Be forewarned- Vandy's QB is a baller. Beat Auburn at Auburn. And his OC at NMState (the ghost of Jerry Kill) came with him.
Who can tell I started looking at tape this week?
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They may have a baller, but we have Drones.
and Tuten
and Jennings!
Excited to see what he can do when he isn't breaking his ankle in game 1.
I'm so glad he decided to come back this year.
I am ready for some football!
I'm ready for Delane and Strong to show him what happens when you try to ball out against VT DBs
I'm so ready, Ffrench
I can't be the only one that read this as "Fuh-French"
Was just at Vandy last month.
LOTS of construction around the stadium, sports facilities. This may impact game experience. Vanderbilt is many years behind the rest of the conference in facilities, but it has invested $300 million to upgrade.
That said, beautiful campus and, hey... Nashville.
I'd like to think we have the horses to beat Vandy, but it'll be a good early out of conference test.
The worst interstates I have ever been on are in the Nashville metro area. I am going to be watching the game in Maine.
That's a real no shitter!
Nashville... So many drunken bridesmaids in cowboys hats. It was comical.
I'm 100% prepared for us to fall flat and lose to vandy. Most Hokie hyped offseason since 2017? It doesn't change season goals but losing that game would be 100% on brand. Yes I'm a Debbie downer
I feel this. It feels very much a part of our identity to start slow and flat, especially in the first game. Pry has to figure out a way to break away from that. We'll see if he can
We may very well be somewhat sluggish in the first game just knocking some rust off. But I feel so much better kicking off with Drones under center rather than Wells. Drones is always cool and composed. He makes mistakes at times, but he doesn't let it get to him and he's always cool and trying to make a play. Whenever Wells lined up I could almost feel his anxiousness/nerves through the screen. It was like he was waiting for himself to make a mistake, and when he did it snowballed on him mentally and affected his play.
Even if it takes us a game or so to warm up again on O, I feel like we have the talent to win us games.
Bowen has his offense in place. Marve has the guys he wanted on d, hopefully linebackers are better. They better play like a 8 or 9 win team and take care of business.
The NMSU hires are the scariest part of Vandy.
They haven't yet named the starter at QB. Pavia is the transfer QB with experience and transfer QB Johnson is the better prospect. It's quite possible the QB won't be named until game time, but I would expect Pavia because of the experience in the system.
I'm hoping it takes a little longer for the offenses and defenses to click. Vandy returns 60% of their production (54% on offense, 65% on defense). They took in 22 transfers this year, including 4 OL. I do think Vandy has a good chance to surprise some teams this year. But they have a lot of new faces and I don't think the surprises come until the latter half of the season.
Of note, Jerry Kill was hired at NMSU beginning the 2022 season. My dad is an NMSU alum, so while I don't typically follow NMSU football because they're atrocious, I took notice when Kill was hired. Prior to his hire, NMSU won 2 games in 2021, which was a very typical NMSU season.
In 2022, NMSU went 7-6, but lost the five of their first six games:
They beat their instate rival UNM week 7 and used that as a springboard to have a great second half including a huge win against Liberty. Then in 2023, NMSU won 10 games including a big win in Auburn.
It took a little while for NMSU to get cooking and was against a steady dose of weak C-USA teams with only a few marque wins (@Liberty in 2022 and @WKU, vs. JaxSt, and @Auburn in 2023). But undoubtedly, Kill took one of the historically worse teams in collegiate football and took them to 2 bowl games and a 10-win season in an incredibly short time.
Kill then retired. Vandy hired him as "Chief Consultant to the Head Coach", and then hired his OC, RB/run game coordinator, and S/co-DC from NMSU. Vandy also hired Freeze's OL coach from Liberty. These hires will result in a great improvement at Vandy, but it'll take time and may be hard to notice in the SEC.
I would be absolutely gobsmacked if Pavia isn't the starter when the Hokies play them. He is really good.
Biggest issue is they are piecing together the other offensive parts, including three transfer starters on the OL and three of the top four receivers transfers. But, Jerry Kill turned NMST in a heartbeat, and Tim Beck (not that Tim Beck) is the OC that made the offense go. He brought it from Pittsburgh State, where he won a natty in D2. The QB is comfortable in the system, and the system completely mitigates pass rush.
The Hokies will need big offensive production, and it would be nice for Vandy's offense to have not meshed yet. But, Pavia won't be afraid.
It is almost football time folks.
No doubt. I 100% agree. Pavia will be a problem. And although history suggests it takes some time to get that offense rolling, they didn't have proven entity like Pavia at the start. You really have to hope that the ability to come together and be ready for game 1 with a new offensive system, 50% new coaching staff, and 50% new players is just too hard. But, we'll see. I am certainly not confident with the Hokies taking the points as 14 pt favorites on the road.
The pressure will be on VT's defense.
Pavia will likely come out with no holds barred. (or at least called)
Listened to a camp report from one of the Vandy related podcasts and Pavia sounds like a smaller version of our own Mr Drones from last year. That is, a real threat to run the ball from a variety of formations who uses the short to middle distance passing game to keep the safeties honest. His weakness is his long ball arm strength and accuracy. If the Hokies can apply offensive pressure to keep up, the new O-Line makeup may have issues protecting him. The degree to which the offense as a whole group can take the "next step" and dictate the game's tempo (success by either or both Run and Pass units) will determine if it's a nail biter or a blowout... but I'll wait to hear your expert thoughts and see if I come close or missed the boat on this one.
this game's gonna have a final score like 55-52 isn't it
Just as possible as 3-0. I'm preparing by actively banishing any expectations from my mind.
I doubt it. Vanderbilt's offense was 101st in the NCAA in scoring in 2023 with an anemic 22.8 ppg.
They were 2-10 last season. And not a couldn't-catch-a-break 2-10. They were 0-8 in the SEC, and they weren't within TWO TOUCHDOWNS in a single conference game. They also lost by 16 to a 4-8 Wake Forest team that Virginia Tech thumped 30-13.
If we lose to Vanderbilt, there shouldn't be a single comment on TKP the rest of 2024 about wanting VT to move to the SEC.
So to you, the entirety of VTs football future rides on this game. No pressure I suppose.
No, of course I didn't say anything of the sort.
To me, having your best team in half a decade, losing to the doormat program of the conference you think getting into will somehow magically vault Virginia Tech into the upper tiers of college football, and then still thinking joining that conference would help your team, is ludicrous.
The line of thought is more like:
The available resources allow even that doormat program to build a team better than ours. If we had access to comparable resources, we could also build up to the upper tiers.
Through that lens, not still wanting to join that conference is the ludicrous idea.
If you get the chance to join the best, join. If not, go to the lower tier conferences and suffer humiliating defeats as your team plays itself down to lower tiered opponents. I would love the idea of seeing SEC football in lane stadium. I like to watch the best, and games that matter. And that is where the TV monies will go, to relevant, more exciting games.
You can have the odu, liberty, middle Tennessee, Marshall matches. That is who your team will become.
Except it doesn't. Here's Vanderbilt's last 10 seasons:
2014 3–9 (0–8)
2015 4–8 (2–6)
2016 6–7 (3–5)
2017 5–7 (1–7)
2018 6–7 (3–5)
2019 3–9 (1–7)
2020 0–9 (0–9)
2021 2–10 (0–8)
2022 5–7 (2–6)
2023 2–10 (0–8)
There's also been no dramatic improvement for Missouri or Texas A&M since they entered the SEC. They are middling to above-average programs, just like they were in their respective similar time periods before joining the SEC.
Even SEC blue-blood Florida has FIVE losing seasons in the last 11 years. Hell, Virginia Tech has only had FOUR losing seasons since the George H.W. Bush administration. Those Gators must be just bathing in $EC money when they've showed up at illustrious bowls such as the Birmingham, Gasparilla, Las Vegas and Citrus Bowls in the last 10 years.
Exactly. They've been just like they were before they joined the SEC. We would be too - maybe not immediately, but in the aggregate, we would be. Except we'd be in a position to actually do something if we put together our best team in five years. As it stands now, we've got our best team in 5 years (I hope we do, anyway), and we're wondering whether we can beat Vandy.
Exactly. The move to the SEC was good for Texas A&M & Missouri. Texas A&M- In 16 years in the Big 12 they finished in the AP top 25 four times (20th, 11th, 23rd, and 19th). In the 12 years in the SEC they finished in the AP top 25 four times (5th, 18th, 16th, and 4th) and higher finishes. Missouri - In the 16 years in the Big 12 they finished in the AP top 25 five times (23rd, 21st, 4th, 19th, and 18th). In the 12 years in the SEC they finished in the AP top 25 three times (5th, 14th, and 8th) and higher finishes.
I want VT to move to the SEC.
I AM READY.
I am!
Thoughts on Nashville hot chicken? I freaking love it.
Please, hot chicken reviews / suggestions from French or anyone for those of us heading to Nashvegas.
I've had Hattie B's (the original location) and it is pretty phenomenal. Also had some at a small diner way outside of Nashville and holy shit, it was too hot, and I love hot.
Last time in Nashville we had Prince's in the music row food court (upstairs, not the packed place on the corner). I also like very food hot food, and it was still hotter than I expected. The "hot" was hotter than the hottest wing sauce at Buffalo Wild Wings. The chickens were the same super small size KFC went to. Still tasted great.
Two thoughts:
Hot chicken is delicious. Pickles are a must.
Breaded chicken on a sandwich is too much bread. Stick with the non-sandwich form, but I'm sure I'm in the minority as most people love Chick-fil-a on sandwiches.
Edit: One additional thought. It's way hotter than you think. If you go for the really hot chicken, be sure you have the next day off, because the gastrointestinal distress will be real. And it's a really bad idea prior to the football game or travel. (Not directed at you, but to anyone that has not had the really hot chicken or needs a reminder.)
"Breaded chicken on a sandwich is too much bread", is probably the craziest sentence I've ever read. That's like saying having a beer with a sandwich is too much bread. Absurd.
MOAR CARBS!!
My lunch: a chicken parm topped with spaghetti sandwich, with a side of avocado toast and quesadilla, and wash it down with a Pliny the Elder DIPA. And for dessert, bread pudding.
I'll be good for a 4-hour nap this afternoon.
I think my blood sugar spiked just from reading your post.
The gluten sensitive of us in the room understand too much bread
Sometimes the bodily pain and diarrhea is worth it. You just have to ride the white pony.
This is a debate I have when I'm deciding on getting milkshake and I don't have lactaid on me. Sometimes, it is worth it.
The last time we were in Nashville we had lots of hot chicken from food trucks, some of which I believe were from the 'famous' places. We live in Colorado and eat lots of very hot mexican food all the time. I routinely order food as hot as I can get it. The HOT hot chicken wasn't inedible, but it was for real fucking really spicy.
Fav Mexican food in CO?
I like divey places. Tacos Navarro in Pueblo for a taco stand kind of place.
In Denver Los Dos Potrillos and Brewery Bar.
Disclaimer: I no longer live in Denver (or pueblo for that matter) and none of the mexican places in the town I live in are worth mentioning. They're fine, but uninspiring.
Skip the Mexican food and eat all the green chili you can.
that would be New Mexican food...
I am very pro green-chile-on-everything.
My unsolicited personal rankings of US-based Mexican food:
1. New Mexican
2. San Diego-style Mexican
3. Arizona-style Mexican
4. Tex-Mex
5. LA-style Mexican
It may have New Mexican roots, but this stew is something Colorado has taken and run with. It's not the first dish that comes to mind when talking about New Mexican hatch dishes. It is absolutely the first dish when thinking about ones from Colorado.
yea, I've had the green chile stew in Denver. It's good. And you're right, its pretty common in all types of restaurants there, a Denver restaurant specialty. And I don't eat pork anymore, and it's decently hard to find without it.
It's also sad for Colorado that it's pretty much the only way to find green chile. There are so many more options and NM is just south.
To overlook chiles rellenos is a big mistake, when talking about Mexican food. Best I have had was at the Los Ojos in Jemez Springs, NM. Dive cowboy bar with a hellova cook. Her green chile was definitely a big attraction, and I loved it, but the rellenos were the absolute bomb. If I were a rich man, dum de dum dum dum dum dum...I'd fly there this afternoon just for the pleasure. Alas, it's memories, misty water colored memories...
It's been awhile, but I've been to Los Ojos several times. Pretty far off the beaten path, but with my parents living in Los Alamos, I pass by it all the time taking the scenic route up there. I don't remember their chile rellenos specifically, but it's a good restaurant.
Chile rellenos with NM green chile is divine. And with sopapillas on the side (especially with honey) is *chef's kiss*.
Tip (for anyone that likes NM chile): if you see a jar of 505 brand green chile in the store, get it, put it on everything, and you pretty much have NM food. And I mean everything, burgers, fish, pizza, anything, (and of course any Mexican dish). You can use it as a garnish or a topping. It's not as good as fresh, but the closest I can get here in CA. I eat that green chile on a daily basis. And it's 505 green chile, not the salsa, although the salsa is good too for chips.
We used to go camping out west every other year for a month, and Jemez Springs was always one of our favorite stops, as was Moab and Canyonlands in Utah. We stayed at the Vista Linda campground and ate every lunch and dinner at Los Ojos. Yes, off the beaten path for sure, but a really cool place in a really cool town with some very warm springs just out of town with nekkid people taking the baths and a distinctly bohemian vibe in what is still cowboy country. I doubt I'll be there again as we've basically aged out of camping for a month at a time, but if I get a bit of a chance, I'll definitely try to have one more go at Los Ojos, while I've never tried their signature "one jellova fine jamburger" I'd stick to rellenos and die happy.
Next time I'm out there (which I go pretty close to yearly), I'll have to get back to that bar/restaurant. That is truly a beautiful part of NM with a lot of hiking and sight seeing. The Valle caldera, Bandelier, the various hot springs, and the Jemez mountains are all great. And northern NM is just a great place for outdoor activities. I'm not a fisherman, but I've heard the fly fishing is pretty good (you would know way better than me). I went rafting on the Rio Grande earlier this month. And I'm thinking I want to specifically make it out again next year to hike to Wheeler Peak (13,167 ft., located near Taos).
I am wondering though, how you decided on Jemez Springs for vacation. The spot is pretty much unknown to anyone that does not already have an NM connection. And it's difficult to get to with only two small national airports in Albuquerque and Santa Fe and a decently long drive from there.
Back in my youth I went through a short class to earn my Junior Ranger badge at Bandelier.
that is a really fun place to go as a kid, climbing all those ladders into the cave dwellings. never earned a badge though for my efforts. seems like I missed out on that.
Three days of driving, HARD, would get us to Tucumcari and from there then up to the San Juan, then after that we varied our destinations, but my wife read about Jemez Springs being a cool place, and the local campground was perfect for us with our small camper. The various things you mentioned were the attraction and we loved it so much we repeated it until our last trip out, just a few years ago.
Having a month or more camping in the 4 corners region, we had plenty of opportunity to find hidden gems like Jemez and Cimarron, for example, and Canyonlands and Moab as well. We started those trips in the early 80s before everybody and their dogs discovered the Western camping experience, so reservations and all the techno stuff that is now necessary to even see some of the western highlights and parks wasn't part of the equation. We relied on guide books, primarily, to help us discover some pretty cool places. Last trip out, though, we were shocked at the changes in the camping experience out there. National parks are overrun with chronically underfunded maintenance and personnel, and campgrounds need a year's advance reservations in some places that used to be nearly private. A lot of it is the fact that we baby boomers have retired, bought campers, and the things we used to be able to do without too much company were no longer available. No internet in those days either so some actual research was necessary to find those more hidden gems. We used to rely on the fact that after Labor Day and the start of school almost emptied the crowds from our Western highlights, but that advantage is gone now and the numbers of foreign visitors has further added to the glut that in our experience, has denigrated what it was we loved about our vacations.
As for the fishing, the mountains weren't that impressive, but the San Juan and also the Green River in Utah were well worth the time. My seriously nearly absurd obsession with fishing was put on hiatus on our trips, with the San Juan being the only regular fishing stop on the vacation. Wife had to put up with that enough back home.
That's awesome. Yea, definitely a beautiful spot.
Bolton's is my favorite. Awesome dry rub spices. They're over in Eastern Nashville. Very worth the trip. And their spiciest option is serious.
Awesome, thanks! Never heard of it but will check it out!
Was hoping this rec was here. It's so good.
One word of warning, on the spice, they do not fuck around. I got the medium, and I was sweating and crying for an hour or so. I routinely eat hot food, and had been to multiple other chicken places that week and gotten hot. I think Bolton's hot would've killed me.
Being afraid of Vandy is loser mentality. Like when Beamer used to talk about how afraid he was at Temple in late 90s and 2000s. I get showing respect for the opponent, but don't hype them up into the boogeyman.
Hokies by 17+.
P.S. I respect French's objectivity in the reviews. I'm just viewing it this way this year. Going to will this team to Charlotte, damn it.
25 years since the 1999 run. 25 being such a Hokies number.
Wish could remember who and in what context, but somebody relevent to VT called Temple "lowly Temple" and then...well, they whupped us. Beams might have been stung by that, maybe?
1998. Good god that was brutal. But then in 2002 (I think) he was on the pregame show talking about how much 0-8 Temple (or whatever they were) really scared him.
We came out completely flat, conservative, scared, and almost lost. Should've drubbed that team by 50.
We didn't even play Temple in '98. IT NEVER HAPPENED!
Just like we didn't play Miami of Ohio in 97. That was also a long day.
Or Cincinnati in '96
That was '95, it was my freshman year at Tech and after those first two games I was not looking forward to having to attend 4 years worth of home games. Fortunately we got better.
That Cincinnati game is still to this day the last time we got shut out in Lane Stadium.
VT football early in the 1995 season...
You're right. It was my senior year. 16-0 in the rain. Sat through the entire game. Druck and the boys were so flat. We went and made a decent showing against Nebraska in the Orange Bowl that year, but that marred an otherwise great season.
That was my freshman year. Think you got confused there. 95-96 we beat Texas in the Sugar Bowl. 96-97 was the loss to Nebraska in the Orange Bowl that all went downhill after a crap call saying Druck was down. Tried to make up for it on next play and I think it was a fumble return for a touchdown. Game was never close again after that.
Nebraska beat us because they had better depth. Our 1s could beat their 1s, but once we had to start subbing in backups to rest the starters we couldn't hang down the stretch. This was also a Nebraska team that won national championships in '95 and '97, IIRC.
You know what? You're right. Chalk it up to a 27 year old maroon tinted memory. I don't think I'd watched that game since 97 and could only remember how furious I was at that 3 play stretch. I watched it on YouTube today and we were still in it in the fourth, but clearly gassed. I was wrong, just like the announcer was wrong when he said Druckenmiller's bigger games were still ahead of him.
You're so right. I must be getting old. I would have sworn that the year we lost to Nebraska in the Orange was the same year we lost to Cincinnati in the rain. I went to both bowl games. I think the Sugar Bowl against Texas was really when the VT brand arrived on the national stage. Great OLine an Stith was a beast. Physical team.
I was there. It was brutal. Rained the whole game, my rain gear failed completely and I was as miserable as a boy could be. I had such high hopes for the Hokies that year and after starting 0-2, I was downright depressed. The next week, I went to Blacksburg and spent $300 I could barely afford on rain gear that still serves me almost 30 years later. The rest of that season, we all know about and it was still my favorite of them all so far. I was at all the home games, the UVA away triumph and then Texas in the first Sugar Bowl. What a year.
Just like it wasn't my first game back since graduating. The stadium was so quiet I remember yelling at the QB and him turning to look at me in the West Stands.
This 100%. If we lose to them, then we are probably not where we hope we are (and where I think we are) as a program right now. It will show that we either still don't have the players we need, or we don't have coaches who are ready to get the team playing at a high level in week 1.
But it won't be because Vandy is any good. They aren't.
Vandy doesnt have to be "any good" to win a football game though. I feel like every year we just look at calendar and say "so and so sucks, should be an easy win" and it's devoid of all context.
Rutgers is not the awful doormat. "Should" we win? Yeah sure ok. But they have a legitimately solid defense and are well coached
I'm not sure we'll be favored against Rutgers, even though it's a home game for us. They are pretty much an equal program right now, and they kicked the shit out of us last year. So I'm not saying we "should" beat Rutgers.
But we're favored by double digits against, and should beat, Vanderbilt. Will we? I have no idea. But they are objectively a bad football program, and if we lose to them it's not a super encouraging sign for the Hokies in 2024.
Honestly think is is fairly close to a toss up now. Do think VT wins the game. But the way the first few games of the season go will influence which team is favored between VT and Rutgers. Think they are fairly close to each other.
Right but remember that "objectively bad football program" is inherently backwards-facing in an era of unprecedented roster turnover and player movement -- it doesnt do anyone any favors to draw conclusions based on the name of the school based on what they were in 2004
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
Show me someone who is okay with losing and I'll show you a loser.
This did not age well.
Hokies win 38-14
I'm with you on this one.
Vandy might be improved and on their way to the best season they've had in awhile, but based on our returning talent, more practices together, and how this new Pry regime operates; I'd say we're well on our way to the best season we've had in awhile as well. We might not be world beaters but this is a decent team.
Liberty beat Pavia and NMSU in the C-USA Championship game last December. How? Good coverage but also by getting to him and knocking him out of the game in the 2nd or 3rd quarter (I forget which). It was a home game for Liberty, who didn't pull away until the 4th quarter. Pavia can't beat you if he isn't playing. But I will second that Jerry Kill worked wonders at NMSU and if he is involved at Vandy then Vandy should not be taken lightly.
Sounds like they just lost their top corner back to injury for the season.
247 Article
Very ominous. No details on the injury. And without practice yet beginning, you wonder how it happened.
Looking for the information on the injury also led me to look at their blogs and message boards. If you could rate the enthusiasm from 0 to 100, it's probably -20. They don't care. The position previews are: we sucked last year, our top players left, we have some new transfers, we don't know how bad we'll be this year. It will be interesting to see the actual fan interaction with Hokie fans labor day weekend, if there will be any. Might just be Hokies in attendance.
This won't affect Kill, Beck, or Pavia, who had pretty much the same fan enthusiasm in Las Cruces NM.
This will be what can set Tech apart this year. Beating decent scrappy teams that aren't push overs. We have a lot of them on our schedule.
Rutgers and Georgia Tech will both be solid teams that we're favored to beat. Vanderbilt, ODU and Stanford also fit the label to a certain extent. Then we've got that game in the damn dome. If Tech can win all of those games handily it will be a huge step forward for the program
...in their house with his O coaches his way... reminds us of this pic...
As in... this one has an ever so slight (pic) connotation of a lookahead (to the rest of '24 overall) trap game modest feel to it to we (4).
Eye have scouted him already... pure gunslinger.
A Doc Holiday Qb1.
A "huckleberry".
He a firey cocksure 'huckleberry' to-- and that O is the sworn enemy of pass-rushing.
He gots ~1.5k rushing in 17 starting Qb1 contests to boot.
Tons of give-n-go; play-action(s), trickeration, and he
is a Roger dodger slickster on pump-fakes.
He even pumps his (goal line) jump-pass.
VERY quick accelerator. Like everything BAX ever wanted to be; tho' a better/defter passer.
Great pocket sense-- eyes in the back of head; 2o-2o downfield vision.
(Which helps him ferret and get under contact).
The Hollywood cat-slaying chiseled looks have never hurt any Qb1, either.
Only wrestler1 gone Qb1 Eye've ever seen.
Military fam' to boot.
Fun kid to scout/see play... gamers always are.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eye know... Eye know... before I type it out: "pot-stirrer"... as this Mexi Qb1 may just be the "G, L, O, R, I, AAAAAA" Qb1 on the field that day.
Maybe the best we catch all, year.
i.e., better bust him early/often; as you do not want a gunslinger to find his in-game range.
Not at all.
💯
b.street
I'm very concerned about Diego Pavia.
Concerned how he's going to look when Antwaun Powell-Ryland plants him head first into the turf.
Honestly?
Eye thought him to be a mite: 'oversold'.
Kept thinking... there is no way that he is really...
Then I broke tape on him... and he walks the walk.
Total Full Mettle Jacket.
(So, to speak).
1oo,
b.street
But what's his rating on ncaa25?
This is beyond my old-age depth... all this to me...
1oo
b.street
NFL Football for Intellivision was pretty sophisticated for its time in retrospect.
"7-3-7"... best jump-pass play ever.
Only 1 offered D was set to stop it.
1oo,
b.street
Look, there's no question that he totally showed his moxie when the Aztecs went on their roll against Florida International, Sam Houston State, UTEP, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee State and Western Kentucky. He was a man against boys while running through that gauntlet.
There's a reason we all totally knew his name before he transferred to the first team on our schedule this year.
That's SDSU. NMSU are the Aggies.
You know, normally I'd fix it. But I think it just helps makes my point.
Chef's kiss on that one.
No offense to the fine citizens of Las Cruces, NM. but that campus is bottom 5 for a major university in america. God bless those students and cold beer I suppose.
My dad, as alum, would probably agree. And calling it a major university is a stretch.
A common joke is that El Paso, TX is so hot and disgusting, it's the a--hole of the United States, and Las Cruces is 40-miles up it. Doesn't sound like a place I would want to stay for very long, lol.
"Do you believe me now Trinity?"
💯
b.street
I hope he looks defeated..
We call that the Colandrea look
Ouch!
Made me laugh!
Whats funny is that guy isn't even starting this year. UVA twitter fans were calling him a heisman hopeful
I went to look at uva's depth chart and Google asked if I meant usc, so no one cares.
Lol, love it
51-17 Hokies Win in dominating fashion!! They want to make a statement right away! This is why they all stayed; to play with Drones for Pry and WIN!
Every neutral site game I have attended, we have lost.
Every true away game I have attended, we have won.
I expect 28-17. If it ends up 51-17 as you suggest, my partying in DT Nashville is going to be insane.
Current Vegas projections, which probably should be taken as a grain of salt prior to any fall practice and the vast unknown of a new season, has VT a 13.5 favorites with and O/U of 54 points. That puts the score at about 34 to 20. It's unusual for VT to projected to score 34 points, but hopefully that is a sign of good things to come.
Let's get practices started and the hype train rolling.
Road game, make-shift stadium, VT not exactly disciplined when it comes to stupid penalties, not great in the red zone. I'd take Vandy and the points if it stays at 13.5
As many negative blunders as we can pin on VT, Vandy fans can pin just as many, if not more. This game is such an unknown quantity that I wouldn't want to touch the line.
Ultimately, it's questions of whether VT can carryover success from last year, whether Pry can avoid another slow start, and whether Vandy's overhaul can pay dividends in week 1. And that's not even considering the actual schemes and matchups, which I have no idea how they play out.
I do really like the cohesive experience of the Hokies, which in theory should be a huge benefit in a week 1 matchup, especially against a team with OC and DC* and 50% 2-deep overhaul. (
*HC taking over as DC, which presents a different set of challenges for the HC/DC than a newly hired DC. But, definitely an adjustment for the coaching staff and the defensive unit.
Agreed with all- Vandy is not good- but I don't pay attention to that- I know VT- a 14 point road SEC win to open the season? I have my doubts.
Agree, that does sound very suspect to me also. VT track record says pick Vandy and the points. But I NEVER bet on VT period.
I bet on VT every single game blindly. I have been doing it for years. It hasn't gone well.
I don't bet at all. It has gone well.
Yep, that's the way to never lose money on the Hokies. I have, in the past, lost a few football bets with one of my 'hoo fan friends, but our bet was always "a six pack of green bottled beer". I'm ahead in that regard, but neither of us has bothered to even talk about betting for a loooooong and happy time.
I also lost a bet on the hoo/Hokie football game one year and had to sing the Old Song in a public space, but truth be told, I semi reneged. First of all, I honestly didn't know all of the words, but even when provided them by my hoo crazy sister in law, gleefully, I chose a local convenience store to mumble through it as best I could, but refused to sway along with her as I did. There was one customer and the cashier there and neither of them paid the slightest attention, so I wasn't embarrassed to commit blasphemy. It's been a while, and that was likely the last loss to them until the latest, so again, the reason for the bet, competition, dissolved in a shower of salty wahoo tears.
I have won a decent amount of money on VT. Why? because I know the team. If we are favored at Pitt. umm- cash in hokie fans. If we are favored against Louisville or BC hoops- uhhh you know what to do. If we are favored by more than 2 points ever against FSU football... etc. Now of course vegas knows everything, but I will always bet money for VT to lose at Heinz field. Conversely I will always take VT to beat UVA. Vegas knows these trends too.
As stressful as Hokie games are already, I can't imagine the stress level if I had money on them as well.
I don't bet on sports but if I did I would bet against the Hokies every single time. If I lose a little money, so what, at least the Hokies won! If the Hokies lose, so what, at least I made a little extra cash!
This is - basically- what I do with VT. Especially hoops- rarely if ever bet on VT to win in hoops.
I took the over on the regular season win total last year at 5.5. I wrote that off after our losses to Purdue and Rutgers only to be that much happier with the beat down of LOLUVa to end the season and hit 6 wins.
How dare you give away my Pick 6 strategy?!
Potential dark horse to play for/win the ACC and be in the playoffs and I'm going to be scared of Vanderbilt? Nah. Not to say they might be better this year but if we're headed the direction we think/hope we're headed under Pry, this is not a game I'm circling on the calendar. Obviously, the coaches and players can't overlook any teams but as a fan, I'm expecting more (despite past Hokie hope being trampled on many times). Scared money don't make money.
After the SEC, B1G, the charity G5 spot and ND there are only 2-3 playoff spots left. WADR we are not playoff contenders in 24.
I vote we start referring to this as the g-spot.
Might be difficult for teams to find their way there.
Yeah, but if you can make it happen the payoff is huge.
Looks like at least 65,000 folks are ready for the Clemson game!
Clemson aint what they were 5 years ago. Not close. They are beatable. We should not be in awe. I expect VT to be competitive in this game with a legit shot to win. Not some miracle upset.
I agree that this aint the Clemson of old and they're still being propped up by their killer teams of years past. However, wrt OPs question; Hokie fans appear to be getting ready for the season!
Especially the way Clemson has played on the road in recent years.
If VT is to ascend, this could be a turning point. Clemson turned the corner when they beat VT twice in 2011, taking the ACC championship for the first time since 1991. Seems relevant that VT could flip the script here.
Their 22 class was meh... but 23 and 24 are very good. Still alot of talent, but they have come back to the pack
I've been thinking the same thing. Early in Dabo's tenure at the beginning of the decline in Beamer's tenure, they curb stomped us in Lane. It catapulted them to the top of the ACC, ending our reign since joining the conference in 2004. This game presents a great opportunity, but it is predicated on VT taking care of business leading up to it. That starts in Nashville.
Symbolism sure, but what catapulted them was signing DUDES like Watkins, Hopkins, Anthony, Tajh Boyd, etc etc etc. Im not mentioning Wilkins, Watson, Lawrence even. Dabo got top SEC type talent in there- got them to buy in.
Just snagged my tix to the Vandy game, crazy to think football starts this month!
Tech's website indicates Rutgers is now sold out. Pretty awesome to see we have two sellouts a month before the season starts.
I plan to be at the Vandy game with a good group. I hope like hell we win. Anyone been to a game there before? Any tailgating scene? Anyone planning a tailgate?
You mean Hokies fans? Or just anyone in general?
Hmmm...either way, looks like the answer is no.
Saw the "V" at midfield and thought it was a UVA spring game, but then I looked at the photo again and realized that there's just too many people there for that to be true.
I saw Tebow beat Vandy years ago, there was no tailgating and we were drinking in the holiday in bar right in front of the stadium. It was like going to Duke.
Not sure how it impacts pregame but I'm pretty sure the game is at the Titans stadium.Edit: looks like that is not correct
I think the Middle Tennessee State game that never happened was planned for the Titans stadium.
Our game was originally planned for Nissan Stadium as well. They announced the move to campus either last year or the year before.
The stadium situation is my worry for this game. A dead atmosphere plays with the minds of 18-27 year olds. Granted the 7 year seniors will adjust better
There is probably a legit chance there will be as many Hokie fans as Vandy fans.
Vandy fans trying to keep Hokies fans out of their stadium:
I think you are correct. However I thought Vanderbilt's stadium was just closed this whole season as it gets renovated, but that seems to be something I made up from thin air.
Edit: thank you! I guess I'm not totally crazy.
Maybe you're thinking of Ryan Field up at Northwestern? They demolished it, building a new one, and I think they're playing at a HS field or something.
Edit: Actually, they will play on some make-shift field on their campus with 15K capacity. Very B1Gly. (ESPN Link)
Vandy is currently renovating both end zones. Apparently it's a mess on campus around the stadium.
No worries from me. I plan to be a mess when I walk in.
Thinking about going up to Nashville for this game. Won't have a car, so interested in anyone tailgating. Will bring food!
I have been watching some Vandy interviews and podcasts and it seems Clark Lea is turning over offense completely to the new OC and Jerry Kill. Also interesting to hear the references in interviews. Seems like Kill may be the main decision maker and acting as head coach so that Lea can focus on defense
@French
hearin' some nicer/kinder thingys on your boy ja.Keller, again.
(He had a good Saturday scrum is the developing word).
Taking them with a grain of NaCl would be me.
Nevertheless... Eye now know some who think he was a better H.S. offender and hoopster!
I did not know any of this until 2nite... wild, huh?
...and if he really is/was ATH1 in Tennessee?
Maybe the (football) game will now begin to proverbially slow down for him?
As this is the VERY 1st time he has bent my Eye...
time=tell,
HTH's.
b.street
At will or mike?
Will1... in theory...
...we shall see.
b.street