Some of you may recall this quote from ACC media days back in July:

Virginia Tech safety Kam Chancellor said that during a film session he think he has figured out what Tech is going to do, just from the blocking schemes.

“I can tell run, pass, who’s getting the ball,” Chancellor said.

“If they keep it like that, then we’re all good.”

Well, 309 yards is a relatively low total for us.

At any rate, this was a great win, of course. Tech made great second half adjusts to free up both a long run for Dwyer and get to the perimeter (though that was also helped by getting some blocking outside as well). The defense played well for three quarters, which was just enough allow GT to get a lead that it would never relinquish.

This was Tech’s first win over a top-5 team since beating #1 Alabama 7-6. In 1962.

Next up? Let us consult the list of GT Hexes:

1. 0-7 against Georgia since 2000
2. 0-12 against FSU since they joined the ACC in 1992
3. 0-8 against Virginia in Charlottesville since 1991

Well, hrm.

Allow me to quote a fantastic article written by a Navy fan last summer:

The spread option, as run by Paul Johnson and Ivin Jasper, is not the wishbone.

Emphasis mine. And indeed, said article explains exactly why defenses designed to stop the wishbone don’t work very well against Paul Johnson’s offense, whatever you want to call it. Apparently neither Mickey Andrews nor Bobby Bowden have read it.

One last thing. Bob Davie even showed a video of late-70’s Texas running the wishbone and said that since Tech has 3 guys in the backfield we’re obviously running the exact same offense! Well, gee, if that’s the case I guess the Wishbone is the same as the Wing-T and Maryland I. Sheesh.

Sometime during the summer, people who looked back on last year’s UNC game decided that UNC defended us “well” and had an idea how to stop the option. I contented that they obviously hadn’t watched the game or looked at the stats other than the final score (28-7).

Unfortunately, before I could start the reverse trend, it got picked up in the media and combined with last week’s debacle at Miami everything just snowballed. Now everyone believed it!

And, well, have a look at some stats:

Gee, GT’s stats look awfully similar, don’t you think? Especially in terms of rushing yards? Notice the biggest single difference? Yeah, that’s right, turnovers. GT muffed a punt and fumbled the ball, both leading directly to UNC touchdowns.

Of course, there were other factors that caused the opposite outcome this time as well. We basically never let them have the ball, which meant the defense played well (especially against the run, still need a little work on the pass rush). Also, Nesbitt had an excellent day passing, completing 63% of his passes plus a couple of balls that should’ve been caught.

All-in-all, a good win, and with Miami getting routed in Blacksburg, the Coastal is open once again.