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2000 Virginia Tech Hokies football team

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2000 Virginia Tech Hokies football
Gator Bowl champion
Gator Bowl, W 41–20 vs. Clemson
ConferenceBig East Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 6
APNo. 6
Record11–1 (6–1 Big East)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorRickey Bustle (7th season)
Offensive schemeMultiple
Defensive coordinatorBud Foster (6th season)
Base defense4–4
Home stadiumLane Stadium
2000 Big East Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 2 Miami (FL) $ 7–0  11–1 
No. 6 Virginia Tech 6–1  11–1 
Pittsburgh 4–3  7–5 
Syracuse 4–3  6–5 
Boston College 3–4  7–5 
West Virginia 3–4  7–5 
Temple 1–6  4–7 
Rutgers 0–7  3–8 
  • $ – BCS representative as conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2000 Virginia Tech Hokies football team represented Virginia Tech as a member of the Big East Conference during the 2000 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by 14th-year Frank Beamer, the Hokies compiled an overall record of 11–1, with a mark of 6–1 in conference play, placing second in the Big East. Virginia Tech was invited to the Gator Bowl, where the Hokies defeated Clemson. The team played home game at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Virginia Tech the season ranked sixth in both the AP poll and the Coaches Poll. In one longitudinal statistical measure, the 2000 team ranks as the best team in Tech history.[a]

This was Tech's second straight 11–1 season, tying the record for wins in a season that still stands though the 2024 season. The team's only loss was to the Miami Hurricanes, in a game in which Tech star Michael Vick was only able to play sparingly due to an ankle sprain sustained two weeks earlier. Tech was ranked second in the AP poll at the time, tied for the highest standing in program history. Miami was ranked third, and went on to finish second in the AP poll.

Vick was considered a top Heisman Trophy candidate before he was injured in the first half of the ninth game of the season, against Pittsburgh.[2] The previous year, he finished third in the Heisman voting after leading Tech to the Sugar Bowl for the BCS National Championship Game. Vick had his share of highlights before his injury: his career rushing high of 210 yards against the Boston College Eagles in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts; racking up 288 yards of total offense and scoring two touchdowns against West Virginia in a 48–20 win; and leading the Hokies back from a 14–0 deficit against Syracuse at the Carrier Dome, cementing the victory with a 55-yard run with 1:34 left. Vick finished sixth in the Heisman voting in 2000.

The day following the regular-season finale with Virginia, Beamer visited the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was offered the job to replace fired head football coach Carl Torbush. According to numerous reports, Beamer accepted the job, but in the end he decided to stay with his alma mater. The team was ranked fifth in the final Bowl Championship Series (BCS) ranking, but was snubbed for an at-large spot in the BCS bowls favor of the eighth and 11th ranked teams. After the season, Vick opted to forgo his final two years of college eligibility, and was selected by the Atlanta Falcons with the first overall pick of the 2001 NFL draft.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
August 278:00 p.m.Georgia Tech*No. 11
ESPN2Cancelled [b] 56,276[3][4]
September 212:00 p.m.Akron*No. 11
  • Lane Stadium
  • Blacksburg, VA
ESPN PlusW 52–2356,272[5][6][7]
September 78:00 p.m.at East Carolina*No. 10
ESPNW 45–2845,123[8][9][10]
September 1612:00 p.m.RutgersNo. 8
  • Lane Stadium
  • Blacksburg, VA
ESPN PlusW 49–056,272[11][12][13]
September 303:30 p.m.at Boston CollegeNo. 4
CBSW 48–3444,500[14][15][16]
October 712:00 p.m.TempleNo. 3
  • Lane Stadium
  • Blacksburg, VA
ESPN PlusW 35–1356,272[17][18][19]
October 128:00 p.m.West VirginiaNo. 3
  • Lane Stadium
  • Blacksburg, VA (rivalry)
ESPNW 48–2056,272[19][20][21]
October 217:00 p.m.at SyracuseNo. 2
ESPNW 22–1449,033[22][20][23]
October 283:30 p.m.PittsburghNo. 2
  • Lane Stadium
  • Blacksburg, VA
CBSW 37–3456,272[24][25][26]
November 412:00 p.m.at No. 3 Miami (FL)No. 2
CBSL 21–4177,410[27][28][29][30]
November 116:00 p.m.at UCF*No. 8
ESPN GamePlanW 44–2150,220[31][32][33]
November 257:30 p.m.Virginia*No. 6
  • Lane Stadium
  • Blacksburg, VA (rivalry)
ESPNW 42–2156,272[34][35][36]
January 1, 200112:30 p.m.vs. No. 16 Clemson*No. 6
NBCW 41–2068,741[37][38][39][40]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
( ) = First-place votes
Week
PollPre123456789101112131415Final
AP11111085433 (1)2 (1)22876666
Coaches1010984 (1)432 (3)2 (1)22 (4)875556
BCSNot released3286655Not released

Preseason prospects

The success of the 1999 season carried enormous anticipation into the 2000 campaign. On August 14, 2000, Sports Illustrated's preview edition featured Michael Vick on the cover with a photoshopped lightning bolt striking at his feet, declaring him "Mr. Electric" — a designation that placed the Hokies' quarterback on newsstands and kitchen tables across the country.[41]

Black Coaches Association Classic washout

Shortly after the 1999 National Championship game, Tech was selected to play in one of several special "preseason" games allowed at that time, enabling it to play an extra game (12 instead of 11). The game was sponsored by the Black Coaches Association, and to be held in Lane Stadium. ACC member Georgia Tech was later selected to be the opponent.[42] ESPN decided to have a special one-hour preseason special live from Blacksburg immediately preceding the contest.[43] It was the third time in four games that Tech was appearing on Gameday, including the National Championship, and it was the third time in Tech's last four home games that the Gameday crew would be in Blacksburg. ( See College GameDay (football TV program)#Locations). Lee Corso, former Indiana coach, had become famous for his end-of-show picks where he donned the headgear of the team he picked the to win the Gameday contest. He became a huge favorite of the Tech fans the previous year when he not only picked the Hokies to win against Syracuse and Miami when the show was in Blacksburg, but also because he had forecast what seemed like an improbable matchup between then 13th-ranked Tech and Florida State in the National Championship game during the preseason show.[44] At the end of the show, Corso did pick the Hokies to prevail in the game that evening versus Georgia Tech, but he made two picks that were very unpopular with Virginia Tech fans.[45][46] He predicted Florida State to play Kansas State in the National Championship game and for Seminole quarterback Chris Weinke to win the Heisman.[45] Tech fans booed as word of his pick, made live from the south end zone, made its way through the crowd.

Tech added permanent seats in the North end zone[47] that were finished only shortly before the game was to be played. A then-record 56,276 fans were on hand to see the game. Before the Hokies entered the game through the tunnel from their locker room, a brand new video scoreboard[48] was utilized to play a segment that began with a stormy scene with a lightning strike.[49] As Beamer stood at the end of the tunnel with his team behind him, the new HokieVision board showed a pre-recorded video of a stormy sky that could have been a live shot from behind the stadium. Lightning emerged from the clouds shown on the video, and the beat of Sandman began to blare. The playing of "Enter Sandman" as the Tech players emerged from the tunnel was thus born as a Hokie tradition.[41] A new tradition would be started when the team entered the field accompanied by the Metallica song "Enter Sandman." This was the first time that entrance song was used in what has now become a staple of the Lane Stadium pre-game routine. The crowd jumping did not begin until the following year. [50]

The lightning strike on the video board proved prophetic. As the teams were lined up for the opening kickoff (Tech's kicker Carter Warley actually had his hand in the air signaling his readiness to kick) a giant lightning bolt lit up the Blacksburg sky. Dan Blum, the referee, ran onto the field waving his hands over his head and blowing his whistle. The teams were quickly instructed to move to the locker rooms with field access at the south end of the stadium. A huge weather front stretching from the Great Lakes to northern Georgia had brought rain to the east coast that morning. By early afternoon, the storm had split into two — one to the north and one to the south, and left Blacksburg mainly unaffected. As the early wave of a record 56,000-plus fan entered the stadium, the skies were clear and it was a beautiful August night. Then, about half an hour before the scheduled kick, dark gray clouds appeared on the southwestern horizon behind the Lane Stadium press box. It was a very small, isolated pop-up thunderstorm coming from Pulaski County toward Blacksburg.[41] The game was eventually canceled for the night about an hour later as the initial deluge was followed by a more serious storm that lasted until about two hours after the game was originally called.[51][52] At that time, the stadium field had a crown in the center to shed water. There was no sophisticated drainage system, and all the water went to the sidelines where officials, cheerleaders, and players stood ankle deep in a muddy mess.[41] Fairly recently, internet connections had been put into the Lane Stadium press box and officials watched as a line of storms came in from West Virginia behind the isolated torrent that had hit Blacksburg. At 9:03 p.m., Tech athletic director Jim Weaver announced that the game would not be played on this night. The officials made the decision not only because of the field's current conditions, but also because of the severity of the storms to arrive in the next hour.[41] Due to involvement of an external sponsor of the game, there was serious discussion about holding the game on Friday night December 1, the night before several college conference championships were scheduled to be played. Georgia Tech said that it would not play on that date, and for a short period another team was being recruited to play in Blacksburg on that date. By the weekend of the next game, the game was off.[53]

After the game was over, and Corso took advantage of the break between the storms to walk back to his car parked between Lane and Cassell, someone told him that lightning had struck a red car very close to where he remembered parking. His rental car was red. He started the vehicle, drove a few feet and Corso himself reports that it smelled burned inside, filled with smoke, and that every light on the dashboard lit up. The car stopped dead in the middle of the road.[41] The legend of Corso's pick against the Hokies and subsequent brush with God's wrath is still alive today. You sometimes see people wear t-shirts with Corso's famous quote "I don't know what a Hokie is, but God is one of them." Few remember Sports Illustrated's premonition with Michael Vick's cover photo, complete with the lightning bolt at his feet. Even fewer remember the first playing of "Sandman" with the video of the storm clouds and lightning strikes that was part of the video accompanying that iconic moment in Tech history.[41]

Due to involvement of an external sponsor of the game, there was serious discussion about holding the game on Friday night December 1, the night before several college conference championships were scheduled to be played. Georgia Tech said that it would not play on that date, and for a short period another team was being recruited to play in Blacksburg on that date. By the weekend of the next game, the game was off.[54]

Regular season summary

Tech breezed through its first five games, never trailing while beating Akron, East Carolina, Rutgers, Boston College and Temple. In a home rivalry game against West Virginia, the Mountaineers took the lead right before half and led for a total of 2 minutes and 8 seconds before being blown out in the second half by a 48–20 score. In those six games, Tech outscored its opponents by over 28 points per game.

Tech traveled to Syracuse in the seventh game of the year in an attempt to win its first away game against Syracuse since 1986. The Orange led 14–0 after the first quarter, and didn't relinquish the lead until late in the third quarter. Tech came back to win 22–14.

In the following game against Pittsburgh, Vick sprained his ankle in the first half and had to miss the rest of that game, won on a late field goal by Carter Warley after a drive engineered by backup quarterback Dave Meyer. Vick was unable to start against the Miami Hurricanes—the Hokies' lone loss of the season. He was ineffective in the Miami loss, and then sat out the win game against Central Florida played in Orlando. In the Commonwealth Cup, Virginia led at the end of the first quarter, before Tech came back for a three touchdown win.

Lee Suggs was the sparkplug for the Tech offense. He ran for 1,207 yards in the 11 game regular season (bowl games did not count in official NCAA statistics until 2002). He led the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) with 28 touchdowns, five more than the second best in the country.[55]

Suggs was a unanimous choice for the All Big East team, and co-Offensive MVP, a title he shared with Antonio Bryant of Pittsburgh and Santana Moss of Miami. Tech also placed offensive guard Dave Kadela on the first-team offensive unit. Defensive lineman David Pugh, (who had 57 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, five sacks and an interception)and linebacker Ben Taylor (who led the team with 103 tackles and had seven tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and two interceptions) were first-team defense.[56] Vick and offensive tackle Matt Lehr were on the second team offense. Chad Beasley, Ronyell Whitaker, and Cory Byrd were on the second team defense. Placekicker Carter Warley and punt/kickoff returner André Davis were second team specialists.[57]

Hokies miss out on BCS at-large bowl bid

The previous December, Tech had emerged from the complex BCS ranking formula [c] as the second-ranked team and was automatically given a chance to play Florida State in the National Championship. Tech placed fifth in the BCS standings, the top-ranked team that did not win its conference, but was not selected for one of two at-large spots for which it was eligible.[58]

In 2000, the BCS involved four bowl games, and champions from six conferences were automatically guaranteed one of the eight spots. Notre Dame was guaranteed a spot in one of the four games only if it finished ranked in the top eight.[59] However, the only mandate for these selections were that the teams had to be among the top 12 in the BCS rankings and had to have nine regular season wins. Once the championship game participants was determined, the other three bowls selected from the remaining conference champion, with the traditional affiliations being the primary constraint. They did not have to choose the top ranked team that remained.

Miami beat Florida State in the regular season, and was ranked second in the AP (writers) poll behind Oklahoma. It ranked third in the BCS behind the Seminoles and Oklahoma in the final standings. The AP voters were not contractually bound to name the winner of the national championship game as its top team in the final poll so the Hurricanes had a legitimate argument that it could win a split national Championship with another win in its bowl game and a Florida State win in the Orange Bowl.[60] A matchup of Miami at BCS-3 and Washington at BCS-4 was not possible because the Rose Bowl was contractually obligated to take the traditional Pac-10 versus Big Ten matchup if those two teams were still available. A rematch against Tech at BCS-5 was out. Oregon State was BC-6 and Florida BCS-7. Florida was contractually obligated to the Sugar Bowl, and that bowl eventually negotiated to have Miami play against the Gators who had won the 1997 National Championship. The two Florida-based teams had not met since 1987. This left the Fiesta Bowl with two at-large bids.[61][58]

Notre Dame had not played in one of BCS-affiliated bowls since 1995, and because of its national appeal, was a heavy favorite to get one of the spots. In fact, many writers at the time actually thought the Irish were guaranteed a spot in the BCS bowls because it had finished in the top 12. In the final week, Tech athletic director Jim Weaver reportedly lobbied to have the Fiesta choose a Notre Dame versus Miami matchup and give the Sugar Bowl the choice between the Hokies and Beavers. That was not to be.[58]

Tech was one spot ahead of Oregon State in the final BCS standings (5th and 6th) and they both had a 10–1 record. The Hokies had lost to the BCS-3 (Miami) and Oregon State to the BCS-4 (Washington) team. Tech had the 14th ranked strength of schedule and Oregon State the 42nd. Perhaps most importantly though, Blacksburg about 2,000 miles further from the Fiesta Bowl site than Corvalis, the home of Oregon State The Pac-10 commissioner was vocal the week before the final bowl selections, saying that the "(t)here is an extra burden on the Fiesta Bowl this year. I hope they feel that.".[62][63] In the end, the Fiesta chose to match Notre Dame and Oregon State. Tech coach Frank Beamer speculated that "it was kind of side of the country thing," and the Orange Bowl might have picked Tech over Oregon State if the Fiesta had decided to take Miami.[64] The drop from the top-tier to second tier bowl game meant a financial loss of $1.7 million to the Hokies.[65]

2000 BCS final rankings and bowl placement [66]
BCS rank Team Human
poll rank		 Computer
poll rank		 Strength of
schedule rank
(divided by 25 in formula)		 Losses Total BCS points Bowl
1 Oklahoma 1.0 1.86 11 (0.52) 0 3.30 Orange – BCS National Championship (as Big 12 Champion and top 2 team)
2 Florida State 3.0 1.29 2 (0.08) 1 5.37 Orange – BCS National Championship (as ACC champion and top 2 team)
3 Miami (Fl) 2.0 2.57 3 (0.12) 1 5.69 Sugar Bowl (as Big East champion)
4 Washington 4.0 5.43 6 (0.24) 1 10.67 Rose Bowl (as Pac-10 champion)
5 Virginia Tech 5.50 5.14 14 (0.56) 1 12.20 No BCS Bowl (Gator)
6 Oregon State 5.50 6.50 42 (1.68) 1 14.68 Fiesta Bowl (as BCS at-large)
7 Florida 7.00 5.71 1 (0.04) 2 14.75 Sugar Bowl (as SEC champion)
8 Nebraska 8.50 7.00 18 (0.72) 2 18.22 No BCS bowl (Alamo)
9 Kansas State 10.00 10.14 29 (1.16) 3 24.30 No BCS bowl (Cotton)
10 Oregon 9.50 11.86 24 (0.96) 2 24.32 No BCS bowl (Holiday)
11 Notre Dame 10.00 12.07 25 (1.00) 2 25.07 Fiesta Bowl (as BCS At-Large)
12 Texas 12.00 9.86 84 (3.36) 2 27.22 No BCS bowl (Holiday)
13 Georgia Tech 16.00 9.86 44 (1.76) 2 29.62 No BCS bowl (Peach)
14 TCU 14.50 13.71 96 (3.60) 1 31.01 No BCS bowl (Mobile, Alabama)
15 Clemson 14.50 13.71 95 (3.80) 2 33.17 No BCS bowl (Gator)
16 Michigan 16.00 15.00 35 (1.40) 3 35.40 No BCS bowl (Florida Citrus)
Unranked in BCS Purdue Rose Bowl (as Big 10 champion)
  BCS bowl team
  No BCS bowl

Beamer turns down offer from North Carolina

As early as September, Frank Beamer's name began to be mentioned as a replacement for Alabama's Mike DuBose.[67] In the run-up to the Miami game, on November 1, the banner headline at the top of the Richmond Times Dispatch sports page said "Beamer: No interest in Tide."[68] That day Mike DuBose announced that he would resign at the end of the season.[69]

The other coach in the south whose job was on the line was UNC coach Carl Torbush, whose team was 5-5 going into a November 18 game with Duke with a bowl bid on the line.[70] Tech had a bye that weekend after its victory over UCF, and had the UVA game coming up Thanksgiving weekend. During that week, head coach Frank Beamer was contacted by North Carolina athletic director Nick Baddour to talk about replacing soon-to-be fired coach Torbush. Beamer reports in his book, Let me be Frank: My Life at Virginia Tech, that he told Baddour that he would accept the job on Saturday, November 18, the day of the Tech open date, and date of the UNC-Duke game.[71]

Beamer was still being mentioned as two finalists (along with Miami's Butch Davis) for the Alabama job on the day Beamer accepted the Carolina job.[72][73] It wasn't until November 21 that word made its way to Virginia newspapers that UNC and Beamer were discussing that school's vacancy.[74][75] It became clear that Beamer would be talking to Carolina after the Saturday evening Virginia game.[76] Tech made a very public announcement that it would raise the stakes in the quest to have Beamer stay in Blacksburg, when Tech president Charles Steger announced that it would raise Beamer's salary to above the $1 million mark on the eve of the Tech-UVA game.[77] That Saturday, Tech beat UVA 42–21, and the following morning, Beamer flew to Chapel Hill, in his words, "to work out the details." Before he left Chapel Hill on Sunday evening, Baddour tried to convince Beamer to stay overnight and make an announcement to the North Carolina media the following morning. Beamer said he had to go home to prior to the announcement. He woke up the following morning in Blacksburg, and wrote in his book that he said to himself. "This is my alma mater. This is where I want to be. And this is where we will be as long as I am coaching."[71]

After Beamer says he had made his decision to stay, he met with Steger and Tech Executive Vice President Minnis Ridenour Monday morning where they ironed out details of the offer the Hokies had made the previous week.[71]

Vick leaves after sophomore season

October 28, 2000 was the end of an era at Virginia Tech. That was the day Michael Vick left the game against Pittsburgh at the end of the first half and re-entered the field on crutches. It was the day that the Heisman run for Vick ended. It was the day that led to a crushing loss to a week later that put an end to the 2000 team's national championship run. It was the last time Vick would wear a Tech uniform in Blacksburg.

In the end, Vick might have played his way out of the Heisman race after his statistically poor start through the first six games and abysmal performance against Syracuse. However a columnist for the New York Daily News put his odds at 2–1 to win the trophy after the Syracuse game.[78] Lee Corso commented that "he has not played great football like a Heisman Trophy winner. But he makes great plays, jumps over six guys, runs for 86 yards, and everybody says 'woo-woo'."[79]

There was a story on the first sports page of the October 11, 2000 Los Angeles Times, written by a Times writer, that said that Vick would almost certainly turn pro after his redshirt-sophomore season.[80] The rumors had been whispered even in pre-season as Vick dodged the question in a Sports Illustrated interview. The story was picked up by papers across the nation, and Vick responded the next week. In an interview with an Atlanta radio station, Vick said that he was definitely returning the next season.[81]

Vick stuck with his story, holding a press conference on December 15 where he announced his intention to return to Tech.[82] But rumors persisted during Gator Bowl week in late December when he hinted at being tempted by the pro speculation.[82] On January 9, word leaked out of Blacksburg that Vick was in town getting his paperwork ready for entry into the NFL draft.[83] His announcement that he was forgoing his final two years of eligibility came two days later.[84] San Diego had the first round pick in the NFL draft on April 21, but a trade agreement was reached with the Atlanta Falcons. Vick was selected first, the second Tech player to receive that honor after Bruce Smith in 1986.[85] In May, he signed a six-year deal for $62 million.[86]

Games summaries

Akron

Akron at Virginia Tech
Team 1 234Total
Akron Zips 3 1406 23
• No. 11 Hokies 7 28143 52
       
Scoring summary
18:52VTLee Suggs 7-yard run (Carter Warley kick)VT 7–0
6:18AKZac Derr 22-yard field goalVT 7–3
211:28VTMichael Vick 63-yard run (Warley kick)VT 14–3
9:45VTWillie Pile 11-yard interception return (Warley kick)VT 21–3
5:37VTLee Suggs 5-yard run (Warley kick)VT 28–3
2:14VTEmmett Johnson 59-yard pass from Vick (Warley kick)VT 35–3
0:56AKJames Young 6-yard pass from Butchie Washington (Derr kick)VT 35–10
312:00VTLee Suggs 2-yard run (Warley kick)VT 42–10
7:42VTAndre Davis 23-yard pass from Vick (Warley kick)VT 49–10
413:07AKReggie Corner 1-yard fumble return (Derr kick)VT 49–17
7:28VTCarter Warley 32-yard field goalVT 52–17

Virginia Tech opened the 2000 season with an impressive 52-23 victory over Akron at Lane Stadium, showcasing the explosive offense that would define the Hokies' successful campaign. The Hokies scored 28 points in the second quarter to build a 35-17 halftime lead, with Michael Vick accounting for 288 total yards and four touchdowns in the season opener. Tech put up 549 yards of total offense while allowing 410 yards to the Zips, with 300 of the team's yards coming in the first half.[87]

Virginia Tech established control early when Lee Suggs scored on a 7-yard run with 8:52 remaining in the first quarter. The Hokies extended their lead in the second quarter with four touchdowns - Vick scored on a 63-yard run, Willie Pile returned an interception 11 yards, Suggs added a 5-yard run, and Vick connected with Emmett Johnson on a 59-yard touchdown pass to complete a 35-10 halftime advantage. Akron scored on a 6-yard fumble return by Reggie Corner in the fourth quarter to narrow the deficit.[88]

Michael Vick led Virginia Tech with 102 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries, while completing 9 of 16 passes for 186 yards and two touchdowns. Lee Suggs rushed for 90 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries in his debut as starting tailback. Emmett Johnson caught 2 passes for 79 yards and a touchdown. On defense, Willie Pile recorded 11 tackles and an interception, while the Hokies held Akron to 410 total yards and forced 2 turnovers.[89]

at East Carolina

Virginia Tech at East Carolina
Team 1 234Total
• No. 10 Hokies 17 1477 45
East Carolina Pirates 0 01414 28
      
Scoring summary
110:45VTCarter Warley 47-yard field goalVT 3–0
8:28VTCory Bird 9-yard punt return (Warley kick)VT 10–0
5:37VTAndre Kendrick 14-yard run (Warley kick)VT 17–0
0:45VTJarret Ferguson 7-yard run (Warley kick)VT 24–0
29:15VTAndre Davis 87-yard punt return (Warley kick)VT 31–0
36:22ECULeon Henry 1-yard run (Kevin Miller kick)VT 31–7
1:18VTBrowning Wynn 23-yard pass from Vick (Warley kick)VT 38–7
414:51VTLee Suggs 56-yard run (Warley kick)VT 45–7
3:39ECULeon Henry 2-yard run (Miller kick)VT 45–14
0:00ECURichard Alston 13-yard pass from David Garrard (Miller kick)VT 45–21

No. 10 Virginia Tech defeated East Carolina 45-21 at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, showcasing the special teams excellence and explosive offense that would define the Hokies' successful campaign. The Hokies built a 31-0 halftime lead with Beamer-ball on full display, scoring on special teams and defense while holding the Pirates to just 241 total yards in the victory. Tech's kicking game accounted for 17 first-half points in a performance that demonstrated the complete dominance of Frank Beamer's system.[90]

Virginia Tech established control early when Carter Warley connected on a 47-yard field goal with 10:45 remaining in the first quarter. The Hokies extended their lead with three more touchdowns in the first half - Cory Bird returned a blocked punt 9 yards, Andre Kendrick scored on a 14-yard run, and Jarret Ferguson added a 7-yard run to complete a 31-0 halftime advantage. Andre Davis returned a punt 87 yards for a touchdown with 9:15 remaining in the first half, capping the Beamer-ball display. East Carolina scored twice in the final 3:39 of the game on Leon Henry touchdown runs.[91]

Lee Suggs led Virginia Tech with 122 rushing yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, including a 56-yard score in the second half. Michael Vick completed 9 of 16 passes for 106 yards and a second half touchdown to Browning Wynn. Andre Davis caught 2 passes for 23 yards and returned a punt 87 yards for a touchdown. On defense, the Hokies held East Carolina to just 241 total yards and forced 3 turnovers, with Chad Beasley recording an interception and Wayne Ward blocking a punt.[92]

Rutgers

Rutgers at Virginia Tech
Team 1 234Total
Rutgers Scarlet Knights 0 000 0
• No. 8 Hokies 21 1477 49
  • Date: September 16, 2000
  • Location: Lane Stadium
    Blacksburg, VA
  • Game start: 12:00 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 56,272
  • Television network: ESPN Plus
   
Scoring summary
111:42VTLee Suggs 59-yard run (Carter Warley kick)VT 7–0
8:15VTEmmett Johnson 17-yard pass from Michael Vick (Warley kick)VT 14–0
2:33VTLee Suggs 2-yard run (Warley kick)VT 21–0
210:18VTMichael Vick 17-yard run (Warley kick)VT 28–0
4:27VTLee Suggs 18-yard run (Warley kick)VT 35–0
37:45VTLee Suggs 5-yard run (Warley kick)VT 42–0
412:08VTKeith Burnell 1-yard run (Warley kick)VT 49–0

No. 8 Virginia Tech recorded its first shutout of the season with a dominant 49-0 victory over Rutgers at Lane Stadium, showcasing the explosive offense and stifling defense that would define the Hokies' successful campaign. The Hokies built a 21-0 first quarter lead and never looked back, holding the Scarlet Knights to just 54 rushing yards in a performance that demonstrated the complete dominance of Frank Beamer's system. Tech intercepted Rutgers quarterbacks four times and allowed only 241 total yards in the victory.[93]

Virginia Tech established control early when Lee Suggs scored on a 59-yard run with 11:42 remaining in the first quarter. The Hokies extended their lead with two more touchdowns in the first quarter - Vick connected with Emmett Johnson on a 17-yard touchdown pass and Suggs added a 2-yard run to complete a 21-0 first quarter advantage. Vick scored on a 17-yard run in the second quarter, and Suggs added an 18-yard run to make it 35-0 at halftime. Suggs scored on a 5-yard run in the third quarter, and Keith Burnell added a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter to complete the scoring.[94]

Lee Suggs led Virginia Tech with four rushing touchdowns on 13 carries, while Michael Vick accounted for 224 total yards with 104 rushing yards and 120 passing yards. Vick completed 10 of 18 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 104 yards and a touchdown. Emmett Johnson caught 2 passes for 37 yards and a touchdown. On defense, the Hokies held Rutgers to just 54 rushing yards and forced 4 turnovers, with the defense recording 4 interceptions and holding the Scarlet Knights to 3 of 14 on third-down conversions.[95]

at Boston College

Virginia Tech at Boston College
Team 1 234Total
• No. 4 Hokies 14 2176 48
Boston College Eagles 7 13014 34
        
Scoring summary
15:02VTJarret Ferguson 13-yard run (Carter Warley kick)VT 7–0
7:41VTAndre Davis 71-yard punt return (Warley kick)VT 14–0
2:15BCWilliam Green 3-yard run (Paul Peterson kick)VT 14–7
212:08BCWilliam Green 28-yard run (Peterson kick)VT 14–14
8:47VTLee Suggs 24-yard run (Warley kick)VT 21–14
6:33VTMichael Vick 26-yard run (Warley kick)VT 28–14
4:12BCWilliam Green 53-yard run (Peterson kick)VT 28–21
0:49VTMichael Vick 11-yard run (Warley kick)VT 35–21
311:04VTMichael Vick 82-yard run (Warley kick)VT 42–21
48:54BCKevin McMyler 23-yard pass from Peterson (Peterson kick)VT 42–28
5:37VTLee Suggs 11-yard run (Warley kick)VT 48–28
2:47BCDedrick Dewalt 19-yard pass from Peterson (Peterson kick)VT 48–34

No. 4 Virginia Tech defeated Boston College 48-34 at Alumni Stadium, showcasing the explosive offense and Heisman-caliber performance from Michael Vick that would define the Hokies' successful campaign. The Hokies built a 14-0 first quarter lead and held on for a high-scoring victory, with Vick accounting for 210 rushing yards and three touchdowns in a performance that demonstrated his elite talent. Tech outgained Boston College 481 to 287 total yards in the back-and-forth Big East matchup.[96]

Virginia Tech established control early when Jarret Ferguson scored on a 13-yard run with 5:02 remaining in the first quarter. The Hokies extended their lead when Andre Davis returned a punt 71 yards for a touchdown with 7:41 left in the quarter. Boston College tied the game at 14-14 on William Green touchdown runs, but the Hokies responded with three touchdowns before halftime - Lee Suggs scored on a 24-yard run, Vick added a 26-yard run, and Vick scored on an 11-yard run to complete a 35-21 halftime advantage. Vick's legendary 82-yard touchdown run in the third quarter extended the lead to 42-21.[97]

Michael Vick led Virginia Tech with 210 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries, while completing 5 of 17 passes for 61 yards. Lee Suggs rushed for 145 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries, serving as the workhorse in the running game. Andre Davis caught 2 passes for 23 yards and returned a punt 71 yards for a touchdown. On defense, the Hokies held Boston College to 287 total yards and forced 1 turnover, with the defense recording 2 sacks and holding the Eagles to 4 of 14 on third-down conversions.[98]

Temple

Temple at Virginia Tech
Team 1 234Total
Temple Owls 0 760 13
• No. 3 Hokies 14 777 35
  • Date: October 7, 2000
  • Location: Lane Stadium
    Blacksburg, VA
  • Game start: 12:00 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 56,272
  • Television network: ESPN Plus
    
Scoring summary
18:42VTLee Suggs 7-yard punt return (Carter Warley kick)VT 7–0
2:18VTLee Suggs 2-yard run (Warley kick)VT 14–0
213:45VTCullen Hawkins 41-yard pass from Michael Vick (Warley kick)VT 21–0
1:18TEMTaylor Spero 65-yard interception return (Mark Gannon kick)VT 21–7
311:23TEMMark Gannon 20-yard field goalVT 21–10
8:15VTMichael Vick 5-yard run (Warley kick)VT 28–10
414:51VTAndre Kendrick 14-yard run (Warley kick)VT 35–10
8:42TEMMark Gannon 23-yard field goalVT 35–13

No. 3 Virginia Tech defeated Temple 35-13 at Lane Stadium, showcasing the dominant defense and explosive offense that would define the Hokies' successful campaign. The Hokies built a 21-0 first half lead and held on for the victory, holding the Owls to just 116 total yards and -15 rushing yards in a performance that demonstrated the complete dominance of Frank Beamer's system. Tech recorded six sacks for 43 yards in losses and forced 3 turnovers in the victory.[99]

Virginia Tech established control early when Lee Suggs scored on a 7-yard punt return with 8:42 remaining in the first quarter. The Hokies extended their lead with two more touchdowns in the first half - Suggs added a 2-yard run and Vick connected with Cullen Hawkins on a 41-yard touchdown pass to complete a 21-0 halftime advantage. Temple scored on a 65-yard interception return by Taylor Spero with 1:18 left in the first half. Tech added two second half touchdowns - Vick scored on a 5-yard run in the third quarter, and Andre Kendrick added a 14-yard run in the fourth quarter.[100]

Lee Suggs led Virginia Tech with two touchdowns, while Michael Vick completed 14 of 29 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown. Cullen Hawkins caught 2 passes for 41 yards and a touchdown. On defense, Eric Green recorded 2 interceptions in his first game as a starter, while Ronyell Whitaker added an interception. The Hokies' defense held Temple to just 116 total yards and forced 3 turnovers, with the defense recording 6 sacks and holding the Owls to 2 of 14 on third-down conversions.[101]

West Virginia

West Virginia at Virginia Tech
Team 1 234Total
West Virginia Mountaineers 0 760 13
• No. 2 Hokies 14 777 35
      
Scoring summary
17:45VTLee Suggs 18-yard run (Carter Warley kick)VT 7–0
0:58WVUAvon Cobourne 1-yard run (Brent Benner kick)VT 7–7
26:39WVUBrad Lewis 1-yard run (Benner kick)WVU 14–7
314:03VTBob Slowikowski 72-yard pass from Michael Vick (Warley kick)VT 14–14
10:28VTAndre Davis 30-yard reverse (Warley kick)VT 21–14
8:15VTAndre Davis 64-yard pass from Vick (Warley kick)VT 28–14
4:52VTAndre Davis 76-yard punt return (Warley kick)VT 35–14
411:44VTAndre Kendrick 2-yard run (Warley kick)VT 42–14
8:05VTJarret Ferguson 16-yard run (Warley kick)VT 48–14
3:44WVUAntwan Brown 6-yard pass from Brad Lewis (Benner kick)VT 48–20

No. 2 Virginia Tech defeated West Virginia 48-20 at Lane Stadium, showcasing the explosive offense and special teams excellence that would define the Hokies' successful campaign. The Hokies trailed for the first time in the season when West Virginia scored with 0:58 left in the first half, but Virginia Tech responded with a dominant second half performance. Tech scored touchdowns on their first six possessions of the second half, outgaining the Mountaineers 504 to 248 total yards in the victory.[102]

Virginia Tech established control early when Lee Suggs scored on an 18-yard run with 7:45 remaining in the first quarter. West Virginia took a 14-7 halftime lead on Avon Cobourne and Brad Lewis touchdown runs, but the Hokies exploded in the third quarter. Vick connected with Bob Slowikowski on a 72-yard touchdown pass to tie the game, then Andre Davis scored on three consecutive possessions - a 30-yard reverse, a 64-yard touchdown reception, and a 76-yard punt return. Andre Kendrick added a 2-yard run and Jarret Ferguson scored on a 16-yard run to complete the scoring.[103]

Lee Suggs led Virginia Tech with 83 rushing yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, while Michael Vick completed 10 of 18 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns. Andre Davis caught 2 passes for 64 yards and a touchdown, while also returning a punt 76 yards for a touchdown and recording 273 all-purpose yards. On defense, Ronyell Whitaker recorded 11 tackles and 2 interceptions, while Ben Taylor and Jake Housewright each had 12 tackles. The Hokies' defense held West Virginia to 248 total yards and forced 3 turnovers.[104]

at Syracuse

Virginia Tech at Syracuse
Team 1 234Total
• No. 2 Hokies 0 3127 22
Syracuse Orange 14 000 14
  • Date: October 21, 2000
  • Location: Carrier Dome
    Syracuse, NY
  • Game start: 7:00 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 49,033
  • Game weather: Indoors
  • Television network: ESPN
   
Scoring summary
110:12SYRJames Mungro 2-yard run (Mike Shafer kick)SYR 7–0
4:28SYRDee Brown 78-yard pass from Troy Nunes (Shafer kick)SYR 14–0
26:45VTCarter Warley 47-yard field goalSYR 14–3
38:18VTLee Suggs 1-yard run (Warley kick)SYR 14–9
3:45VTLee Suggs 1-yard run (Warley kick)VT 15–14
41:34VTMichael Vick 55-yard run (Warley kick)VT 22–14
0:00SYRMike Shafer 51-yard field goalVT 22–17

No. 2 Virginia Tech defeated Syracuse 22-17 at the Carrier Dome, overcoming an early 14-0 deficit with a dominant defensive performance that forced five turnovers. The Hokies avenged the previous year's 62-0 defeat with a comeback victory that ended Frank Beamer's six-game losing streak at Syracuse. Tech's secondary intercepted three passes and forced two fumbles, while the offense capitalized on the short field positions to secure the victory in the much-feared dome environment.[105]

Syracuse scored touchdowns on its first two possessions, with James Mungro scoring on a 2-yard run and Dee Brown catching a 78-yard touchdown pass from Troy Nunes to build a 14-0 first quarter lead. The Hokies responded with Carter Warley's 47-yard field goal in the second quarter after Willie Pile's first interception. Syracuse missed two field goals - a 51-yard attempt in the second quarter and a 48-yard attempt in the third quarter - that proved costly. Tech took the lead when Pile intercepted his second pass at the Syracuse 16, returning it to the 5-yard line, and Lee Suggs scored on a 1-yard run to make it 14-9.[106]

The Hokies took the lead for good when Eric Green forced a fumble on a completed pass, with Jake Housewright recovering at the Syracuse 21-yard line. Suggs scored his second touchdown on a 1-yard run to give Virginia Tech a 15-14 lead. Michael Vick provided insurance with a 55-yard touchdown run with 1:34 remaining in the fourth quarter, and Corey Bird's interception sealed the victory. Vick completed 11 of 22 passes for 107 yards and rushed for 88 yards, while Suggs rushed for 62 yards and two touchdowns. The Hokies' defense recorded 5 turnovers and held Syracuse to 324 total yards in the comeback victory.[107]

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh at Virginia Tech
Team 1 234Total
Pittsburgh Panthers 6 14140 34
• No. 2 Hokies 7 13710 37
       
Scoring summary
18:42VTJarret Ferguson 13-yard run (Carter Warley kick)VT 7–0
2:15PITTNick Lotz 33-yard field goalVT 7–3
210:28PITTR.J. English 5-yard pass from David Priestley (Lotz kick)PITT 10–7
6:39VTLee Suggs 1-yard run (Warley kick)VT 14–10
0:38PITTLatef Gross 4-yard pass from Priestley (Lotz kick)VT 14–13
311:45VTCarter Warley 38-yard field goalVT 17–13
8:22PITTAntonio Bryant 47-yard pass from Priestley (Lotz kick)PITT 20–17
2:54PITTR.J. English 12-yard pass from Priestley (Lotz kick)PITT 27–17
48:15VTLee Suggs 1-yard run (Warley kick)PITT 27–24
5:37VTCarter Warley 27-yard field goalVT 27–27
0:00VTCarter Warley 38-yard field goalVT 30–27

No. 2 Virginia Tech defeated Pittsburgh 30-27 at Lane Stadium, showcasing the resilient offense and dominant defense that would define the Hokies' successful campaign. Michael Vick sprained his ankle late in the first half, but backup Dave Meyer engineered a comeback victory with a game-winning 27-yard field goal by Carter Warley. Tech outgained Pittsburgh 477 to 335 total yards and recorded seven sacks in the victory.[108]

Virginia Tech established control early when Jarret Ferguson scored on a 1-yard run with 10:45 remaining in the first quarter. Pittsburgh took a 27-17 lead after three quarters on touchdown passes from David Priestley to R.J. English and Antonio Bryant, but the Hokies responded in the fourth quarter. Lee Suggs scored on a 1-yard run to cut the deficit to 27-24, and Warley connected on a 27-yard field goal to tie the game. Warley hit the game-winning 38-yard field goal as time expired to complete the comeback victory.[109]

Lee Suggs led Virginia Tech with 164 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries, while Jarret Ferguson added a touchdown. Dave Meyer completed 6 of 10 passes for 97 yards in relief of the injured Vick. On defense, David Pugh recorded 2 sacks and the Hokies' defense recorded 7 total sacks while holding Pittsburgh to 335 total yards and forcing 1 turnover.[110]

at Miami (FL)

Virginia Tech at Miami
Team 1 234Total
No. 2 Hokies 0 0021 21
• No. 3 Miami Hurricanes 14 7713 41
    
Scoring summary
19:48MIASantana Moss 80-yard pass from Ken Dorsey (Todd Sievers kick)MIA 7–0
3:15MIANajeh Davenport 50-yard run (Sievers kick)MIA 14–0
210:42MIAJeremy Shockey 44-yard pass from Dorsey (Sievers kick)MIA 21–0
36:28MIASantana Moss 42-yard pass from Dorsey (Sievers kick)MIA 28–0
413:58VTLee Suggs 3-yard run (Carter Warley kick)MIA 28–7
11:18VTLee Suggs 1-yard run (Warley kick)MIA 28–14
8:45MIAEd Reed 44-yard interception return (Sievers kick)MIA 35–14
3:12VTEmmett Johnson 69-yard pass from Dave Meyer (Warley kick)MIA 41–21

No. 2 Virginia Tech suffered a 41-21 defeat to No. 3 Miami at the Orange Bowl, ending four significant streaks for the Hokies in a season-defining matchup. The loss ended Virginia Tech's 19-game regular season winning streak, 14-game Big East winning streak, eight-game road winning streak, and five-game winning streak against Miami. The Hurricanes built a 28-0 lead before the Hokies scored in the fourth quarter in the disappointing performance.[111]

Miami established control early when Najeh Davenport scored on a 50-yard run with 3:15 remaining in the first quarter. The Hurricanes extended their lead with three more touchdowns - Jeremy Shockey caught a 44-yard touchdown pass from Ken Dorsey in the second quarter, Santana Moss caught a 42-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter, and Ed Reed returned an interception 44 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Virginia Tech scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter - Lee Suggs scored on 3-yard and 1-yard runs, and Emmett Johnson caught a 69-yard touchdown pass from Dave Meyer.[112]

Lee Suggs led Virginia Tech with 124 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries, while Dave Meyer completed 13 of 25 passes for 225 yards and a touchdown. Emmett Johnson caught 3 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown. On defense, the Hokies held Miami to 410 total yards but allowed several big plays, with the defense recording 2 sacks and forcing 1 turnover. The loss marked Virginia Tech's first defeat of the season and ended their national championship hopes.[113]

vs. UCF

Virginia Tech at UCF
Team 1 234Total
• No. 8 Hokies 21 9140 44
UCF Golden Knights 7 0140 21
    
Scoring summary
19:45VTLee Suggs 3-yard run (Carter Warley kick)VT 7–0
5:18VTLee Suggs 29-yard run (Warley kick)VT 14–0
2:42VTLee Suggs 2-yard run (Warley kick)VT 21–0
28:15UCFTavious Justice 1-yard run (Cedric Gagne-McIntosh kick)VT 21–7
4:37VTCarter Warley 33-yard field goalVT 24–7
311:23VTLee Suggs 1-yard run (Warley kick)VT 31–7
4:52UCF{{{Event}}}VT 31–14
48:45VTNathaniel Adibi 36-yard fumble return (Warley kick)VT 37–14

No. 8 Virginia Tech defeated UCF 37-14 at the Florida Citrus Bowl, showcasing the dominant rushing attack and stifling defense that would define the Hokies' successful campaign. Lee Suggs ran for 144 yards and five touchdowns in the victory, while the defense recorded six sacks and forced six turnovers. Tech relied almost entirely on its ground game, picking up 313 yards on 61 carries against the UCF defense in the second consecutive game in Florida.[114]

Virginia Tech established control early when Lee Suggs scored on three consecutive first-quarter touchdown runs of 3, 29, and 2 yards to build a 21-0 lead. UCF responded with a 1-yard touchdown run by Tavious Justice in the second quarter, but the Hokies added a 33-yard field goal by Carter Warley to take a 24-7 halftime advantage. Suggs scored on a 1-yard run in the third quarter, and Nathaniel Adibi returned a fumble 36 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to complete the scoring.[115]

Lee Suggs led Virginia Tech with five rushing touchdowns on 144 yards, while Dave Meyer completed 2 of 7 passes for 55 yards in relief of the injured Vick. Emmett Johnson caught 1 pass for 55 yards. On defense, Nathaniel Adibi recorded 2 sacks and a fumble return touchdown, while Cory Bird added 2 sacks. Four different Hokies intercepted UCF passes - Ronyell Whitaker, Ben Taylor, David Pugh and Willie Pile - as the defense forced 6 turnovers.[116]

Virginia Tech at Central Florida Box Score

Virginia

Virginia Tech at Virginia
Team 1 234Total
• No. 6 Hokies 7 2177 42
Virginia Cavaliers 14 070 21
     
Scoring summary
110:18UVATyree Foreman 53-yard run (Todd Braverman kick)UVA 7–0
5:42VTJarret Ferguson 13-yard run (Carter Warley kick)UVA 7–7
{{{Time}}}UVA{{{Event}}}UVA 14–7
211:45VTLee Suggs 30-yard run (Warley kick)VT 14–14
8:22VTLee Suggs 2-yard run (Warley kick)VT 21–14
4:37VTLee Suggs 23-yard pass from Michael Vick (Warley kick)VT 28–14
39:15VTLee Suggs 1-yard run (Warley kick)VT 35–14
3:42UVA{{{Event}}}VT 35–21
412:08VTLee Suggs 2-yard run (Warley kick)VT 42–21

No. 6 Virginia Tech defeated Virginia 42-21 at Scott Stadium, showcasing the explosive offense and balanced attack that would define the Hokies' successful campaign. Lee Suggs scored four touchdowns and Michael Vick returned to the lineup, passing for 202 yards in the Commonwealth Cup victory. The Hokies scored on four of five drives in the middle of the game to overcome an early 14-7 deficit and secure the rivalry win.[117]

Virginia established control early when Tyree Foreman scored on 53-yard and 30-yard touchdown runs to build a 14-7 lead. Virginia Tech responded with four consecutive touchdowns - Lee Suggs scored on a 30-yard run, 2-yard run, and 23-yard touchdown reception from Vick, while Jarret Ferguson added a 13-yard touchdown run. Suggs added a 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, and Virginia scored on a 1-yard Foreman run before Suggs capped the scoring with a 2-yard run in the fourth quarter.[118]

Lee Suggs led Virginia Tech with four rushing touchdowns and 112 yards on 20 carries, while Michael Vick completed 16 of 23 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown. Emmett Johnson caught 6 passes for 71 yards and was Vick's favorite receiver. On defense, the Hokies held Virginia to 321 total yards and forced 1 turnover, with the defense recording 3 sacks and holding the Cavaliers to 4 of 14 on third-down conversions.[119]

Clemson (Gator Bowl)

Virginia Tech vs. Clemson
Team 1 234Total
• No. 6 Hokies 14 7137 41
No. 16 Clemson Tigers 0 1037 20
      
Scoring summary
114:52VTJarret Ferguson 23-yard pass from Michael Vick (Carter Warley kick)VT 7–0
8:15VT{{{Event}}}VT 14–0
210:42CLEM{{{Event}}}VT 14–3
4:37CLEM{{{Event}}}VT 14–6
311:23VT{{{Event}}}VT 21–6
8:45VT{{{Event}}}VT 28–6
{{{Time}}}VT{{{Event}}}VT 35–6
4{{{Time}}}CLEM{{{Event}}}VT 35–13
{{{Time}}}VT{{{Event}}}VT 41–13
{{{Time}}}CLEM{{{Event}}}VT 41–20

No. 6 Virginia Tech defeated No. 16 Clemson 41-20 in the Gator Bowl, showcasing the balanced offense and dominant defense that capped the Hokies' successful campaign. Tech took a 7-point lead on its first offensive snap and never trailed in its first victory in the Gator Bowl. It was Frank Beamer's fourth bowl win in eight tries, with Michael Vick named MVP of the game after accounting for two touchdowns and 205 passing yards.[120]

Virginia Tech established control early when Vick connected with Jarret Ferguson on a 23-yard touchdown pass on the game's first play. Vick added a 6-yard touchdown run to give the Hokies a 14-0 lead. Clemson responded with two Aaron Hunt field goals in the second quarter to cut the deficit to 14-6. Tech extended its lead in the third quarter with three touchdowns - Lee Suggs scored on 1-yard and 2-yard runs, and Ferguson added a 5-yard run. Clemson scored on a 1-yard Travis Zachery run, but Suggs added another 2-yard touchdown run before Woody Dantzler scored on an 8-yard pass to complete the scoring.[121]

Lee Suggs led Virginia Tech with three rushing touchdowns, setting a Tech season record with 27 touchdowns for the year, while Michael Vick completed 13 of 25 passes for 205 yards and a touchdown. Jarret Ferguson caught 2 passes for 28 yards and a touchdown. On defense, the Hokies held Clemson to 284 total yards and forced 1 turnover, limiting star quarterback Woody Dantzler to just one passing touchdown and allowing only two field goals.[122]

Virginia Tech vs. Clemson Box Score

Roster

2000 Virginia Tech Hokies football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
WR 88 André Davis Jr
OL 57 Anthony Davis So
OL 61 Steve DeMasi Jr
RB 27 Jarrett Ferguson Jr
OL 64 Jake Grove So
RB 42 Cullen Hawkins Sr
WR 18 Emmett Johnson Jr
OL 76 Dave Kadela Sr
RB Sr André Kendrick Jr
OL 59 Anthony Lambo Sr
OL 69 Matt Lehr Sr
OL 63 Joe Marchant Sr
QB 13 Dave Meyer Jr
WR 82 Ron Moody So
OL 74 Luke Owens So
OL 79 Josh Redding Sr
TE 87 Bob Slowikowski Jr
RB 22 Lee Suggs Sr
QB 7 Michael Vick So
WR 19 Ernest Wilford Fr
OL 58 Matt Wincek Jr
TE 93 Browning Wynn Jr
QB 15 Grant Noel So
RB 23 Keith Burnell So
RB 32 Wayne Briggs Jr
RB 40 Doug Easlick Fr
WR 84 Shawn Witten So
WR 12 Mike Donahue Jr
TE 89 Keith Willis Fr
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
DL 83 Nathaniel Adibi Fr
DB 24 Larry Austin Jr
DL 66 Chad Beasley Jr
DB 16 Cory Bird Sr
LB 30 Tee Butler Sr
DL 28 Lama Cobb So
DL 95 Jim Davis Fr
DB 1 Eric Green Sr
DB 25 Billy Hardee So
LB 41 Jake Housewright Jr
OL 70 Kevin Lewis Fr
DB 35 Willie Pile So
DL 71 David Pugh Jr
LB 14 Nick Sorensen Sr
DB 8 Phillip Summers Sr
LB 40 Ben Taylor Jr
LB 34 Brian Welch Jr
DB 2 Ronyell Whitaker So
DB 17 Garnell Wilds Fr
DL 54 Dan Wilkinson Jr
LB 45 Benny Wolfe Sr
DL 92 Cols Colas Jr
DL 94 Channing Reed So
LB 52 Jake Houseright Jr
DB 26 Kevin McCadam Jr
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
P 20 Vinnie Burns Fr
PK 97 Jon Mollerup So
P 48 Robert Peaslee Fr
PK 49 Carter Warley Fr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

2000 team players selected in 2001 NFL draft

The following players were drafted into professional football following the season.

Player Position Round Pick Franchise
Michael VickQuarterback11Atlanta Falcons
Cory BirdDefensive back391Indianapolis Colts
Matt LehrCenter5137Dallas Cowboys

[123]

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Notes

  1. Based on a statistical technique used by College Football Reference that uses unweighted victory margin and strength of schedule, this was the number one ranked team in school history dating back to games played in 1902. It was 19.42 points better than the average Division I team in 2000. Using this computational method, it was 4th best overall college football team in 2000.[1]
  2. Game was postponed due to thunderstorms, and never rescheduled
  3. The rankings were determined by adding: 1)the average in two human selected rankings, the writers poll (AP) and the coach's poll (USA Today/ESPN); 2) the average of seven computer polls after the lowest ranking of eight polls was dropped; 3) 1/25 of the strength of schedule rank; 4) and 1 point for each loss