By Andrew Jones
FOXSportsSouth.com
November 13, 2010
Chapel Hill, NC --- If only Virginia Tech could wipe away the first five days from its season, its 26-10 victory at North Carolina on Saturday would have had major national implications.
But, the No. 16 Hokies fell late to Boise State before being shocked by FCS member James Madison, and started the season 0-2. Since then, however, Frank Beamer's team has generated steam and has now won eight consecutive games to take a commanding lead in the ACC's Coastal Division race.
Unless Virginia Tech loses its last two games at Miami and at home against rival Virginia, it will play for the league's championship like the media predicted in July. If only things went differently that first week.
"We don't do that," Beamer said when asked if he thinks about what could have been. "We have a good football team, and I think we're getting to be a really good football team right now. At the beginning of the year, we were a little bit too young to be a real good consistent football team. Too young."
The media didn't predict the awful beginning. And while the current run of success has offered enough evidence this is Hokies football as we've become accustomed to witnessing, those first five days still have many observers and pundits confused.
Is this team really good, or is the ACC just that bad?
Is this team really good, but the ACC's deserved reputation is holding back the praise?
Or is there no way the Hokies can overcome the stigma of that opening week, especially falling to a JMU team that is now 5-5 after edging William & Mary on Saturday?
"Those two losses hurt us, and the ACC is not looking great, but a win is a win, and we've won eight straight and we think we've become a good team," said Hokies safety Eddie Whitley. "Was it a fluke or was it meant to be? The past is past, you have to keep going, and that's what we did. We turned our heads around and went north."
The Hokies have moved forward, for sure. But what was the ignition switch?
Tyrod Taylor's play at quarterback has been huge, so important that Taylor, who passed for 249 yards and two touchdowns Saturday, will enter next weekend's play as the obvious ACC leader for Player of the Year honors. The defense continues to force enough turnovers, and various players step up weekly to deliver game-breaking moments. Whitley's second-quarter interception in the end zone on this day serves as an example.
But it's more than that. This turnaround is internal as much as it has been on the field.
"I think a key factor is having great kids," Beamer said. "I've said that a bunch, but I really mean it. I think if you've got bad guys on your team they just fall apart after two tough losses in a week. Those two losses stay with you.
"But I think our leadership, our kids went right back to work, and here we are, we're proud of what we accomplished."
Tech will move on to Charlotte with just one more victory, but this group wants two more. They want to keep winning and build a streak that will force the nation to notice. They won't be happy with an ACC title-game appearance or even one in the Orange Bowl.
With the Fiesta Bowl having the last selection among the BCS bowls, the ACC should be spared having to play a Big East team, thus the league's representative will have an opportunity to take on a reputable opponent.
Tech has plenty to play for, and maybe deep down having the prospect of defeating a major program outside of the ACC in the Orange Bowl is the redemption this program is seeking.
"We have something to prove to those people doubting us and our league," said cornerback Jayron Hosley, who had two interceptions on the day. "We are going to take it one game at a time, but we do still have pretty big goals."
Andrew Jones is in his 15th season covering the ACC.
