Florida State Seminoles vs Virginia Tech Hokies
BEFORE:
"RICHMOND, Va. -- Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer doesn't have many oh-fers in his career, but the 11th-ranked Hokies will try to wipe out the biggest one Saturday.
Florida State (6-3, 3-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) has handed Beamer seven losses in as many games in his coaching career, and two of the victories came in two of the biggest games Virginia Tech has ever played: 46-29 in the 1999 Sugar Bowl for the national championship, and a 27-22 upset in the inaugural ACC championship game in 2005.
The wins improved Seminoles coach Bobby Bowden's career record against Virginia Tech to 15-0, and the Hokies feel like it's time to finally erase that zero. "I guess we have the 'Curse of the Bambino,' or the curse of Bowden, 'the Bowdeno,' going on," Hokies quarterback Sean Glennon joked this week. "As important as this is for the ACC race and for coach Beamer, we hope we can get that done for them."
As always, the stakes are high, especially for the Hokies (7-2, 4-1). Win and they stay on course for a showdown with rival Virginia for the Coastal Division title on Nov. 24, and a berth in the next ACC championship game Dec. 1. Lose and they not only get to watch Bowden earn his 300th victory at Florida State, but the seniors get to leave Tech as another class unable to beat the Seminoles."
AFTER:
"BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer has been saying he thought his offense was getting close to being really good. Now that it's starting to show, the Hokies are in familiar shape heading down the stretch.
The No. 10 Hokies shook off a third-quarter stumble behind the running, throwing and poise of freshman Tyrod Taylor and a hungry defense on Saturday night, beating Florida State 40-21 and staying in control of their fate with two games left. The Hokies (8-2, 5-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) play at home against Miami on Saturday, then travel to Coastal Division leader Virginia in the regular season finale, a game that will be for a spot in the ACC championship game.
It was the way the Hokies beat Florida State, rallying in the fourth quarter against a longtime nemesis after blowing a 20-6 halftime lead, that most impressed the coach. "If you can beat Florida State, you've done something," Beamer said after his first victory in eight tries in the series. "I think our players did something tonight."
The defense made it look lopsided late by turning three turnovers into 10 points and tacking on a safety, but this time the offense made its own magic happen. Taylor, who was to share time with Sean Glennon before Glennon got hammered on a scramble, led a 53-yard drive and scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 3-yard run with 10:10 to play. "That's a special quarterback," cornerback Brandon Flowers said of Taylor. "Freshman. I don't know another freshman quarterback around here that could do that against a fast defense like Florida State. He's just so poised and calm in the pocket."
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Miami Hurricanes vs Virginia Tech Hokies
BEFORE:
"BLACKSBURG, VA - "We've got a chance to go up there and prove a point," Miami left tackle Jason Fox said. "Virginia Tech's a really good team and a really, really good team at home."
The Hurricanes have a better history than most at Lane Stadium. In their last visit, in 2005, they ended the No. 3 Hokies' hopes for an unbeaten season, 27-7.
"A few years ago, half the people in this room never gave us a chance when we went down to Virginia Tech," Hurricanes first-year coach Randy Shannon said. "They were going to win the national championship that year. And what happened? Nobody gave us a chance and guys played with a lot of emotion and excitement."
AFTER:
"BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Branden Ore hasn't had the year he or Virginia Tech expected, but the Hokies tailback is hitting his stride at the right time. Ore ran for two touchdowns, both times plowing over a Miami defender to get to the end zone, and No. 10 Virginia Tech beat Miami 44-14 on Saturday in the Hokies' final tuneup for a huge game with rival Virginia next weekend.
"I just felt good out there and I was able to make the cuts and moves that I wanted to make," Ore said after rushing for 81 yards on 15 carries. "The offensive line created holes for me. That made it a lot easier."
Virginia Tech (9-2, 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) moved into a share of first place in the Coastal Division with Virginia. The teams will play on Saturday in Charlottesville with the winner moving on to the conference championship game Dec. 1.
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Virginia Tech Hokies vs Virginia Cavaliers
ACC Championship Game (vs Boston College)
