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For Virginia Tech, the 1990 team was like a Super Ball in the hands of an eight-year-old: you never knew which way it was going to go. The Hokies evened their record at 3-3 with a 26-21 win over West Virginia in Blacksburg, which always made everybody happy. But next was a trip to Philadelphia to play Temple, and for the fourth time that season, a late rally spoiled the day. Favored by 5½ points, Tech lost 31-28.

“For us, it was the most disappointing game of the season,” outside linebacker Archie Hopkins said.

Seven games into the season, the Hokies were a team with 10 gallons of gas in a 13-gallon tank, getting outscored 67-13 in the fourth quarter.

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