Time: 1:30 p.m.
Date: Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008
Place: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, Va.
TV: None (Game can be seen on the Internet on ACC Select)
Last Meeting: First meeting.
Trends: The Hokies have won four consecutive games after starting the season with a loss to ECU in Charlotte...the Hilltoppers have lost their last seven games against I-A opponents...they are 1-8 against I-A opponents since becoming a transitional I-A team last year...the Hokies have won their last 29 home non-conference games.
What to Expect: WKU managed 157 total yards in their last game against Kentucky, with 99 of those yards coming from running back Bobby Rainey...however, those 99 yards came on 11 carries, including a 40-yard run against the Wildcats...the Hokies should have no trouble stopping the WKU offense, which has been anemic against Kentucky...the Hilltoppers had a much-publicized 15 yards through the air last week on 14 attempts...needless to say, Hokie fans won't be adding WKU passing game coordinator TJ Weist to the list of possible replacements for Bryan Stinespring.
I expect the Hokies will continue to work on the passing game this week even though they are facing a lesser opponent...Tyrod and the wide receivers need to maintain the momentum they built against Nebraska.
I hope the Hokies have a complete game...none of this 'leading Furman 3-0 at half' crap against the 'Toppers...they need to stay healthy as well...the loss of Davon Morgan has already hurt the depth chart on the defensive side of the ball.
The Hokies win if: They play solid defense and continue the momentum on offense they built last week.
The Hilltoppers win if: The Hokies don't take this game seriously.
Dot-dot-dots: The last non-conference opponent to win in Lane Stadium was Virginia in 1998 and the last non-BCS opponent to win in Lane Stadium was Miami (OH) in 1997...the Hilltoppers are in their second and final year as a transitional I-A team...although they count toward the 120 I-A football teams, they are ineligible to win the Sun Belt or participate in a bowl until next season...WKU's lone win against a I-A opponent since jumping from I-AA was last season against Middle Tennessee...the Hilltoppers prefer to be referred to as "Western Kentucky University" or "WKU" and not "Western Kentucky" or any of its variants...Tech running back Darren Evans has scored a touchdown in his first five games of the season...the Hilltoppers are 0-3 against I-A competition this year...they are giving up 6.2 yards per carry, 6.4 yards per attempt and 6.3 yards per play against I-A competition...meanwhile, on offense, they average 2.7 yards per carry, 4.9 yards per attempt and 3.7 yards per play against I-A teams this season.
Just of the hell of it, here's Big Red, one of my favorite mascots in college sports:
There are a lot of comical, EDSBS-type posts I'd love to do lampooning Big Red, which by all accounts is the bastard child of Cookie Monster and Clifford the Big Red Dog, but the four-letter network has already done that to death.
Say what you will about college sports' Crypty The Cryptosporidium. At least he's a good sport.
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