CFI: VIRGINIA TECH PLAYS "SPECIAL” FOOTBALL

BY ARTHUR DiCESARE
ACC INSIDER

It was your typical Virginia Tech performance another big road victory over a ranked opponent. Virginia Tech’s dominating 41-23 win over Clemson was highlighted by “Beamer Ball” -- an interception for a touchdown, a kickoff for a touchdown, and a punt for a touchdown. Tech started the game off with a 32-yard interception for a touchdown by senior D.J. Parker. Up 10-0, the electrifying Eddie Royal, who had done nothing so far this year took a punt back 82 yards for a touchdown and quickly Virginia Tech had a 17-0 first quarter lead, which had the Death Valley crowd of over 82,000 silent. Royal almost upped the lead to 24 a series later when he had another punt return for a touchdown called back for an illegal block. Macho Harris returned a kickoff 100 yards following Clemson's first score completely taking the bite out of the Tigers.

Frank Beamer has built his brilliant special teams play over his 21-year career at Virginia Tech where they have by far had the best special teams in the country scoring 63 non-offensive touchdowns since 1999 the most in that span. This was the first time in Beamer’s career that his team returned a punt and a kick for touchdowns in the same game.

Tech’s defense was equally as strong lead by senior linebackers Xavier Adibi and Vince Hall who were all over the field exhibiting their skills against a high-powered offensive unit. The Hokies held Clemson’s Thunder & Lightning tandem of C.J. Spiller and James Davis to 12 yards on 12 carries. The ground game was so infective that Clemson quarterback Cullen Harper had to throw 66 passes.

It was a dominating performance all around. Tech finally started to see the raw potential of true freshman Tyrod Taylor, although he only threw for 65 yards with one touchdown he rushed for 118 yards and picked up numerous first downs. More importantly, Taylor had zero turnovers and showed the smarts to take sacks and throw the ball out of bounds instead of forcing turnovers. Taylor a Hampton, Virginia native, an area that has also produced the Vick brothers and their cousin Aaron Brooks looks to be the next in the long line of duel threat quarterbacks. When all is said an done he could become the most successful of all these quarterbacks because of his maturity and ability to play within the game and not try to force or make plays that are simply not there, although Michael Vick’s standard is high, if only in Blacksburg.

Virginia Tech looks to have bounced back after their embarrassing defeat three weeks ago 48-7 at LSU. With the ACC wide open this season -- Virginia Tech has positioned themselves right at the top of the Costal standings. If the Hokies can continue to play “Beamer Bowl” and have Taylor continue to grow at quarterback Virginia Tech could be a tough team to deal with in the upcoming weeks, especially with the “special” brand of football that they play.