Game 12: Virginia Tech
Time: Saturday, Nov. 29.
Site: Scott Stadium.
2002 record: 10-4, 3-4 Big East.
2002 result: Virginia Tech 21, Virginia 9.
Coach: Frank Beamer (117-69, 16 years at Va. Tech, 159-92-4 overall, 22 years).
The Hokies
It’s a testament to Virginia Tech’s status as a program that a 10-win season could qualify as a disappointment. But last year fell into that category for the Hokies, who dropped four of their last six games after an 8-0 start and finished with a losing record in Big East play for the first time ever. The defense, in particular, unraveled down the stretch. So the biggest question in Blacksburg is whether the defense, with nine returning starters, will be the dominant unit to which Tech fans have become accustomed. Oops … make that the second-biggest question. The biggest? Who should start at quarterback? Normally, when you have a returning QB who threw for 2,134 yards and ran for 507 more, the decision would be easy. But junior Bryan Randall will have a hard time fending off the challenge of redshirt freshman Marcus Vick , brother of you-know-who. Whomever ends up taking the snaps, he will have the luxury of handing off to Heisman candidate Kevin Jones or throwing to gifted receiver Ernest Wilford . The Hokies also figure to shine on special teams, as usual, with punt returner DeAngelo Hall (two TD returns last year) and every player
who accounted for their seven blocks last season coming back. The early
schedule is cupcake city, with Central Florida, James Madison, Connecticut
and Rutgers. An early-season home date with Texas A&M notwithstanding,
Tech should be 6-0 before playing consecutive games at West Virginia, vs. Miami and at Pitt (all teams it lost to last year). Once again, 10 wins won’t be enough to satisfy the Hokie faithful.
All-Big East candidates
Offense: TB Kevin Jones, WR Ernest Wilford , C Jake Grove , QB Bryan Randall , QB Marcus Vick
Defense: CB DeAngelo Hall , DE Nathaniel Adibi , DT Kevin Lewis , DE Cols Colas , LB Vegas Robinson , LB Mikal Baaqee , P Vinnie Burns
Notable
Hall, a junior, is slated to play cornerback and wide receiver as well as
return punts … Over the last decade, Virginia Tech has won 93 games and
played in 10 bowl games … The Hokies allowed more than 1,000 total rushing yards in their four losses last year … For a successful program, Tech has had unusual stability in its coaching staff. Offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring has been on Frank Beamers staff for 11 years, while Bud Foster has been defensive coordinator since 1995 … Fifteen defensive players who started at least one game last season are back.
