It happened a couple years ago, I think when they replaced a number of West stand seating with the chairs. Having the armrests and everything reduced capacity a good bit.
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Yep, that was it. A change in the seating section. It was the same year that we began the reseating the second round. I think that would place it at five years ago.
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I'm going 35-17. I think the running game gets it's first real good game and either one of Shai or Marshawn will pick up 100 yds on the day. Would be awesome to see Stroman take a punt back as well. I doubt Carden will have the time or open recievers that he had in USC-e. Gamecocks defense is pretty suspect IMO.
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In sticking with the wrestling theme that's been going around lately and the word "edge" in the title, I think this is an appropriate representation of how I see this game going down.
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I think the rushing attack will be much improved from last year. We have better backs and a line that can get more push. Also, a more accurate QB and improved receivers will open up the passing game which will prevent ECU from stacking the line of scrimmage. I would give VT the slight edge when they run the ball.
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Special teams...even? ECU has well below average kicking and punting game. While it remains to be seen what to make of VTs kicking game, the net punting difference is going to a factor in this game.
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2013 NET punting yards: VT 37.3 ECU 36.6 -- however VT had a much lower % of touchbacks (i.e. 3 and outs...urghhh). So let's look at 2013 avg yards per return against: VT 4.7 ECU 10.3.
I don't have the avg return for 2014, but ECU is no better than 11.5 yards per return against so far this year while VT is no worse than 5.3 against.
Those are big differences in favor of VT.
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I think before this year is out, you will not be saying that Hardy is better than Stroman as a punt returner.
BTW, so far this year...VT 11.4 ypr ECU 7.0 ypr. I like +4.4 yrds per return for PLUS +4.4 yrds per net punt. That's a ~9 yard difference per exchange of punts.
Edge: VT
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VT has had five punt returns this year. ECU has had four. Seems like a small sample size to be drawing definitive conclusions from anything.
Hardy's been a pretty good returner for a couple years now. Stroman has had two returns in his career. We'll see how it turns out, but I don't know if I see anything that says VT definitely has an edge on special teams, especially when you consider everything else.
We'll see. I'm only wrong 49% of the time. Not ... too ... shabby.
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Oh, definitely a small sample size for this year. To the point of being almost irrelevant.
But they've got mostly the same guys doing the same things this year as last year and they were pretty much below average across the board on special teams last year -- and this year's numbers look like last year's so far. And against the 100+ strength of schedule last year...
Having said that, VT was no world beater in the kick off or placekicking game either. But there are some new faces there for a reason even though the old faces are mostly still on the roster.
I guess that's why they play 'em.
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You know, I think I'm gonna trust the opinion of the beat writer, who's seen a lot more of this team than I have, and who gets paid to analyze this stuff.
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So it turns out the special teams were probably...EVEN! Both teams missed a FG attempt. VT had a nice punt return to set-up the tying TD (Stroman IS going to be very good), but the kick OB was equally crucial. The rest wasn't really a factor, I don't think.
But c'mon Andy...when ECU passes? Edge: VT? What were you thinking???
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Comments
I agree with your entire analysis here, Andy, first-rate work
When did lane stadium lose 601 seats??
It happened a couple years ago, I think when they replaced a number of West stand seating with the chairs. Having the armrests and everything reduced capacity a good bit.
Yep, that was it. A change in the seating section. It was the same year that we began the reseating the second round. I think that would place it at five years ago.
prior to the 2012 season. Ugh, 66,233 just rolled off the tongue better.
#sources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lane_Stadium
Well I hope they eventually make it to over 80k+ seats.
I'm going 35-17. I think the running game gets it's first real good game and either one of Shai or Marshawn will pick up 100 yds on the day. Would be awesome to see Stroman take a punt back as well. I doubt Carden will have the time or open recievers that he had in USC-e. Gamecocks defense is pretty suspect IMO.
In sticking with the wrestling theme that's been going around lately and the word "edge" in the title, I think this is an appropriate representation of how I see this game going down.
Razor Ramon was awesome, the Razors Edge.
Did you catch the Real Sports piece about him now, kinda sad.
"Hey Yo...." My personal GOAT right there.
I see that edge and raise you this Edge.
Very appropriate, as the Hardy Boyz are from NC
And we have a Canadian WR.
It fits better than I thought.
I think the rushing attack will be much improved from last year. We have better backs and a line that can get more push. Also, a more accurate QB and improved receivers will open up the passing game which will prevent ECU from stacking the line of scrimmage. I would give VT the slight edge when they run the ball.
Slight???
This is what we will do to ECU..

Wow gallagher got old
Does having Magic Mike as a mascot give them any edge?
This school is weird. God I hope we don't lose to this team.
Holy shit, their mascot really is a stripper. I've never seen that before.
He's got Cavman quaking in his boots
Umm, we've got a 'roided up turkey for a mascot. Let's give that a thought before insulting other team's mascots.
Excepting the hoos, of course. They deserve it.
Comment of the day. thanks I needed the laugh at the end of the work day.
I like roided up turkeys.
Special teams...even? ECU has well below average kicking and punting game. While it remains to be seen what to make of VTs kicking game, the net punting difference is going to a factor in this game.
Virginia Tech has a 45.2-yard punting average.
ECU is at 47.2
Boom.... Andy just owned that with MATH!

See below
That's great if every punt is a fair catch...
2014 NET punting yards: VT 39.9 ECU 35.5.
2013 NET punting yards: VT 37.3 ECU 36.6 -- however VT had a much lower % of touchbacks (i.e. 3 and outs...urghhh). So let's look at 2013 avg yards per return against: VT 4.7 ECU 10.3.
I don't have the avg return for 2014, but ECU is no better than 11.5 yards per return against so far this year while VT is no worse than 5.3 against.
Those are big differences in favor of VT.
Great. Hardy's a better returner than Stroman.
Both kicking games have their question marks.
Edge: Even.
When stats don't work...
I think before this year is out, you will not be saying that Hardy is better than Stroman as a punt returner.
BTW, so far this year...VT 11.4 ypr ECU 7.0 ypr. I like +4.4 yrds per return for PLUS +4.4 yrds per net punt. That's a ~9 yard difference per exchange of punts.
Edge: VT
Dude.....
Take it easy man. We're on the same team.
At least we can go back and forth with the beat writer.
Beats sending a letter to the editor and waiting a week for it to show up in print.
Yes it is. And kudos to Andy for having the stones to put himself out there and put up with guys like me.
VT has had five punt returns this year. ECU has had four. Seems like a small sample size to be drawing definitive conclusions from anything.
Hardy's been a pretty good returner for a couple years now. Stroman has had two returns in his career. We'll see how it turns out, but I don't know if I see anything that says VT definitely has an edge on special teams, especially when you consider everything else.
We'll see. I'm only wrong 49% of the time. Not ... too ... shabby.
Oh, definitely a small sample size for this year. To the point of being almost irrelevant.
But they've got mostly the same guys doing the same things this year as last year and they were pretty much below average across the board on special teams last year -- and this year's numbers look like last year's so far. And against the 100+ strength of schedule last year...
Having said that, VT was no world beater in the kick off or placekicking game either. But there are some new faces there for a reason even though the old faces are mostly still on the roster.
I guess that's why they play 'em.
You can't triple stamp a double stamp.
But I'm sure as hell going to quote these irrelevant statistics to prove AB wrong.
You mean like the 2014 punting avgs???
You know, I think I'm gonna trust the opinion of the beat writer, who's seen a lot more of this team than I have, and who gets paid to analyze this stuff.
So it turns out the special teams were probably...EVEN! Both teams missed a FG attempt. VT had a nice punt return to set-up the tying TD (Stroman IS going to be very good), but the kick OB was equally crucial. The rest wasn't really a factor, I don't think.
But c'mon Andy...when ECU passes? Edge: VT? What were you thinking???
They don't have AJ laying the boom, though
Or Slye.
This... No one can argue.
Edge: VT
For #AlltheSpecialTeams
Sorry, Andy, but I gotta give you a minus leg for that whole "Virginia" thing in your blog post. Nothing personal.
ECU has the edge.
Am I too late?