ACC Bowl Season
They answered the call–the top two coaches of the past decade in the ACC both led their teams to big victories for the schools/conference to draw the conference to .500 with the Orange Bowl being the tiebreaker next Tuesday.
Hokies Trounce the Prius Robbers Volunteers 37-14
Ryan Williams(do I even need to continue?). Williams went crazy on the Vols with 117 yards and 2 TDs as he was clearly the best on the field every time he stepped on it in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. Virginia Tech kept up its streak of allowing no points in the second half as they shut down Tennessee and allowed the offense(Ryan Williams) to work its magic to pull away. Other positive signs were that when Williams went down the injury–the talented stable of backs behind him just picked up where he left off so that the Hokies could keep the foot on the SEC-pummeling gas pedal. ACC 2 SEC 0. As for next year, it may even be hard for Stinespring to mess up this offense, but don’t get too cozy with possibly being the ACC Champs preseason again, Hokies fans. It will be another tough season in the Coastal with some outstanding, but inconsistent teams.
Bowden Goes Out on Top with Great Team Effort in a 33-21 Mountaineer Mashing
It was OVER. Mountaineers were slicing through the Noles defense like a warm knife through butter behind Noel Devine with a second TD to make it 14-3 and going for a FG to make it two TDs–then they missed it…then they threw an INT…then the starting QB was injured…then the modified FSU offense to fit Manuel’s strengths got going and somehow, some way FSU pulled away from the Mountaineers. Florida State RB Jermaine Thomas thrived in the run-centered attack of the Noles with 121 yards and 2 TDs with a offense reminiscent of a Rich-Rod-West Virginia at times as Manuel successfully was able to freeze the defense with read-option plays all game. A game like this reminds us all of how much of an offensive mind Jimbo Fisher is as he was able to install successfully an entire offensive scheme to fit his backup QB before a bowl game. He got some practice with an ugly version of it down the stretch of the season, but it looked smooth in the second half when the Noles pulled away. With Ponder coming back next season, the Noles’ offense will be Big XIIish good while the defense is a major question mark–even with a new DC in Mark Stoops. Adios Coach Bowden and have fun in retirement as you left an outstanding legacy and returning team for the next era of Florida State football–really can’t ask to be remembered for anything better than that.
It’s all on you Georgia Tech…bring us over .500! Going to do some linkfest fun before the Orange Bowl then a live blog for the game…thanks for reading!
