Virginia Tech is National Team of the Week

For Immediate Release

For their 31-7 win over No. 8 and ACC rival Miami, Virginia Tech has been named the National Team of the Week for games played over Sept. 26 weekend. The Hokies, bouncing back from their opening day loss to Alabama, are now 3-1 following the throttling over the previously unbeaten Hurricanes.

The Hokies used classic Beamerball to jump on top of the favorite Hurricanes. The defense knocked around heralded Miami QB Jacory Harris, forcing him to fumble on the fifth play of the game and leading to the Hokies first touchdown, while the punt team blocked a kick and returned it for a touchdown to take a 21-0 second quarter lead.

Playing in a downpour in Blackurg, neither quarterback was effective, but Virginia Tech QB Tyrod Taylor was efficient enough and lead the Hokies to their second touchdown. The Hokie offense was lead by RB Ryan Williams, who rushed for 150 yards on a career-high 34 carries and two touchdowns, while the defense stopped Harris cold on third downs, forcing the Hurricanes to a paltry 1-for-13 on third downs.

Other nominees for Southern Fans' National Team of the Week for the weekend of Sept. 26:

No. 16 Houston
W - Texas Tech, 29-28
The unbeaten Cougars took down their second Big XII opponent this season, as QB Case Keenum threw for 435 yards on 38-of-58 passes and a touchdown, but scored the game winning touchdown with his legs with only 49 seconds remaining to cap a 95-yard game-winning drive.

Iowa
W - No. 5 Penn State 21-10
The Hawkeyes used a swarming defense and four second-half turnovers to rally from a 10-0 deficit to beat unbeaten Penn State in State College.

Oregon
W - No. 4 California 42-3
Ducks QB Jeremiah Masoli completed 21-of-25 passes for 253 yards and three touchdowns, while the Oregon defense stuffed early season Heisman contender Jahvid Best, as the Ducks routed unbeaten and Pac-10 favorite California in Autzen Stadium.

South Florida
W - Florida State 17-7
The Bulls now have a 1-0 series lead over Florida State, as reshirt freshman QB and Tallahassee native B.J. Daniels, in his first start, accounted for 341 of the Bulls' 368 yards, threw two touchdown passes, and extended South Florida's winning streak against Florida teams to seven games.


The Southern Fans' Poll began naming a national team of the week in 2008. Members of the Southern Fan's pool of voters decide the weekly honor. Each week during the 2009 college football season, the Southern Fans will name the National Team of the Week through the bowl season.

2009 Southern Fans' National Teams of the Week
• Weekend of Sept. 5: William & Mary Tribe
• Weekend of Sept. 12: Houston Cougars
• Weekend of Sept. 19: Washington Huskies
• Weekend of Sept. 26: Virginia Tech Hokies