Willie Byrn Sums Up Tech's Past Woes, Future Goals In Greensboro

GREENSBORO, NC — The 5-foot-10 receiver entered Sunday's media session as a cameraman, spoke like a philosopher and left as a hungry upperclassman.

Willie Byrn's availability at the ACC Kickoff Weekend started with a bang when the wideout sat at his interview table with a GoPro camera atop his head.

Soon after, the camera — used for HokieSports.com footage — came off and Byrn got down to business.

Last year's offensive struggles topped the list of questions.

"I think you need to have a leader and I also think you need to lead through numbers," the Virginia Beach native said. "I think because of the whole blue collar thing, everyone understood what they're good at and what they're not good at.

"We need to be competing for ACC titles. That's what (the fans) grew accustomed to."

It sounded like a page out of the Virginia Tech 2013 fan's bible. At some point, the Hokies offense must improve for it to reach the goal.

Bryan Stinespring's demotion cleared the path for Scot Loeffler to run the offense.

Byrn said he's seen a noticeable difference in his second year with "Lefty."

"Everyone's gotten a lot more comfortable this season," Byrn said. "It's a leg up this year. From the first rep, you hit the ground running."

He then channeled his inner-Plato.

"Knowing the tweaks and what to do, it's a world of difference. To an extent, everything takes time."

The diminutive receiver shrugged his shoulders and admitted what most wideouts hate to say:

"We gotta run the ball," he said.

He began last season with just one career catch, but Byrn's 2013 season concluded with 51 receptions, 660 yards and two touchdowns.

A post-Alabama loss meeting sparked his campaign.

"I kinda had confidence that as soon as I got my chance, I would shine," Byrn recalled. "After the Bama game, the coaches told me, 'We shoulda got you more involved in third downs.'

"We played Western Carolina next and I thought, 'This is my chance.'"

Byrn caught four passes for 58 yards in a 45-3 blowout of the FCS-level Catamounts.

The Hokies open with another lower-level opponent this season in the CAA's William & Mary. A tantalizing opportunity awaits Tech after the first week — a date in Columbus with Ohio State.

"That's gonna be big," Byrd said. "We can't overlook William & Mary. We've been bitten by a I-AA team before.

"But, I'd be lying to you if I said I went to sleep at night not thinking about Ohio State."

It certainly appeared Byrn stayed on the same page as the fanbase throughout his interview.

He admitted no quarterback should have to run up the middle as much as former-Hokie Logan Thomas did last season. Byrn also addressed the team's disappointing overtime loss to Maryland after the offense's best game — a 42-24 win at Miami.

"We can't lay an egg and then beat someone like we did against Miami and then lay another egg," he said.

His mission when he came to Blacksburg is shared with those who support the team. Both have come up short.

Byrn made no bones about the goal in his final season at Tech. It hasn't changed.

"I would like for us to win an ACC Championship," he said.

His face seemed hopeful. It resembled those who drape themselves in orange and maroon each fall Saturday.

It wasn't a given.

The Hokies know they can no longer expect to be atop the pile on reputation alone when the dust settles.