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January 11, 2017 - 8:36 am
NFL Hokies - Week 18

-Duane Brown made his 13th start of the NFL season at left tackle in Houston’s 27-14 wild card victory over Oakland on Saturday afternoon. The Texans will face the New England Patriots in the Divisional Round of the AFC Playoffs on Saturday, Jan. 14, at Gillette Stadium. Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. ET, as the two squads squared off in the same venue as Week 3, with the Patriots capitalizing on three Texans turnovers to triumph 27-0.

-Kam Chancellor finished second on the team with seven total tackles, including six solo stops, in Seattle’s 26-6 wild card win over Detroit. The Seahawks have advanced to at least the NFC Divisional Round of the postseason for five straight seasons. Seattle will take on the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday, Jan. 14, at 4:35 p.m. ET, inside the Georgia Dome. This Saturday’s contest will be the second meeting between the Seahawks and Falcons this year. Seattle won the first contest, 26-24, at CenturyLink Field, a game that came down to the wire.

January 4, 2017 - 9:05 am
NFL Hokies - Week 17

-Duane Brown made his 12th start of the NFL season at left tackle in Houston’s 24-17 setback at Tennessee on Sunday afternoon.

-Kam Chancellor finished third on the team with seven total tackles, including six solo stops, in Seattle’s 25-23 victory at San Francisco.

-Dadi Nicolas made his 11th appearance of the season, as Kansas City picked up a 37-27 victory at San Diego. Of note, the team secured the AFC West divisional title and a playoff appearance.

-Darryl Tapp saw some action at the defensive end position in New Orleans’ 38-32 setback at Atlanta.

-Kendall Fuller made an appearance on defense for the 13th straight week in Washington’s 19-10 loss vs. the New York Giants on Sunday.

-While an injury may have shortened the NFL career of Kyshoen Jarrett, there's no questioning his heart. Hokie Nation wishes him the best.

December 28, 2016 - 4:37 pm
NFL Hokies - Week 16

-Duane Brown made his 11th start of the NFL season at left tackle in Houston’s 12-10 victory over Cincinnati, as the team secured its second divisional title and a playoff appearance.

-Kam Chancellor finished second on the team with eight total tackles, including five solo stops, in Seattle’s 34-31 setback vs. Arizona. He also tallied one pass defended in the loss.

-Dadi Nicolas made his 10th appearance of the season, as Kansas City picked up a 33-10 win vs. Denver.

-Darryl Tapp saw some action at the defensive end position in New Orleans’ 31-24 win over Tampa Bay, earning one tackle on Saturday.

-Tyrod Taylor went 26-for-39 on the day and finished with 329 passing yards and three touchdowns in Buffalo’s 34-31 loss to Miami on Christmas Eve. He also finished with 60 yards rushing on the day.

-Kendall Fuller made an appearance on defense for the 12th straight week in Washington’s 41-21 victory at Chicago, earning two tackles on the day.

December 21, 2016 - 8:56 am
NFL Hokies - Week 15

-Duane Brown made his 10th start of the NFL season at left tackle in Houston’s 21-20 victory over Jacksonville.

-Kam Chancellor racked up six total tackles, including four solo stops, in route to Seattle’s 24-3 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night.

-Darryl Tapp saw some action at the defensive end position in New Orleans’ 48-41 win at Arizona, earning one tackle on the day.

-Tyrod Taylor went 17-for-24 on the day and finished with 174 passing yards and one touchdown in Buffalo’s 33-13 win over Cleveland.

-Kendall Fuller made an appearance on defense for the 11th straight week in Washington’s 26-15 loss vs. Carolina, earning one tackle on Monday night.

-Dadi Nicolas made his ninth appearance of the season, his first since week 12, in Kansas City’s 19-17 setback vs. Tennessee on Sunday.

December 14, 2016 - 9:34 am
Coach Fuente on WFNZ-Charlotte

After yesterday’s Belk Bowl press conference in Charlotte, Hokies head coach Justin Fuente and Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema joined WFNZ The Fan for a live radio interview.

Listen Here: bit.ly/2hKIJby

December 14, 2016 - 8:21 am

-Duane Brown made his ninth start of the NFL season at left tackle in Houston’s 22-17 victory at Indianapolis, the team’s first win since week 10.

-Kendall Fuller saw action for the 10th time this season, as Washington defeated Philadelphia, 27-22, in an NFC East showdown.

-Vinston Painter made his fifth appearance of the NFL season on the offensive line in Washington’s 27-22 victory at Philadelphia on Sunday.

-Kam Chancellor racked up six total tackles, including four solo stops, in Seattle’s 38-10 loss at Green Bay.

-Darryl Tapp saw some action at the defensive end position in New Orleans’ 16-11 loss at Tampa Bay, earning one tackle on the day.

-Tyrod Taylor finished with 228 passing yards and two touchdowns in Buffalo’s 27-20 loss vs. Pittsburgh on Sunday.

December 7, 2016 - 8:26 am
NFL Hokies - Week 13

-Kam Chancellor finished second on the team in tackles this week, racking up seven total stops in Seattle’s 40-7 win over Carolina. Of note, he recorded six solo tackles and one pass defended on Sunday night.

-Tyrod Taylor finished with 221 yards of total offense in Buffalo’s 38-24 loss at Oakland. He passed for 191 yards and rushed for 30, recording a 12-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter.

-Darryl Tapp saw some action at the defensive end position in New Orleans’ 28-13 loss vs. Detroit, earning one tackle on the day.

-Vinston Painter made his fourth appearance of the NFL season on the offensive line in Washington’s 31-23 loss at Arizona.

-Kendall Fuller earned his third straight start of the season, tallying three tackles in Washington’s 31-23 loss at Arizona.

-Duane Brown made his eighth start of the NFL season at left tackle in Houston’s 21-13 loss at Green Bay.

December 5, 2016 - 9:26 pm
Raycom Sports Launches New York Life Fancam from 2016 Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – ACC football fans, whether they attended the Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship or not, have a chance to experience the excitement of Camping World Stadium with the Fancam, presented by New York Life, Official Corporate Champion of the ACC.

The New York Life Fancam provides photo technology that transforms a high definition, 360 degree, crowd image of the Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship into a social media fan engagement experience.

Designed to memorialize the passion of loyal fans, the New York Life Fancam captures high definition images of the crowd all the way down to the seat level and then uploads them to a custom landing page where fans can tag themselves and share on Facebook, Twitter and email.

Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship game attendees can prove they were present by tagging themselves in the image and sharing using social media and email. To explore the New York Life Fancam, go to: www.ACCchamps.Fancam.com.

December 3, 2016 - 5:14 pm
Former Virginia Tech Frank Beamer to enter TaxSlayer Bowl Hall of Fame

From a story written by Garry Smits from the St. Augustine Record.

In the 1990s and into the early years of the 21st century, Frank Beamer’s Virginia Tech Hokies were frequent visitors to Jacksonville.

Beamer is now a part of the city’s football history for good with the announcement this week that he will be inducted into the TaxSlayer Bowl Hall of Fame on Dec. 30 at the annual Coaches Luncheon at the Hyatt Regency.

Also entering the Hall of Fame on a posthumous basis will be Tom Shouvlin, a member of the TaxSlayer Bowl’s volunteer leadership team for more than 40 years.

Beamer, who retired after the 2015 season after coaching at Virginia Tech for 29 years, brought five of his teams to the TaxSlayer Bowl between 1994 and 2006, winning twice — both in the Hokies most recent appearances.

CLICK HERE to read the full story.

November 30, 2016 - 5:44 pm
Audio links in preparation for 2016 Dr. Pepper ACC Championship Game

Check out these audio links to help you get ready for the 2016 Dr. Pepper ACC Championship Game in Orlando

IMG Audio Scene Setter with 2016 Virginia Tech highlights
http://tunein.com/station/?stationId=230249&audioClipId=5071

Head coach Justin Fuente joined Rick Neuheisel and Chris Childers of SiriusXM College to discuss the 2016 Dr Pepper ACC Championship Game
​http://bit.ly/JFonSXM

November 30, 2016 - 9:11 am
NFL Hokies - Week 12

-Darryl Tapp tallied two tackles in New Orleans’ 49-21 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, the team’s first win since week 10.

-Kendall Fuller recorded his fifth start of the season, tallying five tackles in Washington’s 31-26 loss at Dallas on Thanksgiving Day.

-Vinston Painter made his third appearance of the NFL season on the offensive line in Washington’s 31-26 loss at Dallas on Thanksgiving Day.

-Eddie Royal made an appearance in Chicago’s 27-21 loss against Tennessee on Sunday, recording one reception on the day.

-Duane Brown made his seventh start of the NFL season at left tackle in Houston’s 21-13 loss over San Diego.

-Tyrod Taylor finished with 204 yards of total offense in Buffalo’s 28-21 victory over Jacksonville. He passed for 166 yards, throwing a 16-yard touchdown pass to put the Bills ahead for good late in the fourth quarter. Taylor also rushed for 38 yards and one seven-yard touchdown run, helping the team win its second game in a row.

-Kam Chancellor recorded his second interception of the season, 12th of his career, in Seattle’s 14-5 loss at Tampa Bay. He also defended one pass and tied for second on the team in tackles, totaling seven solo stops.

November 23, 2016 - 9:15 am
NFL Hokies - Week 11

-Eddie Royal saw action in Chicago’s 22-16 loss at the New York Giants on Sunday, recording two receptions for 13 yards.

-Darryl Tapp tallied three tackles in New Orleans’ 23-20 loss at Carolina.

-Duane Brown made his sixth start of the NFL season at left tackle in Houston’s 27-20 loss over Oakland on Monday night, held in Mexico City.

-Kam Chancellor finished third on the team in tackles for the second straight week, as Seattle picked up its seventh win of the season over Philadelphia, 26-15, on Sunday. He also defended two passes, recording one interception, his first of the year. Chancellor now has 11 interceptions on his career.

-Tyrod Taylor went 19-for-27, completing 70.4 percent of passes for a total of 166 yards in Buffalo’s 16-12 win at Cincinnati. He also rushed for 39 yards in the team’s first victory since week six.

-Kendal Fuller recorded four tackles, including two solo stops, in Washington’s 42-24 win over Green Bay.

November 16, 2016 - 9:21 am
NFL Hokies - Week 10

-Brandon Flowers recorded two solo stops in San Diego’s 31-24 loss against Miami.

-Darryl Tapp tallied two tackles in New Orleans’ 25-23 loss vs. Denver.

-Duane Brown made his fifth start of the NFL season at left tackle in Houston’s 24-21 win over Jacksonville.

-Eddie Royal appeared in his first game since week six and finished with one reception for 24 yards in Chicago’s 36-10 loss at Tampa Bay.

-Kam Chancellor appeared in his first game since week four and finished third on the team in tackles, racking up eight total stops in Seattle’s 31-24 win over New England in a Super Bowl rematch. Chancellor recorded four solo tackles and one pass defended on Sunday night.

-Kendall Fuller recorded six tackles, including four solo stops, and one pass defended in Washington’s 26-20 victory over Minnesota.

November 9, 2016 - 8:51 am
NFL Hokies - Week 9

-Brandon Flowers led the San Diego defense in the team’s 43-35 win over Tennessee, returning an interception 33 yards for a touchdown. He also recorded three pass breakups and five tackles on the day.

-Tyrod Taylor went 27 for 38, totaling 289 passing yards and one touchdown. He also put 43 yards on the ground, taking one into the end zone for the score, in Buffalo’s 31-25 loss at Seattle on Monday Night Football.

November 3, 2016 - 8:20 am
Coach Fuente catches up with David Glenn

Coach Fuente caught up with David Glenn on Wednesday, talking about the Hokies, Saturday’s game at Duke and the World Series. CLICK HERE to listen to the interview.

November 2, 2016 - 8:49 am
NFL Hokies - Week 8

-Duane Brown made his fourth start of the NFL season at left tackle in Houston’s 20-13 win over Detroit.

-Brandon Flowers appeared in his first game since week three, recording one solo tackle and a pass defended in San Diego’s 27-19 loss at Denver in week eight.

-Dadi Nicolas tallied one pass break up in Kansas City’s 30-14 win over Indianapolis on Sunday.

-Kendall Fuller made seven solo stops in Washington’s 27-27 draw vs. Cincinnati on Sunday, at Wembley Stadium, in London.

-Tyrod Taylor went 19 for 38, totaling 183 passing yards. He also put 48 yards on the ground, taking one into the end zone for the score, in Buffalo’s 41-25 loss vs. New England.

October 29, 2016 - 9:17 pm
Coach Fuente on ESPN Radio Saturday

Coach Fuente caught up with fellow Tulsa native, Dari Nowkhah and ESPN Draft guru Mel Kiper, Jr., on ESPN Radio Saturday morning. Make sure to check it out. CLICK HERE

October 28, 2016 - 10:58 pm
Freeman interviews Ford after breaking school record

On Friday afternoon, former Tech great Antonio Freeman (1991-94), who held the school record for receiving touchdowns, had the opportunity to speak with current Hokie Isaiah Ford after Ford broke Freeman's record with a fourth-quarter TD catch at Pittsburgh (10/27) which was the difference in the team's win at Heinz Field Thursday night.

It was Ford's 23rd career receiving TD and it gave Tech a 10-point lead with 7:20 remaining in the game. It helped the 25th-ranked Hokies secure a 39-36 victory over the Panthers and improved Tech to 6-2, 4-1 in the ACC.

CLICK HERE to hear the full audio of the interview.

October 26, 2016 - 8:22 am
NFL Hokies - Week 7

-Darryl Tapp appeared in his third game of the season and recorded three solo tackles and one assist in New Orleans’ 27-21 loss at Kansas City.

-Duane Brown made his third start of the NFL season at left tackle in Houston’s 27-9 loss at Denver on Monday night.

-Tyrod Taylor went 14 for 28 with one touchdown pass, totaling 221 yards in the air. He also put 35 yards on the ground, taking one into the end zone for the score, in Buffalo’s 28-25 loss at Miami.

October 20, 2016 - 2:32 pm
Redskins defensive coordinator raves about Kendall Fuller

Earlier today, Washington Redskins defensive coordinator Joe Barry addressed the media and shared his appreciation for CB Kendall Fuller and his maturity as a player.

Washington Redskins defensive coordinator Joe Barry on rookie CB Kendall Fuller

“You know, I’m going to give Virginia Tech a little plug right here because I said the same thing about Kyshoen Jarrett last year. He was just very mature, very football savvy, and Kendall is absolutely in the same mold. He is a rookie. He’s obviously young, that’s obvious. But he’s very mature for his age, football mature I’m talking about. Very detailed, asks great questions. You know, the biggest thing, playing any position but especially playing DB and specifically the nickel corner, you’ve got have a plan every week on how you attack the guy that you play based on what type of player that is, and usually young guys don’t get that. Usually young guys say, ‘Oh, I get the call, I’ve got to play the call.’ You know, ‘I’ve got to play my leverage, I’ve got to do my job.’ But you learn as you’re in this league, you’ve got to approach every single wide receiver different. And it’s cool that Kendall already understands that. He already really gets it and that’s why I talk about his awareness, his savviness, his instincts, whatever you want to call it. He has that and it’s really neat.”

October 19, 2016 - 11:19 am
Evans added to the Maxwell Award Watch List

The Maxwell Football Club today announced the expansion of its 2016 Watch Lists for both the 80th Maxwell Award and the 22st Chuck Bednarik Award. The original lists were comprised of players who were selected based on their performances during the 2015 season and included Hokies' WR Isaiah Ford and RB Travon McMillian.

As the 2016 season has progressed, the Club believes that several additional players warrant attention because of their noteworthy play and Tech QB Jerod Evans is one of nine players added to the Watch List. Evans' numbers include 17 touchdown passes opposed to just two interceptions and 1,346 passing yards. He has added 319 rushing yards and two TDs on the ground. He has accounted for 19 of Tech's 27 TDs in six games.

The Maxwell Award has been presented to the outstanding collegiate football player in America since 1937 and is named in honor of Robert W. “Tiny” Maxwell. Semifinalists for the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards will be announced on October 31st and three finalists for each award will be announced November 21st.

The winners of the 2016 Maxwell and Bednarik Awards will be announced as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show which will be held on December 8th at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. The formal presentation of these awards will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala hosted by Tropicana Hotel & Casino Atlantic City on March 10, 2017.

October 19, 2016 - 9:18 am
NFL Hokies - Week 6

-Eddie Royal caught four passes for 54 yards in Chicago’s 17-16 loss to Jacksonville.

-Duane Brown made his second start of the NFL season at left tackle in the Texans’ 26-23 overtime win in Houston on Sunday Night Football.

-Kendall Fuller had three tackles, including one solo stop, in the Redskins 27-20 victory over the Eagles.

-Tyrod Taylor went 17 for 26 with two touchdown passes, totaling 179 yards in the air and 68 yards on the ground, in Buffalo’s 45-16 victory over San Francisco.

-Darryl Tapp appeared in his second game of the season and recorded one tackle in New Orleans’ 41-38 victory over Carolina.

October 13, 2016 - 9:27 am
Fuente speaks with national radio outlets

Aside from his daily Monday press conference and Wednesday ACC Teleconference, Virginia Tech head football coach Justin Fuente had the pleasure of speaking with two national radio hosts this week. Below are links to each.

Doug Gottlieb Show (10-12-16) - AUDIO LINK
Fuente spoke with Gottlieb about how he had his team prepare to play North Carolina last weekend despite Hurricane Matthew. Did they change play calling based on the weather? Also, discussed taking over for Frank Beamer, and keeping college players focused especially after a big win.

Daily Jungle with Jim Rome (10-12-16) - AUDIO LINK
Fuente also joined Rome's Daily Jungle show on Wednesday and included guests Derrick Morgan and Gary Sheffield.

October 12, 2016 - 1:10 pm
NFL Hokies - Week 5

-Kendall Fuller tallied three tackles, all three solo stops, and a pass defended in Washington’s 16-13 victory over Baltimore.

-Eddie Royal caught seven passes for 43 yards in Chicago’s 29-23 loss to Indianapolis.

-Tyrod Taylor went 12 for 23 with two touchdown passes to go along with 28 yards on the ground in Buffalo’s 30-19 win at Los Angeles.

October 12, 2016 - 11:40 am
Several honors roll in for Hokies this week

The No 17th-ranked Virginia Tech football team, fresh off its third straight 30-plus point victory, has seen a few honors roll in the past few days. Please see below for more details - but quarterback Jerod Evans has been selected a midseason addition to the Manning Award Watch List, tight end Bucky Hodges has been named to the 2016 John Mackey Award Midseason Watch List and The Foundation for Teamwork has announced its midseason Joe Moore Award Honor Roll, which the Hokies' offensive line has been chosen as a nominee.

Manning Award - Jerod Evans
The Manning Award, sponsored by the Allstate Sugar Bowl, announced 10 additions to its 2016 Watch List on Wednesday. The winner will be announced after the bowls in January and will be honored at a ceremony in New Orleans. The Manning Award was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in honor of the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. It is the only quarterback award that includes the candidates’ bowl performances in its balloting. After announcing 30 quarterbacks to watch during the preseason, the Manning Award opted to increase its focus players based on the many outstanding performances during the first half of the year. CLICK HERE to view the watch list.

John Mackey Award - Bucky Hodges
The John Mackey Award has released the 2016 John Mackey Award Midseason Watch List. Given annually to the most outstanding collegiate tight end, the award recipient is selected by vote of the John Mackey Award Selection Committee and the 2016 John Mackey recipient will be announced on December 7, 2016 and then presented live on December 8, 2016 at The Home Depot College Football Awards Red Carpet Show on ESPNU. John Mackey is considered to be the best to have played the tight end position. A tight end by whom all others are measured, Mackey was a role model on and off the field as demonstrated by his Super Bowl Championship, his commitment to community and his place in history as the first President of the NFLPA. CLICK HERE to view the watch list.

​Joe Moore Award - Tech Offensive Line
The Foundation for Teamwork has announced its midseason Joe Moore Award Honor Roll, which identifies notable performances by offensive line units in games played through October 8. The Honor Roll teams have a combined record of 79-16 and include 11 of the top 25 teams in the latest AP Top 25 Poll. The Joe Moore Award Honor Roll includes units that display a high level of toughness, effort, teamwork, consistency, technique, and “finishing”. Statistics, including those supplied by the universities (i.e. knockdowns), are used to merely support observations made about the technique and effort displayed in the game film, and play no factor in how OL units are evaluated. The Joe Moore Award is named after Joe Moore, widely regarded as one of the best offensive line coaches in college football history, and is the only major college football award to honor a unit. CLICK HERE (pdf) to view the list.

October 5, 2016 - 2:33 pm
NFL Hokies - Week 4

-Kam Chancellor tallied a pass defended and six total tackles, his fourth five-plus tackle game of the season, in Seattle’s 27-17 victory over the Jets.

-In his first career game and start in the NFL, Kendall Fuller finished second on the team with eight tackles, including seven solo stops, in Washington’s 31-20 victory over Cleveland.

-Eddie Royal led the Bears with 111 receiving yards on seven catches and a TD reception in Chicago’s 17-14 win over the Lions.

-Darryl Tapp had a solo tackle and recovered a fumble in New Orleans’ 35-34 victory over San Diego.

-Tyrod Taylor had 246 yards in the air on 27 for 39 passing with a TD pass in Buffalo’s 16-0 shutout of New England.

September 29, 2016 - 2:00 pm
ESPN with piece on the No. 25 and its importance

As a way of honoring Frank Beamer, who retired at the conclusion of last season following 29 years as the Hokies’ head coach, current Virginia Tech head coach Justin Fuente decided before the 2016 season that he and his staff would name a special teams player of the week following each game and that person will wear jersey No. 25 in the upcoming game.

Beamer, who wore No. 25 during his player career at Virginia Tech in the late 1960s, built a legacy on the terrific special teams play of his teams during his coaching career. His teams blocked 136 kicks during his tenure, and the Hokies returned 20 punts and 9 kickoffs for touchdowns as well.

ESPN writer Jared Shanker wrote this story in which Tech’s players talked about the importance of earning the honor of wearing No. 25. That story can be found by clicking here.

Greg Stroman, who wore No. 25 for the Hokies in their game against East Carolina, returned a punt 87 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter that gave the Hokies a 7-0 lead. Other Virginia Tech players to wear No. 25 this season have been fullback Steven Peoples, linebacker Sean Huelskamp and defensive tackle Tim Settle, who blocked a field goal against the Pirates.

September 29, 2016 - 10:27 am
Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship Game Set For Orlando

The 2016 Dr Pepper Atlantic Coast Conference Football Championship will be held at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium.

The 12th annual title game between the ACC’s Atlantic and Coastal Division champions remains scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 3 and will kick off in primetime at 7:45 p.m. (if carried by ESPN) or 8 p.m. (if carried by ABC).

On October 5, patrons who previously purchased tickets to this year’s game in Charlotte and all Florida Citrus Sports members will have a three-day pre-sale opportunity. Tickets will be available to the general public via Ticketmaster on October 10 at 10 a.m. As in the past, the Atlantic Champion and Coastal Champion will each have an allotment that will be sold by the respective institution once they have clinched their division championship.

This will mark the sixth time the Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship Game has been played in the state of Florida. Jacksonville hosted the first three years (2005-07) and Tampa welcomed the event in 2008 and 2009.

Camping World Stadium, which underwent a $208 million renovation that was completed in April 2015.

The ACC is well acquainted with Camping World Stadium, which serves as the host venue for both the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl and the Russell Athletic Bowl. The stadium has also hosted a number of regular-season games involving ACC teams over the past few decades, including Florida State’s season-opening win over Ole Miss in this year’s Camping World Kickoff.

Each of the past three ACC football champions has gone on to either win the national championship or compete in the College Football Playoff. The ACC placed a total of 31 teams in bowl games the previous three seasons combined.

September 28, 2016 - 4:03 pm
Fuente recognizes service member readying for deployment

Dallas Ayers sent out a tweet to the VT Promotions account and to Pete Moris, Virginia Tech’s associate AD for strategic communications, simply asking how to acquire some “This is Home” Virginia Tech magnets.

He wound up meeting football coach Justin Fuente and taking home a bunch of gear, including the magnets.

Ayers, a native of Blacksburg who grew up a Virginia Tech fan and whose family still lives in the area, serves in the U.S. Air Force and is being deployed to Southwest Asia in the near future. It will be his seventh deployment since he enlisted in 2006.

Ayers graduated from the American Military University with a degree in criminal justice and is currently stationed at Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, Georgia. He stopped by to pick up the magnets, along with his wife and two young daughters. While doing so, they got to meet Fuente, who presented him with a signed football and thanked him for his service.

Ayers hopes to finish his deployment and return to the U.S. at some point next spring. He expressed his thanks in this tweet a few hours following his visit:

September 28, 2016 - 2:03 pm
NFL Hokies - Week 3

-Kam Chancellor led the Seahawks with eight total tackles and tallied a pass breakup in Seattle’s 37-18 win over San Francisco.

-Eddie Royal caught four passes for 21 yards and returned two punts for 17 yards in Chicago’s 31-17 loss to Dallas on Sunday night.

-Brandon Flowers tallied four total tackles including three solo stops in San Diego’s 26-22 setback against Indianapolis.

-Tyrod Taylor threw for 119 yards and rushed for 76 with a touchdown in Buffalo’s 33-18 victory over Arizona.

-DeAngelo Hall posted five total tackles and four solo stops in Washington’s 29-27 victory over the New York Giants.

-Washington signed OL Vinston Painter earlier this week, joining fellow Hokies Kendall Fuller and DeAngelo Hall on the Redskins roster.

September 27, 2016 - 9:33 am
Nothing but love and respect for DeAngelo Hall
Coach Fuente and the Hokies were saddened to hear the news that S DeAngelo Hall suffered a season-ending ACL injury in Sunday’s against the New York Giants. Coach Fuente took time at Monday’s Virginia Tech media conference to acknowledge Hall’s contributions to Virginia Tech and express his best wishes for a speedy recovery.

The Redskins have captured some of the relevant Tweets from Hall and the Hokies that you may appreciate as we all wish our Virginia Tech Athletics Hall of Fame inductee a successful rehab from this injury. One can read them by clicking on this link: redsk.in/2cSlrON
September 25, 2016 - 1:04 pm
Shibest named Special Teams Coach of the Week

Each week, CoachingSearch.com names 10 Coaches of the Week ranging from Offensive and Defensive Coordinator to Offensive and Defensive Line and this week, the site named James Shibest the Special Teams Coordinator of the Week.

From the site (CLICK HERE to view all of this week's coaches):

Special teams coordinator: James Shibest (Virginia Tech)

The Hokies had an 87-yard punt return touchdown, a blocked field goal and a blocked punt in a 54-17 win over East Carolina. Frank Beamer may not be the head coach, but Beamerball is alive and well.

September 21, 2016 - 4:05 pm
USA Today Playoff Projection panel includes Beamer

USA TODAY announced its first vote of the Football Four Playoff according to its 13-person panel. The Playoff Projection panel is based on the College Football Playoff selection committee's model and includes former Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer. Other members of the panel include the WWE Hall of Fame announcer Jim Ross, former FBS coaches Tommy Bowden and Rich Brooks, former FBS athletic directors Mike Alden, Bill Byrne and Jim Livengood, and USA TODAY Sports college sports staff members Nicole Auerbach, Paul Myerberg, George Schroeder, Eddie Timanus, Daniel Uthman and Dan Wolken.

CLICK HERE to see the panel's first vote.

September 21, 2016 - 11:24 am
NFL Hokies - Week Two Update
  • Kam Chancellor posted five tackles, his second consecutive game with five or more tackles in as many games, in Seattle’s 9-3 victory over Los Angeles.
  • Brandon Flowers ranked second on the Chargers in week two with seven total tackles, including one for loss, to go along with a pass defended in San Diego’s 38-14 win over Jacksonville.
  • DeAngelo Hall racked up five tackles, including three solo stops, and a pass defended in Washington’s 27-23 loss to the Cowboys.
  • Eddie Royal had four receptions for 52 yards and returned a punt 65 yards for his second TD of the season in Chicago’s loss to Philadelphia on Monday Night Football.
  • Tyrod Taylor went 18 of 30 with a career-high with 297 yards in the air and three TD passes in Buffalo’s 37-31 loss to the Jets.
    • September 19, 2016 - 6:52 pm
    Vote for Ford's TD reception as Catch of the Week

    Virginia Tech receiver Isaiah Ford is in the running for Yahoo’s “Catch of the Week” after his incredible 30-yard touchdown reception in the Hokies’ 49-0 win over Boston College this past Saturday.

    Ford’s catch over two Boston College defenders is one of five catches in the running for “Catch of the Week.” Fans are encouraged to vote and can do so by clicking this link – and voting the poll at the bottom of the page.

    Here are the video highlights from Tech’s win over BC and of Ford’s catch, which is at the 2:00 mark:

    September 16, 2016 - 12:58 pm
    Corps of Cadets homecoming to feature military flyovers

    Military aircraft, both modern and vintage, will help the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets celebrate its homecoming Saturday, Sept. 17, as the Hokies face Boston College.

    As part of Corps Homecoming and Military Appreciation Day, four aircraft from the Tri-State Warbird Museum in Batavia, Ohio, and one from the U.S. Air Force are expected to conduct military flyovers of Lane Stadium, barring weather or operational factors.

    The 3rd Airlift Squadron, part of the 436th Airlift Wing at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, plans to fly a C-17 Globemaster III over Lane Stadium at about 3:30 p.m. during the National Anthem, which will follow the joint march-on by the cadets and a regiment of corps alumni.

    At halftime, the Tri-State Warbird Museum plans to send the World War II-era C-45 Expeditor “Hokie Pokie” and three AT-6s over Lane Stadium during the military appreciation performance by the regimental band, the Highty-Tighties, and the Marching Virginians.

    The museum’s flyovers are arranged by corps alumnus Stan Cohen, who earned his bachelor’s degree in architectural engineering in 1949 and master’s degree in civil engineering in 1951 from the College of Engineering.

    Before enrolling at Virginia Tech, Cohen served with the 14th Air Force, 23rd Fighter Group, the Flying Tigers, in the China, Burma, and India Theater in 1945 flying the P-40.

    Cohen will cover the cost associated with bringing the aircraft to Blacksburg.

    Weather permitting, the C-45 and one AT-6 will do practice flights and then perform a flyover at the corps’ formal retreat ceremony to honor returning alumni at 4:45 p.m. The ceremony will be at the flagpole on the Upper Quad behind Lane Hall.

    The regiment will form between Lane, Shanks, and Major Williams halls. The Color Guard will lower the flag; Skipper, the corps cannon, will fire; and the Highty-Tighties will play.

    Plans call for two more AT-6s to arrive Saturday.

    As part of Corps Homecoming and to honor the special relationship between Virginia Tech and the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia, cadets will be collecting donations for the memorial at each of the entry gates to Lane Stadium. To date, cadets have collected more than $207,000 for the National D-Day Memorial.

    The Globemaster III’s primary function is to provide troop and cargo transport and it is one of the largest aircraft in the Air Force’s arsenal. With a wingspan of 169 feet and 10 inches, the C-17’s is actually wider than Worsham Field’s width of 159 feet.

    The C-45 is based on the Beechcraft Corporation’s popular commercial airplane the Model 18 "Twin Beech," originally designed in 1936. It has a top speed of 225 MPH and a range of more than 1,200 miles. As a tribute to Cohen and Virginia Tech, this C-45 sports the nose art "Hokie Pokie."

    The AT-6 is a single-engine advanced trainer that was the first complex aircraft flown by World War II cadets —it had retractable landing gear and a controllable pitch propeller. It was used to train fighter pilots, gunners, bombardiers, and navigators.

    September 14, 2016 - 1:32 pm
    Battle delivers most-watched game from the weekend

    ABC televised the three most-watched games across all networks during college football’s week two, led by the Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol between Virginia Tech and Tennessee (Saturday, Sept. 10 at 8 p.m.).

    The Hokies versus the Volunteers much-anticipated contest delivered a prime-time, total live audience of 5,875,000 average viewers (TV + Streaming), including a television audience of 5,790,000 average viewers which led ABC to win the night across all broadcast and cable networks in households, people 2+ and all key male and persons demos (men 18-34, men 18-49, men 25-54, P18-34, P18-49, P25-54). The historic game was also ESPN’s most-streamed game of the day, with an average minute audience of 85,000 viewers and a total of 403,000 unique viewers totaling 21,100,000 minutes watched.

    The first two games of ABC’s Saturday tripleheader were college football’s second and third most-watched games across all networks with Tulsa at Ohio State (3:30 p.m.) delivering a total live audience of 4,057,000 average viewers and Central Florida at Michigan with 2,918,000 average viewers (noon).

    CLICK HERE for more information.

    September 14, 2016 - 10:54 am
    #NFLHokies - Week One Update

    There are currently 16 Hokies on NFL rosters and many of them had stand out performances this past week. Here’s how they did in week one.

    Kam Chancellor – Seattle Seahawks

    Chancellor turned in seven tackles, second-most on the team, including a tackle for loss in Seattle’s 12-10 victory over Miami

    Brandon Flowers – San Diego Chargers

    Flowers tied for the team-lead with two tackles for loss and tallied eight total stops in the Chargers’ 33-27 loss to Kansas City in overtime. Although he didn’t see the field, Flowers went up against fellow Hokie Dad Nicolas, a rookie drafted in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

    DeAngelo Hall – Washington Redskins

    After moving to safety in the offseason, Hall didn’t miss a beat in week one where he had six tackles, including three solo stops, in the Redskins’ 38-16 loss to Pittsburgh.

    Eddie Royal – Chicago Bears

    Royal caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from Jay Cutler to go along with four catches for 40 yards in the Bears’ 23-14 loss to Houston.

    Darryl Tapp – New Orleans Saints

    An 11-year veteran, Tapp saw the field in the Saints’ 35-34 loss to the Raiders.

    Tyrod Taylor – Buffalo Bills

    Taylor went 15 for 22 for 111 yards against his former team in Buffalo’s 13-7 loss to the Ravens.

    September 13, 2016 - 9:52 am
    Rogers makes Dante Hall Award watch list

    Virginia Tech's Sam Rogers is one of 40 named to the initial Dante Hall Award watch list announced on Monday. The award recognizes any FBS player who is listed UNDER 6-feet-tall on the official depth chart and candidates must participate on offense and special teams.

    The Dante Hall Award - benefitting Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston - will recognize college football's best all-around offensive contributor who literally beats long odds. To read more about Dante Hall and the award, CLICK HERE.

    September 10, 2016 - 2:04 pm
    Photos from ESPN College GameDay and Good Morning America sets in Bristol

    Virginia Tech coach Justin Fuente appeared on ESPN College GameDay, marking his first live appearance on the show, and the Virginia Tech spirit squad took part in both GameDay and Good Morning America. For a look at what transpired in the morning before the Virginia Tech-Tennessee matchup at Bristol Motor Speedway, please check out this photo gallery:

    September 9, 2016 - 9:01 am
    Fuente to appear on ESPN College GameDay

    Virginia Tech football coach Justin Fuente will make an appearance on ESPN College GameDay on Saturday morning roughly 11 hours before the Hokies take on No. 17 Tennessee at the Battle at Bristol.

    The weekly show, college football’s longest-running and most-celebrated show, airs from 9 a.m. until noon on ESPN and will be located in the Earhart East Parking Lot at Bristol Motor Speedway. The show includes host Rece Davis, who is joined by analysts Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard and David Pollack, as well as contributors Chris “the Bear” Fallica, Jen Lada, Samantha Ponder, Tom Rinaldi, George Whitfield and Gene Wojciechowski.

    Fuente will be arriving at the GameDay set at approximately 10:45 a.m. He will be on a side set with Ponder at 11 a.m. and Ponder will conduct a live interview with Tech’s first-year head coach.

    Also, for early-rising Tech fans, Good Morning America’s weather correspondent Rob Marciano, will be broadcasting live from the same parking lot starting at 7 a.m. Officials from the morning show would love for Tech fans to be a part of the live cut-ins with Marciano and request that they be there by 6:30 a.m. The Virginia Tech spirit squad will be in attendance.

    The Tech-Tennessee game kicks off at 8 p.m. and can be seen on ABC.

    September 7, 2016 - 2:18 pm
    Quick facts about ESPN College Gameday

    ESPN College GameDay Built by The Home Depot – college football’s longest-running and most-celebrated pregame show – will originate from Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee, on Saturday in advance of the Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol showcasing the neutral-site matchup of Virginia Tech and No. 17 Tennessee (ABC, 8 p.m. ET). The weekly show airs from 9 a.m. until noon on ESPN and will be located in the Earhart East Parking Lot.

    The six-time Emmy Award-winning show includes host Rece Davis, who is joined by analysts Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard and David Pollack, as well as contributors Chris “the Bear” Fallica, Jen Lada, Samantha Ponder, Tom Rinaldi, George Whitfield and Gene Wojciechowski.

    Davis, Herbstreit and Ponder will be on the call of the game. ESPN’s Dr. Jerry Punch and Marty Smith, who were part of the network’s longtime NASCAR coverage, will be on site to provide additional coverage across ESPN platforms.

    Live SportsCenter hits will take place from the set throughout the day on Friday, as well as College Football Live with Ponder, Howard and Pollack (1:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).

    Corso Facts:

    Corso began making his entertaining end-of-show headgear pick of the team he thinks will win the game at the GameDay site, marking 20 years this season. Week 2 will be headgear No. 278 for Corso, as he is 183-94 all-time in headgear picks. The phenomenon began Oct. 5, 1996, prior to the Ohio State-Penn State game in Columbus, Ohio when he put on OSU’s "Brutus Buckeye" mascot head to show his pick to win the game.

    * After a 6-12 mark last year in headgear picks, Corso lost his opening-week game this year. It marked the second time in the last eight shows that a double-digit favorite lost outright (Ohio State vs. Michigan State the other).

    * Week 2 hasn’t been kind to Corso lately either, as he has lost three of his last four picks.

    * Corso has picked Tennessee four times and is 2-2 in those four picks. He has picked against the Vols 10 times and is 7-3 in those 10 picks.

    * He has picked Virginia Tech four times and is 4-0 in those four picks. He has picked against Virginia Tech six times and has been right all six times. So he’s never missed a pick involving Virginia Tech, going a perfect 10-for-10.

    ‘The Bear’ College GameDay Week 1 Fun Facts:

    * First time the show has opened the season with neutral site shows in each of the first two weeks of the season.

    * This is the first time a Butch Jones-coached team or a Justin Fuente-coached team is involved in the game from which GameDay originates. The last time a Power 5 game saw that was Oct. 26, 2013 when Mark Helfrich (Oregon) and Jim Mora (UCLA) squared off in Eugene.

    * This is the 10th time that the show will originate from the state of Tennessee. Eight of the previous nine shows originated in Knoxville, with the other instance being from Nashville.

    * The last time the show was in the in state of Tennessee was Sept. 15, 2012, for the Tennessee vs. Florida game (a 37-20 Florida win).

    * First time since September 5, 2009 Virginia Tech has been involved in the game from which GameDay will originate.

    • Bristol, Tennessee will be the 75th different city from which GameDay will originate.

    * This is the 311th road show. The last time an in-season edition of College GameDay originated from Bristol, Connecticut was Dec. 2, 2006. In all, 153 road shows have taken place since then (this will be 154).

    * The Hokies have been involved in 10 road shows and are 4-6 in those 10 games. This is the 19th road show the Vols have been a part of and they are 7-11 in those previous 18 games.

    • This is the sixth time GameDay has been to a game between the SEC and ACC, with SEC teams going 5-0.
    September 5, 2016 - 10:21 pm
    Photo gallery from the Battle at Bristol news conference

    Virginia Tech held its weekly news conference Monday afternoon, and this week’s news conference happened to be in advance of the “Battle at Bristol.” Virginia Tech and Tennessee meet Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway in a game that could set the college football single-game attendance mark. Officials from the speedway addressed the media and also brought the trophy that will go to the winner of the game. Please check out the following photo gallery to get an up-close look at the trophy and more:

    September 2, 2016 - 11:26 am
    HokiesXtra Game Day App Updated

    The HokiesXtra Game Day App has been updated for the 2016 season! Download now (Link) for Apple and Android to enjoy the new features!

    This season, the HokiesXtra Gameday app will feature expanded scores and statistics that focus on the Hokies, as well as all top-25 and ACC games. Also, the app allows for integrated social media, which gives fans the opportunity to join in the conversation on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. In addition, the app has interactive stadium mapping, which allows one to share their location with friends and family on game day.

    Features of the HokiesXtra App include -

    - Live Game Audio: Listen to free live audio for football games and other sports throughout the year
    - Social Stream: View and contribute to real-time Twitter, Facebook and Instagram feeds from the team and fans
    - Fan Guide: The official Gameday Fan Guide with key ties, events and the need-to-know information to plan your gameday experience
    - Interactive Stadium Maps: Enhanced location-aware in-venue maps for fans, including amenities such as tailgating and parking, where available
    - Scores & Stats: All the scores, stats, and play-by-play information that fans need and expect during live games
    - ACC & Top 25 Scores: Live scoring from across the conference and Top 25
    - Notifications: Custom alert notifications to let fans know everything surrounding gameday

    September 1, 2016 - 8:45 am
    Hokies Unveil New Football Equipment Truck

    The latest addition to the Virginia Tech football roster rolled into Blacksburg on Wednesday morning on 18 wheels. In partnership with Lawrence Transportation, this 53-foot-long semi trailer will transport tons of

    equipment, gear and supplies as the Hokies travel this season.

    Conder Flag Company of Roanoke performed the wrapping of the trailer that features the same updated graphics and wordmarks featured prominently in the Hokies’ football facility. Head coach Justin Fuente’s signature terms Hard Smart Tough are also part of the trailer design. It took approximately 16 hours to complete the wrap process over a two-week period.

    According to Tech’s associate director of equipment services, Sam Nichols, the trailer features LED interior lighting, a 4,000-pound liftgate and walking boards. Fans are encouraging to submit suggested names for the new truck on Twitter by tagging @VT_Football and @VTEquipment.

    Video: pic.twitter.com/Yg7gcDrUbu

    Bryan Randall & Mike Vick: pic.twitter.com/uOlxifamdb

    August 31, 2016 - 5:04 pm
    Retail Outlets Confirmed For Battle at Bristol Jerseys

    Beginning Monday, Sept. 5, replicas of the special Hokie Stone jerseys that the Hokies will wear in the Battle of Bristol will be available at selected retail outlets.

    Alumni Hall will serve as the preferred retailer of these jerseys that pay special tribute to Tech’s original school colors and the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets.

    While jerseys won’t be available at shop.hokiesports.com as previously hoped, should there be a change, we will keep fans updated. However, they will be available at Nike.com for fans wishing to make an online purchase.

    Other area retailers include:
    University Bookstore
    Dicks Sporting Goods
    Tech Book Store (Main Street location)
    ​Campus Emporium

    For more information on the history behind the Battle at Bristol Jerseys, click here.

    August 23, 2016 - 8:26 pm
    Photos from Student Appreciation Practice

    The Virginia Tech football program held a Student Appreciation Practice on Tuesday evening, inviting the school’s student body to attend football practice at Lane Stadium. The football program wanted to perform in front of the students and give them a sampling of what they can expect when the season opener kicks off in less than two weeks.

    Approximately a couple of thousand students attended the 40-minute session. The first 500 received complimentary pizza.

    Fuente addressed the students following the session, thanking them for coming and encouraging them to come to the season opener Sept. 3 against Liberty. The game kicks off at 12:30 p.m.

    Here is a photo gallery of the evening’s festivities:

    August 23, 2016 - 1:00 pm
    Clark, Ekanem, Rogers Named to Senior Bowl Watch List
    Virginia Tech seniors Chuck Clark, Ken Ekanem and Sam Rogers were all named to the 2017 Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List on Tuesday. This annual all-star game showcases the top senior talent in the nation for NFL coaches, scouts and executives.

    The game will be held January 28, 2017 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala.

    August 22, 2016 - 6:01 pm
    Battle at Bristol Construction Cam & Gallery

    The infield at Bristol Motor Speedway began its transformation into a college football field this morning. Over 8,500 tons of stone are being deployed to serve as the base for the AstroTurf playing surface.

    View a Gallery of construction photos here:
    bit.ly/2bakohN

    A live Construction Cam is also available at:
    bit.ly/2bbYsNd

    August 16, 2016 - 11:29 am
    NASCAR world reacts to Virginia Tech/Wood Brothers Racing car

    BLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech Athletics Department and Wood Brothers Racing announced Monday that the NASCAR Sprint Cup race team will display a Virginia Tech paint scheme on its cars for upcoming races at Bristol Motor Speedway and Martinsville Speedway.

    The paint scheme is being used to promote both the school’s academic programs and the athletics department as part of the department’s “This is Home” marketing campaign. The Virginia Tech football team will play Tennessee at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday, Sept. 10 – a game that may break college football’s all-time single-game attendance mark – and the car will be displayed at that game.

    Below see how the NASCAR world reacted on social media to the announcement and CLICK HERE for the full release and video.