Tuesday, August 30, 2005
2005 PREVIEW: Virginia Tech Hokies
FOX Article
No one milked the painfully tired "no one respects us" line more than the 2004 Hokies. After being burned year after year by ridiculously talented teams that gacked in crunch time, the college football world had a hard time getting too fired up about a Hokie team that appeared to be a year away from being something special. But the defense became nasty and senior QB Bryan Randall was steady enough to carry the team to the ACC title and a strong 10-3 record with two of the losses coming to USC and Auburn teams that finished the year unbeaten. Guess what Virginia Tech ... you can't sing the disrespect tune this year.
Virginia Tech Hokies
Head coach: Frank Beamer 19th year at VT: 135-77-225th year overall: 177-100-4
Returning O Lettermen: 22Returning D Lettermen: 20Returning ST Lettermen: 2Lettermen Lost: 19
Ten Best Hokies 1. CB Jimmy Williams, Sr. 2. DE Darryl Tapp, Sr. 3. TE Jeff King, Sr. 4. DT Jonathan Lewis, Sr. 5. QB Marcus Vick, Jr.6. RB Mike Imoh, Sr. 7. WR Josh Hyman, Soph.8. OG/C Will Montgomery, Sr. 9. RB Cedric Humes, Sr. 10. DE Noland Buchette, Jr.
2005 Schedule 9/3 at NC State 9/10 at Duke 9/17 Ohio 9/24 Georgia Tech 10/1 at West Virginia 10/8 Marshall 10/20 at Maryland 10/27 Boston College 11/5 Miami 11/19 at Virginia 11/26 North Carolina
Like investors trying to get in on tech stocks in 2001, everyone will be jumping all over Virginia Tech this year with Marcus Vick returning to the program to take over for Randall, some tremendous playmakers on defense, and enough talent at running back and receiver for two good offenses. Now the trick will be for Frank Beamer and his coaching staff to flourish in the role of the hunted again.
This hasn't exactly been a program that handles the weight of high expectations well, so it'll be interesting to see how it deals with being one of the favorites for the ACC title and being on the short list of possible Rose Bowl teams. With Miami and Georgia Tech coming to Blacksburg, no Florida State, and the toughest conference road games at NC State, Maryland and Virginia, there's no reason to expect anything less than another ACC championship. Does this team have the heart it did last year with Randall at the helm? Will this team have the drive it had last season and will it be as hungry? If the answers are yes, this is a good enough team to end up in Pasadena.
The Schedule: Avenging last year's loss against NC State in the 2005 opener will be the key to a fast start. Duke and Ohio can't hang with the Hokies, so a 3-0 beginning would give the team the needed confidence with a battle with a nasty Georgia Tech team in the ACC home opener. The rest of the slate is hardly a breeze, but Miami and Boston College come to Blacksburg. At Maryland and at Virginia could be the main obstacles to another ACC title.
Best Offensive Player: Senior TE Jeff King. Oh sure, Marcus Vick is the exciting star and you can take your pick of any number of running backs or receivers as the team's best offensive player, but King is the unsung factor with his great hands and clutch route running on big plays. He'll be in the mix for the Mackey Award.
Best Defensive Player: Senior CB Jimmy Williams. The 6-3 safety-turned-corner isn't just one of the nation's best defensive backs, he's also the leader of the defense and the tone-setter with his big hits. Don't expect big stats as few will throw his way.
Key player to a successful season: Junior QB Marcus Vick. Vick can make everyone stop talking about his off-the-field transgressions if he comes out and has a big year. Everyone will want him to be flashy like Michael, but being steady and consistent like Bryan Randall will be more important.
The season will be a success if ... Virginia Tech wins the ACC title. If the 2004 team could do it, there's no reason to shoot for anything less with a more experienced, more talented 2005 squad. The Rose Bowl is asking for too much, but 10-1 is a good goal.
Key game: November 5th vs. Miami. There's no way the Hokies can win the Coastal Division if they lose to a fired up Miami. This isn't going to be last year's Hurricane team. It'll have far more firepower and be much nastier on defense.
2004 Fun Stats: - Virginia Tech second quarter scoring: 146 - Opponents total scoring 167- Sacks: Opponents 36 - Virginia Tech 34- Virginia Tech quarterback hurries: 111
No one milked the painfully tired "no one respects us" line more than the 2004 Hokies. After being burned year after year by ridiculously talented teams that gacked in crunch time, the college football world had a hard time getting too fired up about a Hokie team that appeared to be a year away from being something special. But the defense became nasty and senior QB Bryan Randall was steady enough to carry the team to the ACC title and a strong 10-3 record with two of the losses coming to USC and Auburn teams that finished the year unbeaten. Guess what Virginia Tech ... you can't sing the disrespect tune this year.
Virginia Tech Hokies
Head coach: Frank Beamer 19th year at VT: 135-77-225th year overall: 177-100-4
Returning O Lettermen: 22Returning D Lettermen: 20Returning ST Lettermen: 2Lettermen Lost: 19
Ten Best Hokies 1. CB Jimmy Williams, Sr. 2. DE Darryl Tapp, Sr. 3. TE Jeff King, Sr. 4. DT Jonathan Lewis, Sr. 5. QB Marcus Vick, Jr.6. RB Mike Imoh, Sr. 7. WR Josh Hyman, Soph.8. OG/C Will Montgomery, Sr. 9. RB Cedric Humes, Sr. 10. DE Noland Buchette, Jr.
2005 Schedule 9/3 at NC State 9/10 at Duke 9/17 Ohio 9/24 Georgia Tech 10/1 at West Virginia 10/8 Marshall 10/20 at Maryland 10/27 Boston College 11/5 Miami 11/19 at Virginia 11/26 North Carolina
Like investors trying to get in on tech stocks in 2001, everyone will be jumping all over Virginia Tech this year with Marcus Vick returning to the program to take over for Randall, some tremendous playmakers on defense, and enough talent at running back and receiver for two good offenses. Now the trick will be for Frank Beamer and his coaching staff to flourish in the role of the hunted again.
This hasn't exactly been a program that handles the weight of high expectations well, so it'll be interesting to see how it deals with being one of the favorites for the ACC title and being on the short list of possible Rose Bowl teams. With Miami and Georgia Tech coming to Blacksburg, no Florida State, and the toughest conference road games at NC State, Maryland and Virginia, there's no reason to expect anything less than another ACC championship. Does this team have the heart it did last year with Randall at the helm? Will this team have the drive it had last season and will it be as hungry? If the answers are yes, this is a good enough team to end up in Pasadena.
The Schedule: Avenging last year's loss against NC State in the 2005 opener will be the key to a fast start. Duke and Ohio can't hang with the Hokies, so a 3-0 beginning would give the team the needed confidence with a battle with a nasty Georgia Tech team in the ACC home opener. The rest of the slate is hardly a breeze, but Miami and Boston College come to Blacksburg. At Maryland and at Virginia could be the main obstacles to another ACC title.
Best Offensive Player: Senior TE Jeff King. Oh sure, Marcus Vick is the exciting star and you can take your pick of any number of running backs or receivers as the team's best offensive player, but King is the unsung factor with his great hands and clutch route running on big plays. He'll be in the mix for the Mackey Award.
Best Defensive Player: Senior CB Jimmy Williams. The 6-3 safety-turned-corner isn't just one of the nation's best defensive backs, he's also the leader of the defense and the tone-setter with his big hits. Don't expect big stats as few will throw his way.
Key player to a successful season: Junior QB Marcus Vick. Vick can make everyone stop talking about his off-the-field transgressions if he comes out and has a big year. Everyone will want him to be flashy like Michael, but being steady and consistent like Bryan Randall will be more important.
The season will be a success if ... Virginia Tech wins the ACC title. If the 2004 team could do it, there's no reason to shoot for anything less with a more experienced, more talented 2005 squad. The Rose Bowl is asking for too much, but 10-1 is a good goal.
Key game: November 5th vs. Miami. There's no way the Hokies can win the Coastal Division if they lose to a fired up Miami. This isn't going to be last year's Hurricane team. It'll have far more firepower and be much nastier on defense.
2004 Fun Stats: - Virginia Tech second quarter scoring: 146 - Opponents total scoring 167- Sacks: Opponents 36 - Virginia Tech 34- Virginia Tech quarterback hurries: 111
# posted by Smarta @ 4:52 PM 
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I second that analysis...the Hokies will be ready come Sunday vs. NC State and for the 10 games after that. Us Hokie fans are fired up for the showdown against the Hurricanes on Nov.5!
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