Why VT Fans should root for Florida State tonight
By Tim Thomas
Jan 6, 2014; Pasadena, CA, USA; An exterior view of the Rose Bowl stadium prior to the game between the Florida State Seminoles and the Auburn Tigers in the 2014 BCS National Championship game at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The 2014 BCS National Championship is tonight and while Virginia Tech fans will unfortunately not be represented by the Hokies tonight. Many Virginia Tech fans will watch the game and probably wonder if they should root for Florida State or Auburn to win the final national title before the new 4-team College Football Playoff kicks off next season. There is definitely nothing wrong with just enjoying the game for the sake of the game but it is just human nature for us to pick a team to root for so which team should you root for?
If you do choose to root for one of the two teams instead of just being neutral, then you should root for Florida State even though that would be difficult. However, why should you root for the Seminoles if you don’t want to be neutral tonight?
1. An ACC team at the top benefits the whole conference.
The SEC has dominated college football for what could be a decade in a couple of years but Florida State has an excellent opportunity to take down Auburn and bring some respect to the ACC. The ACC gained only minimal respect when Clemson took down a Ohio State team that had its best win come against Wisconsin. The Seminoles have the chance tonight to prove that the ACC is a solid conference in football and prove that the ACC is better than the Big 10 on the gridiron. The chance to play in the conference of the most recent national champion will also help the Hokies in recruiting with the best players wanting to test themselves in what would look like a much tougher ACC if Florida State wins tonight. This is just one of the many reasons why Virginia Tech fans should root for the Seminoles tonight in this big showdown.
2. It’s time for the SEC to be humbled.
The SEC has been gloating for the last 8 seasons to the rest of college football that their conference is the best by a mile and that no other conference has the ability to stop them but that could all change tonight. The SEC is extremely boastful about its success in the previous 7 seasons and it is time for the SEC to learn that it isn’t the only place where great college football is played in our nation. The SEC has gotten so much acclaim that ESPN is going to have the SEC Network which will actually have an actual permanent spot in the TV Guide unlike the ACC Network which just sends out broadcasts for sports to other local TV networks. This is a chance to see the SEC get humbled tonight and that would bring plenty of joy to fans all across the country including Hokies’ fans.
3. A victory would put Jameis Winston’s season among the greatest ever.
It is hard for any player to win a Heisman Trophy and win a national title in the season season but Jameis Winston will have the chance to do that at not a SEC school like many would have thought but at an ACC school. Now Jameis Winston has caused plenty of controversy over the past year but there is no denying the type of performance that Winston has had every week during this past season. A great season by Winston would also likely make him more willing to leave for the 2015 NFL Draft. since he would have had the best season possible no matter what could happen to him next season. Not having to worry about Jameis Winston beyond next season would be a very pleasant gift for Virginia Tech and the rest of the ACC.