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Faith justified BCS computer gives desired 'Noles-Hokies matchup
Posted: Sunday December 05, 1999 11:45 PM
By Rich Loup, CNN/SI Though there were some unsure times, Frank Beamer's confidence in the Bowl Championship Series paid off. "Against the better teams, we played our best football," Beamer said. "I believe the system works." And so it does this year as top-ranked Florida State and the second-ranked Hokies travel to New Orleans with the national championship at stake. The game features several contrasts that should make it an interesting contest. Florida State and Virginia Tech will decide their differences in the Louisiana Superdome in the Nokia Sugar Bowl, but Bowden has another name for it. "I call it the Super Bowl because that's what it is -- the Super Bowl of college football," said Bowden, who issued a few more of his usual folksy comments during a Sunday teleconference. Beamer gave his own superlative in his opening comments to the media. "The greatest day in Virginia Tech athletic history is being invited to play for the national championship," Beamer said. "We feel honored to be a part of that." Though Sunday was historic for Virginia Tech, Florida State is used to this position. For the third time in four years and fourth time in the 1990s, the Seminoles are one game away from a national title. However, Florida State has not won the championship since 1993 and Bowden feels last year's 23-16 loss to Tennessee in the Fiesta Bowl set the tone for this season. "We ain't happy about that, thank goodness," Bowden stated in his typical colorful style. "After the game, the kids were hitting lockers, stomping feet and crying. It wasn't three days later that they started talking about their goal was to get to the Sugar Bowl." Beamer talked about winning a national championship when he took over in 1986. It's taken 14 seasons, but the Hokies are now close to fulfilling what once seemed to be a pipe dream. "I realized at that time [Virginia Tech] had everything it took," Beamer said. "We're in a good football state ... We're a good academic school, have good athletic facilities and we're in a pretty part of the state. We also realized how important a conference was. When we became members of the Big East conference, it was the avenue we needed to take advantage of what we have here." The game will feature perhaps the greatest disparity of ages between opposing quarterbacks. Florida State has 27-year-old Chris Weinke and Virginia Tech counters with redshirt freshman Michael Vick. However, both Bowden and Beamer jokingly suggested their quarterbacks have more game composure than the coaches. "[Weinke] is mature. Nothing bothers him, nothing's going to rattle him," said Bowden, who then quipped, "I'll be a lot more bothered than him. Even though I'm 70, I still get excited." Beamer said he knew about Vick's physical abilities before the season, but he is surprised by the intangibles. "The thing we didn't know was how poised he was in big games," Beamer said. Speed will certainly be on display, and that is a concern for Beamer. He feels his team has quickness, but he wonders if it is enough to keep up with the Seminoles. "If you don't have speed yourself and you're playing Florida State, you can call the game off," Beamer said. But Virginia Tech certainly isn't going to do that, not after doing everything asked to reach the biggest stage in college football. "We told the team, 'Go prepare yourself to take care of business on the field. Against the better teams, we played our best football,'" Beamer said. "Florida State and Virginia Tech did that Saturday after Saturday. It had to work out this way."
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