Interesting reading from the perspective of the Miami players when playing Virginia Tech. I remember watching that game, felt like a punch in the gut at the end. Some quotes:
Sikes: Virginia Tech is a tough breed. They're all of the step kids. Most of them are the kids nobody wanted. They didn't get to go to the big high school, they didn't get to go to the big college. So you put them all together...
Portis: You've got to put V-Tech away. From my experience against Virginia Tech you can't let them stick around, and expect them not to make a play. They did.
Rumph: Special teams wise, they were a team we knew we had to keep an eye on. They took a lot of pride in special teams.
Sikes: Back then, 'Beamer Ball,' that's what they were known for. You had to account for all three phases with them.
Soldinger: We wound up getting a punt blocked.
Link: http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/story/miami-hurricanes-pursuit...
Comments
..I'm glad you fixed the title, my friend.
I know! I re-read everything and hit post then saw the title. I was panicking trying to fix it before I got called out on it. Leg for not ripping me a new one.
Proofreading can be your friend. :-)
It's nice to know we were getting respect even back in the Grant Noel days. The mentions of the 2000 game were kind of frustrating though. Vick was hobbling around on his ankle that game. Completely changed to complexion.
The new sequel to the 30 for 30 "The U" comes out soon. I am looking forward to see how much emphasis they put on the Virginia Tech games of the early 2000s. That is the time period where I learned to dislike the criminals from South Beach, and those were really some good games.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2070996-espn-reportedly-filming-seque...
It probably won't even mention how even we played them over the last 15 years. It will probably cut straight to the National Title game with OSU and leave it at that
Back then, 'Beamer Ball,' that's what they were known for. Sobs. I miss Beamer Ball.
That was the best team I've ever seen.
And yet, a team in lowly Blacksburg, VA, quarterbacked by Grant Noel, came ridiculously close to forcing OT. I will say, that game was by far the most fun I've had with a loss.
(I know Noel didn't have a lot to do with keeping the game close, from what I remember his stat line was something like 4/14 with 4 picks)
I believe he had 5 TO's, 4 picks and a fumble. You know, like LT vs. Duke. That was awesome too.
My sister had a class with Ernest Wilford that semester. She said he hung his head for days after that drop. She felt bad for him because he was always such a nice guy, so it sucked seeing him beating himself up so badly.
I remember the following spring semester there was a concert in Burrus. Maybe Method Man? Busta Rhymes? Anyway whoever it was between songs said something about the guy who dropped the two point conversion against Miami, and Ernest stood up and said, "Right here." And the dood proceeded to berate him for it. Really classless.
Luckily he took the disappointment to heart and became a much better player for it. Wonder what he's up to now?
Last I heard of him was when he got tased and arrested for allegedly groping waitresses and pushing an officer a few years ago. Always seemed like a cool guy when I ran into him in my Blacksburg days though, hopefully that was just a bad night.
Edit: per Facebook, he's selling Audis in Jacksonville
See Below.
It was Spike Lee. He was promptly shit upon for doing it.
I'll assume this is response to me up there ^^^
Could have sworn that was at a concert, not a spoken word thing. Then again, I was really drunk pretty much that entire year.
Linky: http://articles.dailypress.com/2002-11-20/sports/0211200160_1_hokies-ern...
Read about 1/2way down.
http://youtu.be/zSiYACIaypM?t=45m
Sideline reporter telling the story during the 2002 VT-Miami game
Oh did he get booed all over the stage? Thrown tomatoes?
I'm not talented with gifs, but I have thought of this part of Half Baked a number of times. Anyone who has gif skills:
LEG THIS MAN (throws a turkey leg or an up arrow)
Wow! Read that whole article. Great research and great quotes in there. Really brings those early 2000 Miami seasons to life. Really enjoyed the quotes about the Washington series, The Sugar Bowl fight with UF, Portis' thoughts on Barry Alvarez, the players support of Larry Coker, The Boston College and VT games in 2001, and their thoughts on "slow" Nebraska
Has anything like that been done for the 1999 VT team? I know Beamer has written books, but it would be cool to hear it unfiltered from the players themselves.
If they did the 99 team, Corey Moore would have to be on there or no deal. I would be absolutely FASCINATED by what he had to say.
"Next Question!"