In a stunning turn of events, the Virginia Tech Hokies closed out their football season with an impressive victory in the Military Bowl, defeating Tulane by a commanding three possessions. The win over a ranked team that had 11 victories and a Cotton Bowl victory last year was a significant accomplishment for the Hokies, who struggled to find similar success during the regular season.

Defensive coordinator Jack Pry, who took over as interim head coach after the firing of Justin Fuente, expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance, noting that this win was one they couldn't find during the season. Despite not playing at their best, the Hokies proved their resilience and ability to come out on top.

The Hokies' first glimpse of Pry's coaching prowess came in the 2021 Pinstripe Bowl, where they suffered a historic 54-10 loss to Maryland. However, the team showed significant growth since then, with Pry acknowledging the players' ability to overcome adversity and trust the process.

One of the major improvements for the Hokies this season was their running game, which played a crucial role in their victory over Tulane. Virginia Tech set a program bowl record by rushing for an impressive 362 yards, with quarterback Kyron Drones taking home the game's MVP title after rushing for a Military Bowl-record 176 yards. Running back Bhayshul Tuten also made a significant contribution with 136 rushing yards.

Last season, the Hokies struggled to establish a strong running game, averaging only 110.8 rushing yards per game and 3.1 yards per attempt. However, this year saw a tremendous improvement, with Virginia Tech averaging 189.9 rushing yards per game and 4.9 yards per carry. The team also displayed an explosive offense, recording 16 rushes of 30 or more yards throughout the season.

Coach Pry attributed the success of the running game to the collective efforts of the offensive line, who steadily improved each week, and the unselfishness of the wide receiver corps. He praised their blocking abilities, which played a crucial role in creating big-play opportunities for the team.

With the victory in the Military Bowl, the Hokies ended the season with back-to-back wins for the first time since 2015. Looking ahead to the 2024 season, Virginia Tech has plenty to be optimistic about, as they are set to retain most of their top players and face a less intimidating schedule. The team's potential additions through transfers, including highly-rated defensive tackle Kelvin Gilliam, further enhance their prospects for next year.

As departing senior defensive tackle Norell Pollard aptly put it, "The sky's the limit" for the Virginia Tech Hokies. The team's impressive performance in the Military Bowl signals a positive trajectory for the program and provides a glimpse of what they can achieve in the coming seasons.

In other sports news on this day, various historic events in football and hockey were recorded, including NFL title game victories by the Baltimore Colts and the Cleveland Browns in 1959 and 1964, respectively. Ohio State's Archie Griffin won the Heisman Trophy in 1974, while in 2005, Arizona State secured a thrilling victory over Rutgers in the Insight Bowl. Notably, Chris Osgood reached the milestone of 400 career wins as a goaltender for the Detroit Red Wings in 2010.