Virginia Tech 44, Florida State 33: What They're Saying

A collection of quotes from around the Series of Tubes on Tech's ACCCG win.

Face the Nation

It's all Hokie-dokie (Charlotte Observer)
"It wasn't just a victory painted with big plays and three touchdown passes by quarterback Tyrod Taylor. It was Virginia Tech's 11th straight win after those opening losses, one more stamp of validation in a salvaged season. On Friday, Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer said if his team completed its dramatic turnaround by winning the league championship, it would be something he talks about for a long time. Beamer may go hoarse telling this story."

Redemption: Hokies cap powerful turnaround (CFB Talk)
"Left for dead after back-to-back losses to start the season — including an embarrassing home loss to Div. 1-AA James Madison — the Hokies played 11 games after that abysmal opening pair of games. And won them all. Every single last one of ‘em. In the perfect ending to their stunning, season-long turnaround, Tech left little doubt who the best team in the conference was and is, dropping Florida State 44-33 and claiming yet another ACC title."

Second Thoughts After The ACC Title Game (ACC Sports Journal)
"How does this connect to Virginia Tech? It’s well-known that Frank Beamer would prefer to run the ball, not turn it over, and rely on a stout defense. It’s a formula that’s worked pretty well for him over the years. But this season, with a very young defense, the offense was asked to do more. It’s probably not a coincidence that the Hokies were more wide open on that side of the ball than they’ve been in recent memory."

Tyrod Taylor punctuates Hokies' turnaround (Annette)
"Not only was Taylor the best player in the ACC this year, he was the MVP of the championship game -- again. Taylor, who also earned the title game’s MVP award in 2008, ran circles around Florida State defenders. He’s so elusive only his feet know where he’s going. He completed 18 of 28 passes for 263 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He also ran for a touchdown. With his record-setting performance in a 44-33 win over Florida State in the ACC Championship Game -- one of the best displays of quarterback talent at Virginia Tech since Michael Vick -- Taylor punctuated one of the most impressive turnarounds in the FBS this year."

Virginia Tech Bloggers

GIFTORY: 44-33 (The Key Play)
"Even with backup quarterback E.J. Manuel starting over Christian Ponder the 'Noles gave us a fight, and they really really pushed us. But every time they punched, we swung back harder and stronger like I thought we would. It's taken time but the offense has turned into an unstoppable force that seems to put up points every time they have the ball."

Taylor unstoppable in Hokies’ championship run (VT Campus Blog)
"Tyrod Taylor has been tied to some lofty comparisons while at Virginia Tech. It’s a common sight on the Blacksburg campus to find a student wearing a maroon and orange Superman t-shirt with Taylor’s jersey number, five, superimposed over the letter "S". Taylor fit the bill on Saturday night, leaving no doubt he was the best player in the ACC this season with a legendary championship game performance, as Virginia Tech beat Florida State 44-33 in Charlotte."

Taylor Leads Hokies to ACC Championship (Tech Sideline)
"Tyrod Taylor and the Virginia Tech offense controlled this game from start to finish. The Hokies finished with 442 yards of total offense, and Taylor was exceptional. He was 18-of-28 for 263 yards and three touchdowns, with no interceptions. He also had a rushing touchdown. Florida State had no answer for him all night."

Hokies Defeat Florida State, Win 4th ACC Championship (VT Fan)
"This win officially ends the Florida State curse and could start a heated and great rivalry between the two schools. Although this year isn’t finished, one quick glance at the ACC will tell you that there’s a very realistic possibility that these two teams will meet against next season. While I have a strong disdain for the Florida State program, my hatred stems from respect of what they’ve done in the past. That’s why, to me, this ACC Championship is the sweetest of them all."

Virginia Tech Beat Writers

When you're patting backs, don't forget Stinespring (Aaron McFarling)
"Bryan Stinespring shut all of us up. Well, maybe not ALL of us. There will still be some out there who will give the credit anywhere but to the man who calls the plays for the Virginia Tech offense. But the reasonable among us should have no complaints with Blacksburg's most frequent target. Not today, after the Hokies sprinted past Florida State 44-33 in the ACC title game."

Hokies revel in 44-33 win over FSU (Kyle Tucker)
"The 12th-ranked Hokies (11-2) are once again Orange Bowl bound after a 44-33 win over the Seminoles (9-4) that wasn’t really that close. Tech did it with its most dazzling offensive display of the season – 442 yards, 13 of 18 on third down – and despite playing at times without three defensive starters."

Thoughts on No. 12 Virginia Tech 44, No. 20 Florida State 33 (Darryl Slater)
"How remarkable is 13 of 18 (72.2 percent) on third-down conversions? Tech’s conversion rate for the year was 41.9 percent. Its best game was 12 of 17 against Wake Forest (70 percent). But other than that, the Hokies didn’t convert more than 50 percent of their third downs in any game. They hit 50 three times in the 12-game regular season."

Carmichael provides emotional boost for Tech's defense (Norm Wood)
"Carmichael finished with just one tackle, but Whitley was convinced his mere presence made a big difference. Freshman Kyle Fuller, who replaced Carmichael in the starting lineup for a second straight week, had a difficult first half. Fuller gave up FSU's two longest pass plays of the game in the first half - a 34-yard reception to wide receiver Willie Haulstead, and a 25-yard catch by Haulstead on separate drives, both of which concluded with FSU touchdowns."

Virginia Tech's memorable turnaround continues (Mark Giannotto)
"But there was more to this game than Taylor, though he was spectacular throughout. Perhaps the biggest second-half development was on defense, where the Hokies again had a remarkable second-half turnaround. Virginia Tech allowed just 137 yards after halftime -- and just two rushing yards -- without two of its starting linebackers."

Linebackers give Tech an early lift against FSU (Nathan Warters)
"No. 12 Virginia Tech needed a jolt in the first quarter of Saturday’s ACC championship game at Bank of America Stadium, and linebackers Bruce Taylor and Jeron Gouveia-Winslow provided it."

Florida State Bloggers

VT Tops FSU For ACC Championship (Tomahawk Nation)
"But no, Florida State was not the better team in this game. And the 'Noles might not have won even with its star quarterback and a few less mental mistakes on defense. Florida State gave the best it could. Virginia Tech gave its best. But Tech's best included its star quarterback and the Hokies' best was better."

Acutely Random and Amply Meaningless Thoughts (Scalp Em)
"Words such as "torched" or "burned" could be used to describe the FSU secondary regarding, shall we say "uncovered", VT receivers who easily scored touchdowns. The problem though as I see it however is don’t you have to be somewhere within 20 yards of the receiver to actually feel the heat to qualify as being torched or burned?"