Collegiate Times

The most popular sporting event annually in the state of Virginia has become quite lopsided over the past decade.

In the annual battle for the Commonwealth Cup, Virginia Tech has defeated Virginia 11 out of the past 12 times the two teams have played and it has really been a tale of two sides in this rivalry since Michael Vick took the Hokies to the 1999 national championship game.

Tech has ranked amongst the most consistent programs in the country and racked up multiple Atlantic Coast Conference championships. Meanwhile, U.Va. has undergone multiple coaching changes and hasn’t even been to a bowl game since 2007.

This year, though, things could be different.

For the Hokies, the 2011 season isn’t unlike seasons past. Tech is currently ranked No. 8 in the country with a 9-1 record and sits on top the Coastal Division with a 5-1 record.

However, just behind the Hokies sits their archrival from across the mountains. The ‘Hoos have a 7-3 record and have looked extremely impressive despite 36 percent of their roster having never played in a collegiate football game before this season.

While the Hokies record looks like the usual success coming out of Blacksburg, it certainly has not been a smooth ride for Frank Beamer’s squad.

The team started off with four non-conference games in which they were expected to win without much trouble, but instead, the offense struggled to find rhythm and the team got through the four games with a lackluster effort.

The team then failed to score a touchdown in a dreadful 23-3 loss at home against Clemson. It was the first time Tech had failed to score a touchdown in a home game since being shut out by Cincinnati in 1995.

Tech rebounded with big wins over Miami and Wake Forest, but once again, the inconsistency showed up for Tech as it beat last-place Boston College by just two touchdowns and then got a four-point win over struggling Duke.

But Tech isn’t alone.

The Cavaliers have also dealt with inconsistency, as fans have struggled to get a grasp for the type of team they have.

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A version of this article appeared in the Nov 17 issue of the Collegiate Times.