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Looking Back at VT/Boston College
by Will Stewart, TechSideline.com

Virginia Tech has owned Boston College since losing in 1995, winning the last seven contests in a row. The primary reason is that although Boston College is a solid, well-coached ball club, they typically don't have the team speed that teams like Virginia Tech do, and that keeps them from achieving at the highest levels.

This is no disrespect to BC. They've won four games or more every season since 1990, a claim even the Hokies can't  make, and they have averaged 6.6 wins a year since 1992. But they have never been able to finish higher than third in the conference, and they accomplished that three times in the history of Big East round-robin play: 1993 (5-2, third), 1999 (4-3, third), and 2001 (4-3, tie-third).

The Eagles beat VT two of the first three times they played them, in 1993 and 1995, but they've been dry as a bone since the 1995 season, despite coming close a few times.

Here's a quick look at some of the great plays, games, and moments of the Boston College/VT series, from the VT perspective.

Best Win: a 12-7 Hokie victory at Boston College in 1994. The season before, behind QB Glenn Foley and head coach Tom Coughlin, the Eagles pounded VT 48-34 in Boston College. The Hokies had to travel to Chestnut Hill again the following year, not an unusual occurrence in 1993-94, as the Big East doubled up some home games while getting their schedules in order.

VT had high preseason aspirations and went to BC ranked #18, having defeated Arkansas State (34-7) in their season opener and Southern Mississippi 24-14 on the road in game two. VT pulled off a 12-7 win dominated by the defenses, with the key play being a 66-yard interception return for a TD by Torrian Gray midway through the third quarter. BC tacked on a cosmetic touchdown with 6 seconds to go to avoid the shutout, something that angered proud Hokie defenders who wanted the whitewash, after having been ripped for 617 yards and 48 points the year before.

Most Memorable Win: VT's perfect-season-ending 38-14 triumph in Blacksburg in 1999. It was a great win that capped a great season. Michael Vick (11-of-13, 290 yards, 3 TD passes, 1 TD run) and Andre Davis (5 catches, 172 yards 2 TDs) lit the Eagles up.

Biggest Win (Largest Margin): VT's 45-7 hammer job in 1996. The Hokies, minus the injured Ken Oxendine, the suspended Marcus Parker, and starting true freshman Shyrone Stith at tailback, laid the wood to BC in Chestnut Hill. The Hokies had a goal-line stand early in this game that set the tone, Stith rushed for 80 yards and two TDs, and a walk-on freshman defensive end by the name of John Engelberger had two sacks. (And yours truly was on TV coming out of a TV timeout.)

Worst Loss: a 48-34 pummeling in 1993. The Eagles had a great offensive coach in Tom Coughlin and a hot quarterback in Glenn Foley (448 yards passing in this game, second-highest all time against Tech), and they made the Hokies look hapless, running out to a 28-7 lead. VT closed to 34-27 and had the ball early in the fourth quarter, but BC scored the next two TDs to put the game out of reach. The 1995 loss was tough but didn't prevent the Hokies from winning the Big East, so this game gets the nod as the worst loss. A sign of things to come: redshirt freshman Jim Druckenmiller substituted for Maurice DeShazo late in this game and threw a perfect 58-yard scoring strike to reserve wide receiver Bryan Still.

Best Play: Michael Vick's 82-yard TD run in the 2000 game. Vick broke away from a heavy blitz, burst through the line, and ran nearly the whole field for the score, twisting BC defenders around at the end of the run in a classic, made-for-SportsCenter Michael Vick moment. Runner-ups: Gray's 66-yard interception return in 1994, and Pierson Prioleau's 85-yard interception return for a TD in 1998. Both were instrumental scoring plays that broke open defensive battles.

Worst Performance in a Win (Tie): 1998 (a 17-0 Hokie win) and 2002 (a 28-23 win). In 1998, third-string QB and converted safety Nick Sorensen, subbing for the injured Al Clark and Dave Meyer, threw two interceptions, and the Hokies fumbled six times, losing four, in a heavy rain in Chestnut Hill. The Hokies also gave up 186 yards rushing to BC tailback Mike Cloud, but still won, thanks to a defensive score and a goal-line stand. In 2002, the hapless Hokies had a whopping 15 penalties and gave up 279 yards in kick returns, including an 83-yard punt return for a touchdown by Jamal Burke. VT only attempted seven passes, completing four, and they won because they ran 61 times for 334 yards, and BC had four turnovers, including three that occurred at the Tech goal line.

Best Defensive Stand: In 1998, Boston College had a 94-yard drive ... and didn't score. The Eagles drove from their five-yard line to the Hokie one-yard line on the strength of a 65-yard run by Mike Cloud. From there, BC took four straight cracks at the end zone but were stuffed by the Hokie defense, who ran wildly off the field after making the fourth-down stop. In VT's 17-0 victory, the goal-line stand was critical. On a day where VT turned it over six times, the Hokie defense won it with a touchdown and this stop.

There have been lots of great plays and great players in this series over the years, and it's an underrated series, because Tech has dominated it. The Hokies better come to play on Saturday, though, because BC has been close to winning some of the recent games, and with a few breaks, they could break through against VT.

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This Week in Recruiting
by Chris Horne

Here are updates in recruiting from the last week. To access these links, and for updates and information on all these players and more, subscribe to TechSideline Pass. Information on how to subscribe follows.

Men's Basketball: Greenberg Signs Two
Nansemond River (VA) point guard Marquie Cooke and Tacoma Community College (WA) small forward Justin Holt signed Letters of Intent with Virginia Tech in the fall signing period. Cooke, who is 6-3, 180 pounds, is one of the top point guards in the country.

Holt, who signed with Oregon State out of high school, is one of the top JUCO prospects in the country. He will have three years of eligibility remaining once he gets to Tech.

With these two players, Virginia Tech is certainly headed in the right direction under Coach Seth Greenberg. Cooke and Holt are tough, hard-nosed, and talented players who will not be intimidated by the ACC competition.

VT Recruiting War Room #7: Offense
Check out the comprehensive look on where the Hokies are looking for their remaining offensive targets. The piece includes key recruiting dates to keep an eye on.

Cory Holt Videos
I have released videos on Cory Holt, a QB commitment who currently plays for Hargrave Military Academy. The clips are from Holt’s performance against Fork Union on November 7^th.

Dunlap Considering Five
Athletic LB John Dunlap of Chaminade-Madonna Prep in Florida will make official visits to VT, NCSU, Miami, FL, and FSU. NCSU and VT have been set. Miami may be the team to beat here, but you never know after official visits.

DT Howard Has Two Visits Set
Carl Howard has set his official visit to VT, who is in his top three right now. Look for Carl to make all five trips before deciding.

Mr. Football in Tennessee?
Brandon Fanney, a 6-5, 260 pound DE prospect, is looking at VT, UVA, and Alabama. He has set visits for all three. Read up about one of the state of Tennessee’s top defensive prospects.

Royal Adds In-State Offer
The state’s top receiver prospect has received an offer from Virginia. He will make official visits to TN, VT, Marshall, and Syracuse, with Virginia being the likely possibility for the fifth spot.

Tech Lands Third Basketball Recruit
Virginia Tech signed athlete 6-7, 190 pound wing Deron Washington. His addition makes up a solid three-man recruiting class for Seth Greenberg and company.

Emmanuel Dunbar Names Favorites
Tech is in the mix for another talented DT prospect. Dunbar, from Deerfield Beach HS (FL), will make an official visit to VT in January.

Green Sets Visit
Mike Green, a FB/LB from Deptford HS (NJ) has set an official visit to Virginia Tech. The Hokies are the leader here.

Graham's Bradshaw Eclipses 2,000
Bluefield, VA standout Ahmad Bradshaw has rushed for over 2,000 yards for the second consecutive season. He makes an official visit to UVA next weekend. VT has not offered.

Steffy Visits PSU
Conestoga Valley (PA) QB Jordan Steffy will visit VT this weekend. He made an official to PSU last weekend. After VT, he will trip to Maryland on December 5^th and announce his decision on December 11^th.

Reynolds to Visit VT
Virginia Tech will receive an official visit from Hargrave LB Antonio Reynolds.

LB Bryant Having Excellent Season
Reading (PA) linebacker James Bryant had an outstandingly productive senior season. He has not narrowed his list of over 30 offers yet, but will do so soon. VT has offered.

TSL Suggestion Box

Each week in TSLMail, we'll ask a question geared to improving TechSideline.com, and this week's question is an unusual one:

What would you like to see in the way of basketball coverage on TSL as the Hokies compete in their last season in the Big East, before heading off to the ACC?

Send your answers with the subject "Suggestion Box" to [email protected].

Thanks, and we look forward to your suggestions!

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Men's Basketball Preview: A New Sheriff in Town
by Rev. Zeke, 11/21/03, 12:55 am
Aside from the 213-170 career coaching record that he has compiled in thirteen seasons as head coach at Long Beach St and South Florida, there is one other notable standard that upon inspection, Seth Greenberg would love to see continued as he assumes the reigns of the Virginia Tech program. Not one of Greenberg’s previous teams has had a losing season after his first year on the job.
in Men's Hoops

VT Recruiting War Room #7: Offense
by Chris Horne, 11/20/03, 5:05 pm
One more week until the recruiting biz starts heating up. The big date?...December 1st, which is the date schools can start making in-home visits. Recruits will start narrowing down their lists and making decisions following official visits over the next two months until Signing day.
in TSL Pass

Game Preview: #12 Virginia Tech vs. Boston College
by Jeff Ouellet, 11/20/03, 9:50 am
After a classic "Shallow Hal" performance against Temple -- I'm sure that there was some VT fan out there who thought the win was pretty, but it sure wasn't me -- the twelfth ranked and 8-2 Hokies return to the friendly confines of Lane Stadium to take on the 6-5 Boston College Eagles.
in Football

Wide Right: A Comparison
by Jeff Cockey, 11/20/03, 12:05 am
In celebration of our last Big East game I thought I would compare our old home with our new home, so I scribbled notes about the WVU/Pitt game last Saturday. I did the same for the UVA/Maryland game, and I thought it might be interesting to compare the two scribbles. The end result is that I truly believe we are heading to a much easier conference.
in TSL Pass

A Meeting With Fredo
by Jim Alderson, 11/19/03, 1:50 pm
At least they won. Bad teams find a way to lose games, and that is exactly what Temple did last Saturday, kicking away a chance for a second overtime and allowing Virginia Tech to escape Lincoln Financial Field with the most narrow of victories. This wasn't just any run-of-the mill bad Temple team, either. This group of Owls came into the game with a 1-8 record punctuated by a loss to I-AA Villanova.
in TSL Pass

Hokie Hotline Notes for November 17, 2003
by Wayne Clevenger, 11/19/03, 12:50 am
Bill Roth began the broadcast with the usual news of the day. The VT men’s soccer team received its first ever at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. VT will host Clemson Friday (11/21) in a first round matchup at 7pm. The winner of that match will play at VCU next. VT men’s basketball coach Seth Greenberg recently announced that he’s signed a third player (Deron Washington) to a national letter of intent.
in Hokie Hotline Notes

2003 Temple Game Analysis
by Will Stewart, TechSideline.com, 11/18/03, 3:00 pm
I'm sure that many of you out there are waiting for me to unload on the Hokies, to blast the team for allowing the 1-8 Temple Owls, of all teams, to engineer a late-game surge that required mass underwear changes among the Hokie faithful. Perhaps you're thinking I'll go on a Kellen Winslow-style, profanity-laced tirade, starting with some awkward statement like, "I don't give a hell!"
in TSL Pass

Small Pleasures: Temple
by Kevin Cuddihy, 11/17/03, 10:40 am
It was a much closer game than anybody but Bobby Wallace probably predicted -- and maybe not even him. Lots of agonizing and arguing on the boards about the game: Was it a letdown after being knocked out of a BCS game, or yet another symptom of a late-season collapse? That's for other people and other times, though, for here we still have Small Pleasures to celebrate!
in Voice of the Fan

Stand Here, Look Back
by Nathaniel Bishton, 11/17/03, 12:05 am
On Saturday, November 15 in the year 2003, it took the Virginia Tech Hokies a missed extra point by the Temple Owls in overtime to come away with a victory in Philadelphia. That’s right, the Temple University Owls. Let it be noted that this day will be a turning point in the future of the Virginia Tech football program. Not an embarrassing loss at West Virginia, or a dominating win against Miami. No, November 15, 2003 and the following week of practice will show where this program is going.
in Voice of the Fan

Temple Scares Tech: VT 24, Owls 23 (OT)
by Will Stewart, TechSideline.com, 11/15/03, 5:50 pm
Philadelphia, PA - 12th-ranked Virginia Tech coughed up 17 straight fourth-quarter points to lowly Temple to force overtime, but the Hokies managed to hang on for the victory, 24-23. Tech's win came courtesy of a 23-yard option run for touchdown by quarterback Bryan Randall, and the victory was sealed when Temple kicker Jared Davis missed an extra point in Temple's half of the overtime.
in Football