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Get them so fired up that they tear up the locker room while they're waiting for the game to start. Get them so fired up that they want to run through a wall. Get them so fired up that they charge out of the Lane Stadium tunnel like they've been shot out of a cannon, and they don't stop until they've gone through the Miami Hurricanes like lightning through Lee Corso's rental car.

-- Make it Real, TechSideline.com, 10/29/03.

Widely hailed as one of the best articles to ever appear on TechSideline.com, Make it Real is a call to action for Hokie fans to show up at The Walk Saturday in a show of support for the Hokies. The article speaks for itself, so click the link and check it out, and make it a point to be at The Walk!

Click here to visit BeamerBall.com and see the starting point and route for "The Walk." Be there at 5:30 pm. The team will arrive at approximately 5:45.

TSL Suggestion Box

We're starting a new feature here in TSLMail called the "Suggestion Box." Each week, we'll ask a question, and this week's two-part question is:

(1) What's your favorite part of the TSL web site, and (2) what do you think needs the most improvement? (and how would you improve it?)

Send your answers with the subject "Suggestion Box" to [email protected].

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Crunching Some Stats from VT/Miami

The Hokies and the Miami Hurricanes have played ten times in Big East round-robin play, splitting the series evenly, 5-5. That makes Saturday's game the rubber match of the series in the Big East.

Miami won the 1993 (21-2) and 1994 games (24-3) handily, before VT embarked on a five-game winning streak from 1995-1999 (scores: 13-7, 21-7, 27-25, 27-20[OT], and 43-10). Miami then won the next three (41-21, 26-24, and 56-45).

We decided to take a look at some key stats throughout those ten games to try to isolate the keys to the game for VT. We suspect that turnovers, non-offensive TDs, and QB pressure play a big role, so we decided to check out those stats. Here's what we found.

First, let's take a look at those stats for VT's five wins over UM:

Wow. People outside VT always say that the Hokies beat Miami five times in a row because the Canes were on probation, but looking at those stats, you get a feel for how well the Hokies played in those five games:

• Tech had 3 turnovers, Miami 15.
• The Hokies sacked UM QBs 21 times, while Miami returned the favor just 8 times.
• The Hokies had three non-offensive TDs, and Miami had none.

The non-offensive TDs for the Hokies were a 100-yard INT return (Keion Carpenter) in 1996; a 64-yard punt return (Ricky Hall) in 1999; and a 51-yard fumble return (Ike Charlton) in 1999.

Now let's take a look at the same stats, for Miami's five wins over VT:

The stats in Miami's five victories are almost a mirror image of the stats in the first table:

• Tech had 19 turnovers, Miami 9.
• The Hokies sacked UM QBs 9 times, while Miami had 21 sacks.
• The Hokies had two non-offensive TDs, and Miami had one.

The last stat, non-offensive TDs, is the only one favoring the Hokies in their five losses to UM. VT's TDs were a blocked punt return (Brandon Manning) in 2001 and a 96-yard INT return (Willie Pile) in 2002. Miami's only non-offensive TD was a 44-yard INT return in 2000.

The Hokies have turned the ball over almost four times a game in the last three losses, and you can see that they were barely able to get Ken Dorsey's jersey dirty for three years.

What about the totals for all ten games? They're pretty even.

• Turnovers: VT 22, Miami 24.
• Sacks: VT 30, Miami 29.
• Non-offensive TDs: VT 5, Miami 1

I was going to take a look at blocked kicks, but that information is hard to get for older games, so I just decided to stick to "non-offensive TDs."

The message is clear: the Hokies have got to protect the football, force turnovers, pressure the QB, and a score from the defense or special teams would help. These are all things that we know intuitively, and the statistics support it.

How many fans attended VT's 1987 season-ending 21-20 win over Cincinnati in frigid 7-degree weather? 
by Will Stewart, TechSideline.com

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This Week in Recruiting
by Chris Horne

Here are updates in recruiting from the last week. To access these links, and for updates and information on all these players and more, subscribe to TechSideline Pass. Information on how to subscribe follows.

The Hokies have a big weekend ahead, as they will not only be hosting the Miami Hurricanes, but a large number of prospects will be on hand to watch the game. Virginia Tech has had a positive week thus far which includes a verbal commitment from Northside (Roanoke, VA) defensive end Brandon Holland.

Justin Harper Talks Recruiting
The 6-4, 190 pound wide receiver favors Virginia Tech right now over Wake Forest, NC State, and UNC. All have offered the Hargrave Military Academy standout.

Five-Star Linebacker Considering Options
Don Bosco Prep (NJ) linebacker Brian Toal comments on recruiting. He likes Miami and BC right now, but wants to take all of his visits before deciding. Virginia Tech will almost definitely receive an official visit.

Holland Excited About Commitment
Virginia Tech’s sixth verbal commitment for the 2004 class discusses his decision. The Hokies have long been Holland’s favorite school.

Tech Leader for Fagan
Virginia Tech remains the clear leader for Westlake (Waldorf, MD) athlete Jared Fagan. Fagan is projected as a wide receiver/kick returner in college but plays running back in high school. He will make his first ever trip to Virginia Tech this weekend.

Interest Rising for West Charlotte DB
According to West Charlotte Head Coach Pete Gilchrist, cornerback Rod Council will make an unofficial visit to Virginia Tech this weekend for the Miami game. Council has taken official visits to Notre Dame, Virginia, and Michigan. Gilchrist feels there is no "clear-cut" leader among the three. The Hokies may be able to jump into the mix with a good visit this weekend.

Herrod Considering Six
NC State and Virginia Tech are the leaders for HD Woodson (Washington, DC) safety Donte Herrod. The Wolfpack have offered while Virginia Tech has not. Herrod also has offers from Syracuse, Michigan State, and West Virginia.

Tech Still After Morgan?
Suncoast (Riviera Beach, FL) top prospect DaJuan Morgan will not make his previously scheduled visit to Virginia Tech this weekend. The Hokies have informed Morgan that they may not have any more room for him. Florida is his leader.

VT Recruiting War Room - Defense
A summary of Virginia Tech’s defensive targets and commitments. See where the Hokies are looking to fill their remaining scholarships.

Q & A: George Bell
Jack Britt HS (NC) tailback George Bell discusses his verbal to Virginia Tech. He hopes to enroll in January of 2004.

Royal Adds Offer, Sets Visits
Eddie Royal has set up official visits to Tennessee (12/13/03) and Virginia Tech (01/23/04). He recently received an offer from BC to join TN, VT, Marshall, Syracuse, and Kent State.

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-- Will Stewart

Beerman's Picks
by Ben Shapiro, 10/30/03, 11:40 pm
"Separation Saturday" two weeks ago was nothing. A mere tune up. Just a chance for everyone to test out the batteries in their remote control. Now this weekend ... THIS is what it's all about. 10 of the top 16 face each other, and that's not even counting Georgia-Florida. Top quality Top 10 match-ups all over the dial all day.
in Voice of the Fan

Game Preview: #10 Virginia Tech vs #2 Miami
by Jeff Ouellet, 10/30/03, 2:30 pm
Eight days ago, the epicenter of the college football world was Blacksburg, Virginia. Almost everyone conceded that the biggest game of the regular season was on November 1 at Lane Stadium between the unbeaten Miami Hurricanes and the unbeaten Virginia Tech Hokies. Alas, that big game never materialized, as a previously 2-4 West Virginia team took VT behind the woodshed by dominating the Hokies on the field and demoralizing them on the sideline.
in Football

Wide Right: Randoms
by Jeff Cockey, 10/30/03, 10:20 am
First things first folks, you will all be happy to know that ‘Bluto’ and I have enrolled in a World War II history course to correct our misguided understanding of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. It has become painfully obvious to me that many people need to watch the 1978 classic, Animal House - immediately.
in TSL Pass

Make it Real
by Will Stewart, 10/29/03, 10:15 am
The first thing you'll notice is that this article is filed under "Voice of the Fan," a first for me. I have never written a column and filed it under Voice of the Fan, but I'm doing it with this one, because I need to take the neutral, analyzing, journalist hat off ... and put the fan hat on for a minute.
in Voice of the Fan

Hokie Hotline Notes for October 27, 2003
by Wayne Clevenger, 10/28/03, 10:40 pm
Bill Roth kicked off the broadcast with the following announcements: After losing to WVU last Wednesday night in Morgantown, VT dropped out of the BCS rankings. There are now 8 one-loss teams in the rankings, and they should all be rooting for VT to upset Miami this Saturday. The VT – Pitt game time has been set at 7:45 PM and will be broadcast on either ESPN or ESPN2.
in Hokie Hotline Notes

VT Recruiting War Room: Defense
by Chris Horne, 10/27/03, 4:10 pm
The big weekend is here for Virginia Tech fans – the Miami game. With an opportunity to get right back in the race for a BCS bowl game, the atmosphere promises to be very intense. Many top recruits will be on campus this weekend, including DaJuan Morgan, Kent Hicks, and Rod Council on official visits, and Andrew Bowman, Olu Hall, Brandon Holland, Clint Sintim, and possibly Purnell Sturdivant in town as unofficial visitors. And those are just the defensive targets.
in TSL Pass

Wide Right: Gut Check
by Jeff Cockey, 10/27/03, 9:20 am
The winds and the white caps are kickin’ up. The women and children have been evacuated and the house has been boarded up. This is the moment of choice for us.
in Voice of the Fan