UVa. wins nailbiter at Virginia Tech, 61-59
A 17-2 second-half run erased an eight-point deficit, and Virginia held on after losing its starting guards to foul trouble in the final two minutes to post a 61-59 win over Virginia Tech in Blacksburg Tuesday night.
The Hokies had won two of their last three on buzzer-beaters, and had a chance to win another one at the end after Akil Mitchell missed the front end of a one-and-one with 22.5 seconds left. Tech coach Seth Greenberg called timeout to set up a game-winning play, but his team never got a shot off.
UVa. (21-6, 8-5 ACC) had several chances to close the game out down the stretch, but missed the front ends of three consecutive one-and-ones in the final minute to leave the door open. Continue reading “UVa. wins nailbiter at Virginia Tech, 61-59” »
UVa. women win at Tech
The Virginia women’s basketball team defeated in-state and Atlantic Coast Conference rival Virginia Tech, 66-40, Sunday (Feb. 19) afternoon in Blacksburg, Va.
The Cavaliers improved to 19-9 overall and 7-7 in ACC play. The loss dropped Virginia Tech’s record to 7-20 overall and 3-11 in league play. Continue reading “UVa. women win at Tech” »
ACC announces scheduling plans
Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner John Swofford announced on Friday the future scheduling formats as approved by the ACC’s Faculty Athletic Representatives and Athletics Directors.
The announcement was made following the annual ACC Winter Meetings and will go in effect once Pittsburgh and Syracuse become playing members in the conference.
“We have been engaged in discussions on the various options for integrating Pitt and Syracuse since early fall,” said ACC Commissioner John Swofford. “It’s a tremendous tribute to the leadership at our schools that we will be able to seamlessly add Pitt and Syracuse at the appropriate time when they become full playing members.” Continue reading “ACC announces scheduling plans” »
Chris Graham: Rivalry karma
They say things like, Throw the records of these two teams out the window when they get together, because they’re bitter rivals.
Throw the records out and everything else when Virginia and Virginia Tech get together.
OK, so Tech’s 47-45 win on Sunday came in a game that you could also say set basketball back a few decades.
Seth Greenberg, whose team had come in 0-4 in the ACC and seemed on the verge of an ugly implosion after blowing an eight-point second-half lead at home against North Carolina on Thursday, will take it nonetheless. Continue reading “Chris Graham: Rivalry karma” »
Hokies upset #15 UVa., 47-45
Junior guard Erick Green scored 15 points and senior guard Dorenzo Hudson had 12 points to lead Virginia Tech to a 47-45 win over Virginia in an Atlantic Coast Conference game Sunday night (Jan. 22) at John Paul Jones Arena.
The loss was the first of the season at home for UVa and ended a 10-game winning streak for the Cavaliers at JPJA. Virginia is now 15-3 overall and 2-2 in the ACC.
Virginia is ranked 15th in the latest Associated Press poll and 17th in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll.
Senior forward Mike Scott, junior guard Jontel Evans and sophomore guard Joe Harris each scored 10 points for the Cavaliers. Harris had seven rebounds and Scott six.
The win improved Virginia Tech’s record to 12-7 and the Hokies are now 1-4 in the ACC. Continue reading “Hokies upset #15 UVa., 47-45” »
Beautiful Gardens program announces VT Spirit daylily
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Beautiful Gardens program are proud to introduce VT Spirit, a new daylily bred to showcase the colors and community spirit of Virginia Tech University. This is the first new plant released by the Beautiful Gardens Plant Introduction Program.
VT Spirit is hardy in all Virginia growing zones and boasts a longer than average bloom season for daylilies. This plant was bred by Virginia Tech graduate Linda Pinkham and donated to the Beautiful Gardens program for evaluation and introduction. The VT Spirit daylily is available from Brent and Becky’s Bulbs in Gloucester, VA, and can be purchased online or through their catalog. Continue reading “Beautiful Gardens program announces VT Spirit daylily” »
UVa. women rally past Virginia Tech, 52-39
Senior guard Ariana Moorer (Woodbridge, Va.) netted her 1,000th-career point as the Virginia women’s basketball team (14-4, 2-2 ACC) topped Virginia Tech, 52-39, Thursday at John Paul Jones Arena. The victory also marked the 800th win in the history of the Cavalier program.
Moorer finished with 11 points, one of three Virginia players in double figures, and led the team on the boards with a game-high eight rebounds. Junior guard Lexie Gerson (Fort Washington, Pa.) paced the Cavaliers with 13 points while sophomore guard Ataira Franklin (Bowie, Md.)added 12.
Moorer reached the 1,000th-point plateau on a free throw early in the second half, becoming the 27th player in program history to reach the milestone. Continue reading “UVa. women rally past Virginia Tech, 52-39” »
Tech rally comes up short in Sugar in OT loss
An apparent go-ahead touchdown catch by Danny Coale was overturned on replay. That’s when things started going downhill for Virginia Tech.
Third-string kicker Justin Myer missed on a 37-yard field-goal attempt after making his first four tries, and Michigan’s Brendan Gibbons nailed a 37-yarder moments later to lift the Wolverines to a 23-20 overtime win in the Sugar Bowl.
The loss was the fifth in six BCS appearances for Virginia Tech (11-3), and the second straight loss for the Hokies after an 11-1 regular season.
Tech had to rally to get as close as it did. Trailing 17-9 entering the fourth quarter, the Hokies tied it up when Logan Thomas scored from a yard out to cap a 16-play, 61-yard drive and then converted a two-point pass to Marcus Davis. Continue reading “Tech rally comes up short in Sugar in OT loss” »
ACC to expand hoops schedule
Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner John Swofford announced today that beginning in the 2012-13 season the league will play an 18-game conference schedule in men’s and women’s basketball.
“Our member institutions have been talking about this increase for awhile and knowing our league will be expanding to 14 in the future, we’ve decided to move to an 18-game conference schedule next year, regardless of our membership number,” Swofford said. “The additional conference games create a more equitable schedule and we’ve received significant feedback from our fans for more conference games.”
Governors wager on ACC title game
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley have agreed to a friendly wager on the Virginia Tech vs. Clemson University ACC Championship football game on Saturday.
Haley has wagered that if Virginia Tech wins, she will send South Carolina barbecue from Hudson’s Smokehouse to McDonnell. Should Clemson win, McDonnell will send Haley a Smithfield Foods’ genuine Smithfield ham, “the ham that made ham famous,” and a large tin of Virginia Diner “Hokie Nuts.” Smithfield Foods and Virginia Diner are both official sponsors of Virginia Tech football and Virginia Diner peanuts are the official peanut of Lane Stadium.
“The Clemson Tigers are a formidable opponent but the Hokies’ offense, led by ACC offensive and overall player of the year running back David Wilson and the talented Logan Thomas are on a great run and show no signs of stopping. This Hokie team is at the top of their game and they’re going to carry forward that momentum to the Tigers in the ACC Championship Game. I look forward to seeing the Hokies take their fifth ACC Championship in their eight years in the conference on Saturday – and afterwards, to enjoying some good South Carolina BBQ,” McDonnell said.
“It’s been an incredible season for all of our great state’s college football teams, but I’m a Clemson fan who’s especially excited about the Tigers’ run to the ACC title game,” Haley said. “So, I told my friend Gov. Bob McDonnell that I’ll bet some great South Carolina barbecue from Hudson’s Smokehouse in Lexington that Clemson, led by ACC Rookie of the Year Sammy Watkins and head coach Dabo Swinney, will bring home the ACC championship.”
Wilson voted ACC Player of the Year
Virginia Tech running back David Wilson, whose climb up the ACC’s single-season rushing yards list helped keep the Hokies atop the Coastal Division, is the conference’s Of-fensive and Overall Player of the Year for 2011. Wilson, who is pursuing the ACC’s single-season rushing yardage record and is fifth nationally in yards per game, was named on 18 of 45 ballots cast by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Associa-tion. Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly was second with nine votes.
Wilson immediately follows a former teammate, quarterback Tyrod Taylor, in winning the award. Virginia Tech is the first program to produce consecutive Players of the Year since Florida State quarterback Charlie Ward was honored in 1992 and 1993. It’s the fifth time that different players from the same school have won in consecutive years; that happened most recently with the selections of Virginia QBs Shawn Moore (1990) and Matt Blundin (1991).
Wilson, a junior from Danville, Va., was elevated to the starting job when two accomplished teammates left school early for the NFL. But the Hokies, who seek their fifth ACC cham-pionship in eight years of membership on Saturday, quickly learned they would remain dynamic in the running game even without Ryan Williams and Darren Evans.
Wilson ran for 100 or more yards in all but two of the Hokies’ 12 regular-season games. His total of 10 games at 100 or more ties an ACC record last established by Williams, then a freshman, in 2009. In one stretch of especially consistent play, he rushed for 132, 123, 128, 136 and 134 yards in con-secutive starts.
As a result, the Hokies maintained control over their conference while three defensive starters suf-fered season-ending injuries before the regular season’s home stretch. With Wilson doing the bulk of the running, Virginia Tech stands fourth nationally in time of possession at more than 34 minutes a game.
Wilson has netted 1,595 yards and a per-game average of 132.9. That puts him well within reach of the ACC’s single-season record for total yards on the ground, which Virginia’s Thomas Jones set with 1,798 in 1999.
The Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association is an organization of journalists dedicated to fostering a mutually beneficial relationship between the news media and the institutions and administration of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The group serves as a liaison to decision-makers.
2011 ACC Player of the Year
David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech (18)
Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College (9)
Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson (8)
Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson (7)
Logan Thomas, QB, Virginia Tech (3)
Offensive Player of the Year
David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech (26)
Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson (9)
Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson (8)
Logan Thomas, QB, Virginia Tech (2)
Minnifield leads UVa. All-ACC selections
Five Virginia football players were named either first-or-second-team onthe All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team, announced by the leagueon Monday. Three other players were named as honorable mention selections. Thefive selections are the most first-and second-team honorees for UVa since the2004 team garnered seven accolades over the two teams. The eight overallmembers on the All-ACC team are the most by a UVa team since the 2004 team alsohad eight players represented.
Senior defensive tackle Matt Conrath, senior cornerbackChase Minnifield and senior offensive guard Austin Pasztor were named to thefirst team, the most honors UVa has earned since the 2005 team placedD’Brickashaw Ferguson, Connor Hughes and Kai Parham on the first-teamsquad. Junior offensive tackle OdayAboushi and junior linebacker Steve Greer were named to the All-ACC secondteam. Junior tailback Perry Jones,senior safety Rodney McLeod and senior center Anthony Mihota garnered honorablemention honors.
Minnifield (Lexington, Ky.) earns his second career All-ACC first-team honor,becoming the first Cavalier to win multiple first team honors in his careersince Ferguson in 2004 and 2005. Minnifield is the first UVa defensive back to have multiple All-ACCfirst team accolades since current UVa safeties coach and special teamscoordinator Anthony Poindexter earned three career nods (1997, ’98, ’99).Minnifield is No. 2 nationally among active career leaders with 13interceptions. He is a finalist for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award and asemifinalist for the Thorpe Award & Lott IMPACT Trophy. Minnifield was named the Thorpe AwardDefensive Back of the Week after helping limit then-No. 12 Georgia Tech to 24yards passing and its lowest rushing total at the time (272).
Conrath (Oak Lawn, Ill.) earns his first career All-ACCselection and becomes the first UVa defensive tackle to garner first teamhonors since Nate Collins in 2009. Conrath was named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week twice, followingwins over then-No. 12 Georgia Tech and Duke. Along with Minnifield and Greer, he helped anchor a defense that is No.31 in the nation and No. 3 in the ACC, helping UVa improve from No. 78 and No.10 respectively in 2010. Conrath led UVawith three blocked field goals, all in separate games and all UVa wins. Conrath is third on the team and No. 3 in theACC among defensive linemen with 64 tackles.
Pasztor (Langton, Ontario) earns his first career All-ACC selectionand becomes the first UVa offensive guard to receive first team honors sinceBranden Albert in 2007. He has helpedUVa rush for 1,984 yards, the most by a UVa team since the 2004 season. Pasztor has allowed zero sacks and in 781offensive plays has given up only two QB hurries. He was named ACC Offensive Lineman of theWeek after grading out at 93 percent as UVa rolled up 527 yards of total offenseat Maryland.
Aboushi (Staten Island, N.Y.) earns his first career All-ACCselection and becomes the first UVa offensive tackle to be placed on eitherteam since Eugene Monroe was a first team selection in 2008. Aboushi was named ACC Offensive Lineman of theWeek following road wins at Indiana and Miami.
Greer (Solon, Ohio) earns his second career All-ACCselection after being named to the honorable mention team in 2009. Greer leadsUVa and is seventh in the ACC with 103 tackles. Greer is the first UVa linebacker to be named to either the first orsecond team since Clint Sintim also took home second team honors in 2008. Greer was named ACC Linebacker of the Weekfollowing his two sack performance at then-No. 23 Florida State and has led UVain tackles in 8-of-12 games.
Jones (Chesapeake, Va.) earns his first career All-ACCaccolade and becomes the first UVa tailback to be named to any All-ACC squadsince Cedric Peerman was also an honorable mention honoree in 2008. He is on track to become UVa’s first 1,000-yardrusher since 2004 and is No. 2 on the team with 41 receptions for 416 yards.
McLeod (Oxon Hill, Md.) earns his first career All-ACChonor. The senior was named nationaldefensive back of the week and ACC Defensive Back of the Week after grabbingthree interceptions in UVa’s road win at Maryland. The three INTs tied anational high for the season and tied a program record with eight others.
Mihota (Fredericksburg, Va.) earns his first career All-ACChonor and becomes the first UVa center since Zac Yarbrough was named to thesecond-team in 2004. Mihota was the onlycenter in the ACC to earn multiple offensive lineman of the week honors.
2011 All-ACC Teams
FIRST TEAM
Offense
QB-Tajh Boyd, Clemson (71)
RB-David Wilson, Virginia Tech (90)*
RB-Giovani Bernard, North Carolina (66)
WR-Sammy Watkins, Clemson (86)
WR-Chris Givens, Wake Forest (69)
OT-Blake DeChristopher, Virginia Tech (86)
OT-Zebrie Sanders, Florida State (46)
OG-Austin Pasztor, Virginia (49)
OG-Omoregie Uzzi, Georgia Tech (45)
C-Dalton Freeman, Clemson (44)
TE-Dwayne Allen, Clemson (78)
K-Dustin Hopkins, Florida State (75)
Spec.- T.J. Graham, NC State (45)
Defense
DE-Andre Branch, Clemson (79)
DE-Quinton Coples, North Carolina (64)
DT-Joe Vellano, Maryland (68)
DT-Matt Conrath, Virginia (55)
LB-Luke Kuechly, Boston College (90)*
LB-Sean Spence, Miami (82)
LB-Zach Brown, North Carolina (48)
CB-David Amerson, NC State (86)
CB-Chase Minnifield, Virginia (47)
S-Matt Daniels, Duke (80)
S-Josh Bush, Wake Forest (41)
P-Shawn Powell, Florida State (85)
SECOND TEAM
Offense
QB-Logan Thomas, Virginia Tech (49)
WR-Dwight Jones, North Carolina (58)
WR-Conner Vernon, Duke (34)
RB-Lamar Miller, Miami (62)
RB-Andre Ellington, Clemson (26)
OT-Oday Aboushi, Virginia (43)
OT-James Hurst, North Carolina (30)
OG-Jaymes Brooks, Virginia Tech (35)
OG-Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina (31)
OG-Joe Looney, Wake Forest (31)
C-Tyler Horn, Miami (32)
TE-George Bryan, NC State (29)
K-Chandler Catanzaro, Clemson (37)
Spec.-Sammy Watkins, Clemson (33)
Defense
DE-Brandon Jenkins, Florida State (51)
DE-James Gayle, Virginia Tech (25)
DT-Brandon Thompson, Clemson (43)
DT-Nikita Whitlock, Wake Forest (30)
LB-Terrell Manning, NC State (44)
LB-Julian Burnett, Georgia Tech (34)
LB-Steve Greer, Virginia (23)
CB-Jayron Hosley, Virginia Tech (36)
CB-Kyle Fuller, Virginia Tech (34)
S-Eddie Whitley, Virginia Tech (33)
S-Lamarcus Joyner, Florida State (23)
P-Alex King, Duke (22)
Honorable Mention: Jeremiah Attaochu, lb, Georgia Tech (16); Brandan Bishop, s, NC State (19); Nigel Bradham, lb, Florida State (20); Audie Cole, lb, NC State (19); J.R. Collins, de, Virginia Tech (17); Everett Dawkins, dt, Florida State (18); Antone Exum, s, Virginia Tech (15); Demetrius Hartsfield, lb, Maryland (11); Cooper Helfet, te, Duke (25); Perry Jones, rb, Virginia (16); Cody Journell, k, Virginia Tech (10); Rodney McLeod, s, Virginia (17); Anthony Mihota, c, Virginia (21); Merrill Noel, cb, Wake Forest (30); Greg Nosal, og, Virginia Tech (10); Tydreke Powell, dt, North Carolina (17); Phillip Price, ot, Clemson (12); Greg Reid, spc., Florida State (27); Rod Sweeting, cb, Georgia Tech (13); Bruce Taylor, lb, Virginia Tech (11); T.J. Thorpe, spc., North Carolina (22); Landon Walker, ot, Clemson (29); Bjoern Werner, de, Florida State (13); Earl Wolff, s, NC State (12); Dawson Zimmerman, p, Clemson (15).
