THE SPORTS DESK
College Football: Bowl victory gives Virginia Tech needed boost
RUSSELL ATHLETIC BOAL WIN SALVAGES
SEASON, BUT DIFFICULT OFFSEASON AWAITS
BY NATHAN WARTERS
THE FREE LANCE–STAR
ORLANDO—Virginia Tech displayed all the offensive deficiencies that contributed to its worst season in 20 years Friday night against Rutgers, but it still escaped Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium with a 13–10 overtime victory in the Russell Athletic Bowl.
The Hokies struggled offensively for most of the game before scoring 13 straight points in the fourth quarter and overtime. They managed a season-low 196 total yards and finished with only three rushing yards, their fewest in a win in Frank Beamer’s 26 seasons as coach.
Virginia Tech’s defense bailed out the offense with a stellar performance against a not-so-prolific Rutgers offense that was without 1,000-yard tailback Jawan Jamison for most of the fourth quarter and overtime. The Hokies held the Scarlet Knights to only 196 yards and no offensive touchdowns.
The Hokies won its final three games despite its punchless offense. It needed critical defensive plays and some clutch field goals from kicker Cody Journell to put away Boston College, Virginia and Rutgers to end the season.
“We never lose hope with the guys on the other side of the ball,” said Hokies cornerback Antone Exum, who set up the game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter with an interception and 32-yard return. “We knew they would at some point make the plays that needed to be made for us to take the lead.”
An offensive overhaul could be in store for the Hokies this offseason. Rumors are swirling about changes to the offensive coaching staff, and quarterback Logan Thomas, who struggled in his second season as a starter despite finishing with a school-record 3,500 total yards, is considering an early move to the NFL.
Beamer declined to address the rumors about coaching changes after the win over the Scarlet Knights, but it appears some movement may have already begun.
Wide receivers coach Kevin Sherman may be on the way out after seven seasons on the Hokies’ staff. Pete Roussel of coachingsearch.com reported Friday that Sherman is expected to accept a position at Purdue under new head coach Darrell Hazell.
When asked after the bowl win if he was taking the position at Purdue, Sherman said, “My focus right now is enjoying this win. I don’t know what you’re talking about just yet.”
Sherman, who confirmed he has ties to Purdue’s new staff, wouldn’t say if he’d be back with the Hokies next season and deferred all questions about possible coaching changes to Beamer.
Virginia Tech offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring also offered little information when asked if he was exploring other coaching opportunities.
“I’ve been blessed and feel like there’s been opportunities, but unless we get to that point, I don’t spend a lot of time talking about the ifs and the possibilities,” Stinespring said. “That doesn’t do any good. I concentrate on what I’m doing right now.”
Thomas completed only 15 of 39 passes for 193 yards and was intercepted twice by the Scarlet Knights, but he led a fourth-quarter comeback and tied the game 10–10 with 10:56 left in regulation with a pinpoint 21-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Corey Fuller.
It was one of few offensive highlights for the Hokies, who were held to 84 yards and no points through three quarters.
“We finally got into a groove of what we were expecting [Rutgers’ defense] to do, and we started picking things up time after time,” Thomas said. “We were just feeling them out, just like a boxer.”
Thomas appears torn between staying for his senior season and leaving early for the NFL. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper thinks Thomas still has first-round potential this year, but Thomas is waiting to hear back from the NFL’s draft advisory board to get a better idea of where he might be selected.
“I think the important thing is to get accurate information, responsible information, and then he’ll make a good decision,” Beamer said. “He’s a smart guy, and he will make a good decision, and that’s the way it needs to be.”
Nathan Warters: 540/374-5442
nwarters@freelancestar.com
