Virginia Tech 24, Florida State 3

Bud Foster broke Florida State.

[Cory Hancock]

That happened.

Justin Fuente earned a signature win. The first bona fide one of his Hokies' tenure. Virginia Tech, a 7-point underdog, went on the road and knocked off Florida State, 24-3. And what a bunch of rude house guests the Hokies were. Use a coaster, damn it! The Seminoles had the perfect evening planned too. Willie Taggart's debut in garnet and gold. The 'Noles dapper in all-black uniforms — formal wear fit to usher in the new era of FSU football. A national audience tuned in for the unveiling of "Lethal Simplicity" on the national stage. The Hokies spoiled it all.

After an offseason where assistant-coach-resigns-after-sex-scandal might not crack the top five bad things to happen to a program, it was surreal.

But it should have been familiar. That was vintage BeamerBall. Check all the boxes:

Blocked punt returned for a touchdown.

The offense didn't turn it over, but squandered field position down the stretch on numerous possessions. (It should have been an even more lopsided win.)

And then the defense. In the face of all the well-documented offseason departures, the Hokies' defense strangled the 'Noles. It was a 5-sack, 3-interception, relentless masterpiece orchestrated by Bud Foster.

Instead of focussing on the departures of Greg Stroman, Tim Settle, Adonis Alexander, Mook Reynolds, and Brandon Facyson, most should have listened to Ricky Walker (this author included).

"As long as Bud Foster is in Blacksburg, I think we're going to be just fine," said Walker at ACC Kickoff.

"In Bud we trust" is cliche, but it's also the damn truth. For Foster, Monday night was another stamp on the program he helped build through two eras of Virginia Tech football.

Go ahead and try to imagine what type of roster Foster would have to have work with in order to field a bad defense. It's tough to do.

You needed a media guide handy to identify all the foreign numbers making tackles. The front-seven, scarily thin at defensive tackle and all, was stout at the point of attack. Subtract the lone busted run from stud running back Cam Akers (85 yards) and FSU netted 9 rushing yards. 😱

Deondre Francois was bottled up and looked average. Tech's young secondary held its own in some tough coverage assignments. The Florida State offense, described as "Lethal Simplicity", was rendered impotent.

Virginia Tech raised expectations for its 2018 campaign on Monday night. That might be a brazen claim based on a one-game sample. And sure Florida State might turn out to be an unranked, seven-win program by season's end. Regardless, the Hokies went on the road, in a hostile environment, and beat a star-studded, conference opponent. That's impressive. (Consider too how ordinary Miami looked in its opener against LSU.)

Moreover, Tech demonstrated it can throw it back to the Beamer years — play smart on offense, capitalize on special teams, and leverage a capable defense. That's an identity that paid dividends. And finally, there's plenty of room for improvement. Take the drives that sputtered on the Florida State side of the field. Now contemplate the makeup of the Hokies if those resulted points and not change of possession. Indeed, that's some rich and delightful thinking.

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VT Class of '12 (MSE), MVBone, Go Hokies!

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"Our job as coaches is to influence young people's lives for the better in terms of fundamental skills, work ethic, and doing the right thing. Every now and again, a player actually has that effect on the coaching staff." Justin Fuente on Sam Rogers

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Maroon helmet with orange gobbler logo is the best helmet.....change my mind.

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I love a good nap. Sometimes that's all that's getting me out of bed in the morning.

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"They got us field position and then the offense stuck it in." - Frank Beamer

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Take the shortest route to the ball and arrive in bad humor.

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Outspoken team cake advocate. Hates terrapins. Resident Macho Man Gif Poster. Distant cousin to Dork Magic. Frequently misspells words.

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Outspoken team cake advocate. Hates terrapins. Resident Macho Man Gif Poster. Distant cousin to Dork Magic. Frequently misspells words.

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“I'm addicted to placebos. I could quit, but it wouldn't matter”~steven wright

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Maroon helmet with orange gobbler logo is the best helmet.....change my mind.

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Outspoken team cake advocate. Hates terrapins. Resident Macho Man Gif Poster. Distant cousin to Dork Magic. Frequently misspells words.

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The Orange and Maroon you see, that's fighting on to victory.

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Outspoken team cake advocate. Hates terrapins. Resident Macho Man Gif Poster. Distant cousin to Dork Magic. Frequently misspells words.

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Pain is Temporary, Chicks Dig Scars
Glory is Forever, Let's Go Hokies!!

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Joffrey, Cersei, Ilyn Payne, the Hound, Jeff Jagodzinski, Paul Johnson, Pat Narduzzi.

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"Our job as coaches is to influence young people's lives for the better in terms of fundamental skills, work ethic, and doing the right thing. Every now and again, a player actually has that effect on the coaching staff." Justin Fuente on Sam Rogers

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Born in Charlottesville, Reborn in Blacksburg

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Pain is Temporary, Chicks Dig Scars
Glory is Forever, Let's Go Hokies!!

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"Why gobble gobble chumps asks such good questions, I will never know." - TheFifthFuller

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I have no idea why my username is VT_Warthog.

Arkansas blew a 24-0 lead in the Belk Bowl.

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"Our job as coaches is to influence young people's lives for the better in terms of fundamental skills, work ethic, and doing the right thing. Every now and again, a player actually has that effect on the coaching staff." Justin Fuente on Sam Rogers

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To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
@VTnerf on insta, @BuryHokie on twitter, #ThanksFrank

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To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
@VTnerf on insta, @BuryHokie on twitter, #ThanksFrank

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30 years after starting grad school at Virginia Tech, I finally defended my dissertation and earned my PhD.
Don't give up on your dreams.

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30 years after starting grad school at Virginia Tech, I finally defended my dissertation and earned my PhD.
Don't give up on your dreams.

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"I liked you guys a lot better when everybody told you you were terrible." -Justin Fuente

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Hokie in West Africa...sadly, I can't jump up and down hard enough for it to be felt in Lane

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A decade on TKP and it's been time well spent.

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To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
@VTnerf on insta, @BuryHokie on twitter, #ThanksFrank

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"Our job as coaches is to influence young people's lives for the better in terms of fundamental skills, work ethic, and doing the right thing. Every now and again, a player actually has that effect on the coaching staff." Justin Fuente on Sam Rogers

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Vols Fans are more delusional than LOLUVA

Hokie in Tennessee

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30 years after starting grad school at Virginia Tech, I finally defended my dissertation and earned my PhD.
Don't give up on your dreams.

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"Our job as coaches is to influence young people's lives for the better in terms of fundamental skills, work ethic, and doing the right thing. Every now and again, a player actually has that effect on the coaching staff." Justin Fuente on Sam Rogers

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"Our job as coaches is to influence young people's lives for the better in terms of fundamental skills, work ethic, and doing the right thing. Every now and again, a player actually has that effect on the coaching staff." Justin Fuente on Sam Rogers

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You will see this game, this upset and this sign next on ESPN Sportscenter. Virginia Tech 31 Miami 7

His decision was made after a phone call with longtime Virginia Tech assistant coach Bud Foster. All Foster told him was, "We win. They don't."

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"...sticks and stones may break my bones but I'm gonna kick you repeatedly in the balls Gardoki!"

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"We judge ourselves by our intentions and others by their behavior" Stephen M.R. Covey

“When life knocks you down plan to land on your back, because if you can look up, you can get up, if you fall flat on your face it can kill your spirit” David Wilson

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"We judge ourselves by our intentions and others by their behavior" Stephen M.R. Covey

“When life knocks you down plan to land on your back, because if you can look up, you can get up, if you fall flat on your face it can kill your spirit” David Wilson

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"I'll put a quote here to distract you from my inane comment."-Me

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"Take care of the little things and the big things will come."

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"Our job as coaches is to influence young people's lives for the better in terms of fundamental skills, work ethic, and doing the right thing. Every now and again, a player actually has that effect on the coaching staff." Justin Fuente on Sam Rogers

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To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
@VTnerf on insta, @BuryHokie on twitter, #ThanksFrank

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"...sticks and stones may break my bones but I'm gonna kick you repeatedly in the balls Gardoki!"

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I just sit on my couch and b*tch. - HokieChemE2016

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"Our job as coaches is to influence young people's lives for the better in terms of fundamental skills, work ethic, and doing the right thing. Every now and again, a player actually has that effect on the coaching staff." Justin Fuente on Sam Rogers

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I can imagine no more rewarding a career. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction:
“I served in the United States Navy"

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30 years after starting grad school at Virginia Tech, I finally defended my dissertation and earned my PhD.
Don't give up on your dreams.

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"Take care of the little things and the big things will come."

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"I'll put a quote here to distract you from my inane comment."-Me

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Now finish up them taters; I'm gonna go fondle my sweaters.

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To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
@VTnerf on insta, @BuryHokie on twitter, #ThanksFrank

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To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
@VTnerf on insta, @BuryHokie on twitter, #ThanksFrank

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Warning: this post occasionally contains strong language (which may be unsuitable for children), unusual humor (which may be unsuitable for adults), and advanced mathematics (which may be unsuitable for liberal-arts majors)..

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Taylor, looking desperately throws it deep..HAS A MAN OPEN DANNY COALE WITH A CATCH ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FIVE!!!!....hes still open

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Warning: this post occasionally contains strong language (which may be unsuitable for children), unusual humor (which may be unsuitable for adults), and advanced mathematics (which may be unsuitable for liberal-arts majors)..

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Wet stuff on the red stuff.

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"Our job as coaches is to influence young people's lives for the better in terms of fundamental skills, work ethic, and doing the right thing. Every now and again, a player actually has that effect on the coaching staff." Justin Fuente on Sam Rogers

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

You will see this game, this upset and this sign next on ESPN Sportscenter. Virginia Tech 31 Miami 7

His decision was made after a phone call with longtime Virginia Tech assistant coach Bud Foster. All Foster told him was, "We win. They don't."

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"Our job as coaches is to influence young people's lives for the better in terms of fundamental skills, work ethic, and doing the right thing. Every now and again, a player actually has that effect on the coaching staff." Justin Fuente on Sam Rogers

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Taylor, looking desperately throws it deep..HAS A MAN OPEN DANNY COALE WITH A CATCH ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FIVE!!!!....hes still open

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If you can't handle my shit posts, you don't deserve my memes

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Maroon helmet with orange gobbler logo is the best helmet.....change my mind.

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To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
@VTnerf on insta, @BuryHokie on twitter, #ThanksFrank

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30 years after starting grad school at Virginia Tech, I finally defended my dissertation and earned my PhD.
Don't give up on your dreams.

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"What kind of person would throw away a perfectly good dog?"

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The Orange and Maroon you see, that's fighting on to victory.

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Warning: this post occasionally contains strong language (which may be unsuitable for children), unusual humor (which may be unsuitable for adults), and advanced mathematics (which may be unsuitable for liberal-arts majors)..

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Maroon helmet with orange gobbler logo is the best helmet.....change my mind.

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To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
@VTnerf on insta, @BuryHokie on twitter, #ThanksFrank

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To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
@VTnerf on insta, @BuryHokie on twitter, #ThanksFrank

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twitter @smithey_daniel
head scout BSP scouting specializing in north florida/ southern GA highschool football scouting

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Maroon helmet with orange gobbler logo is the best helmet.....change my mind.

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Wet stuff on the red stuff.

Join us in the Key Players Club

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Sometimes we live no particular way but our own

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"What kind of person would throw away a perfectly good dog?"

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Pain is Temporary, Chicks Dig Scars
Glory is Forever, Let's Go Hokies!!

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I love a good nap. Sometimes that's all that's getting me out of bed in the morning.

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"Welcome to the Terror Dome." -- Corey Moore

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'Its easy to grin, when your ship comes in, and you've got the stock market beat,
but the man worthwhile, is the man who can smile, when his shorts are too tight in the seat'

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"Tajh Boyd over the middle . . . and it's caught for an interception! Michael Cole, lying flat on his back, ARE YOU KIDDING???"

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'Its easy to grin, when your ship comes in, and you've got the stock market beat,
but the man worthwhile, is the man who can smile, when his shorts are too tight in the seat'

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Warning: this post occasionally contains strong language (which may be unsuitable for children), unusual humor (which may be unsuitable for adults), and advanced mathematics (which may be unsuitable for liberal-arts majors)..