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I often talk to former Hokie players. Some of those interviews end up here. When I reached out to Cedric Humes, I decided to do something different. I asked Cedric to tell me about his favorite Virginia Tech memory, and this was the result:
I've had a lot of great memorable moments at Virginia Tech. But my most memorable moment will probably be the 2006 Toyota Gator Bowl where I won MVP. Not because I won the MVP award, but because it was a seal on an up and down career at Virginia Tech. My first year there in 2001 I redshirted. The next year I was converted to fullback where I thought I would be for the duration of my career at Virginia Tech. It wasn't. The next year I went back to playing running back where I shared carries with All-American running back Kevin Jones until he declared, at the end of that year to enter the N.F.L. draft.
Former #Hokies running back Kevin Jones is joining the Virginia Tech AD's staff. http://t.co/0zX1dG0iag
— 106.7 The Fan (@1067thefandc) June 17, 2014
"I had to start all over and really fight to get back to my old self."
The injury left me with two screws in my ankle because I tore ligaments. I fought back to have a few games where I could redeem my season. This was our first year in the ACC where we had a chance to win the ACC title: we would have to play a great Miami team who were also trying to win the ACC title. Against all odds, I had a stellar game and helped my team win and we claimed our first ACC title. My senior year, fellow running back Mike Imoh and I did well as a tandem, with Brandon Ore (another great running back at VT) backing us up. About mid-season we played Marshall in Blacksburg and that's where I fractured my forearm. Luckily, we had a bye week and the engineers at VT manufactured a special brace enabling me to only miss 10 days, unfortunately, I still missed the big game against Maryland.
These are the reasons that coming back, finishing the season and end my college career as the MVP of the Toyota Gator Bowl is so special to me. It was something so unexpected but at the same time it showed all the work and preservation I had to endure. It was something that every player works hard for and every player would love to have. For me to get it, was a blessing. So many memories on and off the field, but I have to say that that's the most memorable.
--Cedric Humes