1999 Virginia Tech Hokies football team


The 1999 Virginia Tech Hokies football team represented Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in the 1999 NCAA Division I-A football season. Virginia Tech competed as a member of the Big East Conference. The Hokies were led by Frank Beamer in his 13th year as head coach. Virginia Tech finished the regular season undefeated but lost in the national championship game to the Florida State Seminoles.

Regular season summary

led the Hokies to an 11–0 regular season and to the Bowl Championship Series national title game in the Sugar Bowl against Florida State. Although Virginia Tech lost 46–29, Vick was able to bring the team back from a 21-point deficit to take a 29–28 lead into the fourth quarter. During the season, Vick appeared on the cover of an ESPN The Magazine issue.
Vick led the NCAA in passing efficiency that year, setting a record for a freshman, which was also good enough for the third-highest all-time mark. Vick was awarded an ESPY Award as the nation's top college player, and won the first-ever Archie Griffin Award as college football's most valuable player. He was invited to the 1999 Heisman Trophy presentation and finished third in the voting behind Ron Dayne and Joe Hamilton. Vick's third-place finish matched the highest finish ever by a freshman up to that point, first set by Herschel Walker in 1980.

Schedule

Roster

Rankings

Game summaries

James Madison

Michael Vick ran for three touchdowns in the first 22 minutes of the game, but left due to an injury after he somersaulted into the end zone on the third score. The freshman had run for 54 yards, and thrown for 110 yards in leading the Hokies to a 21-0 lead that turned into a 47-0 win.

UAB

Clemson

at Virginia

at Rutgers

Syracuse

at Pittsburgh

at West Virginia

Miami (FL)

at Temple

Boston College

vs. Florida State (Sugar Bowl)

Players in the NFL

The following players were drafted into professional football following the season.
PlayerPositionRoundPickFranchise
John EngelbergerDefensive end235San Francisco 49ers
Ike CharltonDefensive back252Seattle Seahawks
Corey MooreLinebacker389Buffalo Bills
Anthony MidgetDefensive back5134Atlanta Falcons
Shyrone StithRunning back7243Jacksonville Jaguars

Awards and honors