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   Welcome to TSLMail #247 - Friday, October 6, 2006    
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   Tech Sports News


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How Will the Hokies Respond to the GT Loss?

by Chris Coleman, TechSideline.com

Virginia Tech is coming off a very disappointing loss to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, and as it’s been stated many times, how they respond to adversity will go a long way in determining how successful the 2006 season will turn out to be. Their first step to getting back on track will come on Thursday, October 12 at Boston College.

Frank Beamer hasn’t lost very many games over the years at Virginia Tech, especially since the Beamer Bowl Era began in 1993. Whenever you hear Beamer talk after a loss, whether it be in a press conference or Hokie Hotline, he always talks about how the team needs to step up and respond to adversity. Do the Hokies generally do that? Yes, most of the time.

Virginia Tech is 22-10 following a loss in the Beamer Bowl Era. The Hokies have gone through seven two-game losing streaking since 1993. Three of those have developed into three-game losing streaks (1997, 2002, 2003). The Hokies also went on two two-game losing streaks in 2001. Six of Tech’s 10 losses after a loss came in the years 2001-03. Let’s take a look at each year in the Beamer Bowl Era.


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The Hokies were 3-0 after losses in 1993. They responded to a 21-2 loss to Miami by pounding Maryland 55-28 at home. After losing a heartbreaker 14-13 to WVU on the road (WVU went 11-1 that year), they responded with a 55-7 blowout of Temple. And finally, after getting blasted 48-34 by Glen Foley and Boston College, they came back to knock off ECU 31-12. The Hokies showed a lot of character in 1993 by shaking off tough losses and moving forward.

In 1994, Tech went 2-1 after losses. They beat Temple 41-13 after losing a tough 28-20 game to Syracuse in the Carrier Dome, and they rallied to beat Rutgers 41-33 after losing to Miami 24-3. However the wheels began to fall off after the 42-23 loss to UVA, as the Hokies got blown out 45-23 by Tennessee in the Gator Bowl. They also lost their first two games of 1995, although that won’t count in our record keeping because it was a different season.

In 1995, everyone knows what happened. Tech went 1-1 following losses. After getting knocked off 20-14 by Boston College, they got shut out 16-0 at home by Cincinnati. Miami was coming up the next week, and everyone assumed the Hokies were on their way to their fifth straight loss dating back to 1994. But the Hokies managed to knock off the ‘Canes 13-7 en route to a 10-2 season.

The 1996 Hokies lost just one game in the regular season. After starting 3-0, they were carrying the nation’s longest winning streak at 13 games. They took that streak to the Carrier Dome to face Syracuse, where they completely fell apart down the stretch as a team. They trailed 24-21 in the third quarter and ended up losing 52-21. The Hokies came back strong in their next game, beating Temple 38-0, and did not lose again until they faced Nebraska in the Orange Bowl.

The 1997 Virginia Tech team was the worst team of the early Beamer Bowl Era. They bounced back from being upset by Miami of Ohio by knocking off Boston College 17-7. Later they lost to WVU 30-17, but beat UAB 37-0 in their next game. But at the end of the season, after having suffered through injuries and a general lack of talent at certain positions, they finally fell apart. They lost to Pitt (30-23), UVA (34-20) and UNC (42-3) in their final three games.

The 1998 Hokies responded to three excruciating losses with blowout victories. Tech’s first loss came to Temple, at home, 28-24 (yes, that actually happened, for those of you who like to joke that it didn’t). They rebounded the next week, knocking off UAB 41-0. Later in the season they lost to Donovan McNabb and Syracuse on the last play of the game, but beat Rutgers 47-7 the following week.

And finally, against UVA, the Hokies led 29-7 at halftime, but ended up losing 36-32. However they responded in fine fashion, blowing out storied Alabama and current NFL All-Pro Shaun Alexander 38-7 in the Music City Bowl.

Virginia Tech did not lose another regular season game until 2000, when they got blown out by Miami 41-21 with Michael Vick and Andre Davis watching most of the game from the sidelines. But they rallied the next week, traveling back to Florida and handing UCF a 44-21 loss.

In 2001, the Hokies went on two two-game losing streaks. They dropped back to back games to Syracuse and Pitt, but managed to get back on track against Temple and UVA. To close the season, they narrowly lost a heartbreaker to #1 Miami 26-24 in Blacksburg. The Hokies got sent to Jacksonville and the Gator Bowl to close the season, where they lost to Javon Walker and Florida State 30-17. Tech was just 1-2 following losses in 2001.

In 2002, the Hokies got off to a great start and moved into the top five in the national polls. Then Pitt came into Blacksburg and handed Tech a 28-21 loss, and the Hokies went on to drop their next two games as well, against Syracuse and West Virginia. They finally got back into the win column with a victory over UVA. They closed the regular season by losing 56-45 at Miami, and then beat Air Force in the Diamond Walnut San Francisco Bowl to go 2-2 after losses on the season.

The 2003 season is one many would like to forget, except for the way the Hokies responded to their loss at WVU. After getting pounded 28-7 in Morgantown on a Thursday night, Tech came back nine days later to blow out #2 Miami 31-7 in Blacksburg. The season didn’t end well, as Tech went just 8-5. They lost to Pitt the next week, then barely beat Temple, and then closed out the season with three consecutive losses.

The Hokies lost a combined four games in 2004 and 2005 (not counting the Sugar Bowl against Auburn), and following each of those losses, they responded with a victory. Three of those four victories have been by double digits, including a 63 point win over Western Michigan and a 38 point victory over UVA.

Recent history, especially the last two years, suggests that the Hokies will respond well to their loss to Georgia Tech. But this is a young VT team. We’ll find out more next Thursday night.



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   TechSideline.com Updates From the Past Week

DeChristopher Talks VT, Senior Season

October 6, 2006
Last weekend’s visit to Virginia Tech was just as good as any other for Clover Hill (Midlothian, VA) offensive tackle Blake DeChristopher. In fact the 6-5, 300-pound recruit is growing more and more comfortable with the Tech program with each trip he takes.
more

Bourbonstreet's Championship Series (b-streetC.S.): Week 6
October 5, 2006
The always difficult-to-decipher-but-fun-to-read Bstreet brings us his thoughts on the top teams in the country and this week's biggest matchups: LSU/Florida and Texas/Oklahoma. Please enjoy Bstreet's random capitalization and a writing style perhaps best described as "three-level misdirection writing."
more

Jackson Impressed with VT
October 5, 2006
Jamar Jackson’s official visit to Virginia Tech last weekend went well, so now the 6-4, 230-pound Varina (VA) standout is in the process of deciding what to do next. TechSideline.com caught up with Jackson, who reflects on his official to Tech and discusses his future plans.
more

Mitchell High on Virginia Tech
October 5, 2006
Virginia Tech men’s basketball coach Seth Greenberg continues to do a good job on the recruiting trail. He and his staff have already landed four very good recruits for the ’07 class and are looking to add more. Perhaps the next best possibility is Alvin Mitchell, a standout 6-5, 210-pound guard/forward out of Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale, FL).
more

Georgia Tech Game Analysis: Hokies Lose, but Glennon Shows Promise
October 4, 2006
It was a sign. When Skipper, the famous Virginia Tech cannon, misfired during the pre-game ceremonies, it was a sign of things to come. Like Skipper, the Virginia Tech football team misfired out of the gate as well, quickly falling behind 21-0 to a Georgia Tech squad that came out firing perfectly on all cylinders. After not surrendering a first quarter touchdown in 16 games, the Hokies gave up three touchdowns in the first 10 1/2 minutes to the Yellow Jackets. It was not the start anyone expected, including those wearing the gold and blue. The Hokies attempted a valiant comeback, but ultimately it fell short, with Georgia Tech winning 38-27.
more

Virginia Tech, Nike Agree to Contract
October 4, 2006
Virginia Tech athletics director Jim Weaver announced on Tuesday that the athletic department and Nike have agreed to an eight year contract. Nike will now provide the apparel, shoes and equipment for every sports team at Virginia Tech. The deal is financially beneficial to Virginia Tech, and will go into effect on July 1, 2007.
more

Taylor Enjoys Visit to Blacksburg
October 4, 2006
Tyrod Taylor was back in Blacksburg this past weekend, on his official visit to Virginia Tech. Tech’s prized quarterback recruit enjoyed his experience, which included a chance to get to know some of the other members of the 2007 class as well as current Hokies. His host was Tech running back Branden Ore.
more

Hokie Hotline Notes for 10/02/06
October 3, 2006
Monday night's Hokie Hotline featured offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring, athletics director Jim Weaver and Frank Beamer. They answered questions ranging from Sean Glennon's performance, to scheduling, and finally, what needs to happen for the Hokies to bounce back against Boston College.
more

Varina Standouts Make Officials to VT
October 3, 2006
Varina (VA) standouts Jamar Jackson and Bud Tribbey were in Blacksburg this past weekend on official visits to Virginia Tech. Tech already has a commitment from four-star defensive back Davon Morgan and the Hokies seem the have impressed Morgan’s teammates as well.
more

Alvarez Progressing in Senior Season
October 3, 2006
If there was one knock against 6-5, 310-pound offensive lineman Will Alvarez heading into his senior season, it was consistency. But, this season, the touted prospect turning in better performances according to Hylton Head Coach Lou Sorrentino.
more

Bourbonstreet's ACC Capsule: Week 6
October 2, 2006
Five weeks in, and only three ACC teams are undefeated in conference play: Wake Forest ... NC State ... and Georgia Tech. Mmmkay. This week features four conference matchups: FSU at NC State Thursday night, plus Clemson at Wake Forest, Maryland at GT, and UNC at Miami. The conference race continues to shake out this weekend.
more

Monday Thoughts: The Georgia Tech Game
October 2, 2006
I had a strong suspicion going in that the Hokies would lose this one -- I picked GT by the score of 17-10, underestimating VT's offense and overestimating VT's defense -- so mentally, I had already taken the next step, wondering, "How will this team deal with a possible loss?" As we know from experience, it's not so much the losses that determine a season, as it is the response to those losses. When things go sour, how do you respond, both during the game and after the game? That's the major theme of this week's "Monday Thoughts."
more

Four-star WR Doesn't Make Trip
October 2, 2006
Four-star wide receiver recruit Jay Smith did not make his previously scheduled official visit to Virginia Tech this past weekend, but, according to his father, the Hokies remain very much in the race for his signature. The 6-3, 200-pound Lake Taylor (Norfolk, VA) standout seems to be focusing on four schools at this point in his recruiting process.
more

Hokies Drop Out of the Top 15
October 2, 2006
The Hokies dropped just their second September game since falling to Syracuse in 1996, and as a result they have dropped in the rankings of every major poll. Clemson is now the highest ranked team in the conference, and strangely enough, Virginia Tech is ranked higher than Georgia Tech in two of the polls.
Also: Stats Update, Injury Report
more

Nunn has Great Visit
October 2, 2006
6-6, 270-pound Virginia Tech offensive line recruit Kyle Nunn was in Blacksburg this past weekend on an unofficial visit. The visit was a big one for the Sumter (S.C.) standout, as he has been considering setting up official visits to other programs. This past weekend’s experience was a good one, however, and perhaps went a long way towards solidifying Nunn’s commitment to Virginia Tech.
more

Hokies Wrecked by Georgia Tech 38-27
September 30, 2006
Blacksburg, VA - #11 Virginia Tech got off to an awful start against #24 Georgia Tech and was unable to rally, falling 38-27 to the Yellow Jackets in Blacksburg on Saturday. The Hokies drop to 4-1 overall, and 2-1 in the ACC. Georgia Tech improves to 4-1, with a 2-0 mark in conference play. The Yellow Jackets now find themselves atop the ACC Coastal Division standings.
more

Game Projection: Virginia Tech vs. Georgia Tech (and Others)
September 29, 2006
After receiving a scare from an underrated Cincinnati Bearcat squad last week, the Hokies play their first big game of the season as the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets come to town in hopes of avenging last year’s 51-7 catastrophe. Many Hokie fans are predicting the Rambling Wreck to upset Virginia Tech, and that possibility certainly exists, but Georgia Tech has just as many concerns as the Hokies right now. At first glance, both teams appear evenly matched, so we should see an exciting game on Saturday.
more

VT's Big Recruiting Weekend
September 29, 2006
Having already compiled most of its 2007 recruiting class, the Virginia Tech football staff hopes to get closer to closing it out and this weekend will present an opportunity to do just that. This weekend, the staff will host four of its remaining targets on official visits and they will be joined by five-star quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who is making his official visit as well, and a number of unofficial visitors.
more
 
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