A post-game wrap: Defense, Journell’s field goal make Hokies bowl eligible with 17-14 win against UVa
OK, here’s a full wrap of our coverage from the game, starting with the stories in the newspaper. They include:
** Mark Berman‘s sidebar on Cody Journell‘s clutch kick
** Aaron McFarling‘s column on Logan Thomas shouldering the load
** Doug Doughty‘s story on Virginia’s offensive struggles
** Bob Molinaro‘s column on UVa’s questionable coaching decisions
** A Virginia Tech notebook and a Virginia notebook
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Now for some more post-game notes and quotes from Virginia Tech’s 17-14 win against Virginia …
** The win makes Virginia Tech bowl eligible for a 20th straight season. That’s the third-longest streak in the country behind Florida State (31 years) and Florida (23).
“It probably makes it that much more significant that we were just fighting like heck to get to a bowl game and overcome some real frustration,” Tech coach Frank Beamer said. “It’s been a rugged year in some ways, but I’m really proud of what we’re made of.”
Just where the Hokies end up remains to be seen. A lot depends on whether or not Clemson, which as I write this is just getting going against South Carolina, can get an at-large bid to a Bowl Championship Series game. If the Tigers can do that, it would bump everyone else up in the ACC’s bowl pecking order.
If the Tigers make a BCS bowl, the Hokies (6-6, 4-4 ACC) would have a shot — albeit a long one — at the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta. N.C. State (7-5), Georgia Tech (6-6) and Duke (6-6) are their competition.
The ACC’s bowl pecking order after the Orange and Chick-fil-A bowls is Russell Athletic (Orlando, Big East No. 2), Sun (El Paso, vs. Pac-12 No. 4), Belk (Charlotte, vs. Big East No. 3) and Music City (Nashville, vs. SEC No. 7). I’ll probably write more on this tomorrow, once the picture becomes a little clearer following the Clemson-South Carolina game.
** Linebacker Bruce Taylor had the quotes of the night, as you can see in my game story. He was clutching the Commonwealth Cup afterward like it was a football.
“This grip right here? Whoever can pry this kung-fu grip away from this cup can have it,” he said, a sense of relief coming across his face. “And I don’t see that happening.”
What are his plans with the Cup tonight?
“It’s going out with us,” Taylor said. “We’re probably going to put a few beverages in it and drink from it. Soak it all in. … Like I said earlier, this thing ain’t leaving my sight.”
** Overall, it was a defensive slugfest (which is a kind way of saying it was an offensively-challenged outing). Virginia Tech’s defense, other than a 42-yard touchdown it gave up to Tim Smith after safety Detrick Bonner missed a tackle, shut Virginia down.
The Cavaliers finished with 217 yards, only 30 of which were on the ground. They had seven first downs, only three of which came in the second half. Tech held the Cavaliers to five yards in the fourth quarter and only one first down. UVa was 3-for-14 on third downs.
“The weather was perfect for defense,” linebacker Jack Tyler said. “That’s the kind of weather we all like to play in, even though it was a little cold. They’re either going to run the ball or throw the ball short, and we like to say that we can pin our ears back when they do that, because everything’s so short and it’s in front of us.”
The game turned on an Antone Exum interception in the final minutes, a pick that set up Cody Journell‘s 26-yard field goal as time expired. Exum jumped a corner route by Smith — getting away with some contact in the process — and snagged his fourth pick of the year at the UVa 36 before returning it to the 24.
“I think that he knew that I knew that he was going to do a corner route, so he kind of bulldozed me just to try to bully me on his route,” Exum said. “I just undercut him and the quarterback threw it right to me.”
** Journell got a chance to atone for a miss from 42 yards with 3:38 on the clock, an attempt into a swirling wind that missed wide left.
“I tried to put it at the left upright and I pulled it just a little bit,” he said. “The wind never moved the ball.”
The second one was a chip shot by comparison. Virginia, which inexplicably didn’t use its two timeouts to stop the clock earlier and give its offense a chance after a Tech field goal, used them both to try to ice Journell. On a cold day, it was somewhat effective.
“Being a kicker you kind of get used to that,” Journell said. “You’ve just got to attack it a little bit. It was a little different today. Kind of took me away from the heater for a little while. Felt like my legs were freezing up out there on me. You can’t expect it because that’ll throw you off too if they don’t call a timeout. You’ve just got to go through your motions like you do every kick.”
He hit the kick as time expired, his second game-winner this year, matching the one from the opener against Georgia Tech.
“Awesome for Cody, coming back from everything he’s been through the last year to put us back into a bowl game,” Tyler said. “I can’t even imagine what he’s going through right now.”
** Regarding those timeouts the Cavaliers didn’t use until the clock had already run down to four seconds, UVa coach Mike London had this to say afterward (and I’ll run it verbatim because it’s a meandering thought that doesn’t make much sense):
“I felt that we were playing well defensively and you just have to make a decision of how to save timeouts with seconds left on the clock or hope your defense gets a crack and causes a turnover or knocks them back a little bit, but that didn’t occur. You try to play the game there to see if you can get into it at the last second and their kicker did a good job. He made it.”
** Offensively, it was a rough day for the Hokies. Tech finished with 303 yards on an astonishing 95 plays, the third-most the Hokies have ever run in a game. That’s 3.2 yards per play, though, which was lower than UVa’s 3.9.
Quarterback Logan Thomas did not have a great passing effort, completing only 18 of 38 passes for 129 yards on a blustery afternoon. He had one touchdown pass to Randall Dunn from 7 yards out in the second quarter.
Thomas did shoulder the rushing load, however, carrying it a career-high 29 times for 89 yards and a 4-yard touchdown.
“Obviously we needed it,” Thomas said. “I think it helped us pull out the win. You kind of go to something until the well dries up. It was working for us a long time. … If I have to run the ball, I’ll do it. It doesn’t bother me too much.”
Overall, the Hokies ran for 174 yards, getting limited production from their tailbacks. Martin Scales got the start and had 10 carries for 37 yards, although one was a hard-nosed run on third-and-two on the final drive to move the chains. J.C. Coleman had 13 carries for 36 yards. Tony Gregory had only two carries for 1 yard.
It was still a frustrating day for the Hokies, who were 8-for-23 on third downs and only scored 17 points, despite a 23-7 advantage in first downs.
“Any time you go three and out its frustrating,” Thomas said. “As an offense, that’s the last thing you want to do. We put ourselves in tough situations on first down. … We weren’t moving the ball the way we wanted to. Everybody was frustrated, not just me.”
Beamer, as you’d imagine, praised the effort.
“I thought we showed what we were made of when things didn’t look good today,” he said. “We were down a touchdown and we didn’t really play that well offensively. So I thought we really showed some stuff.”
** The Hokies made a huge stop on a fake field goal attempt in the third quarter. UVa was ahead 14-7 and could have gone ahead two scores with a 38-yarder, but London called for a fake. Reserve linebacker Chase Williams sniffed it out and stuffed holder Jacob Hodges two yards shy of the marker.
The 38-yarder might have been a stretch for UVa kicker Drew Jarrett, who is 8-for-12 this year with a long of 46.
“Not that it was out of range, but it was close,” London said. “You notice the wind there a little bit, there was a swirling wind there.”
“We’re always prepared for fakes,” said Tyler, who helped stop a fake field goal against Cincinnati earlier this year. “That’s one of our things. We’re always anticipating fakes.”
** The win moved Beamer into a tie for sixth-place on the all-time career victories list among Football Bowl Subdivision coaches.
After passing Nebraska’s Tom Osborne last week, Beamer is now up to 257 career wins, tied with Brigham Young’s Lavell Edwards.
Penn State’s Joe Paterno, who had 111 wins vacated as part of the NCAA’s punishment for the Jerry Sandusky scandal, is in fifth place with 298 wins.
** Here are some quick hitters:
- Dunn’s touchdown catch was his second in as many games. He has four in his career.
- Tech’s 95 plays were the third-most it has ever run in a game. The Hokies ran 98 in a game against Cincinnati in 1985 and 96 in a game against Wake Forest in 1975. They also ran 95 plays against South Carolina in 1972.
- Tech had a 37:30 to 22:30 advantage in time of possession.
- Virginia Tech is now 4-1 under Beamer in games when the temperature at kickoff is 32 degrees or lower.
- Thomas now has 20 career rushing touchdowns, one behind Bob Schweickert for second on Tech’s all-time list for a quarterback. Tyrod Taylor is No. 1 with 23.
- A.J. Hughes punted a career high nine times, averaging 39.1 yards. He only punted once in the second half, though.
- An overlooked play in the grand scheme of things was linebacker Jeron Gouveia-Winslow‘s 8-yard run on a fake punt in the first quarter. The senior got the snap as the up back and ran around the end for a first down. Tech went three more plays before punting it anyway.
- Demitri Knowles and Marcus Davis tied for the team lead with four catches for 33 yards apiece.
- Exum had a big day. He also stripped the ball loose from UVa running back Perry Jones in the first quarter and recovered the fumble. He finished with five tackles, a TFL, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and an interception.
- Tech only notched two sacks, but it pressured UVa’s quarterbacks throughout, particularly in the fourth quarter. The Hokies have 24 sacks in the last six games.
- Bonner led the team with 10 tackles, adding two pass breakups. Tyler was next with nine stops.
** Lastly, the win keeps the Commonwealth Cup in Virginia Tech’s possession for a ninth straight year. That’s 2,919 days and counting.
“It’s huge for a lot of reasons,” Tyler said. “Obviously coming here, bragging rights, you want to be the best team in Virginia. Most of us are from Virginia and most of us got recruited by Virginia. It’s a great feeling knowing that — nine years in a row — we can keep coming up on top and hopefully keep this streak going. But it’s just joyous. It’s a great moment and it feels good that we have 365 days to brag a little bit.”
November 24, 2012 - 3:35 PM
Hope Hokies go to Sun Bowl against big 12 team
Any ideas what bowl they may go to?
Peach Bowl in Atlanta versus LSU.
Music City against Vandy is what I’m hearing. Who cares this team doesn’t derserve to go to a bowl they should of lost to a horrible UVA team if it wasn’t for London being a total idiot when it comes to clock mangement and coaching.
Don’t understand why London didn’t use his time outs. Could have forced the FG and gotten ball back with 40-60 seconds left and given his team a chance. I guess he thought he could ice Journell and go to OT. I think the odds on that would not be good. GO HOKIES! Don’t really care which bowl they go to as long as they win it.
How about this Drew? Root for someone else.
If you look at the game overall, I thought VT really out played the Hoos. 23 1st downs to 7. Defense looked good. Bad play by Thomas on the fumble was the only thing that made the score close. Was glad to see they ran Scales more. The guy runs harder than anyone else they have, can get tough yards. Should have been doing that all season may have had another win or two.
Agree with 540. VT outplayed them most of the game. D was very good, O predictably inefficient. Very strange call on the fake FG. Would have put them up two scores against a weak O. Really odd use of time outs by London at the end of the game. Scales played well along with Exum and Taylor. These are two mediocre teams and the least mediocre won. Looking forward to next year and some significant changes.
Ugly win!! Now we’ll see if CFB makes any meaningful coaching changes. We can only hope. Glad we’re going bowling. I think it is a good recruiting tool.
Just read some comments from a UVA blog site about their staff. Sounds like some of the comments from our sites.
Ugly win!!
Lights out defense!
Logan vision not good today – 4 or 5 times had a receiver wide open!
It is early, but what are the chances that VT will be a much better team next year?
I was at the game! I sorry that (wang) got hurt but our O-line was better after he went out!We need to block better!Also We need a bigger stronger Running Back, Thomas showed that today!
To all the detractors who advocated a Tech loss in order to force staff changes. Did you lose your freaking minds? We now own the longest streak in the history of the series and that’s saying something. Not to say they couldn’t turn the tables someday, but it’ll take them 10 years to do it. Can’t say as I ever see that happening. I’ll also reiterate something I said a few weeks back – when I went there, third tier bowls were the height of ambition. I never dreamed we’d EVER play in the Sugar or Orange. Maybe we’re not Alabama or Ohio State, but then again, don’t think we’ve ever visited the dog houses they’ve been in either. Enjoy what you’ve got folks – it ain’t bad.
Unless they get a new offensive line coach, new OC, O’Cain goes away, and Frank let’s someone else coach special teams I don’t think we’re any better next year. BTW-Hey Stiney, everyone knows on 4th and 3 or less you’re going to run the option read with Logan. EVERYBODY knows its coming. Because Logan is a beast it works a time or two but the 3rd and 4th time defenses see it, they are ale to stop it. I’m just throwing it out there so maybe ou can come up with a good 3rd or 4th and short play before we get embarrassed by Alabama in next years season opener. Yet another opportunity to show the country VT can play and you have roughly 8 months to come up with a plan. Good luck.
I don’t get all the hubbub over London and his timeouts. There wouldn’t have been time to do anything anyway. I almost can’t blame London for the fake FG either with the way the VT offense was looking all game. Who saw that long TD drive by VT coming? And woo boy did Logan stink it up again. How bad does he have to play before they put Leal in?
Good comment Paul. Things aren’t perfect but sometimes it’s good to have a little perspective.
Man is the ACC bad… They should dissolve football in this conference as it’s a total embarrassment.
6-6…. Whooopppeeeee
If they play LSU they will get demolished. Big 12 team will run them out of the building w/ their scoring. Vandy will beat them too… No way they win any bowl game…..
I hope to see the Hokies in Nashville, Music City Bowl. Go Hokies….
Drew are you for real! Except for a few plays Tech OWNED the DAY! Look at time of possessions, 95 Plays, Rushing yardage vs WHA Whos! Except for the 2nd qtr TD they didn’t come close – Do you think that two yard Fumble Recovery for a TD anything special!
Hokies kicked Tail!
Homers, please stop getting on here and preaching like things are all good and fine now. We barely beat a bad team to become 6-6 to get to a bowl. Some of you are actually happy. I feel good for the seniors, but other than that give me a break. We don’t deserve to go to a bowl. There are issues that need to be solved in this program if we are going to be viable.
So homers, you are the fans that will always be around no matter what ridiculous football product we see on the field. You are the fans that fall for the hype and false hope every year and then fall back on the bowl streak and the hollow 10 win season arguement any time there is legit criticism. You are the fans who don’t really have expectations to get to the top or even close to it. Congrats homers on the bowl streak continuing. I know it makes you proud. And by the way there are now 35 bowl games and 70 eligible bowl teams. Enjoy getting really excited for next season thinking its going to be great, only to be disappointed with the same ol same ol.
acc-0
SEC-3
Hoping the hokies go to the SEC. Bring on BAMA!! How about them DOGS!! “DAWGS” Pitiful,pitiful acc. hokies deserve the Sugar Bowl again!
VT probably doesn’t deserve a bowl but it can’t hurt to have the extra practice, recruiting, etc. Not many schools can brag 20 straight bowls, even if there are 75 bowls and 150 teams get a bowl these days… my numbers may be off a tad. Doesn’t change the fact VT has a lot of work to do to get to the next level and I, and many others, doubt the current staff can do it.
One thing I pray, can we get stupid Foghorn Leghorn off our helmets and retire him to the bowels of Lane Stadium, never to be heard from or seen again?!?!?!
You’re right, the most important thing about this outcome is the extra practice bowl eligibility nets. NCAA closely controls practice time and I believe for those teams that don’t gain bowl eligibility their practice time is done.
Logan’s pass accuracy was once again absolutely terrible. I would blame it on the weather were it not for the fact that it was a repeat of much of the year. If he can’t fix that I think we are once again toast next year. Whatever he learned this summer in California – he needs to unlearn it and request a refund.
The running game has abandoned us. Once again I think we all asked why we waited until the end for Scales to start getting power carries when it was obvious from the beginning that he was the only RB that could run with power. How did the coaches miss so bad? Why did they hitch their wagons to Holmes so early when he obviously didn’t have it. I’m hoping these guys will be better next year but I highly doubt it. Coleman will fill a niche for a small back with speed who can occassionally break through for sufficient gains but he’ll never succeed when teams know you’re going to run.
Tough to watch a game and not really care if you won. Thought we looked as bad as UVA has looked for many years.
DREW’S WRONG!
SHUCKNJIVE – WHY’NT’CHU JUST SHUCKNJIVE YOUR A__ OUTTA HERE! BACK TO THE BIG LEAST OR WHEREVER?
Is it just me or have others noticed that the program has declined
since Frank brought in Son Beamer?
20 straight bowls by beating cupcakes in the big east and ACC. So how weak is the ACC? Look at yesterday as proof. Vanderbilt 55 wake forest 21, Georgia 42 ga. Tech 10. South Carolina 27 Clemson 17, Florida 37 Florida state 26. Enough is enough get rid of our offensive coaches it is tie for change.
Man Realist you hit it dead on! Its so true that the sorry homers are happy with anything these sorry chokies produce. It just amazes me how the chokie nation can spend good money and see a very bad product which is the chokie football program. What I do know is that whatever crappy bowl game the chokies get they will be out played and receive an huge beatdown and yet these sorry homers/chokie nation will accpet it so pathetic!!
So the bowl streak is alive. At least it will be a fun trip for the players, those who actually put in the time and effort at practice and games. But no matter what the name or location, it will still be the Loser Bowl. Probably only the hearty maroon Kool Aid drinkers will don their orange-tinted glasses and take the time to attend the game. The VT athletic department will be shelling out a lot of money for marginal tickets for its favorite Golden Hokie, M. T. Seats. At least the department is saving some money by not having to pay out bonuses to everyone and anyone associated with the football program (except the support folks like custodians, the facilities people who maintain the stadium, and the like) for making it to the ACCCG.
But there will still be a chunk of change dropped for making it to a bowl game again — don’t know if the bonus is based on the prestige of the bowl, but winning sure doesn’t come into play. For its 38-10 loss to Clemson in the ACCCG and its 23-20 loss to Michgan in the Sugar Bowl, bonuses were still handed out to a bunch of people. Some examples:
Frank Beamer was given two checks, one for $25,000 and one for $17,000. Son Shane (base salary $202,527) added $30,000 and $4,000 to his bank account. Bud Foster (base salary $471,762) was handed $55,000, then another $5,000. Curt Newsome (base salary $212,653) picked up $25,000 and $3,000 in bonuses. Brian Stinespring (base salary $349,980) was gifted $55,000 and $5,000. Jim Weaver benefited to the tune of an extra $70,979 dropped in his pocket.
See the minutes from the Board of Visitors, Academic Affairs Committee and Finance and Audit Committee meeting (http://www.bov.vt.edu/minutes/12-03-26minutes/attach_v_03-26-12.pdf or http://tinyurl.com/cnruhe2) showing actions for the quarter ending Dec. 31, 2011. Most of the bonues were awarded on Jan. 10, 2012.
For perspective, most dining hall workers are wage employees (no benefits at all) who are limited to 1,500 hours of work per year (state mandate). Using $8.25 as the hourly rate, the gross pay earned is $12,375. Consider also the classified staff, which covers the secretaries, lab support people, and a variety of other positions that make the university function. They haven’t had a pay increase in four years and are only looking at a 2% increase next year (if state finances pan out). All these people work hard at their jobs to ensure that students get fed and have clean and functional classrooms, support research, and see that supplies are ordered and paid for. Interesting that some of those coaches were rewarded with bonuses for not even winning games that amount to more than most people on campus make in a year.
Wonder what the bonuses will be after this season? Pretty substatial, I’ll bet.
Andy, in reference to your article “hokies sniff out fake field goal”, Martin Scales went to Bassett High School in Bassett Virginia not Martinsville.
I said he’s from Martinsville, which is what his hometown is listed as. Not that he went to Martinsville High.
The Hokies’ most likely bowl destination is the Sun Bowl in El Paso. Here’s why – F$U plays 6-6 GaTech in the ACCCG. I think we can all agree that will be an F$U victory. That puts F$U in the Orange Bowl, the lone BCS participant.
Clemson’s loss to South Carolina will remove them from the Sugar Bowl consideration that was rumored. Thus, they’ll attend the ChikFilA in ATL.
3rd spot will got to NCSTate in the Russell in Orlando, as their 7-5 record and more enthusiastic fan base (this season) will merit the notice of the bowl officials.
The Hokies still have a reputation for traveling well (despite not doing so lately) and more national cache than GaTech or Duke in football. That will earn us the right to go to El Paso for the Dec 31st Sun Bowl. Since GaTech will have to apply for a waiver to play a bowl game with their (predicted) 6-7 record, that’s another reason we’ll snag the Sun Bowl. We’ll play the 4th ranked Pac12 team.
The Belk Bowl will grab GaTech because of the short trip up for the fan base.
Duke will default to the Music City Bowl in Nashville, and that will wrap it up.
The ACC will go 2-4 in the bowls, with F$U & State being the only winners. The Hokies will end up with a losing season at 6-7, despite Beamer’s pride in his newest streak claim – 20 straight bowl seasons.
“We’re always prepared for fakes,” said Tyler, who helped stop a fake field goal against Cincinnati earlier this year. “That’s one of our things. We’re always anticipating fakes.” Oh yeah? REELY, KEVIN? Eet mor turkie!
If it’s so easy to go to a bowl game year after year, how come only 3 current programs have streaks of 20 or more years in a row?
Here we go again. Out with the old mantra of ‘ten win seasons’ and in with the new mantra of ‘bowl seasons’. For the O&M koolaid crowd, going to a bowl game because you achieved a 6-6 record is not something to brag about. Unless you’re desperate to protect the shield of Frank Beamer and to ignore all the chinks in his armor.
String together a few more 6-6 & 7-5 seasons, and see what happens to the finances of the entire VT athletic department, as well as attendance in the stands.
someone call 911!!! Paul has overdosed on Beamer-laid.