The Twelve Days of Christmas: Day 11

Jeremy's Status Message Proudly Presents The Twelve Days of Christmas:

On the eleventh day of Christmas my Hokies gave to me... a loss.

That was my actual status message on Sametime. For completeness, here's the rest:

Eleven special teams players, none of whom accounted for the Kansas player who ran up the middle untouched to block a short field goal attempt. The final score differential? Three points.

Ten senior starters who just played their last college game and went out with a whimper.

Number nine, linebacker Vince Hall, who is one of the best defensive players on the team, about whom I read the following yesterday:

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Virginia Tech starting senior linebacker Vince Hall is questionable for Thursday's FedEx Orange Bowl against Kansas with a bruised left knee he injured Sunday at the team beach party.

Eight months until Tech plays another meaningful game. That means eight months of moping about this loss.

A seven point gift of an interception return for a touchdown thrown by our quarterback of the future for the game's first score. Good thing he's the quarterback of the future, because I don't think I can take the present anymore.

Six Buffalo wings. OK, so the Hokies did not give them to me, but they were the highlight of my evening, so I figured I should mention them.

Five sacks allowed.

A fourth and ten conversion when Tech opted to bring their cover guys in from the gunners to rush the punter... and then the Kansas up-man threw the ball to an uncovered gunner for a 22 yard gain. Through some fluke, this drive contained a 1st and goal from the Virginia Tech 1-yard-line, followed shortly by a 2nd and goal from the Virginia Tech 29-yard-line, followed by a Tech interception, keeping Kansas from scoring. This lessened the pain a bit after the aforementioned missed field goal... but only a bit.

Three turnovers, resulting in 17 Kansas points.

Two quarterbacks. We had two quarterbacks this season along with the best receiving corps our school has ever trotted out on the field. The result? Nothing special. Who'd have thought I'd be longing for the days of Bryan Randall?

And one good thing: At least we're not Notre Dame.

Explanation: OK, so technically they gave me all of this stuff last night on the tenth day of Christmas, but the eleventh day was the first day I could post about it, so that's why it's here.

Answers to Yesterday's Cryptic Crossword Clues:

10) Bounding angle pi confused clearing (7): LEAPING
Bounding is a synonym for leaping. "ANGLE PI" confused, or mixed-up is "LEAPING". Clearing is also a synonym for leaping.

9) Women's mixed-up ideals (6): LADIES
Women's is a synonym for ladies' and "IDEALS" mixed-up is "LADIES"

8) In the beginning man ate insects, dinosaurs, sometimes the help (5): MAIDS
In the beginning of "Man Ate Insects, Dinosaurs, Sometimes" is M-A-I-D-S. "The help" are maids.

7) She was a nun's sister initially (5): SWANS
"She Was A Nun's Sister" initially is S.W.A.N.S.

6) Placing some of replay in green (6): LAYING
"Placing" is another word for "LAYING". Some of "repLAY IN Green" is "LAYING".

5) blonde returned part of reasoned logic (6): GOLDEN
"Blonde" is another word for "GOLDEN". Part of "reasoNED LOGic" returned is "GOLDEN".

4) Art or craft racket (7): CALLING
Art, craft, and racket are all synonyms for CALLING.

3) We would be yes to the ear, cheese eaters (6): FRENCH
To the ear, "We" and "Oui" are the same. And it would mean yes in FRENCH. "Cheese-eaters" is a dirty clue, but if you know me at all, you know that I like to call the FRENCH "Cheese-eating surrender monkeys."

2) Peacemakers do vestment introduction (5): DOVES
Another word for "peacemakers" is "DOVES". The introduction of "DO VEStment" is "DOVES".

1) We hear twins appear topless (4): PEAR
Twins would be a "pair" which we hear as "pear". "APPEAR" without it's top is "PEAR".

Bonus Clues That Didn't Make the Cut:

10) Creators marry ladies (5): LORDS
"Creators" are lords, and lords "marry ladies"

9) Rather croon it sounds like waltzing (7): DANCING
"Rather croon" is another way to say, "Dan sing" which sounds like "dancing". Waltzing is a synonym for dancing

8) Bleeding breed seen in a ruling dynasty (7): MILKING
"Bleeding" is another word for "milking." Another word for breed is "Ilk". A ruling dynasty is "Ming". "ILK" in "MING" is "MILKING"

7) Stroking oddly sows IBM's main nags bathing (8): SWIMMING
"Stroking" is another word for "SWIMMING". "SoWs IbMs MaIn NaGs" oddly is "SWIMMING". Bathing is another word for swimming.

5) Beheaded cellos worn by Elrond and Galadriel (5): RINGS
Cellos are "strings" and if you "behead" of "STRINGS", you get "RINGS". RINGS were "Worn by Elrond and Galadriel" in Lord of the Rings.

1) Danny or Shirley even spray rotors in degree (9): PARTRIDGE
Danny and Shirley were PARTRIDGEs in the "Partridge Family". The even letters in "sPrAy RoToRs In DeGrEe" spell "PARTRIDGE".

1) Astronaut reentry conceals ash or Aspen shades (4): TREE
"astronauT REEntry" conceals "TREE". Ash and aspen are types of tree, and trees shade.