Five things for OSU fans to know about Virginia Tech
STILLWATER — Two of the most well-known passing quarterbacks of the pre-2000s era of Oklahoma high school football history will square off as coaches in the Camping World Bowl when
Mike Gundy and Oklahoma State face Justin Fuente and Virginia Tech at 4:15 p.m. Dec. 28 in Orlando.
Here are five things Cowboy fans should know about Virginia Tech:
Big ‘D’
This game will be a true clash of styles, with OSU ranking No. 3 nationally in scoring offense at 46.3 points per game and Virginia Tech No. 4 in scoring defense at 13.5.
The Hokies also rank in the top 25 nationally in thirddown defense (second), red-zone defense (third), total defense (12th), defensive pass efficiency (15th), rushing defense (16th), and passing defense (21st).
Familiar faces
Aside from Fuente, the former Tulsa Union and Oklahoma quarterback, the Virginia Tech staff has some other names with Oklahoma ties.
The Hokies’ offensive coordinator, Brad Cornelson, was a graduate assistant at Oklahoma State in 2001-02 and a quality control coach for Gundy in 2008. He grew up in Texhoma, where he played high school football.
Offensive line coach Vance Vice is a Bristow native and played a few years with Gundy at Oklahoma State. Special teams coordinator James Shibest was a grad assistant for Pat Jones in 1990-91.
Assistants Holmon Wiggins and Galen Scott each had coaching stops at Tulsa.
Balanced attack
Virginia Tech averages just over 400 yards of offense per game, and is fairly balanced in achieving that total. For the year, the Hokies have rushed for 2,006 yards and thrown for 2,843.
The run game is a group effort, with no one having reached the 500-yard mark. Quarterback Josh Jackson thrown for 2,743 yards with 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions, completing 60.3 percent of his passes. He has rushed for 274 yards and four scores.
Quarter-century bowl streak
Mostly credited to longtime coach Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech has now reached a bowl game in 25 consecutive seasons.
Depending on your opinion of vacated wins and statistical history, that may or may not be the longest active streak in college football.
With Florida State’s invitation to the Independence Bowl later this month, the Seminoles will be playing in a bowl game for the 36th straight year. Because of an academic scandal that led to several wins being vacated in 2006 and 2007, the NCAA does not recognize the bowl games from those two seasons even though FSU played in both.
Either way, Virginia Tech’s 25-year streak remains quite impressive.
They meet again
OSU and Virginia Tech have met in football only twice, in the 1971 and 1972 seasons with each team winning on its home field.
The Cowboys defeated Virginia Tech 24-16 in Stillwater in 1971. Virginia Tech topped visiting OSU 34-32 the following year.