2014 Virginia Tech Hokies Football: Open Game Thread, How To Watch The Hokies vs. the Ohio State Buckeyes

Date: Saturday, September 6, 2014

Time: 8:06 pm kickoff EST

Location: Ohio Stadium (aka The Horseshoe) Columbus, Ohio
Stadium Capacity: 104,944+ (opened 1922, Fieldturf 2006-present)

Weather: Mid to High 70s, with late morning thunderstorms due to abate in mid-afternoon. The field will probably remain a bit slick regardless of the state of the art drainage system they likely have.

TV: ESPN, WatchESPNapp

Announcers: Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge assisted on the sideline by the immutable Holly Rowe.

Radio: IMG Radio Network, In Stadium Network: 94.1 FM, Channel 91 Sirius/XM, and finally digitally on HokiesXTRA...National Radio: Sports USA Radio Network

Spread: Ohio State by 11. (Before Braxton Miller was injured it was 18 at one time)

Interesting Game Facts

• With Maryland and Rutgers having joined the BiG, it appears that VT actually has a history playing the conference. Their record is 30-21, but without MD and Rutgers, and Nebraska who was formerly of the BIG12, the Hokies have played just two games against true Big 10 opponents. Both bowl wins: vs Indiana in 1993, and against Michigan in 2012....you in the back, you got something to say? I didn't think so. It was a miracle catch by Danny Coale that clinched the Sugar.
• VT's record vs teams from Ohio is favorable at 19-7. And some of them are almost certainly Ohio State Universities. I for one recall making Zippy the kangaroo's life miserable during homecoming 1995, when VT led Akron at the half 57-0 (not a misprint). And on the flip side of that coin (as DeNiro so famously said in the classic hit, Heat) is Munchie LeGeaux leaving us all confused at FedEx as current VT (and former Cincy AD) Whit Babcock no doubt began polishing his resume in an attempt to come home to Virginia.
• Next year, this game is in Blacksburg on Labor Day evening. Something in my gut tells me that single game tickets will be very difficult or very expensive to obtain.
  This will be the largest crowd that VT football has ever played in front of, "narrowly edging" Tiger Stadium (Death Valley) in 2007. The Horseshoe seats almost 12,000 more than LSU with a capacity of 104,944. This of course will be surpassed by the Battle at Bristol Speedway in 2016 vs Tennessee, where crowds have been brazenly predicted as upwards of 150,000 by the organizers.
  Frank Beamer narrowly has a Two-to-One Win/Loss Ratio, two more losses without a win and his record falls under that mark.
• Urban Meyer has just 25 losses in his 13 year career. He enjoys a solo slice of pizza in abandoned underground tunnels when these rare occasions present themselves.
• Frank Beamer requires 32 more wins at VT in order to move behind Paterno and Bowden with most wins at one institution.
• Brian Kelly (209 wins) and Nick Saban (166 wins) stand the best chance of catching Beamer in total wins, but if Beamer fulfills his contract, he will likely reach 300 wins, and put it out of the reach of both those guys.
• VT's Non-Conference record on the road under Beamer is 24-27-1. Regardless of rank, that is still suspect. But when they are ranked opponents on the road (including conference games), just 16-37.
  VT has only ever had four double-digit comeback wins in Beamer's tenure.
  When VT scores 25+ points, their record is 168-20.
  When VT is away at night, their record is 27-17-1.
• When VT trails at the half the record is 31-72.
• Frank Beamer is 43-8 vs the Coastal Division in 10 years. Impressive.
• If VT is outrushed their record is 30-69.
  VT has played 9 OT games and has a 6-3 record.
• Continuing a trend of playing his talent early, Coach Beamer played 10 true freshmen on Saturday, which was second only to last season when he played 11. Historically the number was much lower most years. Some of these players can still redshirt due to the limited action they truly saw last Saturday.
• Enjoy the night game this week, because the ECU game is at noon on the 13th, and it'll be hotter than the 8th circle of Hades.

Some Stats To Be Taken With A Grain of Salt Due To It Only Being Week One

• Virginia Tech surrendered 193 yards against William & Mary, placing just outside the top 10 nationally at 11th. In 2013 they allowed 283.2 yards per game, finishing 4th in the country.
• The Hokies were a top 10 team in both rushing and passing defense in 2013. They allowed 110.92 yards on the ground (10th) and 172.3 yards through the air (8th). In 2014 Virginia Tech has allowed 76 rushing yards (30th), and 117 passing yards (21st)
• After week one, Ohio State places 118th in the nation in rushing defense having surrendered 370 ground yards. They gave up a mere 20 yards through the air against Navy, good for 3rd in passing defense nationally. A season ago they finished 9th in rushing defense, surrendering an average 109.43yards on the ground, and 112th in paing defense with 268 yards against per game.

Thanks for the inspiration for some of the above stat pulls to the hokiesports.com crew and their pregame press notes. I took most stats just a step further, and used only the ones I found more exceptional.

Enjoy the game everyone, and remember to pace yourselves so you don't pass out in the easy chair waiting for the game to start! Follow along @gobblercountry and for periodic updates on our Facebook page

THIS WILL SERVE AS THE OPEN GAME THREAD SO PLEASE MAKE SURE TO STOP IN AND SEE WHAT OTHER LIKE-MINDED HOKIES HAVE TO SAY! WE HAVE A LIVELY CROWD TO SAY THE LEAST! :)