The NEXT: Guy To Look Out For

Tyrod Taylor had a rough game against Duke, but had a great one against Virginia.

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"If you're gonna cry me a river, better build me a bridge."

We admit: not the greatest year in ACC football history this season, but raise your hands if you thought Virginia Tech would end up back in the league title game after losing to East Carolina to open 2008. OK, OK: maybe ya did, because the same night presumed ACC front-runner Clemson got taken to the woodshed by Alabama, so everything was pretty much up in the air. But then, the Hokies lost three of four to Florida State, Boston College and Miami. It had to be over, right? Negative. Even with sloppy play from installed QB Tyrod Taylor in the win over Duke last week, head coach Frank Beamer put Taylor back as the starter for the rivalry game with Virginia. The result: 12-for-18 for 137 and a TD through the air, plus 137 rushing yards. Making comparisons to former VT QBs with the surname "Vick" is inappropriate on a number of levels (and factually inaccurate, as Michael Vick was among the better college quarterbacks—in some domains—of the past two decades), but we will say this: Taylor is nasty (reference this) and while we're not discrediting Boston College (they beat VT this season, remember?), we'll say this: if you need a reason to watch the potential Virginia Tech vs. Cincinnati Orange Bowl matchup, Mr. Taylor is that reason. It'll be the first show of 2009, which could be Tyrod's most glorious year yet.

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