Wrapping up the Clemson game -- historical context of the 20-point loss, detailing the third-down issues

Well, the dust has settled from Virginia Tech’s 23-3 loss Saturday night to Clemson, but frustration among the Hokies’ fans certainly hasn’t.

They aren’t used to witnessing losses like this. As colleague Norm Wood of the Newport News Daily Press mentioned a couple hours ago, the 20-point margin of defeat was tied for Tech’s second-largest at home in coach Frank Beamer’s 25 seasons.

The Hokies also lost at home by 20 to Miami in 2005 (27-7), to Miami in 1992 (43-23) and to Clemson in 1989 (27-7). Their worst home loss under Beamer was 41-7 to Florida State in 1989. Since the Hokies’ bowl streak began in 1993, they are now 101-18 at home. In their previous 17 losses, their average margin of defeat was just 7.5