Game of the Day: Virgina Tech at Georgia Tech

“We’ve killed ourselves with untimely turnovers all year and against a team as good defensively as Virginia Tech you don’t want to do that”. So it’s obviously sad to see his career come to an end here pretty shortly. “I think when we got back to practice everything kind of went back to normal but we’re on the same page we want to send him out in style”.

Before the struggles of the last four seasons, much of the reputation Virginia Tech (4-5, 2-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) had for being a nightmarish place for visiting teams to play was built by the atmosphere in Lane Stadium on Thursday nights. Injuries to Brewer and cornerback Kendall Fuller, and losses to Miami and Duke, made that certain long ago. Georgia Tech knows Virginia Tech’s luck on Thursdays has extended beyond Blacksburg. Now the betting odds for the game have the Yellow Jackets favored to pick up the victory in this contest.

“We’ve got to play better against the run”, Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson said.

“That’s what this program is all about”, Beamer said. The Yellow Jackets (3-6, 1-5) face an even more daunting task than the Hokies, needing to close the season with a three-game winning streak to ensure their postseason eligibility. There’s been a few exciting moments, great competition, I have a lot of respect for their staff and what they do.

Virginia Tech football coach Frank Beamer was recognized Monday by the school’s Board of Visitors, who issued a resolution in tribute that expressed their affection, admiration, respect and gratitude for his unique and profound impact on hundreds of players and thousands of lives throughout his 29-year tenure at Tech.

“I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought of that, as many Thursday night games as we’ve had around here since I’ve been back at Virginia Tech”, said the younger Beamer, who also played for his father at Virginia Tech.

Over the years, Georgia Tech was often the opponent.

The Hokies also have used Thursday night games – and the national TV audience that comes with them – to raise their profile.

The Jackets host Boston College on March 12-13, then play nine-straight non-conference games, including five games at the USF Tournament in Tampa, Fla. on March 18-20.

But Johnson thinks his players might have spent a little too much time listening to all the praise. “We just have to stay comfortable and make the routine plays and move the ball up and down the field and come away with points when we have the opportunity to”.