So it happened again. Tech beat U.Va. for the eighth time in nine years. Should we even be surprised? Now a whole class of Wahoos will graduate having never seen our football team beat Tech. People are sad in Hooville. But things could have been much worse. Remember last year, when Tech shut out Virginia 17-0? That wasn't as bad as two years ago after Virginia fans camped out for days outside Scott Stadium, Tech thumped Virginia harder than a Mack truck and walked out with a 52-14 win. So here's a list of reasons why losing to our friends down south isn't so bad.
- Virginia wraps up its season at 9-3. Considering most people predicted this team to get five wins, I'd say we did pretty well.
- The team had zero support after losing to Wyoming 23-3 to start the season. I haven't heard anyone talk about firing Al Groh in the last two and a half months.
- Tech needed the win more than we did. There was no way they could lose that game and not be embarrassed. They're too good a team on paper. There's a reason why this game was so big -- because a win was a tremendous task. Virginia gave Tech a run for its money. Had we won by one point, Tech would have blown the game, blown the season and put a severe damper on the recovery Blacksburg is making.
- We didn't really deserve to win. Not after "Adventures of CavMan" played on HooVision. How lame was that? I'm all for sportsmanship, but since when was a cartoon CavMan tapping a Hokie with a sword until it spontaneously combusts unsportsmanlike conduct? I doubt anyone was pumped to win after that display of team pride.
- Did you see Chris Long pummel Sean Glennon? Get ready Tom Brady. That's you, next year, face down in the grass after being sacked by a rookie defensive end. Long has 14 sacks on the season and fell just one short of tying the school record of 15 in a season.
- Jameel Sewell was money, rushing for two touchdowns on the day. For advice on how not to tackle him, ask any member of the Tech defensive line.
- Freshman cornerback Ras-I Dowling figures to be a huge part of the secondary next season after showing glimmers of success this season. And not a moment too soon. Unfortunately, Dowling suffered a concussion early in the game, keeping him out of the action.
- Virginia scored 21 points against the Hokies, who had given up only 14.1 points per game before Saturday. The only teams that have scored more than 21 points against Tech this season are LSU (48) and Clemson (23) -- both offensive juggernauts. Our three rushing touchdowns were the most any team has gotten against Tech except for LSU's four. Don't tell me we don't have an offense.
- This was a season to remember. Virginia had five victories by two points or fewer. The Cavaliers were the most exciting team to watch in the country. I'll remember the Maryland game my entire life. Some guy no one had ever heard of named Mikell Simpson was simply unstoppable. The only better game I've seen at U.Va. was against Florida State in 2005.
- Matt Ryan beat Tech once already. And this time he doesn't have to do it in Blacksburg on a Thursday night.
- Virginia is probably headed to Orlando for the Champs Sports Bowl. If Tech wins next week, they head to the Orange Bowl in Miami. Who wants to worry about getting shot when you can just go to Disney World? (And who can believe the Dolphins cut Marcus Vick? He seemed to fit right in.)
- Lastly, there's always basketball. Last time I checked, the Hokies aren't supposed to be very good this season.
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