Collegiate Times

Certainly, this season wasn't like any of the past four successful ones.  It was a season that was epitomized Thursday evening in Dolphin Stadium.  They had an early setback; they had to deal with key components missing and made big plays in important situations.  Some of it was luck; some of it was due to the mistakes of their opponent.  But as Branch Rickey said, "luck is the residue of design." And defensive coordinator Bud Foster's game plans, including the players' preparation, helped make sure that the majority of the fortune would belong to them.

Harris, Stephan Virgil and Kam Chancellor adjusted to the Bearcats' early aerial show and limited quarterback Tony Pike and the Cinci passing game.

"They got a jump on us early, but after a while, we settled in," Chancellor said.

In all, Pike was picked off on four occasions. 

One came with just over two minutes to go in the first half, when Virgil snatched a pass in the end zone -- ultimately leading to a drive that ended in a Hokie field goal. 

Another came deep in Tech territory, courtesy of defensive end Orion Martin.  His first collegiate interception in his last game in orange and maroon led to Evans' game-clincher.

"It was big time for our team," Martin said.  "We needed a turnover and it was big for us.  We needed to force some turnovers and help our offense out."

There was little to be had on the ground, too.  That was most apparent on a goal line stand by the Hokies in the fourth quarter.  Cincinnati was stopped on fourth down at the Tech one-yard line, preserving the 20-7 score.

The man who was most responsible for the stuff?  How 'bout Barquell Rivers, in place of the injured Brett Warren.    

Some unlikely heroics, along with the usual suspects helped cap off an improbable run to an Orange Bowl title.   

"We've had some tough losses, but nobody split up," Beamer said.  "Everybody kind of hung in there together, kept working hard.  We always practiced hard.  Whether we won a game or lost a game, our practice didn't change as far as the effort the next week."

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