Virginia Tech Still Owns Virginia, Keeps Bowl Streak Alive

Remember back on September 6th when Virginia Tech manhandled Ohio State 35-21 at the Horseshoe?

Who knew the Hokies would blow all their good karma that night in Columbus.

Since then Virginia Tech went 3-6 with the low point last week at Wake Forest not scoring a single point in regulation time and losing to the Demon Deacons 6-3 in a game that turned college football back to the leather helmet days.

With the bowl streak and a winning season in jeopardy Virginia Tech had to take care of business against bitter rival Virginia to reach those goals.

Plus the Hokies needed that good karma to return and somehow the Wahoos bring that out.

It was apparant the lady luck would wear the maroon and orange Friday night when down 20-17 Virginia's defense imploded when Mike Moore was called on a person foul penalty and then Henry Coley was flagged for pass inference.

Then with under 2 minutes left Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Brewer hit tight end Bucky Hodges for 50 yards to the 10.

A play later Brewer and Hodges connected again for a nine yard touchdown as the Hokies prevailed 24-20.




"I've said all along I really like this football team," Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer said after the game.

Frank Beamer has liked this football team despite the unexpected and inexcusable losses but with all the injuries the Hokies have suffered on the offensive line, defense and at running back it was hard to keep a consistent line up out there.

What had Beamer beaming after the game was the Hokies kept some streaks alive:

22nd straight bowl appearance.

11th straight win over Virginia.

Thanks to our players & fans, we get to keep this for another year. #Hokies pic.twitter.com/uKwviazgjy
— Bill Roth (@VTVOICE) November 29, 2014

"I try to look at it the way it is: to me, this group of players has done a great job," Beamer said. "This coaching staff and this group of players has done a great job with the circumstances as far as personnel in and out. ... We've had to overcome some things."

Yet here is Virginia Tech going to a bowl game after all that.

It must be karma.

OSG CFB: Can You Say "Blacksburg Letdown?"

((HT: ACCDN))

It was one of those thoughts in the back of your mind...

Admit it...

After Virginia Tech had one of THOSE wins last week in Columbus taking advantage of a freshman quarterback thrown into the fire, today's game against a very bracket-bustery East Carolina squad had all the looks of a slip.

Sure enough...

They would have had to come back from the largest margin in Frank Beamer's history for a win against the Pirates.

Didn't happen...

Here's the good stuff for East Carolina to hang on their mantle for a quality win


“As good as we were last week playing the deep ball, we were equally as bad this week,” Virginia Tech DC Bud Foster said after the game. “We had a good plan, we just couldn’t make a play on a deep ball all day. They had a freakish play on their first drive that got things going and then they made a couple big plays, but from that point until their last drive, we played our tail off.”

Next week, Virginia Tech will host Georgia Tech in their ACC opener- the Wreck survived their game against Georgia Southern (much to Brother Phil's dismay) 42-38 in Atlanta Saturday afternoon.

Virginia Tech Does The Hokie-Pokie At The Horseshoe - Hokies Stun #8 Buckeyes 35-21

Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer said back in July that he looks forward to playing games like
Ohio State.  Games like that let's you know where your program is.

Judging from Virginia Tech's 35-21 win over Ohio State at the horseshoe the Hokies are looking good.

"When you play good teams like we play, you’ve got about a 50-50 shot of winning and when you go on the road, it probably goes down a little bit." Beamer said.  "I think this is a big, big win for the program and for the status of our program.”


Not only was it a heart breaker for Ohio State many streaks went out the window.

It's the first time the Buckeyes had lost a home opener since 1978 ending a streak of 35 consecutive home openers.

It's the first time Ohio State has lost at home to an unranked non-conference opponent since 1982 when Florida State defeated the Buckeyes 34-17.

The loss to Virginia Tech also snaps Ohio State's 25 game regular season winning streak, the nations best.

"I'm a little bit surprised. I thought our skilled guys would perform better, I thought we'd protect a little better," Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer said. "Coaches don't get surprised, we get disappointed. Obviously, we've just got to work a little harder."

Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Brewer completed 23-36 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns.

Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett was 9 of 29 passing for 219 yards, one touchdown and 3 interceptions.

Barrett could not escape the Hokie defense who sacked him seven times.

Dadi Nicolas and Derek Di Nardo each sacked Barrett twice.

Jim Donnan Ponzi Scheme Case: Day 3

((HT: AJC/Towers))

Is Jim Donnan in charge of one of the biggest Ponzi schemes around or is he just a guy used by others to bring in the cash for the scheme to work...???

That's the question being debated in an Athens, Georgia courtroom...

Back in the mid-2000's, Donnan was introduced to a guy by the name of Greg Crabtree. Crabtree and Donnan got together, in some capacity-depending on which side you believe- and brought in some heavyweight investors for projects under the GLC Limited umbrella- mostly flipping surplus merchandise and food.

GLC brought in more than $80 million from folks as famous as Frank Beamer and Billy Gillispie, and investors claim the losses were over $20-million. A lot of investors lost their investment principal up to seven figures in losses.

Here's work from the Southern Free Press with Joyce Oscar in 2011 discussing the case with some alleged victims


Crabtree maintains Donnan knew what was going on with the scheme- something Donnan, obviously, denies.

Chip Towers presence at the trial is a required read...

Virginia Tech's Hokie-Stone Helmets Work So To Speak In Stonewalling Georgia Tech

[HT: hokiesports.com]

Say what you want about Virginia Tech's Hokie-stone helmets worn Thursday night at Georgia Tech, you may see more of that headgear.

Virginia Tech got a confidence boosting win over Georgia Tech 17-10 at Bobby Dodd Stadium.

Logan Thomas was suffering during the game with an abdominal injury but despite that had his best game of the 2013 season going 19 of 25 passing for 221 yards and the touchdown.

“I thought he was excellent,” Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer said. “I thought his leadership, his toughness, his being in control … I think he’s a quality, quality quarterback. He’s physically tough and mentally tough.”

"I think this will give us a lot of confidence going into the rest of the year," Thomas said. "We played hard, and we played tough."

"He pulled a little something in his stomach, but he fought through that. He was going to play in this game.”



The Virginia Tech defense had three days to prepare for Georgia Tech's option offense and was brilliant.

Hokie defenders seemed to be in every gap disrupting the Yellow Jackets timing on the option.

It's another example as the way Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster is arguably the best in the business.

“The coaches and players deserve a lot of credit on this one." Beamer said.  "This was a special win.”

“The scheme is not any different then what most people play against us." Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson said.  "The players are pretty good, but for whatever reason, it seems like we self-destruct."

Fumbles and penalties, you probably lost count as to how many false start penalties the Yellow Jackets committed, hurt Georgia Tech.

Virginia Tech's win Thursday night left a very positive impression with head coach Frank Beamer.

 “I think we have a mentally tough football team, a physically tough football team." Beamer said.  "What we’ve done over the last 12 days, three games, two of them away from Blacksburg, against three good teams … this team here tonight is really good … and to come in here on a short week and not much rest, the kids said we don’t want any excuses. We’re going to go down there and get it done, and that’s what they did."

Virginia Tech has 12 days off now before hosting North Carolina and it's a while before the Hokies hit the road again.  

After the Tar Heels the Hokies have the next two at home too against Pittsburgh and Duke.

We might be hearing more from Beamer's Boys and seeing more of those Hokie-stone helmets.

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.

Ex UGA FB Coach Donnan Indicted In Ponzi Scheme

Former UGA head football coach Jim Donnan and a business associate have been indicted on an 85-count grand jury decision over a Ponzi scheme. Donnan and Gregory Crabtree of have been charged with conspiracy, mail fraud and wire fraud, unlawful transportation of interstate securities, and money laundering.

Donnan was supposed to appear in court today to answer the indictment.

Donnan and Crabtree ran a West Virginia-base company called GLC Holdings that dealt, mainly, in closeout merchandise. Crabtree operated the business and Donnan recruited investors that he allegedly told would get a return on their investment of somewhere from 50-to-200 percent (or, in some reports upwards of 380-percent). Donnan used his star power to recruit sports figures to invest. Some of them included Dennis Franchione, Barry Switzer, Frank Beamer, and Tommy Tuberville.

Between September 2007 and October 2010, the indictment claims the two raised more than $81 million from 94 investors.

In February 2011, GLC was forced to file a voluntary bankruptcy petition. Donnan his wife had to file a personal bankruptcy claim with a reported $40-million debt given to creditors. A bankruptcy court approved a plan for the Donnans to address their debt repayment.

Here's how it was talked about at the time of the indictment...
((HT: 11Alive.com))

What Was Mike London Thinking...??? And The Rest Of The Day In The A-Cee-Cee

((HT: ACC Digital Network))

With a minute or so left in regulation, the HQ was wondering out loud why Virginia head coach Mike London wasn't calling time out to force Virginia tech to kick the game-leading field goal a lot earlier than five seconds left in regulation...

Which Beamer did... and turned the game-leading field goal into the game-winning field goal...
The HQ is still scratching our head over that one...
And Vah Tech is now bowl-eligible for the 20th year in a row...


What was Mike London thinking...???

Any ideas...???

In other news, Georgia toyed with Georgia Tech 42-10 in getting ready for Alabama in the Ess-E-Cee... shocking no one...


Apparently, and for good reason, CPJ was berating his team and could be heard through the metal doors separating his team from the civilized world after the game.

Also, Duke and Miami combined for more than 1,200 yards and 97 points and had three straight possessions end in one play scoring drives- one for Duke that was the length of the field...

A Night Of Screwjobs: Violence Out Of The Question

First was the thought that Wisconsin sent their game with Michigan State into double overtime, but they didn't...

Upon review... here's David Kmiecik...
((HT: NBC15 Madison))


But violence is out of the question for Ryan...
((HT: shipjumper99))


And Virginia Tech had a lot of confidence pools messed up with their overtime reversal... thanks, New Orleans...
((HT: ESPN on ABC/mgovideo))


With the appropriate amount of Beamer postgame...
((HT: mgodisney))


What say you...???

Hokies Hold Off Heels

Virginia Tech continues their dominance in the month of November since joining the ACC in 2004.

With the Hokies 24-21 Thursday night over the North Carolina Tar Heels, Virginia Tech is now 26-2 in the month of November as a member of the ACC.

It was a heck of a rally by North Carolina but it came up short.

Here are the highlights from Blacksburg, VA. (Thanks ESPN)



It was also Virginia Tech's 10th win of the season. The Hokies have won 10 or more games for eight straight seasons. Only Miami (1985-92),Texas 2001-09 and Florida State with a modern era record 14 consecutive 10-win seasons from 1987-2000 have put together streaks of double digit wins more than the Hokies.

“I think that’s special,” Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer said in a post game press conference. “I think we’re the only team in the country that has as many straight 10-win seasons. I’ve got a good organization. I’ve got good coaches, and we’ve got good players. They’re not up and down. I’ve been fortunate to have good coaches and good players over the years, and you don’t win that many by having bad coaches and bad players.”

Virginia Tech can clinch the ACC Coastal Divsion if in-state rival Virginia losses to Florida State in Tallahassee on Saturday. Otherwise its a winner-take-all game between the Hokies and Wahoos next week.

Hokies Roll Over Appy State

There would be no repeat of the James Madison loss for Virginia Tech. The Hokies rolled over Appalachian State 66-13 Saturday.

Here are the highlights from Blacksburg, VA (Thanks WDBJ-TV Roanoke, VA)

 

Virginia Tech running back David Wilson might be a star in the making and Wilson began 2011 in spectacular fashion rushing for 162 yards and three touchdowns.

Hokie quarterback Logan Thomas played well in his first start. From the air Thomas was 9-19 for 149 yards, two touchdown passes and no interceptions.

“I think Logan is going to get better each and every quarter." Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer said after the game. "That’s the only thing Logan needs right now. He just needs some experience. He’ll handle it better and better every time he’s out there."

By the way, Frank Beamer signed a contract extension that goes to 2016.

Not a bad day for the Hokies or coach Beamer.

So, Now It's A Ponzi Scheme With Donnan...?

((HT: ESPN.com/Barr))

The HQ has reported previously about the impending bankruptcy of former Georgia head coach Jim Donnan...

Now we know that, apparently, he was involved in a Ponzi scheme when GLC Enterprises of Ohio was soliciting funds. Depending on who you believe, Donnan was either a recruiter of fellow college coaches who knew Donnan and not the goals of GLC, or suckers who padded Donnan's bank account...

From Barr:

According to court documents, investors sank nearly $82 million dollars into GLC Enterprises, but less than $12 million was spent on inventory and at least $13 million in investor money remains unaccounted for. With dwindling revenues, GLC eventually used money from new investors to pay old investors, which, according to the court documents, constituted a Ponzi scheme.

GLC is being restructured under new management. The current operators, who filed Thursday's lawsuit, declined to comment, as did their attorneys.

The Donnans and their family members made more than $14.5 million from GLC in the form of "approximately 293 transfers to James and Mary Donnan or their immediate family members," according to the court documents.

Donnan recruited coaches like Frank Beamer, Tommy Tuberville, Dennis Franchione, and Barry Switzer to be involved in the GLC venture over time.

Here's the lawsuit against the Donnan family...

Either way, this doesn't look good for Donnan the family... and while this may be a signature moment for the coach off the field, here's one of the signature moments of Donnan on the field- against Tennessee...
((HT: ESPN/SEC/youtube))