The Collegiate Times’ comprehensive guide to Virginia Tech football
Friday, September 10, 2010
www.collegiatetimes.com
THE
EXTRAPOINT
Dukes a hazard?
ROBERT BOAG / THE BREEZE
DANIEL LIN / SPPS
The Hokies and Dukes had very different season opening games. Tech lost to Boise State 33-30 in front of 86,587 at FedEx Field while JMU dominated Morhead State 48-7 in front of 16,612 fans in Harrisonburg.
Beamer disregards FCS status when JMU to enter Saturday’s contest with preparing Hokies for James Madison nothing to lose, ACC revenge on mind ED LUPIEN
MICHAEL DEMSKY
sports reporter
the breeze
Just four days after the 33-30 loss at the hands of No. 3 Boise State, No. 13 Virginia Tech goes for its first win of the season Saturday against James Madison University of the Football Championship Subdivision in its home opener. “We’ve cut back on a few periods and are willing to do what we’ve got to do,” said head coach Frank Beamer in regard to the irregularly quick turnaround. “It’s a lot to cover and a short time to do it and to get ready for a really good football team in James Madison who is No. 11 in their poll.” In preparation for the game, Beamer is not taking into account the results of the programs’ two previous meetings, which the Hokies won by a combined score of 90-0. “Those past results don’t indicate what is going to happen this week,” Beamer said. “This is a new game. It’s just a fact — they’re very fast on defense and well-coached.” Beamer’s cautious outlook on the matchup with a FCS opponent will be reflected in his players’ approach on the field. “I try to bring the same enthusiasm and passion to every game no matter who we’re playing,” said Davon Morgan, the Hokies’ senior rover. “It can be a little harder to get jacked up for an FCS opponent but I doubt that will be the case with what coach is expecting out of us this week.” JMU has experienced success in recent years, winning the FCS National Championship in 2004 and compil-
MICHAEL MCDERMOTT / SPPS
Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor evades a Boise State defender to make a pass. Taylor spent much of Monday night scrambling. ing six straight winning seasons. The Dukes are 3-15 against Football Bowl Subdivision teams that still compete in the division. In its most recent encounter with an FBS program, JMU dropped a heartbreaking 38-35 overtime loss at Maryland last season. “This is one of the top programs in (the FCS),” Beamer said of JMU. “A FCS program just beat Mississippi last week. Florida State had to score in the last 35 seconds to beat a FCS program last year after they had just barely lost to Miami. When I was at Murray State, we beat Louisville one year and tied Memphis State. I don’t
get into divisions, I get in to what kind of team we’re playing and this is a good football team.” The Dukes’ previous meeting with the Hokies resulted in a 43-0 win for Tech in 2003. Tech leads the series 6-0, which has been played entirely in Blacksburg. Like his counterpart, JMU head coach Mickey Matthews does not expect the result of Saturday’s game to be as one-sided as it has been in the past. “We’re going to play the game to see HOKIES / page four
This Saturday, the James Madison University football team will travel roughly 140 miles southwest to Blacksburg, Va., the home of Atlantic Coast Conference power Virginia Tech, for its second game of the season. It will be the Dukes’ only game against a Football Bowl Subdivision team this season, but despite the vast gap in the programs’ resources, the JMU side remains optimistic that if it plays its style of football, the team can compete with the mighty Hokies. “We’re gonna dance with the players who brought us,” said Mickey Matthews, JMU head coach. “We certainly have some different changeups for every game we play, including this one, but you got to stick with the guys who got you there.” Coming off a disappointing 33-30 defeat at the hands of the Boise State Broncos on Monday night, Tech will surely come out with something to prove. Leading the Hokies will be quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who accounted for 186 passing yards, 73 rushing yards and two touchdowns against Boise State. Taylor, now a senior, has been a dual threat throughout his career. His career stat line boasts more than 6,000 total yards and 40 touchdowns. “You’re not going to contain Tyrod Taylor, no one has in his career,” Matthews said. “You try to slow him down, put pressure on him, give him some different looks. Like all great quarterbacks, you want to force him
ROBERT BOAG / THE BREEZE
JMU will hope its inexperienced receiving core can find a way to get open against the Hokies’ defensive backs and secondary. into some mistakes. But he’s a great player, he’s an NFL quarterback.” Tech also features one of the most dynamic running backs in all of college football in sophomore Ryan Williams. As a true freshman last season, Williams put together one of the best campaigns in history by a first-year runner, rushing for 1,655 yards and 21 touchdowns. The Dukes’ starting safety unit, featuring sophomore Jakarie Jackson and redshirt juniors Vidal Nelson and Jonathan Williams, will primarily be in charge of containing all facets of the Hokies’ offense.
“Our safeties are very good athletes against the run and pass,” Matthews said. “They’re going to be challenged with the great backs and receivers they have. Virginia Tech has as much firepower at those positions as they may ever have had, so those three guys are going to have their hands full.” Unlike Tech, the Dukes will be coming off a victory following their shellacking of undermanned Morehead State, 48-7, last Saturday. The win put the Dukes at 1-0 for see DUKES / page four