Correction: This story has been modified from its original version. — Boston College did not join the ACC in the 2004 season. The Collegiate Times regrets this error.
The Hokies defense will get to tee off on newcomer Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy. This is bad news for Crimson Tide fans. Bud Foster's onslaught of complicated blitz schemes can make even future pro stars look average (see: Matt Ryan). The Crimson Tide could find points hard to come by in the Georgia Dome.
If Tech gets past the epic opening-week matchup, they still must face Miami and Nebraska in Lane Stadium in September. With the momentum of a win over the Tide, and the electric atmosphere Lane Stadium provides, it is unlikely that either the Hurricanes or Cornhuskers can steal a win in Blacksburg.
The toughest road test comes against Georgia Tech, and All-American running back Jonathan Dwyer. Yellow Jackets head coach Paul Johnson's wishbone offense is a difficult one to prepare for, but the Hokies shut it down early last season in their first game against such an offense in years.
Beamer's bunch narrowly escaped in that game, but this year should be a different story. If the defense clamps down on that Yellow Jacket running game once again, the Hokies offense should be much more potent this time around, and could win that game running away.
The other road trips are to Duke, Maryland, and East Carolina. Despite falling to ECU in 2008, the Pirates should not be quite as dangerous this year. Revenge will be on the minds of Tech, and at that point in the season, they could be going for a 9-0 record and holding on to a shot at a national championship.
Winning ACC crowns has already almost grown old in just five years in the league. When the conference expanded to include Miami and the Hokies in 2004, its intent was to create a dominant "superconference" in football that would boast some of the nation's best teams every season. It has not exactly unfolded that way.
With three championships and another championship game appearance, it has turned into Virginia Tech and the 11 dwarves.
What the Hokies should work for this season is the next step, which is the national title game in Pasadena, CA on January 7, 2010. With the parity in college football knocking most teams out of the ranks of the unbeatens by the end of each year, should the Hokies make it through the schedule unscathed, they should find themselves right there.
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The parity in college football is no joke. However, your spelling, as a representative of Virginia Tech in its student-run paper, is. The word is P A R I T Y not PARODY. Where are the good editors when you need them.
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Has anyone heard of this kid Jeremy Cannon Northwest Cabarrus High QB? Just saw some footage of the kid and he is amazing. Check out Youtube. Boy we need a QB in the worst way. He may be the answer. http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=jeremy+cannon+northwest+cabarrus&aq=f
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"Bud Foster's onslaught of complicated blitz schemes can make even future pro stars look average (see: Matt Ryan)" -You mean the same Matt Ryan that seemed to beat us single-handed, in the last minute of a Thursday Night home game?! Last time I checked, not many QBs do that. Scott, we picked up two great QB commits in Mark Leal (6'1", 185 lbs, Atlantic Community HS, Delray Beach, FL) and Ricardo Young (6'1", 170 lbs, H.D. Woodson HS, Washington, DC).
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I find it interesting, Bamman, that you're critical of this student writer for a typo, and then end the post with a grammatical gaffe of your own. Questions, such as "Where are the good editors when you need them," are followed with question marks, smart guy.
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Yeah, we are feed this same line of crap every year, nothing new here folks, let's move along.
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This is a really bad article. I mean in 99 we also had this guy named Vick who was kind of helpful. Note to mention the nations number scoring defense.
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I realize the CT doesn't really strike gold on the press credentials, and it would be marginally difficult for you to actually do research, but you have not said a single thing that hasn't been printed 100 times in the last month, and your article is riddled with mistakes, both factual and grammatical. BC, Miami, and Virginia Tech did not all join the ACC in the same year. We aren't 'returning a wealth of depth' with a sophomore and two freshmen leading the way. We didn't shut down GT's offense, we snuck past them (thanks to penalties and turnovers). Matt Ryan was not average against us; he manufactured a miracle to beat us at home on a Thursday night in an extremely meaningful game. Don't ever 'get tired' of winning the ACC. Most teams dream of winning conference championships. You are clearly young and new to the Hokie nation. I will gladly take an Orange Bowl every year. A national championship is something few teams ever sniff, and if we make it this season, it will be with a lot of talent and a lot of luck. For your next football article, make a serious effort to talk to players and coaches so that you can give your readers a unique perspective. I could have written something more interesting than this myself after 10 minutes of looking up stats in the media guide.
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Wow - is this what the CT has sunk to? PLEASE get some better sports coverage before the season starts!
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Zug, You're absolutely right, touche.
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"The long history of top NFL picks" Good to know the 2nd to 5th round is a top pick
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Does anyone know if VT is looking at the kid from North Carolina? Saw him at the UGA Elite 11 QB Camp and boy is the kid a stud. He looks like Mike Vick but taller, bigger, and the ARM on the kid is a Cannon which matches his last name. We need a QB in the worst way. Seems like NC State, UNC, Florida, and Tenn are in the running. Please look at the kid Jeremy Cannon Northwest Cabarrus. His Youtube video is amazing. Can anyone say Mike Vick but with a Bret Favre ARM.
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I don't recall all this talk before the 99 season about a NC I saw we just look at each game at a time liek the team does and not talk all this NC crap. Yeah, I would love to see them get there adn think there could be the possibility but why start up the talk and then get dissapointed. Maybe we shold talk about how they should change the BCS games around so if we do win multiple times in a row we don't go to the same location as the year before. then fans might not be as disappointed when we just make it to the Miami again. didn't they use to move around who played in what bowl game?
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