Hokies Determined To Prove 2012 Was A Fluke

Virginia Tech Head Coach Frank Beamer

Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer had not experienced a season like 2012 in 20 years.  Beamer didn’t like it.

“Sitting there at 4-6, that wasn’t good.” Beamer said.

That was the reality of the situation; the Hokies were a loss away from missing their first bowl game since 1992.  With the post-season on life support on a bitterly cold afternoon in Boston on November 17, 2012 it appeared Virginia Tech’s bowl chances were about to flat line.

“We were down by 10 (13-3 at halftime) at Boston College, it looked kind of imminent that we weren’t going to make a bowl.”  Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas said.

“We had to dig pretty deep.”  Virginia Tech linebacker Jack Tyler said.

Whether it was playing in panic mode or if it was “Hokie pride” Virginia Tech found the resources to defeat the Eagles in overtime 30-23.

Then a week later defeated in-state rival Virginia on Cody Journell’s 29 yard field goal as time expired for Virginia Tech’s precious sixth win and kept the Hokie bowl streak alive.

“A team that had won at least ten games for eight straight years and now you’re are sitting at 4-6.” Beamer said.  “They could have folded their tent, they could have started pointing fingers.  Instead we kind of hung in there together.”

If the intent of bowl games in college football is a reward for a good season well consider Virginia Tech’s berth in the Russell Athletic Bowl, a 13-10 win over Rutgers, as reward justly deserved.

“Reality is the best teacher.” Beamer said. “The reality was we were 4-6 and we didn’t hang our head.  We kept fighting and won three tough ball games.”

Virginia Tech QB Logan Thomas

“It’s not the season we are used to at Virginia Tech.” Thomas said.  “We are used to 10 win seasons, ACC Championships.”

That might be hard to achieve in 2013.  The Hokies will have to fight off challenges from Miami, North Carolina and Georgia Tech.

Only the Tar Heels must endure “Enter Sandman” and feel the roar of the passionate Hokie faithful.

Miami and Georgia Tech avoid that trip.  The Hokies have a Thursday night date with the Yellow Jackets at Bobby Dodd Stadium on September 26^th and travel to Miami November 9^th

In fact Virginia Tech has two trips to Atlanta scheduled, the Hokies open the season against Alabama, the two time BCS National Champion.

“They’ve got people going to the NFL up and down that roster.” Thomas said.

“It’s a great measuring stick for us.” Tyler said. “We get to see where we are at early in the season.”

What counts is where you are at the end of the season and for Virginia Tech that means the top of the ACC Coastal Division.

That means ACC Championships, the Hokies have four since joining the conference in 2004.

A fifth and 2012 will all be forgotten.