Virigina Tech Falls Short Against Boise

Virginia Tech was not able to hold onto a late lead and fell to the Boise State Broncos Monday night 33-30. After falling behind 17-0 in the first quarter, Virginia Tech took complete control of the game roaring back to take a 30-26 lead late in the fourth quarter. The Hokies, however, just could not hold on, and quarterback Kellen Moore connected with Austin Pettis with only 1:09 left to go in the game.

The game has been analyzed repeatedly so I won't sit here and analyze the entire thing, but there are a few things I want to focus on. This is not the end of the season for Virginia Tech. Everyone seems to think it's all over now. Maybe I'm just an optimist, but Boise State is a great team and Virginia Tech easily could have won this game. The Hokies out scored the Broncos 30-16 for 3 quarters. If the Hokies had played as well in the first quarter as they did for the rest of the game, they win. Period. They clearly have coverage issues on defense, especially with linebackers covering wide receivers, but otherwise they looked good defensively. Ryan Williams picked up right where he left off last season with 3 touchdowns. Many have been critical of Tyrod Taylor's passing ability and he went 15/22 for 186 yards and 2 TDs. Darren Evans was used sparingly, but otherwise this offense looked very good. Boise State is the best team the Hokies will play all season, I think their chances for an 11-1 or 10-2 season and an ACC championship are very good. They obviously have challenges ahead, but don't count out the Hokies.

I am absolutely sick and tired of great games tarnished by referees. I was sad the Hokies lost, of course, but I was thrilled with how great a game it was...except I felt the referees had helped decide the game. At the beginning of Boise State's game winning drive, Virginia Tech punted and an obvious clipping penalty was called by a linesman 5 yards away. After the play, the referees huddled and then picked up the flag. It was an obvious call, but what really was infuriating about it was that the linesman who was right next to it and saw it clearly was somehow overruled. What was said during that conversation? "I know you were closer and had a better view, but I don't think that was clipping." It made no sense. Later on in the drive, Moore passed to Pettis who ran down the sideline. Tech's Bruce Taylor lunged after him and hit him just after he stepped out of bounds. He was flagged for a late hit and 15 more yards were tacked on. Was the play intentional? No. Was it malicious in any way? No. It is completely unreasonable for a referee to expect a player who is in midair to somehow stop himself from touching a receiver who stepped out of bounds. When Taylor jumped, Pettis was in bounds. When he hit him, Pettis was out. This was completely unfair.

I also have to bring up the glorious BCS. Virginia Tech was the best team on Boise State's schedule. The only other ranked opponent is Oregon State so there is a very good chance that the Broncos will yet again go undefeated. This will begin the debate again about whether they deserve a shot at the BCS. Can a team that is not in a BCS conference play for the National title? Obviously the BCS believes it is possible if they actually deserve it or the system would not make sense...well it would make less sense. There is of course the very legitimate argument that a team from the BCS conference has a much tougher schedule than Boise State. It is harder to play in a BCS conference than it is in the WAC. If two BCS teams go undefeated can you put Boise in the National Championship?

All that aside, you CANNOT deny Boise State their shot if they win out this season. Essentially they have done absolutely everything you've asked them to do. They have a weak conference so they fill their non conference schedule with power house teams. They do it every season. They even played Virginia Tech at an even bigger and louder venue than Lane Stadium. You cannot tell them they have not done enough after going undefeated for two straight seasons with wins over Oregon, TCU, Virginia Tech, and Oregon State. If that's the case, then they will never get their shot. They cannot do more than they have already. Unless Virginia Tech needs them to lose later on in the season, I hope they win out just to mess with the BCS. The idiots in charge of the BCS won't notice of course, but anything that might help bring a playoff would be great.

Even with the devastating loss, it was still a great game and it was only the first week of the season! There will be more great games to come.