TECH NOTES: Tech finds itself in good company

Tech finds itself in good company

Heading into yesterday's bowl games, Virginia Tech was mingling with some powerful programs in several statistical categories.

Since the 2004 season, Tech is No.1 in Division I-A in fewest offensive touchdowns allowed, 94. That's one ahead of Penn State and 14 ahead of the third-place team, Auburn. The Hokies also are No.1 in interceptions since 2000 with 174. Boston College is next with 168 and Oklahoma is third at 163.

Virginia Tech is second in turnovers forced since 2001 with 243. No.1 in that category is Southern California with 262.

Hokies, Bearcats set for 2012 matchup

Barring another bowl matchup, the Bearcats and Hokies will meet again in 2012 at Cincinnati. That game originally was scheduled as next season's opener, but the Hokies moved it to accommodate a Sept. 5 matchup with Alabama in Atlanta's Georgia Dome.

The Bearcats last played in Blacksburg in 2006, when Tech won 29-13. In 1995, the Bearcats had a memorable victory over the Hokies in Lane Stadium. That 16-0 defeat was the last time Virginia Tech lost that season.

The Hokies ran off a 10-game winning streak that ended with a victory over Texas in the Sugar Bowl. The Hokies have not been shut out since that Cincinnati game. The 175-game scoring streak far eclipses the previous record of 66 games from 1970 to 1976.

Back-to-back Miami trips not new to Weaver

Tech Athletic Director Jim Weaver is back in South Florida for the Orange Bowl, but it's not the first time that Weaver has been a participant of some sort in back-to-back Orange Bowls.

He also was at the game in 1969 and 1970, when he was an assistant coach at Penn State. Weaver played at Penn State and graduated in 1967. After graduation, he was an assistant coach for the Nittany Lions for six seasons. Penn State won the Orange Bowl those years, beating Kansas and Missouri. Tech lost to Kansas in last year's Orange Bowl.

Seats weren't filled, but tickets were gone

Though Dolphin Stadium wasn't full last night, the game officially was sold out.

That's because people who bought tickets to Thursday's national championship game between Florida and Oklahoma were required to also buy a ticket to the Orange Bowl. It's the same policy as the past two national championship games, said Larry Wahl, the Orange Bowl's media director.

This and that

Last night was Tech's third appearance in the Orange Bowl. The Hokies also played in the game in 1996, losing to Nebraska 41-21. . . . Redshirt freshman defensive end Khalil Latif (Manchester High) was a late addition to the dress squad. . . . Though the Hokies were the home team, they chose to wear their white throwback jerseys and pants. It was the fifth time this season that they have worn the throwback uniforms. . . . Tech's spring game is April 25 at 2 p.m. at Lane Stadium. . . . Tech was 0-3 all time in Dolphin Stadium before last night. The Hokies lost to Miami at the stadium in November. . . . Entering last night, Tech's seniors were 41-12 in their careers. The winningest class in school history is last year's, which went 42-11. . . . The Bearcats moved to a different hotel on New Year's Eve because rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs was having a party at their regular hotel, The Fontainebleau in Miami Beach - a legendary establishment where scenes from "Scarface" and "Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach" were filmed. - Darryl Slater and Paul Woody