The 2008 season had many twists and turns, it was a team similar to this one with a top 10 defense and a bottom tier offense. They finished the season 8-4 and then went on to win the ACC. Of course back then the ACC was no where near what it is like today. Then they were to face Cincinnati, a hot and coming program lead by Brian Kelly coming off of 11-2 season and taking home a Big East Championship. Almost everybody was picking Cincy, they were that hot team lead by a very good QB in Tony Pike. And what did our players do? They forced him into throwing 4 picks and won 20-7. It was one of the better defensive performances in a bowl game since Bud became DC. It left me worried that he would leave to Clemson (and of course he didn't) after that fine defensive performance against but that's another story. Well this year the Hokies are once again 8-4 in a much better ACC than in 2008. Once again we are facing an up and coming program led by a very good QB in Brett Hundley and a very good young coach in Jim Mora. Obviously this isn't as big of bowl game as in 2008 but the opponent is similar. Everybody is probably going to pick UCLA (and rightfully so) and give the Hokies no chance. I hope the players take this personally, especially this defense and Bud thinks of this years UCLA team like that Cincinnati team. I could be completely wrong with this prediction, but the similarities between this years Sun Bowl and the 2009 Orange Bowl are just way too similar in my mind. What do you guys think, agree or disagree?
This years Sun Bowl reminds me of the 2009 Orange Bowl against Cincinnati.
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Sorry, but I don't see it myself. Cincinnati played in a weak Big East so Brian Kelly could still outcoach other teams despite their average, at best, talent. Tony Pike had good stats, but the fact is he was borderline to even get drafted (ended up a 6th rounder).
UCLA has played in an extremely tough Pac-12 and the talent on their roster is light years ahead of what Cincy had. In 4 out of the past 5 years, UCLA has had a Top 15 recruiting class. Brent Hundley could easily be a 1st round draft pick. Jim Mora wasn't the greatest NFL coach, but he wasn't terrible and has shown to be pretty game since coming to the college ranks.
Fact of the matter is we had superior talent to Cincinnati in the 2009 Orange Bowl. That's not true for this year's Sun Bowl against UCLA. So overall I feel this is easily a tougher matchup than Cincinnati.
i hope your right. based on the relatively little i've seen of ucla, and what my cloudy memory can cojure up about 08 cincy, i have to believe ucla is more battle tested. then again i dont think they've played a d on our's level, kinda like tony pick and his crew.
Stanford finished 14th in total defense (UCLA lost 24-10) and USC finished 16th (UCLA won 35-14). Hoping we can play more like Stanford.
yeah, i've been drinking and forgot about stanford. that score does give me some confidence. we know bud's gonna load up to stop the run and pressure hundley. i feel like the game hinges on how he reacts to the pressure.
Darren Evans, even Oglesby..versus and injured Trey.
I hope it ends the same though.
losing trey hurts, but this is caleb's chance to step up.
I can see some similarities. Except in 2008 the Hokies crushed Maryland (Daren Evans literally crushing Maryland). And we won the ACC. But other then that i can see it a little. Here is an overview of the 2008 season. I apologize for the bad quality. This was back in the dark days of windows movie maker. I will post my 2013 season video in a couple of weeks.
Hokie Pride 2008 Part I
Hokie Pride 2008 Part II
Hokie Pride 2008 Part III
Hokie Pride 2013 (Hype Trailer)
In my opinion there was a much better offense in place in 2008 just from a talent perspective. That bowl game was huge to get the BCS monkey off Frank Beamer's back and the D put on a great performance. Tyrod's TD run in that game was epic; posing as he crossed the goal line with style. Great block by Danny Coale to spring the play.
Sorry, but you are completely wrong. '13 Ucla>'08 Cincy by significant amount.
Kinda disagree. UCLA was highly competitive in a quality major conference. Cincy was the best of the rest, and we still only barely beat them. Big question: who will be the Barquell Rivers, stopping Hundley at the goal line?
That Cinncy team beat three ranked teams (#23 USF, #20WVU and #20Pitt). The Big East that year had 6 teams win 8 or more games. They were ranked 12th when we beat them.
I'd say it's most similar to the CFA Bowl vs. UGA or the Gator Bowl vs. FSU....both years where we had up and down seasons and were none-to-impressive for many of our games....and drew a solid bowl opponent with a talent advantage. We hung in both games for a while, but in the end, didn't have the horses to finish it out.
It's also similar to the 1998 Music City game against Bama. That team had an underperforming senior QB, a strong defense and lost a handful of close games (3 loses by a total of 10 points). But Bama wasn't as strong as UCLA is. They had lost 4 games going in, 3 to ranked teams (#8 UF, #3UT, #23 MSU) and an early blowout loss @ Arkansas. It would be like us playing Washington or Iowa this year.
VT Bowl Steak and Betting Lines:
1993 Season, Independence, vs. Indiana -- VT by 3*
1994 Season, Gator, vs. Tennessee -- UT by 7
1995 Season, Sugar, vs. Texas -- UT by 2*
1996 Season, Orange, vs. Nebraska -- Neb by 17
1997 Season, Gator, vs. UNC -- UNC by 12
1998 Season, Music City, vs. Bama -- VT by 3*
1999 Season, Sugar, vs. FSU -- FSU by 5.5
2000 Season, Gator, vs. Clemson -- VT by 6.5*
2001 Season, Gator, vs. FSU -- VT by 2
2002 Season, San Fran Walnut, vs. AFA -- VT by 11
2003 Season, Insight, vs. Cal -- VT by 3
2004 Season, Sugar, vs. Auburn -- Aub by 7*
2005 Season, Gator, vs. Louisville -- VT by 7.5*
2006 Season, CFA, vs. UGA -- VT by 3
2007 Season, Orange, vs. Kansas -- VT by 2.5
2008 Season, Orange, vs. Cincy -- Cincy by 2.5*
2009 Season, CFA, vs. Tennessee -- VT by 5.5*
2010 Season, Orange, vs. Stanford -- Stan by 3
2011 Season, Sugar, vs. Michigan -- Mich by 2.5
2012 Season, RAB, vs. Rutgers -- VT by 2.5*
So we are 9-11 ATS the last 20 years.
I agree great post....have a pizza.
I knew someone would work pie into this discussion.
I'm not going to say what I could say to that...mixed company