BLACKSBURG It took 11 games, but the Wild Turkey finally reappeared - and fittingly, on Senior Day. Tight end Greg Boone, an Oscar Smith High grad playing his final home game for Virginia Tech, took his first four snaps of the season in the formation he made popular last year. And he nearly tossed his first career touchdown pass.

LEXINGTON Old Dominion quarterback Thomas DeMarco said after Saturday's 42-35 victory over VMI that he intends to spend the next week "in an ice bath." ODU's sophomore quarterback, who transferred in from a junior college in California last winter, finished the season with 21 touchdown passes and 17 rushing touchdowns as he accounted for 230 points.

LEXINGTON From the afternoon's first moment - when Old Dominion opened the game by recovering its own onside kick - the finish to the Monarchs' season was a little wilder than anyone could have expected. It was a case of Bobby Wilder living up to his name. The onside kick, ODU's coach said, was meant to be "a statement to our kids."

BLACKSBURG Virginia Tech football fans were reminded Saturday of what they will miss next season. But also how much they have to look forward to. Linebacker Cody Grimm, playing the final home game of his career, forced a fumble on the first play of the game - just the beginning of a smothering, historic individual performance.

By Doug Doughty CLEMSON, S.C. There was “wildcat” on the loose Saturday night and, for a while, it threatened to put a damper on Clemson’s division-clinching celebration. Actually, the Tigers had clinched a spot in the ACC championship game before taking the field at Memorial Stadium, but an anticipated walkover did not materialize.

By Chic Riebel NORFOLK In the final minutes of Saturday’s season finale with Winston-Salem State, Dante Barnes wasn’t thinking about the possibility that Norfolk State could win its 20th game in three seasons or the fact that it was Senior Day.

LEXINGTON The Old Dominion Monarchs knew they couldn't stop VMI's triple-option offense Saturday, so instead, they decided to try and outscore them.

By Doug Doughty From the moment that Boston College snuffed out Virginia's bid for an upset last Saturday and assured the Cavaliers of a losing record, U.Va. players have been saying that they will be playing "for pride" in their final two football games. They didn't get that from head coach Al Groh.

BLACKSBURG The question has been the same since the first day Kam Chancellor stepped on Virginia Tech's football practice field: Where do you put him?

NORFOLK Pete Adrian needed players. Quickly. He was hired as Norfolk State's football coach Jan. 19, 2005, and national signing day was about two weeks away. Adrian had no staff and no idea where even the nearest high school was located. He managed to cobble together a seven-player class on signing day and added a half-dozen more recruits before practice started.