When did you first notice a decline in the VT offense?

We all know the VT offense has never been a consistent juggernaut. We've had ups and downs but Beamer has always seemed to prefer a ball control offense first and not necessarily seemed to worry about constantly have big threats that can score from anywhere, anytime. And I don't think there's anything wrong with it, Beamer has won lots and lots of games with his philosophy.

But...I remember a home game vs. Syracuse. Might have been 2001? We lost. Something like 21-14? The whole game the team just couldn't run the ball. I remember a few goal line stands by Syracuse where we just couldn't stick it in.

I think that was the first time I saw a failure like that where it was obvious there was something different. The inability to stuff the ball in the end zone, a noticeable decline of the smashmouth running game, I think that game was the first time I think I noticed it. There have been times that the smashmouth running game has come back, but it's never come back as consistent, and that game against Syracuse was the first time I really was saying "huh? we've always been able to pick up a yard for a TD? what's wrong?"