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Thanks to a new 12-year broadcast deal between the ACC and ESPN, Virginia Tech and the 11 other ACC schools will double their annual TV revenue.

Just weeks after nearly being raided by other college football conferences, the Atlantic Coast Conference signed a new 12-year multimedia broadcast deal with ESPN.

The Associated Press reported that the deal is worth $1.86 billion, however, neither the ACC, nor ESPN would specify the value of the deal. But, when asked about the AP report, ACC commissioner John Swofford said, “I have read some things that have been written that have been quite accurate.”

The proceeds of the contract, according to Swofford, will be divided equally among the 12 member institutions, as has been the case with previous media contracts. The deal, according to Swofford, will more than double each school’s current TV revenue.

The ACC and ESPN announced the new deal on Thursday, July 8. The new agreement will begin with the 2011-2012 academic year and gives ESPN exclusive broadcast rights to every conference-controlled football and men’s basketball game, women’s basketball, Olympic sports games, and conference championships.

The agreement runs through 2022-23 and during that time, nearly 5,000 ACC athletic events will be broadcast on ESPN’s television outlets, digital and mobile platforms, syndication and more.

Raycom Sports, which regularly broadcasts ACC football and basketball games will still be involved and will continue to broadcast games according to ESPN, which called Raycom a valued partner.

George Bodenheimer, President, ESPN, Inc. and ABC Sports pointed out that this is ESPN’s first all-in deal with a conference, noting that ESPN’s deal with the SEC is not exclusive as CBS has some broadcast rights.

And with regards to potential future conference realignment, there are provisions in the contract that deal with conference makeup, so if the conference landscape changes, the ACC and ESPN can renegotiate to reflect any changes.

How this new agreement affects ACC football:

With exclusive rights to every conference-controlled football game, ESPN will serve as the national cable and broadcast TV home for the conference and distributor of syndication telecasts via an agreement with Raycom Sports. With the agreement granting rights to every matchup, there is flexibility where games can be distributed on a weekly basis throughout the season. Outlets will include:

• ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC: The networks will televise ACC games each week, including Thursday, Saturday and a Labor Day Monday telecast each season. The ACC Football Championship Game will continue to be televised each year on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC.
• ESPNU: The 24-hour college sports network, currently distributed in more than 70 million households, will continue to televise ACC football. Syndication: ESPN will sublicense games to Raycom Sports and potentially to additional national outlets. As part of the agreement, Raycom Sports will produce and distribute a package of games for over-the-air syndication and for the first time, an additional package of games through regional cable syndication in the ACC markets and beyond.
• ESPN3.com: Exclusive ACC game presentations as well as simulcasts will be offered on the broadband network.
• ESPN 3D: ACC matchups will be part of the live schedule of games offered on the new service.
• ESPN Mobile TV: Extensive ACC content, including highlights and live game simulcasts will be presented on mobile phones.
• ESPN International and ESPN Deportes: The deal includes global rights to present live games and encore presentations across ESPN’s International platforms and domestic Spanish-language rights for ESPN Deportes, ESPN’s 24-hour, U.S.-based network.
• ESPN GamePlan: The out-of-market college football service will continue to offer an extensive weekly schedule of ACC games.
• ESPN Classic: The network may televise live ACC games as well as historic and immediate encore presentations.
• ESPN.com: Extensive ACC content, including highlights, will be presented online.

Popularity: 14% [?]

The first domino has fallen in the college football conference cold war, which is about to turn up the heat. Colorado announced today that it is leaving the Big 12 and heading for the Pac-10. This could be the start of a major reorganization of the college football conferences.

Texas is rumored to bolt from the Big 12 as well, and head either to the Pac 10 or SEC. But that’s not all. Reports have the Pac-10 issuing invites to a total of six Big 12 teams: Colorado (already accepted), Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. If Texas leaves, I’d expect the others to follow suit.

Nebraska, meanwhile, has received an invitation from the Big 10, and all indications are that the Huskers will accept. If all seven of the aforementioned teams leave the Big 12, the conference will not likely survive.

So, where does that leave the ACC? Well, the SEC is reportedly courting Miami, Florida State, Clemson and Georgia Tech – four of the premiere programs in the ACC. If those four teams join the SEC, the ACC will be left with eights teams and guess where it will look to replenish its ranks? The Big East – where it got Miami, Boston College, and of course, the Virginia Tech Hokies in 2004 (Boston College in 2005).

There are multiple reports on the Web that have the Big 10 is eyeing Rutgers and Syracuse. The Orange would be an ideal fit for the Big 10 because it currently lacks a team in the New York TV market. So, if the Big East loses two of it’s bigger named programs (although the SU football program has been stale for years), it would be down to just six teams.

So, a depleted ACC with eight teams (Miami, FSU, GT and Clemson gone to the SEC) and a Big East with six teams (Syracuse and Rutgers to the Big 10)… Looks like an ACC/Big East merger would be in the works. A two division conference, seven teams per division. Here’s our prediction for the new ACC/Big East conference:

North Division
Boston College
Cincinnati
Louisville
Maryland
Pittsburgh
UConn
West Virginia

South Division
Duke
North Carolina
N.C. State
South Florida
Virginia
Virginia Tech
Wake Forest

Is this ideal? No. Would we rather see the Hokies in the SEC? You betcha. But, this is probably a more likely scenario, should the Big 12 fall apart, as we expect it to do. And if it goes, then the proverbial “dominoes” will fall and the ACC and Big East might have to turn to each other to salvage their conferences. The only question now, is, what will the name of the new conference be? We nominate the BEACC. No brainer, right?

Popularity: 35% [?]

ATLANTA (Dec. 6, 2009) – Today 233 miles separate Blacksburg, Va. from Knoxville, Tenn., but on New Year’s Eve, No. 11 Virginia Tech and Tennessee will be 12 inches apart – about the length of a football – when the two historic rivals clash in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

The Chick-fil-A Bowl today officially extended invitations to the Hokies and Volunteers to represent the ACC and SEC in the 42nd annual edition of Atlanta’s bowl game Dec. 31 in the Georgia Dome. The invitations were accepted by Virginia Tech and Tennessee officials during conference calls this evening.

Virginia Tech and Tennessee have met seven times dating back to 1896 with the Volunteers holding a 5-2 advantage. The two regional rivals have not met since 1994.

“This really is a dream match-up,” said Gary Stokan, Chick-fil-A Bowl president and CEO. “To have the opportunity to host two nationally significant and traditional teams in Virginia Tech and Tennessee says a lot about the quality of this game. We feel like we’ve got one of the most compelling match-ups outside the BCS.”

Virginia Tech (9-3, 6-2 ACC) won four straight games to finish the season second in the ACC’s Coastal Division just a game behind conference champion and BCS representative Georgia Tech. The Hokies will bring the ACC’s top-rated scoring defense (15.8 ppg), passing defense (161.4 ypg) and the conference’s Rookie of the Year, RB Ryan Williams (1,538 rushing yards, 20 TDs). This will mark the Hokies third trip to Atlanta this season after beginning the year against Alabama in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game and facing Georgia Tech on Oct. 17.

“We feel fortunate to be going back to the Chick-fil-A Bowl,” said Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech head coach. “It is an extremely well-run bowl in which we’ll be facing a tradition-rich University of Tennessee football team. I know our fans will be excited and we look forward to traveling to Atlanta for the game.”

“Virginia Tech is very pleased and proud to have been selected to play in the 2009 Chick-fil-A Bowl,” said Jim Weaver, Virginia Tech Director of Athletics. “We had a wonderful experience there after the 2006 season and had another great experience when we played Alabama in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game this fall. Our fans love Atlanta and are looking forward to the game between the Hokies and the Volunteers of Tennessee.”

Virginia Tech has appeared in the Chick-fil-A Bowl three times (2006, 1986, 1980) and is 1-2.

Tennessee (7-5, 4-4 SEC) finished tied for second in the SEC East playing the 25th hardest schedule in the country.  UT will be making its 48th all-time bowl appearance (third-most among FBS teams) and comes into the game winners in four of its last five games. The Volunteers sport standout QB Jonathan Crompton (2nd in SEC with 26 TD passes), reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year CB Eric Berry and fiery first-year coach Lane Kiffin.

Most significantly, the Vols won the head-to-head match-ups with three other teams the Chick-fil-A Bowl was considering including Georgia, Kentucky and South Carolina.

“We’re really excited to be going to Atlanta for a great bowl game, the Chick-fil-A Bowl,” said Lane Kiffin, Tennessee head coach. “Not only is this a great bowl game, but we have many players from the Atlanta area and the state of Georgia. It’s a great location for us to be this postseason. We look forward to playing in a first-class bowl game and first-class facility.”

“We’re excited about the opportunity to return to the Chick-fil-A Bowl and play a tremendous opponent in Virginia Tech,” said Mike Hamilton, Tennessee director of athletics. “Gary Stokan and his staff have always done a tremendous job of hosting teams, coaches, administrators and fans. We are looking forward to spending a wonderful week in Atlanta.”

This will mark the Volunteers’ fifth appearance in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Tennessee has appeared in the Chick-fil-A Bowl in 1982, 1986, 2002 and 2003 and is 1-3.

The Chick-fil-A Bowl will be played at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 31 in Atlanta’s Georgia Dome and will be nationally televised by ESPN, running unopposed in its prime time slot.

About the Chick-fil-A Bowl:

The Chick-fil-A Bowl is the ninth-oldest bowl game in the country and hosts the longest-running rivalry series between the ACC and SEC. Now in its 42nd year, the Chick-fil-A Bowl has established itself as one of the nation’s elite bowl games with a string of 12 consecutive sellouts and has earned a reputation as one of the most competitive bowls in the nation. Ten of the last 17 games have been decided by a touchdown or less. The Chick-fil-A Bowl has disbursed more than $90 million in team payouts over its 41-year history and has increased team payout every year since 1996. The Bowl also leads all other bowl games in charitable and scholarship contributions, giving more than $1.2 million to organizations in need in 2008 alone. Other events under the Chick-fil-A Bowl brand include the Chick-fil-A Bowl Challenge head coach and celebrity golf event each April and the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game season-opening game over Labor Day weekend which hosted two top-10 teams, Alabama and Virginia Tech, to open the 2009 season.

Popularity: 15% [?]

No. 4 Hokies look for sixth straight win in Atlanta

Blacksburg, VA — The fourth-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies (3-0, 5-1) take their hopes for a national championship on the road this weekend against ACC Coastal Division rival Georgia Tech (3-1, 5-1).

The Hokies have won five straight games since their season-opening loss to No. 2 Alabama and hope to make it six on Saturday in Atlanta. Virginia Tech leads the series against the Yellow Jackets, 4-2, and are 4-1 since joining the ACC.

Let’s take a look back at the short series between the two schools.

1990 – Two Techs Collide

The first meeting between the two Techs was on Nov. 10, 1990. The Hokies were 5-4 heading into their second-to-last game of the season. The undefeated Jackets were ranked No. 7 and the Hokies gave them all they could handle in Atlanta. Georgia Tech won the game, 6-3, and went on to finish 11-0-1 and earned a share of the National Championship with Colorado. The Hokies finished 6-5.

[Updated: I did not originally include the 2000 game that was never played, because, well, they never played it. But, I had some people tell me that I forgot it, which I didn't, but decided to throw it in anyway.]

2000 – The Game That Wasn’t

The infamous lightning game. Who could forget. It was supposed to be the season-opener for both teams. The Hokies were fresh off their 1999 undefeated (11-0) regular season and a trip to the National Championship game – a 29-46 loss to Florida State. Michael Vick was back for his second season as the starter and expectations were sky high. But, Mother Nature had other plans.

A severe lightning storm rolled through Blacksburg and struck ESPN analyst Lee Corso‘s rental car parked outside the stadium. Corso picked Georgia Tech to win the game just before his car was smote. The game was nevery made up and the Hokies went on to finish the season 11-1 and whipped No. 16 Clemson, 41-20, in the Gator Bowl.

2004 – New ACC Rivals

The teams didn’t meat again until the Hokies joined the ACC in 2004. Georgia Tech jumped out to a 14-0 first-quarter lead and led 20-12 with less than six minutes to play in the game. That’s when Virginia Tech exploded for three touchdowns in just four minutes and 32 seconds.

Trailing 20-12, Hokies’ quarterback Bryan Randall hit Eddie Royal for an 80-yard touchdown on first down. A two-point conversion tied the game at 20. The Hokies got the ball back a mere 90 seconds later and used a three-play drive to get into the endzone again. This time it was Randall to Josh Morgan for a 51-yard strike putting good Tech up 27-20.

Roland Minor sealed the come-from-behind victory with a 64-yard interception return for a touchdown, giving the Hokies a 34-20 win. Tech finished the season 10-3.

2005 – Going Coastal

No suspense here. This remains the only blowout of the short series between the two schools. The Hokies came in at 3-0 (2-0 ACC) and ranked No. 4. The Jackets were No. 15. The game was never close or in doubt as the Hokies jumped out to a 24-0 halftime lead.

Defensive end Chris Ellis and linebacker Xavier Adibi both returned interceptions for touchdowns in the fourth quarter to put GT out of its misery. Hokies romped to a 51-7 win at Lane Stadium and went on to finish the season 11-2.

2006 – Tech Wins One

The only Virginia Tech loss to the Georgia Tech in ACC play came in 2006 in Blacksburg. The 24th-ranked Yellow Jackets beat the 11th-ranked Hokies 38-27, handing Virginia Tech its first loss of the season and dropping Frank Beamer’s team to No. 22.

VT lost its next game against Boston College, a loss that knocked the Hokies out of the top 25 completely. Tech rebounded to win its final six games, giving up a combined 19 points in the six wins, which included a pair of shutouts. The Hokies finished the 2006 regular season with a 10-2 record before losing a heart-breaker to Georgia in the Chick Fil A Bowl, 24-31.

The 2006 loss to the Ramblin’ Wreck marked the last time a Virginia Tech quarterback had thrown for more than 300 yards in a game – Sean Glennon threw for 339 yards. That changed this season when Tyrod Taylor threw for 327 yards against Duke in a 34-26 win in Durham.

2007 – The Infamous Missing Jerseys

Who doesn’t remember this game? It was a Thursday night, nationally televised ESPN game and when the coverage of the game began, we learned that four Virginia Tech jerseys had mysteriously vanished. Among them, both quarterbacks – Tyrod Taylor and Sean Glennon. The two had to wear old Georgia Tech practice jerseys with black marker used to write in their names and numbers.

It worked, though. The 6-2 Hokies fell behind 3-0 midway through the first quarter, but that’s all Georgia Tech would get. Virginia Tech scored the next 27 points in a dominating 27-3 win. Hokie fans everywhere started asking if Glennon, who completed 22 of 32 passes for 296 yards and two TDs, could wear the GT practice jersey the rest of the season. No dice, said the ACC.

The Hokies finished the season 11-3, including another heartbreaking loss to Kansas in the Orange Bowl, 24-21.

Watch highlights of the 2007 game.

2008 – The Costly Personal Foul

The Yellow Jackets came into Blacksburg last season with their new triple option offense that was going to wreak havoc on defensive coordinators. It was only the third game of the season for both teams, so the Hokies didn’t have much game film of the new Paul Johnson offense.

And truth be told, the Yellow Jackets probably should have won this game, but they didn’t. They put up 387 yards to the Hokies’ 247, but fumbled the ball twice and threw an interception. The Hokies didn’t turn the ball over at all.

Georgia Tech was playing better for the most part, but the Hokies were the more disciplined team that day. The Jackets committed eight penalties for 61 yards, none more costly than the 15-yard personal foul call in the fourth quarter, with the game tied at 17.

On third down and 7 from Tech’s 23, Tyrod Taylor sprinted toward his own sideline, well short of the first down marker. The Hokies were going to have to punt, but out of nowhere came Georgia Tech’s Cooper Taylor with a late hit on Tyrod. The penalty gave the Hokies an automatic first down and 15 more yards, which they used to march down the field and kick the game-winning field goal.

Watch highlights of the 2008 game.

That brings us to this year’s game. The Jackets are much improved and have perfected the triple option. They lead ACC teams in total offense and rushing offense and have two running backs, as well as a quarterback, who can bust open a big play at any moment.

What the Jackets lack is solid defense. Last week, they gave up 44 points to a bad Florida State team. If they don’t make significant improvements from last week to this week, it may not make any difference how many points their offense can put up.

The Virginia Tech offense has reeled off three straight impressive performances. In wins against No. 9 Miami, Duke and Boston College, the Hokies are averaging 38 points and 429 yards a game (219 rushing / 210 passing).

Georgia Tech is a running team, plain and simple. They are dead last in passing offense in the ACC and the only team in the conference to have fewer than 100 pass attempts (75). However, when they do pass, they are highly efficient. In fact, they lead the ACC in passing efficiency with a rating of 169. The Hokies are second with a rating of 164.

If Frank Beamer and the Hokies are going to win this game, defensive coordinator Bud Foster must figure out how to stop the triple option and still be prepared to defend the pass. Should the Hokies’s offense come out and play like they have in the last three games, I think the Hokies win this game, especially if Georgia Tech’s defense can’t get its act together.

Kickoff: 6 p.m.
TV: ESPN2
Announcers: Mark Jones (play-by-play), Bob Davie (color analyst)

Popularity: 13% [?]

Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) looks for a block for his running back Ryan Williams (34) in a 52-10 win over Marshall. (Photo by Gary Cope/VTHokieFans.com)

The fourth-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies are staring at their best shot at a BCS National Championship in 10 years. The Hokies have won their last five games and are the highest ranked one-loss team in the country.

The Florida Gators are ranked No. 1, followed by the Alabama Crimson Tide at No. 2, and the Texas Longhorns at No. 3.

The Gators only have one currently ranked team remaining on their schedule – No. 22 South Carolina. Alabama has two ranked teams yet to play; No. 22 South Carolina and No. 10 LSU, both are home game for the Tide. Meanwhile, Texas has No. 20 Oklahoma this weekend and still has to play No. 17 Oklahoma State and No. 16 Kansas.

Even if Florida and Alabama make it through the regular season without a loss, they will have to play each other in the SEC championship game, essentially eliminating one team from the national championship picture.

The same holds true for Texas. Even if they go undefeated in the regular season, they still have to play the Big 12 title game. This is why college football is so great. So much can happen in the last six weeks of the regular season.

And that brings us to the Virginia Tech Hokies. Their season-opening 34-24 loss to now-No. 2 Alabama doesn’t look so bad. In fact, the Hokies have put up more points against the Tide than any other team so far this season.

Since that loss, in which Frank Beamer’s offense performed poorly, the Hokies have reeled off five straight wins including a 16-15 win over Nebraska and a dominating 31-7 win over No. 9 Miami.

While it may seem like the hardest part of the Hokies schedule is over with, rest assured, it is not. The Hokies are on the road this week against No. 19 Georgia Tech, whose only loss is to Miami. The Yellow Jackets pasted a struggling Florida State team for 49 points in a 49-44 win last week.

The Jackets’ offense appears unstoppable at times, but their 82nd ranked defense has struggled to keep points off the board. If the Hokies roll into Atlanta – a hot bed of Hokie alumni – picking up where they left off last week against Boston College, it could be a long day for Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson.

Bud Foster, Virginia Tech’s defensive coordinator, did an outstanding job last season of containing the Ramblin’ Wreck’s triple option offense. If not for a costly fourth-quarter personal foul call against Georgia Tech, the Hokies could have easily lost that game in Blacksburg.

Even if the Hokies win a tough road game against Georgia Tech, there are still five games left on the schedule and all five opponents are capable of winning, even if their records do not necessarily give that impression.

Virginia Tech’s remaining schedule looks like this:

10/17 @ No. 19 Georgia Tech (3-1, 5-1)

*Loss: Miami; Wins: Jacksonville St., Clemson, UNC, Miss. St., FSU

*Third in scoring offense among ACC schools; Hokies are No. 1

10/29 vs. North Carolina (0-2, 4-2)

*Losses: UVA and GT; Wins: Citadel, Connecticut, ECU and Georgia Southern

*Tar Heels scored a combined 10 points in their two losses

*UNC has top scoring defense in the ACC, Hokies are No. 2

11/05 @ East Carolina (2-1, 3-3)

*Losses: SMU, UNC and West Virginia; Wins: Appalachian St., UCF and Marshall

11/14 @ Maryland (1-1, 2-4)

*Losses: Calif., MTSU, Clemson and Wake Forest; Wins: Clemson and JMU (overtime);

11/21 vs. N.C. State (0-2, 3-3)

*Losses: South Carolina, Duke and Wake Forest; Wins: Murray State, Gardner-Webb and Pittsburgh

*NCST has No. 2 scoring offense in the ACC

11/28 @ UVA (1-1, 2-3)

*Losses: W&M, TCU and So. Miss; Wins: UNC and Indiana

*Cavaliers have won last two games

The combined record of the Hokies’ opponents through the final six games is 19-16, a big difference from the combined record of its first six, 24-9.

Of the top four teams in the Associate Press college football poll, the Hokies clearly have the easier schedule in the second half of the season. The challenge for Beamer’s squad is to avoid the upsets – do that and Virginia Tech could very easily find themselves in the BCS National Championship game in January.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Virginia Tech wide receiver Jarrett Boykin scores a touchdown against the Miami Hurricanes. (Photo by Gary Cope)

Blacksburg, VA — The Boston College Eagles are on a roll. They’re 4-1 and coming off back-to-back home wins over Wake Forest and Florida State. They have a 25-year-old rookie quarterback who is getting better each week. The have beaten Virginia Tech the last three times the two teams have met in the regular season, although the Hokies have won two straight ACC championship games at the Eagles’ expense.

Tomorrow at noon, the Eagles will try to make it four straight regular season wins when they travel to Blacksburg to take on the 5th ranked Hokies. Tech is suddenly back in the national champtionship hunt after reeling off four straight wins including a dominating 31-7 win over then-No. 9 Miami on national TV and a dramatic 16-15 win over Nebraska.

Frank Beamer’s team is a heavy favorite to win on Saturday, but Hokie fans aren’t so sure. They remember the heartbreaking loss at home two years ago that dashed their hopes at a national championship. Sure, the ACC titles help make up for it, but the Hokies have lost eight ACC games in five seasons since joining the conferece; three of those losses are courtesy of the Eagles.

While the Eagles have played beyond expectations, they are still a very vulnerable team. Their four wins have come against Northeastern (54-0), Kent State (34-7), Wake Forest (27-24, OT) and Florida State (28-21). Northeastern and Kent State aren’t necessarily top level competition, though the Eagles did what they should have done – blow them out. BC’s one loss was on the road against Clemson in which the offense managed a total of 54 yards in a 26-7 defeat.

BC then blew fourth quarter leads against Wake and FSU, but pulled out wins in both games. Wake Forest is 3-2, but their wins are less than impressive: Stanford, Elon and N.C. State. Florida State is off to its worst start (2-3) since Bobby Bowden’s first year on the job. The Noles have lost to Miami, Wake and most recently, a terrible home loss to South Florida, who had a freshman quarterback.

While the first-year head coach Frank Spaziani has the Eagles are playing better than expected, they haven’t proven they can keep up with better competition. Clemson manhandled them on offense and BC’s defense broke down in horrific fashion against the Decons and the Noles. However, if they can pull it together on Saturday and shock the Hokies, the Eagles will certainly jump up in the polls and deservedly so.

Meanhwile, the Hokies have had an inconsistent-at-best season thus far. The offense struggled against Alabama and Nebraska early in the season, but woke up against Miami and then again against Duke.

Normally, you wouldn’t think putting up big numbers against Duke would be a big deal, but considering the Hokies’ quarterback Tyrod Taylor passed for 327 yards – the most in three seasons – and that a wide receiver, Jarrett Boykin, was the first Tech wide receiver to have more than 100 yards receiving in a game since Eddie Royal in 2007, it was certainly an impressive showing for a passing attack that has been dormant for two seasons.

Should the Hokies continue their offensive output as they have in the last two games, it could be a long day for the Eagles. The big question mark for the Hokies, and it almost sounds sacriligious to say, is their defense. Bud Foster has a young and inexperienced bunch and they have struggled at times this season, especially last week against Duke in which they gave up 26 points.

Rest assured the Hokies will come ready to play. They have lost three straight to the Eagles in the regular season and will not allow Boston College to sneak up on them this season.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Cody Grimm, Virginia Tech senior linebacker, earned the ACC Defensive Back of the Week honor for his career-game against Duke.
(Photo by Gary Cope)

The Atlantic Coast Conference released its weekly awards today and Virginia Tech senior linebacker Cody Grimm was among the honorees.

Grimm, a 5-11, 202-pound outside linebacker (whip linebacker) from Fairfax, Va., had a career game against the Duke Blue Devils in a 34-26 win for the Hokies. Grim recorded a game- and career-high 14 tackles against Duke.

Of his 14 tackles, two were for losses totaling six yards, and one forced a fumble. Grimm, who has emerged as a quiet leader on the Tech defense, helped the Hokies hold the Blue Devils to just 38 rushing yards on 31 attempts (1.2 yards per rush).

Grimm leads Bud Foster‘s defense in virtually every defensive stat column with 45 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and three forced fumbles, and his three pass breakups are tied for the team-high.

See the complete list of weekly ACC honors.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Virginia Tech head football coach Frank Beamer has never been known for having a pass-first offense. You wouldn’t have known that watching the Hokies methodically pick apart Duke’s secondary today, while at the same time watching their running game struggle.

Junior quarterback Tyrod Taylor set a career high for passing yards with 327. It was the first time a Tech QB had passed for more than 300 yards in a game since Sean Glennon threw for 339 in a 38-27 loss to Georgia Tech in 2006.

Taylor wasn’t the only player having a career day. Sophomore wide receiver Jarrett Boykin caught a career-high 144 yards on six catches and a touchdown. It was the first time a Tech wideout had more than 100 yards receiving in a game since Eddie Royal had 147 yards in a 33-21 win over Virginia in 2007.

Why the sudden success in the passing game? Another well-called game by offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring. The word is out about Tech redshirt freshman running back Ryan Williams – he’s the nation’s sixth leading rusher and three-time ACC Rookie of the Week. So, Duke’s game plan was clear – stuff eight and nine men in the box and force the Hokies to beat the Blue Devils through the air.

“They were loading the box, bringing their linebackers up,” said Taylor after the game. “They were rotating the safeties. Coach [Bryan Stinespring] did a good job of stretching the ball [down the field] instead of running the power. That open things up and we were able execute it. This builds confidence for our offense and for the passing game.”

The first two offensive possessions did not amount to much, just 27 yards. Tech tried to establish a running game, but Duke crowded the line of scrimmage and denied any running room for the Hokies.

On Tech’s third possession however, Stinespring decided to take to the air. Duke had just scored a touchdown to take a 7-0 lead, but on the ensuing kickoff, the ball went out of bounds giving the Hokies excellent field position at their own 40.

The first play was a 3-yard run by Taylor. Second down was a 17-yard pass to tight end Andre Smith for a first down inside Duke territory. On first down, the Hokies went back to the run for a 4-yard gain by Williams. Then, on second and 6 from the Duke 36, Taylor found Danny Coale over the middle in the endzone for the equalizer. It was Coale’s first career touchdown. He also had a career-high 94 yards on three receptions.

Taylor threw for two touchdowns against the Blue Devils; the first to Coale and the other a controversial play in the end zone involving Boykin. With Tech leading 10-7 midway through the second quarter, Taylor threw to Boykin in the right side of the end zone where Boykin and a Duke defensive back both went up for the pass. It appeared that Duke had an interception, but Boykin ripped it from his hands on the way down and the official ruled it a Virginia Tech touchdown. After a lengthy review, the play was upheld and the Hokies led 17-10.

“The play they [the coaches] called and the coverage that they [Duke] gave us, I knew it was going to be a jump ball situation,” said Boykin. “As we were coming down, we were both fighting for it, and I guess he gave up on it at the end. I was still fighting for it and I ripped it out. I couldn’t let him take it from me.”

While the Hokies struggled early on the ground, the success of the passing game eventually set up the running game. Williams finished with 83 yards and second stringer Josh Oglesby, a redshirt sophomore, had 59 yards rushing and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Williams picked up the majority of his yards in the fourth quarter as well.

Box Score from Virginia Tech’s 34-26 win over Duke.

Popularity: 11% [?]

While the Virginia Tech Hokies football team may be focused on its first ACC road game this season, the fans are still celebrating the crucial – and dominating – win over Coastal Division rival Miami. The Hokies dominated the then No. 9 ranked Canes 31-7 on a game that was in some fashion, nationally televised. It was an important win for Virginia Tech and the ACC took notice by awarding three Virginia Tech players with weekly awards.

Blake DeChristopher, a 6-5, 303-pound sophomore offensive tackle from Midlothian, Va., was named Co-Offensive Lineman with Georgia Tech’s Sean Bedford. DeChristopher help anchor the Hokies’ offensive line that opened gaping holes in the Miami defense and allowed Tech’s running backs to amass 272 rushing yards and 370 total yards in Virginia Tech’s 31-7 win over the Canes. DeChristopher graded out at a team-high 85 percent on 56-of-64 plays and recorded five knockdowns in the win that vaulted Virginia Tech to No. 6 in both the Associated Press and USA Today polls—the highest national ranking for an ACC team this season.

Virginia Tech junior defensive end Jason Worilds was named ACC Defensive Lineman of the week for his performance against the Miami Hurricanes in a 31-7 win for the Hokies.

While the Tech offense was firing on all cylinders, Tech’s defense, which had been uncharacteristically suspect, came out against Miami’s high octane offense and laid the smack down. Jason Worilds, a 6-2, 240-pound junior defensive end from Carteret, N.J., earned the ACC’s Defensive Lineman of the week award. Worilds led Tech’s defense in getting to Miami quarterback Jacory Harris early and often, something the sophomore QB hadn’t had to deal with in his first two games. Worilds had six tackles and was credited with 1.5 quarterback sacks, while adding a forced fumble and two quarterback hurries. The junior helped the Hokie defense limit Miami to just 209 yards of total offense.

And last but not least, Virginia Tech’s running back Ryan Williams, a 5-9, 205-pound redshirt freshman, took home the ACC’s Rookie of the Week honor for the second straight week and the third time this season’s first four weeks. Williams would have been a strong candidate for player of the week, had it not been for N.C. State QB Russell Wilson, who threw for four touchdowns and totalled 413 total yard. Williams rushed for a game-high 150 rushing yards and two touchdowns on a career-high 34 in a 31-7 win against ninth-ranked Miami. Williams also caught a pair of passes for 40 yards for a total of 190 all-purpose yards. The redshirt-freshman currently ranks sixth in the nation with 123.0 rushing yards per game and is tied for second with eight scores. He leads the ACC in rushing yards per game, total rushing yards and touchdowns scored with eight. Williams in on pace to destroy Tech’s freshman record for TDs in a season (11) set by Darren Evans just last season.

Read the rest of the ACC weekly awards.

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The Atlantic Coast Conference released the game times and TV schedules for games played the weekend of Oct. 17. Among the games is the Virginia Tech vs. Boston College game at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Va. The No. 6 ranked Hokies will host the Boston College Eagles at noon EDT, and the game will be televised on Raycom.

See the complete schedule of kickoff times and TV schedules at TheACC.com.

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