1999 Virginia Tech Hokies football team

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1999 Virginia Tech Hokies football
ConferenceBig East Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 3
APNo. 2
Record11–1 (7–0 Big East)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorRickey Bustle (6th season)
Defensive coordinatorBud Foster (5th season)
Home stadiumLane Stadium
(Capacity: 51,907)
Seasons
← 1998
2000 →
1999 Big East Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 2 Virginia Tech $   7 0     11 1  
No. 15 Miami (FL)   6 1     9 4  
Boston College   4 3     8 4  
Syracuse   3 4     7 5  
West Virginia   3 4     4 7  
Pittsburgh   2 5     5 6  
Temple   2 5     2 9  
Rutgers   1 6     1 10  
  • $ – BCS representative as conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1999 Virginia Tech Hokies football team represented Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in the 1999 NCAA Division I-A football season. Virginia Tech competed as a member of the Big East Conference. The Hokies were led by Frank Beamer in his 13th year as head coach. Virginia Tech finished the season 11-1, the only blemish coming in a national championship game loss to the Florida State Seminoles. The team finished with a school-record 2nd-place ranking in the Associated Press poll.

Michael Vick led the Hokies to an 11–0 start, only the second perfect perfect regular season in school history, and to the Bowl Championship Series national title game in the Sugar Bowl against Florida State. Although Virginia Tech lost 46–29, Vick was able to bring the team back from a 21-point deficit to take a 29–28 lead into the fourth quarter. During the season, Vick appeared on the cover of an ESPN The Magazine issue.

Vick led the NCAA in passing efficiency that year, setting a record for a freshman (180.4), which was also good enough for the third-highest all-time mark (Colt Brennan holds the record at 185.9 from his 2006 season at Hawaii). Vick was awarded an ESPY Award as the nation's top college player, and won the first-ever Archie Griffin Award as college football's most valuable player. He was invited to the 1999 Heisman Trophy presentation and finished third in the voting behind Ron Dayne and Joe Hamilton. Vick's third-place finish matched the highest finish ever by a freshman up to that point, first set by Herschel Walker in 1980 (Adrian Peterson later broke that mark, finishing second in 2004).

Schedule[edit]

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 41:00 p.m.James Madison*No. 11W 47–051,907[1] [2] [3]
September 111:00 p.m.UAB*No. 11
  • Lane Stadium
  • Blacksburg, VA
W 31–1051,907[4] [5] [6]
September 238:00 p.m.Clemson*No. 8
  • Lane Stadium
  • Blacksburg, VA
ESPNW 31–1151,907[7] [8] [9]
October 26:00 p.m.at No. 24 Virginia*No. 8ESPN2W 31–751,800
October 96:00 p.m.at RutgersNo. 6W 58–2030,764[10]
October 166:00 p.m.No. 16 SyracusedaggerNo. 4
ESPNW 62–053,130[11]
October 307:00 p.m.at PittsburghNo. 3ESPN2W 30–1742,678[12]
November 63:30 p.m.at West VirginiaNo. 3CBSW 22–2056,906[13]
November 137:30 p.m.No. 19 Miami (FL)No. 2
ESPNW 43–1053,130[14]
November 2012:00 p.m.at TempleNo. 2ESPN2W 62–725,822[15]
November 262:30 p.m.No. 22 Boston CollegeNo. 2
  • Lane Stadium
  • Blacksburg, VA (rivalry)
CBSW 38–1453,130[16]
January 4, 20008:00 p.m.vs. No. 1 Florida State*No. 2ABCL 29–4679,280[17]

Partial Roster[edit]

1999 Virginia Tech Hokies football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
TE 85 Derek Carter Jr
WR 88 Andre Davis So
RB 27 Jarrett Ferguson So
WR 18 Emmett Johnson So
OT 76 Dave Kadela Jr
OT 59 Anthony Lambo Jr
G 69 Matt Lehr Jr
QB 11 Grant Noel Fr
G 79 Josh Redding Jr
C 52 Keith Short Sr
RB 38 Shyrone Stith Sr
RB 22 Lee Suggs Fr
QB 7 Michael Vick  Fr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DT 66 Chad Beasley So
DB 16 Cory Bird Jr
DT 77 Carl Bradley Sr
CB 3 Ike Charlton Sr
DE 96 John Engelberger Sr
LB 43 Michael Hawkes Sr
CB 9 Anthony Midget Sr
DE 56 Corey Moore Sr
LB 46 Jamel Smith Sr
DB 14 Nick Sorensen Jr
LB 40 Ben Taylor So
DT 92 Nathaniel Williams Sr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
K 17 Shayne Graham Sr
P 95 Jimmy Kibble Sr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster

Rankings[edit]

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
( ) = First-place votes
Week
PollPre123456789101112131415Final
AP13 (1)11 (1)11 (1)10 (1)8 (1)8 (1)5 (1)4 (1)4 (2)3 (5)3 (6)2 (4)2 (6)2 (4)2 (6)2 (6)2
Coaches1414*11108754433 (2)2 (1)2 (1)2 (2)2 (3)2 (3)3
BCSNot released3332222Not released

[18]

Game summaries[edit]

James Madison[edit]

James Madison at Virginia Tech
1 234Total
Dukes 0 000 0
No. 11 Hokies 14 12147 47
  • Date: September 4
  • Location:
    Lane Stadium
    Blacksburg, VA
  • Game start: 1:00 pm
  • Elapsed time: 2:52
  • Game attendance: 51,907
  • Referee: John Smith
    

Freshman Michael Vick ran for three touchdowns in the first 22 minutes of the game, but left due to an injury after he somersaulted into the end zone on the third score. Playing in his first collegiate game, Vick had run for 54 yards, and thrown for 110 yards in leading the Hokies to a 24–0 lead that turned into a 47–0 win. Shyrone Stith led the Hokies on the ground with 122 yards on 18 carries. Andre Kendrick had 11 carries for 45 yards including a 2-yard touchdown that capped the scoring. Andre Davis scored on a 22-yard reverse and backup quarterback Dave Meyer had the other rushing touchdown for Tech. Shayne Graham kicked a 32-yard field goal. Corey Moore had a sack and two tackles for loss, including one that resulted in a JMU safety in the second quarter. [19]

UAB[edit]

UAB at Virginia Tech
1 234Total
Blazers 0 1000 10
No. 11 Hokies 10 7014 31
  • Date: September 11
  • Location:
    Lane Stadium
    Blacksburg, VA
  • Game start: 12:59 pm
  • Elapsed time: 2:53
  • Game attendance: 51,907
  • Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C), Sunny, Wind NNW 5–8 mph (8.0–12.9 km/h)
  • Referee: Alberto Riveron
    

Virginia Tech's defense set a school record, allowing only 63 yards of total offense, leading the Hokies over visiting University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) 31-10. Tech played without starting quarterback Michael Vick, who was relieved by Dave Meyer. Meyer threw a 42-yard touchdown pass to Emmitt Johnson on the first series of the game to give Tech the lead it would never relinquish. However, before halftime, he turned the ball over four times, three interceptions and a fumble. Those turnovers enabled the Blazers to stay in the game, and Tech led by 17-10 at halftime thanks to a 22-yard field goal by Shayne Graham and a one-yard touchdown by Shyrone Stith. The lead remained at seven points until early in the fourth quarter when tailback Andre Kendrick threw a 35-yard option touchdown pass to Andre Davis. Lee Suggs capped the scoring with a one-yard touchdown jaunt with 2:07 left in the game, one of only four carries he had on the day. Stith led the Hokies with 129 rushing yards and Kendrick added 44 yards rushing to his passing touchdown. Corey Moore had three sacks for 27 yards and two tackles for loss for another three yards.

[20]

Clemson[edit]

Clemson at Virginia Tech
1 234Total
Tigers 0 308 11
No. 8 Hokies 7 7017 31
    

Virginia Tech scored two defensive touchdowns late in the fourth quarter to preserve a Tech win, and

At Virginia[edit]

Virginia Tech at Virginia
1 234Total
No. 8 Hokies 14 1430 31
Cavaliers 0 700 7
   

[21][22]

At Rutgers[edit]

Virginia Tech at Rutgers
1 234Total
No. 5 Hokies 14 3572 58
Scarlet Knights 14 006 20
        

[10]

No. 16 Syracuse[edit]

Syracuse at Virginia Tech
1 234Total
No. 16 Orangemen 0 000 0
No. 4 Hokies 14 171714 62
  • Date: October 16
  • Location:
    Lane Stadium
    Blacksburg, VA
  • Game start: 6:08 pm
  • Elapsed time: 3:24
  • Game attendance: 53,130
  • Referee: Dennis Hennigan
  • Television network: ESPN
      

[11]

At Pittsburgh[edit]

Virginia Tech at Pittsburgh
1 234Total
No. 3 Hokies 10 1703 30
Panthers 0 773 17
  • Date: October 30
  • Location:
    Pitt Stadium
    Pittsburgh, PA
  • Game start: 7:07 pm
  • Elapsed time: 3:26
  • Game attendance: 42,678
  • Referee: Jack Cramer
  • Television network: ESPN2
     

[12]

At West Virginia[edit]

Virginia Tech at West Virginia
1 234Total
No. 3 Hokies 0 7510 22
Mountaineers 0 7013 20

[13]

No. 19 Miami (FL)[edit]

Miami (FL) at Virginia Tech
1 234Total
No. 19 Hurricanes 10 000 10
No. 2 Hokies 7 7623 43
  • Date: November 13
  • Location:
    Lane Stadium
    Blacksburg, VA
  • Game start: 7:38 pm
  • Elapsed time: 3:30
  • Game attendance: 53,130
  • Referee: John Smith
  • Television network: ESPN

[14]

At Temple[edit]

Virginia Tech at Temple
1 234Total
No. 2 Hokies 10 172114 62
Owls 7 000 7
       

[15]

No. 22 Boston College[edit]

Boston College at Virginia Tech
1 234Total
No. 22 Eagles 0 077 14
No. 2 Hokies 7 17014 38
  • Date: November 26
  • Location:
    Lane Stadium
    Blacksburg, VA
  • Game start: 2:41 pm
  • Elapsed time: 3:13
  • Game attendance: 53,130
  • Game weather: 58 °F (14 °C), Scattered Showers/Thunderstorms, Wind W 10–15 mph (16–24 km/h)
  • Referee: Dennis Hennigan
  • Television network: CBS
    

[16]

Vs. No. 1 Florida State (Sugar Bowl)[edit]

Virginia Tech vs. Florida State
1 234Total
No. 2 Hokies 7 7150 29
No. 1 Seminoles 14 14018 46
        

[17]

Players in the NFL[edit]

The following players were drafted into professional football following the season.

Player Position Round Pick Franchise
John Engelberger Defensive end 2 35 San Francisco 49ers
Ike Charlton Defensive back 2 52 Seattle Seahawks
Corey Moore Linebacker 3 89 Buffalo Bills
Anthony Midget Defensive back 5 134 Atlanta Falcons
Shyrone Stith Running back 7 243 Jacksonville Jaguars

[23]

Awards and honors[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Expected rout brings unexpected". The Roanoke Times. September 5, 1999. p. 37. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  2. ^ "Eleventh-ranked Hokies, QB Vick vaporize Dukes". Richmond Times-Dispatch. September 5, 1999. p. 35. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  3. ^ "No. 11 Hokies turn James into Dolly: Virginia Tech beats James Madison, 47-0". The Daily News-Journal. September 5, 1999. p. 18. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  4. ^ "Virginia Tech defense paves the way past UAB". Culpeper Star-Exponent. September 12, 1999. p. 10. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  5. ^ "A farewell beating: Hokies don't get shutout, but do shut down Blazers". The Roanoke Times. September 12, 1999. p. 75. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  6. ^ "Hokies win without Vick: Tech struggles but beats UAB for third time". Richmond Times-Dispatch. September 12, 1999. p. 49. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  7. ^ "Article clipped from The News and Advance". The News and Advance. September 24, 1999. p. 31. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  8. ^ "Hokies' Defense Finishes Clemson". The Washington Post. September 24, 1999. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  9. ^ "Defense does it: Two late TDs help Hokies turn game into rout". Richmond Times-Dispatch. September 24, 1999. p. 3. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Rutgers Has No Answer For Vick". The New York Times. October 10, 1999. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  11. ^ a b "Virginia Tech Shows the Look of a National Champion, 62-0". The Los Angeles Times. October 17, 1999. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  12. ^ a b "Virginia Tech Runs Its Record to 7-0 for First Time in 32 Years". The Los Angeles Times. October 31, 1999. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  13. ^ a b "No. 3 Virginia Tech Wins by a Foot". The Los Angeles Times. November 7, 1999. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  14. ^ a b "Hokies Seize Their Opening To Secure a Title Game Bid". The New York Times. November 14, 1999. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  15. ^ a b "Vick Leads Way as No. 2 Virginia Tech Rolls to 62-7 Win". The Los Angeles Times. November 21, 1999. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  16. ^ a b "Hokies Smell Sugar at 11-0". The Washington Post. November 27, 1999. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  17. ^ a b "Florida State Holds Off Vick and Virginia Tech, 46-29, for National Title". Los Angeles Times. January 5, 2000. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  18. ^ "Virginia Tech 1999 AP Football Rankings". collegepollarchive.com. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  19. ^ "Vick lives up to hype: Hokies' heralded freshman makes impressive debut". The Staunton News Leader. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  20. ^ "Tech defense smothers UAB". Daily Press. September 12, 1999. Retrieved December 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Cavs Find Themselves Stuffed". The Washington Post. October 3, 1999. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  22. ^ "Virginia Tech on the move". ESPN. October 3, 1999. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  23. ^ "2000 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Archived from the original on December 21, 2007.