DeathRattleSports.com - Virginia Tech Muscles way past Huskers 35-30

Virginia Tech Muscles way past Huskers 35-30

Written by Bugeatersteve

Tuesday, 30 September 2008

When you look at the final score (35-30) it appears to have been a close game that maybe could have went either way, right? Well no, not exactly Virginia Tech came into Lincoln on Saturday night and did just about whatever they wanted to do the entire night. Needed a special teams play to help your team out, well how about a blocked punt on the opening series of downs against the Huskers for a quick 2-0 hole to climb out of. Then throwing an interception on your next position?

How about being out-rushed 206 to 55 yards. How about trailing 28-10 through the end of the 3^rd quarter, until a touchdown with 4 seconds to go in the quarter gave the faithful a bit of hope?

Does it all sound as abysmal as I write it? Probably worse, and in reality it really wasn't that bad, especially when you consider some of the positives that was learned of the 2006 Nebraska Cornhusker football team. For one, we learned that they will battle and fight you for an entire 60 minutes of football, this team, unlike last years will not quit. It is a team that will make mistakes, but then forget about the mistake and move forward. It was also obvious that this team just can't line up with a 7 man front and jam the ball down an opponent's throat; they just don't have the horses up front yet to do that. They also don't have enough depth on the defensive line to truly shut down an opponent's running game, but it is not from a lack of effort. It could not force a turnover when it was needed, not against a quality team at least.

We did show flashes, at least on our special teams again, with Nate Swift (great name for a return man huh?) going 88 yards for a touchdown on a punt return against arguably one of the best special teams in the county. However we also have a coach, who has passion that actually may have cost us this game; in all probability I doubt it. It occurred late in the 4th quarter with Virginia Tech clinging to a 5 point lead 28-23, and facing a 3rd and 4 from the Huskers 37 yard line. The defense forced Hokie quarterback Tyrod Taylor out of bounds on the 35 yard line. Husker defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh, in hot pursuit, was already airborne as Taylor went out of bounds, and he hit Taylor with his hand as they landed. It was incidental contact, but the ACC official threw a flag, and Pelini erupted on the sideline. I can tell you that I have seen 3-4 replays of this play and Suh was actually sliding on the ground when the contact was made.

Instead of facing the prospect of a 52-yard field goal attempt, the Hokies were set-up with a first and 10 from the 11 yard line after the 15 yard late hit penalty and an additional 15 yard unsportsman like penalty on Pelini were marked off. Three plays later, Taylor scored and put the game on ice, despite a late touchdown with 1:32 remaining pushed the score to the final outcome.

Yes Bo's temper might have cost us in this game, but it is this same fire that has turned the defense's attitude around compared to last season. This year's team will not give up or quit during the game. I believe that this will help us more in November, than it will hurt us. From all accounts the team has already moved past this game and are concentrating on Saturday's conference opener, Missouri, who brings the 2nd ranked scoring and total offensive team into Lincoln, where the last time the Tigers have won was back in November 1978 when the Huskers were ranked 2nd in the county.

This will be an interesting chess match with the Tigers in their shotgun spread offense with Heisman front-runner Chase Daniels in the shotgun against Bo and Carl Pelini's defense. I have to be honest here; I just don't believe that the Huskers have enough depth on the defensive side of the ball to pull off this upset. I definitely don't see a 40 point game, but probably more along the lines of 38-24 in favor of Missouri. Upsets do happen though, and don't forget that Missouri is thinking about that 20 year streak. GBR!

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