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(SEC) 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 **
OFFER EXPIRES 9/12/07

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 ....

#16 Virginia Tech (2-0) 26, #14 Louisiana State (0-1) 6
September 1, 2002, Blacksburg, Virginia

Lane Stadium -- A rout of a weak opponent can often leave more questions than answers in its wake, and this was the case in the aftermath of Virginia Tech's 63-7 win over Arkansas State six days ago. At least two question marks surrounding the Hokies turned into exclamation points today during their 26-8 thumping of Southeastern Conference power Louisiana State.

A Tech defensive front that was depleted by graduation came through its first test with flying colors. They held LSU to a mere 80 yards rushing and controlled the potent Tiger offense.

Controlling things on the offensive side of the ball was quarterback Bryan Randall. Grant Noel started the game but left after two series. "Grant's knee was bothering him some," said coach Frank Beamer.

Noel's passing -- two for five for 18 yards -- probably was bothering Beamer some.

Randall didn't compile a stat line that was dazzling by comparison. He was five of nine for 47 yards, but the Hokie offense came to life when he took the helm. On Randall's second series Tech put together a six-play, 73-yard touchdown drive that culminated in a two-yard run by Kevin Jones to put the Hokies in the lead to stay.

Then Justin Hamilton made a big play when he blocked an LSU punt, giving Virginia Tech possession at the Tigers 29. Soon after that Lee Suggs scored on a six-yard run and the Hokies led the defending SEC champs 14-0 with 12:58 left in the second quarter.

Unlike the quarterback position and the defense, there were no questions surrounding Tech's running backs and Suggs and Jones demonstrated why. The two combined for 161 of their team's 166 rushing yards. Suggs gained 91 and a pair of touchdowns on 22 carries while Jones picked up 70 and the one touchdown on 14 attempts.

"We kind of wore them down up front," said Suggs.

The story of the game was nicely tied up in one neat package on the setup for Tech's final score. The defense did its part by taking the ball away from LSU on an interception by linebacker Vegas Robinson. He returned the ball eight yards to the Tech 42. A few plays later Jones took a pitch from Randall, headed to his right, eluded what appeared to be a sure tackle and cut back to the left. He broke into the open and dashed 34 yards to the LSU two. Suggs toted the rock over from there to make it 24-0.

Virginia Tech (2-2) 23, Auburn (0-3-1) 16
October 4, 1975, Auburn, Alabama

Jordan-Hare Stadium -- There were heroes aplenty for Virginia Tech in the Hokies' 23-16 win over Auburn.

Quarterback Phil Rogers ran Tech's wishbone offense well and rushed for 124 yards and a touchdown. Roscoe Coles ran for 130 yards including an 89-yard scamper for a TD early in the second half, putting Tech in the lead to stay. End Steve Galloway caught three of Rogers' four pass completions for 55 yards and a touchdown.

A gang of about a half dozen Hokie defenders, however, made the biggest play of the day. In the end -- 37 seconds from the end, to be precise -- the game was won when a gang of Hokie defenders capped a dramatic goal line stand by running Tiger quarterback Clyde Baumgartner out of bounds at the four on a fourth and goal play. That preserved Tech's seven-point lead and after two kneel downs, the game was over.

The Hokies trailed 10-9 at halftime. After Neil O'Donoghue kicked a 53-yard field goal for Auburn, Tech embarked on an 80-yard touchdown drive. The Hokies faced two fourth-down situations during the advance. They converted the first on their own when Paul Adams got three yards on fourth and one at the Tech 42. Later in the drive they tried a field goal on fourth and five at the Tiger 36. The attempt was blocked, but Auburn was offside. The five yard penalty gave the Gobblers a first down.

A few plays later Rogers fired a touchdown pass to Galloway, who was all alone in the end zone. The conversion went awry when the snap went through the holder's hands and Tech led 6-3.

Auburn got a second-quarter touchdown when fullback Kenny Burks rumbled in from six yards out. A 31-yard Wayne Latimer field goal pulled the Hokies to within a point at intermission.

Coles' long dash came on the second play of the third quarter. He was gracious in spreading around the credit.

"It was perfect execution," said Coles. "The blocking out front cut off the pursuit and Adams cut out the safety."

The Tigers' response was a 47-yard O'Donoghue field goal, but Tech took control with a 78-yard drive to Rogers' eight-yard run. Latimer converted and Tech was up by ten at 23-13 at the end of the third period.

Another O'Donoghue field goal made it 23-16 and set the stage for the final drama. Baumgartner led the Tigers from their own 20 to a first and goal at the five. Two running plays gained nothing and Baumgartner then threw an incompletion before his final, futile scramble.

** SPECIAL OFFER FOR TSL READERS **
OFFER EXPIRES 9/12/07

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.