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Orange Bowl Bid Brings Back Memories of 1996
by Chris Coleman, TechSideline.com

Virginia Tech will be playing Kansas in the Orange Bowl on January 3, 2008. It will be the Hokies' second trip to the Orange Bowl, and they got there in the same style as their previous Orange Bowl entry, the 1996 team.

Both the 1996 team and the 2007 team suffered a humiliating early season loss. This year Tech lost to LSU 48-7. In 1996, the Hokies took the nation's longest winning streak of 13 games into the Carrier Dome and got hammered by Syracuse 52-21. Both of those losses took place in the month of September, and gave little indication that Tech would later be playing in one of college football's top bowls.

However, both teams stayed the course and came through down the stretch. The 1996 team didn't lose the rest the of the regular season, while the 2007 team dropped just one game. Both teams faced tough schedules down the stretch, but played their best football when it counted.

In the 1996 season, Tech ended the year against four bowl teams, three of which were ranked. The Hokies faced East Carolina, Miami, West Virginia and Virginia. Tech won all of those games by double digits. Tech's offensive line was gelling, and they were getting great play from senior quarterback Jim Druckenmiller.

Fast forward to 2007, when the Hokies faced Georgia Tech, Florida State, Miami and Virginia in the last four games. Again, Tech won all four of those games by at least 12 points. They knocked off Georgia Tech 27-3, beat FSU 40-21, whipped Miami 44-14, and beat UVA 33-21 for the Coastal Division crown.

Just like in 1996, the offensive line of the 2007 Hokies played their best football down the stretch. So did quarterback Sean Glennon, along with true freshman quarterback Tyrod Taylor.

The only difference is that the 2007 Hokies had to play a conference championship game. They beat Boston College 30-16 in Jacksonville, avenging their only ACC loss of the season and adding another notch to their belt of quality victories.

The 1996 Hokies also needed a little bit of luck, unlike the 2007 team. Syracuse was all set to represent the Big East in the Orange Bowl, but they were upset at home by Miami in the final week of the regular season. The Orangemen, Hokies and Hurricanes were in a three-way tie at the top of the Big East standings, and the Orange Bowl went with the Hokies.

Just like in 1996, the opponent is from the Big 12. Tech faced Nebraska in 1996, and will take on Kansas this time. Both opponents were National Championship contenders late in the season.

Nebraska, with quarterback Scott Frost and head coach Tom Osbourne, were defending National Champions. They had a chance to defend their title, but Texas upset them in the 1996 Big 12 Championship Game. That loss dropped the Huskers to the Orange Bowl, and the Hokies had a major battle on their hands.

Kansas was undefeated heading into their November 24 game with Missouri. The Jayhawks were riding high and ranked #2 in the nation, until their arch-rival knocked them off 36-28. Kansas didn't get a chance to play for the Big 12 Championship, and that Missouri game was their last game of the season.

Hopefully this Orange Bowl turns out a little better than the one back in 1996. Virginia Tech competed well with Nebraska, until the Cornhuskers' superior depth took over late in the third quarter.

Jim Druckenmiller's 33 yard touchdown pass to Cornelius White with 10:02 left in the third quarter pulled the Hokies within three points. Nebraska led 24-21, and Virginia Tech was in the game with a great shot to win.

It wasn't to be, as Nebraska scored the final 17 points of the game. The Cornhuskers dominated a tired Virginia Tech defense late in the game. Using their patented rushing attack, Nebraska racked up 279 rushing yards against the Hokies. Damon Benning and Scott Frost had big games on the ground, and current NFL running back Ahman Green had 52 yards on just seven carries before leaving with an injury.

The loss spoiled a great performance from Virginia Tech tailback Ken Oxendine, who ran over, around and through the Nebraska defense. The Ox carried the ball 20 times for 150 yards, and also caught three passes for 60 yards. 210 yards of total offense from a tailback is a good night of work.

Jim Druckenmiller had a great game, throwing for 214 yards and three touchdowns. However, he was just 16-of-33, largely because his receivers dropped a high number of very catchable passes.