2005 Virginia Tech Hokies football team

2005 Virginia Tech Hokies football
Gator Bowl Champions ACC Coastal Division Champions
ACC Championship Game, L 22-27 vs. Florida State
Gator Bowl, W 35-24 vs. Louisville
Conference	Atlantic Coast Conference
Division	Coastal Division
Ranking
Coaches	No. 7
AP	No. 7
2005 record	11-2 (7-2 ACC)
Head coach	Frank Beamer
Offensive coordinator	Bryan Stinespring
Offensive scheme	Pro Style
Defensive coordinator	Bud Foster
Base defense	4-3
Home stadium	Lane Stadium (c. 65,115, grass)

2005 ACC football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Atlantic Division
#23 Florida State xy$		5	–	3					8	–	5
#18 Boston College x		5	–	3					9	–	3
#21 Clemson		4	–	4					8	–	4
Wake Forest		3	–	5					4	–	7
NC State		3	–	5					7	–	5
Maryland		3	–	5					5	–	6
Coastal Division
#7 Virginia Tech x		7	–	1					11	–	2
#17 Miami		6	–	2					9	–	3
Georgia Tech		5	–	3					7	–	5
North Carolina		4	–	4					5	–	6
Virginia		3	–	5					7	–	5
Duke		0	–	8					1	–	10
Championship: Florida State 27, Virginia Tech 22
$ – BCS representative as conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant Rankings from AP Poll

The 2005 Virginia Tech Hokies football team represented Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University during the 2005 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team's head coach was Frank Beamer.

Virginia Tech began the season ranked #7 in the USA Today Coaches Poll and #8 in the Associated Press Poll after going 10-3 (7-1 ACC) in 2004 and winning the Atlantic Coast Conference title.

The 2005 Hokies compiled an 11-2 overall record, including a 7-1 mark during the regular season in Atlantic Coast Conference. The lone regular season conference loss came at home in a 27-7 loss to Miami. Miami was upset late in the season by Georgia Tech, in a game that had previously been postponed due to Hurricane Wilma ^[1] and so Virginia Tech won the Coastal Division of the ACC outright.

Following the regular season, the Hokies faced Atlantic Division champion Florida State in the ACC football championship game. After a defensive struggle in the first half and a 3-3 halftime tie, Florida State broke the game open in the third quarter, piling up 24 unanswered points. A fourth quarter Tech rally fell short and the Hokies lost 27-22.

The Hokies concluded the season at the 2006 Gator Bowl against Louisville, scoring 22 unanswered fourth quarter points to defeat the #16 Cardinals 35-24.^[2]

ESPN's College GameDay visited Blacksburg twice during the season - for the Georgia Tech game on September 24, after Hurricane Rita forced the program to move from Baton Rouge,^[3] and for the Miami game on November 5.

Tech's defense began the season with question marks in the secondary, having lost three starters and one key backup to graduation.^[4] Depth became a critical issue when two backup cornerbacks were arrested in the spring ^[5] Despite the question marks, Tech finished third nationally in pass defense (154.23 yards per game)^[6] and first nationally in total defense (247.62 yards per game).^[7]

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 4	7:00 PM	at NC State	No. 8	Carter-Finley Stadium • Raleigh, North Carolina	ESPN2	W 20-16	57,500[8]
September 10	12:00 PM	at Duke	No. 7	Wallace Wade Stadium • Durham, North Carolina	JPS	W 45-0	25,014[8]
September 17	3:30 PM	Ohio*	No. 4	Lane Stadium • Blacksburg, Virginia	ESPNU	W 45-0	65,115[8]
September 24	3:30 PM	No. 16 Georgia Tech	No. 4	Lane Stadium • Blacksburg, Virginia (Battle of the Techs)	ABC	W 51-7	65,115[8]
October 1	12:00 PM	at West Virginia*	No. 3	Mountaineer Field • Morgantown, West Virginia (Black Diamond Trophy)	ESPN	W 34-17	60,193[8]
October 8	12:00 PM	Marshall*	No. 3	Lane Stadium • Blacksburg, Virginia	ESPN2	W 41-14	65,115[8]
October 20	7:45 PM	at Maryland	No. 3	Byrd Stadium • College Park, Maryland	ESPN	W 28-9	54,838[8]
October 27	7:45 PM	No. 18 Boston College	No. 3	Lane Stadium • Blacksburg, Virginia	ESPN	W 30-10	65,115[8]
November 5	7:45 PM	No. 5 Miami (FL)	No. 3	Lane Stadium • Blacksburg, Virginia (Rivalry)	ESPN	L 7-27	65,115[8]
November 19	12:00 PM	at Virginia	No. 7	Scott Stadium • Charlottesville, Virginia (Commonwealth Cup)	ESPN	W 52-14	63,344[8]
November 26	7:45 PM	North Carolina	No. 6	Lane Stadium • Blacksburg, Virginia	ESPN	W 30-3	65,115[8]
December 3	8:00 PM	vs. Florida State	No. 5	Alltel Stadium • Jacksonville, Florida (ACC Championship Game)	ABC	L 22-27	72,749[8]
January 2	12:30 PM	vs. No. 16 Louisville	No. 12	Alltel Stadium • Jacksonville, Florida (Gator Bowl)	NBC	W 35-24	63,780[8]
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Personnel

Coaching staff

Position	Name	First year at VT	First year in current position
Head Coach	Frank Beamer	1987	1987
Associate Head Coach and Running Backs Coach	Billy Hite	1978	2001
Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line	Bryan Stinespring	1990	2002
Defensive Coordinator and Inside Linebackers	Bud Foster	1987	1995
Wide Receivers	Tony Ball	1998	1998
Strong Safety, Outside Linebackers, and Recruiting Coordinator	Jim Cavanaugh	1996	2002
Quarterbacks	Kevin Rogers	2002	2002
Tight Ends and Offensive Tackles	Danny Pearman	1998	1998
Defensive backs	Lorenzo Ward	1999	1999
Defensive Line	Charley Wiles	1996	1996
Source: http://www.hokiesports.com/football/players/

Roster

Quarterback 3  Ike Whitaker – Freshman 5  Marcus Vick – RS Junior 7  Sean Glennon – Sophomore 8 Greg Boone – Freshman 12 Cory Holt – RS Freshman Tailback    Elan Lewis – Freshman 20 Mike Imoh – Senior 28 Branden Ore – RS Freshman 32 Cedric Humes – RS Senior 34 George Bell – RS Freshman 44 John Candelas – Senior Flanker    Justin Born – Sophomore  4 Eddie Royal – Sophomore 82 Jeremy Gilchrist – RS Freshman[9] Split end    Brandon Dillard – Freshman    Michael Reid – Freshman 17 Josh Morgan – Sophomore 19 Josh Hyman – RS Sophomore 81 Justin Harper – Sophomore 87 David Clowney – Junior Fullback    Kenny Jefferson – Freshman    Billy Gorham – Sophomore    Devin Perez – RS Freshman 37 Jesse Allen – RS Junior 39 Carlton Weatherford – RS Sophomore Tight end 43 John Kinzer – RS Sophomore 83 Sam Wheeler – Freshman 85 Ed Wang – Freshman 90 Jeff King – RS Senior Offensive guard    Zac Lowe – Junior 51 Matt Welsh – RS Freshman 61 Reggie Butler – Senior 62 Rashad Ferebee – Senior 63 Antonio North – Freshman 65 Robert Norris – Freshman 66 Will Montgomery[10] – RS Senior 72 Jason Murphy – RS Senior 77 Brandon Gore – RS Senior		Offensive tackle    Mason Baggett – RS Junior    Watson Stelly – Sophomore 52 Jimmy Martin – Senior 64 Richard Graham – Freshman 67 Nick Marshman – RS Freshman 74 Brandon Frye – RS Junior 76 Duane Brown – RS Sophomore 79 Eric Davis – Freshman Center 57 Tripp Carroll – RS Sophomore[11] 58 Ryan Shuman – RS Freshman 66 Will Montgomery[10] – RS Senior 69 Danny McGrath – RS Junior Defensive tackle    Hivera Green – Freshman    Cordarrow Thompson – Freshman    Scott King – Sophomore 56 Jonathan Lewis – Senior 59 Barry Booker – RS Sophomore 60 Chris Burnett – RS Junior 71 Tim Sandidge – RS Senior 75 Kory Robertson – RS Sophomore 99 Carlton Powell – RS Sophomore Defensive end    Chad Carlson – Freshman    Greg Kezmarsky – Senior 41 Jordan Trott – RS Senior 49 Chris Ellis – RS Sophomore 55 Darryl Tapp – Senior 72 Matt Tilley – Freshman 90 Orion Martin – RS Freshman 94 William Wall – Freshman 96 Noland Burchette – RS Junior Linebacker    Cody Grimm – Freshman    Jonas Houseright – RS Freshman    Mark Muncey – Freshman    Dustin Pickle – Freshman    Demetrius Taylor – Freshman  6 Andrew Bowman – RS Freshman  9 Vince Hall – RS Sophomore 11 Xavier Adibi – RS Sophomore 13 Corey Gordon – RS Sophomore 29 Chad Grimm – Junior 33 Brett Warren – Sophomore 35 Stevie Ray Lloyd – RS Sophomore[12] 40 Blake Warren – RS Senior 42 James Anderson – RS Senior		Free Safety    Jake Patten – Junior 22 Robert Parker – RS Junior 25 D.J. Parker – Sophomore 26 Kent Hicks – RS Freshman 27 Justin Hamilton – RS Senior 31 Brendan Hill – RS Junior 48 Cam Martin – Freshman Rover    Jake Patten – Junior    Matt Reidy – Freshman 30 Cary Wade – RS Junior 36 Aaron Rouse – RS Junior 45 Purnell Sturdivant – RS Freshman Cornerback    Jahre Cheeseman – Freshman    Brian McPherson – RS Junior  1 Victor Harris – Freshman  2 Jimmy Williams – Senior 15 Roland Minor – RS Sophomore 18 Brandon Flowers – RS Freshman 21 Ryan Hash – RS Junior 24 Dorian Porch – Freshman 47 Theodore Miller – RS Freshman[13] 48 Cory Price – Junior Long Snapper    Cory Byrd – Freshman 53 Nick Leeson – RS Junior 54 Bart McMillin – RS Sophomore Punter 23 Nic Schmitt – RS Junior 97 Brent Bowden – Redshirting Place Kicker    John Hedge – RS Junior 46 Brandon Pace – RS Junior 92 Jud Dunlevy – RS Sophomore 98 Jared Develli – Sophomore
Source: http://www.hokiesports.com/football/players/ Starters are in bold and players who left the team are struck out Players who sat out during 2006 ("redshirted") are indicated with a "red shirt" icon

Marcus Vick

Marcus Vick's statistics
Game	Passing	TDs	Int	Rushing	TDs
NC State	10-21 (139 yards)	1	0	21 – 31	0
Duke	12-19 (172 yards)	3	1	4 – (-12)	0
Ohio	12-16 (200 yards)	2	0	13 – 38	1
Georgia Tech	13-18 (223 yards)	1	0	7 – 0	0
West Virginia	15-17 (177 yards)	2	0	12 – 74	1
Marshall	11-16 (163 yards)	1	1	6 – 3	0
Maryland	14-23 (211 yards)	0	3	16 – 133	1
Boston College	22-28 (280 yards)	1	0	13 – 52	0
Miami	8-22 (90 yards)	0	2	17 – 7	1
Virginia	15-21 (170 yards)	2	1	9 – 32	0
North Carolina	8-15 (61 yards)	1	1	7 – 1	0
Florida State	26-52 (335 yards)	1	1	17 – 11	2
Louisville	11-22 (203 yards)	2	0	13 – 10	0
Source: NCAA Player Statistics

With the departure of three-year starting quarterback Bryan Randall, the Hokies found themselves with questions at the quarterback position. Marcus Vick, who had seen limited action in 2003, before being suspended for the 2004 season for off-field transgressions,^[14] entered spring practice as the #3 quarterback on the depth chart behind Sean Glennon and Cory Holt.

In the spring game, Vick completed 9 of his 17 passes for 107 yards and he was named the starter the next day.^[15]

After a rough first start against NC State, in which the offense managed just 232 yards, Vick showed improved poise and numbers through the next several games.

During the West Virginia game, Vick made an obscene gesture towards the Mountaineer fans who had been chanting "rapist" and "child molester" at him.^[16] He later apologized for his conduct.^[17] Despite the incident, Vick was a near-perfect 15 of 17 passing against the Mountaineers and added 74 yards on the ground, including a 23-yard scramble as part of a fourth-quarter touchdown drive that would put the game out of reach.^[18]

Against Miami, Vick had the worst game of his career, turning the ball over six times and managing only one first half completion.

Following the loss to Florida State in the ACC championship game, the Hokies earned a trip to the Gator Bowl to face Louisville. During the second quarter of the game, as players were returning to the huddle after a play, Vick stomped on the left calf of Louisville defensive end Elvis Dumervil. He later claimed that the stomp was accidental, though replays show Vick appearing to deliberately aim for the leg. Vick stated that he apologized to Dumervil after the game, though Dumervil denied that any apology had been offered.^[19]

Steve Usecheck, the Big 12 Conference referee who headed the Gator Bowl officiating crew, stated that the officiating crew missed the stomp and would have ejected Vick if it had been seen.^[20]

The following week, it was revealed that Vick had been cited for speeding and driving with a suspended license. University President Charles Steger decided to dismiss Vick from the team and Vick then decided to declare for the NFL draft.^[16]

Game notes

North Carolina State

	1	2	3	4	Total
#7 Virginia Tech Hokies	7	3	3	7	20
NC State Wolfpack	7	6	0	3	16

The eighth highest-rated broadcast in the history of ESPN2, this game set a new record for the most-watched college football game in the history of ESPN2.^[21] (That mark was eclipsed later that month by a Monday-night broadcast of Tennessee @ LSU.^[22]) Marcus Vick made his first start for the Hokies, completing 10 of 21 passes for 108 yards. Tech's offense managed only 232 yards of total offense (State piled up 438), but Nic Schmitt, in his debut game as starting punter, kept the Hokies in good field position, averaging 46.5 yards per punt. Special teams, penalties (the Wolfpack were penalized 12 times for 105 yards), and turnovers (State committed three turnovers while Tech committed none) were the difference in the game.^[23]

Leading 13-10 at halftime, the Wolfpack drove into Tech territory on their first possession of the second half, then pinned the Hokies at the 1-yard-line. With third down and 3 yards to go from his own 8, Vick threw an incomplete pass and the Hokies would have had to punt, but an NC State personal foul allowed the drive to continue. The Hokies went on to march 88 yards down the field, eating up the bulk of the time remaining in the third quarter, and capped the drive with a field goal from Brandon Pace.

In the fourth quarter, after a 21-yard punt return by Eddie Royal, Tech found itself starting at the NC State 20 and Marcus Vick hit David Clowney for the winning touchdown.^[24]

Duke

	1	2	3	4	Total
#6 Virginia Tech Hokies	14	7	14	10	45
Duke Blue Devils	0	0	0	0	0

In their second straight game in the Triangle, Hokie fans packed Wallace Wade Stadium and accounted for at least two-thirds of the 25,014-strong crowd.^[25]

The Hokies had little trouble defeating the Blue Devils, holding Duke to 35 yards of total offense – the fewest yards they have allowed in any game since before 1950.^[26] Duke managed over five yards on only two drives and their deepest penetration was to Virginia Tech's 48-yard line, whereas the Hokies started all but three drives at their own 43 or better.^[27]

Marcus Vick threw for 172 yards and three touchdowns, going 12-of-19 (three of his incomplete passes were dropped by receivers). Brandon Ore, who would become the Hokies' featured tailback in 2006, made his debut, rushing for 51 yards and one touchdown.^[25]

Ohio

	1	2	3	4	Total
Ohio Bobcats	0	0	0	0	0
#5 Virginia Tech Hokies	3	14	14	14	45

In the Hokies' home opener and the inaugural game for the Lane Stadium expansion, the Hokie defense turned in its second straight shutout. Ohio's defense, which had scored two touchdowns the previous week in an upset win over Pitt, stifled the Hokies early, allowing only 158 first half yards and twice forcing three-and-out drives.^[28]

In their only scoring threat of the first half, Ohio penetrated deep into Tech territory, but the drive stalled at the 20 and kicker Jonathon Greene missed a field goal. The Hokies scored two touchdowns off of turnovers and took a 17-point lead into the locker room at halftime.

In the second half, the Hokies scored touchdowns on four of their first five possessions, with drives of 65, 80, 56, and 97.^[28]

Georgia Tech

	1	2	3	4	Total
#15 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets	0	0	7	0	7
#4 Virginia Tech Hokies	14	10	24	3	51

On a day when ESPN's College GameDay visited Blacksburg, the Hokies dominated Georgia Tech in every phase of the game. The Hokies scored three non-offensive touchdowns, including D.J. Parker's return of a blocked field goal.^[29] The Hokies' kicking game kept Georgia Tech bottled up with Nic Schmitt averaging 49.2 yards per punt – including a 61-yarder that was downed at the one-yard-line – and with Jared Develli kicking touchbacks on four of his eight kickoffs.^[30]

Georgia Tech quarterback Reggie Ball, who had missed the previous week's game against Connecticut due to viral meningitis was not 100%. Ball completed only 11 of his 27 passes and threw two touchdowns. The lone score for the Yellow Jackets came on a third quarter 11-yard touchdown pass from Ball to Calvin Johnson.^[31]

West Virginia

	1	2	3	4	Total
#3 Virginia Tech Hokies	10	14	3	7	34
West Virginia Mountaineers	0	14	3	0	17

The 2005 meeting between West Virginia and Virginia Tech was the final scheduled meeting between two teams that had met annually since 1973.^[32] Since 1997, the two teams had competed for the Black Diamond Trophy.

Hokie quarterback Marcus Vick put on one of his best performances of the season against the Mountaineers – a near-perfect 15 of 17 passing against the Mountaineers. Vick added 74 yards on the ground, including a 23-yard scramble as part of a fourth-quarter touchdown drive that would put the game out of reach. The Hokies held onto the ball, committing no turnovers to WVU's two, and ran 70 plays compared with only 48 for the Mountaineers.^[18] Tech's defense held serve, holding West Virginia without a first down on their first three possessions.^[33]

After West Virginia starting quarterback was knocked out of the game, backup Pat White came in and threw two second-quarter touchdown passes, including a 46-yarder to Dorrell Jalloh to cut the Hokies' lead to three points, but the Mountaineers' only score after that point was a field goal and Tech would go on to win 34-17.^[32]

Marshall

	1	2	3	4	Total
Marshall Thundering Herd	0	7	0	7	14
#3 Virginia Tech Hokies	7	7	20	7	41

Maryland

	1	2	3	4	Total
#3 Virginia Tech Hokies	0	7	7	14	28
Maryland Terrapins	0	3	0	6	9

Boston College

	1	2	3	4	Total
#14 Boston College Eagles	0	7	3	0	10
#3 Virginia Tech Hokies	6	14	0	10	30

Miami

	1	2	3	4	Total
#5 Miami Hurricanes	3	7	17	0	27
#3 Virginia Tech Hokies	0	0	0	7	7

Virginia

	1	2	3	4	Total
#6 Virginia Tech Hokies	7	17	28	0	52
Virginia Cavaliers	0	0	7	7	14

North Carolina

	1	2	3	4	Total
North Carolina Tar Heels	0	3	0	0	3
#5 Virginia Tech Hokies	0	6	21	3	30

Florida State

	1	2	3	4	Total
#5 Virginia Tech Hokies	3	0	0	19	22
Florida State Seminoles	3	0	24	0	27

Louisville

	1	2	3	4	Total
Louisville Cardinals	14	3	0	7	24
#5 Virginia Tech Hokies	3	7	3	22	35

The 2006 Gator Bowl was played on January 2, 2006 at 12:30 p.m. EST in Jacksonville, Florida. Louisville led for much of the game, beginning with an 11-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter by backup quarterback Hunter Cantwell, who filled in for the injured Brohm. Tech was only able to answer with a field goal, and Louisville was able to add another touchdown before the end of the quarter. In the second quarter, Virginia Tech fought back and narrowed Louisville's lead to a single touchdown. At halftime, the score was 17–10 in Louisville's favor. In the second half, Virginia Tech's offense began to have success. Tech earned the only points of the third quarter—a 28-yard field goal from kicker Brandon Pace—to narrow Louisville's lead to 17–13. In the fourth quarter, however, the game fully turned in the Hokies' favor. Though Louisville scored a touchdown early in the quarter, Virginia Tech scored 22 unanswered points in the final 13 minutes of the game to take a 35–24 lead and earn the win.

Notes