The live blog will start at 3:15, Box and I (mayhaps Adam too) will be running the show. Before kickoff take a look at:
The console is after the jump.
Who: #21/17 Virginia Tech Hokies (4-1, 0-1 ACC) vs Miami Hurricanes (2-2, 0-1 ACC)
Time: 3:36 PM
TV Coverage: ABC/ESPN (Mike Patrick, Craig James)
Venue: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA (66,233 – Grass)
Series History: Miami leads 17-11
Injury Report
The Opponent: It’s Miami week, but you couldn’t tell based upon the lack of hype for this game. Entering this two game stretch against Clemson and Miami, I thought the Miami game was more important, and that’s now definitely true based upon what happened last week. Neither Tech nor Miami can afford to go 0-2 in conference with Georgia Tech playing the way they are now.
Vintage VTPhreak4Evr
Did you really need a reminder?
Did you forget about that two-point conversion Ernest Wilford dropped to silence Lane in 2001? You could hear a pin drop. How about the 56 the 'Canes put on us the very next year? Maybe you remember Rocky McIntosh taking up residence in our backfield, and Miami throwing up 27 straight to our dome in 2005? Or Sebastian's foot twisting on the HokieBird's neck in '08? Does the word swagger ring a bell?
I can vividly remember the losses. The wins are a blissful blur; as they should be.
Box's latest handy work from the Mascot Mock.
Fuck Miami.
Sorry about the title - I couldn't resist with all the dumbassery happening on Wall Street - but, what I am about to say just might be more unpopular than the Unpopular Opinion. It's been a long 4 days (due to work kicking me in the junk ... repeatedly) since that fateful night, so only now am I catching up on Hokie Nation's response to the Clemson game.
My reaction to last Saturday?
A resounding Meh. As in, "I don't really care."
Before today the only Miami game I had watched was their Labor Day opener against Maryland. Although it was a 24-32 loss I was impressed with how competitive they were considering they had 9 players, most of which were either starters or on the two-deep, suspended (8 by the NCAA and wide receiver Aldarius Johnson was suspended indefinitely by Al Golden). The 'Canes that played on Labor Day are not the team that will travel to Blacksburg on Saturday, on paper they are much, much better. Aside from defensive end Olivier Vernon, all of their suspended players are eligible; 5 have been playing since the Maryland game.
I wanted to get a better idea of how the Hurricanes looked with a more complete roster so I watched the first half of Miami–Bethune-Cookman and the second half of Miami–Kansas State.
Miami was sloppy in the first half against I-AA Bethune-Cookman. They gave up a lot of big plays, and committed 6 penalties for 41 yards, their only penalties of the game. If the Wildcats don't fumble on the two-yard-line and miss a field goal, they take a 17-14 lead into the half, instead of being down 7-14. Miami would eventually blowout the Wildcats, 45-14.
The week after the first loss is tough. The drive home feels like it takes twice as long. You're tired all day on Sunday from a few too many drinks and 3 hours of yelling. And of course Monday morning at work is never complete without being trolled by coworkers whose teams are more awful than yours. All of that would be easier to swallow if not for that lingering mushroom cloud of bad memories and constant thinking about all of Tech's weaknesses. All that sure makes me feel like writing two nights later, but the show must go on.
The U is located in Coral Gables, Florida about 14 miles south of downtown Miami. The University was founded in 1925, the NCAA most likely investigated later that year. Some notable alumni who aren't athletes are Ray Liotta, Sylvester Stallone, Gene Roddenberry, among others. The city of Miami is home to wonderful weather and an excellent selection of seafood. So I will make fish tacos, even though I know it would be great fun to grill up some ibis.
Ingredients
I just want to start by saying that I am just as pissed as you all are. We can all point to the reasons that the scoreboard said 23-3 after the Clemson game Saturday night, and I could rehash many of them. First, I want to focus on a couple of positives, and then I want to fire some howitzers.
This space has been reserved for talking about individual performances on the field, and I will get to that. But I would be doing myself a disservice by not addressing what seem to be persistent issues with this team.
The play calling on Saturday night was a travesty. We were once again witness to a complete schooling on offense.
I'm fully aware that Logan left much to be desired, but the staff isn't getting him in positions to succeed -- which Clemson seems to do well. Sure, Logan was off on the slant to Boykin that resulted in a pick (albeit a non disastrous one), but that's no reason to shy away from it for the next 30 minutes. There's no intermediate passing game. They're sending three guys out there, two of them are running routes 20 yards down the field. Clemson could have stood still and they would have been covered. What is he supposed to do with the football?
And where are the designed runs for Logan? Early in the game, we had Clemson in a 2nd and 18, and the play call was a designed draw for Boyd, who took it 14 yards, setting up a third and short. While we probably would not have converted a 3rd and 4, we would have at least had a chance. And if it's 3rd and 1, Logan should be going for the dive 100 out of 100 times. I don't even want a fake dive pass. Dives every time. There's your Cam Newton comparison.
The chilled air, rain and wind whipping around Lane Stadium made Saturday's slap across the face sting that much more. It was a sobering wake up call. It was the same as it ever was. That game should have been remembered for the tremendous defensive performance orchestrated by Bud Foster. Freshman sensation Sammy Watkins was a non-factor, Tajh Boyd didn't distinguish himself. In their previous four games Clemson gobbled up yards with ease, Saturday night they had to claw for everything they got. Clemson wanted to run 80 plays, they had to settle for 67. Instead, I'll continue to try to answer the "what ifs" floating around my head.
What if David Wilson hadn't fumbled? What if Nosal hadn't jumped on 3rd and goal? What if Logan's shoulder was one hundred percent, would he have ran more, would we have called more running plays for him, would he have been more accurate? What if Eddie didn't blow his coverage, would it have taken some of the pressure off of the offense? What if Demler could've pinned Clemson deep? What if the offensive line played their last 30 minutes as well as their first 30? What if the offense's game plan was as airtight as the defense's?
