Published: November 12, 2008 10:35 pm      

Virginia Tech, Miami in ‘huge’ game

BLACKSBURG, Va. — It wasn’t long ago that Miami was one of the top programs in college football. Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer thinks they’re on their way back.

“Miami is a football team that is getting better all the time, they’re playing a lot of young kids, just like we are,” Beamer said. “They’re getting better, and I think we’re getting better.

“You want games to be important at this time of the year and this one is huge for both of us.”

Especially for Virginia Tech. The Hokies control their own destiny in the ACC’s Coastal Division. Win three more games and the Hokies will play for the league title for the fourth time in their five years in the ACC.

Miami stands in the way.

“Anytime you play a Miami, they always bring their “A” game and we’re just ready to go down there,” Virginia Tech senior offensive guard Nick Marshman said. “We know it is going to be a smash-mouth game and it will be a real good game on Thursday night.”

For the second straight week, Virginia Tech (6-3, 3-2) will play mid-week night game, this time at ACC foe Miami (6-3, 3-2). The Hokies’ 23-13 win last week over Maryland pushed the Hokies’ record to 15-3 on Thursday games televised by ESPN.

“Anytime you are the only game on TV, you like that,” Marshman said. “Everybody in the country is watching and you can prove to everybody in the country that you’re for real.”

Virginia Tech hopes to show their offense is back, after the Hokies accumulated a season-high 400 yards, including a school record 253 rushing yards by Darren Evans in the win over the Terrapins.

Sean Glennon is expected to start at quarterback tonight, with Tyrod Taylor still questionable with a high ankle sprain that caused him to miss the Maryland game.

“I think off a game like that, you want to build off that, you want to keep going, but ultimately we’re taking it one game at a time,” said Marshman, whose Hokies must also host Duke and Virginia in the next three weeks. “It was a four-game season a week ago and now it’s three games.

“Everything is in our control, the coaches stress that to us. During practice we’re just all focused on Miami right now and we’ll take it one game at a time the rest of the way with these last three.”

While Miami started the season at 2-3, with losses to Top 25 clubs Florida, Florida State and North Carolina, the Hurricanes have won four straight, led by the two-headed quarterback duo of freshman Jacory Harris (698 yards, 7 td) and redshirt freshman Robert Marve (920 yds, 7 td).

Graig Cooper leads the ‘Canes with 634 yards on the ground. Defensively, Virginia Tech is 18th in the nation in total defense, while Miami is 15th.

“You turn on the video now and it’s getting close to that old Miami,” Beamer said. “I’ve never played Miami when there wasn’t good players, they seem to always be athletic.

“I think these two quarterbacks, they are the kind of thing that can lead them back. It’s a lot like Florida State, I think that stabilizes their football team and they’ve been playing well for them.”

Virginia Tech is 16-3 all-time on the road since joining the ACC in 2004. Of course, the Hokies were 16-1 before losing their last two league games away from Lane Stadium to Boston College and Florida State.

“We lost two back-to-back on the road and we want to get back to being able to compete and play well wherever we go, not just at home,” Marshman said. “We want to show everybody that it’s not just at home that we can play, we can play good on the road, we can play good at home.

“This will be another test for us.”

The win over Maryland also improved Virginia Tech’s mark in the ACC to 14-1 in November. Beamer knows keeping that streak alive will be difficult for such a young team, but it’s a must if the Hokies want a December trip to Tampa for the title game.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a team as young as this one,” Beamer said. “We’ve got a critical game here Thursday night, but to play the schedule the way it has been and away games in a row, and then to play with as young a football team as we have, I think we’re really fortunate to be where we are .

“Now if we can just take advantage of it. I think there’s a couple of us that control our own destiny. So many times you come down and somebody has got to lose.

“That’s why Thursday night is so important. It’s important for Miami and it’s important for us.”

—Contact Brian Woodson

at bwoodson@bdtonline.com