– Chris Lang
First off, I wanted to thank the masses for all of the e-mails and thoughts during the game. Several weren’t printable. One asked me what the salacious lyrics in Soulja Boy’s “Crank Dat” really mean. Sorry. Can’t go there. That could get me in some hot water.
OK. So the blog didn’t get a lot of e-mails today. That’s OK. That means you were either at your favorite watering hole watching the game, or at a friend’s house, or even sitting in cold as could be Scott Stadium taking in the proceedings yourself.
Some kudos first:
* Tech quarterback Sean Glennon looked fantastic today, and the Hokies’ rotation at the position is working. From talking to both afterward, they both seemed to be on board with what Tech offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring is doing with the rotation. It was pretty clear that when Glennon was in, Tech was either going to throw or go with the power run game. And when Taylor was in, Tech was going to either run some sort of scramble play with the quarterback or throw a quick hitch or an out. It didn’t matter. Virginia couldn’t stop it, and the Cavs couldn’t tackle the athletic Taylor.
* Virginia’s Mikell Simpson, who was effective against a Tech defense that held Miami to minus-2 yards last week. Simpson ran 16 times for 81 yards and scored on a 27-yard touchdown run.
* To Tech’s secondary, who not surprisingly dominated Virginia’s receiving corps. Virginia quarterbacks Jameel Sewell and Peter Lalich completed a combined 17 passes. Only three went to receivers, two to Maurice Covington and one to Staton Jobe. Brandon Flowers’ interception at the end of the first half, with Virginia driving and trying to extend a 14-13 lead, proved to be a game-changing moment. It led to Tech’s three-play touchdown drive in the final minute of the first half. This is a much different game if UVa heads into halftime even leading 17-13.
And some thumbs down:
* To UVa’s secondary, which was abused all day. Vic Hall, Chris Cook, Byron Glaspy. It didn’t matter. Glennon picked on all of them, trying to get his talented receiving corps into one-on-one situations with the Cav corners.
* To UVa’s Clint Sintim for slamming Glennon to the turf and drawing a personal foul penalty and an ejection in the last 30 seconds. Just a heat of the moment thing, but dumb nonetheless.
******
Onto some bowl projections for the ACC, which has eight eligible teams, with Maryland whipping N.C. State in a battle to become bowl eligible earlier today.
BCS (Orange): Virginia Tech. I just get the feeling the Hokies are going to be a much better team than they were the first time Tech and BC met in Blacksburg. The Hokies are winning games in a complete fashion, with offense, defensive and special teams contributions. If the Hokies get more of a pass rush on Matt Ryan, Tech wins next week.
Chick-fil-A: Clemson, or Virginia Tech if the Hokies lose the ACC championship game. Clemson is way too attractive of a team, in terms of fan support.
Gator: Virginia. If BC loses in the ACC title game, I just don’t see the Gator Bowl committee wanting to bring the Eagles back for a second trip. Virginia has only made one trip to the Gator, a 48-14 loss to Oklahoma in 1991. Clemson falls here if Tech loses to BC.
Champs Sports: BC. The Orlando bowl won’t pass up a division champ to pick Wake Forest.
Meineke Car Care: Seems tailor made for Wake Forest, which will travel to a closeby destination.
Music City: Florida State. The Nashville bowl won’t pass up a chance at the Noles.
Emerald: Georgia Tech.
Humanitarian: And your prize for whipping N.C. State today, Terps? A New Year’s Eve trip to Boise. Hooray!
Well, that’s all kids. It’s been fun. Time to find a place to hunker down and watch that huge KU-Mizzou game.
I never thought I’d find myself saying those words. Wild year in college football indeed.
***
PS — Could the Twins really lose Torii Hunter and Johan Santana in the same offseason. Come on Twinkies, pony up some cash. Pay Johan. The man deserves it.
