2012 Sugar Bowl: Virginia Tech to Face Michigan in New Orleans
by furrer4heisman on Dec 4, 2011 9:54 PM EST
in Virginia Tech Football
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PrintAnd miss it each night and day
I know I'm not wrong this feeling's gettin' stronger
The Hokies are heading back to Bourbon Street.
For the fourth time overall the first time since 2005, Virginia Tech will play in the Sugar Bowl. The Hokies were selected as a BCS at-large team and will be paired against 10-2 Michigan, also an at-large.
How did the Hokies get to New Orleans? First, Houston lost and TCU failed to crack the Top 16, leaving the BCS without an automatic qualifier from a non-AQ conference. Next, they finished in the Top 14 in the final BCS standings, putting them into an at-large pool with Boise State, Kansas State, Baylor, Michigan and Oklahoma.
No. 11 Virginia Tech and No. 13 Michigan were selected by the Sugar Bowl. In a football sense, it's tough to argue for the Hokies against some of the other teams in the at-large pool, especially after the 28-point loss to Clemson Saturday night. Fortunately for Tech, bowl games are rarely about football.
The only bowl game that matters, truly matters, is the national championship game. Every other game is about selling tickets, filling hotel rooms and drawing TV ratings. These are glorified exhibitions. Virginia Tech has a history with the Sugar Bowl that proves they will do exactly that.
I couldn't be happier about going back to New Orleans. I can't wait to book my room, get into town, hit Bourbon Street until it's time to sober up at Cafe du Monde, cure my hangover with breakfast at Brennan's and see the Hokies play in the dome again. I've missed New Orleans and missed the Sugar Bowl. I'm glad we're heading back.
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This loss just became so awesome!
Screw Miami and that crackass town. Sick of going there! Sugar!!!!
Mixed Feelings
I have been defending the selection, but hope for our sake we show up and play or the whole football world will just say we are overrated and choke the big one “again”. The coaches have to know this and can not afford another bad performance on the National stage.
The most depressing issue
Is that the game will be on turf, so Mr. Special teams MVP himself, Justin Myer, will struggle to kick the ball out of the endzone.
While I may agree...
that VT didn’t deserve this game, the hype is already starting to surround Michigan and how VT shouldn’t be there. I’m hoping that Beamer & Co use this as motivation (similar to the leadup to the UVa game) and has them ready to destroy Michigan.
On a more personal level, I don’t want to have to listen to all the Walmart Wolverines (i.e., the only connection they have is from buying shirts from Walmart) I know crow on and on in their normal annoying fashion if Michigan wins.
Motivation..
Motivation shouldn’t be a problem…
A lot of VT’s own fanbase (me included) doesn’t think we should be there.
Wow...
Boise State fan here.. In shock.
"You're never as good as everyone tells you when you win, and you're never as bad as they say when you lose." -Lou Holtz
You shouldn't be.
As many have pointed out, these at-large bids aren’t about who deserves it most, they are about creating the most appealing matchups to make money. That is by no means a dis against BSU and the fantastic accomplishments of your program. It’s just a reality of the BCS system. VT went through the same deal in 2000 when a 10-1 Hokie team was passed over as an at-large selection for an inferior Notre Dame team.
by BleauxLeaux on Dec 5, 2011 10:55 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
You are of course right sir...
But you know, the Bowl selection committees at least should attempt to apply a veneer of legitimacy…this reeks of profit motive. I cannot believe it. I am of course going to try to get tickets, and support the Hokies in New Orleans. I just think of teams like Arkansas whose two losses are LSU and Alabama and Kansas State, who had a great season.
Honestly, for all those Hokie faithful that complain we don’t get any respect, and are overlooked should probably go ahead and be quiet. Also, I think all the bitching and complaining that we don’t belong there can only be good for motivating the team. I bet no one expects them to beat Michigan or be in a BCS bowl, and I hope they listen to every word of it and bring their best game to New Orleans.
That said, I think it speaks volumes for the respect and esteem that the Bowl Selection Committee has for the Hokie fan base! We are the real winners here. Go Hokies!
Psyched
Would much rather play Michigan than the Big East champ.
I think I’ll go get a muffaletta for lunch to celebrate.
If the thunder don't get ya then the lightning will!!
Robert Hunter
The hate for this will be raining down for years. The early predictions are an absolute stomping. But I think Denard Robinson doesn’t provide nearly the same matchup threat to our defense that Tajh Boyd and his weapons did. This should be more of an Arkansas State style offense that we played pretty well against.
I think it's AWESOME we're in the Sugar and I LOVE it that people are mad!
I love it that everyone is having a hissy fit over VT getting selected for the Sugar Bowl, although Michigan (ranked lower in the BCS, same record, didn’t even make their conference championship game) getting in on name-brand recognition alone is apparently okay with a lot of those same people.
There is an obvious (to me) fact that everyone seems to missing here, and that’s that the BCS bowl system isn’t a playoff!!!. Once you get past the MC game and the automatic tie-ins, the bowl games aren’t- and never have been -about which teams are the most “deserving”. They are about putting together the most attractive match-ups of qualifying teams to sell tickets and fill restaurants and hotel rooms. NONE OF THIS IS ANYTHING NEW!!! Plus, Tech had been on the wrong end of the at-large lottery a couple of times (definitely in 2000 and arguably in 2007), so I have no problem with their ticket getting punched this time around.
This sounds weird, coming from a Hoo
But thanks for the Peach Bowl!
Time is an illusion. Lunchtime, doubly so. now on Twitter
Losing to VT wasn't so bad after all...
Don't feed the TROLL!...You have been warned.
by the maroon bird on Dec 5, 2011 12:07 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
we need ACC wins...
beat Auburn! Winner gets to declare Orange and Blue supremacy and banishes the other team to pink and purple.
by sobriquet on Dec 5, 2011 12:20 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Not weird at all
With two BCS bids and the Hoos playing a traditional SEC power, this bowl season presents a great opportunity for the ACC. I almost never root for UVA even when they are playing out of conference but I will be making an exception against Auburn.
The opposite
I’ll usually root for UVA out of conference, as much as it pains me, but now I have the perfect excuse not to… Rule #1 always root for VT. Rule #2, always root for AU unless it violates rule #1. Rule #3…
Congrats on the Bowl bid
From a BSU fan feeling awful today, I just want to say congrats and good luck. I won’t be watching out of total disgsut for the system but I met some good people in DC two years ago when we played and I hope you and your team represent well at the Sugar Bowl.
"I think I know what you guys are trying to say.....We need to build a space helicopter." Nathan Explosion
"Pluto’s not even a planet no more, which I’m very disturbed about. I grew up when Pluto was a planet. Now, I’m 25, I turn around and Pluto’s no longer a planet. I’m going to elbow that guy in the nose." -Ron Artest
Disgust for the system...
Fully agree on that one as well. A few weeks ago I was sort of interested in a rematch for the NCG. Now? No way.
I want to see OK State vs LSU.
LSU beats ’bama again… and then what? We already knew LSU could beat Alabama.
I wish some coaches (like from Stanford and OK State) would be a little more honest & vocal on air about why we need at least a +1 system. It gets tiring (and predictable) hearing the same old, "we’re disappointed.. but we’re looking forward to the challenge before us… " blahblah blah..
Shouldn't feel too bad...
We have had some pretty bad snubs too over the years (see every basketball season lately). BSU just needs to keep doing what it is doing. Your program is being built just like ours was about 15 years ago. The respect will come sooner than you think. BSU deserves it.
The thing about a quality program
is that it doesn’t disintegrate when its best players leave. A lot of people are saying that this was the last chance for BSU because Kellen Moore is graduating. I think that’s a load of crap. You may have a down year or two, but the respect you’ve built will bring in the players and the culture of winning you’ve created will continue past Moore’s graduation. You’ll be back here again in the future. I know the snub hurts, we’ve felt the same thing a couple of times, but you’ll have more chances down the line.
For now I’m excited about my hokies and honestly a little confused as to why all the anger is directed here and not at lower ranked Michigan who didn’t make their conference championship game.
I'm sorry
I know it’s easy to direct the vitriol at us personally so I appreciate someone that blames the system and not VT fans. I won’t lie, I’m really excited about going to the Sugar Bowl again, but we’ve earned the wrath of many people for it. I don’t like seeing so many football fans incensed. I do not like our school becoming a pariah construct. Fans shouldn’t be held accountable for the strange machinations of the system.
I was at the DC game and I have to say I enjoyed talking to your fans. You are an amicable, courteous group. Even after the game, we weren’t heckled or jeered at by your fans. After watching Clemson fans throwing trash everywhere and seeing the urine they sprayed all over our vehicles (hey, they’re a great match for WfVA fans!) I thought of when we played you all and how I wish more fans could be civil like BSU.
I just had a thought
The four teams most upset about the way BCS bowls played out were Baylor, BSU, Arkansas and Kansas State. Arkansas and K-State got a good consolation bowl against each other in the almost BCS Cotton Bowl, so only Baylor and Boise were really screwed. Why not play each other? The first bowl games were agreements among two top teams to play an exhibition game. Why can’t they just do that now? Screw official bowl match-ups and have the two ADs agree on a postseason exhibition against each other. Sell it to your fan bases, hype it across the country and you can sell tickets.
Now someone who knows better, tell me why I’m wrong.
I would have loved to play Baylor
RG3 vs our Defense and Kellen against Baylors non Defese would have at least be entertaining. Instead we get a 6-6 Arizona State in Vegas. Whoopee doo!
"I think I know what you guys are trying to say.....We need to build a space helicopter." Nathan Explosion
"Pluto’s not even a planet no more, which I’m very disturbed about. I grew up when Pluto was a planet. Now, I’m 25, I turn around and Pluto’s no longer a planet. I’m going to elbow that guy in the nose." -Ron Artest
No way mad at VT
It’s not your fault we got over looked. I don’t understand the Michigan draw either They are as overrrated as their QB. I guess The Nard Dog playing QB is supposed to make me wanna watch? Either way whats done is done. I hope you guys do well and that you beat Michigan. The rummor is that the Big Ten Commisioner lobbied for VT and not BSU because he didn’t want to see his team smacked around by a small school. So please kick their asses.
"I think I know what you guys are trying to say.....We need to build a space helicopter." Nathan Explosion
"Pluto’s not even a planet no more, which I’m very disturbed about. I grew up when Pluto was a planet. Now, I’m 25, I turn around and Pluto’s no longer a planet. I’m going to elbow that guy in the nose." -Ron Artest
If that is true
the Big Ten commissioner is a moron. BSU is not a secret anymore. Every year for the past few all you hear about is Alabama, LSU, Oregon, Ohio State, and wait for it, Boise St. Those have been the contenders over the past few years. Y’all got the shaft this time, but karma is a bitch. You have a good program.
very classy
Thank you. I will completely agree with you that BSU deserves to be there over VT. Sorry. Go whip ASU!
Great Fans
BSU has great fans…last years game a FEDEx was a chance to see two excellent fan bases. BSU has to get out of the Mountain West as fast as possible. With teams ranked 119, 115 and 112 it is the worst conference after BSU & TCU…the computers and coaches give you no love. But even with the BCS snub playing a 6-6 ASU in Vegas is what has Peterson hot under the collar. They should have gotten Arkansas or Michigan State?
AMEN!
"Sometimes I do what I want to do. The rest of the time I do what I have to."
by bluecollarhokie on Dec 5, 2011 7:29 PM EST up reply actions
Snowing in hell?
I would have laughed so hard I passed out if someone told me Saturday night that we’d get not only a BCS bid as our reward for getting creamed, but a better matchup than if we had won! Although I personally like playing WVU in a regular season game because of the rivalry, I think WVU makes for a boring national stage game. Michigan will be interesting and draw viewers from all around.
I still do not understand why we showed so poorly Saturday night. It boggles my mind. We certainly have no business in the BCS in terms of “earning” a spot, but I also don’t see why we can’t win if we play as if it’s not Clemson. It could be a great and interesting matchup.
Very weird
I was sitting on the couch last night about to watch some ridiculous romantic comedy with my very beautiful, very pregnant wife, and before the movie was to start I clicked over to ESPN just to see if by some strange twist Okie St. got into the title game. When I saw them announcing the Sugar Bowl matchup, and they played that clip of the players tapping the Hokie Stone out of the tunnel, I jumped up and legitametaly had a better moment then that at any point during Saturday night..
People can talk about what the Hokies “deserve” through New Years if they want, but fact of the matter is the Sugar Bowl thought enough of us to invite us. Outside of the BCS Title game, all of these bowls are simply a chance to have neat matchups and generate revenue for the bowls and host cities. Fact of the matter is, both Virginia Tech and Michigan met all of the requirements necessary for an at-large spot. People can complain about Boise or Kansas St. being snubbed all they want, but if you don’t win all of your games, you put yourself in a position for a committee of people looking out for their bottom line to make these types of decisions. The system sucks, but its not VT’s fault for getting an invite to the party and accepting it.
Furrer should resurrect the article from months ago about the ACC blogger - and other random thoughts
I can’t even bring myself to mention her name. I swear, her contract with ESPN must require her to disparage the ACC teams. I can find no other legitimate explanation for the ACC blogger to be so negative about the ACC teams and their respective bowl selections.
CTOB
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But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.
-Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, 1782
(cont'd from above . . .because I hit the wrong damn button)
Disparaging opinion by that strumpet blogging at ESPN for the ACC . . . http://espn.go.com/blog/acc/post/_/id/33805/bcs-season-twice-as-nice-for-acc
And . . other random musings. . . .
1. First and foremost, how outstanding is it that the “lowly” Va Tech Hokies received the first ever ACC BCS at-large bid?
2. Yes, Clemson out played us, but, the officiating was still terrible. Yes, that was a blocked punt and so that was not a roughing the kicker penalty. Clemson ultimately scored because they picked up that first down. Holds on Wilson went uncalled. Facemask penalties went uncalled. Horsecollar on Thomas went uncalled. (Branch for Clemson is one of the dirtiest players I have seen in a while . . he stepped/kneed on someone’s stomach when getting up after one play and no personal foul was called.) Questionable offensive pass interference penalty on Boykin; other interference calls not flagged. However, the 3 pick-6 thrown by Thomas have nothing to do with the officiating.
3. The 3 different “rankings” throughout the season always irritate me. I am not always convinced that opinion pieces reference rankings even within the same AP/USA/BCS poll when comparing/contrasting teams. I am further convinced when airing Va Tech games, the graphics department always chooses whichever ranking is the lowest. That being said, since we have now finished with the regular season, I think that only the BCS rankings should be used. Therefore, any negative articles about Tech’s selection to the Sugar Bowl should reference the #11 ranking.
4. Following our complete undoing by Clemson, we are now ranked #11 (BCS) (dropped from #5) and Clemson is #15 (up from #20). Even though Clemson is the ACC Champion, Va Tech has the fewest conference losses (2). Therefore, why does it seem so many people are pissed at our selection to the Sugar Bowl? As has been said, Alabama didn’t even when their division, much less their conference, and they are playing in the NCG.
5. Va Tech fans travel very well. I believe that attendance at last year’s Orange Bowl has to be discounted to an extent. Travel costs were stupidly outrageous. (Not that they are any better this year, but we have had more time to adjust and plan accordingly). Also, I believe there was a bit of disappointment/apathy about our going (once again) to the Orange Bowl . . maybe fans were just a little burnt out on going to Miami. However, now we are talking about New Orleans just a few days removed from New Year’s. I could have sworn Hokie fans and partying on Bourbon Street were synonymous. (What good Tech event doesn’t center on libations of one form or another?) So, comparing how well the Hokies traveled to Miami to how well the Sugar Bowl can expect them to travel to New Orleans is almost like comparing apples and oranges.
Finally, yes, dammit, Va Tech belongs in the Sugar Bowl. Why? Because the people that own and run the damn thing invited us. ’Nuf said!!
CTOB
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But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.
-Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, 1782
I like when McDammit gets fired up.
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by furrer4heisman on Dec 6, 2011 11:03 PM EST up reply actions
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