(I’ve been told I need to write more for TSL. Be careful what you wish for, you may get it.)
Is there any school that makes Virginia Tech fly off the rails more than Boston College? Is there any school that plays better against the Hokies than Boston College? Is there any school that deals more frustrating, irritating losses to the Hokies than Boston College?
It’s a legit question, not a rhetorical one. Pittsburgh is a candidate, across multiple sports, especially football. But beyond that, I can’t think of a school that angers me more than Boston College, as the Eagles have dealt one critical, mind-blowing loss after another to Virginia Tech over the years.
We’ll restrict this conversation to football and men’s basketball, and we’ll start with a history lesson.
A Special Kind of Torture That Started -- Where Else? -- in the Big East
We have the Big East to thank for this agony. Prior to Virginia Tech’s entry into the Big East Football Conference in 1993, the Hokies and Eagles had met in football and MBB just once. On December 29, 1981, when I was in 11th grade, the Hokies beat the Eagles 75-70 in basketball in something called the Gator Bowl Tournament in Jacksonville, Florida. (That was a tournament that ran from 1951-1991 as part of the Gator Bowl festivities every year, according to some guy on Reddit.)
That’s it. Up until 1993, the Hokies were 1-0 against Boston College, and the two schools barely knew the other existed.
Then the Hokies started round-robin play in the Big East Football Conference in 1993, and these two completely different universities – one a southern, public, land-grant school with a military heritage, the other a northern, private, Jesuit school – found themselves in regular competition.
For Virginia Tech, the “fun” started right off the bat, and BC has been a thorn in Tech’s side ever since. Check that, a dagger. Thorns are annoying. Daggers can kill, as we’ll find out.
On November 6, 1993, a 6-2 (3-2 Big East) Virginia Tech team that was resurrecting itself from a horrible 2-8-1 season in 1992 and had just squeaked into the AP Top 25 went up to Chestnut Hill to take on a 5-2 (3-1) BC team that we knew nothing about.
Boston College smoked the Hokies, going up 28-7 in the second quarter and coasting to a 48-34 win. Glenn Foley shredded Tech for 448 yards passing on just 21 completions, and the Eagles rolled up 617 yards.
And the love affair began. (smirk)
Everyone remembers the Matt Ryan miracle in 2007 (I won't embed or link it) that arguably kept Virginia Tech out of the National Championship Game that season. The Hokies finished third in the BCS rankings, and yes, we could argue all day about whether or not Tech would have been slotted second even with a win over BC, but that’s not the point of this rant.
Matt Ryan’s a great QB, and Boston College was ranked No. 2 at the time, with the Hokies ranked No. 8. But BC wasn’t that good outside of Ryan, and the Eagles lost three of their next five games, including defeats to FSU and Maryland teams that finished the season 7-6 and 6-7. Tech got their revenge in the ACC Championship Game, but everyone remembers Ryan’s game-winner more than they remember that ACC Championship.
Over the years, Boston College football dealt some painful, infuriating, sometimes embarrassing losses to the Hokies.
1995: On a Thursday night season opener in Lane, BC beat Tech 20-14. The Eagles went 4-8 that year, while Tech finished 10-2 with a Sugar Bowl win. Yeah, that loss shouldn’t have happened.
2006: Brenden Hill danced, the Hokies melted down on the sidelines, and BC embarrassed No. 22 Virginia Tech 22-3. At least that BC team was decent, finishing 10-3.
2007: Yep.
2008: Geez, every year now? Virginia Tech forced FIVE turnovers and scored two defensive touchdowns in Chestnut Hill but still managed to lose 28-23, thanks to an offense that couldn’t find the end zone, despite having Tyrod Taylor at quarterback.
2019: You don’t remember this one, but I do. August 31st. BC was the more physical team, beating the Hokies 35-28 in Chestnut Hill. Travis Levy, all 5-11, 203 pounds of him, personally sent three Hokies, including 6-3, 223-pound Divine Deablo, off the field with injuries.
2021: Virginia Tech was forced to play Knox Kadum in Chestnut Hill and BC won easily, 17-3, on a day when VT looked completely inept. This was Justin Fuente’s last loss as a VT coach, sealing his fate, and nine days later, he was fired.
Sure, the Hokies won two ACC Championships over Boston College, but BC had a habit of inflicting painful losses on Virginia Tech. Thanks for marrying them to VT every year, ACC.
But of course, we’re not here just to talk about football.
A Long History of Baffling, Painful Losses in Basketball
Here’s the sum total of the fun that Virginia Tech has had against Boston College in men’s basketball.Thanks, Deron, because I can’t remember anything else good that has happened between VT and BC in men’s hoops.
I’ll wait here while you watch that again. It never gets old. Ready to continue? Okay.
Pop quiz: what’s Virginia Tech’s all-time record against Boston College in men’s basketball?
A. Well above .500
B. Slightly above .500
C. About .500
D. Slightly below .500
E. Well below .500
If you guessed E, go to the head of the class. Since entering the Big East in 2000 and starting regular play against Boston College, Virginia Tech is 12-23 (.342) against the Eagles; 13-23 (.361) if you count that meeting in 1981.