(14) Virginia Tech (5-3) at East Carolina (5-3)

Partly Cloudy Currently: Greenville, NC
Temp: 48° F
  • Game info: 7:30 pm EST Thu Nov 5, 2009

By JEFF MEZYDLO, STATS Senior Writer Nov 2, 11:10 pm EST

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After two consecutive losses, Virginia Tech is looking for some motivation. Facing East Carolina could help provide just that.

Trying to avoid their first three-game losing streak in six years, the visiting 22nd-ranked Hokies look to avenge a rare loss to the Pirates in a non-conference matchup Thursday night.

On Oct. 10, Virginia Tech (5-3) beat Boston College 48-14 for its fifth straight win to remain in the national championship picture. However, after losing 28-23 at then-No. 19 Georgia Tech and being upset 20-17 at home by North Carolina last Thursday, the Hokies are looking for motivation with their national title hopes dashed and ACC championship game chances suddenly slim.

“I think the motivation is to come out here so you don’t feel like this again,” said Hokies linebacker Cody Grimm, dismissing a sixth consecutive 10-win season as a motivator. “Ten wins is one thing, but I don’t want to feel like this any more and the only way to do that is to win.”

Virginia Tech hasn’t lost three in a row since dropping its final two regular-season games and falling 52-49 to California in the 2003 Insight Bowl. The Hokies were 5-3 at this point last year and went on to win five of six to finish 10-4.

That should be enough to give the Hokies a boost Thursday. If not, the memory of last season’s 27-22 upset loss to East Carolina in Charlotte, N. C., could help.

The Hokies had won six straight in the series, but the Pirates returned a blocked punt 27 yards for a touchdown with 1:52 left to stun then-No. 17 Virginia Tech in its season opener.

Though Virginia Tech leads the series 9-5, it should again be in for a challenge while making its first visit to Greenville since a 45-28 win Sept. 7, 2000.

“You get into some of these big-game atmospheres and it’s good to see our players understand the type of effort it’s going to take,” said East Carolina coach Skip Holtz, whose team has won six in a row at home.

“There is an awful lot of buildup and excitement for this game, venue and atmosphere. I think Greenville will come alive a little bit Thursday. We’re really excited to not only play Virginia Tech, but to play the team at home.”

Virginia Tech couldn’t hold a 14-0 lead against the Pirates last year and failed to keep a late three-point, fourth-quarter lead against North Carolina last week. Ryan Williams’ fumble led to the Tar Heels’ game-winning field goal as time expired and dropped the Hokies to 3-2 in the ACC.

Like his teammates, Williams - a freshman who’s rushed for 930 yards and 10 TDs - knows he must move on.

“There’s no reason to dwell on it. I can’t take it back,” Williams said. “I can’t change what happened. Thursday, I’ll be the same old guy and I’ll be ready to play.”

Quarterback Tyrod Taylor was sacked three times and did not throw a touchdown pass last Thursday after tossing at least one in six straight games and five over his previous three contests. Virginia Tech was held to 256 yards - its fewest since totaling 155 in a season-opening loss to Alabama.

Defensively, the Hokies allowed 181 yards on the ground after giving up a season-high 309 against Georgia Tech. Virginia Tech allows 154.1 rushing yards per contest.

“I firmly believe we are a good football team,” coach Frank Beamer said. “But the problem has been being consistently good. We have to continue to work to get that consistency.”

East Carolina (5-3) rushed for 158 yards against Virginia Tech last season and a season-high 275 in a 38-19 win at Memphis last Tuesday. The Pirates, first in Conference USA’s East Division, average 149.4 yards on the ground.

Dominique Lindsay rushed 22 times for 139 yards and Patrick Pinkney threw for 216 yards and a touchdown while running for two more scores as East Carolina won for the fourth time in five games.

Pinkney was 19 of 23 for 211 yards with a touchdown through the air and one on the ground against Virginia Tech last season.

East Carolina’s 31-17 loss at then-No. 24 North Carolina on Sept. 19 snapped a three-game winning streak against ranked opponents.

Updated Nov 2, 11:10 pm EST
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31 Comments

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  1. <i>trainmaster0816</i>
    31. Posted by trainmaster0816 Sat Nov 7 1:12am EST

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    Truth- VT still going to beat Florida in the national title game?
  2. Lucas
    30. Posted by Lucas Fri Nov 6 9:02pm EST

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    i think it's pathetic you people still think VT punished miami only because of rain. as far as i know, VT was at just as much a disadvantage, i mean it didn't rain at all that week before the game. get off the VT board and take your 3rd-grade educated, empty eggshells for heads and talk smack to ball state or someone. go tell ole miss that they lost to auburn because of the rain, because i'm sure VT fans are tired of hearing your redundant, feeble-minded excuses. miami was outplayed in every facet of that game, get over it.

    tyrod is good, but he won't be great. he could have been MUCH better had he not had to share snaps with glennon his first two seasons, we'll have to see if he progresses more next year. however, ryan williams is great already. he is going to be spectacular throughout his college career and he will be a constant nightmare for opposing defenses. i see him as a potential 1st round draft pick if he keeps this up.
  3. <i>kt35computer</i>
    29. Posted by kt35computer Fri Nov 6 9:01pm EST

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    VT played the game vs EC, and had a narrow miserable winning... hi hi....
  4. gipb
    28. Posted by gipb Fri Nov 6 6:25pm EST

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    John, stick to "fantasy football" if you must, but if you don't see what people like Lou Holtz see in Taylor, you are both blind and stupid. Take the last ten years, and compile a top ten teams ranking, and VT is one of them. Period.
  5. RustburgMike
    27. Posted by RustburgMike Fri Nov 6 6:07pm EST

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    Hey John, who pooped in your fruit loops? And I find it hilarious about folks who think Tech is nothing find time to post about it on here. Evny is a bad thing kiddies.
  6. John
    26. Posted by John Fri Nov 6 4:01pm EST

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    gipb,

    You are hilarious...Tyrod "suck" Taylor won't smell the pros. Face it, your program is overrated every year and every year cant get the job done. I predicted you guys before the season to have a 4 loss season and I'm sticking to it. You wer every luck to beat Nebraska and without rain Miami's offense marches up and down the field all day on you. No chance you win it all enxt year. You won't even win the ACC, which by the way is far inferior to other conferences.
  7. atul s
    25. Posted by atul s Fri Nov 6 3:34pm EST

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    A win is a win is a win.
  8. mark
    24. Posted by mark Fri Nov 6 3:19pm EST

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    not very impressive win if it wasnt for ryan williams tech would be nothing
  9. hokie sister
    23. Posted by hokie sister Fri Nov 6 2:46pm EST

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    here's my say, a wins a win and a lost is a lost, get over it and continue to the next scheduled game. tech 's not the only team that has been ever been over rated. Give the coaching staff and guys a break. i'm sure were not the only team with technical problems.
  10. atul s
    22. Posted by atul s Fri Nov 6 2:41pm EST

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    ECU D is not one of the best in the country. They are giving up 24 pts per game on average.

    VT' s D is solid but a far cry from a typical Foster VT D. They have given up some big plays in their losses and where has the special teams been?
  11. JCHANEY454
    21. Posted by JCHANEY454 Fri Nov 6 2:23pm EST

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    VT and ECU look like the same team to me. Taylor looks just as confused as Pinkney does at times, but Tyrod has the mobility to do damage. Both D's are the best in the county. We got a good running game (4 good starting running backs) and R Williams should def be a first round draft pick. Anybody could of won this game, but VT deserved it.
  12. atul s
    20. Posted by atul s Fri Nov 6 1:36pm EST

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    VT has a big issue with scoring points, Taylor can be blamed but he is not alone. This is just another classic VT season, on the verge of something special and then they go and lose a game they shouldn't.
  13. Troy
    19. Posted by Troy Fri Nov 6 11:54am EST

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    All it comes down to is we need a playoff system. Go to this site and sign the petition!

    division1playoffnow.com
  14. gipb
    18. Posted by gipb Fri Nov 6 11:46am EST

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    Stephen, I respect your 6th grade education, and perhaps you played sandlot football for a year or two, but you sir, know not of what you write. Taylor will be in the pro's...I said that. The fact you rate him a nobody, only shows your ignorance of talent in big bold letters. Go rant about something you may know about.
  15. <i>stephen_2006</i>
    17. Posted by stephen_2006 Fri Nov 6 11:03am EST

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    Gipb
    please tell me wat makes u think that VT is gonna be good next year with Taylor at QB. Are u tech fans in denial, he sucks ur getting no where wit him at QB (BradS) u must really be in denial to think taylor is a great QB. So then all teams got do is crowed the box and ur running game is toasted. VT is not gonna be contender next year they are gonna be the same Overrated team that they were this year. Only way u get to National contender next year is you have a freshman QB coming in that can pass the ball!!!
  16. gipb
    16. Posted by gipb Fri Nov 6 10:51am EST

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    Mr. Van Helsing, I hear you. To be a Hokie is to know that next year is the year we win it all. Hence, next year, with Evan's and Williams' in the backfield, and #5 Taylor(who has a boat load of talent, but is just now "getting it"), we will be in the mix yet again. It is old news and common knowledge we would trade Stinespring for any good up and coming water boy, and he would be THE BEST replacement for Mr. Al Groh in Wahoo land...if I got to choose anyway. Bottom line of my final semi-rant on this matter...Go Hokies!!
  17. Van Helsing
    15. Posted by Van Helsing Fri Nov 6 10:10am EST

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    It wasn't pretty except for another stellar performance from Ryan Williams but we'll take the win. EC is a good team no doubt but they hurt themselves with turnovers. Although they didn't look like the same team that crushed Miami and BC Tech gutted it out and brought home a victory. We'll take it. Tech is still a mystery to me and it almost seems like they are regrouping and starting the season all over again after the two devastating losses in a row. They seem tentative on offense at times and are not the typical opportunistic "Tech team" of past years on defense. Probably overrated early on but Tech is still a good team with flashes of greatness at times. That said, I feel they are good enough to run the rest of the table achieving another 10 win season barring any key injuries. Go Hokies!!!
  18. gipb
    14. Posted by gipb Fri Nov 6 9:06am EST

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    Furthermore, g-money stated..."This game should have been severly lopsided but the offense once again didn't show up."

    Come on g-money, I'm not sure what game you watched, but when I see a freshman RB run for 179 yards, and Tyrod making the defense look like they have granny speed, to go with what is a truly good looking ball thrown around the field, I see OFFENSE. I'm just saying.
  19. gipb
    13. Posted by gipb Fri Nov 6 8:47am EST

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    g-money, I'm so correct, I posted it twice. Ask Miami if Tech is tough. My point is, year in and year out, VT is a player, and can win any time they step onto the field. Much like baseball, and due to parity throughout the college realm, you just don't win every game you play. But when you are one of three teams to win 10 games in the past six seasons, and still catching a bunch of grief from the peanut gallery, a clue is desperately needed. You don't see that g-money?
  20. g-money
    12. Posted by g-money Fri Nov 6 8:24am EST

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    gipb. VT is not that tough. They only beat ECU by 13! This game should have been severly lopsided but the offense once again didn't show up. I will give credit to the D though. But they also don't show up for every game either. Williams can't carry the whole team and Tyrod is far from being a leader so they still have alot of growing to do.
  21. gipb
    11. Posted by gipb Fri Nov 6 8:18am EST

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    As a brainwashed Hokie starting back in the 1960's, I must say you folks slamming Tech for not being on course for 12-0 or 11-1 sure do think you know football. Take a step back and look at the big picture. VT is a team everyone marks on their schedule as a tough game where being hit hard is a given. Coach Beamer has forgotten more about college football than you people will ever know. Give credit where credit is due, Beamer is a class act, and VT is bowl bound yet again. Get a clue is my point. VT football rocks, and if you don't see that, perhaps you don't know your rear from a hole in the ground, and should not be writing as if you do.
  22. gipb
    10. Posted by gipb Fri Nov 6 8:16am EST

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    As a brainwashed Hokie starting back in the 1960's, I must say you folks slamming Tech for not being on course for 12-0 or 11-1 sure do think you know football. Take a step back and look at the big picture. VT is a team everyone marks on their schedule as a tough game where being hit hard is a given. Coach Beamer has forgotten more about college football than you people will ever know. Give credit where credit is due, Beamer is a class act, and VT is bowl bound yet again. Get a clue is my point. VT football rocks, and if you don't see that, perhaps you don't know your rear from a hole in the ground, and should not be writing as if you do.
  23. Juash
    9. Posted by Juash Fri Nov 6 8:14am EST

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    With VT, the offense has always been hit or miss. Stinespring needs to get his act together calling plays. When those third and short situations arise, 9 times out of 10 he calls a running play and the opposing defenses always seem to know what's coming. If they utilized the play action with that great running game, they could be unstoppable. And when a D line is giving them trouble, run some freaking screen plays or draws, for God's sakes. Even though they won the game, they didn't play as well as they should have. Not to take anything away from EC, they're a good team; but with the talent and athleticism on the Offensive side of VT, they should be putting up 40+ points per game.
    A great program like VT can afford to go out and get a really good OC to complement Bud Foster and Beamer ball, and they should.
  24. P C
    8. Posted by P C Fri Nov 6 12:56am EST

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    Is it over yet? What a brutally bad football game.
  25. BradS
    7. Posted by BradS Fri Nov 6 12:38am EST

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    so much for the 11-1 season they were picked to have. Oh well. Taylor is a great QB. He has proven his passing game, though. We know he can do it. I wish he would run the ball more. With Glennon gone, I suppose it is tougher. God bless Williams stepping up for Evans, too.
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