turning point for both teams though UNC backup freshman Mike Paulus (brother of Duke hooper Greg Paulus seen here doing what he does best) played well before learning what his family knows so well, that feeling of getting owned by the Hokies. Tech desperately needs to find some offensive consistency before the journey to the midwest. I'd like to think that Tech will start moving the pocket more with Taylor and give him chances to throw down field. More likely, get ready for a whole lot of running next week in Linclon.

OTHER NOTES

-Virginia Tech is now 16-1 all-time in ACC road games and won its 18th straight conference road opener. Tech is also 5-0 against North Carolina since joining the ACC.

-Dustin Keys kicked what turned out to be the game-winning field goal on a career long attempt of 45 yards.

Song Of The Day- September, 4, 2008

Solely to maintain some journalistic balance, today's song comes from "The Spirit of Tech", The Marching Virginians. The sound quality isn't great but this is every Hokie's favorite song, "Tech Triumph".

Tech Triumph was composed in 1919 by Wilfred Pete Maddux (Class of 1920) and Mattie Eppes (Boggs). They were both from Blacksburg, neighbors in fact, and Pete would frequently play violin while Mattie accompanied him on the piano.

On a summer evening, Pete asked her to help him write a fight song for 'ol VPI (Virginia Polytechnic Institute). They wrote the first two verses (really the only ones ever used) and they are as follows:

"Techmen, we're Techmen, with spirit true and faithful,
Backing up our teams with hopes undying;
Techmen, Oh, Techmen, we're out to win today,
Showing pep and life with which we're trying;
V.P., old V.P., you know our hearts are with you
In our luck which never seems to die;
Win or lose, we'll greet you with a glad returning,
You're the pride of V.P.I.

Just watch our men so big and active
Support the Orange and Maroon. Let's go Techs.
We know our ends and backs are stronger,
With winning hopes, we fear defeat no longer.
To see our team plow through the line, boys.
Determined now to win or die:
So give a Hokie, Hokie, Hi,
Rae, Ri, old V.P.I."

I'm one of the few members of the civilian public (members of the corps of cadets are required to learn the words) under the age of 55 or so who knows all the words. Most people only know the last couple lines.

The first version below is the full band performing in Lane Stadium during half time.




This is just a really sweet acoustic cover of the song. This guy is the man.