Florida

Raise your hand if you thought pregame that this was a blowout for the good guys. Liar. In any evenly matched game, the difference is invariably turnovers – and not counting the eight ham & cheese bready blintzes I had pregame, the Noles grabbed four on this glorious Saturday in Seminole land, and that equals a 24 point win. This was a game where the separation in total yardage, time of possession and on-field talent was as small as the dog pulling Urban’s sleigh toward Hooville. Let’s hope that Mr. Meyer is true to his word and keeps this fine coaching conglomerate together for another season. I love the way that offense performs under pressure. The sheer chaos of QB’s running on & off the field combined with the failure to actually use any of your recruited running backs or wide receivers is a delight to behold. Don’t go changing. Give that OC a raise, and keep trying to convince Sunshine State skill position recruits that Gainesville is where they ought to come.

On a day where the other team scores only once – and that came after a kick return placed them on your 32, and when we force three fumbles and a pick, it is hard to complain too much. Recently named ACC Rookie of the Year Xavier Rhodes has become a true shutdown corner in one season. Greg Reid has played remarkably well since the UNC debacle, and Myron Rolle is wishing desperately that he could have played in this defense after watching Mike Harris rack up interceptions like he is. If you have not snuck on Utube to catch the shot of Nick Moody blistering Jeff Demps - it is worth a peek. I especially like the slow motion where the paint chips from his face mask go flying into the Doak night. Sure, run THAT stretch play again. With all that goodness, there is the stark reality that our D-line is gassed. Every defensive tackle on the team could get on an airplane first with the wheelchair brigade from Pinellas county. They have more medical release forms than a Dr. Kevorkian Drive-Thru. Florida was too dumb to run up the gut on us, but I do not think that is going to be the case with the mountain folk from Blacksburg. Unfortunately, to compete this week, I think we have to commit an extra body to the run, and hope our corners can win the single coverage matchups. The other option is to simply play keepaway, and with 1 healthy running back this week in Chris Thompson, that could be a challenge - but we have Lonnie Pryor - so there is always a chance!

Jimbo said after the game that when the players function around him, Christian is the best QB he has ever had. This game was a perfect example of that, and one play in particular showed this off. On the TD to Haulstead, Christian knew a blitz was coming, checked to a revised protection, then stared left to take the safety away from the middle of the field. Staying in the pocket until the last moment, he finally threw a dart right to a single covered Willie for a TD just as he was blown up. I will say again that the growing pains that this offense went through in 2010 should pay off next season – especially at the WR spot. Let’s hope that losing Hudson and McMahon don’t make it impossible for EJ to stay upright while his guys come open. In post-game interviews, Smith and Haulstead both said that they are finally through counting steps on their routes and are know what they are doing know. Well that is great. My 13 yr old daughter can learn a 3 minute dance number in two hours, and our scholarship collegians need two years and 21 games to learn how to count to 10 going forward before they scoot sideways. Very encouraging. But, at least we are there now. Yeee-Haw.

It was also nice to see our TE being a third down comfort pillow for Christian - especially when the best TE recruit in the US was in the West Stands. Except for the drop in the end zone, Beau got open and made plays all game long. That guy should be huge this weekend as the weakness on this Hokie defense are their unathletic LB crew.

For the first time in I don't know how long, the home crowd at Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium in TK Weatherall Center at Jimbo Fisher University was a factor. A real factor. UF used all three timeouts in the first period because they could not get a play called in time with crowd noise. Two more false starts were killers to a team that can not throw the ball across a living room, and they simply had no chance to change plays at the line cuz they could not hear the QB making checks. Boy, was that nice to see. Maybe we finish this season out right and sell another couple season tickets and watch that happen with regularity...

Although Dustin has lost his way a little on kickoffs - may need to slack up on the triple shots of Red Bull between kicks - Shawn Powell was a stud again. The odd looking "run towards the sideline and then hit the funky punt 10 yards up in the air and watch it scoot down the field" style has served him very well. Three punts this weeks downed inside the 10 and don't forget the well placed dart on the back of the Maryland player the week before saved the game. Speaking of special teams and saving the game, how about Coach Gran preparing this team for the incredibly arrogant fake that Meyer called in the first half. To see Senior Ochuko Jenije make that play after being summarily benched in his final season was awesome. Seeing a TD on the next play was even sweeter.

From tailgate central, let me also praise the heavenly forces for allowing a precipitation-free season in Lot 8 in 2010. After a deluge-filled 2009 that resulted in wet, unhappy Noles near the grill and 3 losses to "celebrate" post-game; a 6-1 home mark with nothing but blue skies seems absolutely comparative Paradise.

So, off to Charlotte with hope and positive Hokie history on our side. We are not favored. I have not seen a national service anywhere that picks our boys to prevail, but maybe that is exactly where we want to be. Go Noles, let's roll to Miami...or Atlanta...oh hell it does not matter, we beat the Lizard!