The Hokies played a statement game today to a diverse audience of people who matter:
- High school coaches looking to see which school to point their rising graduates to;
- Pro scouts looking at talent, searching for glimpses of NFL potential;
- High school (and younger) players looking for a school and football program worthy of their skills;
- A gaggle of NCAA football pundits from the local media, and ESPN;
- Oh yes, and a bunch of fans wanting to, but unsure if they were ready to, believe.
The Boys from Blacksburg came to play today, and they helped answer many of the concerns of the various elements above -- oh, and I almost forgot -- they also blew up and laid to waste the rising ACC football juggernaut known as the Virginia Cavaliers in Scott Stadium in the process.
I am still on a post-game high, and it's getting late, so I just want to leave you with some star notes regarding some familiar and less-familiar names.
Bud Foster's Defense -- How we manage to hold onto Bud Foster ("Australian for Fear") year-after-year is beyond me. He loses 1/3 of his starters on defense and still puts together defensive game plans that beat all comers. Jack Tyler has played lights-out since he was named starter after Bruce Taylor went down. He has stepped up like Bruce Taylor did last season when Barquell Rivers couldn't go. But every player on defense contributed to this win, from the secondary, to backers, to defensive line: Exum, Hosley, Whitley, Fuller, Bonner, Edwards, Tyler, Gayle (relentless), Hopkins (active), Maddy (freshman) and JR Collins (did you see that interception?) -- they all played like warriors.
Offensive Line -- These guys don't get nearly enough press. They are playing big and keeping LT off of the turf. David Wilson gets a lot of yards on his own, but they were really opening holes for him in the second half against the Cavs. They protected Thomas all day, and even gave him a few rushing lanes at opportune times: DeChristopher (aka, Grizzly Adams), Brooks, Lanier, Nosal, and Miller -- and Via, who has filled in when Miller was out. Someone seems to miss one assignment per game that blows up one play (badly), but overall they are solid.
Logan Thomas -- Okay, this is already sounding like a broken record; but this kid is the real deal. The game and his position as quarterback make sense to him. Never rattled under pressure, he is a commanding leader in the huddle, in the middle of the chaos in the field, on the sideline between possessions, and off the field. And he is making smart decisions when he is "in the moment", and he is doing all of this in his first year as a starter. (What are we becoming? Southern Cal?) Anyway, his numbers were 13-for-21 for 187 yards including 2 TDs and no picks. Oh yeah, and he ran for a touchdown as well. Finally, on a play that got called back due to a block-in-the-back penalty on another Hokie, LT blew up UVA saftey Rodney McLeod. Ouch.
David (MF) Wilson -- (I know that "MF" is/was kind of reserved for Ryan Williams, but Ryan left for the NFL, and DW is here; so I'm going with it.) This guy is so good that I am starting to worry that he might do something crazy, like leaving for the pro's after the season is over. I and every other Hokie fan have my fingers crossed that he will at least grace us with one more (Heisman) year. Anyway, today he put up 153 yards on 24 carries including 2 TDs; his longest was 38 yards. (He always sprinkles in a few of those each game, just to make us worry more about him leaving.)
Marcus Davis -- Nice to see Marcus get a big game. 5 catches for 119 yards, including a 52-yarder and a TD. Not too shabby. Logan Thomas spreads the ball around and keeps everyone in the game. Davis' number came up this evening in the offensive scheme against UVA's defense, and he answered the call.
Danny Coale -- I saved my comments on Danny for last, because he probably had the greatest influence on the outcome of the game. Before the game, he fired the team up in the hotel. The media was proclaiming this game as the WaHoo's coming-out party and ESPN's GameDay crew questioned VT's BCS 5th place ranking pedigree. Coale is a senior, and he comports himself like one. 2 catches for 15 yards? Doesn't sound like much? Well, how does this sound: 4 punts, averaging 47.5 yards with a long of 52 yards. Beamer has a ton of confidence in Coale in critical situations, and he certainly proved worthy of it in this game. Punting has been a disaster for the Hokies this season. I expect that Coale will be punting against Clemson, as well as against whomever we play in a bowl game. It might diminish his receiving production a little, but not his contribution to the team.
GO HOKIES!!
