“Virginia Tech has the whole package. The fact they played for thethe nationalnational championshipchampionship lastlast yearyear andand wonwon 1111 gamesgames againagain thisthis season says a lot aboutabout theirtheir program.”program.” – Clemson coach TommyTommy BowdenBowden Lee Suggs Led the Nation in Scoring in 2000 Team Statistics (Top 30 only) Noting the Hokies in 2000 • Virginia Tech finished the season with a school-record 61 Rushing YPG touchdowns. The previous record of 57 touchdowns was set in 5. Virginia Tech..................................................... 270.45 1999. The Hokies also established a new school mark for rushing TDs in a season with a total of 46, shattering the old mark of 35 from the ’99 season. Total Offense YPG 20. Virginia Tech..................................................... 426.36 • The Hokies set a school season mark for first downs with 247. Scoring Offense PPG 5. Virginia Tech....................................................... 40.27 • Tailback Lee Suggs’ 168 points tied him for the fifth- highest single-season point Rushing Defense YPG total ever by a Division I-A 16. Virginia Tech....................................................... 99.30 player. Suggs’ season total of 28 touchdowns was just two Total Defense YPG shy of the school individual 27. Virginia Tech..................................................... 323.64 record for career touchdowns (30). Punt Return Yards Avg. • Seven of Tech’s defensive 1. Virginia Tech....................................................... 18.23 starters for its Gator Bowl game against Clemson had never started a collegiate game Interceptions INT when the season opened. Lee Suggs T-3. Virginia Tech............................................................ 23 • Senior André Davis tied a Tech single-season record by returning three punts for touchdowns. Frank Loria had three Turnovers Gained TOs touchdowns on punt returns in 1966 to set the record. 14. Virginia Tech............................................................ 29 • Free safety Willie Pile’s six interceptions were the most in a season for a Tech player since Tyronne Drakeford picked off seven passes during the 1992 season. Individual Statistics (Top 30 only) 2000 Start Chart Rushing YPG Pos. Defense (starts) 18. Lee Suggs ........................................................ 109.73 Pos. Offense (starts) SE Emmett Johnson (12) E Lamar Cobb (12) LT Anthony Lambo (12) T Chad Beasley (11) Interceptions IPG LG Matt Lehr (12) Dan Wilkinson (1) T-8. Willie Pile .............................................................. .55 C Steve DeMasi (12) T David Pugh (12) T-19. Ronyell Whitaker ................................................... .45 RG Josh Redding (12) E Nathaniel Adibi (12) RT Dave Kadela (12) OLB Phillip Summers (8) Punt Returns Avg. TE Browning Wynn (10) Nick Sorensen (4) Bob Slowikowski (2) ILB Jake Houseright (12) 2. André Davis ....................................................... 22.00 QB Michael Vick (10) ILB Ben Taylor (12) 16. Ronyell Whitaker ................................................ 14.41 Dave Meyer (2) FC Ronyell Whitaker (7) FB Jarrett Ferguson (12) Eric Green (5) Scoring PPG TB Lee Suggs (12) FS Willie Pile (12) 1. Lee Suggs .......................................................... 15.27 FL André Davis (8) ROV Cory Bird (12) Ernest Wilford (4) BC Larry Austin (4) Ronyell Whitaker (5) Points Responsible For PPG Billy Hardee (3) 10. Lee Suggs .......................................................... 15.27 Coach Frank Beamer gets a dousing following Tech’s 41-20 win over Clemson in the 2001 Gator Bowl. Hokies Surpass Expectations En Route to 11-1 Record and Gator Bowl Victory Heading into the 2000 near the top of the college highest preseason rankings five quarterback sacks, two football season, most people football world. ever, being picked No. 11 by interceptions and held the thought the Hokies would As the Hokies look ahead The Associated Press and No. Tigers to field goals twice have a pretty good year. With to the 2001 season, they also 10 in the ESPN/USA Today inside the red zone, to assure quarterback Michael Vick back look back to one of the Coaches’ Poll. Tech its first Gator Bowl to lead the way, most greatest seasons in their 107- Tech exceeded even those victory in three tries. predicted an 8-3 season, or at year history. It was a season lofty expectations and capped While the Gator Bowl was best, 9-2. What most didn’t where relative unknowns like the 2000 season with a one highlight of the year, there count on was the emergence Lee Suggs, Emmett Johnson, dominating performance in the were many other bright spots of new heroes, both on Ben Taylor, Cory Bird and Toyota Gator Bowl. In that in the Hokies’ second offense and defense. These Ronyell Whitaker all became New Year’s Day game, the consecutive 11-1 season. new stars helped the Hokies household names. Hokies jumped out to a quick The 2000 season started turn a rebuilding season into After an 11-1 season in start and never looked back. in memorable fashion. an 11-1 season completed by 1999, which saw the Hokies Suggs rushed for three Unfortunately, the memories a 41-20 victory over Clemson play for the national touchdowns and fullback were created by Mother in the Toyota Gator Bowl. championship, few believed Jarrett Ferguson scored two Nature instead of football Playing in yet another bowl the team could get back to the of his own. Vick, who was players. The Hokies were and a final No. 6 ranking level it reached in 1999. With voted the game’s MVP, put up scheduled to open the season brought heightened attention the departure of several key impressive numbers in his on Aug. 27 against Georgia to the Tech program, but the figures — including eight final collegiate game. He Tech in the BCA Bowl. Just Hokies aren’t new to the starters on defense and its top passed for 205 yards and a before kickoff, the skies national spotlight. After a run rusher — most figured Tech TD and ran for another one. opened up and lightning at the national title in 1999 would struggle at times. The Tech defense, danced around Lane Stadium/ and eight consecutive bowls, Despite these question marks, however, was the big story of Worsham Field. Instead of Tech is becoming a regular the Hokies received their the day. The Hokies posted Continued on next page 2001 Virginia Tech Football 163 2000 Review and two scores as the Hokies The Hokies Continued from page 163 improved to 4-0. relied on some Win No. 5 saw the Hokies’ unlikely heroes to playing on the flooded field, defense hold Temple to just down Pittsburgh. officials decided to cancel the 116 total yards as the Hokies Kicker Carter game. beat the Owls, 35-13, before a Warley nailed a 27- The Hokies finally took to sell-out Homecoming crowd at yard field goal with the field — and got to play — Lane Stadium. Freshman Eric 16 seconds left to one week later, hosting Akron. Green picked off two passes in lift Tech to a 37-34 Vick sparked the Hokies as he his first start and the Hokies’ win over the ran for two scores and passed defense posted six Panthers. Dave for two more as the Hokies quarterback sacks to lead the Meyer had to take downed the Zips, 52-23. Five way. over the offense days later, Tech’s notorious In its second Thursday when Vick sprained special teams came up big at night ESPN game of the year, his ankle in the East Carolina. Tech got 21 Tech scored four touchdowns second quarter. points from its special teams in the third quarter to erase a Meyer responded and timely plays from its 14-7 halftime deficit and by leading the defense on the way to a 45-28 handed West Virginia a 48-20 Hokies to 17 win over the Pirates in front of loss. Vick hit tight end Bob second-half points a sell-out crowd and a national Slowikowski for a season-best and the game- Thursday night ESPN 72-yard scoring play and André winning drive. Defensive end Nathaniel Adibi earned audience. Davis scored three straight Ranked No. 2 in freshman All-America honors for his play In the Hokies’ BIG EAST touchdowns to blow the game in 2000. the nation, the opener, Suggs rushed for four open. Hokies traveled to Florida for destination. The word that the touchdowns as Tech posted a The Hokies had to rally a showdown with Miami with Hokies were headed to 49-0 shutout of Rutgers. The from their biggest regular- the BIG EAST title on the line. Jacksonville came on Dec. 3. Hokies piled up 527 yards of season deficit since 1997 to Unfortunately for the Hokies, While the players weren’t offense, including 348 yards get win No. 7. Trailing 14-0 in they had to go without their active on the field, some were on the ground, en route to their the first quarter, the Hokies two biggest stars in Vick and definitely raking in the awards. third victory of the season. scored 22 unanswered points Davis. The No. 3 Hurricanes Suggs was the biggest After a week off, Vick and to beat Syracuse, 22-14, and used big plays to down the surprise for the Hokies this Suggs once again stole the get a win at the always-tough Hokies 41-21 in the Orange year. The sophomore running show as the Hokies downed Carrier Dome. Willie Pile had Bowl. Meyer threw for 225 back scored 28 touchdowns Boston College, 48-34, on the three of the Hokies’ five yards and a score, while — 27 of which came on the road. Vick rushed for 210 interceptions and Vick had a Suggs rushed for 121 yards ground — to lead the way. He yards and three scores — 55-yard scoring run with just and two scores in defeat. broke the school and BIG including an 82-yard TD run — 1:34 remaining to seal the Despite the loss, the EAST records for total and Suggs added 145 yards game.