I'm writing about basketball this week–I need the change of pace just as much as you guys do, tbh–but two little things I probably would've written about:
At this point, I don't think anyone would be fooled by a single result, but there's a lesson to be learned here. Tech was dominant on both sides of the line of scrimmage. They were bigger, stronger, tougher. Receivers ran open, backs sprinted into the open field, quarterbacks could bomb away with abandon. This says significantly more about Duke than Tech (someone needs to tell Cutcliffe it's time...)
Games like this shouldn't be the anomaly, they should be the norm. Physically dominant, confident performances. They made mistakes, but played with such confidence in all three phases that it didn't really matter. This is the kind of game I hope the new coaching staff can string together more of. Not even in regards to the score, just in the way they played with physicality and confidence.
Second point: I went to Texas-Kansas last night, and if you think the Tech fanbase is toxic/caustic/unrealistic, I urge you to meet a Longhorn fan. Because let me tell you, things got dire in a HURRY. We got "go back to Bama" chants at Steve Sarkisian, booing the team when they were down 14-0 in the first quarter and leaving at halftime.
I know no one wants to lose to Kansas, but that crowd seemed to expect to lose half way through the fourth quarter. The "ah shit, here we go again" energy was palpable. They're a group with sky-high expectations and a program that will probably never live up to them. I know it isn't usually productive to compare yourself to someone else, but it was a nice reminder that it could always be worse. I'd take Tech and their problems over Texas' issues every time.
Comments
I think the program is in better shape than some folks give it credit for. We lost some close games to some pretty good teams.
Unfortunately, "lost" is the operative word, and my expectation is that the opponents are the ones losing the close ones.
Bingo. Pitt and BC aside, we are very damn close to being 8-2. It feels like a canyon between 5-5 and 8-2, but just a little more here and there and we're riding relatively high. Just can't quite get over the hump. I feel like that's the mantra of this program for years.
Syracuse, good team?
17-3, 28-7, close games?
3 passing yards at halftime?
Nah, the Duke game doesn't change any of that
I was thinking more of Notre Dame, really.
Oh the one where we coached away our lead in the final minutes
*one of the ones
yeah, one good team. we lost to a lot of not good teams.
Sure Syracuse sucked this past week, but don't forget they lost 3 straight by a late FG (including an OT loss to Wake) and with a few breaks could easily be 8-2 right now.
CFB is becoming like the NFL. Unless you have a future HOF QB, it's a bunch of teams separated by little more than in-game luck and injury lists.
It's not 1990 or even 2010 anymore - and a whole bunch of fan bases (of which VT is one) need to temper their expectations because 8-4 is going be like going 11-5 in the NFL, i.e. a very respectable season. Few programs are going to consistently win 8 or more games year in and year out.
But a whole bunch of AD's are going to make really bad coaching firing/hiring decisions and unnecessarily make a lot of ex-coaches richer before they and their fanbases realize it.
Right but just because both VT and Syracuse could "easily be 8-2" doesn't mean they're that good. Good teams win those close games and the bad teams lose them. That's why Syracuse will never be 8-2.
True. Sort of. Yes, ultimately W-L record is the most important measure of success. But if you use W-L record to try to predict a future result, you're often going to look silly in an age of parity because it's not a particularly good reflection of how good or bad a team is or how well a team will match up with another.
What I'm basically saying is you can't dismiss Syracuse (or VT or a bunch of other teams) because the difference is very small these days and - like the NFL - the difference between "good" and "bad" teams in any given year is often just fluke luck and injuries. For many teams, it's flipping a coin. Some seasons you get 8 heads and 2 tails. But only a fool would delude themselves into thinking that's not just chance.
The difference between the 3rd and 14th best teams in the ACC is really small this year. And honestly, #1 & #2 are one injury from being closer to the bottom than the top.
And again as parity invades CFB more and more, fans of 2nd tier programs need to disabuse themselves of the notion if they just play well, they'll go 9-3 or 10-2 most years. Those days are largely over and those fans better start understanding that things will need to go right to 10-2 and it won't take much going the wrong way to end up 6-6.
Look at UVa. They won a couple of close last second games, but it wasn't because they are (or were) good or they did something special to win those game. In fact, they put themselves in perfect position to lose both games. It was almost entirely on the other team. The difference between them being 4-6 (UVa sucks) and 6-4 (UVa's pretty good) is razor thin.
Just a point of order. No matter their record, UVA always sucks.
I will never buy into the close loss argument that Fuente and his supporters have been carrying for years. If you don't want a close loss to Syracuse then beat them by 2 touchdowns! They suck!
What about close wins that we bank and forget? (See a Richmond, Furman etc.) A win is win just like a loss is a loss.
Yes but any change that is positive makes those wins. Any change .... like a coach. Our programs isn't destroyed like many believe, we are close, it's just that something has to change to improve it.
Close, until it becomes a trend. We have not been on the good side of a close game. Here's all our one possession games, excluding the first honeymoon season of Fuente:
This year: 1-3, with a win over UNC
2020: 2-4, with wins over Duke and Louisville
2019: 3-4, with wins over Miami, UNC, and...Furman
2018: 2-2 with wins over UVA and UNC
2017: 1-3, win over WVU
Or, 9-16 in one possession games. Ouch.
This is where I go back to asking why our S&C staff isn't getting a bit more criticism. DC brought it up, and we dismissed him for so long, but he's been right. This year, with the most hottest of seats, it is glaring.
Conditioning has been tested brutally in close losses. In games where we were dominated, our strength (or lack of) showed out in the ugliest of ways. BC and Pitt just out muscled us. Hell, we're supposed to be an up-tempo high octane offense, and we play slow.
No idea where else to state it, but this is the biggest miss of the Fuente era.
Yeah and I think most people here agree that there has to be a change, or 3 changes, some think 10 changes. But it doesn't mean the sky is falling. It means we can't continue on our current path. Think if we had good roster management with backups that could play, or a wide reciever coach that can elevate their play, or a play caller that calls player the players execute, or a strength and condition coach that makes us stronger and conditioned.
Some change needs to be made, maybe more than one, but we'd be looking at Fuente's career here a bit different had he made that change and was 16-9 in those games. It might be too late to let Fuente make the change too, but that's Whit's decision.
Hard disagree here. I actually think the "program" is in worse shape than the record indicates. Take a look at the underclassmen at WR/DT/DE/CB. Look at the fact that BC and Syracuse were winless in ACC play until they played us. Look at the fact that our brand is toxic in the state of Virginia right now among high schools. Take a look at the QB room. It's bad in blacksburg right now and miracle wins over Miami and UVA to limp into the military bowl is just more lipstick and mascara.
Out of curiosity, what has been said by whom that indicates our brand is toxic? I am not disagreeing, I generally want to know and am too far away to closely follow anything related to VA High Schools sports.
I've mentioned this on here before, but I worked with a guy on a project last year who coaches high school football and he said he'd never send a player to Tech if he could help it. Said Fuente's staff on multiple occasions got a verbal commitment from one of his players and then reneged on it when they got a commitment from a "better" player at the last minute leaving his guys scrambling to find another team that still had room for them.
This is all hearsay, of course, but he was someone I would trust not to make that kind of thing up.
I partially agree in the sense it could get worse, primarily due to the QB situation.
My counterpoint is because QB is such a swing vote for the health of any program, it could change positively VERY fast. Fresh system, fresh personality at HC and most importantly a talented player or two at QB (transfer or HS recruit) and that narrative flips.
The naysayers will say easier said than done - I concede that. However, unlike other core positions there is only 1QB that can play at a time and that means you just need one player to change the narrative. The momentum that can generate is substantial.
If we get a new offensive system that is friendly to kids skills and systems they are familiar with today, presents a better opportunity to prep for the next level and demonstrates an obvious line of demarcation from the past those frosty relationships resolve.
Bottom-line - whoever is the HC: The 1,2 and 3 priorities is the Qb room for 2022.
I mean I have always got Mike Vick first team all time all NCAA, but Vince Young was amazing to overcome Mack Brown, The Texas Boosters, and Texas fans. That was so impressive in hindsight.
One Texas fan I talked to said that Tom Herman's players are entitled and soft. He said that Charlie Strong, while a bad on the field coach, was great at scouting, and brought in players who fit his culture. Tom Herman won with those guys early in his time with Texas (eg; when they beat UGA in the bowl game). But now the team is all Herman guys who, while talent, are (again) soft and entitled. This fan believed that it's going to take Sark another year or so to get the right culture guys in the room, and really hopes the administration gives Sark the time.
That said, I get why Texas fans are frustrated - literally all of the pieces are in place for a title run, but they can't put the pieces together. This is a program that had 8 straight 10-win seasons in which they played for the natty twice, winning once. Despite having the talent, the staff, the fans, the recruits, the funding, etc, they've had one 10 win season since firing Mack.
Seeing how bad Texas has been since Mack left is really interesting. I don't think Mack is a great game coach, but he's really good (maybe one of the best) at politicking and getting all of his stakeholders in line. He did it at UNC, then at Texas, and then again at UNC. I think for Texas to be successful again, they need a shmoozer at head coach. Someone who get EVERYONE to buy in to the vision.
That's great and all, but that's like somebody from Texas saying they talked to a lone VT fan and the problem at VT is [fill in the blank].
Most fans are just flapping their gums and that goes for Texas fans too.
Whelp, Sark seems to agree with this one texas fan:
Too bad that's, like, completely illegal in the NCAA
is it? incoming crootin' class, transfer portal. Sure seems like you could make the numbers work if you wanted.
There's still a limit of 25 "initial counters" in a given season. That includes recruits, transfers, and former walk-ons granted new scholarships.
It's possible that 8 could be applied to the 2021 season, but that only works if they only had 17 initial counters and fewer than 77 total scholarships granted this year, which considering how tight the numbers seem to be at most programs seems unlikely.
Depending on the previous class, you may be able to reclassify 8 players against the 2020 class, and then 25 against the 2021 class. Then, maybe some transfers sign late and are added to the 2022 class.
IDK people get creative.
Wait until Texas joins the SEC. if they think they're bad now
They still out recruit A&M and most of the SEC. They still have the largest athletic department/budget. They have some of the best facilities in a great recruiting location. Coaching and keeping the boosters happy is what is needed.
They can't even win with Bijan Robinson...damning for Sark
I mean, my film review has a positive tone, but the stars are Keyshawn King, Wilfred Pene and Nic Bujnowski. I sure didn't expect to be writing about them this year.
I've known King had the potential after watching him down here in Jacksonville but the other two, wow.
Pretty sure the key sentence fragment was "this year." Those are talented kids, but the storylines this year should revolve around older players.
I literally have no idea who this person is.
I like to think I follow VT football pretty close and also have never heard this name before in my life
It's pronounced "Kevin".
Nic Kevin is an odd name for sure.
Old TKP making it's way in the comments...Noice
Yeah I did the "swift exhale through the nose" internet laugh.
i have been staring at this for a minute, and trying to decide if Nic is a real person, or is this some of TKP-insider joke, or what.
https://hokiesports.com/sports/football/roster/nikolai-bujnowski/11203
yeah, i found him. walk-on, i assume. is that the same high school as billy ray mitchell?
yeah, well known parochial school here
I kinda disagree. I would take Texas' issues over Tech's especially if I get Texas' budget, facilities, and recruiting network. We on the other hand have disadvantages in most of these areas.
Considering all of their advantages I understand why Longhorn fans seem demanding. I would be demanding too and much more upset if we had those advantages and were still experiencing the results we have had.
Texas is setup for the right coach to compete for National Championships. Our ceiling (with our resources and if we hire the right coach) appears to be making the playoffs once a decade.
If we had Texas' budget, facilities, and recruiting network and produced Texas' results, we'd be burning down Blacksburg every three years, if our current situation is any indication
I agree. And so would ever other fanbase in college football if they were blessed with those advantages and did not perform. The only variable would be how many years would a coaching staff get before it would be burned to the ground.
We are not any more reasonable (or unreasonable) than any other P5 fanbase.
My point is that the expectations should be sky high at Texas considering the advantages they have which include the biggest (by far) athletic budget in the country.
I mean, they have their own TV network. That's kinda crazy if you think about it.
Texas' issues stem from off the field stuff and effectively the people who write the checks. That said, you know the checks are big enough to move on from mistakes and not have to worry about buy-out dates
They seem to buy themselves in and out of trouble with no sustainability. It's crazy the money they blow.
Having a wife that watches UGA religiously, this year makes me keep doing the what if game from our strong defensive years. I feel like Texas expects UGA results.
Loved the game yesterday and gave me a huge smile while watching the Bulldogs at a home party with friends. I'm just appreciative we don't have that fan base like Texas. I know it stinks to have rough patch, but it could be worse in my eyes. Hopefully the new staff can create good momentum when they come in and get folks excited.
I might be in the minority here but I'd still take Texas' issues over ours. Texas has the money, resources and recruiting to turn it around at basically anytime assuming they hire the right people. The move to the SEC will only make that more true. That obviously hasn't been the case as of late (see Strong, Herman, and now potentially Sark) but their issues can be solved in the matter of a year or two, our issues are solved over the course of 4-5 years at best with zero margin for error.
yea agreed they're one home run hire away from being a dynasty. if they find their Saban equivalent, it's GG. that being said there are very few elite coaches like saban
We've only lost to Kansas once
I fucking hated that game. So embarrassing to lose to goddamn Kansas in the Orange Bowl
Since both Brian and French mentioned their upcoming columns, I have to plug and nudge y'all to join TKPC to read 'em: https://www.thekeyplay.com/the-key-players-club. For those who have the money, it's top-shelf content.
Even with a shitty year I decided to renew for 2 reasons.
1.) Content
2.) CMY and the boys
Fam
Even when football is shitty, I need French's columns to learn exactly what went wrong, so I know how upset to be.
Ditto, I like to double check that I'm mad at the right people for the right reasons.
Classic movie. I still can't believe Will Ferrell settled for Eva Mendez. He could've done much much better IMO.
I really appreciate your logic there. Even though this season has mostly sucked, we're still covering football, and I appreciate your support of that endeavor. Unfortunately there's been plenty of others who have canceled because of the product on the field. And I get that. And while those folks have been generous to explain they are checked out on football, they still interact daily on the site. Unfortunately, the sports bar can't stay in business if patrons only want to come in and watch the games, but not buy a beer or wings.
Umm, are there beer and wings, or is that like a premium subscriber service?
No only hardees coupons
This classic story about a Texas fan still bears posting:
Diary of a Texas Fan (from 1999)
That is Gold. I'm just sitting here LMAO.
Disgustingly hilarious. Not believing for a moment that level of alcohol consumption is humanly possible, but still too funny.
The best bit of it all
Having a good/great qb changes everything. Starting Hooker in 2019 gets us 2 more wins that year. Having Hooker this year gets us at least 3 more wins this year. I'm convinced Hooker just doesnt look good in practice since he didnt win the starting job at Tennessee until after Milton got hurt..and Milton was awful but letting him go this offseason was the nail in the coffin for this coaching staff.
Also, close games are won/lost with coaching. Good coaches figure out how to win those close games regularly. Fuenete couldnt win those games.
That being said, I dont think we're in a bad spot as a team. This recruiting class is really good, if we can keep most of them, it'll be a top 25 class with a lot of pickups in the trenches. Whoever coaches next year is going to have to find a QB first and foremost but after that, there's some talent here that can win games out the gate.