1991 Virginia Tech Hokies football team
| 1991 Virginia Tech Hokies football | |
|---|---|
| Conference | Big East Conference |
| Record | 5–6 (1–0 Big East) |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive coordinator | Steve Marshall (4th season) |
| Offensive scheme | Pro-style |
| Defensive coordinator | Mike Clark (4th season) |
| Base defense | 4–4 |
| Home stadium | Lane Stadium |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 11 Syracuse | 5 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 10 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 1 Miami (FL) | 2 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 12 | – | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Virginia Tech | 1 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pittsburgh | 3 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West Virginia | 3 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rutgers | 2 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boston College | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Temple | 0 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 9 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1991 Virginia Tech Hokies football team represented Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University as an independent during the 1991 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Frank Beamer, the Hokies finished the season with a record of 5–6. The team played its home games at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia.
The season began with optimism as Virginia Tech opened with a convincing 41–12 win over James Madison, highlighted by a balanced offensive attack and strong defensive play. However, the Hokies struggled to maintain consistency, particularly during a stretch of five consecutive road games in September and October. Losses to NC State, South Carolina, and No. 6 Oklahoma underscored the team’s difficulties against stronger competition, though a 20–14 victory at West Virginia provided one of the season’s high points.
Midseason, Virginia Tech faced No. 1 Florida State and fell 33–20, but the Hokies remained competitive against the nation’s top-ranked team, reflecting gradual improvement under Beamer. Returning home, the Hokies strung together three consecutive victories over Cincinnati, Louisville, and Akron, scoring a combined 139 points and showcasing the potential of quarterback Will Furrer and running back Tony Kennedy.
Despite this surge, Virginia Tech faltered late in the season. A loss to No. 14 East Carolina and a 38–0 shutout defeat at Virginia, marked the fourth losing season in Beamer’s first five years. The finale underscored the program’s ongoing struggles to establish itself against regional rivals, though the competitive performances against ranked opponents hinted at progress.
Over 11 games, Virginia Tech scored 275 points and allowed 229, reflecting both offensive potential and defensive inconsistency. Quarterback Will Furrer passed for 1,862 yards and 10 touchdowns, while Tony Kennedy led the rushing attack with 753 yards and six scores. Marcus Mickel paced the receiving corps with 624 yards, and the defense contributed 22 sacks and 14 interceptions.
Although the Hokies finished below .500, they played two teams in the top 10 and four in the top 20. The season reflected a transitional period for the program. Beamer’s emphasis on special teams and opportunistic defense began to take shape, and the competitive showings against West Virginia and Florida State suggested that Virginia Tech was laying the foundation for future success in the 1990s.