The Roanoke Times

File 2008 Virginia Tech's Brent Bowden (back right) has his punt blocked by T.J. Lee (left) in the fourth quarter of last year's game.

BLACKSBURG -- In preparation for Thursday night's trip to East Carolina, Virginia Tech's football team has been forced to repeatedly watch a video snippet from last year's season opener against the Pirates.

Let's reset the scene: It's 1:52 left at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., where the Hokies lead 22-20 with 1:52 left, and Tech's Brent Bowden is lined up in punt formation.

"We went on a quick snap and everything looked good," Bowden recalled. "Then I took the snap and the next thing I heard was the dreaded sound of the double thump."

The first thump was Bowden's foot crushing the football. The next thump came a millisecond later. It came courtesy of ECU's T.J. Lee, who blocked the punt, and then never breaking stride, picked up the ball and raced untouched 27 yards to give the Pirates a 27-22 upset.

"Shocking feeling ... I looked around and the guy was gone," said Bowden, of the only punt he's had blocked in his college career.

After the game, Tech coach Frank Beamer was stunned, noting it was the first time in his 27 years a college head coach that his team had lost on a blocked kick.

"There's no excuse for that," said Beamer, long recognized nationally for his team's excellence on special teams.

Since, Beamer has used the video as a teaching tool for his team. Each time, the players groan as they watch.

"Always ... every time we see it," tight end Andre Smith said.

Linebacker Cody Grimm, who was running down the field to cover the ill-fated punt, said: "I heard the crowd roar and I said to myself 'that can't be good.' Then I turned around and saw [Lee] running into the end zone. That was a terrible feeling. Anytime you lose a game in the last second like that it hurts even worse, the first game of the season as well."

The Hokies haven't had a punt blocked since.

"The kid got a great jump on the ball and made a good play," Beamer said. "What we didn't get done right there, you look at it and correct it, and hope it doesn't happen to you again."

Secret weapon no more

Dyrell Roberts returned four kickoffs for 195 yards, including a 98-yarder for a touchdown in Tech's Sept. 5 season-opening loss to Alabama. That performance obviously has blown his cover, as he's returned only six kickoffs since. Some opponents have concentrated on kicking the ball away from Roberts, while others have used short pooch kickoffs, which have led to good starting field position for the Hokies nonetheless.

"I just want the ball when I'm back there," said Roberts, a sophomore wide receiver. "It gets frustrating when we're down and I want to make a play, and they kick the ball away from me and I don't get the opportunity."

In four of seven games since the opener, Roberts hasn't had a single opportunity. He had two chances against Nebraska and Georgia Tech, burning the Huskers for 95 return yards and the Yellow Jackets for 89. His 40.8-yard average leads the nation in kickoff returns.

Not big on baseball

When asked how much talk there is among the Tech players about the ongoing World Series, Smith shook his head negatively.

"Not many of us are baseball fans, so that just hasn't been the talk in the locker room," Smith said.

If the New York Yankees don't beat Philadelphia tonight in Game 6, the Hokies-Pirates' matchup on ESPN won't attract near the viewership numbers going head-up against a deciding Game 7 on Thursday night.

"I would like to see the Yankees get it closed out [tonight]," Smith responded on cue.

Tech tidbits

Tech's 10 turnovers in eight games have led to only four field goals by its opponents. ... A win Thursday would make Tech bowl eligible for the 17th straight season. ... Tech has blocked eight kicks in 13 meetings against ECU under Beamer ... Tech is 16-2 in November since 2003. ... Hokies starting center Beau Warren (sprained MCL) is listed as doubtful. If he can't go, redshirt freshman Michael Via will make his first college start.