1986 Virginia Tech Hokies football team
| 1986 Virginia Tech Hokies football | |
|---|---|
 | |
Peach Bowl champion | |
Peach Bowl, W 25–24 vs. NC State | |
| Conference | Independent |
| Ranking | |
| AP | No. 20 |
| Record | 9–2–1 |
| Head coach |
|
| Defensive coordinator | Bob Brush (3rd season) |
| Home stadium | Lane Stadium |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 1 Penn State | – | – | 12 | – | 0 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 2 Miami (FL) | – | – | 11 | – | 1 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 20 Virginia Tech | – | – | 9 | – | 2 | – | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 19 Boston College | – | – | 9 | – | 3 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tulsa | – | – | 7 | – | 4 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Florida State | – | – | 7 | – | 4 | – | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Army | – | – | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Southwestern Louisiana | – | – | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Southern Miss | – | – | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Temple | – | – | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pittsburgh | – | – | 5 | – | 5 | – | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rutgers | – | – | 5 | – | 5 | – | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cincinnati | – | – | 5 | – | 6 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notre Dame | – | – | 5 | – | 6 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Syracuse | – | – | 5 | – | 6 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| South Carolina | – | – | 3 | – | 6 | – | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tulane | – | – | 4 | – | 7 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West Virginia | – | – | 4 | – | 7 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Louisville | – | – | 3 | – | 8 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Navy | – | – | 3 | – | 8 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wichita State | – | – | 3 | – | 8 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| East Carolina | – | – | 2 | – | 9 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northern Illinois | – | – | 2 | – | 9 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Memphis State | – | – | 1 | – | 10 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rankings from AP Poll | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The 1986 Virginia Tech Hokies football team represented Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University as an independent during the 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their ninth year under head coach Bill Dooley, the Hokies compiled an official record of 10–1–1 — including a forfeit win over Temple that counted in the official record despite an on-field loss, giving them an on-field record of 9–2–1 — finished ranked 20th in the Associated Press poll, and won the 1986 Peach Bowl with a 25–24 victory over No. 18 NC State. The season included a landmark road victory at Clemson — ending the Tigers' 26-game home non-losing streak.
The offense was built around the running combination of Maurice Williams and Eddie Hunter, each of whom rushed for more than 800 yards. Williams carried 166 times for 1,029 yards at 6.2 yards per attempt and six touchdowns, while Hunter added 169 carries for 872 yards and six touchdowns. Quarterback Erik Chapman completed 113 of 222 passes for 1,627 yards and ten touchdowns against six interceptions, directing an offense that averaged 207.8 rushing yards per game. Donald Wayne Snell emerged as the team's top receiver with 34 catches for 661 yards and six touchdowns, and tight end Steve Johnson added 33 receptions for 391 yards and three scores. Kicker Chris Kinzer was outstanding, converting 22 of 27 field goal attempts — including one from 50 yards — and all 26 extra point attempts for 92 points.[1]
Defensively, Virginia Tech recorded 15 interceptions — led by Carter Wiley, Billy Myers, and Mitch Dove with three, three, and two respectively — and held opponents to 3.7 rushing yards per attempt. Linebacker Paul Nelson led the team with 114 tackles, followed by Lawrence White with 84, Jamel Agemy with 83, and Wiley with 81. Morgan Roane led the pass rush with 7.0 sacks, and Curtis Taliaferro added 3.0 sacks and 5.0 tackles for loss. Mark Webb recorded a safety. The team converted 83 percent of fourth-down attempts — 10 of 12 — and scored in 88 percent of red zone possessions.[1]
The end of the Dooley era
[edit]Bill Dooley had come to Virginia Tech in 1978 not merely as a football coach but as a dual hire — both head coach and athletic director — a combination that university president Dr. William Lavery acknowledged had not been Virginia Tech's original intention but seemed fitting given Dooley's stature. Dooley later noted that without the athletic director position, he would have had to think much harder about leaving North Carolina. Over nine seasons he rebuilt a program that had struggled, guiding the Hokies to six consecutive winning seasons from 1980 through 1985 and three bowl appearances. His record of 63–38–1 made him the program's all-time winningest coach when he left.[2]
The 1986 season unfolded against a backdrop of institutional conflict that the players were not meant to know about — but quickly did. Four days before the season opener against Cincinnati, Dooley traveled to Delaware to meet with Virginia Tech's Board of Visitors, who presented a startling offer: his role as athletic director was ending, but he could remain as head coach under a new seven-year contract. The offer came after months during which Dooley had operated under the belief that the university no longer wanted him in either role, amid allegations that he had exceeded NCAA scholarship limits during his tenure as both coach and AD. Dooley declined the offer and filed suit against Virginia Tech for $3.5 million claiming breach of contract — just days after the program-defining road victory over Clemson that had energized the program. When the legal battle spilled publicly into the season, players walked into a team meeting expecting to prepare for the Syracuse game and learned instead that their coach was being forced out. According to fullback Rich Fox, there were 80 young men in the locker room crying. One anonymous assistant coach said the team was going to go 10-1, go to a bowl game, and thumb their noses at the school.[3]
The players made good on that declaration. Virginia Tech went undefeated in its next ten regular season games in the official record — one on-field loss (Temple) and one tie (South Carolina) — snapped a four-game losing streak to West Virginia, and secured the program's first bowl win. Safety Carter Wiley, one of the team's most outspoken voices, said the team was shocked when told after Thursday's practice before the Syracuse game — he thought they were being called together to talk about the upcoming game, and Dooley dropped the bombshell instead. Wiley said he didn't get much sleep that night. He directed his frustration at university president Bill Lavery, saying he didn't think Dooley should lose his job, and declared the only way the team had of responding to Dooley's detractors was to win games and make the coach look good. On October 10, the university and Dooley reached a settlement — roughly $700,000 in exchange for his resignation after the 1986 season — with the legal dispute resolved just as the Hokies were hitting their stride. The 1986 season stands in the NCAA record books as Virginia Tech's first 10-win season with an official record of 10–1–1 counting the Temple forfeit and the Peach Bowl; on the field the Hokies went 9–2–1. Dooley's final game as Virginia Tech's head coach was a 25–24 Peach Bowl victory over NC State, won on a Chris Kinzer field goal as time expired — the program's first bowl triumph in six tries. "It was like we were losing our dad," Fox said afterward.[4]
New athletic director Dale "Dutch" Baughman, hired December 11, 1986, conducted the coaching search that followed. Frank Beamer — a Virginia Tech alumnus who had coached Murray State to four straight winning seasons and the 1986 Ohio Valley Conference championship — was hired on December 23, 1986. The NCAA investigation that shadowed the end of the Dooley era resulted in scholarship restrictions that limited the Hokies to 85 total scholarships in 1987 and 1988 and only 17 new scholarships in 1989, contributing significantly to the difficult transition years that followed.[5]
Schedule
[edit]| Date | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 6 | Cincinnati | L 20–24 | 22,700 | [6][7] | ||
| September 13 | at Clemson | Jefferson-Pilot | W 20–14 | 75,930 | [8][9] | |
| September 20 | at Syracuse | Creative Sports Marketing | W 26–17 | 27,466 | [10][11] | |
| September 27 | East Tennessee State |
| W 37–10 | 34,400 | [12][13] | |
| October 4 | West Virginia |
| Creative Sports Marketing | W 13–7 | 50,000 | [14][15] |
| October 11 | South Carolina |
| T 27–27 | 40,700 | [16] | |
| October 18 | vs. Temple | WDBJ, WRLH, WHSV, WTVZ | W 13–29 (forfeit win) | 23,500 | [17][18][19] | |
| October 25 | Virginia |
| W 42–10 | 51,400 | [20] | |
| November 1 | Kentucky |
| W 17–15 | 30,300 | [21][22] | |
| November 8 | at Richmond | WDBJ, WRLH, WHSV, WTVZ | W 17–10 | 22,600 | [23][24] | |
| November 15 | Vanderbilt |
| W 29–21 | 27,300 | [25] | |
| December 31 | vs. No. 18 NC State | Mizlou | W 25–24 | 53,668 | [26] [27] | |
| ||||||
Source:[28]
Game Summaries
[edit]| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Cincinnati | 0 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 24 |
| Virginia Tech | 7 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 20 |
- Date: September 6
- Location: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA
- Game attendance: 22,700
| 1 | VT | Erik Chapman 2-yard rush (Chris Kinzer kick) | VT 7–0 | |
| 2 | Cin | Insalaco 39-yard field goal | VT 7–3 | |
| Cin | Hice 24-yard pass from McCoin (Insalaco kick) | Cin 10–7 | ||
| 3 | VT | Chris Kinzer 40-yard field goal | Tied 10–10 | |
| VT | Donald Wayne Snell 32-yard pass from Erik Chapman (Chris Kinzer kick) | VT 17–10 | ||
| 4 | VT | Chris Kinzer 29-yard field goal | VT 20–10 | |
| Cin | Reggie Taylor 1-yard rush (Insalaco kick) | VT 20–17 | ||
| Cin | Scott Tackett 7-yard pass from McCoin (Insalaco kick) | Cin 24–20 | ||
Virginia Tech opened the 1986 season with a 24–20 home loss to Cincinnati, falling on a touchdown with 14 seconds remaining. McCoin's sideline pass intended for wide receiver Arnez Perry was batted in the air not once but twice by a congregation of Bearcats and Hokies — and trailing the play, reserve fullback Scott Tackett snatched the ball out of the air for a 29-yard gain to the Tech 26. Four plays later, McCoin found Tackett on a 7-yard scoring pass to deliver the final blow. Offensive tackle Jim Davie said it was a terrible way to lose, and defensive coordinator Bob Brush said his defense was in the right coverage — Cincinnati simply got the break.
Chapman scored on a 2-yard run in the first quarter and hit Donald Wayne Snell on a 32-yard touchdown pass in the third, with Kinzer adding field goals of 40 and 29 yards. Virginia Tech led 20–10 entering the fourth quarter before Cincinnati scored twice. Chapman completed 17 of 31 passes for 270 yards and Snell led receivers with 4 catches for 96 yards. Williams carried 14 times for 81 yards and Hunter added 55 yards on 12 carries, but two Mitch Dove interceptions could not offset the turnovers that cost Virginia Tech the game.[6][7]
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Virginia Tech | 7 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 20 |
| Clemson | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
- Date: September 13
- Location: Memorial Stadium, Clemson, SC
- Game start: 12:20 p.m. EST
- Game attendance: 77,000
- Game weather: Sunny, 78 °F (26 °C), Winds 0-5 mph
| 1 | VT | Mitch Dove blocked punt recovery in end zone (Chris Kinzer kick) | VT 7–0 | |
| 2 | Clem | Terrence Flagler 13-yard rush (Treadwell kick) | Tied 7–7 | |
| VT | Chris Kinzer 38-yard field goal | VT 10–7 | ||
| 3 | VT | Steve Johnson 5-yard pass from Erik Chapman (Chris Kinzer kick) | VT 17–7 | |
| Clem | Kenny Flowers 1-yard rush (Treadwell kick) | VT 17–14 | ||
| 4 | VT | Chris Kinzer 31-yard field goal | VT 20–14 | |
Virginia Tech ended Clemson's nine-game winning streak over the Hokies with a 20–14 victory before 78,000 fans at Memorial Stadium, defying their status as 12½-point underdogs. It was the first Virginia Tech win at Clemson since an 18-7 victory in 1954. Clemson dug an early hole when quarterback Roland Williams' fourth-down pass from midfield was overthrown with 47 seconds left in the first quarter, and Virginia Tech capitalized when Mitch Dove recovered a blocked punt in the end zone to make it 7–0.
Clemson responded in the second quarter when Terrence Flagler weaved 13 yards for a touchdown to tie the game, but Kinzer's 38-yard field goal restored the lead to 10–7 at halftime. On Virginia Tech's first second-half possession, Chapman faked and found Steve Johnson alone on a touchdown pass to push the lead to 17–7 — Chapman becoming the first Hokie quarterback to pass for more than 200 yards in successive weeks since 1973. Preseason Heisman Trophy candidate Kenny Flowers answered with a 1-yard scoring run to close within 17–14, but Kinzer's 31-yard field goal sealed the 20–14 final. Clemson coach Danny Ford said his team was very well-coached and outplayed. Williams rushed 17 times for 78 yards, Chapman completed 13 of 23 passes for 242 yards, and David Everett led receivers with 3 catches for 80 yards.[8][9]
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Virginia Tech | 10 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 26 |
| Syracuse | 7 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
- Date: September 20
- Location: Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY
- Game start: 12:08 p.m. EST
- Game attendance: 27,466
- Game weather: Indoors
| 1 | VT | Maurice Williams rush (Chris Kinzer kick) | VT 7–0 | |
| SYR | Scott Schwedes pass from Don McPherson (Vesling kick) | Tied 7–7 | ||
| 5:28 | VT | Chris Kinzer 24-yard field goal | VT 10–7 | |
| 2 | 7:05 | SYR | Vesling 43-yard field goal | Tied 10–10 |
| 3:28 | VT | Chris Kinzer 35-yard field goal | VT 13–10 | |
| 0:00 | VT | Chris Kinzer 41-yard field goal | VT 16–10 | |
| 3 | VT | Maurice Williams rush (Chris Kinzer kick) | VT 23–10 | |
| 4 | SYR | Robert Drummond 1-yard rush (Vesling kick) | VT 23–17 | |
| 1:44 | VT | Chris Kinzer 29-yard field goal | VT 26–17 | |
Virginia Tech won 26–17 at the Carrier Dome in the first game after players learned that coach Bill Dooley was being forced out — winning it for him. Virginia Tech's defense pushed Syracuse into a missed 53-yard field goal attempt on the opening drive, and the Hokies then struck first with a Williams touchdown run. Syracuse tied it on a Scott Schwedes reception from Don McPherson, but Kinzer's 24-yard field goal with 5:28 left in the first quarter restored the lead at 10–7.
The second quarter was defined by Kinzer. Vesling's 43-yard field goal tied the game at 10 before Kinzer hit field goals of 35 and 41 yards — the latter as time expired at halftime — to send Virginia Tech into intermission leading 16–10. Maurice Williams then burst 57 yards on the first play of the second half, the longest run of the season, and finished the drive with his second touchdown run to push the lead to 23–10. After Drummond's 1-yard run cut the deficit to six, Kinzer sealed it with a 29-yard field goal with 1:44 remaining.
Williams rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries, and gave Dooley the game ball after the final whistle. Hunter added 125 yards on 21 carries as Virginia Tech rushed for 374 yards. Virginia Tech punted only once all game, converted 4 of 4 fourth-down attempts, and reached the red zone four times — converting all four into Kinzer field goals. The defense sacked McPherson twice and held Syracuse to 2.6 rushing yards per carry. Chapman completed 12 of 19 passes for 112 yards, and Donald Wayne Snell led receivers with 6 catches for 76 yards. Daryl Johnston, who would go on to a long career as a fullback for the Dallas Cowboys, carried 6 times for 23 yards for Syracuse.
Dooley deflected questions about his coaching status: he said he intends to be the coach right now, and that is the way he wants the team to take it.[10][11]
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Tennessee State | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 10 |
| • Virginia Tech | 10 | 3 | 14 | 10 | 37 |
- Date: September 27
- Location: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA
- Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game attendance: 34,400
- Game weather: Sunny, 81°F
| 1 | VT | Donald Wayne Snell 14-yard pass from Erik Chapman (Chris Kinzer kick) | VT 7–0 | |
| 1:07 | VT | Chris Kinzer 22-yard field goal | VT 10–0 | |
| 2 | 9:26 | VT | Chris Kinzer 18-yard field goal | VT 13–0 |
| 3 | VT | Steve Johnson 5-yard pass from Erik Chapman (Chris Kinzer kick) | VT 20–0 | |
| VT | Erik Chapman 5-yard rush (Chris Kinzer kick) | VT 27–0 | ||
| ETSU | David Harvin 13-yard pass from Jeff Morgan (Cimadevilla kick) | VT 27–7 | ||
| 4 | 10:06 | VT | Chris Kinzer 22-yard field goal | VT 30–7 |
| 5:48 | ETSU | George Cimadevilla 48-yard field goal | VT 30–10 | |
| VT | Malcolm Blacken 1-yard rush (Chris Kinzer kick) | VT 37–10 | ||
Virginia Tech handled East Tennessee State 37–10 at Lane Stadium, with three of ETSU's four turnovers leading directly to 17 of the Hokies' points. Herman Jacobs fumbled on the Buccaneers' third play from scrimmage, and Virginia Tech converted the turnover four plays later on Chapman's 14-yard touchdown pass to Donald Wayne Snell. Kinzer added a 22-yard field goal with 1:07 remaining in the first quarter to lead 10–0, and an 18-yarder early in the second quarter sent Virginia Tech into halftime leading 13–0.
The Hokies broke the game open in the third quarter with two quick touchdowns — Chapman's 5-yard pass to Steve Johnson, then a 5-yard scoring run by Chapman himself — pushing the lead to 27–0 before ETSU's David Harvin caught a 13-yard pass from Jeff Morgan to make it 27–7. Kinzer added his third field goal and Blacken scored on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter to reach 37–7 before Cimadevilla closed the scoring with a 48-yard field goal. Mark Webb was dominant along the defensive line all day — the Buccaneers had to dedicate two blockers to him — and the defense stopped Morgan on a critical fourth-and-inches at his own 45 to extinguish a late drive.
Williams rushed 13 times for 105 yards and Hunter added 67 on 18 carries, with Myron Richardson breaking a 29-yarder. Chapman completed 10 of 18 passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns. Billy Myers returned 6 punts for 66 yards, including a 19-yarder that set up a scoring drive. ETSU coach Mike Ayers said take away the turnovers and it would have been a different game — his offense had converted just 5 of 14 third downs — but George Cimadevilla's punting, with a long of 65 yards, gave the Buccaneers consistently poor field position throughout.[12][13]
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| • Virginia Tech | 3 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
- Date: October 4
- Location: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA
- Game attendance: 50,000
| 1 | VT | Chris Kinzer 24-yard field goal | VT 3–0 | |
| 2 | VT | Eddie Hunter 1-yard rush (Chris Kinzer kick) | VT 10–0 | |
| VT | Chris Kinzer 50-yard field goal | VT 13–0 | ||
| 3 | VT | U. Johnson 11-yard rush (Baumann kick) | VT 13–7 | |
Virginia Tech defeated West Virginia 13–7 at Lane Stadium before 50,000 fans, ending a four-game losing streak to the Mountaineers despite being statistically outplayed for much of the afternoon. West Virginia outgained the Hokies 333 to 265 yards and posted 24 first downs to Virginia Tech's 14, but four interceptions extinguished every serious Mountaineer scoring threat. Jamel Agemy intercepted Ben Reed at the Virginia Tech 10 with 5:28 left in the first quarter to kill the first WVA drive. Billy Myers recorded two more interceptions, with Carter Wiley adding a fourth. Morgan Roane pressured the WVA quarterbacks all day with 2 sacks.
Virginia Tech built a 13–0 halftime lead on Kinzer's 24-yard field goal — which tied the school record of 13 consecutive field goals set by Don Wade in 1981 — then Hunter's 1-yard scoring run set up by a 4-yard Hunter pass to Chapman, and finally Kinzer's 50-yard field goal shortly before halftime that broke the school record outright. West Virginia's Undra Johnson answered with an 11-yard touchdown run with 6:08 left in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 13–7, but the Virginia Tech defense stopped WVA on fourth down at the Tech 10 with 9:53 remaining in the quarter, and Reed's subsequent pass to Keith Winn on another fourth down was incomplete in the fourth.
Hunter carried 23 times for 102 yards and Williams added 45 yards on 9 carries. Chapman completed 8 of 15 passes for 125 yards with no turnovers, hitting Steve Johnson for 33 yards and Snell for 30. Virginia Tech committed zero fumbles and threw no interceptions — the plus-4 turnover margin was decisive in a game the Hokies were outgained. John Holifield rushed 27 times for 161 yards for West Virginia but the Mountaineers could not convert sustained drives into points.[14][15]
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | 7 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 27 |
| Virginia Tech | 17 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 27 |
- Date: October 11
- Location: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA
- Game attendance: 40,700
| 1 | VT | Chris Kinzer 38-yard field goal | VT 3–0 | |
| VT | Steve Johnson 28-yard pass from Erik Chapman (Chris Kinzer kick) | VT 10–0 | ||
| SC | Ryan Bethea 55-yard pass from Todd Ellis (Hagler kick) | VT 10–7 | ||
| VT | Eddie Hunter 99-yard kickoff return (Chris Kinzer kick) | VT 17–7 | ||
| 2 | SC | Hagler 29-yard field goal | VT 17–10 | |
| VT | Maurice Williams 7-yard rush (Chris Kinzer kick) | VT 24–10 | ||
| 3 | SC | Todd Ellis 10-yard rush (Hagler kick) | VT 24–17 | |
| 4 | SC | Hagler 34-yard field goal | VT 24–20 | |
| SC | Brown 24-yard pass from Todd Ellis (Hagler kick) | SC 27–24 | ||
| VT | Chris Kinzer 46-yard field goal | Tied 27–27 | ||
Virginia Tech and South Carolina played to a 27–27 homecoming tie at Lane Stadium before 40,700 fans, with the Hokies squandering a 24–10 halftime lead before Kinzer's 46-yard field goal with 4:11 remaining salvaged the draw. Virginia Tech struck three times in the first quarter — Kinzer's 38-yard field goal, a 28-yard touchdown pass from Chapman to Steve Johnson, and then Hunter's 99-yard kickoff return after South Carolina had cut the deficit to 10–7 — to build a 17–7 lead. Williams' 7-yard scoring run in the second quarter pushed the advantage to 24–10 at halftime.
Todd Ellis — who threw for 394 yards on 20 of 36 passing — drove the Gamecocks back into contention in the second half. His 10-yard scoring run made it 24–17 in the third quarter, and after Hagler's 34-yard field goal cut the margin to four, Hardin Brown caught a 24-yard pass from Ellis to give South Carolina its first lead at 27–24. Kinzer's 46-yard field goal with 4:11 remaining tied the game. With two seconds left, Hagler attempted a 40-yard field goal that would have won it for South Carolina — it went left. Sterling Sharpe was the dominant receiver for South Carolina with 8 catches for 146 yards, while Bethea's 55-yard reception had opened the Gamecocks' scoring.
Virginia Tech's four turnovers — two interceptions and two lost fumbles — nearly cost them the tie. Dooley said his team could never give up easy touchdowns, specifically citing Bethea's 55-yarder and Brown's 24-yarder. Williams rushed 17 times for 92 yards, Chapman completed 12 of 22 passes for 175 yards, and Johnson caught 4 passes for 66 yards. South Carolina outgained Virginia Tech 543 to 305 total yards and controlled the ball for 32 minutes, but also committed four turnovers of their own.[16]
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Tech | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| • Temple | 7 | 10 | 9 | 3 | 29 |
- Date: October 18
- Location: Foreman Field, Norfolk, VA
- Game attendance: 23,800
| 1 | TU | Shelley Poole 39-yard pass from Lee Saltz (Wright kick) | TU 7–0 | |
| 2 | TU | Bill Wright 38-yard field goal | TU 10–0 | |
| TU | Paul Palmer 5-yard rush (Wright kick) | TU 17–0 | ||
| 3 | TU | Bill Wright 27-yard field goal | TU 20–0 | |
| VT | Sean Donnelly 8-yard pass from Erik Chapman (Chris Kinzer kick) | TU 20–7 | ||
| TU | Keith Gloster 53-yard pass from Lee Saltz (pass failed) | TU 25–7 | ||
| VT | Maurice Williams 1-yard rush (pass failed) | TU 25–13 | ||
| 4 | TU | Bill Wright 24-yard field goal | TU 29–13 | |
Virginia Tech lost the 40th Oyster Bowl to Temple 29–13 on the field at Foreman Field in Norfolk before 23,800 fans, but the result was later converted to a forfeit win for Virginia Tech when the NCAA ruled that Paul Palmer had been ineligible, requiring Temple to forfeit the six games in which he had played. Paul Palmer carried 44 times for 239 yards — the most rushing yards by any opposing player in the previous 855 games of Hokies football history — and Temple controlled the ball for 36 of 60 minutes. Virginia Tech was shut out 17–0 at halftime, as Saltz's 39-yard touchdown pass to Shelley Poole, a Wright 38-yard field goal, and Palmer's 5-yard scoring run gave Temple a commanding lead. Dooley said before the game you just try to slow Palmer down, and if you don't slow him down, you lose.
Virginia Tech scored twice in the third quarter — Donnelly's 8-yard touchdown reception from Chapman and Williams' 1-yard run — to cut the deficit to 25–13, but both PAT pass attempts failed and Saltz hit Gloster on a 53-yard strike in between to keep Temple well ahead. A Wright 24-yard field goal in the fourth sealed the final. Chapman struggled badly, completing just 8 of 27 passes for 111 yards while absorbing five sacks, and Jeff Roberts added 2 of 6 for 22 yards in relief. Morgan Roane had 2.0 sacks for the defense.
Snell led Virginia Tech receivers with 5 catches for 72 yards. Williams rushed for 35 yards on 8 carries and Hunter added 40 on 9. Palmer's two-week rushing total of 588 yards was just 8 yards less than Williams' entire season total at the time.[17][18][19]
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| • Virginia Tech | 14 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 42 |
- Date: October 25
- Location: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA
- Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game attendance: 51,400
- Game weather: Rain, 54°F
| 1 | VT | Maurice Williams rush (Chris Kinzer kick) | VT 7–0 | |
| VT | Eddie Hunter rush (Chris Kinzer kick) | VT 14–0 | ||
| 2 | 6:37 | UVA | Jeff Gaffney 39-yard field goal | VT 14–3 |
| VT | Donald Wayne Snell pass from Erik Chapman (Chris Kinzer kick) | VT 21–3 | ||
| UVA | John Ford 42-yard pass from Don Majkowski (Gaffney kick) | VT 21–10 | ||
| 3 | VT | Maurice Williams rush (Chris Kinzer kick) | VT 28–10 | |
| VT | Eddie Hunter rush (Chris Kinzer kick) | VT 35–10 | ||
| 4 | VT | Donald Wayne Snell pass from Erik Chapman (Chris Kinzer kick) | VT 42–10 | |
Virginia Tech dominated Virginia 42–10 at Lane Stadium before 51,400 fans and representatives of the Peach Bowl, rolling up 356 rushing yards on 66 carries in the rain — the most rushes in any game of the season. Virginia Tech opened a two-touchdown lead, added a broken-play score just before halftime, then pounded the Cavaliers into submission in the second half. Notably, both Jamel Agemy (shoulder injury) and Morgan Roane (disciplined for breaking a team rule during the Oyster Bowl trip) were missing from their starting positions, yet the defense was formidable regardless.
Virginia's only sustained threat came in the second quarter, when the Cavaliers scored 10 points in less than three minutes — a Gaffney 39-yard field goal and a 42-yard touchdown pass from Don Majkowski to John Ford. But Tech had already led 14–0 on two first-quarter touchdown runs, and Chapman answered Virginia's burst with a touchdown pass to Snell to lead 21–10 at halftime. The decisive pre-halftime score came on a broken play — Tech took over at their own 5 with 3:13 left, drove to the UVA 31, and with 18 seconds left Chapman was flushed from the pocket but found Snell for the score. Two more rushing touchdowns in the third quarter put the game away, and Snell's second receiving touchdown in the fourth closed the scoring.
For the second time in 1986, Williams and Hunter each topped 100 yards in the same game — Williams rushing 18 times for 143 yards and Hunter carrying 25 times for 130. Snell finished with 5 catches for 71 yards and 2 touchdowns. Chapman completed 9 of 18 passes for 121 yards and converted all three fourth-down attempts. Virginia Tech scored touchdowns on all five red zone visits with no field goal attempts. Horacio Moronta and Morgan Roane each recorded 2.0 sacks, and Paul Nelson led all tacklers with 16.[20]
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 0 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 15 |
| • Virginia Tech | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 17 |
- Date: November 1
- Location: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA
- Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game attendance: 30,300
- Game weather: Rain, 52°F
| 2 | 0:05 | UK | Joe Worley 24-yard field goal | UK 3–0 |
| 3 | VT | Donald Wayne Snell 18-yard rush (Chris Kinzer kick) | VT 7–3 | |
| 4 | 14:56 | UK | Joe Worley 33-yard field goal | VT 7–6 |
| VT | Eddie Hunter 14-yard rush (Chris Kinzer kick) | VT 14–6 | ||
| 8:04 | UK | Joe Worley 22-yard field goal | VT 14–9 | |
| UK | Marc Logan 3-yard rush (pass failed) | UK 15–14 | ||
| 0:01 | VT | Chris Kinzer 49-yard field goal | VT 17–15 | |
Virginia Tech defeated Kentucky 17–15 at Lane Stadium in a tense defensive game decided by Kinzer's 49-yard field goal on the final play. Kentucky led 3–0 at halftime and dominated time of possession — holding the ball for 35:18 and converting 12 of 19 third downs — but could not put the Hokies away. Kentucky missed a Worley 42-yard field goal attempt in the first quarter but converted a 24-yarder at the end of the second half to lead 3–0 at halftime.
A trick play ignited Virginia Tech in the third quarter — Donald Wayne Snell burst through for an 18-yard touchdown run, the only rush of his career, to give the Hokies the lead at 7–3. After Worley's 33-yard field goal cut it to 7–6, Hunter answered with a 14-yard scoring run to push the lead to 14–6. Kentucky then rallied with two Worley field goals and Logan's 3-yard touchdown run — the two-point conversion failed — to take a stunning 15–14 lead. Kinzer delivered the winner with one second remaining, set up when Kentucky was penalized for kicking a player after the whistle with 4:18 left — moving Virginia Tech from their own 5 to the 20 and giving Kinzer a workable distance for the game-winner. Center Steve Hale had provided 16 consecutive perfect snaps for Kinzer throughout the season.
Kentucky outgained Virginia Tech 392 to 256 total yards, held a 25–13 advantage in first downs, and controlled possession for 35:18 — but fumbled twice and Kentucky's two-point conversion failure after Logan's touchdown proved decisive. Carter Wiley and Jamel Agemy each had a sack. Hunter rushed 14 times for 69 yards and Williams added 56 on 15 carries, while Chapman completed just 7 of 18 passes for 79 yards. Mark Higgs led Kentucky with 72 rushing yards on 12 carries.[21][22]
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Virginia Tech | 3 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
| Richmond | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
- Date: November 8
- Location: UR Stadium, Richmond, VA
- Game attendance: 22,600
| 1 | VT | Chris Kinzer 31-yard field goal | VT 3–0 | |
| 2 | VT | Donald Wayne Snell 88-yard pass from Erik Chapman (Chris Kinzer kick) | VT 10–0 | |
| Rich | Matthews 90-yard kickoff return (Bleier kick) | VT 10–7 | ||
| 4 | VT | Eddie Hunter 16-yard rush (Chris Kinzer kick) | VT 17–7 | |
| Rich | Ahnell 21-yard field goal | VT 17–10 | ||
Virginia Tech won 17–10 at Richmond Stadium in a performance carried by the defense and one explosive play on offense. Chapman hit Snell on an 88-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter — the longest completion of the season — to push the lead to 10–0, but Richmond immediately answered with Erwin Matthews' 90-yard kickoff return to make it 10–7 at halftime. Kinzer had made a 31-yard field goal in the first quarter but missed three others — from 28, 46, and 44 yards — the last with 21 seconds left in the half.
The scoreless third quarter gave way to Hunter's 16-yard touchdown run in the fourth to restore a 10-point cushion, and the defense held Richmond to an Ahnell 21-yard field goal as the final margin. Virginia Tech intercepted Bleier four times — Scott Rice returning one 40 yards, Lawrence White 10 yards, Paul Nelson 9 yards, and Jamel Agemy 8 yards. Horacio Moronta added 2.0 sacks. For the third time in 1986, Williams and Hunter both topped 100 yards, with Williams rushing 22 times for 149 yards and Hunter carrying 14 times for 139.
Chapman completed just 6 of 15 passes for 137 yards — almost all on the one strike to Snell — while Steve Johnson added 5 catches for 49 yards. Richmond's James Church led Spiders receivers with 8 catches for 136 yards, but four interceptions negated any sustained threat.[23][24]
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 21 |
| • Virginia Tech | 3 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 29 |
- Date: November 15
- Location: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA
- Game attendance: 27,300
| 1 | VT | Chris Kinzer 35-yard field goal | VT 3–0 | |
| 2 | Vand | Parker 33-yard pass from Jones (Herline kick) | Vand 7–3 | |
| VT | Chris Kinzer 41-yard field goal | Vand 7–6 | ||
| VT | Chris Kinzer 40-yard field goal | VT 9–7 | ||
| VT | Eddie Hunter 7-yard rush (Chris Kinzer kick) | VT 16–7 | ||
| 3 | VT | Chris Kinzer 25-yard field goal | VT 19–7 | |
| VT | Chris Kinzer 43-yard field goal | VT 22–7 | ||
| 4 | VT | Donald Wayne Snell 22-yard pass from Erik Chapman (Chris Kinzer kick) | VT 29–7 | |
| Vand | Kosanovich 2-yard pass from Jones (pass failed) | VT 29–13 | ||
| Vand | Parker 31-yard pass from Jones (Jones run) | VT 29–21 | ||
Virginia Tech secured a Peach Bowl invitation with a 29–21 victory over Vanderbilt at Lane Stadium before 27,300 fans, with Peach Bowl scouts from Atlanta in attendance. Kinzer set a school record with five field goals in a single game — from 35, 41, 40, 25, and 43 yards — breaking the previous mark of four. Virginia Tech led 3–0 after one quarter on Kinzer's 35-yarder, but Vanderbilt struck back in the second quarter when Parker caught a 33-yard touchdown pass from Jones to give the Commodores a 7–3 lead. Kinzer answered with consecutive field goals of 41 and 40 yards to retake the lead at 9–7, and Hunter's 7-yard touchdown run capped the second-quarter surge and sent Virginia Tech into halftime ahead 16–7.
Two more Kinzer field goals in the third quarter extended the margin to 22–7, and Chapman's 22-yard touchdown pass to Snell in the fourth pushed it to 29–7. Vanderbilt refused to fold — Jones connected with Kosanovich on a 2-yard scoring pass, then hit Parker again on a 31-yard strike with Jones converting the two-point attempt to close the final margin to 29–21. Parker finished with two catches for 64 yards and two touchdowns as Vanderbilt's primary weapon in the passing game.
Hunter rushed 18 times for 107 yards and the game's only Virginia Tech rushing touchdown. Williams carried 21 times for 85 yards, crossing 1,000 yards for the season during the game. Chapman completed 11 of 16 passes for 135 yards and one touchdown. Snell led receivers with 4 catches for 84 yards and the score, while David Everett added 3 catches for 27 yards. Virginia Tech held Vanderbilt to 176 rushing yards and outgained the Commodores in passing, finishing the regular season with a 9–2–1 on-field record.[25][27]
See also 1986 Peach Bowl main article
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 18 NC State | 7 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 24 |
| • Virginia Tech | 10 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 25 |
- Date: December 31
- Location: Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, Atlanta, GA
- Game attendance: 53,668
| 1 | VT | Eddie Hunter 1-yard rush (Chris Kinzer kick) | VT 7–0 | |
| NCS | Bulluck recovered blocked punt in end zone (Cofer kick) | Tied 7–7 | ||
| VT | Chris Kinzer 46-yard field goal | VT 10–7 | ||
| 2 | NCS | Worthen 25-yard pass from Kramer (Cofer kick) | NCS 14–10 | |
| NCS | Britt 5-yard pass from Kramer (Cofer kick) | NCS 21–10 | ||
| 3 | VT | Maurice Williams 1-yard rush (pass failed) | NCS 21–16 | |
| 4 | VT | Steve Johnson 6-yard pass from Erik Chapman (run failed) | VT 22–21 | |
| NCS | Cofer 33-yard field goal | NCS 24–22 | ||
| VT | Chris Kinzer 40-yard field goal | VT 25–24 | ||
Virginia Tech won the 1986 Peach Bowl 25–24 over No. 18 NC State at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium on New Year's Eve, claiming the program's first bowl victory in six tries and sending Bill Dooley out as a winner in his final game as head coach. The Atlanta Journal & Constitution captured the story in its headline — "Virginia Tech gets its kicks in a 25–24 win" — a fitting description of a game decided by Chris Kinzer's 40-yard field goal as time expired.
Virginia Tech struck first when Hunter powered in from 1 yard out to lead 7–0, but North Carolina State answered immediately when Bulluck recovered a blocked punt in the end zone to tie the game at 7. Kinzer's 46-yard field goal reclaimed the lead at 10–7 to close the first quarter, but the Wolfpack dominated the second, scoring twice on Kramer touchdown passes — Worthen from 25 yards and Britt from 5 — to take a 21–10 halftime advantage and appear to have the game in hand.
Virginia Tech rallied in the second half behind a ground game that finished with 287 rushing yards on 60 carries. Williams' 1-yard run in the third quarter — the two-point conversion attempt failed — cut the deficit to 21–16. In the fourth, Chapman found Johnson on a 6-yard touchdown pass, but the two-point run failed again, leaving Virginia Tech ahead 22–21. Cofer's 33-yard field goal pushed NC State back in front at 24–22, setting the stage for Kinzer, who split the uprights from 40 yards as time expired to seal the 25–24 final.
Williams and Hunter each surpassed 100 yards rushing — the second time all season both backs reached that mark in the same game — with Williams carrying 16 times for 129 yards and Hunter 22 times for 113 and the game's first score. Chapman completed 20 of 30 passes for 200 yards despite two interceptions. Johnson led receivers with 6 catches for 54 yards and the decisive fourth-quarter touchdown. NC State's Kramer passed for 155 yards, and Worthen caught five passes for 70 yards as the Wolfpack's most dangerous target. Virginia Tech controlled possession for 36 of 60 minutes and earned 29 first downs to NC State's 16.[26]
Rankings
[edit]| Week | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | Final |
| AP | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 20 |
| Coaches Poll | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 20 | — |
Roster
[edit]| 1986 Virginia Tech Hokies football team roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Offense
|
Defense
|
Special teams
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
References
[edit]- ^ a b "1986 Virginia Tech Hokies Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
- ^ "Former Tech head football coach passes away". Virginia Tech Athletics. August 9, 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- ^ "The case of Dooley v. Virginia Tech". Homefield. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- ^ "Bill Dooley remembered as a 'maker of men'". The Roanoke Times. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- ^ "Baughman makes bold move during his brief time at Tech". Inside HokieSports. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- ^ a b "What a finish for UC". The Cincinnati Enquirer. September 7, 1986. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Bearcats beat Hokies on last-second field goal". The Roanoke Times. September 7, 1986. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- ^ a b "Hokies end Tigers' rule of Virginia, 20–14". The Herald. September 14, 1986. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "In the end, it was Tech's day". The Roanoke Times. September 14, 1986. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- ^ a b "Williams sparks Tech by Syracuse Orangemen". The Daily News Leader. September 21, 1986. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Hokies do it for Dooley". The Roanoke Times. September 21, 1986. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- ^ a b "Hokies drop Bucs, 37–10, in yawner". Kingsport Times-News. September 28, 1986. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Hokies unhappy with 37-10 win". The Roanoke Times. September 28, 1986. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- ^ a b "Hokies defeat West Virginia 13–7". Greensboro News & Record. October 5, 1986. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Hunter, Kinzer lead Virginia Tech past West Virginia". Associated Press. October 5, 1986. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- ^ a b "Gamecocks miss final field goal, tie Hokies 27–27". Greensboro News & Record. October 12, 1986. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Hokies zapped by Owls". Daily Press. October 19, 1986. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Temple forfeits six games". The Anniston Star. July 26, 1988. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Temple's Palmer punishes Hokies". The Roanoke Times. October 19, 1986. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- ^ a b "Hokies wallop Cavs". Florence Morning News. October 26, 1986. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Tech kicks 'Cats". The Danville Register. November 2, 1986. Retrieved November 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Kinzer rescues Hokies". The Roanoke Times. November 2, 1986. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- ^ a b "Tech not pretty but triumphs". Richmond Times-Dispatch. November 9, 1986. Retrieved November 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Hokies showcase Hunter, Williams". The Roanoke Times. November 9, 1986. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- ^ a b "Virginia Tech tastes peaches in 29–21 win". Richmond Times-Dispatch. November 16, 1986. Retrieved November 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Virginia Tech gets its kicks in 25–24 win". The Atlanta Journal & Constitution. January 1, 1987. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Virginia Tech's big foot kicks another monster". The Roanoke Times. November 16, 1986. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- ^ "1986 Virginia Tech Hokies Schedule and Results". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 31, 2024.