- Virginia Tech Hokies football
NCAAFootballSchool
TeamName = Virginia Tech Hokies football
Helmet = Virginia Tech football helmet.gif
CurrentSeason = 2008 Virginia Tech Hokies football team
ImageSize = 145
HeadCoachDisplay = Frank Beamer
HeadCoachLink = Frank Beamer
HeadCoachYear = 22nd
HCWins = 156
HCLosses = 81
HCTies = 2
Stadium = Lane Stadium
StadCapacity = 66,233
StadSurface = Bermuda Grass
Location = Blacksburg, Virginia
ConferenceDisplay= ACC
ConferenceLink = Atlantic Coast Conference
ConfDivision = Coastal
FirstYear = 1892
AthlDirectorDisp = Jim Weaver
AthlDirectorLink = Jim Weaver (athletics director)
WebsiteName = HokieSports.com
WebsiteURL = http://hokiesports.com
ATWins = 637
ATLosses = 417
ATTies = 46
ATPercentage = .600
BowlWins = 7
BowlLosses = 13
BowlTies =
NatlTitles =
ConfTitles = 6
Heismans =
AllAmericans =
Color1 = Chicago Maroon
Color1Hex = 660000
Color2 = Burnt Orange
Color2Hex = FF6600
FightSong =Tech Triumph
MascotDisplay = HokieBird
MascotLink = HokieBird
MarchingBand =The Marching Virginians
PagFreeLabel = Outfitter
PagFreeValue = Nike
PagFreeLabel = Rivals
PagFreeValue = Virginia CavaliersWest Virginia Mountaineers Miami Hurricanes The
Virginia Tech Hokies football team is acollege football program that competes inNCAA Division I-FBS, specifically in the Coastal Division of theAtlantic Coast Conference . Their home games are played atLane Stadium , considered one of the loudest stadiums in the country and recognized in 2005 byRivals.com as having the best home-field advantage in the country. [cite web
url = http://www.rivals.com/content.asp?SID=1014&CID=444097
title = No place like home
accessdate = 2006-07-01
last = Lavender
first = David
date = 2005-08-21]With a career record of 198-105-4 following the 2006 season,
head coach Frank Beamer is the third-winningest active head coach inDivision I-FBS , ranking behind onlyBobby Bowden andJoe Paterno . [cite web
url = http://hokiesports.com/football/2007MG/coaches.pdf
title = Meet the Coaches
accessdate = 2006-07-01
format = PDF
pages = 30]The Hokies currently have the third-longest
bowl game streak in the country, having participated in the postseason every year since 1993. Only Michigan, Florida State, and Florida have longer current streaks. In that span, theHokies have finished with a Top-10 ranking four times, won six conference championships (oneSouthern Conference three Big East and two ACC), and played once for the national championship, losing toFlorida State University 46-29 in the 2000Sugar Bowl .History
Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College (now
Virginia Tech ) first played football onOctober 21 ,1892 against St. Albans Lutheran Boys School (Radford, VA). The game took place on a plowed off wheat field that was "about as level as a side of Brush Mountain".cite web|url=http://www.collegiatetimes.com/news/23/ARTICLE/7367/2006-09-02.html|title=From wheat to Worsham: The history of Lane|last=Pieper|first=Lindsay|date=2006-09-02|accessdate=2007-07-28|publisher=Collegiate Times ] The Hokies won their first game 14-10, but were defeated 10-0 eight days later on a return trip to Radford. [cite web|url=http://www.hokiesports.com/football/pastschedules.html?season=1892|title=Virginia Tech Football Past Schedules - 1892|publisher=hokiesports.com|accessdate=2007-07-28] The first several VAMC teams wore cadet gray and black, but in 1896 the colors were changed to Burnt Orange and Chicago Maroon - a color combination that was completely unique among educational institutions at the time.Since the hiring of Frank Beamer as head coach in 1987, the program has seen a quick rise from a mediocre independent program to a perennial top 20 team. The 13th ranked Hokies defeated the 9th ranked Texas Longhorns in the
1995 Sugar Bowl .The greatest season ever seen in Virginia Tech football history came in 1999. The Hokies, led by redshirt freshman quarterback
Michael Vick went 11-0 through the regular season. On November 3rd, the Hokies stole victory from the West Virginia Mountaineers when Vick led a desperate last minute drive that culminated in a dramaticShane Graham game winning field goal. The 22-20 victory has since become known as the "Miracle in Morgantown".On January 4th, the Hokies faced the
Florida State Seminoles in the2000 Sugar Bowl for the national championship. A back and forth game, the Hokies trailed 28-7 late in the second quarter but came back to take a 29-28 lead at the start of the fourth. However they were not able to hold on and the Seminoles won 46-29.The following season the Hokies were again players for the national championship, but a loss to #3 Miami Hurricanes in early November cost them a trip to the Orange Bowl. The Hokies later went on to defeat the Clemson Tigers 41-20 in the
2001 Gator Bowl At the start of the 2004 season, the Hokies faced the #1 and eventual national champion
USC Trojans in theBCA Classic played atFedEx Field inWashington, D.C. . The Hokies kept the game close, but eventually lost 24-13. The season ended with a return to the Sugar Bowl and a match against theAuburn Tigers . Auburn, the SEC champion and one of three undefeated teams (USC and Oklahoma being the other two) took a 16-0 lead into the fourth quarter. Led by senior quarterbackBryan Randall , the Hokies scored 13 points but fell just short of the comeback when the Tigers recovered an onside kick and ran out the clock.The 2005 season saw many ups and downs, but would end in disappointment. Taking over for Bryan Randall was
Marcus Vick , younger brother of Tech great Michael. The Hokies started off the season 8-0, including victories over West Virginia and ACC rivals Georgia Tech and Boston College. Going into the tenth week of the season, the Hokies were ranked 3rd in the country behind USC and Texas and would face the 5th rankedMiami Hurricanes at home. In anticipation of the matchup, ESPN'sCollege Gameday would broadcast from Blacksburg and the game would be broadcast nationally on ESPN. The Hurricanes controlled the game and limited Marcus Vick to only 90 yards passing to win 27-7.The Vick led Hokies went on to win the ACC coastal, but lost in the
ACC Championship Game to Florida State. The Hokies again trailed the Seminoles by double digits at halftime, 27-3, but a Vick led comeback brought the score to 27-22 with 1:45 left in the fourth quarter. The Hokies were unable to recover the onside kick and lost their chance at a BCS Bowl berth.The Hokies closed off the season against the upstart
Louisville Cardinals in the2006 Gator Bowl . Virginia Tech won 35-24, but the game would become infamous for a play that would result in the troubled Vick's expulsion from the team. Late in the first half, with the Hokies trailing 17-10, Vick was tackled by Cardinals defensive endElvis Dumervil . After the play, Vick stomped on Dumervil's leg, apparently out of anger. Four days after the game, Virginia Tech officials announced Vick's dismissal from the teamRedshirt sophomore quarterback
Sean Glennon was set to take over for Vick in the 2006 season. Although consecutive losses to Georgia Tech and Boston College knocked the Hokies out of contention for the ACC Championship Game, the Tech team finished the season strong, winning six in a row and being invited to theChick-Fil-A Bowl inAtlanta, GA . In the annual ACC vs SEC matchup, the Hokies played theGeorgia Bulldogs . At halftime the Hokies led 21-3, but four second half Glennon turnovers helped the Bulldogs in coming back and winning 34-31.After the Virginia Tech shootings that stunned the campus and nation, the remainder of Tech's spring practice was canceled. The Hokies, led by running back
Brandon Ore on offense and linebackersVince Hall andXavier Adibi looked to be in contention for a berth in the national Championship. The 2007 home opener against theEast Carolina Pirates was the subject of College Gameday, and the Hokies prevailed in an emotional, albeit shaky game 17-7. They then traveled toBaton Rouge, LA to play theLSU Tigers . In a game that saw Glennon replaced by true freshman quarterbackTyrod Taylor , the Hokies were completely dominated, only managing 149 total yards against the Tigers' 598. Taylor scored the only touchdown of then night after an 8 play, 65 yard drive.Taylor continued to start until injury forced him out in a 43-14 blowout over Duke. In a Thursday night matchup with Boston College, Glennon reclaimed his starting position and sought for revenge for the early season loss to LSU. In a game plagued by rain storms and wet conditions, the Hokies took a 10-0 lead late into the fourth quarter. Eagles quarterback
Matt Ryan spurred a late Boston College comeback, leading two TD drives in the final five minutes for a 14-10 win.Helmets
Championships
Conference Championships
Conference Affiliations
*1892-97: Independent
*1898:Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
*1899-1906: Independent
*1907-21:South Atlantic Intercollegiate Athletic Association
*1922-64:Southern Conference
*1965-90: Independent
*1991-2003:Big East
*2004-present: ACC*
Black Diamond Trophy -West Virginia Mountaineers
*Commonwealth Cup -Virginia Cavaliers Individual Award Winners
Players
*
Bronko Nagurski Trophy :Corey Moore - 1999
*Dave Rimington Trophy :Jake Grove - 2003
*Lombardi Award :Corey Moore - 1999
*Outland Trophy :Bruce Smith - 1984Coaches
*
Paul "Bear" Bryant Award :Frank Beamer - 1999
*Broyles Award :Bud Foster - 2006First Overall Selections in the
NFL Draft *1985 -
Bruce Smith ,Buffalo Bills
*2001 -Michael Vick ,Atlanta Falcons Other Notable Players
*
Josh Morgan -Wide Receiver ,San Francisco 49ers
*Justin Harper -Wide Receiver ,Baltimore Ravens
*Brandon Flowers -Cornerback ,Kansas City Chiefs
*Chris Ellis -Defensive End ,Buffalo Bills
*Duane Brown -Offensive Tackle ,Houston Texans
*Xavier Adibi -Linebacker ,Houston Texans
*Carlton Powell -Defensive Tackle ,Denver Broncos
*Eddie Royal -Wide Receiver ,Denver Broncos
*Bryan Randall -Quarterback ,Canadian Football League ,Winnipeg Blue Bombers
*Jake Grove - Center,Oakland Raiders
*Darryl Tapp -Defensive End ,Seattle Seahawks
*Carroll Dale - RetiredNFL Wide Receiver
*Todd Washington - RetiredNFL Center
*Jim Druckenmiller - RetiredNFL Quarterback
*Cory Bird - Safety,Free Agent
*Eric Green -Cornerback ,Arizona Cardinals
*Antonio Freeman - RetiredNFL Wide Receiver
*Shayne Graham -Placekicker ,Cincinnati Bengals
*DeAngelo Hall -Cornerback ,Oakland Raiders
*Billy Hardee - RetiredNFL Defensive Back
*Kevin Jones -Running Back ,Chicago Bears
*Jimmie W. Monteith -Medal of Honor recipient
*Pierson Prioleau -Defensive Back ,Jacksonville Jaguars
*Jim Pyne - RetiredNFL Offensive Line man
*Don Strock - RetiredNFL Quarterback
*Lee Suggs -Running Back ,Free Agent
*Rick Tolley &Frank Loria - Coaches,Marshall University :Died with most of the members of their football team inSouthern Airlines Flight 932
*Marcus Vick -Wide Receiver ,Free Agent
*Ernest Wilford -Wide Receiver ,Miami Dolphins
*Jimmy Williams -Cornerback ,Atlanta Falcons
*Chet Culver - Current Governor ofIowa
*Vincent Fuller - Safety for theTennessee Titans
*André Davis -Wide Receiver ,Houston Texans
*Mike Imoh -Running Back , CFL'sMontreal Alouettes
*John Engelberger -Defensive End ,Denver Broncos
*Aaron Rouse - Safety,Green Bay Packers ee also
*
Virginia Tech Hokies bowl games
*Virginia Tech Hokies football seasons
*2008 Virginia Tech Hokies football team Further reading
*Beamer, Frank and Colston, Chris. "Turn up the Wick". 223 pages. Epic Sports: 2000. ISBN 192884632-7.
*Schlabach, Mark. "What it Means to be a Hokie". 272 pages. Triumph Books: 2006. ISBN 1-57243-851-7.References
External links
* [http://www.hokiesports.com/football Official sports site]
* [http://www.vt.edu/ Official university site]
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