Since T Wallace started this good column idea, it is only natural that he is too busy to finish it.  Here are some topics and our thoughts.  Enjoy. 

1. Biggest surprise of the year:

Playmaker:  On the field, the offensive line… but it really shouldn’t come to any surprise as they returned 4 OL and center has been an upgrade.  I’m just used to the perpetual disappointment of a bad offensive line since my freshman year.  Sacks have been held to a minimum and David Wilson leads the NCAA in rushing.  The OL has been extremely helpful in Logan’s maturation as a college QB.

Off the field I’d have to go with Taco’s recent success with the younger women.  It’s a renaissance type year, like a Roger Clemens post-Red Sox combined with Lance Armstrong post-Testicular Cancer… the stuff champions are made of.  I applaud you sir.  

T Wallace:  LT, hands down. His game last week sealed it. I mildly remember at least 3 passes (Danny Coale’s TD being 1) where he threw the ball before the receiver became open. Huge sign of confidence and maturity in a QB when he starts making passes like that. Secondly, his total disregard for his own well being. Running wise, he reminds me of Mike Alstott + 5 inches and 30 pounds. We could turn over the playbook on 3rd and short and still get the first down every time.

24Kt: Rebounding from injuries/the loss to Clemson.  I’m kind of cheating by picking two but the main theme is rebounding.  With Dyrell Roberts and 1/4 of our defensive starters — Antoine Hopkins, Bruce Taylor and yes, even Hyphen – all lost for the season, there was a lot of room for doubt.  Not to mention Gayle, Hosley and Tweedy missing games due to less-serious injuries.  So I’m impressed and surprised that the defense continues to not only put us in position to win games, but is also causing more 3-and-outs than I can remember in quite some time.  To quote the great Ron Burgundy, “What? You pooped in the refrigerator? And you ate the whole…wheel of cheese? How’d you do that? Heck, I’m not even mad; that’s amazing.”
 
I thought our offense stunk, and that we were honestly in danger of losing our bowl eligibility streak after getting trounced by the Tigers, 23-3.  We looked so bad in that game that I thought Bud Foster would have pleaded to let Hosley play offense; anything to give us a spark.  Since then we’ve won five straight and are in prime position for a rematch against Dabo’s crew in the ACCCG.
 
2. Biggest disappointment of the year:

Playmaker:  Other than Clemson Part I (yes I’m counting on a rematch), I’m going with the injuries.  Bruce, Hopkins, Dyrell, JGW, Battle, and Tweedy are all out for the year as big time contributors.  Injuries are a part of the game but this year has taken it’s toll.  Hats off to Bud for getting things done this year. 

T Wallace:  That we got crushed by Clemson. It’s almost expected every year that we lose one game we weren’t supposed to and “rally around that loss”. But this is embarrassing. Clemson obviously isn’t unbeatable and after seeing our performance against Georgia Tech, we should have at least made it interesting. Schedules like we have this year, opening without a game against a national championship contender, don’t apparently happen every year. And unlike our basketball team, the way to a national championship is to play Western Kentucky 11 times a year.

24Kt: Special teams.  Our punting has been atrocious and I don’t know what our average yards-per-kick is but I’d guess somewhere around the upper 30s. Demler and Branthover just haven’t been good enough.  Since they obviously don’t have the leg, maybe they have something that resembles an arm and we should fake it more often.  Surely Danny Coale has a decent arm right?  Instead of him kicking it and chasing down tacklers, just have him save the energy, fake it by throwing it wide and if we don’t get the 1st down then our defense is no worse for the wear since they’re not used to field position anyway.  Come on Beamer, start a revolution!  Also, Cody Journell hasn’t been lighting the world up either.  How do kickers get hurt – They’re barely people let alone football players. 
 
3. What bowl are we going to?

Playmaker:  Orange Bowl… and since I am feeling this confident I fully expect The Hokies to drop 1 of the next 3 and find a spot in the Chicken Bowl.  Let’s give the offense another shot at Dabo and the boys in Charlotte.

T Wallace:  Anything less than the sugar bowl for the Bleed Bourbon crew is a failure. As for Virginia Tech, we’ll probably end up in Miami again. 24kt owes a brunette at Tootsie’s a visit anyways, probably some child support checks too.

24Kt:  Orange.  I think we can beat Clemson in a rematch so it looks like another trip to Miami and the Orange Bowl is in the cards.  This should excite me more than it does.  Unfortunately, we’re all spoiled Hokies and want more; Filling that empty National Championship case in Cassell Coliseum will have to wait for next year once again.
 
4. What will you do if we lose to UVA?

Playmaker:  I will be in attendance at this game and after the 2000 students there rush the field I will go home… grab my bottle of Pappy… and not leave the house for 2 weeks.  Since my freshman year, Frank Beamer has yet to lose to the Frenchies and I’d like to keep that record spot free.  Have you seen the “I Pledge” video?!  It was so pathetic they actually took it down… HOW COULD ANYONE TAKE LOSING TO THIS!?  F it, Danny Coale won’t let them lose.  

T Wallace:  Some mixture of half a bottle of bourbon and the largest girl at Clarendon Ballroom that night.

24Kt:  I’ll shut off my phone/computer/TV and brain for a while and probably look into mountain climbing and read all the Twilight books within 48 hours.  I don’t expect this to happen and even if it does, FSU is going to beat UVA so we’ll have the Coastal Division locked up before Thanksgiving.  Cue Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson: Lock it up boys!
 
5. Prediction for UNC game?

Playmaker:  12 NCAA violations, 1 agent runner, 1 tutor providing illegal benefits, 3 firings, and the resignation of Coach Withers.  Cold weather, Hootie singing the National Anthem, Jenn Brown, and some fireworks.  The Heels always get up for this game so I expect it to be close into the 4th.  I’m riding Logan in the final quarter to a 27-20 win.

T Wallace:  That I’ll probably end up with a restraining order. Did you know Jenn Brown was in Blacksburg??

As for the Hokies, if we play like we did last week I’d expect a 34 – 14 blowout. But this is a classic hangover game for the Hokies (no punn intended), we played a great game last week and expect a pass because it’s a Thursday night at home. It’ll be closer then we think 24-17. Put the money on the Tar Heals +10.5.

24Kt:  The Hokies will start off slow (unfortunately a reoccurring theme) but will have a huge 2nd and 3rd quarter to put this one away.  There will not be any late-game heroics from Bryn Renner.
 
6. Joe Pa got us hammered last week, what are we drinking for this week? 

Playmaker:  Jenn Brown sighting – 1 drink
            Jarrett Boykin hand reference – 1 drink
            Lunch Pail sighting – 1 drink
            JoePa/Penn State – 4 drinks
            Craig James says something idiotic (so every time he opens his mouth) – Give 4
            Logan Thomas Trucking – Finish your drink
            Clip of the Ryan Williams fumble – Grab the bottle of bourbon

T Wallace: Any mention of Butch Davis or John Blake – take a drink
            DW breaks a tackle -  take a drink
            Jenn Brown sighting -  take a drink
            A mention of Joe Pa, Sandusky, children under the age of 13 or gingers – take a shot
            Ovechkin hatrick – Shotgun
            We don’t run LT on 3rd and 1 – Shotgun

24Kt:   Whatever we can find a reason for.   I’m 100% all-in for Playmaker and Taco’s suggestions.  Anything to get away from the most tiring sports-related story in recent memory.  Actual text alerts that ESPN sent me the past week-and-a-half:
 
11/11/11: “Police confirm pieces of a cinder block thrown through window at Jerry Sandusky’s home Thursday.”     This barely qualifies as news.  I’m sure Nick Saban probably stubbed his toe and Bo Pelini bought a pack of gum somewhere in the world at this time as well. 
 
11/14/11: “Jerry Sandusky concedes in NBC interview: ‘I shouldn’t have showered with those kids.’”  Gee, ya think?
 
11/15/11:  “PSU interim coach Tom Bradley said he “did not see” NBC’s interview with Jerry Sandusky.”  WHO EFFING CARES!?  It’s an interview, not breaking news; tell me more about Vick’s playing status for Sunday.

7. Over/Under how high Jesse Palmer’s hair is on Thursday:

Playmaker:  Over the Taco Wallce flip circa 2005.  On a more important Jesse Palmer note, how has he not hit Rece Davis with his overuse of the hands!?  Please tell me someone else notices this?!  He’s an accident waiting to happen in close quarters… the guy needs a 4-ft no fly zone around him. 

T Wallace:  Looks like a 3/4 moon tonight, so 4.7 inches front to back.

24Kt:  All you need to know about Jesse Palmer you can learn from this Axe commercial.  Rumor has it he is the brainchild for that move and also the move that spawned it, the Double Pits to Jesse move to wax his hair.  Also, don’t forget that he was on The Bachelor.

Go Hokies!