The Hokies took care of business against Maryland on Saturday, which actually says a lot. Tech had nothing to play for but getting to 10 wins and still came out and did what it was supposed to do. I think the last time this team had no chance at winning its conference or division this early in the season was 2006. I'm pretty sure Georgia Tech clinched the Coastal on Nov. 11 that year.
Hopefully this year's Tech team mirrors that one and not the 2003 squad. In 2006, the Hokies won their final six regular season game. Right now the Hokies' win streak is at two. If the Hokies can win out (including the bowl) and get that streak to five, they will have their 10-win season.
Links after the jump.
National Media and Bloggers
Hokies handle Terps (Annette)
"Tyrod Taylor had a great day, throwing for 268 yards and three touchdowns (no interceptions) and rushing for another 76 yards. And, no surprise, Ryan Williams had another 100-yard day. The Hokies' 10-win season is still a realistic possibility, while Maryland is like a wounded animal limping into the final stretch of the season, which couldn't get here fast enough now for Ralph Friedgen."
Virginia Tech Beat Writers
Hokies ride their pride to lopsided victory (Nathan "Tommie Frazier" Warters)
"People still question whether the 20th-ranked Hokies have anything to play for, now that they are completely eliminated from the national championship and ACC title races. The players just shrug their shoulders and keep going to work."
Trouncing Turtles (Kyle Tucker)
"Jarrett Boykin continues to be a beast of a receiver. Danny Coale, one heckuva pass-catcher himself, leveled a couple of really nice blocks for his ‘mates. And Dyrell Roberts – with a 27-yard diving catch, a 41-yard leaping catch and a speedy 10-yard TD catch and run – appears to have fully transitioned from tailback to receiver."
Hokies handle Maryland (Darryl Slater)
"Their next month and a half might feel less important to those who observe them, but the Hokies believe they can still find a lofty purpose. For Williams, it centers on winning 10 games. Beamer talked to his team about "being as good as we can be." Defensive coordinator Bud Foster wants the Hokies to "play for each other.""
Old friends' coaching battle purely 1-sided (Aaron McFarling)
"On Saturday, Beamer brought more than 10,000 Virginia Tech fans into Byrd Stadium, and together they danced a jig on what's left of Friedgen's reputation. The Hokies torched the Terps 36-9 -- a game that was over at halftime -- to drop Maryland's record to 2-8."
Virginia Tech easily tops Maryland (Randy King)
"Well, the Hokies ruled the roost here from the get-go. Maryland, which played without injured starting quarterback Chris Turner, was stymied to a season-low 236 yards by Tech's defense. Sophomore Jamarr Robinson, making his first college start, ran 24 times for 129 yards. He spent most of the day running for his life as the Hokies swarmed UM's porous offensive line for 10 tackles for loss, and posted a season-high six sacks."
Foster has not heard from Memphis (Mark Viera)
"Memphis Athletic Director R.C. Johnson has indicated that the university would cast a wide net in its search. He said Memphis's next coach must be successful in recruiting and that previous head coaching experience was preferred but not necessary."
Taylor's career-high 3 TD passes lift Hokies over Maryland (Jimmy Robertson)
"He had to like what he saw from Taylor, whose three touchdown passes were a career high. Behind Taylor, the Hokies broke their recent habit of slow starts and instead got it cranked up early in this one. On their first drive of the game, they marched 71 yards in 10 plays, with the big play coming being a 30-yard pass completion from Taylor to Jarrett Boykin that got the Hokies to the Maryland 1 - the play looked like a touchdown, but the official reviewed it and determined Boykin’s knee was down at the 1. Ryan Williams went in on the next play, and the extra point gave Tech a 7-0 lead with 10:48 left in the first quarter."
Virginia Tech Bloggers
Hokies Rout Terps 36-9 (Tech Sideline)
"Virginia Tech beat up on Maryland on both sides of the ball on Saturday afternoon, earning a 36-9 victory in College Park. The Hokies dominated statistically on offense and defense, and they also got some big plays from punt returner Jayron Hosley. Tech is now 7-3 on the season, with a 4-2 mark in ACC play. Maryland dropped to 2-8 overall and 1-5 in the ACC."
Maryland Beat Writers
Taylor, Hokies rip Terps (Washington Times)
"Sophomore quarterback Jamarr Robinson made his first career start as Chris Turner (left knee ligament sprain) missed the game. But Robinson found the same problems Turner endured for the Terps (2-8, 1-5 ACC) — an inability for Maryland's running backs to find room to run."
Maryland routed by Virginia Tech (Baltimore Sun)
"Jamarr Robinson was chased all over the field Saturday, but the elusive Maryland quarterback ultimately couldn't escape Virginia Tech, which dealt the Terrapins their fifth straight loss, 36-9, in a game that was one-sided from the opening possession."
Maryland Bloggers
Virginia Tech 36, Maryland 9: (Late) Early Thoughts (Testudo Times)
"First off, as bad as the defense is, it's better than the offense, by a pretty decent amount. That's pretty telling for how god-awful this offense is. I can't stand giving them credit for a TD, but the fact of the matter is that they got it and the offense didn't. Both sides were awful today, and neither were where they need to be, but the defense was just a bit better, for what's that worth."
Maryland-Virginia Tech Report Card and Helmet Stickers (Testudo Times)
"Robinson was very average, or below average, when passing. Of course, that might be because he had no time and was going up against a very good defense. His big strength was his scrambling ability - he went over 100 yards on the ground and was pretty much the only effective player Maryland had on offense thanks to that. You could still see that he had talent and an arm, but they got overshadowed by his jitters/poor offensive line and his running ability."
Hokies Have No Problem Running Over Terps (Inside MD Sports)
"The stands would have been mostly empty after Virginia Tech led 27-3 at halftime if not for the influx of Hokie faithful, who comprised an overwhelming majority of the 51,514 who stuck around. The most audible cheer by the end was the back-and-forth chant of "Let’s go Hokies," and the scattered Maryland fans still in attendance weren’t inclined to counter."