Saturday was a good day. The men’s basketball team defeated St. John’s to win the Holiday Festival and I arrived in Florida five days ahead of kickoff for a two-week stint in the Sunshine State.

The weather down here is great and is approximately 20-30 degrees warmer than what those of you back in Virginia are experiencing. But beware, the forecast calls for a cool down next week that coincides with the 74th FedEx Orange Bowl—highs will only be in the mid-60s.

While I’m not covering the game (I let one of the minions have some fun), I’ll take many pictures and update the blog at some point after the game. Thank you to the few of you that have left comments during my blog’s short life.

With New Year’s Eve right around the corner, the annual party dress panic may be setting in as you struggle to find a dazzling ensemble that will fit into your post-Christmas budget. No need to fear; with discount websites and online styling ideas at hand, you’re just a click away from the perfect hot little number to don while ringing in ‘08.

It is, of course, imperative that you look fabulous for New Year’s. This usually entails an abundance of gold, silver, sequins, jewels, and other embellishments that are really quite appropriate for this one night of the year. However, such dazzlement is likely to raise a few eyebrows if worn out to work or school the following week. So, the outfit you choose for the 31st shouldn’t break the bank, ladies. It is just one night out of the year, after all. The clock is ticking, so I’m offering up some simple party dress options that will work for almost any New Year’s plans you have. The best part? They’re all under $100.

Dining out with a special someone? This sassy-but-sweet satin shift dress has just the right amount of elegance for a night out on the town.

Hitting the club with the girls? This metallic sleeveless dress works great for a long night of dancing and pairs up beautifully with an embellished stiletto. For something sexier, this pleated shift dress is both sassy and classy.

Spending a quiet night with family? This chiffon dress is sophisticated and high-style.

Aside from black and metallics, a satin trapeze dress in deep purple is the perfect pick for a sultry look.

This New Year’s Eve, step out in style, but not outside your budget. You can look fresh and festive at affordable prices, even at the last minute! So put your Internet-surfing skills to work and find the perfect dress for any event. Also, check out this video for tips on hassle-free holiday hair.

Here’s to another year of fabulous fashion!

Virginia Tech’s Branden Ore will miss the first quarter of the Orange Bowl after he showed up late for a bowl practice on Dec. 21. Although Ore is the first-string running back, I don’t think this is that big of a loss for the Hokies.

Ore is only averaging 3.9 yards per carry, a stat that has actually steadily declined for the redshirt junior since his freshman season.

Ore will be replaced by sophomore Kenny Lewis Jr. who is only averaging 3.5 yards per carry himself. The Hokies just just go from one mediocre running back to another.

There is some good news and bad news for the Hokies as they start the second half here in Winston-Salem.

The good news is that Tech can still win the game, that is, if they stop making mistakes and coming up with so many empty possessions. Tech’s free-throw shooting, 15-16, will keep them in the game if they keep it up.

The bad news is self-explanatory. The Hokies have dug themselves a nine-point hole thanks to their mistakes.

@

The Hokies open ACC play Sunday at Wake Forest in game that either side is fully capable of winning.

Deac mini scouting report:

Look for Ish Smith to spread the ball around—the guy was impressive in Tampa last season. Johnson, Williams and Hale are all capable scorers, but Skeen shouldn’t be overlooked.

The Hokies will have their hands full Sunday. Right now they’re 3-point underdogs, but when one factors in that the Hokies are the road team, it’s likely that the odds makers consider the teams approximately equal.

If the Hokies are to have an unblemished conference record, for the time being, they’ll have to make sure a few things happen:

1) AD Vassallo will have to be better than mediocre. He has to play up to his potential, which means better than 2-9 from downtown.

2) Jeff Allen has to be a mountain masquerading a man. He has to pound the Deacs down low and score points at every available time. Allen has to play the way Greenberg knows he can.

3) Deron Washington has to be himself. Score a dozen points with two of them being highlight material, take a few charges on the defensive end and play like he’s the most experienced Hokie hoopster.

4) Hank Thorns has to play like a veteran. It may be unfair to ask a freshman to play like a veteran, but that’s what the Hokies need if they want to emerge victorious.

It’ll take a complete team effort to beat the Demon Deacons on the road. All of the Hokies that see significant minutes must play effectively. This will be a key game in terms of the final ACC Standings and a win Tech will desperately need if it is to reach the postseason.

#4 @ #3

The Virginia Tech Hokies could’ve played the Oklahoma Sooners in the FedEx Orange Bowl on Jan. 3 instead of the Kansas Jayhawks.

According to an article on SI.com Oklahoma’s athletics director Jon Castiglione and Big XII Commissioner Dan Beebe employed a clause in the BCS rules to lobby the commissioners to adjust to pairings after bowl selections were made to provide matchups more interesting to college football fans.

The commissioners were lobbied, but OU’s petition to play the Hokies was ultimately denied. The Sooners wanted to play the Hokies in an attempt to jump to No.1 in the Associated Press poll should they trounce Tech and LSU sloppily slide by Ohio State.

From what I gathered, commissioners from the ACC, Big East and the Big XII, along with the Fiesta Bowl, were unopposed to the move. I presume the Pac 10 and Big Ten commissioners didn’t oppose the swticheroo with their teams locked in the BCS National Championship and Rose Bowl—but it nonetheless fell through and I think I know why.

My thinking is that SEC Commissioner Mike Slive opposed the switcheroo in an attempt to prevent yet another LSU BCS National Title being undermined by a split championship (AP selecting a team other than LSU). There’s probably some BCS and OU resentment being harbored by Slive and the SEC after both the split championship in 2003 and an undefeated Auburn being left out of the championship game in 2004 after the Tigers were beaten out by the Sooners.

In my opinion, Slive acted in a very self-serving manner, doing what was in the best interest of LSU, not college football. That’s his job as SEC Commissioner, not as BCS coordinator. From here on out that position ought to be filled by someone not affiliated with any Division I-A conference or team.

I was going to cheer for the Tigers, and probably still will. But, at this point, I really hope the Tigers only sneak by Ohio State and and the Sooners blast the Mountaineers, vaulting OU to No.1 in the AP poll. The AP is a legitimate sports organization and has every right to crown any national champion it sees fit. It’s not the SEC’s business to undermine the AP.