Well, the Sun Bowl quickly became a Sun Blowout and had most of America laughing out loud. It was everything we've come to expect from the Chokies in big games.We'll ignore the putrid Tech offense, who even with "Heisman" Thomas weren't going to put up 42 points. Let's instead focus on the Chokies hallmark defense, which was absolutely shredded in El Paso. They gave up 161 rushing yards and a 10 yd/carry average to a player who set the bowl record for QB rushing yards in the first two quarters alone. The UCLA QB had more rushing yards than the entire Tech team. They gave up 202 rushing yards...in the first half! And that wasn't even the worst; they gave up 28 points in 8:31 during the 4th quarter. The paper-thin defense allowed 447 total yards, a season high.
It was Tech's second-worst loss in a bowl, and worst since 1998. And the 42 points allowed was the most in a bowl game since another California team (Cal) dropped 52 on them in 2003.
But did the head coach put any fault in Foster's defense? Hell no, he blamed an inexperienced QB without a career snap, throwing him under the bus. Frank Beamer said after the game, "I’m disappointed that Mark didn’t play better...I think there’s a lesson in
there: Be ready to play each and every week...you’ve got to be ready to step up."
Seriously? Blame the guy who stepped into a bowl game? Blame his preparation? Isn't it the job of daddy's boy wonder, Shane Beamer, to prepare the back-up QB? Naw, let's blame the new kid.Our favorite quote though belonged to WR Byrn who said Logan Thomas spent the halftime intermission “showing off his counting skills to the trainers.” Oh please, we all know a Hokie, even when healthy, can only count to 10 if he's either barefoot or wearing flip-flops.
The Chokies losing big games and failing during bowl season, now that's a tradition that never stops.
