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Virginia Tech Hokies
Current season:
AmericanFootball current event 2023 Virginia Tech Hokies
Virginia Tech Hokies NCAA-ACC-2019 VT Hokies Maroon Helmet
First season 1892
Athletic director Whit Babcock
Head coach Brent Pry
1st year, 3–8 (.272)
Home stadium Lane Stadium
Stadium capacity 65,632
Stadium surface Bermuda Grass
Conference ACC
Division Coastal
All-time history
Virginia Tech Hokies Historical Teams
1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899
1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909
1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919
1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929
1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939
1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949
1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959
1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969
1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
All-time record 760–486–46 (.606)
Postseason bowl record 13–21 (.382)
Conference titles 11
Consensus All-Americans 8
Current uniform
NCAA-ACC-VT Hokies 2019 Jerseys
Colors Chicago maroon, Burnt orange, and White

                     

Fight song Tech Triumph
Mascot Hokie Bird, Gobbler
Marching band The Marching Virginians
Outfitter Nike
Rivals Virginia Cavaliers
Miami Hurricanes
Boston College Eagles
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Website HokieSports.com

The Virginia Tech Hokies football team represents the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University located in Blacksburg, Virginia. The Hokies are a member of the NCAA FBS Atlantic Coast Conference and play their home games at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg. The Hokies are currently coached by Brent Pry.

They have more wins in team history than any other program in the ACC. Their home games are played at Lane Stadium, which seats over 65,000 fans and has been dubbed as the most exciting entrance in college football. Lane Stadium is considered to be one of the loudest stadiums in the country, being voted number one in ESPN's "Top 20 Scariest Places to Play". Also, it was recognized in 2005 by Rivals.com as having the best home-field advantage in the country.[1]

The Hokies currently have the third-longest bowl game streak in the country, having participated in the postseason every year since 1993. Only Florida State and Florida have longer current streaks. In program history, the Hokies have finished with a Top-10 ranking six times, won eight conference championships (one Southern Conference three Big East and four ACC), and played once for the national championship, losing to Florida State 46–29 in the 2000 Sugar Bowl. Tech currently holds the nation's longest streak of 10+ win seasons at 8 and have a combined record since the 2004 season of 65-16-0, 3rd best to only Boise State and LSU.

History[]

File:VAMC92.jpg

Virginia Tech's inaugural football team in 1892

Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College (VAMC for shot, now Virginia Tech) first played football on October 21, 1892 against St. Albans Lutheran Boys School (Radford, Virginia). The game took place on a plowed off wheat field that was "about as level as a side of Brush Mountain".[2] The Hokies won their first game 14-10, but were defeated 10-0 eight days later on a return trip to Radford.[3] The first several VAMC teams wore cadet gray and black, but in 1896 the colors were changed to Burnt Orange and Chicago Maroon – a color combination that was unique among educational institutions at the time. In 1912, the school, which changed its name to the Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI), adopted the team nickname "Gobblers", which they would use until the 1979, as it changed the tem official name to "Hokies" in 1980 (the school also changed its name to its present name, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, or Virginia Tech for short, in 1970).

  • Main article: 1947 Sun Bowl

Virginia Tech's first post-season bowl appearance was in the 1947 Sun Bowl against the University of Cincinnati.[4] Tech had a 3-3-3 record that year, and was the third choice after Border Conference champions Hardin-Simmins University and runner-up Texas Tech both declined the bowl invitation.[5] Tech lost that game 18-6.

Another first for the Hokies came in 1954 when they had their first, and only, unbeaten season in school history. The team was 8-0-1 and finished ranked 16th in the Associated Press post-season football poll.[6] The team's lone blemish was a 7-7 tie against William & Mary in Blacksburg, VA. Despite the team's success, it did not appear in a post-season bowl game.

In 1981, the team changed its nickname from the "Gobblers" to the "Hokies".

Big East years[]

Virginia Tech joined the Big East Conference for football play in 1991.

The 13th ranked Hokies defeated the 9th ranked Texas Longhorns in the 1995 Sugar Bowl.

Virginia Tech's most successful football season was in 1999. The Hokies, led by redshirt freshman quarterback Michael Vick went 11–0 through the regular season. On November 3, the Hokies came from behind to win over the West Virginia Mountaineers when Vick led a desperate last minute drive that culminated in a dramatic Shayne Graham game winning field goal. The 22–20 victory has since become known as the "Miracle in Morgantown."[7]

On January 4, the Hokies faced the Florida State Seminoles in the 2000 Sugar Bowl for the national championship. A back and forth game, the Hokies trailed 28–7 late in the second quarter but came back to take a 29–28 lead at the start of the fourth. However they were not able to hold on and the Seminoles won 46–29.

The following season the Hokies were again contenders for the national championship, but a loss to #3 Miami Hurricanes in early November, in a game in which starting QB Michael Vick did not play because of an injury, cost them a trip to the Orange Bowl. The Hokies later went on to defeat the Clemson Tigers 41–20 in the 2001 Gator Bowl.

ACC years[]

At the start of the 2004 season, the Hokies faced the #1 and eventual national champion USC Trojans in the BCA Classic played at FedEx Field in Landover, MD. The Hokies kept the game close, but eventually lost 24–13. The regular season ended with the Hokies winning the ACC championship in their first year in the conference and a return to the Sugar Bowl and a match-up with the Auburn Tigers. Auburn, the SEC champion and one of three undefeated teams (USC and Oklahoma being the other two) took a 16–0 lead into the fourth quarter. Led by senior quarterback Bryan Randall, the Hokies scored 13 points but fell just short of the comeback when the Tigers recovered an onside kick and ran out the clock.

The 2005 season saw many ups and downs, but would end in disappointment. Taking over for Bryan Randall was Marcus Vick, younger brother of Tech great Michael. The Hokies started off the season 8–0, including victories over West Virginia and ACC rivals Georgia Tech and Boston College. Going into the tenth week of the season, the Hokies were ranked 3rd in the country behind USC and Texas and would face the 5th ranked Miami Hurricanes at home. In anticipation of the match-up, ESPN's College Gameday would broadcast from Blacksburg and the game would be broadcast nationally on ESPN. The Hurricanes controlled the game and limited Marcus Vick to only 90 yards passing to win 27–7.

Marcus Vick led the Hokies and went on to win the ACC coastal, but lost in the ACC Championship Game to Florida State. The Hokies again trailed the Seminoles by double digits at halftime, 27–3, but a Vick led comeback brought the score to 27–22 with 1:45 left in the fourth quarter. The Hokies were unable to recover the onside kick and lost their chance at a BCS Bowl berth.

The Hokies closed off the season against the upstart Louisville Cardinals in the 2006 Gator Bowl. Virginia Tech won 35–24, but the game would become infamous for a play that would contribute to Vick's expulsion from the team. Late in the first half, with the Hokies trailing 17–10, Vick was tackled by Cardinals defensive end Elvis Dumervil. After the play, Vick stomped on Dumervil's leg, apparently out of anger. Four days after the game, Virginia Tech officials learned of two misdemeanor charges of speeding and driving on a suspended or revoked driver's license that Vick received on December 17 of the previous year. Vick, who was forced to sit out the 2004 football season by the university due to previous legal incidents in his college career, was dismissed from the team on January 6, 2006, with the university citing "a cumulative effect of legal infractions and unsportsmanlike play.".[8]

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Sean Glennon was set to take over for Vick in the 2006 season. Although consecutive losses to Georgia Tech and Boston College knocked the Hokies out of contention for the ACC Championship Game, the Tech team finished the season strong, winning six in a row and being invited to the 2006 Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta. In the annual ACC vs SEC match-up, the Hokies played the Georgia Bulldogs. At halftime the Hokies led 21–3, but four second half Glennon turnovers helped the Bulldogs in coming back and winning 31–24.

After the Virginia Tech shootings that stunned the campus and nation, the remainder of Tech's spring practice was canceled. The Hokies, led by running back Brandon Ore on offense and linebackers Vince Hall and Xavier Adibi looked to be in contention for a berth in the national Championship. The 2007 home opener against the East Carolina Pirates was the subject of College GameDay, and the Hokies prevailed in an emotional, albeit shaky game 17–7. They then traveled to Baton Rouge, LA to play the LSU Tigers. In a game that saw Glennon replaced by true freshman quarterback Tyrod Taylor, the Hokies were completely dominated, only managing 149 total yards against the Tigers' 598. Taylor scored the only touchdown of the night after an 8 play, 65 yard drive.

Taylor continued to start until an injury removed him from a 43–14 blowout of Duke. In a Thursday night match-up with Boston College, Glennon reclaimed his starting position. In a game plagued by rain storms and wet conditions, the Hokies took a 10–0 lead late into the fourth quarter. Eagles quarterback Matt Ryan spurred a late Boston College comeback, leading two TD drives in the final five minutes for a 14–10 win. Despite the devastating loss, Virginia Tech rebounded to win the remainder of its regular season games and claim the Coastal Division crown. A rematch with Boston College in the ACC Championship Game saw Tech fall behind early, tie the game by halftime, then grind out a tense 30–16 win to advance to the Orange Bowl.

Seasons[]

Recent results[]

Current Coaching Staff[]

Name Position
Justin Fuente Head Coach
Brad Cornelsen Offensive Coordinator
Quarterbacks Coach
Zohn Burden Running Backs Coach
Holmon Wiggins Wide Receivers Coach
James Shibest Special Teams Coordinator
Tight Ends Coach
Vance Vice Offensive Line Coach
Bud Foster Defensive Coordinator
Charley Wiles Defensive Line Coach
Vacant Linebackers Coach
Torrian Gray Defensive Secondary Coach
Danielle Bartelstein Senior Director of Football Operations

Championships[]

Conference championships[]

Conference Affiliations

Year Conference Overall Record Conference Record
1916 South Atlantic 7-2 0-0
1918 South Atlantic 7-0 0-0
1963 Southern 8-2 5-0
1995† Big East 10-2 6-1
1996† Big East 10-2 6-1
1999 Big East 11-1 7-0
2004 ACC 10-3 7-1
2007* ACC 11-3 8-1
2008* ACC 10-4 6-3
2010* ACC 11-2 9-0
Total conference championships 8
† Denotes co-champions
  • Conference record includes conference championship game

Divisional championships[]

Virginia Tech has appeared in the ACC Championship Game as the winner of the Coastal Division five times. The 2005 team entered the inaugural ACC championship game as heavy favorites but went on to lose to Atlantic Division winner Florida State. During the 2007 season, the Hokies once again took the Coastal division to set up a rematch of their earlier loss to Boston College. Virginia Tech prevailed 30–16. History repeated itself in 2008, when the Hokies defeated Boston College by a score of 30–12 after having lost to the Eagles during the regular season. In 2010 Virginia Tech went undefeated in league play, defeating Atlantic Division winner Florida State in the league championship game in Charlotte, NC, 44-33. In 2011 Virginia Tech lost to Clemson for a 2nd time that season, their only two season losses.

Year Division Championship ACC CG Result Opponent PF PA
2005 ACC Coastal L Florida State 22 27
2007 ACC Coastal W Boston College 30 16
2008 ACC Coastal W Boston College 30 12
2010 ACC Coastal W Florida State 44 33
2011 ACC Coastal L Clemson 10 38
Totals 5 3-2 - 132 126

Bowl games[]

  • Main article: List of Virginia Tech Hokies bowl games

Virginia Tech has played in 24 bowl games. The Hokies have appeared in several Gator, Peach and Orange Bowls.

Trophy games[]

Individual award winners[]

Players[]

Sammy Baugh Trophy (quarterback)
  • Don Strock - 1972
Bronko Nagurski Trophy (defense)
  • Corey Moore - 1999
Dave Rimington Trophy (center)
  • Jake Grove - 2003
Lombardi Award (lineman or linebacker)
  • Corey Moore - 1999
Outland Trophy (interior lineman)
  • Bruce Smith - 1984

Coaches[]

Paul "Bear" Bryant Award
George Munger Award
  • Frank Beamer - 1999
Joseph V. Paterno Award
  • Frank Beamer - 2010
Broyles Award (assistant coaches)
Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award
  • Frank Beamer 1999

First overall selections in the NFL Draft[]

See also[]

  • List of Virginia Tech Hokies bowl games
  • Virginia Tech Hokies football seasons

Further reading[]

  • Beamer, Frank and Colston, Chris. Turn up the Wick. 223 pages. Epic Sports: 2000. ISBN 1-928846-32-7.
  • Schlabach, Mark. What it Means to be a Hokie. 272 pages. Triumph Books: 2006. ISBN 1-57243-851-7.

Logos/Uniforms[]

References[]

  1. Lavender, David (2005-08-21). No place like home. Retrieved on 2006-07-01.
  2. Pieper, Lindsay (2006-09-02). From wheat to Worsham: The history of Lane. Collegiate Times. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved on 2007-07-28.
  3. Virginia Tech Football Past Schedules - 1892. hokiesports.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-28.
  4. http://www.hokiesports.com/football/bowls/1947Sun.html
  5. Colston, Chris. Tales from the Virginia Tech Sidelines. Sports Publishing LLC, 2003. Page 26.
  6. http://www.hokiesports.com/football/schedule/1954
  7. http://www.techsideline.com/football/2001/games/wvupreview.htm
  8. Schlabach, Mark (2006-11-07). Virginia Tech Sacks Vick. The Washington Post.

Notable Alumni[]

External Links[]

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