A Program-Changing Win: The 1995 Miami Game

There are big wins, and then there are program-changing wins. This is a story about the latter. On a cool, damp afternoon in Blacksburg, the Hokies leveled up in a way that few can honestly say they expected.

Ask any Hokie player or coach from that era what the most important win in Tech history is and nearly all of them, without hesitation, will say, “Miami 1995”. The Hurricanes were the benchmark. They were the darlings of the new Big East Football Conference. They had star power. They had the wins to back up their brash talking.

By Miami standards, 1995 wasn’t their most talented team, but make no mistake, they had talent. Future Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis was Exhibit A. Running back Danyell Ferguson (a 1,000-yard rusher) and wide receivers Yatil Green and Jammi German were no slouches, either.

Butch Davis was in the first year of his six-year tenure in Coral Gables. Among those on the Hurricane coaching staff under Davis were its next two head coaches, Larry Coker and Randy Shannon, as well as future NFL head coaches Chuck Pagano and Rob Chudzinski.

On the Tech sideline, Coach Frank Beamer was in his ninth season in Blacksburg. Bud Foster was in his first year as defensive coordinator (he was co-DC with Rod Sharpless in 1995). This was the first year of "The Lunch Pail." Offensive coordinator Rickey Bustle returned to Tech in 1995 after one season coaching at South Carolina.  

The Hurricanes started the year #12 in the rankings, but a 31-8 loss at UCLA to open the season dampened the mood a bit. They arrived in Blacksburg with a 1-1 record and all of the swagger you would expect. 

Entering the game, Miami was a team that Tech had never beaten. In 12 prior meetings all time, the Hurricanes won all 12. Miami also hadn’t lost a game against an unranked opponent in 71 games, going back to 1984.

The Hokies opened the season coming off two straight bowl trips and high expectations with new quarterback Jim Druckenmiller. But a tough opening loss to Boston College followed by a miserable 16-0 home defeat to Cincinnati (the last time Tech was shut out) left the Hokies 0-2 and grappling. 

A testy Beamer had heard the boos and murmurs, but on his weekly radio show was firm in his belief that they would get the ship turned around. 

Inside the locker room was where the player-centric resolve needed to happen and indeed it did. In an interview with Sons of Saturday Podcast last year (link below), Jim Druckenmiller described the team’s mindset that week: “It was a little intense to say the least. It was a tough week. We were capable of pulling something together. We just weren’t hitting on all cylinders.” 

In an early-week practice, it appeared to Druckenmiller that some of the players were going through the motions, and Druckenmiller let them have it. “Y’all better get your *&$% together,” he recalled, with a laugh. From the start of the game, though, it was clear that their minds were right.

After kicking off to Miami, Tech’s first possession started at the Hurricanes' 48 after an interference of a punt reception. Right away, the Hokies made a statement, and that statement was “we’re running the ball down your throat today.” 

The first drive consisted of seven straight runs by Dwayne Thomas, followed by a Brian Edmonds rush and one by Druckenmiller. The Hokies settled for an Atle Larsen FG attempt that was blocked, but Tech proved to themselves that they could successfully run right at Miami.

Notable early was Druckenmiller’s selling of the play action fake on the running plays. So after forcing another Miami punt and running Thomas two more times, Druckenmiller indeed faked the run and hit a wide-open Bryan Still for a 47-yard bomb to the Miami 1. Thomas leapt into the end zone for a touchdown on the ensuing play, giving the Hokies a lead they’d never relinquish.

That first quarter gave the team and the home faithful confidence that Miami could be beaten, a confidence you could feel in the stadium.

The rest of the game was quite the tug of war, with both teams bending but not breaking. Thomas ran for 165 yards, and Ken Oxendine added 82. Still had three catches for 51 yards.

The Hokies weren’t perfect. They had an early field goal blocked, missed three others, and dropped a sure touchdown pass. But they played with intensity and never once blinked in the face of the Hurricanes’ presence or the history that preceded them.

The way the Hokies won is notable - Offense, Defense and Special Teams – Beamerball, if you will.

On offense, they ran right at the Canes time and again. Time and again, the offensive line and Edmonds opened holes for the running backs. In all, Tech tallied 300 yards on the ground on 49 rushes, throwing only 16 times (completing 9) for 97 yards. Thomas, a fantastic running back worthy of standing among Tech's all-time greats, had the best game of his senior year against Miami.

On defense, in a very physical game, it was the Hokies who were the aggressors. Tech limited the Canes to 51 yards rushing on 36 carries. And though Miami made plays through the air throughout the game, the Hokies made the Canes earn their way down the field.  

Interestingly, before the game, Miami Coach Butch Davis stated the importance of running the ball and not relying on the pass. “We have to be able to effectively run the ball", said Davis. “We can’t allow it to be a 'throw it 35-40 times a ball game' type of situation.” The Hurricanes threw it 35 times and lost.

JC Price had arguably the game of his life, with 11 tackles and four back-breaking sacks. Cornell Brown added five tackles (two for loss), Torrian Gray had 12 tackles, Brandon Semones 10 tackles and an interception. George DelRicco and Myron Newsome each had a sack. The Hokies harassed the Miami quarterbacks and the defensive line plugged up running lanes all day.  Freshman cornerback Loren Johnson stepped in for an injured Antonio Banks to log four tackles and seal the win with terrific pass defense on Miami’s final play. 

Special teams came up big in the fourth quarter with an Angelo Harrison blocked punt, recovered by Michael Steuwe at the nine-yard line. Tech couldn’t punch it in, but did kick a field goal to extend the lead to six with 10 minutes left in the game, accounting for the final margin.

Druckenmiller recalled telling teammate Billy Conaty coming off the field after the game, “We’re going 10-0, baby!”

The Hokies did, indeed, go 10-0 to end the season. They won in impressive fashion each week, culminating in a comeback win at Virginia to seal a bid in the Sugar Bowl. It was there that the Hokies introduced themselves to a national audience, beating Texas 28-10. It was the third of 27 consecutive bowl games for Tech.

The win over Miami opened the flood gates for the Hokies, who reeled off five consecutive wins against the Canes. This was arguably Virginia Tech’s most physical overall team, and their brand of football endeared themselves to Tech fans for an entire generation. 

After a subsequent loss at #1 Florida State, Miami itself ran the table, winning their final seven games of 1995. They finished 8-3, but did not participate in a bowl after the season. The NCAA levied sanctions on Miami on December 1st of that year, citing lack of institutional control, improper distribution of financial aid, cash awards for on-field performances and issues with drug testing. 

Ray Lewis, who had 15 tackles (2 for loss), a sack and a forced fumble against Tech in this game, declared for the NFL draft after the season. He went on to log more tackles than anyone in NFL history, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.