Haunted Hats

Ah yes, tis almost time for Halloween.  The perfect time of the year for ghosts, ghouls, witches, black cats, and...fitted hats.  Yes fitted hats.  In my usual hat browsing for this month, I came across two particular hats that are just to die for.

Both happen to be from Minor League Baseball teams, but that's no surprise.  The Minors always have the rarest mascots, the coolest color schemes, the best gimmicks, and of course the sharpest-looking hats.  Unfortunately for me and probably most of you, the only size left in each hat is a size 7 3/4.  If your Jack-O-Lantern (head) happens to be that size, then you are in luck.  These festive fitteds got gobbled up faster than the good Halloween candy.

The first hat is a special Halloween edition of a fan favorite Minor League hat, which comes from the Lake Elsinore Storm.  The Storm are the Single A affiliates of the San Diego Padres, and reside in Lake Elsinore, California.  You've probably seen a Lake Elsinore Storm hat before, but you probably didn't even know it was theirs.  Their hat features an iconic set of angry eyes, which looks very similar to the No Fear eyes or the Mighty Ducks Duck mask.  One of my favorite New Era sellers, Cap City, really dressed this hat up nice for the season.  If it entered a costume contest, it would surely bring home the grand prize.

It captures the original colors of Halloween, as if features a black base with an orange bill and button.  They place the iconic Storm eyes on a traditional orange pumpkin with kelly green vines sprouting from it. The New Era flag logo and the underbill are cleverly colored kelly green to bring a smooth sense of balance to the hat.  To finish it off, the Storm eyes are outlined in orange on the back.  This hat goes down smoother than warm pumpkin pie.  Now that I've teased your tastebuds, click here to view this treat of a hat.

The second hat is equally awesome and festive, but in it's own unique way.  I mean unique as in it's the only hat to do what it does.  I know it sounds kind of sketchy, but hey it's Halloween.  You've got to be able to sort through the tricks to get the treats.  Really this hat is a treat though.

It happens to be the official on-field hat of the Casper Ghosts.  Yes I said Casper, and yes I said the Ghosts.  Remember what I said about the Minors having the rarest mascots and the best gimmicks?  The Ghosts are the Colorado Rockies Single A affiliate, and are located in Casper, Wyoming.  This Minor League team celebrates Halloween year-round...well at least during baseball season.

While they're name immediately brings a friendly ghost to mind, they're hat is anything but friendly.  It's wicked...wicked awesome.  Famed Cap Designers the Clink Room bring you this extra special treat.  The hat has an all-black base, including the bill, underbill, eyelets, and button.  The team's Ghost Rider-like logo is featured on the front.  It's a white, laughing skull that has orange baseball laces for its eyebrows and an ink-dot smoke pattern surrounding its head.  It's a very clever, well done design.  The New Era hit on the side is orange, and the Minor League baseball logo on the back is split orange and black.  It gives you that Halloween feel on first glance.  

And now for the trick...that's really a treat.  It's what you've all been waiting for.  What makes this hat different from any other hat out there...the dark.  That's right the dark.  Because it glows in it.  When you turn out the lights, a hidden G (for Ghosts) glows from within the skull logo.  I don't care what season it is, it just doesn't get any better than that.  This hat is too cool for ghoul.  So here you go.  Reap thy Harvest, and feast your eyes on the real prize.  (Be sure to click through all the pictures.  The third pic on the bottom is concepts from the brainstorming process for the hat.  The fifth is the money shot.)

I hope you've enjoyed this fitted hat costume contest.  I have to say it comes out a draw.  We really do have two winners here.  So if you find yourself hard-pressed over what costume to wear, breathe easy.  Forget about the masks, choose a fitted instead.  People may think you're madder than a hatter, but then again that's the idea isn't it?  After all it is Halloween.  (insert deep, spooky sounding laughter here)

Welcome Back To The Terrordome

On Saturday the Virginia Tech Hokies retired the jersey of one of the best football players to ever pass through the tunnel into Lane Stadium.  The jersey= #56, The player= a quarterback's worst nightmare, Corey Moore.

Moore played defensive end for the Hokies from 1997 through the magical season that was 1999, and he was a force to be reckoned with to say the least.  In 1999, Moore racked up 17 sacks, 62 tackles, 25 quarterback hurries, 4 forced fumbles, and he returned a fumble for a touchdown (against Clemson).  He was the fearless leader of the best Lunch Pail defense to ever patrol Worsham Field.  What Michael Vick was to the offense, Corey Moore was to the defense...and maybe even a little more.  Moore was the difference between having a National Championship caliber team and not having one, just ask the 2000 Hokies who came one game short of making it back to the big game.

Moore's accomplishments from the 1999 season alone won him more awards than any other player in Virginia Tech history.  Corey was a unanimous All-American selection at the Defensive End position.  He won the Bronko Nagurski Award, which is awarded to the nation's best defensive player.  He won the Lombardi Award, which goes to the nation's best lineman.  He was voted the defensive player of the year for the Big East Conference.  And to top things off he won the Dudley Award, which is awarded to the best football player in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

His career statistics are staggering.  He finished his illustrious tenure at Tech with 172 tackles, 58 quarterback hurries, 37 sacks, 3 recovered fumbles (1 returned for a TD vs. Clemson), 8 forced fumbles, and 4 blocked kicks (got to get the Beamerball in there).  As you can see, he deserved every one of the awards he received.  He was the best D-lineman since Bruce Smith, and that speaks for itself.

As a player, he was undersized for his position.  At 6 foot 225 pounds, He had the size of a linebacker but the speed of a runningback.  He was dangerous.  He was a head-hunter.  At the snap of the ball he would dip his shoulder and come barreling off the corner like a stampede of bulls.  No one could dip the shoulder like Corey Moore.  He would get so low, but yet still be moving so fast.  It was textbook football at its best.

Like his last name, he was MORE than just an outstanding player.  He was a character.  Corey Moore had possibly the most colorful personality of any player to ever wear the Maroon and Orange.  He was always excited.  He stayed wired up.  He was amped...all day, every day.  One look inside his helmet would tell you that.  He had crazy eyes.  They were as wide open as any eyes could be, and they moved feverishly back and forth.  They were like the headlights of a Mack truck.  They were the last thing that quarterbacks saw before they were face to face with grass.  After each sack or tackle, he would celebrate.  Maybe a chest bump with a fellow defender, maybe a yell in someone's face, maybe a dance.  He celebrated without reprocussion.  The refs were too scared to throw the flag on him, but can you blame them?  When he had his helmet off he resembled Sinbad, but believe me he was never joking around.  Corey Moore even un-officially re-named Lane Stadium.  He called it "the Terrordome," and he couldn't have picked a more suitable name.  He made it just that for opposing teams, a Terrordome.

I really can't capture the aura of Corey Moore in words, so with Halloween just a few days away I have a little treat for you.  It's a highlight reel of Mr. Moore...from one game.  And not just any game.  It's a Thursday night game.  And it's not just any Thursday night game.  It's the 1999 Thursday nighter against Clemson, which was the first game I ever watched in Lane Stadium.  If you've ever wondered why I'm a Hokie...well this is why.

Here's a few things to look for in this video:
Look at Tech's awesome endzones.  They were sweet.  Way better than the lackluster Arial font "VIRGINIA TECH" that we have now.
@ :50  The announcers saying Corey Moore is a man
@ 2:08 He hyperextends his back trying to block a pass, look at that hustle. How many D-Ends can get up like that?
@ 3:02 The crazy eyes. Look at the eyes!
@ 4:44 Moore forces the qb to throw a pic 6 to "Iceman" Ike Charlton.  Watch Moore beat Ike to the endzone.  Always hustlin.
@ 7:47  The hallmark Corey Moore play.  He smashes the qb, picks up the ball and takes it to the house.  Lane Stadium went bonkers.  I remember this play more vividly than anything else that happened in this game.  I'll never forget this play
@ 8:47 Corey Moore talking smack. (can you see the Sinbad resemblance, or is it just me?)
@ 9:39 Welcome to the Terrordome: the legendary statement
@ 10:25 Moore Exits Sandman into the stands
@ 10:35 Collage of Moore's highlights on the night

I hope you enjoyed this educational, instructional, and highly entertaining video.  It showcases the Legend that is Corey Moore.  I'm overjoyed to have him in Tech's Hall Of Fame, and to see his jersey number at the top of the North Endzone.  That's where Corey Moore belongs...at the top of the Terrordome.

A Breath Of Fresh...Teams

The 2010 World Series begins tonight, as the Texas Rangers travel to the Bay to take on the San Francisco Giants.

I must say that seeing the Rangers and the Giants in the Series is a breath of fresh air.  It's nice to see two different unthought of teams in the spotlight.

I think I would have barfed if I had to watch another Yankees/Phillies snoozefest.  I mean everyone except for true New Yorkers and bandwagoners hate the Yankees.  Everyone is sick and tired of the "Evil Empire."  It's poetic justice every time "the Best Team Money Can Buy" craps out, and doesn't make it to the Series.  It's like a revolution.  You can hear pilgrims rejoicing in the streets screaming, "the Yankees didn't make it, the Yankees didn't make it!"

On the other side, the Phillies are by far the most boring team to watch in the league.  Their "do it by the book" gameplan puts me to sleep faster than warm milk.  They don't even give you anything stimulating to look at, as their uniforms match their flavorless style of play.  Their all red hats with the white P is almost as bad as Penn State's helmets in College Football, and that's bad because Penn State has nothing but a strip of navy blue electrical tape on their helmet.  Add in the fact that their number one "slugger" Ryan Howard can't hit the side of a barn, and the Phillies are blander than grits without butter.  Pass the salt and pepper please.

Now to the interesting teams that matter.

This marks the first World Series appearance ever for the Texas Rangers franchise, and it's much deserved.  Nolan Ryan, probably the greatest pitcher to ever play the game, couldn't lead the Rangers to the Series as a player, but now he does as an owner.  What a story.  Ryan helped the New York Mets win their first World Series in 1969, and now through some savvy managing moves he's helped his Rangers to the Fall Classic.  All aboard the Von Ryan Express!

The Giants franchise has been to its fair share of World Series, and its won five.  Yet the City by the Bay hasn't seen any of those championships.  That's because the last time the Giants won the Series was way back in 1954, four years before the franchise moved to San Francisco.  The last time San Fran has been to the World Series was in 2002, as they were led by the enhanced slugger Barry Bonds.  The Giants came up just short in game seven versus the Angels.  I guess steroids can only take you so far.  The now Bondsless Giants team has the opportunity to bring San Fran its first baseball championship, and they won't even have to worry about putting an asterisk* beside it.

Now to the preview.

The Rangers are heavily favored to take home the grand prize despite having a slightly worse record than the Giants (T=90-72, SF=92-70).  They have the highest batting average of all the major league teams, and are fifth in runs scored.  They're batting attack is led by outfielder Josh Hamilton, who has a .359 batting average with 32 home runs, and seasoned veteran designated hitter Vlad Guerrerro, who has a .300 batting average with 29 homers respectively.  To put it simply they've got more firepower than well...the Texas Rangers.

The Rangers also have a knack for fielding the best pitcher in baseball.  In the past the top gunslinger was of course Nolan Ryan, but now there's a new sheriff in town.  His name is Cliff Lee.  Lee has had the best postseason that a pitcher could ever ask for.  He finished with 3 wins off of 3 starts with 34 strike outs, while giving up just 2 earned runs.  You heard right, 2 earned runs.  That's an ERA of 0.75.  Take a picture, because you just don't see that everyday.  That's lights out.

While the Rangers look unstoppable, I'm definitely not counting the Giants out of this one.

As I stated earlier the Giants do have a slightly better record, but that means peanuts and cracker jacks at this point.  They do however have home field advantage thanks to the National League finally winning an All Star game.  That could be big.  The Bay is an exciting place to play, and it brings a crazy fan base with it.  (See the guys in kayaks with fishing nets carousing around in the Bay waiting anxiously for homer balls  like hungry sharks waiting on slow seals.)

The Giants also have momentum after winning an NLCS that no one thought they would win, and did I mention they have a pretty good bullpen?  No? Well let me get to that.  If you've ever seen the movie Major League, the Giants have a real-life version of the "Wild Thing" pitcher Rick Vaughn in Tim Lincecum.  And while Lincecum doesn't have the same outrageous haircut as Vaughn, he does have an outrageous haircut.  He also doesn't have Vaughn's trademark glasses, but he has the accuracy and speed that Vaughn had with the glasses on.  Personally, I think Lincecum looks like Pee Wee Herman with long hair.  What he really has in common with Vaughn is the same hard rock attitude and persona, and the same convict coolness when he's on the mound.  Lincecum has led the Giants through the postseason with a 2-1 record, 30 strikeouts, and ERA of 1.93.  That's pretty dang good, and what's even better is who he has behind him.

San Francisco's closer is Blackbeard the Pirate Giant...literally.  Brian Wilson, the fiery right-hander, has a full, thick, jet-black beard.  It's quite intimidating...especially to opposing teams.  And believe me his pitches, like his beard, are Just For Men.  His fastball can reach up to 100 mph.   He has 48 saves on the season with 93 strikeouts, and just a 1.18 ERA.  In the postseason he was relentless.  He recorded 5 saves and a win, while his ERA was a 0.00.  We're talking a Mr. Blutarsky Zero Point Zero.  Fear the Beard is real...real scary...real scary for batters.

In game one we'll see Cliff Lee take on "The Franchise" Tim Lincecum in a pitchers' duel that will be more suitable for pay-per-view than a Tyson/Holyfield rematch.  Willie Mays will throw out the first pitch, which automatically elevates this Series to legendary status.

With the first pitch just hours away, I can actually say I'm excited to see this World Series.  It's full of legends, colorful characters, good stories, but no villains (like I said, the Yankees didn't make it.)  So no matter what the outcome of the Series is, we'll all be winners this time.

Hokies Beat 'em Black and Blue

On Saturday the twenty-third ranked Virginia Tech Hokies torched the Duke Blue Devils by a final score of 44-7 in Lane Stadium.

Charlie Daniels says the Devil plays a mean violin...but that doesn't mean much when it comes to pigskin.

Saturday was deja vu.  It was last week all over again.  While it was a different high class, private ACC university from North Carolina, the result was the same...a big Tech victory.

As expected, the Hokies came out and dominated this game from the start.  They beat Duke black and blue (pun intended) on all facets of the game.

Tyrod Taylor was almost flawless.  He led the Hokies in both passing and rushing.  He went 13 of 17 for 280 yards and 3 touchdowns through the air, while adding 54 yards on the ground.  (I would like to point out that no Tech tailback had more than 9 carries, but Tyrod still had the highest yard-per-carry average with 7.8).  Needless to say, the senior QB had a stellar day.  He made it look easy too.  If you didn't know better, you would think it was just day at practice for number five.

While it may look like Tyrod's just going for a stroll in the park, he's actually doing some serious work.  Tyrod is quietly creeping up in the record books of both Virginia Tech and the ACC.  He currently has the most rushing yards by any Tech quarterback, and is tied with the great Bob Schweickert for Most Rushing TD's by a QB and Career 100-yard rushing games by a QB.  Taylor is second in Career Total Offense only to Bryan Randall, and he's less than 100 yards from owning that record.  He sits fifth on the all-time passing list, but he's still got some throwing to do.  From an ACC standpoint, Tyrod is third on the all-time list for rushing yards by a quarterback behind Georgia Tech's Jonathan Nesbitt and Clemson's Woodrow Dantzler.  Taylor currently leads the conference in passing efficiency as well.  The way Tyrod is playing, he's going to be the proud owner of multiple records when he leaves VPI.  Not bad for a guy who was once Sean Glennon's back-up (insert uncontrollable sarcastic laughter here).

Back to the game.  Darren Evans was his usual Punisher self.  He rumbled for 36 yards and a score off of 8 carries.  In this game, Evans put his own spin on a popular Van Halen Song.  Instead of "Running With the Devil," He ran over the Devils.   His hallmark from this game was when he almost completely hurdled a Duke defender.  Wow deja vu again...Deron Washington anyone?

It was good to see Ryan Williams back on the field after taking a few games off to rehab his hamstring.  He was a little rusty, but who wouldn't be?  He came through when it counted though...in the red zone.  He scored on a 1-yard run to ease back into his old self.  He'll be back to Predator status in no time.

Logan Thomas got some much needed reps in on Saturday.  He had a shaky start, but was looking good by the end of the game.  He went 6 for 14 for 52 yards, but he could have had a lot more.  Thomas threw two lasers that his receivers couldn't hang onto.  The first was to back-up tight end Randall Dunn, who could only get one paw on the ball.  The other was to Xavier Boyce, who dropped it after a defender wrapped him up.  You can't really blame the receivers though.  Thomas' passes have a little more pepper on them than the average pass does.  He's got a cannon.  He's got potential.  The force is strong in this one.

Bud Foster's defense played lights out.  The Blue Devils were averaging almost 400 yards a game coming into this one.  Tech's D held them to just 208 yards.  The secondary was swarming around back there.  Both starting corners got interceptions.  Jayron Hoseley picked off one and returned it 17 yards, while Rashad Carmichael scooped one and returned it 19 yards.  The Hokies are starting to get more and more pressure, and that's a good thing.  The D is getting closer to looking like a real Lunch Pail Defense, but look who we were playing.  We'll see how they stack up against those pesky Yellow Jackets next Thursday.

You've got to give the Dukies credit though. They played tough, and pulled out all the stops trying to beat us.  Going for it on fourth down on their opening drive was a stupid but brave move, and I commend them for that.  They knew if they were going to have a chance that it was then.  The onside kick to start the second half was a clever ruse, but it just ticked Frank off.  I knew that when the cameras showed Beamer and he had his patented "Who Farted?" look on his face that Duke had made a grave mistake.  Two Tech passing touchdowns later, the Blue Devils knew it too.  Stick a (pitch)fork in 'em, they're done.

The Hokies have now won six straight games since the devastating 0 and 2 start, and have finally crept their way back into the polls.

Tech has been a focused and determined team ever since the second half of the East Carolina game.  This game marks the fourth game in a row that the Hokies have put up 40 or more points.

The Hokies have now beaten Duke 10 consecutive times.  The Blue Devils were formidable opponents in the past two contests, as the Hokies won by scores of 34-26 last year and 14-3 in 2008.  They sure didn't have a chance in this one.

In closing I'll give Duke one valuable piece of advice: Athletes beat Mathletes every time.

Havoc Reekin' On The Deacons

On Saturday the Virginia Tech Hokies blasted the Wake Forest Demon Deacons by a final score of 52-21 for a big Homecoming victory in Lane Stadium.

This brings both good news and bad news for VPI...

The Bad News: Environmental Police from the state of North Carolina have charged Virginia Tech with deforestation, after the Hokies burnt down Wake Forest on Saturday.

The Good News: Tech picked up their fifth straight win, and sit alone atop the ACC Coastal Division with a clean 3-0 conference record.  More good news: the Hokies play Duke this week, which should equal a continuance of Tech's offensive explosion.

I've got to say I was very happy with the win.  The only bad part about it was who we destroyed.  I wish it could have been Miami, Florida State, or the French who we hung half a century on.  I hate that it was Wake who we thrashed, bashed, and left floating helplessly in our...wake.  I really respect the Deacs, they are a classy bunch.  Winston Salem is a great city.  You can go from strolling in the countryside to staring up at skyscrapers in a matter of a few minutes drive.  Wake's fans aren't jerks, they have class.  They don't really care if they win or lose, but I think that's just because they know they're richer than everyone else.  Their mascot the Demon Deacon just looks dapper with that top hat/bow tie combo.   Jim Grobe, Wake's head coach, is a classy guy who reminds me a lot of our coach Frank Beamer.  He's very respectful, he never gets too worked up over bad calls, and he never speaks badly about other teams.  The only bad thing (and surprising thing) about Grobe is his Alma Mater...Virginia.  Like Beamer, Grobe has turned around a once dismal program and made them competitive.  He guided the Deacs to their best season in school history in 2006.  Wake went 11-3 that year, and won the ACC Championship.  The Demon Deacons have steadily went downhill since that season though.  Can you tell?

The Hokies had an offensive field day, which was very much welcomed.  This is how we should have been playing from the start of this season.  We knew all along that we had phenomenal players on offense.  It was great to see them put to use for once.

Tech scored touchdowns on all but one drive in the first half.  From a numerical standpoint that's 7 of 8, which means 7 touchdowns.  Seven touchdowns equals 49 points.  Forty-nine points in THE FIRST HALF.  That's unbelievable.  That's unheard of.  That's what we've all been waiting for.

The last Tech team to score 49 points in a half...the 1999 Hokies, who happened to make it to a certain big game called the National Championship.  In 1999 Tech put 49 points up on Rutgers in the first half, which included five consecutive TD's in the second quarter.  The then fifth-ranked Hokies would cruise to a 58-20 victory.  Fun Fact: Rutgers was a pretty bad program until current coach Greg Schiano took the reigns.  ESPN's abbreviation on the in-game scoreboard and bottom line for the Scarlet Knights was RUTS, which to Hokie fans meant Run Up The Score.  

Back to the game.  Tyrod Taylor keeps getting better by each game.  He went 19 of 27 for 292 yards, and 3 TD's through the air.  On the ground, he added 39 yards and a touchdown off of just 7 carries.  Tyrod has found a rythm, and continues to be the leader of this now productive offense.  He's balanced out all aspects of his game for a fine, well-tuned finished product.  In this game, we saw a lot of what we saw in the waning minutes of last season's thrilling win over Nebraska.  That consists of Tyrod evading pressure, escaping from the pocket, creating a new pocket, and then drilling wide open receivers.  That's when Tyrod's at his best.  Is it too late to rule Tyrod out of the Heisman race?  Not if he keeps this up.

Dyrell Roberts quietly had a career day receiving.  It seems like he's been flying under the radar all season, until this game.  You definitely notice it when he catches a pass though, as he's usually pretty amped up and shows it.  He had a lot to be amped about on Saturday.  He hauled in 6 passes for 134 yards, which included a 42 yard bomb.  Way to go One One.

The Ryan Williams-less runningback stable once again looked unstoppable.  David Wilson is freaky fast.  He had the Wake defense chasing him around like a jack rabbit all game.  Speaking of jack rabbits and freaky fast, Wilson chased down and caught a live rabbit that got loose on Tech's practice field this week.  That's what legends are made of (like Rocky Balboa catching a chicken in Rocky 2).   He also dropped a shoulder on a couple of unfortunate Deacs.  Wilson finished the day with a team high 105 yards off of 15 carries.  Darren Evans rounded out the rushing attack, as he pounded his way through the Deacon defense.  He rumbled for 57 yards and 3 touchdowns off of 12 carries.  He's not the guy you want to see in the red zone if your on the opposing team's defense.  Over the past few weeks, Evans has inspired me to give him a new nickname...The Punisher.

And how about that forgotten runningback from a year ago.  The one we converted to a fullback.  What was his name?  Yes Josh Oglesby.  He had a fantastic outing.  He racked up 44 yards on just 4 carries.  That's a more than healthy 11 yard-per-carry average.  He's always came through for us when we've called on him.  Maybe now we won't forget that we have him, and actually use him.  Let's line up Tyrod, Oglesby, Evans, and Wilson in the Maryland I Formation and ruin an opposing defensive coordinator's life.  Al Groh in a week and a half.  Sounds like a plan.

Jayron Hosley had a sweet 58 yard punt return to set up Tech's first TD.  He then proceeded to muff every other return on the day.  What was up with that?  I was scared to death.  We've got to get him back on the right track.  I guess that's why he plays defense.  He made up for it though in the secondary.  He's got a 4-day long date with the Jegs machine coming up in practice this week.

Once again the defense did their job of keeping the other team out of the endzone.  They held the Deacs to just 92 yards passing.  It was the Sneaky Deac rushing attack that caught the Hokies on their heels.  Wake Forest runningback Josh Harris reeled off big run after big run on the Tech defense.  He tore off 247 yards and two touchdowns in the game.  That includes an 87 yard TD scamper.  A big reason for this was the alignment of our defense.  We had 8 or 9 guys stacked in the box, so if Harris could break through the first line of defenders...it was the open road for him.  We've got to tighten up on that.  We've been giving up big plays to every team we've played this year.  This is extremely alarming with Georgia Tech bringing their triple-option attack to Blacksburg in a week and a half.  Let's just hope and pray that Bud has learned how to stop the option.

It was a very honorable move by Beamer to call off the dogs at halftime.  The game was well over with, the Deacs looked bleak.  The Beam showed them some mercy, well done.  This is why Frank is one of the most respected coaches in the country.  Like I said before, I would love to hang a hundred on a few selected teams...just not Wake Forest.  The Deacs are very good to us.  They always reek havoc on the Atlantic side of the conference.  It's always fun to see them knock off teams like Florida State and Clemson.  They've also got good colors, a cool mascot, and most importantly...they never beat us.  I mean it's hard to dislike a team when we always beat them.  We've beaten them all three time we've played them since joining the ACC.  They even let us beat them in basketball when they were ranked number 1 in the nation back in 2009.  The Deacs are such good sports.  They've got a friend in me...at least until they beat the Hokies.

2001...More Like 2010

2001, the musical score from Stanley Kubrick's film 2001: A Space Odyssey, is of course the famous entrance song (and anthem) of the South Carolina Gamecocks.  They may want to consider composing their own rendition of the song, and name it 2010.

That's because 2010 looks every bit to be the year of the spur.  The Gamecocks have defeated the top-ranked team in the nation in the NCAA's three biggest sports: Basketball, Baseball, and the biggest...Football.  In January, Carolina knocked off top-ranked Kentucky in basketball by a final score of 68-62.  In June, The Gamecock baseball team defeated number one Arizona State by a score of 11-4, eliminating them from the College World Series.  The Gamecocks would later win the CWS, gaining their first National Championship.  And now for the crown jewel...

On Saturday the South Carolina Gamecocks won the biggest football game in their school's history, as they stunned  top-ranked Alabama by a final score of 35-21 in Williams-Brice Stadium.

In this game we saw something that we haven't seen in over two years...Alabama getting overpowered.  The Tide has been the roughest, toughest team in the nation for years, but they weren't on Saturday.  South Cack came out of the tunnel and railroaded Bama.

Carolina had a bye week coming into this game, and they made use of every bit of it.  Usually Coach Spurrier lets the team out of practice a little early on Thursdays, but not last week.  He kept them til the whistle blew, and then a little longer.  At the end of the day, all the hard work paid off.

That goes for the fans too.  They put in a hard days work themselves, and they've fought through many heartbreaks (and the "Chicken Curse") to get this win.  I've never seen or heard Williams-Brice as lively as it was for this game.  You guys kept it loud to the very end.  I liked the "you can't stop us" chant that was belted at the security officers.  They had no business trying to stop you in the first place.  You had beaten number one.  Rushing the field was more than appropriate.  It was necessary.  There was no other option.

Now to the game.  The Gamecocks came out smoking just like Cocky's 2001 entrance, but minus the curtain.  They didn't try to mask anything.  They went right after the Tide.  No smoke, no mirrors...just smashmouth football.  Carolina was up as much as 21-3 at one point, and took a 21-9 lead into halftime.

Stephen Garcia was the X factor in this game.  If he played bad USC would lose, if he played well they could win, and if he played great they would win.  Well he came through, and in the biggest way possible.  He had without a doubt the best game of his career.  He finished the day 17 of 20 for 201 yards, and 3 touchdowns (and 1 interception).  The Ole' Ball Coach couldn't believe what he saw, but he liked it.  Garcia was flawless, except for the lone pick and the shovel pass out the back of the endzone for a safety.  That may have been the weirdest/stupidest play I've ever seen.  He could have just fallen on the ball, and it would have been 2nd down and long...minimal damage done.  I guess he just didn't want to give up an easy TD.  I guess I can't blame him, it was the biggest game of his life.  It doesn't matter though.  He recovered well, didn't let it get him down, had a career day, and most importantly led his team to victory.

Alshon Jeffery is a beast.  Enough said, but I'll say a little more.  He was literally unstoppable in this game.  No one in the stadium could cover him.  That goes for both teams, the fans in the stands, and any blankets in attendance.  He just wasn't getting covered.  Jeffery finished the game with 7 receptions for 127 yards and two scores.  Included in that mix was a sick one-handed catch that set up the Gamecocks' final gamebreaking touchdown.  He made a bold Joe Namath-like statement prior to this game.  He said it was going to be fun beating Alabama.  Like Namath, Jeffery delivered.

Speaking of beasts, how about freshman sensation Marcus Lattimore.  He's a stud, and by stud I mean horse because this kid gallops, and by horse I mean work-horse because he carries the team.  He finished the day with 93 yards off of 23 carries, with 3 TD's (2 rushing, 1 receiving).  Lattimore scored the Gamecocks' first touchdown, and he scored their last touchdown of the day.  It was only appropriate.  He started the scoring party, and ended it.  He could be a great runningback, if Carolina doesn't run him to death first.

The Carolina defense played lights out as well.  They did three crucial things in this game that no team has done in the past two years.  1. They sacked Greg McElroy 7 times.  Seven times, that's unheard of against Bama.  USC reaked havoc all day long in the backfield.  2. They held Mark Ingram, last year's Heisman Trophy winner, and explosive back Trent Richardson to just 64 yards.  That Roll Tide rushing tandem...silenced.  And most importantly: 3. They survived the Tide's fourth quarter surge.  The Tide should have a helmet with the number 4 on it as their logo instead of a number 13.  That's because they own the fourth quarter...of every game.  The opposing team can be up by 1 or 100, and it doesn't matter.  The Tide overtakes them.  Bama scored on the first play of the fourth quarter in this one.  It was the all too familiar comeback, and everyone was like "well here it comes."  But the Tide finally went out.  The Gamecock D stepped it up, and held Bama scoreless through the rest of the game.  They did it through a brilliant scheme of blitzes and stunts, which yielded two big sacks in the quarter.  They stopped the unstoppable. They beat the unbeatable.  They won the game.

As I sat in the dense traffic leaving from the stadium, I see a cop car and an ambulance leading five large tour buses through the sea of cars behind me in my rearview mirror.  They speed right by me.  I happen to catch a glimpse of the back of the last bus.  It had Alabama plates.  In those very buses sat the disappointed Bama players, and in the ambulance...their broken hearts.  Poetic Justice at its best.

When it comes to an analysis of this game, Offensive Line Coach Shawn Elliot said it best, "this was a team effort."  It truly was a team effort, and it was a team win.  A team win that reached across the Palmetto State and beyond.  A win that will never be forgotten.  After the game I interviewed Gamecock fans of all ages, shapes, and sizes.  My job was to capture the fans' reactions to this historic win.  The last question that I asked each fan was an easy one, "where does this win rank on your win list?" Without hesitation every one of them, young and old, replied: "Number One."    

Hokies Tomahawk the Chippewas

On Saturday the Virginia Tech Hokies smoked the Central Michigan Chippewas by a final score of 45-21.

For the first time this season the Hokies did exactly what they were expected to do.  They came out, handled business, and didn't allow the jobbers to stick around.  This 24-point scalping was more than expected by everyone in the stadium, including the visiting Chippewas.

I bet you're wondering what a Chippewa is.  It always makes think of a chipmunk, but in reality a Chippewa is an Indian tribe.  Central Michigan chose the Chippewas as their mascot because of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, which happens to be neighbors to the university.

The Chippewas had their best football season in school history last year, as they posted a 12-2 record.  They won the MAC Championship with an unbeaten conference record of 8-0, and defeated Troy by a final score of 44-41 in overtime of the GMAC bowl.  In contrast Central Michigan entered this game with an even 2-2 record, and left with their third loss of the season.  How (pun intended) could they have went downhill so fast after last season?  That's an easy one.  The Chips lost their best spear-chunker, Dan LeFevour, to the NFL Draft.  LeFevour was a fifth-year senior last year, and his experience made him one of the best passers in the nation.  He finished his illustrious career with 12,905 passing yards, and 102 touchdowns.  He was the best quarterback to ever play for CMU, and he was irreplaceable.  That my friends is why the Chippewas are up a creek in their canoe without a paddle this season.  They knew they were bringing tomahawks to a gunfight on Saturday, but they fought bravely to the end.    

The Chippewas came out with war drums thumping and smoke signals blazing, as they scored on the first drive of the ballgame.  The Hokies would soon extinguish their flames though.  The Tech defense held the CMU offense scoreless from that point up until the fourth quarter when the second-teamers started filtering in.  I will give credit where credit is due though.  The Chippers are one of the rare teams in the country who have a contract with Adidas.  They play with Adidas footballs with their flying C logo etched on it.  Everyone knows I'm a Nike guy, but I'd sure like to have one of those rare Adidas footballs.  And while this is irrelevant and has no impact on CMU's athletic performance, they do get some cool points from me. Back to the game.

On the Hokies first possession, Tyrod Taylor scored on a 72 yard option keeper on just the second play of the drive.  The rout was on.  Five different Hokies scored touchdowns, as Tech put a John Wayne whoopin' on the Chippers.  Tyrod Taylor played like a man possessed.  He picked up just where he left off against NC State last week.  Taylor finished 12 of 23 with 161 yards and a touchdown.  He also led the team in rushing with 130 yards and two TD's on the ground.  It was a pretty complete performance from Tyrod.  He had a little bit of trouble connecting with his deep passes, but he scored 3 TD's on the day.  I can't complain.

David Wilson had a great game as well.  He finished with 86 yards off of just 7 attempts.  That's a 12 yard average per carry.  That's ballin'.  He also had a touchdown, which came from a 68 yard dash to the endzone.  I love having a trackstar as a tailback.  Way to go Running Man.

Darren Evans added a solid performance to round out Tech's rushing attack.  He tallied up 36 yards on 7 carries, and added a 6 yard TD.  He looks stronger every week.  With his strong bursts, tough running, and absence of a knee brace...you would never guess that he had a knee injury.  Alright STOP...HAMMERTIME.

Jayron "To Tha House" Hoseley was back in a big way.  He ran a punt back 80 yards To Tha House.  It was glorious, reminded me of the good ole' days.  Jayron looked just like DeAneglo Hall, as he trotted effortlessly to the endzone behind a wave of Tech blockers.  He wasn't even running full speed.  I quote the great Frank Beamer when I say, "This guy's a special player."

Speaking of John Wayne, Tech has their own man who's tougher than nails.  That being offensive guard Greg Nosal.  Nosal had the tip of his pinkie finger ripped off early in the game...and he kept playing.  His finger got caught in a D-lineman's facemask, and it took the tip of it right off.  Nosal said when he took his glove off, he could see bone poking out.  You could say he was getting an early jump on Halloween.  The team surgeon found his fingertip in his glove and said it could be reattached.  Nosal told them to tape up his hand, and he headed back on the field.  Once the game was in hand (no pun intended), Nosal came off the field and had his fingertip stitched back on.  Now that's tough.  That's built Ford tough.  (To read Heather Dinich's story on Nosal's incident, click here)

Tech got it done on the ground, through the air, and on...punt returns.  It was so refreshing to see the Hokies score through multiple facets again.  However, there were some not-so-hot moments.  For instance, Tech failed to convert on a single 3rd down in the game.  We finished 0 of 8 on 3rd down conversions.  On multiple occasions the Tech O-line failed to win the line of scrimmage, leaving our tailbacks with no where to go.  And as I stated earlier, Tyrod couldn't buy a long pass.  That stemmed a lot from Stiney wanting to throw the ball a mile downfield on third downs.  Our offense still has a lot of work to do before they play a decent defense.  Wake and Duke should give us enough time to get the kinks out.

Bud Foster's defense did its job.  The Hokies kept the Chippewa offense out of the zone, until it was too late to matter.  Central Michigan had two late scores in the fourth quarter to soften up the score deficit.  Don't you hate it when that happens?  I know I can't stand it when we let up or put fresh kids in the game to get experience, while letting the other team score and make the game look closer than it really was.  Like the Marshall game in 2002.  The Hokies were running the 24th-ranked Herd out of the stadium.  It was 33-0 in the fourth quarter.  The highly potent Byron Leftwich offense was stopped dead...until the second stringers came in.  Leftwich picked on the new guys, scoring 3 TD's in the last quarter.  The final score was 47-21, but it would have been 47-0 if we just left the starters in.  Back to Saturday's game.  The defense bended, but it didn't break.  The Chippewas racked up 401 yards of offense, which was 7 yards more than the Hokies.  To the defense's defense, the Chippers had the ball a lot longer than Tech.  This was thanks to the quick scoring by the Hokie offense.  Tech had some lucky breaks too, as CMU missed two field goals.  At least there was no threat of a loss in this one.  The defense has a long way to go though before I consider them a legitimate Lunch Pail defense.

At the end of the day, it was a good team win for the Hokies.  Everyone pitched in and did their job.  They looked snazzy getting the job done too.  The all white helmets with the throwback jerseys and white pants was a very classy combo.  I'd like to see some maroon or orange pants thrown in the mix, but hey we look good.  The Hokies are on a roll, and the poor Chippewas are off to see the Medicine Man.

Tis' The Season To Be Jolly

Well folks its officially my favorite season of the year.  No not Fall.  Not Halloween.  Not Deer Season.  Football season is close, but still too broad.  The best season of all is...Rivalry Trophy Season!  There's just nothing better than watching two fierce rivals bash each others' brains out for some ridiculous(ly awesome) object like a bronze boot, a wooden turtle, or a telephone painted two different colors.  Of course we all know that the teams aren't just playing for these glorified pawn shop items, but it's fun to pretend that they are.  Man I sure do love rivalry trophies.  They truly are an overlooked yet very important part of College Football.  These trophies embody the spirit of competition in College Football Rivalries.

My personal favorite rivalry trophy is by far Paul Bunyan's Axe.  It is awarded to the winner of the annual Minnesota Golden Gophers/ Wisconsin Badgers match-up.  The trophy represents the axe of the legendary lumberjack of the Midwest, Paul Bunyan.  As the story goes, Bunyan lived and logged in the uppermost states of the country.  This makes Paul Bunyan's Axe perfect for the Minnesota/Wisconsin border war.   And truth be told, the trophy might just be big enough to fit the giant tree-feller.  It is a LARGE axe to say the least.  How big you ask?  Well, it has a 6 foot handle.  That's taller than the average man.  The axe's head is colored differently on each side.  One side is red with white letters, which represents Wisconsin.  The opposing side is yellow with burgundy letters, representing Minnesota.  Both sides feature an inscription in the center which reads,"Paul Bunyan's Football Trophy Presented by the National W Club 1948."  The names of each school/state surround the inscription, as they are written on opposing blades on each side of the axe.  The winner of the game get's the year and score printed on the handle on their side of the axe.  Since Wisconsin vs. Minnesota is the longest standing series in College Football with 119 meetings, the axe's handle is full on both sides.  (This trophy is so awesome that I created a 3-foot replica of it when I was in high school.  You gotta love art class.  Here's some pics of my replica, for reference.  Not too shabby eh?)

My most memorable battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe reaches back to the 2003 game.  This game took place  in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, and featured possibly the best Golden Gopher team I've ever seen burrow on the turf.  The Gophers came into the game ranked 20th in the country.  They were led by the two-headed monster runningback tandem of Marion Barber III and Laurence Maroney, both are Pro backs today.  Barber finished the game with 139 yards and a score, while Maroney added 135 yards and a touchdown.  They were scary good.  The Gophers quarterback was their veteran Asad Abdul-Khaliq.  Say that three times fast.  He was quite a good QB for the Gophers, and added a rushing TD of his own in this one before getting injured close to halftime.  The Gophers were up as much as 17-3 at one point, but the Badgers being Badgers came clawing back.  Wisconsin tied the game up for the second time of the afternoon with 7:15 left in the ballgame.  The two teams had back-to-back unsuccessful drives, but Goldy Gopher would have one last chance to win the axe. They had 2:49 to "bring home the bacon."  Back-up quarterback Benji Kamrath and star runningback Marion Barber III led a gutsy drive down the field.  Minnesota made it all the way down to the Badgers' 19 yardline, and called a time out with just one second left on the clock.  The Gophers bring on senior placekicker Rhys Lloyd, a British chap from Dover, England.  Would Lloyd make the kick and be the "Bee's Knees", or would he fail and be just another "duffer."  Well...the lad came through!  He nailed the 35 yarder, Minnesota wins 37-34!  Fish and Chips for the Gophers!  As soon as Lloyd kicked the ball he took off running towards the Wisconsin sideline with a host of Gophers in tail.  They were going to claim the axe...and claim it they did.  The image of Lloyd and the rest of the Gophers celebrating with the legendary axe is one that I'll never forget, nor will the North Star State.

Unfortunately for the Gophers, 2003 was the last time that they've won the precious trophy.  The Badgers have won the last six meetings since that faithful game, but 4 of the 6 Wisconsin wins have been by a touchdown or less.  That includes the Badgers' back-to-back 3 point wins in the past two years.  The two teams will battle it out again this Saturday, and it's guaranteed to be axe-citing.  I'm not really pulling for one side or the other.  That's because no matter who wins, I still get to see that awesome axe plastered all over SportsCenter as the winning team hoists it proudly in the air.  It's the most axe-cellent trophy of them all, and I can't wait to see it in axe-ion this weekend.  I love this season.

The Man Is Back In Town

Today I rummaged diligently through my closet, and I found exactly what I was looking for...my 1999 Starter Randy Moss Minnesota Vikings jersey.  I must say it's still as regal as ever.  That's it on the right.  Just look at it in all of its splendor, I know you're jealous.  The deep purple may have faded a bit, but it's still in stellar shape.  The oh so familiar number 84's on the front, back, and shoulders.  The retro Starter logos placed sleekly on the sleeves above the pictures of my face (actually that's the classic Viking logo, but I could look just like that pending a mustache and no haircut).  The letters M-O-S-S printed sleekly on the back, and oh how appropriate because HE'S BACK!

Today the New England Patriots traded All-Pro wide receiver Randy Moss back to the team that he began his career with, the Minnesota Vikings.

As a Vikings fan I am overjoyed to hear this news.  I was mad as fire when the Vikings traded him to the Raiders.  I didn't care that he nudged a traffic cop with his car.  I didn't care that he fake-mooned the Packers' fans (which was awesome).  I didn't care that he headed to the locker room early against the Redskins.  I mean we were about to lose to the Redskins, who wouldn't leave early? It was stupid to get rid of him.  He was a franchise player.  He was who the fans came to watch.  He was the offense.

When I first heard that Moss was disgruntled with New England and wouldn't return next year, I only dreamed of how awesome it would be if he came back to the Vikings.  Well my friends, dreams can come true.  But not even in my wildest dreams would I have expected to see Moss back in the Purple and Gold this year.  I thought for sure he would finish this year out with the Patriots, but much to my surprise those saps traded him to us now...what luck!  What were they thinking?  We play them in 4 weeks, yet they give us their Pro-bowl veteran receiver.  I'm not going to complain, but they might after we play them.  All I got to say is you better be tough if you're going to be stupid. 

Having Moss back changes everything for the Vikes.  After a dismal start, we can now revive our lofty hopes and expectations of reaching the Super Bowl.  It's a bold statement I know, but Randy Moss is that good.  Even at age 33.  Age means nothing to this guy.  Just ask his new teammate Brett Farve, who is "Over the Hill."  Speaking of Mr. Farve, this is exactly what he needed.  With his main target Sidney Rice out until mid-season with a hip injury, Moss will prove to be an invaluable addition.  Farve wanted the Packers to scoop up Moss after he left Oakland.  Now the two will finally get the chance to play together...with matching Viking helmets on, and I can't wait.  Just think how good this team will be when Rice does return.  Farve, Moss, Rice, and a certain running back named Adrian Peterson.  Not to be cliche, but that sounds like a Dream Team.  Oh wait that's because...IT IS.

Moss was drafted by the Vikings as the 23rd overall pick of the 1998 NFL Draft.  He paired up with my favorite Vikings quarterback of all time, Randall Cunningham, to have a breakout rookie season.  That year the Vikings went 15 and 2, losing the NFC Championship on a fluke to the Atlanta Falcons.  It was just the beginning of Moss's stellar career.  He would go on to 5 Pro Bowls as a Viking, while placing 2nd in almost every receiving category of the Vikings' record book (of course 1st place belongs to soon-to-be Hall of Famer Cris Carter).  Now Moss will have the chance to boost his stats and challenge Carter for some of those records, while at the same time leading the Vikings to VICTORY.  I know I can't wait to see number 84 come striding back onto the field.  I don't even have to buy a new jersey.  Mine is officially back in style.    

Running With The Pack

On Saturday the Virginia Tech Hokies traveled to Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina to take on the twenty-third ranked and undefeated NC State Wolfpack.  It was a match-up of folkloric proportions.

To begin this story, we travel through the briars and thickets of the North Carolina Triangle's backwoods.  We make our way to a raging wolf's den, and it's not just any ole wolf's den.  It's the treacherous den of the Big Bad Wolf.  Inside we find a heroic Fighting Gobbler who has come to slay the sly, villainous Wolf.  The two skirmish, and at first things go in favor of the Wolf (as they do in all fables).  The Wolf thinks he has the Gobbler just where he wants him, but the Gobbler is much too strong and smart for the haired one's trickery.  The wily Gobbler plays dead like a possum, and the Wolf takes the bait.  He strolls leisurely deeper into his cave to prepare his stew-pot for his feathered foe.  The Gobbler sees his chance, and he takes it.  He springs back to life, and he huffs, and puffs, and blows down the house of the Big Bad Wolf.  The fabulous fowl stands victorious on the rubble that was once the wolf's den, and gobbles gleefully.  It was a tiring battle, and it leaves our protagonist hungry like the Wolf.  The scene fades out.  Now we find our heroic Gobbler resting comfortably in his warm burrow located in a cozy Burg of Southwest Virginia.  There's a soft glow from the fireplace mixed with the chalky gleam of a full Fall moon.  No wolves will be howling at this moon tonight though.  The Gobbler chuckles as he rubs his full belly, and rests his feet on a brand new Wolf rug.

Now to the game.  The Hokies started this game just like they did in the opener against Boise State...down by 17 points.  It was an ugly first quarter to say the least.  The Wolfpack looked like the undefeated team that they were, as they scored 14 seemingly easy points in the first quarter.  It was sickening to watch Russell Wilson complete a play-action pass for a touchdown to the running back that he FAKED THE HAND-OFF TO.  I mean really defense? The guy who's supposed to be the decoy not only fakes you out, but then catches the touchdown pass too. That's unacceptable.  The Tech offense struggled out of the gates, as they performed their trademark "3-and-out on the opening drive," on their first possession.  Andre Smith gift-wrapped an interception for NC State that led to their second TD.  The O-line couldn't do anything right.  During the first quarter, the Wolfpack D-line spent more time in the backfield than any of Tech's tailbacks.  I mean we do sub our running-backs in and out a lot, but come on that's ridiculous.  Things looked dismal, but they would get better...better than Mama Bear's porridge.

The Wolfpack started the second quarter off with a field goal to go up 17-0, but at least the defense kept them out of the endzone.  That sparked some much needed confidence, and the team came to life.  It was like the light bulb flickered on for our defense.  They started blitzing and pressuring Russell Wilson.  At first he looked un-phased, but he eventually came unraveled.  Before the game, ESPN announcers Ed Cunningham and Ron Franklin made a bold diagnosis that Russell Wilson was "allergic to interceptions."  All I can say is Wilson must have done a lot of sneezing after this game.  Tech's defense forced him to throw three interceptions, all to the same man...Jayron Hoseley.  Two of those interceptions were critical to the outcome of the game.  The first was when Hoseley picked off Wilson in the endzone, as the Wolfpack were set up at the VT 15 yard-line.  The second was the game-sealer.  NC State had the ball with 1:19 left in the game.  Wilson drops back to pass, the pressure comes at him, he looks long and throws up the cheese...and Hoseley picks him off and runs it all the way down to the NC State 6 yardline.  That drove a silver bullet into the heart of the Wolfpack.

Ed and Ron had it wrong all along.  Wilson isn't allergic to interceptions, he's allergic to Jayron Hoseley.  One final thought from our (possible) final encounter with Wilson.  It's actually a question.  A question I've wondered ever since I've heard of Mr. Wilson.  Is his middle name Spalding? or maybe Starter?  I mean his first and last names represent second-tier athletic companies (Russell, Wilson), so why wouldn't his middle name follow suit?  We definitely know one brand that it couldn't be...Champion.

Back to the Defense.  Ever since Jayron Hoseley's first punt return TD, we knew he was going to be a phenomenal player.  His efforts earned him ACC defensive back of the week.   Aside from Hoseley, another young defender really caught my attention in this game.  That being red-shirt freshman Antone Exum.  Exum came in off the bench at the Free Safety position, and really played well.  He had two horrible pass interference calls on him, but what I liked was that he was looking for the ball on both (bogus) penalties.  He showed great coverage all game long, and finished with a tackle, two assists, and four pass break-ups (tied for game high with Hoseley).  Exum has good size and speed, and most impressively great awareness in the pass coverage.  He looks a lot like the  old number one who used to be so good in the secondary...Victor "Macho" Harris.  I'm not going to compare them too much because Exum has A LOT to prove if he wants to be considered in that comparison.  I do think Exum can end up in the same place as Macho...the pro's, but once again it's really early to be saying that.

Our offense really stepped it up as well.  The O-line improved by leaps and bounds blocks.  Tyrod shunned his early game jitters, and started throwing more confidently.  He finished 12 of 24 for 123 yards, and 3 TD's (with 1 pick).  He really made the difference in this game with his legs.  He had some big runs including a huge 71 yarder that set up Tech's first TD.  I've also got to give a rare shout-out to Bryan Stinespring for his play call that gave the Hokies their first lead in the game.  He lined up offensive tackle Andrew Lanier as a receiver, but as the up-receiver on the line.  This allowed Andre Smith to line up looking like a tackle, while still being an eligible receiver.  Tyrod takes the snap, Smith releases and sneaks into the endzone, then Tyrod hits him for the easy pass-and-catch for six.  It fooled the Wolfpack defense, and surprised me.  Way to go Stiney.  Also, check out our offensive production by quarter.  We climb right up the latter.  Seven points in the second quarter, 14 in the third quarter, and a whopping 20 points in the fourth quarter.  That's what I'm talking about.  Darren Evans was a beast all game long.  He punished the NC State defense.  He was the hammer, they were the nail.  He finished with 2 touchdowns and a 10.7 yard-per-carry average (and no fumbles).  What a bruiser.  His last TD run with 28 seconds to go was icing on the cake.

We also saw the return of Beamerball in this game.  David Wilson's 92 yard kick-off return for a touchdown was the igniting point that woke up our team.  It was the flip of the switch that took our team from OFF to ON.  The decision not to red-shirt him looks better and better every week.  Also, we almost blocked two kicks.  Almost doesn't cut the mustard, but we're getting closer boys.

The Bottom Line is that on Saturday, we saw a Virginia Tech team that we've never seen before.  The Hokies fought back from being down by 17 points to WIN the game.  That's the largest deficit that Tech has overcome to win during the Frank Beamer era.  That's huge.  This team does not quit.  No matter what, they don't quit. We've seen the Hokies battle back from a 17-0 deficit twice this year.  They ultimately lost in the opener, but they won this one...and in Fairy Tale fashion.  Just ask the Big Bad Wolf.