RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) Little went wrong for Virginia Tech last season, its first in the Atlantic Coast Conference. An early flop against North Carolina State was about it.<br>
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In that home loss, the Hokies totaled only 36 yards on the ground and quarterback Bryan Randall got sacked 10 times. Perhaps even more distressing was their play on special teams, long a strength under coach Frank Beamer.<br>
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Kicker Brandon Pace missed two field goals and punter Vinnie Burns fumbled a snap that gave the Wolfpack the ball on Virginia Tech's 5-yard line. The turnover led to the clinching touchdown in a 17-16 victory.<br>
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The eighth-ranked and defending ACC champion Hokies get a crack at redemption Sunday night in the opener for both teams.<br>
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``They're actually upset at us, and I don't know why,'' N.C. State coach Chuck Amato quipped. ``But because it happened last year, that doesn't mean that's the way it's going to happen this year.''<br>
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Virginia Tech followed up that game with eight victories in a row, including one over Miami on the final week of the regular season that won the conference title.<br>
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This is a different team, however. Randall departed after winning ACC player of the year, leaving Marcus Vick as the replacement. Michael's little brother was suspended last season for a variety of legal issues.<br>
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``Marcus is a good person,'' Beamer said. ``He made some questionable judgments, but as far as working hard to get back and making this a successful ending, he's done everything that we've asked and has had a great summer of preparation and a great preseason of preparation.''<br>
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Vick faces a defense that led NCAA Division I-A in fewest yards allowed in 2004, one with six returning starters. That includes the entire line, a talented, punishing group led by ends Mario Williams and Manny Lawson.<br>
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Against the Hokies a year ago, Lawson had three of the 10 sacks, with the rest spread out among several different players rushing from a variety of blitzes.<br>
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``It hurts you as an offensive lineman,'' Virginia Tech guard Jimmy Martin said. ``You look back and see your quarterback with grass and dirt in his face. That probably was the most frustrating game of my career here.''<br>
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The Wolfpack couldn't build on the momentum of that victory. They stumbled badly down the stretch to four losses in their final five games and failed to qualify for a bowl for the first time in Amato's tenure.<br>
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At least this year's offense should stand a better chance of matching the defense. Quarterback Jay Davis and six other starters are back, and the backfield is loaded with skilled youngsters. Sophomore Darrell Blackman beat out four others for the starting nod at tailback, but his job hardly is safe.<br>
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The exact rotation hasn't been set yet for the opener, but Blackman won't be the only one carrying the ball.<br>
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``I don't think we're going in with any formula with this game,'' new N.C. State offensive coordinator Marc Trestman said. ``I think you could see as few as two or as many as four. How it's going to come out, I really don't know.''<br>
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And with Trestman installing a new offense, the Hokies' defense has no idea what to expect.<br>
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``It's unbelievably tough,'' defensive end Darryl Tapp said. ``We don't have any film on these guys on what they're going to run. We have to be that much more prepared.''<br>
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The setting for this game only adds to the importance. As one of only two featuring ranked teams on a day normally devoted to the NFL, it begins in prime-time on ESPN2 in newly renovated Carter-Finley Stadium.<br>
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``To me, this is probably one of the greatest opportunities that you could ever think about,'' N.C. State cornerback Marcus Hudson said. ``I believe everybody that plays football has a dream of playing on Sunday nights, and what better chance could you have than to open up against the defending ACC champs on Sunday with national TV.''<br>
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(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
