The Goat Pen

Virginia Tech was never as good as Ohio State made them look, but they're probably not as bad as the losses to Pittsburgh and Miami made them look, either. They've been hurt badly by key injuries since the North Carolina game, and they've gotten some tough breaks late in games. Sometimes when you're...

Virginia Tech spent the first half today pounding North Carolina, then spent the next quarter and a half all but begging UNC to get back in the game. A better team would have complied, but UNC is the ACC's version of Michigan-- they've got talent, they're very mentally fragile, and their coaching st...

Well done, Eagles.

Third substitution infraction of the game on Virginia Tech. They were never sharp today, and they paid the price. 28-21. ECU gets a well-deserved win, their first in Blacksburg since 1991. The Pirates have now won three straight against ACC opponents. The kickoff out-of-bounds was the last big mista...

And the dreaded kickoff out-of-bounds. Oh, good grief.

And another jump ball, and another defensive penalty. ECU runs one play, and they're in field goal range.

OK. Wasn't expecting that.

21-21. After four hours, we have a new ballgame.

Terrible punt almost works out, but the coverage team can't down it. VT can't blame any one unit for this one-- there have been failures across the board today.

Another catchable ball hits the ground, and then VT holds to negate a 4th and 3 conversion.

And they caught one, at last. 21-14. At least VT didn't get blown out today.

That's two potential touchdowns dropped on this drive.

Another drop.

Another downfield jump ball. I never would have thought they'd hit this many against this secondary.

Virginia Tech blows a redzone possession for the first time this year, and at the worst possible time.

ECU bails out VT's miserable offense again.

East Carolina gained 370 yards in the first half. ECU's averaging over five yards a rush, while VT's rushed 15 times for 19 yards. The Hokies have turned the ball over twice inside their own 30, and missed a field goal. If VT manages to get back in this game, ECU will rue those three straight posses...

They let that call stand? OK...

21-7. VT still has some life.

This won't count, either, but the PI call helps.

As I said, VT's never come back from a deficit of more than 20 points. They've already screwed this up. They're fortunate to still have whatever slim chance they've got left.

He stepped out.

Down 21-0, and you ask a freshman kicker who missed his only attempt last week to hit a 52-yarder?