12/18/10
Ask longtime Hokie head coach Frank Beamer just how special this year's team was to him personally and he would say this is one of the most memorable teams of all-time in Blacksburg. After losing their first two games, this team never looked back in winning the next 11. Plenty of those props can be handed out to a multitude of players, which is the basic "blue collar" theme with VPI, and this is what always keeps the Hokies in every preseason poll. This upcoming campaign has just as much chance of being that special. The "big however" is that four-year starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor has finally played his last game. Taylor was probably the most pivotal individual in the 2010 turnaround. His replacement will be a huge off-season trial played out in the eyes of a hopeful Blacksburg nation. One aspect is certain, Tech will continue to do what they do best...run with the ball, play solid defense and special teams. The trio of great runners including Ryan Williams, Darren Evans and David Wilson are all back in the fold. That physical offensive line returns all but one man. Every single receiver is back too. This all adds up for a huge bonus for the newbie behind center. The defensive losses are far less than what the Hokies just went through last off-season. The secondary has an All-American corner in Jayron Hosley which makes the old school Bud Foster blitzing defense that much better when lockdown corners are in the mix. The upcoming Orange Bowl versus Stanford is a huge measuring stick for both schools for next season. The winner should wind up in a Top 10 poll position entering next fall, the loser probably about five or so spots below that level. One note of importance, the Hokies have apparently grown tired of losing early season games against the likes of Alabama, LSU and Boise State and have reverted back to a horrific non-conference schedule to match a horrific conference schedule (as the ACC continues to struggle on a national level). If a soft schedule gets teams to a national title game, Virginia Tech is on board for 2011.