Rooting for their team clearly represents one of the big passions in the life of our TechSideline.com community members. This site greatly enhances this never-ending passion through information, analysis and most importantly through communal dialog and networking.

Our advertising approach is different in that we make it abundantly clear in a direct and honest way that your company�s commitment of sponsorship dollars is what enables the site to continue existing and improving into the future.

To learn more about advertising on TechSideline.com, please contact [email protected].

TechSideline.com is a vital part of a unique collegiate sports network that reaches nearly 2 million individuals per month. Like TechSideline.com, each site in the SportsWar network is an organically grown community and the emotional home for its fans.

To learn more about SportsWar network sponsorship opportunities, please contact [email protected] or visit our online media guide- http://www.sportswar.com. 

Let the Games Begin!

Welcome to The Colosseum � Virginia�s first Luxury Sports Condominium Hotel. Professionally managed by world renowned Salamander Hospitality, The Colosseum is an unparalleled combination of the finest amenities and services you want and expect in a luxury hotel. Located in Blacksburg, the Heart of the Hokie Nation, The Colosseum is just a couple of miles from Lane Stadium and Cassell Coliseum with easy access to the 460 By-pass and Interstate 81.

Choose your suite from many different plans and layouts ranging from basic studios to elaborate penthouses then relax in style and comfort. All suites include:

• Lavish beds with fine linens and lush pillows
• Luxury bathrooms with granite counter tops and beautiful ceramic tile floors
• Ceramic tile entry ways and plush carpet throughout
• Efficiency kitchens featuring beverage centers, wine racks, & stainless steel appliances
• Large flat-screen televisions
• State-of-the-art connectivity for Internet, phone and digital cable TV
• Private balcony or terrace

Enjoy a vigorous work out in the fitness center, a relaxing spa treatment, and or a refreshing dip in the pool. Meet up with old friends and family for causal drinks at the full service bar and a spectacular meal in our top rated restaurant or perhaps just call in room service and rest as you prepare for the festivities of the weekend.

When game day arrives, don�t stress. We will take care of all the details. Enjoy pre and post game parties, complimentary stadium transportation, and scrumptious pre-made gourmet tailgate packages ready and waiting for you to take to the game.

The Colosseum is a proud sponsor of Virginia Tech Athletics and the only residential development providing educational scholarships and internships to students at Virginia Tech.

To find out more about The Colosseum, click here.

Now accepting reservations; please contact us for more information at [email protected] or call (800) 846-8324.

(Still More) Excerpts from the New VT Football Book Hokie Games

Rich Tandler attended Virginia Tech in the mid 1970's and was immediately hooked on Hokie football. Rich has written the definitive history of the Virginia Tech program, from the standpoint that matters the most: what happened on the field.

The name of the book is Hokie Games, and it recounts the score and key plays from every Virginia Tech football game played from the start of the 1945 season through the last game of the 2006 season. You can get old scores anywhere, but Hokie Games gives you the flow of the action and the important moments and players, not just a line with point totals and a date on it.

From the Hokie Games web site: Hokie Games is the most complete book ever written about any college sports team, ever. The first Hokie game you ever watched? It's in there. Forgotten classics? Got 'em all. Learn about or relive the '72 game when Don Strock lit up Houston for 527 yards in the air or the 1966 VMI game when Tommy Francisco got into the end zone six times. Remember watching a great game with your kid or your dad? You can relive it. Are the details of the '99 thriller at West Virginia, the one that featured Vick's jaw-dropping run and Graham's clutch kick that kept the national title chances alive a little fuzzy? Hokie Games brings back every detail.

** SPECIAL OFFER FOR TSL READERS **

For the next month in TSLMail, we'll be bringing you two excerpts a week from Hokie Games, enough to whet your appetite for this outstanding collection. Rich Tandler is also making a special offer for TSL readers: pre-order your copy now, and you'll get free shipping, and Rich will personally autograph your copy. To take advantage of this special offer, go to:

http://www.hokiegames.com/tsl.html

Note that when you're checking out, you need to enter the promo code "TSL" in the appropriate box.

Please allow six weeks for delivery, since this is a pre-order.

Now, on to the games ....

Virginia Tech (6-1) 27, East Carolina (3-3) 20
October 15, 1994, Greenville, North Carolina

Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium�Virginia Tech linebacker Ken Brown�s interception of an East Carolina pass in the closing minutes clinched the Hokies� 27-20 win over the Pirates.

This was a tense, back and forth contest for almost the entire 60 minutes. In the first three minutes of play Brown got the Hokies going when he got his hand on the ball, separating it from the grasp of tailback Junior Smith. Lawrence Lewis scooped up the bouncing ball and was gone. Following Lewis� 60-yard scoring return Ryan Williams missed the extra point. The miss set the stage for a series of lead changes.

The Pirates answered with a drive to a one-yard touchdown blast by Damon Wilson. Their PAT was successful, giving them a 7-6 lead with 2:45 left in the first quarter.

The pattern continued. The Hokies� Tommy Edwards scored from seven yards out and East Carolina immediately came back and rolled 80 yards to retake the lead at 14-13. Williams hit two field goals to push Tech back into the lead by five. In the third quarter Pirate quarterback Marcus Crandell tossed the ball up for grabs in the end zone and Larry Shannon, his 6-6 freshman receiver, grabbed it for six points. They tried the same play to the other side for a two-point conversion, but Crandell misfired and the try was no good. ECU led 20-19.

The margin of Williams� earlier missed PAT held until late in the third. Quarterback Maurice DeShazo kept Tech�s go-ahead drive alive when he converted a third and nine from the East Carolina with a 21-yard toss to Jermaine Holmes. Offensive coordinator Gary Tranquill then called DeShazo�s number twice in a row. The first quarterback draw went to the nine and DeShazo scored on the second one. The QB followed it up with a pass for a two-point conversion and Tech led 27-20.

The scoring was finished but the suspense was not. The Hokies got a scare when Crandell completed a pass to the Tech 10, but a holding call wiped out the 24-yard gain. Crandell kept firing as East Carolina touched up the Hokie defense for 419 total yards on the day. Tech couldn�t breathe easy, though, until Brown picked off Crandell�s fiftieth attempt of the game.

Virginia Tech (1-0) 21, Wake Forest (0-1) 20
September 8, 1984, Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Groves Stadium�Virginia Tech�s Eddie Hunter ran five yards for a touchdown with 2:08 left to play and that, along with Don Wade�s extra point, gave the Hokies a 21-20 win over Wake Forest.

The Demon Deacons had a chance to steal the win on the last play of the game, but Doug Illing�s 40-yard field goal attempt was just wide and Tech celebrated the win.

The Tech defense set up the Hokies� first score. In the first quarter Demon Deacon quarterback Jamie Harris went back to pass. Defensive end Jesse Penn smacked him from the blind side and the ball popped loose. Tech�s Bryan Burleigh recovered the fumble at the WFU 12.

Maurice Williams bolted for nine yards on the next play and quarterback Mark Cox went up the middle for three yards and the touchdown, making it 7-0.

Later in the first quarter a Cox pitchout went awry and Wake recovered the ball at the Tech 30. That set up an Illing field goal and it was 7-3 after 15 minutes of play.

In the second quarter a 22-yard Williams run was the key gain on a 52-yard touchdown drive. Cox again went three yards for the score, this time to the outside on an option keeper.

With just under four minutes left in the half the Demon Deacons got their initial first down of the game and moved to another Illing field goal to make it 14-6 at halftime.

The third quarter belonged to Wake. They tore off touchdown drives of 84 and 80 yards to take a 20-14 lead early in the fourth period.

The Demon Deacons had a chance to make it very difficult for Tech to come back, but Illing missed a 34-yard field goal attempt with about seven minutes left.

Given life, the Tech offense started to move. The drive was built on the passing of Cox and the running of Williams. On second and goal at the five Hunter broke a couple of tackles as he scampered around right end and into the end zone. Wade�s kick gave the Hokies the lead and everyone then watched as Illing�s final try drifted about a foot too far to the right.

** SPECIAL OFFER FOR TSL READERS **

Again, to take advantage of Rich's special offer to TSL readers (free shipping and an autographed copy of Hokie Games), go to:

http://www.hokiegames.com/tsl.html

Note that when you're checking out, you need to enter the promo code "TSL" in the appropriate box.