Tennessee Game Analysis, Part Two: Tech Defense Batters Confused Vols January 7, 2010 In my mind, this was the more intriguing matchup as far as the coaches were concerned. On the one side, there was Bud Foster, one of college football's best defensive coordinators. On the other side, there was Lane Kiffin, the young brash head coach, and Jim Chaney, his offensive partner in crime. more
ACC Programs Offer Top L.C. Bird Junior January 6, 2010 Anthony Harris has proven to be a big-time player for L.C. Bird (Chesterfield, VA), and college coaches have taken notice. The 6-3, 185-pound junior, an AP Group AAA first-team all-state selection at defensive back, already has been offered by three FBS programs with more likely will follow suit as the year goes on. more
Tennessee Game Analysis, Part One: Tech Offense Plays a Complete Game January 6, 2010 That was quite a performance. Outside of a handful of plays, the Hokies executed flawlessly on both sides of the ball. It was evident that the Hokies prepared better, game planned better, and practiced better than their counterparts from Knoxville. And when it was time to play, the Hokies did that better as well. It was an impressive display of power, precision and toughness. At the end, Tennessee was gassed and frustrated. This was not what they expected - to be physically beaten in all phases of the game. And for the Hokies, the lopsided victory capped off another terrific season of Tech football. more
Dew Recalls UA All-American Bowl Experience January 5, 2010 First Colonial (Virginia Beach, VA) safety/linebacker Nick Dew showcased his skills against some of the nation's best prospects last week, when he competed in the Under Armour All-American Bowl in Orlando, Florida. The 6-2, 192-pound senior, the lone Virginia Tech commit at the event, had a great experience. more
Monday Thoughts: The Chick-fil-A Bowl January 4, 2010 This is the way you draw it up, and this is what Hokie fans have been looking for. The Hokies prepared hard for this game, had a great game plan, and executed crisply on their way to an easy win. From start to finish, Virginia Tech was clearly the superior team, and they knew it and acted like it. You would be hard pressed to find a better bowl performance than this one. more
Hokies Annihilate Vols at Line of Scrimmage, Win Chick-fil-A Bowl 37-14 January 1, 2010 Atlanta, GA - Virginia Tech outscored Tennessee 20-0 in the second half en route to a 37-14 blowout win in the 2009 Chick-fil-A Bowl. The Hokies and Vols were tied at 14 late in the second quarter before a huge pass from Tyrod Taylor to Jarrett Boykin set up a field goal as time expired in the half, and Tennessee was never able to recover. Virginia Tech improved to 10-3 on the season with the win, while the Volunteers dropped to 7-6. more
Stone Bridge Junior Earns First Offer December 31, 2009 Stone Bridge (Ashburn, VA) junior defensive end Rob Burns received his first FBS scholarship offer last week, when the University of Virginia staff mailed an official letter. Stone Bridge head coach Mickey Thompson does not expect this to be the only FBS offer for Burns, who is certainly pleased to have his first offer in the fold. more
TSL's Postseason Top 30 December 31, 2009 The final rankings are in, and taking the top spot in the Postseason Top 30 is Oscar Smith (Chesapeake, VA) quarterback Phillip Sims. The Alabama-bound senior, a 6-2, 220-pound prospect, had a fantastic 4-year career and set state records for career yards passing and career passing touchdowns. more
Keys to the Game and Matchups to Watch: Tennessee December 30, 2009 Virginia Tech returns to Atlanta for the third time this season to face the Tennessee Volunteers in the Chick-fil-A Bowl on New Year's Eve. The Hokies have hopes for a sixth straight 10-win season and a victory over a Southeastern Conference team. Lane Kiffin, the controversial coach of the Vols, is looking to enhance Tennessee's reputation with a bowl victory over one of the ACC's best football programs. more
Tech Interested in Tidewater Pair December 30, 2009 Green Run (Virginia Beach, VA) concluded its 2009 season with a 5-5 record. It was a disappointing season for head coach Shawn Wilson, who dealt with injuries to standout seniors Dejor Simmons (missed 5 games) and Jamal Wallace (missed 2 1/2 games). Green Run rallied to win four of its last five games, though, and coach Wilson is excited about the team's prospects for next season. more
Landon Turner Eyes U.S. Army Combine December 30, 2009 After missing most of his sophomore season due to injury, Harrisonburg (VA) offensive tackle Landon Turner returned in strong fashion as a junior in 2009. Turner, a 6-5, 310-pound prospect, was recently named to the AP Group AA first-team all-state squad. He will now take his talents to San Antonio, where he will compete against some of the country's other top juniors at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Junior Combine on January 7th. more
2009 Chick-fil-A Bowl Preview: #11 Virginia Tech vs. Tennessee December 29, 2009 Presented by Kent Square Condominiums: Virginia Tech will go for their sixth consecutive 10-win season this Thursday in the Chick-fil-A Bowl against Tennessee. It won't be easy. The Vols are an SEC team who improved steadily as the year progressed, and came closer than anyone to defeating #1 Alabama. In many ways, Tennessee and Virginia Tech are the same type of team. Whoever controls the line of scrimmage and protects the football should win. more
Another Big One in Atlanta December 29, 2009 If you do this as long as I've been doing it, things start to repeat themselves. Important game against an SEC team, in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta ... where have we seen this before? And will Santa Claus please bring me a different outcome this time? Please?? more
Recruiting Notes: Goulding Accepts Offer December 28, 2009 Gulf Coast (Naples, FL) punter/place-kicker Conor Goulding has accepted Virginia Tech's offer of a recruited walk-on spot. The 5-10, 170-pound senior, who took an official visit to Tech on the weekend of December 12th, informed the coaching staff of his decision a week ago. more
Taylor Produces in 2009 Season December 24, 2009 Justin Taylor missed the first four games of South Stanly's (Norwood, N.C.) 2009 season with a pulled hamstring, but he returned in good health and turned in a productive senior season. The 6-4, 220-pound defensive end/linebacker ended up leading the Yadkin Valley conference in sacks with 16, helping the Rowdy Rebel Bulls to an 8-5 overall record. more
First Colonial Coach High on Dew's Potential December 23, 2009 Nick Dew's athleticism and versatility enabled First Colonial (Virginia Beach, VA) head coach Bill McTyre to play the 6-2, 190-pound prospect at a variety of positions. A 3-year starter on the varsity level, Dew saw action at defensive end, linebacker, safety and running back. He projects to play defense at Virginia Tech, but the exact position appears to be in question at this point. more
Maury OL Lands Offer, Sets Visits December 23, 2009 Maury (Norfolk, VA) senior Stephen Lawe has earned a scholarship offer from the University of Virginia and plans to make an official visit to Charlottesville on the weekend of January 22nd. The 6-4, 285-pound standout started at offensive tackle and defensive tackle this season, in what was only his second year on the varsity level. He earned several FBS scholarship offers as a result. more
Martin's Recruitment in the Final Stretch December 22, 2009 Kareem Martin showed why he is a coveted defensive end prospect in last Saturday's North Carolina/South Carolina Shrine Bowl. The Roanoke Rapids senior shined In North Carolina's 24-14 win, accounting for eight tackles including one tackle for an 11-yard loss, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. more
Fifteen Years Ago December 21, 2009 It's a game mostly forgotten in Hokie football history. No Virginia Tech fan ever reminisces fondly of the 45-23 whipping the Hokies received at the hands of a Tennessee team led by a quarterback named Peyton Manning, in the creeping fog at the 1994 Gator Bowl. It was the biggest stage the Hokies had played on at that point in their history, and they flopped miserably. This game was a miserable experience all the way around, so, hey ... what say we relive it? more
Fuller to Play in Tonight's Crab Bowl December 21, 2009 Kyle Fuller returned to the gridiron this week for the first time since the third game of Mount St. Joseph's (Baltimore, MD) 2009 season. The 6-0, 165-pound cornerback was selected to play for the Baltimore squad in the Maryland Crab Bowl, which is scheduled to take place this evening. Fuller is happy to be back on the field for one final time on the high school level. more
Rhodes Updates Status December 20, 2009 DeAntre Rhodes appreciates the experience he has had at Hargrave Military Academy, but he doesn't want to return to the Chatham (VA) school next month. The 6-3 1/2, 270-pound defensive lineman awaits his latest standardized test results, hoping either the SAT or ACT score will be enough to gain enrollment at Virginia Tech in January. more
Tennessee Primer: The Defense December 18, 2009 Tennessee will bring a young, small defense to the Georgia Dome to face the Hokies on New Year's Eve. However, don't let their youth and size fool you. This is a capable defense that is coached by NFL legend Monte Kiffin, and they've played well this year despite some tough injuries. more
Notes on Ocean Lakes' Junior Class December 17, 2009 After forfeiting its first six games - all wins - due to playing an ineligible player, Ocean Lakes (Virginia Beach, VA), one of the top teams in the state this season, lost any shot of making the playoffs and potentially a state title. Resilient, the team won its final four games to finish at 4-6, and a talented junior class is already looking forward to next season. more
Tennessee Primer: The Offense December 17, 2009 Virginia Tech will be facing a Tennessee offense that has improved as the season has progressed. The Vols are similar to the Hokies in style and philosophy, though they do throw the football a bit more. However, the key to stopping Tennessee is the same as the key to stopping the Hokies: shut down the running game. more
Top OL Commits to Virginia Tech December 16, 2009 One of Virginia Tech's top remaining 2010 class targets made his college choice earlier this evening. The news is very good for the Hokies and especially Bryan Stinespring, who adds a big-time offensive tackle prospect to his offense.
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