2016 Virginia Tech Hokies football team
American college football season
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The 2016 Virginia Tech Hokies football team represented Virginia Tech in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hokies were led by first-year head coach, Justin Fuente and played their home games at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia. They competed in the Atlantic Coast Conference in its Coastal Division.
| 2016 Virginia Tech Hokies football | |
|---|---|
| |
 Lane Stadium in the 2016 opener | |
ACC Coastal Division champion Belk Bowl champion | |
ACC Championship Game, L 35–42 vs. Clemson | |
| Conference | Atlantic Coast Conference |
| Coastal Division | |
| Ranking | |
| Coaches | No. 16 |
| AP | No. 16 |
| Record | 10–4 (6–2 ACC) |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive coordinator | Brad Cornelsen (1st season) |
| Offensive scheme | Spread |
| Defensive coordinator | Bud Foster (22nd season) |
| Base defense | 4–4 |
| Home stadium | Lane Stadium |
Uniform | |
 | |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Atlantic Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 1 Clemson xy$# | 7 | – | 1 | 14 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 21 Louisville x | 7 | – | 1 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 8 Florida State | 5 | – | 3 | 10 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NC State | 3 | – | 5 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wake Forest | 3 | – | 5 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boston College | 2 | – | 6 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Syracuse | 2 | – | 6 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coastal Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 16 Virginia Tech xy | 6 | – | 2 | 10 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| North Carolina | 5 | – | 3 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 20 Miami (FL) | 5 | – | 3 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pittsburgh | 5 | – | 3 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia Tech | 4 | – | 4 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Duke | 1 | – | 7 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Virginia | 1 | – | 7 | 2 | – | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Championship: Clemson 42, Virginia Tech 35 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Hokies finished the 2016 season with a regular season record of 9–3, winning its sixth ACC Coastal Division title. The Hokies played Clemson in the ACC Championship Game; Clemson won the game, 42–35.
Virginia Tech played Arkansas in the Belk Bowl on December 29, 2016. Arkansas took a 24–0 lead into halftime. However, in the second half, several Arkansas turnovers along with defensive adjustments, allowed Virginia Tech to score 35 unanswered points and win, 35–24. The comeback was the greatest in the team's 124-year history.
The Hokies finished the season with a record of 10–4, and ranked #16 in both the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll.
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 3 | 12:30 p.m. | Liberty* | ACCN | W 36–13 | 62,234 | ||
| September 10 | 8:00 p.m. | vs. No. 17 Tennessee* | ABC | L 24–45 | 156,990‡ | ||
| September 17 | 3:30 p.m. | Boston College |
| ESPNU | W 49–0 | 60,054 | |
| September 24 | 12:30 p.m. | East Carolina* |
| ACCN | W 54–17 | 63,712 | |
| October 8 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 17 North Carolina | No. 25 | ABC/ESPN2 | W 34–3 | 33,000 | |
| October 15 | 3:45 p.m. | at Syracuse | No. 17 | ESPNU | L 17–31 | 33,838 | |
| October 20 | 7:00 p.m. | Miami (FL) |
| ESPN | W 37–16 | 63,507 | |
| October 27 | 7:00 p.m. | at Pittsburgh | No. 25 | ESPN | W 39–36 | 40,254 | |
| November 5 | 3:30 p.m. | at Duke | No. 19 | ESPNU | W 24–21 | 38,217 | |
| November 12 | 3:30 p.m. | Georgia Tech | No. 14 |
| ESPNU | L 20–30 | 65,632 |
| November 19 | 3:30 p.m. | at Notre Dame* | NBC | W 34–31 | 80,795 | ||
| November 26 | 12:00 p.m. | Virginia |
| ESPN2 | W 52–10 | 63,120 | |
| December 3 | 8:00 p.m. | vs. No. 3 Clemson | No. 23 | ABC | L 35–42 | 50,628 | |
| December 29 | 5:30 p.m. | vs. Arkansas* | No. 22 | ESPN | W 35–24 | 46,902 | |
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- Schedule source:[1]
‡ – Current NCAA record for largest attendance for a collegiate football game.
Game summaries
Liberty
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flames | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Hokies | 7 | 17 | 9 | 3 | 36 |
Vs. Tennessee
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hokies | 14 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 24 |
| #17 Volunteers | 0 | 24 | 7 | 14 | 45 |
Boston College
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eagles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hokies | 14 | 7 | 21 | 7 | 49 |
East Carolina
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pirates | 0 | 0 | 14 | 3 | 17 |
| Hokies | 14 | 24 | 9 | 7 | 54 |
North Carolina
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #25 Hokies | 6 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 34 |
| #17 Tar Heels | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
At Syracuse
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #17 Hokies | 3 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 17 |
| Orange | 7 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 31 |
Miami (FL)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricanes | 3 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 16 |
| Hokies | 3 | 13 | 14 | 7 | 37 |
At Pittsburgh
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #25 Hokies | 6 | 10 | 13 | 10 | 39 |
| Panthers | 0 | 14 | 7 | 15 | 36 |
At Duke
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #23 Hokies | 7 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 24 |
| Blue Devils | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
Georgia Tech
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Jackets | 6 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 30 |
| #18 Hokies | 0 | 0 | 7 | 13 | 20 |
at Notre Dame
Virginia Tech Hokies (7–3) at Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4–6)
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Tech | 0 | 14 | 7 | 13 | 34 |
| Notre Dame | 10 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 31 |
at Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana
- Date: November 19, 2016
- Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Flurries, 38 °F (3 °C)
- Game attendance: 80,795
- Referee: Duane Heydt
- TV announcers (NBC): Dan Hicks, Doug Flutie, and Kathryn Tappen
- Box Score, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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| External videos | |
|---|---|
 2016 Virginia Tech at Notre Dame – ACC Network highlights |
Virginia
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cavaliers | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| Hokies | 7 | 21 | 24 | 0 | 52 |
Vs. Clemson–ACC Championship Game
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #19 Hokies | 7 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 35 |
| #3 Tigers | 14 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 42 |
Vs. Arkansas–Belk Bowl
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Razorbacks | 17 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| #18 Hokies | 0 | 0 | 21 | 14 | 35 |
Rankings
Personnel
| 2016 Virginia Tech Hokies football team roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Offense
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Defense
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Special teams
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Coaching staff
| Name | Position | Seasons at Virginia Tech | Alma mater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Fuente | Head coach | 0 | Murray State (1999) |
| Bud Foster | Associate head coach/Defensive coordinator/Inside Linebackers | 29 | Murray State (1981) |
| Galen Scott | Assistant head coach/Safeties | 0 | Illinois State (2001) |
| Zohn Burden | Running backs | 1 | VMI (2006) |
| Brad Cornelsen | Offensive coordinator/Quarterbacks | 0 | Missouri Southern State (2000) |
| Brian Mitchell | Cornerbacks | 0 | BYU (1995) |
| James Shibest | Special teams coordinator/Tight ends | 0 | Arkansas (1987) |
| Vance Vice | Offensive line | 0 | Oklahoma State (1990) |
| Holmon Wiggins | Wide receivers | 0 | New Mexico (2003) |
| Charley Wiles | Defensive line | 20 | Murray State (1987) |
| Reference:[2] | |||
Honorary #25 Beamer Jersey
At the start of the 2016 season, Head Coach Justin Fuente began a tradition of selecting an outstanding special teams player to wear the #25 jersey in honor of former head coach, Frank Beamer, who wore #25 as a player for Virginia Tech.
The players honored in the 2016 season are:
| Game | Opponent | Player |
|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Liberty | Steven Peoples |
| Game 2 | Tennessee | Sean Huelskamp |
| Game 3 | Boston College | Tim Settle |
| Game 4 | East Carolina | Greg Stroman |
| Game 5 | North Carolina | Cam Phillips |
| Game 6 | Syracuse | Joey Slye |
| Game 7 | Miami | Anthony Shegog |
| Game 8 | Pittsburgh | Divine Deablo |
| Game 9 | Duke | Chuck Clark |
| Game 10 | Georgia Tech | Adonis Alexander |
| Game 11 | Notre Dame | CJ Carroll |
| Game 12 | Virginia | Sam Rogers |
| Game 13 | Clemson | Woody Baron |
| Belk Bowl | Arkansas | Terrell Edmunds |
