Wading in the water, wading in the water, it rained in Blacksburg as 66,000 watched Virginia Tech’s Hokies hosted Miami’s Hurricanes this afternoon. Broadcast on ABC, the first quarter began with Hokies tailback Ryan Williams leaped into the end zone for a touchdown. Virginia Tech 7 and Miami 0 . SWEET PRISTINE CANDY! Hokies quarterback Tyrod Taylor made an exquisite forty-eight yard throw to wide receiver Jarrett Boykin, who ran twenty or so yard into the end zone completely without threat of a tackle. Virginia Tech 14 and Miami 0.
Hokies punter Brent Bowden couldn’t get a firm hold on the ball as he was about to punt the ball away in the top of the the second quarter. The ball fell to the ground, one Hokies player and one Hurricanes player dove for the ball. Their contact with the field revealed that the grass was very slushy. Hokies kicker Matt Waldron missed a twenty-five yard field goal with about five minutes left to play. Oh but what a play that followed. Hurricanes’ kicker Matt Bosher attempted to punt the ball, which was blocked (thanks to cornerback Jacob Sykes), enabling Hokies Matt Reidy to take the ball into the end zone. Virginia Tech 21 and Miami 0.
The third quarter saw a much better offensive attack by the Hurricanes. There was a TD, courtesy of running Javarris James. Later on, nearing the four minute mark, there was a field goal. Virginia Tech 24 and Miami 7. The fourth quarter saw a nicely executed interception by Hokies cornerback Rashad Carmichael. A few plays later, Ryan Williams made another TD. Virginia Tech 31 and Miami 7. Final score.
Observations & Miscellania:
1. It was raining quite heavily from the start of the game. Would/has a football coach arrange for his players to practice in a simulated rain game so that they would know how to adjust their balance, grip, and footing in times of wet turf and wet ball?
2. The Hurricanes’ white jerseys juxtaposed against their green pants made them look like Gatorade sports bottles. In comparison, the Hokies reminded me of beets.
3. The TV signal was still patchy.
4. The commentators, Matt Millen and Sean McDonough, noted in the bottom of the first quarter that Hokies offensive guard Sergio Render enjoys hunting and fishing.
5. Before one of the commercial breaks in the top of the second quarter, there was a short clip of the Hurricanes in a game from decades past. The the jerseys were white and the pants were orange (or was it the other way around).
6. The stands were filled with a near ROY G. BIV of rain ponchos.
7. Tyrod Taylor has surpassed Michael Vick’s record of being one Virginia Tech’s all-time rushers? Was that what the commentators said?
8. The rain fell harder in the second half of the game. Sheets of rain. I hope those players’ feet stayed dry. The fastest way to get sick is from wearing wet socks.
9. Miami head coach Randy Shannon has lived through nearly every came-from-the-hood narrative trope cinema and literature have “standardized.”
10. Did I really see footage of Tyrod Taylor doing a backflip during practice?
11. Did you know about the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets?
12. Wow, those Hokies fans turned the field into a mosh pit. Nice.
Get game summary, stats, and play-by-play here.
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