The Virginia Tech football team (4-3, 2-1 ACC) will hit the road for an ACC contest with the 14th-ranked Tigers of Clemson University (5-1, 2-1 ACC) Saturday at Clemson Memorial Stadium. The exact time for kick-off has not been set, but expect it to be around 12:05 p.m. The game will be televised regionally on the ABC with a reverse mirror on ESPN2. Mike Patrick, Ed Cunningham and Jeannine Edwards will handle the announcing duties.
The Series
• Saturday’s game will mark the 33rd football meeting between Virginia Tech and Clemson University. The Tigers hold a 19-12-1 overall advantage in the series, which dates back to 1900, after beating Tech twice last season.
• Prior to last year, Tech won five meetings in a row with the Tigers, including a 41-23 win at Clemson in 2007, the last time the two played in Death Valley.
Virginia Quarterbacks
• Saturday’s matchup will feature a pair of Virginia-bred quarterbacks leading their teams - Logan Thomas (Lynchburg, Brookville HS) against Tajh Boyd (Hampton, Phoebus HS). Six of the 12 starting ACC quarterbacks are from the Commonwealth of Virginia: Thomas, Boyd, Florida State’s E.J. Manuel (Virginia Beach, Bayside HS), North Carolina’s Bryn Renner (West Springfield, West Springfield HS), NC State’s Mike Glennon (Centreville, Wesfield HS) and Virginia’s Phillip Sims (Chesapeake, Oscar Smith HS).
Strong In The ACC
• Virginia Tech is an impressive 55-12 in ACC games (27-6 in ACC road games) since joining the league in 2004.
Tech-Clemson Ties
• Tech quarterbacks coach Mike O’Cain is a 1977 graduate of Clemson, where he served as captain of the 1976 football team. He began his coaching career as a G.A. in 1977 and was the quarterbacks coach (2001-04) and offensive coordinator (2004) of the Tigers before coming to Blacksburg. O’Cain’s daughters, Jenny and Lizzi, both graduated from the school.
• Clemson Associate Head Coach/Tight Ends/Special Teams Coach Danny Pearman coached the Tech tight ends for eight seasons (1998-2005).
Palmetto State Ties
• Tech has three players who played high school football in South Carolina (two on the dress squad): LB Tariq Edwards (Cheraw), LB Bruce Taylor (Myrtle Beach) and WR Mark Irick (St. Matthews; redshirting). Taylor was born in Riceboro, Ga., and lived there for much of his childhood, but moved to Myrtle Beach when he entered sixth grade and played high school football in that area.
This Doesn’t Happen Often
• Virginia Tech will take to the road unranked and face a top-25 team for the first time since 2010 when it went to No. 23 NC State on Oct. 2. The Hokies fell behind early, but rebounded in a big way to come back and win 41-30 on the road. Tech is unranked this week while Clemson is 14th in the AP Poll.
The Last Time at Clemson - 2007, VT 41, Clemson 23
CLEMSON, S.C. — Virginia Tech relied on BeamerBall and some clutch fourth-quarter plays by freshman quarterback Tyrod Taylor to register its fifth-straight win against No. 22 Clemson with a 41-23 decision at Death Valley. Tech built a surprising 31-8 lead in the first half with the help of three non-offensive touchdowns. The Hokies’ first three TDs came on an interception return by D.J. Parker, a punt return by Eddie Royal and a kickoff return by Victor Harris.
In the meantime, the Tech defense was holding the Tigers’ vaunted rushing attack to just six yards in the half and eight yards for the game. Clemson used a record-setting passing performance by quarterback Cullen Harper to make a strong run at Tech in the second half, but a 52-yard scramble by Taylor set up a Tech field goal and another 21-yard run by the freshman late in the game led to a game-clinching touchdown. Taylor finished with 118 yards rushing and tossed a touchdown pass to Justin Harper in the second quarter.
Clemson controlled the football for 90 plays, passing a record 67 times. Tech was out-gained 380 yards to 219, but benefited from over 300 yards on returns. The Hokie defense had four sacks, two interceptions and broke up nine passes.
#TweetItOut
A few game notes in 140 characters or less
This will be the 33rd meeting on the gridiron between @CU_athletics and @VT_Football, with the Tigers leading 19-12-1. #VTvsCLEM
The last time @VT_Football played at Clemson, the #Hokies won 41-23 thanks to a KOR for a TD, a PR for a TD and an INT for a TD.
The #Hokies are 4-7 at Clemson Memorial, but have won their last two games there against the Tigers.
Three of @CU_athletics last 8 head fball coaches - Hootie Ingram, Charley Pell and Danny Ford - were former asst. fball coaches at VT.
For updates on Virginia Tech football, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_Football).