Sometimes a loss is a win

Any time a team wins 11 in a row, something magical is going on. But two people in particular worked a special kind of magic this season.

I'm talking about Bryan Stinespring and Tyrod. (That's right; after the year he had, he's earned "Pele" name status).

Stinespring, the offensive coordinator, enjoyed his finest season.

He has always worked tirelessly; he has his priorities in order; his players like him. But for the last few years he's been a polarizing figure in Hokie Nation. A lot of fans were unhappy over the direction and production of Tech's offense. Someone even created a web site urging his dismissal. He's been the subject of columnists, radio shows and message board posts.

This year he answered every challenge. When the media criticized him for Tech's ineffectiveness in the red zone, he worked until he solved the problem. When he was ripped for the Hokies' third-down woes, he fixed that issue too (at one point in the ACC Championship game, Tech was 12-of-14 on third downs). When he was criticized for a lack of crossing patterns in slants in the Tech offense, he found a winning play with Danny Coale. In a year when the defense was young, his offense stepped up and put points on the board.