So last evening after the Redskins game on ESPN, they did a piece on the Braxton Miller injury. First and foremost, I never wish injury upon anyone; I hate to see anyone go down, especially a special talent who I'm sure will be exciting to watch on Sundays to come.
That being said, David Pollack (former UGA linebacker/ESPN CFB analyst) came on and spoke for a minute about the VT / OSU game.
To paraphrase:
-The very first thing he said was "This Virginia Tech game in week 2 just got a lot more interesting"
-"A Bud Foster defense is going to give fits to a new QB" (From what I saw it looks like a battle between a R-SO and a Freshman?)
-"With OSU losing a few O-lineman, defense is now the deciding factor"
-"The last thing a QB with no experience wants to see... a Bud Foster defense in week 2"
-It's nice to hear these analysts give credit to our football team. They could have easily done a 5 minute segment on "Now they won't get past MSU..... Now they won't get past the Big 10 Championship... Now they won't have one of the 4 lucky playoff slots."
We have a fighting chance "pending our QB, kicker, and health" , and it's nice to hear ESPN'ers talk about us on the main stage.
Comments
With or without Braxton Miller, VT vs OSU game was always interesting in my calendar. Bud Fosters defense gave AJ McCarron fits last year and will do the same to any starting QB with an offseason of game planning. Lets hope Scot Loeffler can get the offense to play at a high level.
100% agree
I've been listening to Talk RADIO all day and no one is giving VT any credit, all these guys keep saying is even without Braxton Miller, OSU will go 11-1. Grinds my gears.
This is good. Hoping that the team is hearing it, too. Both teams for that matter. Let them keep saying it.
When we take the M&O glasses off, this team hasn't been great over the last couple of years. OSU should still beat us. They're playing at home, they have more talent, and Urban Meyer is a good coach. I hate the guy, but he is a good coach. We have a lot of question marks on this team. There is potential, but we don't know how this team will do until the season starts.
Not many people know about the up and comers on this team and that's what is exciting. We know the defense will be ready to go and we have to hope that the offense can do something. Loeffler likes the TE...well now we have 3. Lets see it.
This team has always done well as an underdog, and we'll be fired up.
I want that, fly underneatth he radar, we have always played better as the big underdog. Reminds me when we played #10 Clemson and we weren't even ranked. No one gave us a chance even though it was at Lane too. We all know how that turned out...
Spoiler: it turned out well.
I've liked Pollack the few times I've watched him. Hopefully he takes over a big part on Gameday since they moved PAWWWWL (thankfully) to the $EC Network. I can't stand that guy.
What I think is going to be insane is we are supposed to be FASTER. If everyone does what they are supposed to do I could see us having quite a few turnovers if we score early and force them to throw.
VT's defense has always been well respected. I think all of the analysts know that our offense has been the problem over the years and the defense has helped cover our issues on offense.
People will not be surprised if our offense picks it back up and we become a top 10-15 team.
That is why we got votes for top 25.
People know you cannot write off the Hokie's due to the defense always arriving in a bad humor.
With3 TE's on special teams duty, and our current kicker competition and #punterswag, special teams can be the points, field position and electrifying plays it was in the past.
I'm not too worried about ST this year as CFB is awake at 2AM Eureka-ing. That makes 2 elements solid.
I know Loeffler is on the 3rd.
Sorry, I'm so excited I can't keep a straight thought.
I agree, the excitement is amazing. Only one more non-Hokie football weekend until the season begins!!
^^^^THIS!!
I can't remember a time when even the coaches were all this excited. Well, cautiously excited. I think we're one year away from being truly great...top 10...maybe better. But, maybe....even this year (if we can stay healthy) the coaches know there's something special to us that could turn a lot of heads.
Either that, or Whit has mandated/changed the tone in how the coaches approach the media. Asking them to be more optimistic and excited (regardless of reality) when speaking to the public so that fans (donors) and players (current, recruits, HS coaches, etc.) are more engaged. It's like willing yourself to success. Whit is kind of a genius.
I want to believe the former, but the latter works, too. I'm excited.
IT'S BUD FOSTER DAY HERE AT TKP!!!
I don't know about you, but that's every day for me.
Touche!!!
And me...and ME.
I don't mind David Pollack - I think he provides good depth on College Gameday and he seems extremely likeable.
Glad to see someone on ESPN is noticing the hard work Bud Foster puts into our defense year in and year out.
I like Pollack as well, but he's not quite as polished as he needs to be quite yet. Still kind of a bro. But knows his football.
Let's just hope he doesn't follow the footsteps of Jesse Palmer and appear on The Bachelor....
he's married with a son...so he's got that covered.
The way ABC tries to drum up drama for that show, that's not really a disqualifying factor.
I like Pollack. Go Dawgs.
I am so happy UVA turned Bud Foster down for the Head Coaching Job and hired al groh instead. What a relief!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
One wonders if Bud will tell Ohio State's OC the same thing pregame he told Miami's in 2009.