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

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

Collegiate Inn of Blacksburg Open House Saturday, Nov. 10th

Come join us for the Collegiate Inn Open House, located in the courtyard of the Holiday Inn on Prices Fork Road. The Open House will be prior to the Florida State game on November 10th and will run from 9:00 AM to approximately 1:30 PM.

Opportunity is Knocking � Will you Answer?

You can own a Luxury Hotel-Condominium in Blacksburg with all of the advantages of ownership and none of the Hassles. Imagine owning a property where you don't have to take care of it, it takes care of you - VIP treatment when you are here and fully taken care of when you're away^1. The Collegiate Inn of Blacksburg's Rooms and Amenities include:

• Custom, US Made, Cherry Wood Furniture (by Sorrentino Mariani)
• Professionally designed Custom Interiors
• Philips 42� LCD HD TV
• Granite countertops
• Exclusive, Owners Only, pre-game and post-game parties
• Exclusive, Owners Only, shuttle service to and from football games
• Over $3,400,000 in room and common area improvements
• On-site restaurant, lounge, banquet facilities, meeting rooms, and extensive parking
• Large outdoor pool, indoor pool, and fitness room
• Exclusive, Owners Only, Baby sitting services
• Located on Prices Fork Road, directly across from the VT Campus and within walking distance to Lane Stadium, Cassell Coliseum, restaurants, shops, and downtown Blacksburg
• Phase I units starting at $119,900

For more information, visit us at http://www.ciblacksburg.com or call (877) 440-4540.

¹Ownership may include rental program opportunities

FSU Excerpts, from the 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 **

Rich Tandler is also making a special offer for TSL readers: 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.

Hokie Games is in stock, ready for shipping, and will arrive in 1-2 weeks, in plenty of time for Christmas for the Hokies on your list!

Now, on to the games ....

Virginia Tech (3-2) 13, Florida State (1-4) 10
October 11, 1975, Blacksburg, Virginia

Lane Stadium -- The head coach isn't always right.

With Virginia Tech facing a fourth down at the Florida State 44 with 7:51 to go in a 10-10 game, Hokie coach Jimmy Sharpe decided to punt.

That is, until he heard from assistant coach Jack White, who was positioned in the press box. White works with the kickers and suggested that a 61-yard field goal was within Wayne Latimer's range, especially with a moderate wind at his back.

Sharpe acceded to White's suggestion, and boy-- was he glad he did. The ball boomed off of Latimer's foot and the line drive kick made it through the uprights with a little bit to spare, providing the winning margin in the Gobblers' 13-10 victory.

But the Seminoles did not give up after Latimer's boot, which was the longest in Tech history. They drove from their own 20 to a fourth and four at the Tech 11 with 2:39 left to play. Without much to lose with his team at 1-3, FSU coach Darrell Mudra decided to eschew the tying field goal and went for the first. Rudy Thomas caught Clyde Walker's pass, but he was well out of the end zone.

The Hokies burned off all but 43 seconds of the clock before Bruce McDaniel boomed a 68-yard punt (evidently the kickers ate their Wheaties in the pregame meal) to pin the Seminoles back at their five. It was over a few plays later.

Tech trailed 10-3 entering the fourth quarter, having mustered just a Latimer field goal from a pedestrian 37 yards in the first quarter. The Seminoles responded with a one-yard Walker touchdown run in the second period and a field goal midway through the third.

For a while it looked like the Hokies wouldn't be able to get back into the game. Shortly after FSU's field goal, Tech fumbled at its own 39. After the defense held, Latimer was wide on a 32-yard field goal.

Finally, with 11:44 left in the game, Roscoe Coles found some running room down the sideline and bolted 36 yards for the tying touchdown. The next time the Hokies had the ball they moved to the FSU 44 to set up Latimer's winning boot.

Virginia Tech (5-1-1) 23, Florida State (3-3) 21
October 29, 1966, Blacksburg, Virginia

It's performances like this one that got Frank Loria first-team All-America honors, as well as recognition as one of the Hokie immortals on a banner in Lane Stadium. Oh, and check out who made an interception that kept Tech in the lead at the half!

Lane Stadium -- Frank Loria's 80-yard punt return for a touchdown gave Virginia Tech a third-quarter lead and the Gobblers held on for a 23-21 win over Florida State.

Loria was one of a number of heroes on display for the Hokies. Defensive end Dan Mooney got Tech on the board with an end zone sack of reserve quarterback Kim Hammond to give Tech its first two points of the game.

Tech expanded its lead after taking the ensuing free kick at the FSU 43. A 30-yard pass from Tommy Stafford to Tommy Francisco got the Gobblers down to the 13 and from there, Stafford fired to Ken Barefoot for a touchdown. Jon Utin kicked the first of his three conversions and Tech led 9-0 with 2:45 left in the first quarter.

Open House This Saturday! Click for details

The Seminoles responded, with Bill Moreman scoring a touchdown on a three-yard run with just under four minutes left in the second quarter to cut the Tech lead to 9-7. It looked like FSU would take the lead into the locker room when they drove deep into Gobbler territory as halftime approached, but Frank Beamer came up with an end zone interception to kill the threat.

After intermission Florida State took to the air on almost every snap. Seminole quarterback Gary Pajcic would set a school record with 53 pass attempts (29 completions, 338 yards). With four and a half minutes gone in the opening quarter, Pajcic connected with Hammond for seven yards and a score. FSU had the lead a 14-9.

But the edge was short lived. Two and a half minutes later Loria fielded John Hosack's booming 54-yard punt at the 20 and followed excellent blocking to take it to the house. Utin converted for a 16-14 Tech lead.

Wanting to go for the kill, Gobbler coach Jerry Claiborne called for an onside kick after Loria's big play. It worked perfectly as Tech recovered at the Seminole 47 and drove in for a touchdown. The score came on a 10-yard pass from Stafford to Francisco and Tech was back up by nine at 23-14.

FSU stormed back behind the passing of Pajcic, moving 86 yards in just seven plays. Moreman again scored the six, this time on a seven-yard run, making it 23-21 late in the third period.

The fourth quarter was scoreless but the Seminoles put a couple of scares into the homecoming crowd of 31,000 at Lane Stadium. Tech stopped FSU just inches from the goal line the next time the Seminoles had the ball. Then, with time running out, linebacker Ken Whitley picked off a Pajcic pass at the Tech 15.

Virginia Tech (5-1) 31, Florida State (2-2-1) 23
October 26, 1963, Tallahassee, Florida

Doak Campbell Stadium -- Virginia Tech guard Newt Green blocked a Florida State punt and Jake Adams returned it for a touchdown to break a fourth-quarter tie and lift the Gobblers over the Seminoles 31-23.

With the score deadlocked at 17, Green battled through the middle and blocked Charlie Calhoun's punt cleanly. A herd of players from both teams scampered after the loose ball and Adams wound up with it at the FSU 38. He broke free from the pack and rolled in for the touchdown. That put Tech up 24-17 with 9:15 left to play.

The Gobblers wrapped it up shortly after that after Seminole quarterback Steve Tensi fumbled and Vic Kreiter recovered at the Florida State 14. Five plays later Bob Schweickert angled in from the one to give the Gobblers a 31-17 lead. That rendered a late FSU touchdown a mere window dressing.

Tech jumped out on top in the first quarter. A short Seminole punt set the Gobblers up at the FSU 27. That led to a one-yard scoring blast by Sonny Utz. That and a 40-yard field goal by Dickie Cranwell had the Gobblers up 10-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Utz scored Tech's other first half touchdown in the second quarter with a six-yard dash. Tommy Marvin's interception and nice runback to the FSU seven set up the score.

Between the blocked punt, the fumble recovery, the short kick and the interception it's easy to see how Tech could win this game as 12-point underdogs, despite being outgained by the Seminoles by a margin of better than two to one (410 yards to 175).

FSU had to put together long drives for its touchdowns. The Seminoles drove 86 yards to score on a 10-yard pass from Tensi to halfback Winfred Bailey. A field goal just before halftime cut Tech's lead to 17-10.

The Seminoles tied it up with a 75-yard drive in the third quarter. Halfback Larry Brinkley got the lion's share of the yardage with a 52-yard run to the Tech 10. Dave Snyder scored the TD and the conversion tied the game at 17 with 6:03 left in the third quarter.

Both teams had scoring chances, but neither converted until Green's block and Adams' return turned the tide in favor of the Gobblers.

TSL Participating in MDA Lockup for Second Year in a Row

Last year, TechSideline.com ventured into a new area, raising money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association by participating in the MDA's yearly "Lockup." Last year, we raised over $4,000 for MDA, and it was so successful that we promised them we'd do it again this year. The time has arrived.

We're participating in a Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Lock-up event on Thursday, November 15th. Yours truly (TSL GM Will Stewart) be thrown into a maximum security jail (cleverly disguised as a Comfort Inn), and the only way I can get out is to raise money for "bail" for MDA. I'm counting on you, TSL's readers and subscribers, to donate enough money to get me out.

This is a fundraiser, of course, one that we participated in last year, and it was a huge success, bringing in $4,156. TSL has gotten so huge over the years, that with the number of people we reach, raising money for charitable causes should be easy. We really think that TSL's vast, generous readership can make a lot of difference in the community, and this is your chance to prove us right.

This year, we have set a goal of $5,000, but there's a complication: We're getting a late start. Last year, we raised funds for three weeks before the lockup. This year (if you can read a calendar, as we know all TSL'ers can), you'll notice that we've only got one week to raise funds. So we have to hit the ground running, full speed.

It's very simple: just click on the link below to make a donation and help me get out of jail that day. Every dollar donated by TSL's readership through the link below will be collected together and credited to my "bail" (TechSideline.com's donation to the MDA) and will be used to help LOCAL MDA families. This particular lockup event is to benefit the Radford/Dublin/Pulaski area.

Here are some other notes and details:

• The link below enables you to donate via credit card only (VISA, MC, AMEX, and Discover). If you prefer to make a donation by check or cash, click the "Donation Slip" button at the bottom of the page linked below.
• All donations are tax deductible (by you, not me or TechSideline.com) as a charitable contribution.
• My bail goal of $5,000 is very modest, and the TSL faithful should be able to donate much, much more than that. If every TSL reader donates just $10 ... holy smokes, that would be a lot of money.
• For details on what your donation will be used for, see the "What Your Money Will Buy" button located at the link below. There are also links for "MDA Local Services" and the "MDA Website".

To donate by credit card: Click below.

Please contribute, even if it's a small amount -- individuals, consider donating $25 or more, and businesses, please consider donating $100 or more.

Last year, TSL was the top donor of the event, with $4,156 raised (as noted above). When I walk into jail on November 15th, I want it to be as the top donor in this lockup event for the second year in a row, and the money won't be donated in my name; it will be donated in the name of the TechSideline.com community.

Thanks for your help!

Contribute to Will Stewart's Bail