Daily Discussion: Hokies National Title Hopes Loom Large

1:11 was all that was left on the clock when Vick and the Virginia Tech offense took the field on a dreary day in Morgantown. In a game the Hokies should have easily won, the sensational freshman saw Tech's national title hopes dwindling as West Virginia was about to pull one of the biggest upsets in the history of their football program.

However, after a Vick scramble down the sideline and a Shayne Graham field goal, Tech survived and went on to play Florida State in the national championship game that January.

Flash forward 10 years.

1:26 was all that was left on the clock when Tyrod took the snap from center, pump faked, danced around in the pocket, and sent a prayer that was answered by sophomore Danny Coale who took the pass all the way to the two yard line, setting up a Tyrod

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If the Hokies are able to make it to the National Championship game, the 2009 Tyrod Taylor chapter will replace the 1999 Michael Vick chapter as the great story ever written in Virginia Tech football.

Obviously, the heave to Danny Coale was a big play, but what made the drive in Morgantown so special is what happened afterward. Tyrod Taylor and this Virginia Tech team has the chance to accomplish something that has never been done before in school history and that's to win that elusive BCS crown that has for so long eluded this program.

Tech has been close in the past, climbing up to 3rd in 2007, being in the top 3 in 2003 before falling off, and coming a missed field goal away in 2004. That's a lot of heartbreak.

But this year feels different and even with a struggling offense, the Hokies have the talent and ability to make this 2009 season a year to remember. There's still a lot of work left to do, a lot of edges to smooth out, but nevertheless the Hokies will have the chance to be there in early December when the last regular season BCS poll comes out.

Even though the lunchpail is more of a defensive symbol for Bud Foster's boys, I think the team should embrace the message it portrays: "What's Important Now."

Win, Just win.