A look at Virginia Tech, your week 10 opponent….THE BIG ONE!
Lane Stadium at night. It's electric!
VIRGINIA TECH
Date of game: Nov. 4 in Blacksburg (Thursday night…as if you didn’t have this one circled).
Time: 7:30 p.m.
TV/Internet: ESPN.
Last year’s record: 10-3, 6-2 in the ACC.
Head coach: Frank Beamer (23 seasons at Virginia Tech, 187-92-2 overall).
Key stat: 268.3. That’s the average number of yards the Hokies’ defense has allowed per game over the past six seasons. It’s the best mark in the country during that span.
Key stat II: 392.1. That’s the number of yards the Hokies’ offense averaged per game last season. They were sixth in the ACC.
Key stat III: 31.8. The number of points the Hokies averaged per game last season. They were second in the ACC.
What to watch: What to watch? Seriously? This is the game of the year in ACC. The defending champions, Georgia Tech, against the team that is once again picked to win the ACC.
Who to watch:
- Quarterback Tyrod Taylor.He’s one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in the country. This former Hampton High Crabber (shout-out to my former home in Hampton Roads) passed for more than 2,300 yards and rushed for 370 last season. It always seems, though, that he’s about to break a big run on every play. The knock is he’s not that accurate. He completed 56 percent of his passes last season, good enough to keep defenses honest. Don’t go to sleep on him.
- Running backs Ryan Williams and Darren Evans. They have rushed for 2,920 yards in the past two seasons. Williams ran for 1,655 yards last season, Evans ran for 1,265 the year before. They will offer an inside-outside combination, similar to the Kevin Jones-Lee Suggs tandem many years ago.
- Defensive tackle John Graves. He’s going to have to be very good this season because the line was depleted by the loss of three starters.
"One" rocks better than "Enter Sandman"
What to expect: A whole lot of scoring and a lot of noise. First, Jackets fans will have to sit through “Enter Sandman,” (one of that group’s worst songs in my opinion) when the Hokies run onto the field. VT fans love it. Seems kind of forced to me, but I can understand why people groove to it. Back to football, Virginia Tech lost six starters from last year’s defense, but those six were the key players on that unit, including three of four defensive linemen. So, this is an atypical Virginia Tech team: full of offense with a questionable defense. So, like so many of last year’s games, this one may come down to who has the ball last.
Prediction: I had Georgia Tech undefeated coming into this game (disclaimer: what do i know?). This should be the best game of the year, but … the Jackets will hit a speed bump. Now, everything could change if Boise State defeats the Hokies in both teams’ season-opener and shows other teams a blueprint for attacking that young defense. Also working in the Yellow Jackets’ favor is that the Hokies have North Carolina, Miami and rival Virginia coming up after them.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
228 comments Add your comment
Brian
July 19th, 2010
4:59 am
Tyrod needs to start bracing for impact right about now.
buzz nation
July 19th, 2010
5:02 am
big win for tech!!
MagnaCarterGT
July 19th, 2010
5:29 am
I remember a couple of years ago a clip of Enter Sandman was played as part of the player introductions. Thankfully they scrapped that part.
Should be quite a game. I’m hoping I can make the trip up to Blacksburg, assuming my professors don’t put any tests on Friday…. which, this being Tech, is very likely.
Stinger
July 19th, 2010
6:37 am
10-0 Baby!!! National Championship here we come!!!!!!!!
Doug the Jacket
July 19th, 2010
6:52 am
This is it! Jackets win going away!
lainier
July 19th, 2010
6:56 am
Tech is gonna run over and around that Def. Count on it
blackprix
July 19th, 2010
7:09 am
By this time, Al Groh’s defensive should be jelling. I believe VT will be favored but IF GT’s D can play like Al Groh can coach … GT can win this one.
Golden Tornado
July 19th, 2010
7:16 am
Clemson-VT -Miami…..Do not think we can win all 3, but I sure hope so.Cannot wait for Southern Football Kickoff Show with Wes and Tony Barnhart.Jim Donnan Show is good too.
We_Run_This_Country
July 19th, 2010
8:01 am
GT wins AGAIN! 31-21!
J. Saunders
July 19th, 2010
8:10 am
Hey Doug, come to this game Thursday night in Blacksburg and tell me how forced Enter Sandman is… Quit talking out of your ignorance. Hokies win 31-17!!
GT Skepticist
July 19th, 2010
8:19 am
Don’t even mention Va Tech losing to Boise State.
That would be terrible for an already embattled ACC!!
GT loses this game badly. We will struggle to win 7 games next year.
We don’t have the players where it counts—line of scrimmage.
That’s why we got shredded by LSU and Iowa in our bowl games, and lost to Georgia.
Once we put hosses in the trenches, we will be able to play with the big boys. But not till then.
Old Tech fan in NC
July 19th, 2010
8:23 am
Stop Tierod=win.
I had the misfortune to attend a funeral of a VT fan. The graveside service was a hoot…they did the Hokie Pokie. First they put his left leg in………….
Lance Link, Secret Chimp
July 19th, 2010
8:34 am
Go Hokies.
Jacket Backer
July 19th, 2010
8:35 am
I’m already nervous about this one.
Go Jackets!!
Savannah Jacket
July 19th, 2010
8:38 am
This will be a huge game! It could easily go either way and playing in Blacksberg isn’t an easy task….. With that being said I believe that the Jackets are going to play much more like a team this year. They don’t have some of the single player stand outs that went in the Draft, but they still have lots of players that are perfect fits PJ’s system. The O-linemen are getting bigger and more mobile and the defense will be much improved pressuring QB’s in every game.
Its going to be a fun year, this game could easily decide the ACC Title.
GT27 VT24 – GO JACKETS
TDone
July 19th, 2010
8:41 am
GT Skepticist is a closet Muttlander who wears red fine washables.
Doug Roberson
July 19th, 2010
8:53 am
I’ll be there on Thursday for the game. It’s going to be a hoot.
GT-Nuke
July 19th, 2010
9:00 am
On the one hand:
Lane is a tough place to play, vengence will be on the Hokies minds, Beamer and company are very good at skueaking out a win when they need it.
On the other hand:
The team will be hearing about “the game of the year” all season, probably getting sick of it, probably anctious to put it behind them = highly motivated to win.
Al G. will wnat to put the extra heavy hurt on the Hokies for all of those years of pain and suffering = highly motivated to win.
My take – too close to call. It wil probably be GT vs the officials as it usually ends up, which means we will get a chump call when its critical and loose by 2, but i hope not.
Go JACKETS! THWG!
bjohndawg
July 19th, 2010
9:00 am
HOKIE HOKIE HIGH
31-20.
Dan
July 19th, 2010
9:15 am
What the hell is a skepticist?
Yep
July 19th, 2010
9:15 am
hokie hokie high, screw that vpi
Mike
July 19th, 2010
9:16 am
Tech will win. I guarantee it. LOL
Alan
July 19th, 2010
9:20 am
I think gt wins a close one. But I think we lose somewhere before this game. What happens at unc and their potential violations could be big for us.
THE BIG ONE !
July 19th, 2010
9:22 am
—————————————-
…… Nesbitt for Heisman ……
—————————————-
Rodney Dangerfield
July 19th, 2010
9:23 am
Is Tyrod Taylor allowed to be hit in this one? If so, Tech victory!
Doug sucks
July 19th, 2010
9:25 am
How much longer do we have to put up with Doug? What an idiot.
Nesbitt for Heisman
July 19th, 2010
9:29 am
The Hokie Pokies will hit a speed bump
………………………………named JoshUA !
Brave Hokie
July 19th, 2010
9:29 am
Come on up Jacket fans ~ all 12 who travel to away {/home} games…
it’ll be a blast…
Brave Jacket
July 19th, 2010
9:34 am
GT kicked Beamer’s butt last year and will do it again.
JLC
July 19th, 2010
9:38 am
GT will be solid again this year, and this game will be one to watch for all college football fans. However, I don’t really believe that many people are picking GT to repeat as ACC champs as stated above. I read everything that I see that relates to GT, and have yet to see that.
wiley
July 19th, 2010
9:44 am
I think the Yellow Jackets silence the crowd early and often as the Jackets improve to remain undefeated!…oh wait im not a UGA fan. I think this will be a dog fight and PJ could absolutely coach his way to a win…VT is loaded but if we control the ball and time of possession..we could easily looking at a top ten ranking by this time. We need our guys in the middle to stop the run…TJ Barnes…Ben Anderson…etc need to step up and play some big time D. Tyrod is good but he is not that good of a passer…he could barely throw on our terrible defense last year…I mean Joe Cox looked like a good QB against our D. The Hokies have to run the ball to win this game…if they cant we win…end of discussion. GO Jackets!
TG
July 19th, 2010
9:48 am
Jackets will find out there is only one real Tech in the ACC. PJ and his high school offense will be exposed. And to the poster that predicted a national championship for GT…thanks for the laugh.
BTW – y’all have Al Groh as the DC now. The Hokies OWN Groh. Is he going to sport that tucked in sweatshirt look at GT?
Acc Fan
July 19th, 2010
9:55 am
Va tech wins by 17 or more, By know the tech faithful realize 4-3 or 3-4 doesn’t matter if you do not have the talent to execute.
roflmao
July 19th, 2010
9:56 am
Rodney Dangerfield
July 19th, 2010
9:23 am
Is Tyrod Taylor allowed to be hit in this one? If so, Tech victory!
Is GT alowed to chopblock in this one? If so, Tech victory….
Tech Forever
July 19th, 2010
9:59 am
There is no prediction in your prediction section.
Gatorman
July 19th, 2010
10:00 am
For years, this has been the most influential game on their schedule (poor UGA, they think there’s is). It affects the ACC championship game and eventually the bowl game to. Win this game, and your season and you have a clear path to the ACC championship, and lose it, your season is for 3-4 place.
Ted M
July 19th, 2010
10:02 am
Did Wilder visit Tech last week?
Doug Roberson
July 19th, 2010
10:03 am
I wondered when someone would bring up the “chop-block” angle to this game.
Tech Forever
July 19th, 2010
10:04 am
I think Tech comes into this one 7-1. And comes out of it 7-2.
roflmao
July 19th, 2010
10:12 am
he brought up the ‘tyrod getting hit’ angle.
Nesbitt for Heisman
July 19th, 2010
10:14 am
Like Coach Paul Johnson said,
” Frank Beamer yells ‘chop block’ when he loses, but when VT wins he says nothing “.
Georgia Tech will dominate this game, just like last year.
Brian
July 19th, 2010
10:14 am
It’ll be interesting to see how much chop-blocking ‘pr’ Ol’ Frank does going into this one.
Steve
July 19th, 2010
10:17 am
GT 27
VT 23
wiley
July 19th, 2010
10:21 am
Im gonna chop block all the VT fans I see this year in Blacksburg. I bet they cry just like Beamer when I do it. Quit being cry babies…its legal and we beat your top 5 team last year.
GT Fan...
July 19th, 2010
10:24 am
GT has outplayed VT in BOTH games under PJ. Turnovers, and a couple late, costly penalties derailed the Jacket in ‘08.
If healthy, GT should be able to move the ball, and score. It’s going to be tough though b/c Beamer & Co. planted the “illegal blocks/chop block” seed for the refs after their ‘09 defeat. You can bet your arse that he’ll bring it up again leading into this season’s contest. GT’s O will need to thoroughly whip VT’s D b/c there will “costly penalties” called against it. Wup’em again GT, and expose Beamer as a sore loser.
My worries for this game are the REFs / penalties more than the Hokies.
Nate
July 19th, 2010
10:27 am
The worst is Heather Dinich from ESPN. That lady has got to be the most biased journalist I have ever seen. She just picks against GT every chance she gets.
Doug, thanks for being a great reporter for the GT sports. Much appreciated.
TG
July 19th, 2010
10:40 am
VT by 24. The jackets won’t know what hit them.
Fact Check
July 19th, 2010
10:41 am
Lets look at the recent GT vs VT history:
2004 (Atlanta): GT loses 34-20
GT starts the 4th Qtr with 17-9 lead. With 4 minutes left,
Reggie Ball throws 2 INTs that lead to VT TDs. VT score 25 pts
in 4th Qtr to win 34-20.
2005 (Blacksburg): GT loses 51-7.
Reggie Ball starts after spending previous 4 days in the hospital with Meningitis and no practices during the week. Ball throws 2 INTs.
2006 (Blacksburg): GT DESTROYS VT 38-27.
This game is GT 38-13 to start the 4th Qtr, until
Gailey calls off the dogs. In almost every stat,
this game was a TOTAL BEATDOWN by GT…in Blacksburg.
2007 (Atlanta): GT loses 27-3.
GT is playing without starting RBs, Tashard Choice and Rashad Grant.
GT played with NO running game. GT throws 5 INTs. VT beats GT, wearing GT jerseys, which are STILL on display at VT.
2008: (Blacksburg) GT loses 20-17.
In just the 3rd game of the 2008 season, GT plays defending ACC Champs VT, with brand new GT coaching staff, new offense and new defense. ACC refs give 2 highly questionable personal foul calls in final 3 minutes that lead to game winning VT FG.
2009: (Atlanta) GT wins 28-23.
GT starts 4th qtr leading 21-10. In the first GT series of 4th Qtr, Nesbitt fumbles on VT 14 yard line. Without that 4th Qtr GT fumble to keep it close, GT wold have won…in a ROUT. GT was in almost complete control in the second half.
Most are saying GT just got lucky playing at home last year, and that VT, playing at home in Blacksburg, will smash GT. Of course, ESPN beatwriter and VT-Super-homer Heather Dinich is alreading DECISIVELY predicting a VT win.
Mark it down: GT will win Blacksburg…to the surprise of EVERYONE.
Dan
July 19th, 2010
10:41 am
Big difference between a cut and a chop. I’d suggest you learn it, VA Tech fans.
TG, that high school offense looked pretty damn good last year and I expect it will again this year.
Gold
July 19th, 2010
10:46 am
Kam cant “read.”