SPPS
Now that they have triumphed in Tampa, Tech will plunge further south to face No. 12 Cincinnati in the Orange Bowl. The champions of the Big East Conference finished the regular season 11-2, including a come-from-behind 29-24 win Saturday evening at Hawaii.
Adulation aside, Tech must still take care of business in the Orange Bowl. Despite the fact that no one expected them to be in this position at several points in the season, more work is in order to prepare for Jan. 1.
This is the case considering the fact that the Hokies have lost their last three BCS games -- including last year's 24-21 stumble against Kansas.
Tech bears the weight of the conference's floundering reputation in post-season contests as it also tries to quell critics who say that they struggle in big bowl games.
Beamer was certainly focused on the road ahead of them even before the Gatorade dried.
"We are going to enjoy (the ACC Championship) because this is really special," Beamer said. "But we are going to go right back to work and concentrate and get ourselves ready to go down to the Orange Bowl and play a great football game."
If they play the Bearcats as they played Saturday, the Hokies would remain in elite company.
There is still a chance for Tech to get its 10th win for the fifth consecutive season. Only Southern California and Texas can boast that current run of consistent success.
And this double-digit season may be the most improbable of them all, especially when you consider that 41 percent of the travel squad for the season opener in Charlotte was composed of freshmen.
"It's the youngest football team we've had in some time with the toughest schedule, with some key injuries, and some people that kind of gave up on us," Beamer said. "But this football team hung together."
Yet, this youthful squad didn't beat itself as one, recording the fewest penalty yards in the ACC and in the history of the Frank Beamer era at Tech.
"We got our eyes straight ahead," Beamer said. "And don't pay much attention to some other things."
The Hokies took a licking in 2008 -- from fans, foes and fate. But they kept on ticking all the way to another ACC Championship.
Continue Reading: « Previous123
Leave a comment 0 Comments Write a letter to the editor
All letters to the editor must include a name, e-mail, daytime phone number and affiliation to Virginia Tech. Affiliation includes: year and major for students; position and department for faculty and staff; current city for alumni and parents.