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MIAMI — Virginia Tech can only hope it can move around the Cincinnati Bearcats in tonight’s FedEx Orange Bowl like Diddy did.

Concerned that a New Year’s Eve party being hosted by rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs could be disconcerting for his team at the luxurious Fontainebleau hotel, Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly decided to move the Bearcats to an another hotel Wednesday.

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MIAMI — Maybe the best way to earn trust in your players is simply to show up one day, say hello, and win a bowl game together two weeks later.

That formula certainly seemed to work for Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly.

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Mardy Gilyard had lost his scholarship and was living out of his car just 18 months ago.

MIAMI — From March through July 2007, Mardy Gilyard was a member of the city of Cincinnati’s homeless population.

Well, Gilyard had a place to stay. He was sleeping in his car, which was stuffed with all his belongings.

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MIAMI — Darren Evans sat in the Dolphins Stadium stands during the Hokies’ 24-21 loss to Kansas in last year’s Orange Bowl. This year’s game will be a little more actionpacked for Virginia Tech’s standout redshirt freshman tailback.

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Tyrod Taylor and Virginia Tech’s young offense find their way to the big stage.

MIAMI — Tyrod Taylor hit the renowned South Beach party strip here last Saturday night. About all the kid could do, though, was look.

So Virginia Tech’s 19-year-old sophomore quarterback took the first shuttle bus heading back to the Hokies’ hotel, 25 miles north of town.

Popularity: unranked