2008 ORANGE BOWL GUIDE - HokieSports

2008 Orange Bowl Guide
Virginia Tech Quick Facts
Location: Blacksburg, Virginia
Enrollment: 28,000
President: Charles W. Steger
Director of Athletics: Jim Weaver
Head Football Coach: Frank Beamer (Virginia Tech, ’69)
Hokies’ 2007 Football Record: 11-2 overall; 7-1 ACC; ACC Champs
Beamer’s Overall Record: 209-107-4 (27 years)
Beamer’s Record at Tech: 167-84-2 (21 years)
Faculty Chairman of Athletics: Dr. Larry Killough
Conference: Atlantic Coast Conference
Nickname: Hokies
Colors: Chicago maroon and burnt orange
Dir. of Athletics Communications: Dave Smith (540) 231-6726
Athletics Communications Fax: (540) 231-6984
Tech Athletics on the Internet: www.hokiesports.com
2008 Orange Bowl Guide Credits
Editors: Dave Smith, Bryan Johnston.
Design: Anne Panella, David Knachel.
Contributors: Matt Kovatch, Larry Hincker.
Cover design and most of the images were taken by David Knachel.
Tyler Henderson, Woody Veasey, John Knachel, Robert Crawford, Mark Gormus,
and the University Photographers also contributed images.
Printing by University Printing Services.
Publication: VT/0825/1207/1M/281314
The HokieBird
— Virginia Tech’s
lovable mascot
Virginia Tech’s official tribute
ribbon logo remembering the
victims of the April 16, 2007 tragedy
comes from a student-inspired
design.
The logo consists of the wellknown
maroon VT athletic logo
that symbolizes the innovative and
dynamic nature of Virginia Tech,
over an orange ribbon that is a
recognition of the lives lost on April
16 and is a symbol of the prevailing
Hokie spirit.
The tribute ribbon appears on
athletes’ jerseys as an inspiration
and celebration of the victims’ lives
and the unforgettable mark they
left on the Virginia Tech community,
the nation and the world.
Table of Contents
Media Information ...........................2, 3
Bowl Practice Schedule ........................ 2
Bowl Headquarters/Directory ............... 3
2007 Season
Overview ........................................6, 7
Game-by-Game Review ................... 56-68
Season Superlatives ............................69
Final Statistics ............................ 70, 71
Atlantic Coast Conference
Statistics ..........................................72
Team Rankings ..................................73
Standings and Honors .........................74
Football Staff
Coach Frank Beamer ...................... 32-35
Assistant Coaches ......................... 38-50
Associate AD John Ballein ...................51
Support Personnel ..............................52
The Players
Roster, Pronunciation Guide .................. 8
Two-Deep Lineups, Rosters ................... 9
Profile Updates ............................. 10-31
Records and History
Tech’s Bowl History ..........................4, 5
BeamerBall ................................. 36, 37
Bowls: Game-by-Game ................... 75-94
Bowl Superlatives ..............................95
Bowl Records.....................................96
The University
This Is Virginia Tech ...........................53
President Charles Steger ......................54
AD Jim Weaver, Administration.............55
What Is a Hokie?
That's a frequently asked question in Virginia Tech athletics, and the answer leads
all the way back to 1896 when Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College
changed its name to Virginia Polytechnic Institute. With the change came the
necessity for writing a new cheer, and a contest for that purpose was held by the
student body. Senior O.M. Stull won first prize for his "Hokie" yell which is still used
today. Later, when asked if "Hokie" had any special meaning, Stull explained the word
was solely the product of his imagination and was used only as an attention-getter for
his yell. It soon became a nickname for all Virginia Tech teams and those people loyal to Tech
athletics. The official school colors — Chicago maroon and burnt orange — also were introduced in
1896. They were chosen because they made a "unique combination" not worn elsewhere at the time.
2007 VIRGINIA TECH FOOTBALL 1
2008 ORANGE BOWL GUIDE