Virginia Tech's 'Unprecedented' Belk Bowl Comeback: 'Now, That’s Entertainment'

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Virginia Tech's football team beat Arkansas 35-24 in Thursday night's Belk Bowl after trailing 24-0 at halftime.

That's the bottom-line fact, but here's a look at what three state newspaper columnists who were on hand in Charlotte had to say.

They include David Teel of the Daily Press (Hampton/Newport News), Aaron McFarling of the Roanoke Times and Paul Woody of the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

We provide the first few paragraphs from each, and then a link.

• Teel's take:

"With offensive chops rooted in his days as an Oklahoma quarterback, Justin Fuente delivered optimism to Virginia Tech football.

He delivered the energy you'd expect from ACC football's youngest big whistle — he turned 40 in July.

And he delivered results in the form of an ACC Coastal Division title, road conquests of North Carolina and Pittsburgh, and an innovative attack reminiscent of his time as TCU's coordinator and Memphis' head coach.

Then came Thursday — a night this program, this coach and these resolute players, not to mention their leather-lunged fans, will long treasure." Here's the link.

• McFarling's take:

"This is why they hired Justin Fuente. It wasn’t just that they liked his demeanor and his track record. It was broader than that, psychological as well as schematic.

They wanted to brush away the cobwebs of the old offense, create some new possibilities, engender some fresh hope.

Virginia Tech’s 2016 season ended with an amazing performance in the Belk Bowl on Thursday night, with something the Hokies hadn’t done in their 124-year football history. Rallying from a miserable first half, they beat Arkansas 35-24, capping a 10-win campaign with an unprecedented comeback that won’t soon be forgotten." Here's the link.

• Woody's take:

"Now, that’s entertainment.

Say what you will about the Belk Bowl, it didn’t lack for action.

In the first half, the action favored Arkansas, to the tune of a 24-0 lead.

In the second half, the action favored Virginia Tech, to the tune of a 35-0 comeback." Here's the link.

Photo: Virginia Tech