2005 Football: Matchups to Watch: Virginia Tech vs. Miami

Finally, the big game has arrived. The #5 Miami Hurricanes roll into
Blacksburg for the biggest home game in Virginia Tech football history.
Seemingly, all sports media are focused on this contest and ESPN appears to have
moved their offices from Stamford, CT to Blacksburg, VA this week. Everyone is
talking Hokie football and the media frenzy surrounding this game is
unparalleled for a regular season game. In my many years of following Virginia
Tech football, I�ve never felt so much anticipation for a home game. Virginia
Tech has truly arrived as a national power in football.

Virginia Tech and Miami match up well with both teams playing a fast,
physical style of football. Undoubtedly, the game will come down to field
position, mistakes, and big plays as most big games between two evenly matched
opponents do. Miami is coming off of their best half of football this season in
rallying to beat an underrated North Carolina squad, and Virginia Tech played
its best game of the season in dominating a very good Boston College team. The
Hokies will need to continue their disciplined, business-like approach to this
season and maintain their focus for 60 minutes to beat an excellent Hurricane
squad that will surely give Virginia Tech its best shot.

Tech�s performance last Thursday night was one of the most impressive games
that I have ever witnessed for Hokies� football. Virginia Tech dismantled the
best Boston College team to ever play the Hokies, winning all of the key
matchups. Tech neutralized Mathias Kiwanuka and the solid BC defensive front
while Darryl Tapp and company dominated the mammoth Eagles offensive line.
Outside of a misplayed pass by Jimmy Williams on a touchdown to Will Blackmon
and the execution of a couple of plays in the red zone, Tech played a flawless
game. The Hokies will need that same type of effort, and possibly even more, to
beat the Miami Hurricanes, who are extremely hungry and have revenge and an ACC
championship on their mind.

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