By Bill Roth

6:01.

That's how much time remained in the fourth quarter of Virginia Tech's October 25^th game with Boston College following safety D.J. Parker's interception of a Matt Ryan pass. The Hokies held a 10-0 lead, had the ball on the BC 31 yard-line, and were 6:01 away from knocking off the No. 2 Eagles.

Up by two scores, with 6:01 to play? With possession of the ball? This was a sure thing, right?

As fans from Chestnut Hill to South Hill remember, Tech couldn't put BC away, and the incredible Ryan led the Eagles to a pair of late fourth-quarter touchdowns to win 14-10. The victory sent Eagle fans - and their head coach - into dancing mode, and sent rain-drenched Hokie fans to their cars to sit, stew, and soak in traffic after one of the most crushing losses in school history.

It was probably the toughest, heart-breaking defeat for Tech since Donovan McNabb's 1998 throwback last-second touchdown pass devastated the Hokies at the Carrier Dome. That was McNabb's senior year and Tech never had a chance to compete against him again.

As competitive athletes, players strive to compete. They live for the challenge of competition and to face the best. And they hunger for redemption. The '98 Hokies never got the chance to compete against McNabb again. The last pass Don McNabb ever threw against the Hokies was that dagger that led to a sense of finality and an eternal sting.

Like McNabb, Ryan possesses the flair for the dramatic, and the innate ability to win for his team when all seems lost. That's one trait that makes him a dynamic, special quarterback, and Tech players know that BC's No. 12 can find hope from hopelessness at any time.

Well, this Saturday, the Hokies get a second chance at Ryan and the Eagles with much larger stakes on the line: the ACC Championship and the league's automatic bid to the FedEx Orange Bowl.

So this week, the motto for the Hokies is 6:01.

It's on their t-shirts.

The signs in the locker room and at practice? 6:01.

And on those little note cards in their lockers? You'll see 6:01.

The loss to BC on October 25^th was a crusher. But this week, the Hokies hope to have the chance to finish the deal against BC.

Breaking it down: VT vs. BC
A review of the tape of the October 25^th game between the two teams reveals several obvious factors that jump out rather quickly. That game was played back 'in the old days' before the Hokies went to their two-quarterback system, ran reverses on punt returns, tried onsides kicks, and gambled like Vegas vacationers on a hot streak.

Some observations:
No. 1: Tyrod Taylor and Vince Hall did not play in the game. Having sprained his ankle at Duke in the previous game, Taylor missed the entire BC game. Sean Glennon completed 15 of 25 passes for 149 yards, but the Hokies accumulated just 265 yards and 10 points. Hall was in street clothes, missing his second game after breaking his forearm at Clemson. While backup Brett Warren played well in the game, Hall clearly makes a difference. Does Taylor make a difference? You bet.

"We're going to play 13 guys on defense and see if we don't get caught," BC coach Jeff Jagodzinski joked. "He has great instincts to make a play when there's not a play there."

Tech coach Frank Beamer agreed.

"He's a weapon," Beamer said. "He can really throw the football and get himself out of trouble. Three or four times against UVa, where a guy would be sacked, for Taylor, it was a first down or a touchdown. He's just a guy who can make plays."

No. 2: Tech ran the ball effectively against the league's top rushing defense. For the season, the Eagles allowed just 787 rushing yards. That's 65.6 yards per game, which ranks first in the ACC and second nationally. Yet Branden Ore ran for 97 yards against BC. Ore has played his best football down the stretch, including a 147-yard effort against UVa.

No. 3: BC recovered all three of its fumbles. The Eagles put the ball on the ground three times in their game at Lane Stadium, but recovered each time. The turnovers were even for game - Ryan threw two interceptions and Tech fumbled twice, including an onsides kick, and you assume turnovers will be a key again this week.

"Turnovers and big plays will decide this game," Jagodzinski said.

No. 4: Tech's offense looks much different now than it did that night. Now, having Taylor in there makes a big difference quite obviously, but Tech's rushing game and its offensive play-calling and confidence looks much different, too. Field position killed Tech in the BC game, but for the season, the Hokies finished sixth in the ACC in total offense, averaging 335.1 yards per game.

In their last four games (against Georgia Tech, Florida State, Miami, and Virginia), the Hokies averaged 416 yards per game. Against the Cavaliers, Tech totaled 430 total yards of offense against a Virginia team that ranked in the top 20 nationally in rushing defense, pass defense, total defense and scoring defense.

"There's a reason they're in the championship game. They're damn good," Jagodzinski said.

No. 5: Tech's defense stunted against BC's offensive line with great success. The Hokies had three sacks and 10 quarterback hurries against Ryan. He made a couple of great throws, especially on the last two drives, but the Hokies held him to 25-of-52 passing (48 percent) and two interceptions. He threw for 285 yards against the Hokies, but has thrown for 415, 421, 315, and 369 in the four games since.

"I thought (Tech) was the best defensive-coached football team that we saw this year," Jagodzinski said.

No. 6: Linebacker JoLonn Dunbar is as important to BC's defense as Ryan is to the Eagles' offense. Dunbar was great in Blacksburg, but when he hurt his ankle and missed the Maryland game, BC struggled. He'll be back for the ACC title game, as will Tyronne Pruitt, who also had an ankle injury. Corner DeJuan Tribble's knee is a concern for BC. He's doubtful for the game against the Hokies. He played well in Blacksburg, too. Expect the Hokies to test Tribble, or his replacement, in this one.

No. 7: One of the key guys for BC in Blacksburg was punter Johnny Ayers, who pinned the Hokies inside their 20-yard line four times. The Hokies started drives on their 1-yard line, the 5-yard line, and the 9-yard line following his punts. That's a long way to drive against a defense as talented as BC's.

Radio coverage of ACC title game
Our ISP Sports radio coverage of Saturday's game in Jacksonville begins at 11:30 a.m. If you're going to the game, you can hear the Virginia Tech ISP Sports Network on 103.9 FM or 104.1 FM inside Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.

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