If VT doesn't miss that chip shot...

[Solid D]

They could very likely have beaten undefeated Auburn 17-16.

Trailing 16-0, a missed FG that was, from that distance, really like missing a PAT.

With 3 points on the board...Virginia Tech doesn't have to go for 2 on their first touchdown and the score with PAT would have been 16-10.

The bomb with 2 minutes remaining and PAT makes it 17-16.

Auburn remains undefeated but they certainly didn't make any statements by squeeking one out.

Frank Beamer's teams are well-coached and they don't give up.

[Solid D]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/scores105/105003/20050103NCAAFAUBURN----0.htm

NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- No. 3 Auburn came into the Sugar Bowl
trying to lay claim to a piece of the national title. It ended
the game struggling to claim a victory.

The Tigers built a double-digit lead, then hung on late for a
16-13 victory over No. 9 Virginia Tech.

The win wrapped up a 13-0 season for Auburn, the first in school
history. But the record campaign will not end with a national
championship thanks to a game effort from the Hokies.
Top-ranked Southern California and No. 2 Oklahoma will battle
for the title in the Orange Bowl on Tuesday.

The Tigers drove inside the Hokies 10-yard line on three
different ocassions in the first half but came away with field
goals each time for a 9-0 halftime lead.

Auburn opened the second half with a touchdown drive capped by a
five-yard pass from Jason Campbell to Devin Aromashodu for a
16-0 lead. The Tigers seemed to be in control at that point, but
the Hokies rallied in the fourth quarter.

Bryan Randall fired a pair of scoring strikes to Josh Morgan to
get Virginia Tech (10-3) back in the game. The second was an
80-yard play with just over two minutes remaining, but Auburn
recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock.

While Auburn was unable to cap its first-half drives with TDs,
Virginia Tech also made its share of costly mistakes.

Trailing 6-0 in the second quarter, Virginia Tech failed on
4th-and-goal from the 1 when fullback Jesse Allen dropped what
would have been a go-ahead TD. Early in the fourth period,
Brandon Pace missed a 23-yard field goal wide left.

Campbell completed 11-for-16 passes for 189 yards and was
intercepted once.

Randall was 19-of-36 for 280 yards and two interceptions.

[Yonivore]

Virginia Tech lost that game because, Auburn sure didn't win it.

[FromWayDowntown]

I don't think you can assume that the rest of the game would have gone as it did if VT had made the FG, but I'm sure that the miss will haunt the Hokie players.

Given that VT was supposed to be down this year after losing Suggs in 2002 and Kevin Jones and DeAngelo Hall in 2003, not to mention the year-long suspension of Marcus Vick, I think it speaks volumes for Beamer's quality that he got that team to the ACC title and so close to beating an undefeated SEC champion. Scary to think what VT might have been had Jones and Hall stayed one more season and Vick been able to keep his nose clean.

[CosmicCowboy]

the word is that Vick will be back and eligible next year...assuming of course that he doesn't screw up again...and all four receivers were freshmen this year...VT could be VERY good next year..

[jalbre6]

They were widely considered two years away before this season. Weren't they picked to finish 6th in the ACC?

[Solid D]

I am in no way a Virginia Tech fan, but I am a fan of good football and who can coach.

I don't really know Frank Beamer's post-season record, but I do know that whoever plays his teams in a Bowl game is in for trouble.