The 2008 Virginia Tech Hokies football team represented Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University during the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head coach was Frank Beamer. Prior to the season, the Hokies were expected to be in a rebuilding mode, recovering after the graduation of several key players. Despite that fact, Tech was picked to win the Atlantic Coast Conference's Coastal Division in the annual preseason poll of media covering the ACC. The Hokies were ranked the No. 15 team in the country at the start of the season, but suffered an upset loss to East Carolina in their first game. Tech recovered, however, and won five consecutive games following the loss, the ACC Championship, and the Orange Bowl. The 2008 season also remains the last time the Hokies went undefeated at home. Permanent team captains were Macho Harris, Orion Martin, Brett Warren, and Ryan Shuman.
Schedule
Source: ACC
Roster Wide Receiver Zach Luckett – Sophomore Germond Oatneal – Freshman 4 Marcus Davis – Freshman 11 Dyrell Roberts – Freshman 13 Xavier Boyce – Freshman 80 Brandon Dillard – Junior 81 Jarrett Boykin – Freshman 83 Patrick Terry – Freshman 85 Ervin Garner – Freshman
Split End Randall Dunn – Freshman Zac Evans – Freshman 3 Ike Whitaker – Junior 19 Danny Coale – Freshman 87 Prince Parker – Sophomore
Center James Brown – Freshman Bo Gentry – Freshman 58 Ryan Shuman – Senior 60 Beau Warren – Sophomore 61 Barrett Mears – Sophomore
Offensive Guard Aaron Brown – Sophomore Daniel Neal – Freshman 65 Matt Baldwin – Freshman 67 Nick Marshman – Junior 68 Jaymes Brooks – Freshman 69 Hivera Green – Junior 70 Sergio Render – Junior 76 Will Alvarez – Freshman
Offensive Tackle Nick Becton – Freshman 62 Blake DeChristopher – Freshman 64 Richard Graham – Junior 72 Andrew Lanier – Freshman 74 Michael Via – Freshman 75 Greg Nosal – Freshman 77 Ed Wang – Junior
Tight End Jacob Barron – Freshman Nelson Ward – Freshman 8 Greg Boone – Junior 18 Sam Wheeler – Junior 86 Chris Drager – Freshman 88 Andre Smith – Sophomore 98 Rob Stanton – Sophomore Quarterback Joseph Clayton – Freshman Austin Decker – Freshman 5 Tyrod Taylor – Sophomore 7 Sean Glennon – Senior 12 Cory Holt – Senior 16 Jeff Beyer – Junior 30 Brian Saunders – Sophomore
Tailback 20 Kenny Lewis Jr. – Junior 25 Josh Oglesby – Freshman 27 Jahre Cheeseman – Junior 32 Darren Evans – Freshman 34 Ryan Williams – Freshman 35 Dustin Pickle – Senior
Fullback Josh Call – Freshman Joey Phillips – Freshman 31 Kenny Younger – Junior 42 Kenny Jefferson – Junior 44 Devin Perez – Senior
Defensive tackle Antoine Hopkins – Freshman Jeff Wardach – Freshman 53 Dwight Tucker – Freshman 56 Demetrius Taylor – Junior 59 Courtney Prince – Freshman 91 John Graves – Sophomore 93 Kwamaine Battle – Freshman 95 Cordarrow Thompson – Junior 96 Justin Young – Freshman 99 Vinston Painter – Freshman
Defensive End Russell Becker – Freshman Chad Carlson – Junior George George – Freshman Joe Jones – Freshman Phil Sayre – Freshman 6 Jason Worilds – Sophomore 47 Nekos Brown – Junior 51 Bruce Taylor – Freshman 55 Isaiah Hamlette – Freshman 82 Steven Friday – Sophomore 90 Orion Martin – Senior 92 Khalil Latif – Freshman Cornerback 3 Nobel Iyebote – Freshman 1 Victor Harris – Senior 9 Cris Hill – Freshman 15 Eddie Whitley – Freshman 21 Rashad Carmichael – Sophomore 22 Stephan Virgil – Junior 37 Jacob Sykes – Freshman 28 Alonzo Tweedy - Sophomore Linebacker Austin Fuller – Freshman Lyndell Gibson – Freshman 26 Cody Grimm – Junior 30 Ignatius Green – Junior 33 Brett Warren – Senior 36 Jake Johnson – Freshman 36 Quilie Odom – Freshman 40 Ryan Barnett – Freshman 41 Cam Martin – Junior 45 Purnell Sturdivant – Senior 46 Dylan McGreevy – Senior 49 Allen Stephens – Freshman 52 Barquell Rivers – Freshman 89 Jonas Houseright – Senior 94 Mark Muncey – Junior
Free Safety Ron Cooper – Sophomore Scott Dalton – Freshman Dean Hill – Freshman 14 Lorenzo Williams – Freshman 17 Kam Chancellor – Junior
Rover Alonzo Tweedy – Freshman 2 Davon Morgan – Sophomore 23 Matt Reidy – Junior 24 Dorian Porch – Junior 43 Jeron Gouveia-Winslow – Freshman
Snapper 50 Collin Carroll – Freshman 57 Jon Conlon – Freshman 63 Matt Tuttle – Junior 71 Jacob Gardner – Senior
Punter 30 Brian Saunders – Sophomore 97 Brent Bowden – Junior
Place Kicker Scott Demler – Freshman Chris Hazley – Sophomore Matt Waldron – Sophomore 28 Tim Pisano – Freshman 29 Dustin Keys – Senior 48 Justin Myer – FreshmanSource: http://www.hokiesports.com/football/players
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 tight ends Bryan Stinespring 1990 2006 (offensive coordinator since 2002) Defensive coordinator and inside linebackers Bud Foster 1987 1995 Offensive Line Curt Newsome 2006 2006 Wide Receivers Kevin Sherman 2006 2006 Strong Safety, Outside Linebackers, and Recruiting Coordinator Jim Cavanaugh 1996 2002 Quarterbacks Mike O'Cain 2006 2006 Defensive backs Torrian Gray 2006 2006 Defensive Line Charley Wiles 1996 1996 Source: http://www.hokiesports.com/football/players/
Preseason During the 2007 college football season, Virginia Tech accumulated an 11–3 record that ended with a 21–24 loss to the Kansas Jayhawks in the 2008 Orange Bowl.Virginia Tech Athletics Communications Department. [Virginia Tech football past schedules: 2007–2008 http://www.hokiesports.com/football/pastschedules.html?season=2007] Hokiesports.com. Accessed October 11, 2008. The Hokies also won the 2007 ACC football championship, but were not predicted to repeat that success in 2008. In the annual preseason football poll of media covering ACC football, Tech was picked second in the conference, behind the Clemson Tigers. The Hokies were picked to finish first in the ACC's Coastal Division, but lose to Clemson in the ACC Championship Game.Virginia Tech Athletics Communications Department. ["Tech picked to win ACC's Coastal Division" http://www.hokiesports.com/football/recaps/20080721aaa.html], Hokiesports.com. July 21, 2008. Accessed October 11, 2008.
The reason for that second-place prediction was the loss of several key players from Tech's ACC-champion 2007 team. Virginia Tech lost its top four receivers, its leading rusher, and seven starters from a defense that ranked fourth nationally in total defense. Eight players from the 2007 team were taken in the 2008 NFL draft, and Tech's 2008 team featured just 10 players who started during the previous season. Making matters more difficult for Virginia Tech, the Hokies suffered several preseason injuries and multiple players were kicked off the team for disciplinary reasons.
On August 26, Tech head coach Frank Beamer announced his intention to redshirt backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor, keeping him in reserve for the 2008 season.Coleman, Chris. "Hokies Plan to Redshirt Tyrod Taylor in 2008", Techsideline.com. August 26, 2008. Accessed October 11, 2008. Following Virginia Tech's loss to East Carolina in the first game of the season, however, Beamer removed the redshirt and Taylor played in Tech's second game in the season. After he proved successful in that game, Taylor was named the team's starting quarterback for the remainder of the season, supplanting first-game starter Sean Glennon.
Game summaries
East Carolina
The Virginia Tech Hokies' first game of the season also was its first loss of the season. In a neutral-site game at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, Tech was upset 27–22 by the East Carolina Pirates. East Carolina, members of Conference USA, became the first team from that conference to win a game against a Bowl Championship Series member school since 2002.The Associated Press. "East Carolina turns back Virginia Tech with punt block for TD", ESPN.com. August 30, 2008. Accessed October 12, 2008.
The game got off to a slow start, as neither team scored in the first quarter. With 12:19 remaining before halftime, however, Virginia Tech scored the first points of the game with a 30-yard fumble return by defender Ryan Barnett #40 FR. out of Sulphur, Louisiana. Four minutes later, Virginia Tech's offense also scored, extending the Hokies' lead to 14–0. East Carolina answered with a touchdown before halftime, but Virginia Tech led 14–7 at the beginning of the second half.ESPN.com. Virginia Tech Hokies vs. East Carolina Pirates Box Score. August 30, 2008. Accessed October 12, 2008.
The Pirates' offense scored another touchdown with 10:05 remaining in the third quarter, but the extra point kick was blocked and returned for a defensive score by Tech's Stephan Virgil. If the extra point had been successful, the teams would have been tied at 14 points apiece. Instead, Virginia Tech kept a 16–13 lead, which it retained through the third quarter. Early in the fourth quarter, Tech's offense extended the Hokies' lead to 22–13 with a touchdown. The extra point kick was missed. Both teams were held scoreless for the next ten minutes before East Carolina's Patrick Pinkney ran three yards for a touchdown. The score and extra point cut the Hokies' lead to 22–20 with less than four minutes remaining in the game. Tech attempted to run out the clock, but East Carolina's defense forced the Hokies to punt. The kick was blocked, however, and East Carolina's T.J. Lee returned the loose ball for a game-winning touchdown.Watson, Graham. "ECU's Lee is unlikely hero in win over Va. Tech" , ESPN.com. August 30, 2008. Accessed October 12, 2008. With the limited time remaining in the game, Tech was unable to answer the touchdown, and East Carolina clinched a 27–22 victory.Virginia Tech Athletics Communications Department. Virginia Tech vs East Carolina statistics. August 30, 2008. Accessed October 14, 2008.
Furman
Virginia Tech's second game of the season came against the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) Furman Paladins at Virginia Tech's home stadium, Lane Stadium, in Blacksburg, Virginia. Despite the loss to East Carolina, Tech came into its home opener heavily favored and lived up to that expectation by beating the Paladins, 24–7.The Associated Press. "QB tandem works as Va. Tech takes down Furman", ESPN.com. September 6, 2008. Accessed October 14, 2008. For the game, Virginia Tech wore a throwback uniform honoring former Tech coaches Jerry Claiborne, Charlie Coffey, Jimmy Sharpe and Bill Dooley.
The Hokies used backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor alongside starter Sean Glennon beginning with the fifth play of the game.ESPN.com. Furman Paladins vs. Virginia Tech Play-by-Play 1st Quarter. September 6, 2008. Accessed October 14, 2008. Despite that change in offensive strategy, the Hokies were held scoreless in the first quarter. Tech's defense also held firm, and kept Furman from scoring in the first quarter as well. In the second quarter, both teams were again held scoreless until just 29 seconds before halftime, when Virginia Tech placekicker Dustin Keys kicked a field goal for the Hokies, giving them a 3–0 lead at halftime.ESPN.com. Furman Paladins vs. Virginia Tech Box Score. September 6, 2008. Accessed October 14, 2008.