Hurricanes Await Visit from Virginia Tech to Decide ACC Crown
Nov. 30, 2004
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Miami Hurricanes (8-2, No. 9 AP / No. 9 ESPN/USA TODAY)vs. VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES (9-2, No. 11 AP / No. 10 ESPN/USA TODAY)
When: 1 p.m. EST Saturday, December 4, 2004
Where: Orange Bowl (natural grass) in Miami, Fla.
National TV: ABC will televise the game nationally with Brent Musburger (play by play), Gary Danielson (analysis) and Jack Arute (field reporter).
Tape Delay: CSS will televise the game on tape delay at 7 p.m. Wednesday, with Frank Forte (play by play) and Dave Heffernan (analysis).
Local Radio: The Hurricanes Radio Network (WQAM 560 AM and ESPN 760 AM West Palm Beach) will carry the game live with Joe Zagacki (play by play), Don Bailey Jr. (analysis) and Brian London (sideline reporter). Josh Darrow is the studio host.
Radio En Espanol: WSUA 1260 AM will broadcast the game in Spanish with Roly Martin (play by play) and Joe Martinez (analysis).
Student Station: WVUM (90.5 FM) will broadcast the game, with Jeremy Marks-Peltz and Adam Aizer calling the action.
Websites: Miami (www.hurricanesports.com) and Virginia Tech (www.hokiesports.com)
This week’s game:
The ACC championship is on the line, as the Miami Hurricanes and Virginia Tech Hokies face off at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Orange Bowl before a nationally televised audience on ABC. The winner will win the conference championship and receive an automatic berth in a BCS bowl game. The game features the ACC’s two newest teams and two teams that are very familiar with each other, having played annually since 1992 in the Big East Conference. The Hurricanes own an 8-2 record and are ranked ninth in the AP poll and ninth in the coaches poll. The Hokies are 11th in the AP poll and 10th in the coaches poll.
The Hurricanes are 5-2 in their first season in the ACC, one game behind Virginia Tech (6-1). If Miami wins, they would tie for the ACC lead with Virginia Tech and Florida State, all three schools with 6-2 records. Miami would win the ACC title in a tiebreaker because they would be the highest-ranked of the three teams in the BCS standings. Going into this game, Miami is ranked 10th, Virginia is ranked 12th and Florida State is 16th in the BCS standings released Nov. 29. The tiebreaker would be decided on the third scenario because even though the Hurricanes beat both Virginia Tech and Florida State, the latter two teams did not meet during this season.
The Hurricanes will try to avenge last year’s 31-7 loss at Blacksburg, which is the team’s only loss of more than seven points since 1999. This will be the first meeting of the two teams as ACC members.
The Hurricanes have won their last two games, knocking off Virginia 31-21 and then Wake Forest two weeks ago 52-7. The Miami offense has been on a roll, with 358 yards rushing and 601 yards passing in the last two games. Against Wake Forest, the Hurricanes scored seven times on offense (six touchdowns and a field goal) and punted only two times. The defense held Wake Forest to only 36 yards passing and 193 total yards. In the last two games, Miami has allowed just 130 yards passing. Special teams have scored touchdowns on a punt return and a blocked punt, and the offense has had no turnovers. The Hurricanes have improved down the stretch with a revamped lineup on defense and an infusion of underclassmen on both sides of the ball. Three true freshman are starting (WR Lance Leggett, WLB Romeo Davis and FS Anthony Riddick) and a total of seven freshmen and sophomores are in the starting lineup. The defense features only one senior starter (CB Antrel Rolle), although DT Santonio Thomas (knee) is expected back for this game. Five seniors start on offense.
The Hurricanes’ two losses this season — to North Carolina and Clemson — were both decided on the final play of each game, the latter in overtime.
THE OPPONENT:
Virginia Tech is 9-2 after defeating Virginia 24-10 last Saturday. The Hokies lost two of their first four games (to Southern Cal and North Carolina State), but have won seven consecutive games. They are led by QB Bryan Randall, who has started the last 36 games and has thrown for 1,817 yards and 17 touchdowns this season. TB Mike Imoh has rushed for 708 yards, including a school-record 243 yards against North Carolina. Under head coach Frank Beamer, the Hokies have played in bowl games the last 11 seasons.
THE SERIES:
The Hurricanes and Hokies have played 21 times, with Miami holding a 15-6 lead in the series. However, Virginia Tech has won six of the last nine games.
A HURRICANES VICTORY OVER THE HOKIES WOULD:
Give them a 9-2 record for the season, a 6-2 mark in the ACC and the ACC Championship and an automatic berth in a BCS bowl game. It would also give the Hurricanes a 16-6 mark in the all-time series with Virginia Tech.
