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Where does Virginia Tech's win at Nebraska rank among the most memorable road wins during the Frank Beamer era in Blacksburg?

That was Monday's lunch topic since a) none of the attendees understood the President's financial bailout plan anyway, and b) Hokie football makes for a much more enjoyable discussion these days. We'll leave the finances to Fed chief Ben Bernanke, and tackle football here today.

So, what are the top 10 road wins in the Beamer era at Tech? Since our list includes 'road games' only, Virginia Tech's bowl wins over Texas or Alabama aren't included. Those games were played at neutral sites and the Hokies had at least half the house on both occasions.

Also, we're looking for wins that provided 'style points,' which made them 'memorable.' Big picture kind of things here. In reality, the Hokies' win at North Carolina two weeks ago was more important than the win at Nebraska, being a conference game and all.

But for this list, we're going with a sort of "Katherine Heigl Sizzle Rating Factor." One look and you know it deserves to make the list, right?

So, in reverse order, here are the top 10 most memorable road wins in the Beamer era.

Virginia Tech 52, Virginia 14, Nov., 2005, in Charlottesville
10The night before the game, someone (VT fans or UVa insiders?) painted a maroon "T" next to the Cavaliers' "V" on the field at Scott Stadium. That added to the emotion on Virginia's senior day. But Marcus Vick, Josh Morgan, Eddie Royal, Branden Ore and the Hokies rolled to an impressive win. This was a statement game for Beamer and his program, which had just lost at home to Miami the week before. That was one ticked off group of Hokies who went to Charlottesville that day, eh? Sizzle Factor: 7

Virginia Tech 22, West Virginia 20, Nov., 1999, in Morgantown, W.Va.
9You might think this game would rank higher in terms of memorable road wins, right? In a way, it probably should. Shayne Graham's field goal on the final play gave Tech the win and kept the Hokies' undefeated season alive. But in reality, the Hokies didn't play that well in Morgantown that day. Tech played lethargic on offense for much of the day and fumbled when it had a chance to run out the clock. WVU finished that season 4-7 and was 3-5 coming into this game. Other than the kick, can you remember one play from that game? Hmm. Yeah, this game had a GREAT finish and certainly one of the most exciting and dramatic endings, but looking back, it shouldn't have been close. Sizzle Factor: 7.1

Virginia Tech 63, Pitt 21, Sept., 1993, at Pitt Stadium
8OK, so how does this game make the list? Well, if you'll recall, Johnny Majors had returned to Pitt and was ready to bring the Panthers back to national prominence. The Hokies were coming off a 2-8-1 season. Tech was picked near the bottom of the Big East in the preseason poll. But in this early-season (second week) game, Tech piled up 675 yards of total offense in the most dominating road performance in the Beamer-era at Tech. The Hokies won nine games that season and started their current bowl streak. That win at Pitt proved that Tech would not be the Big East doormat. Thank you, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Sizzle Factor: 7.2

Virginia Tech 13, Texas A&M 3, Sept., 2002 in College Station, Texas
7A crowd of 83,746 saw the Hokies' Cols Colas and Nathaniel Adibi dominate on defense and Tech ended the Aggies' 29-game home field non-conference winning streak. Bryan Randall's 52-yard pass to Ernest Wilford was the game's biggest offensive play and Lee Suggs scored the lone touchdown in the Hokies' big road win. Tech was ranked No. 7 at kickoff, while A&M was ranked No. 19. Sizzle Factor: 7.5

Virginia Tech 34, West Virginia 17, Oct., 2005 in Morgantown, W.Va.
6This was Virginia Tech's first (and only?) visit to Morgantown following the Big East/ACC expansion rift of 2004, so tensions were high. Pat White and Steve Slaton were about to burst onto the national scene for a WVU team that finished that season 11-1 with a Sugar Bowl win over Georgia. WVU's lone loss was to the Hokies, who were led by Marcus Vick (177 yards passing and 74 running). Darryl Tapp led a ferocious Tech defense and the Hokies won the Black Diamond Trophy with a memorable win. It was the last scheduled meeting between the two long-time rivals. Sizzle Factor: 7.8

Virginia Tech 21, Miami 7, Nov., 1996, in Miami
5Keion Carpenter returned an interception 100 yards in the final minutes as the Hokies handed Miami its first home Big East loss. The Hokies knocked Miami's starting quarterback, Ryan Clement, out of the game, but back-up Scott Covington led the 'Canes on a late fourth-quarter drive before Carpenter's heroics. Tech was No. 21, while Miami was No. 18 at kickoff. Sizzle Factor: 8.0

Virginia Tech 35, Nebraska 30, Sept., 2008, in Lincoln, Neb.
4Well, this is where we put last Saturday's game. The largest crowd ever at Lincoln's Memorial Stadium (85,831) saw the Hokies jump out to a 28-10 lead and hold on for the win. It was only the fourth time in school history that Nebraska had lost a home night game and making it all the more amazing was the play of Tech's freshmen. Tailback Darren Evans ran for 72 yards and two touchdowns, and receivers Jarrett Boykin, Dyrell Roberts and Danny Coale each made big catches.

Tech's quarterback, sophomore Tyrod Taylor, threw for 171 yards and rushed for 87 and a touchdown. Neither team was ranked, and the 'Huskers might get clobbered this week by Missouri. In fact, the 'Huskers might not have a winning season. But they were undefeated when Tech rolled into town and the place was jacked.

In a massive sea of red, you could hear the cheers of 'Let's go Hokies' loud and clear from the 'tiny' contingent of 4,000 Hokies at that massive stadium. Who will ever forget that? Sizzle Factor: 9

Virginia Tech 12, West Virginia 10, Oct., 1989, in Morgantown, W.Va.
3Ah, this one surprises you here, eh? Let me explain why it's ranked so high. This was Coach Beamer's third Virginia Tech team. Try to think of the landscape 19 yeas ago. This is pre-Big East. This was a Tech team short on talent and scholarships (see NCAA probation) facing a top-10 team on the road. WVU was ranked ninth, had played Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl for the national championship the year before, and returned a Heisman Trophy-candidate at quarterback in Major Harris. Mountaineer Field was sold out for Homecoming in 1989.

But Tech won with defense and special teams long before the phrase "Beamerball" was ever coined. Mickey Thomas kicked four field goals and the Hokies smothered Harris all day. No, there was no BCS bid on the line, but at the time, this game did a lot to increase Beamer's stature in state (where UVa's George Welsh had been dominating recruiting) and showed that Tech was committed to winning in football. The following year, the Big East was formed and Tech was included. Sizzle Factor: 9.3.

Virginia Tech 16, Miami 10, Dec., 2004, at the Orange Bowl, Miami
2With the ACC title and a trip to the BCS on the line, the Hokies beat Miami at the Orange Bowl thanks to a terrific defensive performance and clutch play by quarterback Bryan Randall and receiver Eddie Royal. Tech had been picked sixth in the preseason ACC poll, yet won the championship in its first year in the conference. Now, Miami didn't always draw big crowds, but when the old Orange Bowl was packed, the place rocked and they jammed over 62,000 people into the Orange Bowl that day. By the way, Miami was ranked No. 9 in the nation at kickoff. Beating a top-10 team, on the road, in front of 62,000 people on the final day of the season, with a BCS bid at stake … that's huge. Sizzle Factor: 9.5

Virginia Tech 36, Virginia 29, Nov., 1995, in Charlottesville
1The Hokies were ranked No. 20 and Virginia was No. 13 at kickoff. At stake for the Hokies: a berth in the Sugar Bowl. But led by Tiki Barber, UVa jumped to a 29-14 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Led by quarterback Jim Druckenmiller, the Hokies rallied in the final minutes for a 36-29 win. The game's final play: Antonio Banks intercepting a pass of Mike Groh (current UVa offensive coordinator) and returning it for touchdown. Tech players were carried off the field by Tech fans. That's the only time I can recall that happening at a road game. Winning on the road, against your rival, which was ranked higher and favored to win the game, with a Sugar Bowl bid on the line makes this win just incredible. Pulling it out with three late touchdowns in the fourth quarter gives it a Sizzle Factor of 9.9.

Others considered: The 2004 win at Georgia Tech when the Hokies scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to pull off a memorable come-from-behind win … the 2007 game at UVa when the two schools met for the Coastal Division title and spot in the ACC Championship game … the 1994 BC game when Nick Sorensen was moved from safety to QB and helped lead the Hokies to a huge conference win … the 1994 Southern Miss game when Tech fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter before rallying to win 24-14 … the 1991 game at WVU (lightning delayed) which came down to the final play … the 2000 game at Syracuse, which was Beamer's first win at the Carrier Dome.