Of the Hokies many, many issues this year, it would seem that one of their biggest problems is timing.
The Hokies had quite a few talented recruits in the house to witness the team's 30-6 drubbing at the hands of the Hurricanes last week, a result that didn't exactly inspire any sudden commitments from the group in attendance.
Between Jalen Dalton, Tim Settle and Garrett Taylor, the Hokies looked limp just in time for some of their biggest remaining targets to stop by Blacksburg.
But while the result might not have been what the coaching staff was looking for, it would seem that the atmosphere in Lane Stadium did plenty to counteract the team's poor play on the field.
"I'd never been for a Thursday night game before, and it was awesome," said 2015 cornerback commit DuWayne Johnson. "People were screaming at the top of their lungs the whole time. It's one of the best entrances in college football, no doubt."
Leading up to the game, everyone from Shane Beamer to Whit Babcock begged Hokie fans to show up in force for the game, and it would seem they did not disappoint.
"We got to walk down and be with the students, and the crowd was so hyped," said 2015 CB commit Mook Reynolds. "Things did get out of hand with the game, but people stayed loud."
As much as "Enter Sandman" surely impressed the high schoolers, recruits say the crowd's commitment to the game in the face of a blowout was equally influential.
"No matter the score, everyone was still cheering," said 2016 running back offer C.J. Freeman.
While a win would've likely buoyed spirits after the game, recruits add that watching a team struggle makes it easy to envision joining the program and lending a hand.
"Every recruit thinks that way, I was definitely picturing myself out there," Freeman said. "I just thought when I saw Marshawn (Williams) fumble right on the goal line, if that had been me, I would've run that straight in."
For Johnson, getting a look at Miami's vaunted receivers only confirmed his belief that he's ready to help the Hokies.
"I always felt like, in college, the receivers were going to be way faster, but they really didn't look that fast when I was watching them," Johnson said. "I feel like I could come in and make plays right away."
As the other players envision their futures as Hokies, the recruits say that Reynolds is already busy acting the part.
"He's the head man over there, he acts like he's a player there already," Freeman said. "He's made it his home already. He goes wherever he wants, no one questions him."
Freeman and Reynolds are classmates at Greensboro, N.C.'s Northern Guilford HS, so Reynolds used his status as an early insider to help persuade the uncommitted RB.
"He took me on a mini-tour of the stadium," Freeman said. "We got to go in the locker room, I got to talk to Kendall (Fuller) and Marshawn."
Johnson joined the pair in the locker room after the game, and he says that spending time with the big group of recruits is part of what made the visit so special.
"It was fun to be down there with all them," Johnson said. "Just to hang out with Mook and the rest. We have a big group message that we all talk in, and we'd been talking about going to this Miami game for a while."
But being down with the team and the coaches after the game was diminished a bit by the fact that the staff wasn't exactly pleased with the effort they saw on the field.
"They said after that they had to play with more heart," Freeman said. "They said they saw little blips of effort, but it wasn't consistent."
Yet Freeman still saw plenty he liked from the team.
"Shane was telling me about the running backs, saying they ran zone a lot and that's their bread and butter, running the ball," Freeman said. "They're still a young team, there are lots of freshmen and sophomores, I saw lots of potential."
Surprisingly enough, he wasn't the only recruit to find some optimism about the program left from even such a lopsided loss.
"It's not demoralizing, Duke Johnson is a great back," Reynolds said. "Next time they'll be ready to be play against a guy like him."
Reynolds and Johnson are already planning future visits to Blacksburg in the hope of seeing the Hokies realize some of that potential this season.
Reynolds is heading right back to Tech for the Boston College game this weekend, while Johnson hopes to get back for the Virginia game before another potential visit in December.
As commits, it's not surprising that the pair is ready for another trip to Lane. But it's a testament to the atmosphere in Blacksburg before things turned ugly for the Hokies that Freeman is already mulling his next trip as well.
"I've got two planned visits left, the Tennessee-Kentucky game (on November 15) and the South Carolina game on November 22 (against South Alabama), but other than that I'm not sure yet," Freeman said. "But there's a very good chance I'll get back to Tech."
Comments
Thanks for information, Alex! Hokie recruiting fanatics love positive feedback, also did you hear from any of the uncommitted recruits?
I had a big sigh of relief reading this. The last few days of uncertainty with how the recruits handled the blowout Thursday has had me worried and the silence only fueled that. I'm glad to see they are looking at the positives of the visit such as the raucous Lane crowd and the potential to make an early impact on a young but talented team next season. And as per usual great article Alex.
Biggest take away is the impression made by the fans! This is another reason why EVERY home game needs to be sold out and Lane needs to be loud. Support our team and help the coaches land the guys who aren't committed yet.
Hahah the "Bread and Butter" from Shane a Beamer has me LOL. Let's all be honest with ourselves, VT has crazy Talent in our RB depth, and we still can't get a Solid run game going. He better have done something to those boys for those fumbles.
I think key components of that depth are sitting on the sideline right now (torn ACL and broken clavicle). I like Caleb and Wright a lot, but I think they would still be 4 and 5 if Shai and Trey are healthy.
As the old saying goes, "Winner, winner, chicken dinner!" Although I would move Rogers to the #4 Spot. That guy is all heart and will-power. That makes-up for a lot.
Rogers is #1 on the depth chart. He's a fullback.
Anything from Taylor or Settle?
Settle is expected to make decision in early Nov., Taylor still has two more official visits then should make his OV to Tech. He is expected to be a later decision.
Settle keeps changing his decision date. I've heard Dec, Oct, Nov, and now back to late Dec. The only consistent thing with his recruitment seems to be strong interest in VT.
If some other schools read this, they may not let Mook take visits.
Mook is good enough that other schools will take the chance that they can sway him. He is one that we really need to keep aboard to continue the DBU tradition.
Mooks is doing a good job recruiting for VT. He reminds me of Kyle Fuller. Lets hope he helps bring Freeman and Dalton to VT.
It will take a lot more than losing to the U to erase the great VT victory at the Horseshoe against the mighty Ohio State.
Yeah, I've heard a lot lately about how OSU was having a bad game, that JT didn't yet know what to do with the ball..etc, etc... I think that's a bunch of BULL. Bud had an excellent game plan, it wouldn't have mattered if Braxton was in there, the outcome would have been the same. True, we haven't been able to put the pieces together again like we did that night, but to me that reflects more on the youth of this team than anything else. Maybe they saw too many of those stupid "Mission Accomplished" shirts around campus and let it go to their heads. Anyway, I see a bright future for this team. We may be down right now, but we are far from dead.
Mook, our "soft" commit. Ha. Who doesn't love that guy already? I want him to hang around for ALL of our games.
Mook, if you are out there, I think sales are in your future, son.
Just a little bit more than just a little bit relieved.
Creed!
How do current players feel about a high school recruit saying they are failing at their job and they could walk in and take it.
"How do current players feel about a high school recruit saying they are failing at their job and they could walk in and take it."
Lose 30-6, and you reap what you sow.
They should realize by now, VT will play true freshmen if need be.
The message is: work and perform and don't let anyone take your job.
After getting whipped like they did on Thursday night, they should view it as a challenge rather than an insult. You don't play as badly as you do as a team as they did on Thursday and then turn around and get mad when a highly regarded recruit says he could come in and contribute right away and make the team better.
Where's that Walter White gif when you need it?
deleted
Come to our school and compete for a starting spot right away #theUVAstrategy
Hopefully the comment pisses off the current players so they play better
I used to sit here on pins and needles and hit refresh on my browser when a recruit was making a decision...
Now I just let the chips fall where they may...
+1 every time for The Dude!
No doubt the atmosphere was absolutely electric on Thursday - good to see that it appealed to the recruits.
Although, others may sweat, I will be happy to see things settle as they may... after all, they will all make a decision as a freeman.
Speaking of Sweat, Settle, Dalton and Taylor; has anyone heard from this group of recruits? Do they feel the same way about VT after that horrendous loss to Miami? Or are we mainly hearing from the players already committed to the program? I ask because the article never directly quotes from Sweat, Settle, Dalton nor Taylor.
Taylor made a lot of favorable comments about his experience, was very impressed with fans and program.
Wow. That's great to hear. One of my main worries was how the recruits would react to the booing from the fans in the 4th quarter. I know the product on the field was rather putrid, but they're our kids wearing our colors, representing our school; I hope the fans at the game can keep that thought on their mind.
Most of the recruits left early, not because we were getting blown out but because they had school & their own games to play in the next day... so they probably missed the stadium clearing out and the boo birds.
Thank. God.
And speaking of guys named Taylor, Darrell Taylor will be on campus this weekend for an OV.
From what I have heard from people that know more than me; the overall response and view of potential recruits has been steady if not optimistic due to the overall thought that they could step in, immediately help the team and have an opportunity to change things and create a legacy of their own.
I hate to compare but it's much like LOLUVA's recruiting has been the past few years, terrible performance on the field but highly regarded recruits coming in to make a difference. The only difference is LOLUVA has gotten two or three good prospects, while VT may have the potential for a class that can complete change way VT Football is viewed in the ACC or even the Nation.
This is kind of what I was thinking watching the game. Players can learn a lot more about a program by watching how they react to adversity than by watching them roll opponents. Marshall had a comment saying that the Boise game cemented things for him because he saw how the team pulled together. Teams screw up and lose games, and players know that. I think the important thing is the atmosphere. When you're with the players and coaches does it feel like the program is on the decline or does it feel like they're all in it together and determined to improve? VT recruits always talk about the family atmosphere, and if I'm a recruit, I'm looking at which team is going to do the most to support me, not just who is going to win whether I play there or not.
IMO, these recruits will watch our team pretty close over the next few weeks to see what VT's team mentality is at this period of the program.
IMO, they will also be watching the fans reactions. We appreciate the players not quitting. We, as fans, need to show we aren't quitting either. That fan "performance" last Thursday cannot be overstated. Well done by all involved. Now we need to suck it up and just keep it going. Keep showing the world what we've got going on at VT, and why it is a great place to play.
I was just reading a thread on an article posted shortly after the game where everyone in the comments section was calling for CFB's head. It is interesting to notice the difference in that thread and this one. People need to look at who sets the tune for the team, who develops that family atmosphere that the recruits like, who pulls the team together after a bad loss. Who is it that the recruits want to play for? It's Coach Frank Beamer. Remember these points after the next time that we lose a game that we shouldn't; 1) It's just a game 2) We wouldn't have had the successes that we've had that makes losing these games hurt without CFB 3) Coach has been here before, he will keep the players grounded 4) At VT we typically recruit quality people to play for us, they can handle some adversity and 5) It's just a game.
Be a fan. Yell, Scream, Jump, Support our team. Through thick and thin, support them. Remember that these are 18-21 year old young men, they will make mistakes, forget the mistakes quickly and cheer again. GO HOKIES!!
The only thing I can add to this is the way CFB reacted to the win at anOSU. No celebration, really. No smugness. No "told ya so." Just kept his head down and said "we gotta learn from this and build on it." At the time I was kind of disappointed, to tell you the truth. Now, I dunno ... it almost seems like he's smarter than I am.
He's coached football for a far greater period of time than most of us.
This makes me feel good.
High school recruits with logical responses to a loss.
Adult fans go ballistic with emotional responses to a loss.
Interesting to see which group has their heads screwed on straight.
Welcome to the TKP Fam.
Put your feet up and have a turkey leg!
Thanks, I appreciate that.
Interesting that the ones that have made the financial investment would have a critical view of the team doing poorly while the ones vying for a free ride would not care as much... isn't it.
I view it as those who have played the game and suffered losses and defeat are better able to understand it than those who play armchair Quarterback after every game.
I agree fully. I have made the financial investment, been a season ticket holder for about 12 years now, been to nearly every home game since I became a freshman in 1996, and I have a very positive outlook. I used to be the kind of fan that you didn't want to be around after a loss. I would get mad, I would yell and curse the team and the coaches, I would get depressed and just was not pleasant to be around.
Want to know what changed that? The loss to JMU. I was at that game with my father, my wife, and my two sons (age 6 and 4 at the time). It was rainy, cold and miserable. And we were losing. We watched a good part of the game under the South stands to keep the kids out of the rain. I was starting to get upset from the loss when I realized how much fun my kids were having just being there, how much they loved just being at a game, being part of the experience. I couldn't ruin it for them. So I shook it off, told myself that it's just a game, and there will be more games. I learned to enjoy the experience of being a part of Hokie Nation. I also learned that it's a whole lot more enjoyable to be positive about the team than it is to be negative.
Don't get me wrong, I still get into the games. I still yell and scream, but I have learned to move on quickly and enjoy being there. I see this team's future as being very bright. If not for this year then for next.
Preach on new TKP'er.
A turkey leg for sprinkling a pinch of healthy perspective and positivity on the heads of the frustrated.
I anoint you 'True Hokie.'
Careful with that term. It means very different things to different people. I know you mean it as a compliment, but just be careful :)
I think he meant it as a joke and the make light of some of the recent discussion on here.
Thanks Shoog! Some people get too wrapped up in all of this and lose sight of what's really important.
Small words sometimes cause big headaches, spoken by a married man! :-)
Edit: Directed at Shoog, the funniest guy on the blog.
Well spoken....lol
That is what i realized. It seems family will make you change your opinion on what matters. This past week was my GF's first game at. She is not a fan really but wanted to see what the buzz at VT. (yes... yes my minions, insert gifs & puns here) Every year she is entertained by my intense focus on Saturdays, occasional insane outburst, and slight obsession with VT Football. Rewind to Pitt week and the total letdown and frustration of being a part of Hokie Nation I was honestly starting to question all the energy I devote to the program. I almost dumped the tickets. Needless to say, like many times before after many rants, and promises to not go to the game, etc- I snapped out of it and went and screamed and enjoyed Sandman. Then Hurricane Duke happened and with the atmosphere, recruits, national spotlight, and Hokies s******g the bed- something had changed. First, I realized that my GF was happy to be sharing a first with me and I was happy for her to enjoy herself (she might've become a fan). Second, I felt like I do when my child makes mistakes- I still love her, I still want the best I just wish she wouldn't make them. I don't look down on her, I don't stop supporting her. I see if there is something to be done or if she's gotta get it on her own recog. When you experience that you will enjoy your team so much more. Enjoy the moment because someone is happy and not taking for granted what Really matters. I sat there with my family and enjoyed my favorite sports team in their worst moment because its a game. Sometimes you love something so much that you'd rather enjoy the bad than to enjoy something else in its place. That is what being a (TRUE) fan is its a microcosm of what you hold dear in your personal life.
The sooner you look at them as a person: a son, a grandchild, a brother, team mate, a hokie; the sooner you are there to pick em up when they're down. They aren't just a scholarship, they're people and some of us care about them. They contribute their health and lives and enjoy making us happy. some of us cant get that it seems.
kudos, don't be surprised to see couple random legs to make for the extra I cant give for this one.
It's like a weight being lifted off of your shoulders isn't it?
My seats this year are right above our locker room (one row back from the wall), and after the home losses we have had this year I have made a point of standing at the wall and applauding the effort of our players. Telling them to keep their chins up. Letting them know that we still support them and are proud of their effort. I played HS Football and I know how it feels to lose a game you really wanted to win. And I know that having fans still there to lean on when things are bad means a lot to the players.
99AgHokie, you deserve more than legs. Father of the year! :-)
I look at it this way: if my wife burns my steak, I can either tell her its dry or thank her for dinner. Same way as a fan. When the hokies have a dip, I can either scream about the performance or thank them for giving me something to be passionate about. I choose the latter in both cases.
I was pleasantly surprised the negative option wasn't divorce. I was gonna say, that would've been overkill.
+1000 legs for the lesson of positivity passed on to your kids and your ability as a younger dad to see how your behavior would impact your kids. . More valuable than anything else.
Yea those damn free loaders! They don't care at all that they just got embarrassed...
Quotes from AB: http://www.roanoke.com/sports/columns_and_blogs/blogs/andy_bitter_virgin...
Love the leadership from Ford already as a freshman.
If you think recruits have no financial investment, you are sorely mistaken.
It costs money to play the game, travel to games, parents' time and effort cost $$$.
It is more than just donations and ticket purchases.
Not to mention that guys like, Shuman, Benedict, James Hopper, Dyrell Roberts, etc (Check out his compartment surgery photos) have given limbs and their bodies for the team. How much is that worth to you?
Hmm, you corrected me for using the term "real fan" on another thread and I accepted that criticism with no animosity toward you. I hope you understand your remark comes across as very elitist. Please think about it. BTW, I did not downvote you.
Edit: This comment is directed toward Alum07.
I didn't mean it that way at all. I probably should have just taken the part about the recruits out of it.
My stance is that its not a surprise at all that those who have invested their time and hard earned money into this program are going to express some frustration when the team fails to deliver on expectations. Everyone that owns season tickets or has given to the Hokie Club is a stakeholder in the success of Virginia Tech football. Stakeholders showing frustration when a business (VT football and VT athletics are a business) struggles is not uncommon at all, and is to be expected.
Not one single person is less of a fan because they have expressed frustration the previous couple weeks, and that is what the message of this sub-thread was touching. "Maybe some people on here could learn from these kids" reads not-so-subtly as 'those who complain are inferior'. I don't like that, so I spoke up. Probably not in the best way, but I did.
^^^^
THIS. Unfortunately, the emotion and passion of college football has that affect on fans. Also I feel as though the recruits know and understand how a locker room feels when your effort isn't good enough a particular day. They love the games as much but there is an empathy gained that is the result of being in the same shoes at one point or another.
either way, your post puts into context how I've been feeling this week.
Effin' A!
And THAT'S why I'm still in their corner.
Thanks for that, vtfly.
Mook is already one of my favorite Hokies. Cannot wait for him to get here officially.
It seems like he wants to be a Hokie. That will always trump talent in my book.
Awesome! And thank you...my kids are 2.5 and 1, and I haven't taken them yet...this is what I need to remember and do
What most don't realize is what a special place VT is. We are FAMILY.... So what, we have a brother that is down right now. Family doesn't turn it's back on them. We stand at their back and provide support as they face the prevailing storms. This is why we love VT, thus is why we love you!!! We will lose battles, But we must remain loyal to our family. This is what we DO. When a coach or player doesn't play to their maximum potential ask yourself, as a fan are you supporting to your maximum potential? This is what make Alabama and Ole Miss special. They will fight you over their family. Lets focus on being the best we can be and everything else will work itself out. Lets not forget who we are. Recruits love this place!!! Stay Loud, stay crazy and when our team plays STAY Late!!! If you're one of those we can't support unless we are winning types go F' yourself. Those aren't fans those are bandwagoner's. A true fan is one who is cosistent whether we're beating OSUs or losing to Miami. Some of you need an invitation to a good ol USMC blanket party.... and I've got the soap!!!! VT baby.... get on board or get to Freaking stepping!!!BOOM
#TEAMBOOM
#DamnSkippy
http://www.wxii12.com/sports
West Forsyth Senior 4* DE JD states it will be VT or UNC
With all of the scandals at UNC let's hope he picks VT.
I think if you read between the lines on this one, we're set up very well for him to declare to us. Don't underestimate the fact he chose the VT-UNC game as the day he wanted to take his official to Chapel Hill.
Really excited about this class of recruits. Not just because it could be one of the most talented that Frank's ever brought in, but also because they're willing to jump on board a team that's been trending downward in the past few seasons. That willingness to become a Hokie even during some dark days shows some true character.
Sometimes I think it can be easier to recruit when you're on the downswing than when you've plateau'd, which we were recently.
Its easy to sell immediate playing time, and a chance to be remembered as the class which brought a team back to relevance. Its not as easy to sell a kid to a school where he'll probably have to wait his turn, and unless they go out and win a title, there's a good chance they really won't be remembered much 10 years down the line.
I really hope we hit a homerun this class. We desperately need it, especially at DL, where we've grown unacceptably thin on the depth-chart. We pull in the class we are looking to bring in, and suddenly one of our biggest glaring weaknesses on defense suddenly becomes our biggest strength. And as everyone has seen in the NFL, if you can dominate the game from the DL, its very difficult to not have a very good team.
My take away is that enthusiastic fan support is a key element to building a National Championship team.
Should this be in all caps?