Taylor, Ponder meet with plenty at stake
It was a coming of age game for Tyrod Taylor and Christian Ponder. And a long time coming for Frank Beamer.
Virginia Tech’s 40-21 win over Florida State in 2007 was many things to many people, including thousands of Hokies fans who stormed the field at Lane Stadium in a raucous celebration of a changing of the guard.
When the principals reconvene Saturday in Charlotte, N.C., there will be something more tangible at stake — the ACC Championship and a berth in the Orange Bowl — but the memories of 2007 will linger.
It was Beamer’s first win in eight tries against coach Bobby Bowden, who had beaten Virginia Tech 15 straight times and handed the Hokies devastating defeats in the 1999 BCS and 2005 ACC championship games.
| ACC CHAMPIONSHIP |
| No. 12 Virginia Tech vs. No. 20 Florida State |
| When » Saturday, 7:45 p.m. |
| Where » Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C. |
| TV/Radio » ESPN/106.7 FM |
| Under first-year coach Jimbo Fisher, Florida State goes to the title game for the first time since winning the inaugural one 27-22 over Virginia Tech in 2005. Virginia Tech has won three ACC titles since joining the conference in 2004. The Hokies beat Boston College in the title game in 2007 and 2008. |
It was no less significant for Taylor (Virginia Tech) and Ponder (FSU), then highly touted freshmen who began the game on the bench but were forced into the game in the first half when starters Sean Glennon (Virginia Tech) and Drew Weatherford (FSU) were knocked out.
Taylor completed 10 of 15 passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 17 times for 92 yards and another score, leading a rally after the Hokies trailed entering the fourth quarter.
Ponder threw two late interceptions, but his 156 yards of total offense were a springboard.
“That was kind of a turning point for me in my career,” Ponder told reporters Tuesday. “I got into the game and got some playing time and realized, hey, I can do this.”
Both quarterbacks progressed to the point that they were considered Heisman Trophy candidates this preseason. Two early losses by Virginia Tech (10-2) removed Taylor from the radar. Ponder, who has struggled with an elbow injury, was eliminated after playing poorly in a 47-17 loss in Week 2 at Oklahoma.
But both rallied their teams to ACC division titles. Taylor was named ACC player of the year after leading the Hokies to 10 straight wins. Ponder, too, finished in style, guiding the Seminoles to a 30-16 win over Maryland and then a 31-7 victory over rival Florida.
Both will have tough assignments Saturday night. While Ponder must solve a Virginia Tech defense that has forced 28 turnovers — and includes sophomore Jayron Hosley, who leads the nation with eight interceptions — Taylor faces a team that ranks No. 2 in the nation in sacks.
“We didn’t come all this way for nothing,” Taylor said. “We want to be remembered as one of the best Tech teams in history.”
