Hokie ClubThis week's game between Virginia Tech and Syracuse will mark the 36th time the Hokies will play in the network's exclusive Thursday night window. Like so many previous matchups, it's a pivotal conference game.
That brings a smile to long-time Hokie fans since so much history and so many indelible moments in Virginia Tech's past have played out on ESPN Thursday night games, particularly in Blacksburg. This week's game will mark the 20th time Lane Stadium will serve as the host of the network's Thursday game, and it has the feel of those mid-90s contests, and yeah, this is a big one: The Hokies can move into a tie for second place in the ACC with a win. The prospects of that possibility seemed out of reach after the Hokies stumbled in their non-league games in September, but with a 2-1 ACC record, the Hokies have a chance to create some pretty special memories heading into November if they can defeat the Orange this week.
The irony, of course, is that the genesis of Virginia Tech's program has its roots in the Thursday night prime time window, when Tech administrators and coach Frank Beamer agreed to move some of their biggest games from traditional Saturdays to a mid-week contest.
While the exposure isn't what it once was—the NFL plays on Thursdays now as well—the trajectory of Virginia Tech's program changed due to the program's Thursday night success. At one point, the Hokies won 11 consecutive Thursday ESPN games, including some of the biggest victories in school history. Among the highlights:
Sept. 9, 1994: Virginia Tech 34, West Virginia 6
This was the Hokies' first-ever ESPN Thursday game. Brian Edmonds and Antonio Freeman scored touchdowns 22 seconds apart in the first quarter, leading 16th-ranked Virginia Tech to a 34-6 Big East victory over WVU. Quarterback Maurice DeShazo threw a pair of touchdown passes, and Ken Oxendine scored on a 53-yard run on his first collegiate carry. It was on this night that the electricity of the Thursday night Lane Stadium vibe was born.
Sept. 23, 1999: Virginia Tech 31, Clemson 11
"Welcome to the Terror Dome." ESPN's microphones picked up Corey Moore's now-infamous statement after Tech scored consecutive defensive touchdowns in the final minutes, turning a 17-11 contest into a 31-11 rout for the eighth-ranked Hokies. Tech led 14-3 entering the fourth quarter, and with the nation's top-ranked defense, it seemed like it would be a sure win. Clemson rallied before Ike Charlton's pick-six and Moore's sack-scoop-and-score of Tigers' quarterback Brandon Streeter sealed the win.
Oct. 12, 2000: Virginia Tech 48, West Virginia 20
Andre Davis ran 30 yards for a score, caught a 64-yard touchdown pass from Michael Vick, and then returned a punt 76 yards—all in the span of six minutes as the Hokies won their 17th consecutive regular season game. Tech actually trailed at halftime before erupting for 27 points in the third quarter, starting with Vick's 72-yard touchdown pass to tight end Bob Slowikowski.
Sept. 12, 2002: Virginia Tech 47, Marshall 21
Kevin Jones and Lee Suggs each ran for over 150 yards and combined for five touchdowns, and No. 9 Virginia Tech overpowered No. 17 Marshall at Lane Stadium. Herd QB Byron Leftwich was terrific, going 31-for-49 for 406 yards, but Tech held Marshall scoreless until the final quarter. Head coach Frank Beamer had his No. 25 jersey retired before the game, and the win was the second in a row against a ranked team for the Hokies, who had defeated then-No. 14 LSU 26-8 in their previous game.
Sept. 18, 2003: Virginia Tech 35, Texas A&M 19
This was the Hurricane Isabel game. It was also a huge night for the Hokies' Kevin Jones. The Tech tailback rushed for 188 yards on 30 carries and scored three TDs as the 8th-ranked Hokies topped the Aggies and the driving rains of Isabel. The category two hurricane made landfall on game day, and it ended up being the deadliest and most costly disaster in Virginia's history. According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Hurricane Isabel resulted in total damage of $1.85 billion, destroyed more than 1,186 homes and 77 businesses and severely damaged 9,110 homes and 333 businesses. Virginia Governor Mark Warner's office called during the game and asked if he could call into the broadcast to reach Virginians with key information. Sure enough, the governor joined Mike Burnop and Bill Roth during the broadcast via telephone and spent several minutes talking to the millions of Virginians who had lost power, especially in the Hampton Roads region. For years, we heard from hundreds of Hokies from Richmond to Norfolk to the Northern Neck who spent the night hunkered down during this storm with their portable radios listening to Warner's safety instructions, encouraging words, and the Hokies' win in the driving rain.
Nov. 18, 2004: Virginia Tech 55, Maryland 6
This was an emotional evening. One night after his mother died, coach Frank Beamer led the No. 15 Hokies to their sixth consecutive victory over his close friend, Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen. Quarterback Bryan Randall threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score; Jimmy Williams returned an interception for 34 yards for a touchdown; and Mike Imoh ran for two scores during the game. The win was a gift from the players to their head coach. Herma Beamer, 86, died in her sleep the night before in Fancy Gap, Va., and the Hokies honored her legacy with a dominant performance. A teary-eyed Beamer met with his team following the game in the locker room. The bond between Beamer and his players never seemed tighter than this November evening in 2004.
Oct. 26, 2006: Virginia Tech 24, No. 10 Clemson 7
Clemson was ranked 10th in the nation and had the nation's highest-scoring offense (42 points per game), led by the tailback tandem of C.J. Spiller and James Davis. But it was the Hokies' Brandon Ore who stole the show, rushing for 203 yards and two touchdowns. Techs' defense held Clemson to just three first downs in the last three quarters, and Hokie fans streamed onto the field to celebrate at midfield following the game.
One game that probably doesn't make this list but is memorable in its own way was played 16 years ago this week: the 2007 contest against No. 2 Boston College. The Hokies were ranked No. 8 heading into the game, marking just the second-ever top-10 matchup in ESPN Thursday night's history.
In a game played in cold, driving rain, Tech's defense dominated. In fact, Boston College's first 12 possessions totaled just 136 yards on 55 plays. The Hokies forced nine punts, two interceptions and one turnover on downs. But quarterback Matt Ryan came alive during the game's four minutes, leading the Eagles on a 92-yard scoring drive and, following the recovery of an on-side kick, a 66-yard scoring drive. With 11 seconds remaining, Ryan found receiver Andre Callender in the right corner of Lane Stadium's north end zone, and BC escaped with a win.
Those 11 seconds and that Ryan pass are tough pills to swallow for Hokie fans who were amazingly electric in the rain that night against No. 2 BC. It's still regarded as one of the top ESPN Thursday night games ever played.
There have been so many others, of course, including thrillers at Georgia Tech, Miami, Boston College, and East Carolina. Remarkably, Virginia Tech has compiled a record of 11-5 in ESPN Thursday Road tilts.
In recent times, the Hokies have struggled, losing their last three ESPN Thursdays. In fact, Virginia Tech hasn't won a Thursday night game since 2016.
But now, Syracuse comes calling this week, and with a win, the Hokies will enter November in the thick of the ACC race. It's a chance for this 2023 team and coach Brent Pry to use the Thursday window to jumpstart the current Tech program, much like we saw from Hokie teams in the past.
Thursday nights at Lane Stadium have always been special. We'll see if the 2023 team can create some memories under the lights starting at 7:30.