Virginia Tech's victory over Virginia Friday was seemingly the perfect ending to one of the more trying seasons in recent memory. As always, the defense showed up to play, yet still managed to give up a late go-ahead score to the Hoos. However, unlike so many previous games that ended in VT losses, on Friday the much maligned Hokie offense come to the rescue in the waning minutes. That was especially surprising given the offense again sputtered through most of the game before it found its stride late in the third quarter thanks to a well executed drive that ended in a Cam Phillips touchdown.
I hate the thought of losing to UVa, and as the years pass and the consecutive wins add up, I find myself dreading kickoff of the annual Commonwealth Cup matchup regardless of each team's record. Many highly ranked national prospects reside in Virginia, making it more imperative than ever that the Hokies lock down these recruits to continue to re-build the program. The last thing that any of us want to see is Virginia re-take the Cup, enabling them to lay claim to Virginia and give credence to Virginia Head Coach Mike London's sales pitch. However, with each passing victory over the Hoos, London's spiel becomes more folly than battle cry.
In my eyes, this was UVa's best shot at retaking the Commonwealth Cup and they failed. They faced a reeling Hokies squad rife with injuries, uneven quarterback play, a defense susceptible to occasional breakdowns and the first significant level of uncertainty surrounding Frank Beamer in almost two decades. Friday's win marked the beginning of a second Decade of Dominance. I hope the Hoos are ready for it.
In the spirit of the holiday season, I thought it would be apropos to give thanks for Friday night's victory over the Hoos, which capped what has arguably been the most trying season of Virginia Tech football in 20-plus years.
I'm thankful for the tens of thousands of fans that braved the cold on Friday night, decked out in burnt orange and chicago maroon and screaming their lungs out from start to finish.
I'm thankful for Michael Brewer and his inherent warrior-like character. Both he and backup / Wild Turkey quarterback Brendan Motley endured numerous hard hits. Brewer was able to gut it out and lead the Hokies on the game-winning drive with under three minutes to play. As Brewer has gone, so has this Hokies offense, and Friday night saw an inspired effort from a guy who was constantly under duress. Love him or hate him, Brewer deserves some serious respect for the cojones he displayed against the Hoos.
I'm thankful for all of the seniors that have proudly represented Virginia Tech over the four or five years in Blacksburg (six if you're David Wang). Guys like Caleb Farris and Willie Byrn have been warriors, giving their all and serving as great ambassadors for the program and university despite what most consider suboptimal seasons.
I'm thankful for Bucky Hodges and Sam Rogers. Nothing else needs to be said.
I'm thankful for the phenomenal defensive performance that stymied a capable UVa offense. Aside from a few isolated big plays from the Wahoo offense, the Hokies defense kept the unit largely in check. UVa RB Kevin Parks was completely dominated by the Hokies front-seven, and OC Steve Fairchild had few answers for a dominant performance from Tech's d-line. Dadi Nicolas, Ken Ekanem, Corey Marshall and Nigel Williams lived in UVa's backfield. It was a display we have largely come to expect, but who doesn't take great pleasure in watching our defense plant poor Hoos into the turf play-after-play?
I'm thankful for Virginia Athletic Director Craig Littlepage, who earlier in the week promised to bring back Mike London for at least one more year.
I'm thankful for Scot Loeffler's playcalling over the final 20 minutes. I have absolutely no idea where it came from or where it was the previous 40, but the Hokie offense showed a level of competence late in the third quarter that I had begun to think we might not see again for another 9 months under the leadership of an entirely different coordinator. The running game became consistently successful and the passing designs helped Brewer stay on his feet long enough to find open receivers. After almost 7 consecutive quarters without a touchdown, Brewer put a stake in the dysfunction with a 36-yard wonder strike to Cam Phillips. Nicely put, Loeffler's offense has performed inconsistently this season. While execution, injuries and inexperience have surely contributed, the lack of a clear offensive identity and an inability to do one thing well may have doomed Loeffler after only two seasons in Blacksburg. One thing's for sure: aberration or not, Lefty deserves credit for the way he handled the offense down the stretch against the Cavs.
I'm thankful for J.C. Coleman's perseverance. Joe wrote all that needed to be said about J.C. and the 2014 season. Not many guys could endure such a strange year, going from afterthought through nine games to feature back in the final three. Without his renewed purpose and explosiveness, this team very well may have finished 0-3 down the stretch.
I'm thankful for Thanksgiving leftovers sandwiches.
I'm thankful for Augie Conte and his extraordinary effort late in the game at right tackle. Stacy Searels needed to make an adjustment after experiencing two-and-a-half quarters watching converted offensive lineman Wade Hansen get abused by UVa DE Max Valles. Having spent the majority of the season at guard before losing his starting spot in a line shakeup prior to the Miami game, Conte stepped in to relieve Hansen and did an admirable job helping keep Michael Brewer upright. When you take into account the potential pitfalls of a game-ending injury to another quarterback, Conte may have deserved a game ball for his performance.
Most of all, I'm thankful for the opportunity to watch this team play one more game. You likely spiked a television remote in frustration this season. You might have sworn never to watch another Hokie football game until 2015. Watching other offenses put points on the board with ease probably made you rage. It was far from the prettiest season of Virginia Tech football, but it was Virginia Tech football. The thought of an already far-too-long offseason being longer was difficult to stomach — let's all give thanks to the effort this team put forth Friday night to extend this season one more month.
Comments
Good article, very well said. FIRST COMMENT!!
how did you know about my tv remote...
This young team answered the call, and then some. I can't wait to call it a Dozen Years of Dominance!
Tech's game against UVA displayed a gritty toughness that epitomizes Hokie football at it's best!
If they can build on that in the bowl game, it will give us reason to hope the corner has been turned and hopefully for the coaches to come back and finish the monumental rebuilding job they have started, it's not yet time to clean the slate - 2015 will be a great year!
I can see the shirt now, a UVA Hen looking at an egg with the caption "I laid another one" while the other 11 sit in the carton sporting the date and game score of the previous 11.
I would buy that shirt.
I'm thankful for Bonner chasing down smokey the bear and saving a touchdown
This! Just like Torrian himself in .... what .... 1996?
that last paragraph!!! perfect!!! its been a long short season and even though its been tough to watch at times i know im about to miss the crap out of watching it! i dont want it to end. off season sucks!!!
Good to keep Mike on the snide! 11 straight is incredible!
I'm thankful for Reavis. Talks the talk, walks the walk.
Ready to assume the mantle of "Most Hated Hokie" on Le Shears for 3 more years.
I can't wait for the entertainment.
"Friday's win marked the beginning of a second Decade of Dominance. I hope the Hoos are ready for it."
VT has won 15 of the last 16....I'd say the 2nd decade is well under way.
nah, we aim for perfection. Any wahoo win resets the counter.
I think it's probably about time we break out a special uniform for these games with the Wahoos.
My submission:
I'm thankful I didn't have a goddamn stroke when ESPN threw it down to the sidelines for an injury update...FOR THE FUCKING IRON BOWL. If you were in the stands and didn't have the pleasure of watching it on TV, during the second quarter (I believe), ESPN threw it down to their sideline reporter for an injury update in the Iron Bowl. A game that wouldn't kick off for another 24 hours. The Iron Bowl. Meanwhile, I'm at home wondering, "Is Motley coming back in the game? He came up a little gimpy on the last series..." And ESPN is all like, "Hey did you want to hear some more Fall Out Boy?! They're terrible and 100% irrelevant, so here's some more of their shit! Oh, and while we're at it, how about some more Iron Bowl chatter?! IRON BOWWWWLLLLLL FOOTBAAWWW on ESPN!!!"
This is an absolute lack of respect! I understand that winning cures everything, and that ESPN has to whore itself around for the SEC, but WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK, ESPN?! Would they ever go to the sidelines of an Auburn game (even in a down year) and say, "Holly Rowe, what's the injury status for two other teams that aren't currently playing?!" Absolutely not.
i audibly laughed at that gif.
That is a high-quality rant right there!
I said the same exact damn thing when they cut to that reporter. I literally yelled "I DON'T GIVE A FLYING FORESKIN ABOUT THAT GAME" eSECpn is a joke of a network now-a-days. Yet I really have no place else to turn, its BS.
I was venting about this on Facebook during the game. It was so asinine. The next night, right as the Iron Bowl was about to start, a friend sent me a message; this was our exchange:
People keep telling me I need better friends. Can I borrow yours?
Man, hell to the yeah on this rant. That broadcast was one of the most nauseating things I've ever seen. Every 5 fucking minutes ESPN would play their "hey, we have an update for our bottom line" tune, and instead of an update, they would just show a giant Iron Bowl ad in the top right corner of the screen. Oh, yeah, because all the incessant talking about that fucking game isn't enough, lets constantly get people to look at the screen to distract them from the game they've tuned in to watch. And yes, there was the throw down to the field with the Iron Bowl Injury Report during our own game with our own players having injuries we're worried about (did they once throw it to the field to report on injuries within our own game? Nooooope). But what REALLY pissed me off the most about the broadcast the most is that, while people are tuning in to watch the VT-UVa game, they spent so much fucking time talking about the goddamn Iron Bowl they completely neglected to show ANY of the VT entrance. Not a single fucking second of it. No, they had much more pressing things to go over like, and I shit you not, the injury report for the Iron Bowl flush with video highlights of players who wouldn't be playing.
ESPN is the fucking worst, and this past weekend they took it to an entirely new level. They were unashamed with just how much they were hyping up the Iron Bowl, at the legitimate detriment of the programming they were actually airing. Its bad enough they pretend some sports (hockey) don't exist because they don't have rights to the games, but to actively fuck up their own broadcasts of games in certain conferences because they're pimping out a regular season game between 2 teams of another conference (that they just so happen to have a financial incentive to make it look as good as possible) is just unforgiveable. I really pray that the powers that be within the ACC offices were watching that game and saw just what kind of a royal 'fuck you' ESPN was handing down to our conference this past week, because its stark as day that the disrespect is only getting worse. Make no mistake, there is no coincidence this is happening right during a time when there is a growing power shift from the SEC to others, like the ACC (who has the undefeated defending champion, and a conference that just swept em last week)
And then the ACC goes 4 for 4 against the SEC the next day...
Wait, are you saying the Iron Bowl was this weekend? Damn, damn, damn...How on Earth did I miss it????
darny darn darn darn darn
If i knew how to insert GIFs to posts, I totally would have done it here
That would be a good "Block That Kick" cat!
I'm at home wondering, "Is Motley coming back in the game?
Okay after reading the comments I'm probably in the minority here, but it seemed like they actually talked more about Motley than any other player on the field. Every other play it felt like we were looking at him standing on the sideline with his hands in his pants. ESPN treated Motley like the second coming of MV7 and it seemed like they way overdid their homework on him. You wouldn't know based on that game that he was our backup QB and Brewer was the actual starter.
I'm apparently in the minority here, but I was just glad to have some professional camera work and direction after so many of the 1230 kickoffs on Raycom/Jefferson Pilot/ACC Network that we had to endure. I swear they have some of the worst camera angles/views that I've ever seen. Hmm lets see, the offense is probably going with a run play on a critical 3rd and short, let's do a wide angle oblique view that looks really pretty and artsy but totally obscures the play. Later between plays we'll cut away to a crowd/sideline shot and forget to come back to the field until after the ball has been snapped and the play is half over. I won't even mention the commentators. So while the Iron Bowl love fest was annoying, I'll take that over the public access channel high school football quality coverage we have seen far too many times this year.
ESPN's production quality and access to events is unparalleled (though FS1 puts together a nice broadcast); I like when our games are featured on ESPN because it means they have high visibility. ESPN, of course, is also a business that acts in its own interests. I think they just need to find the right balance between the current event that they have chosen to air and the OMG SEC STUFF GUYS PAY ATTENTION self-promoting of their other stuff that will be featured later or in the near future.
What, you didn't appreciate being reminded every 15 seconds during the Ohio State game that Michael Sam got cut by the St. Louis Rams?
Coverage that doesn't cut off intermittently, or come back to the game after a timeout to a play or two ALREADY having been run, or stupidity in general from the commentators...
Yeah, my thought during the iron bowl injury update was that I felt like the guy who goes on a date, and the girl picks up her phone and dials another guy during dinner to make plans for the following night.
But hey, you're really cute and interesting and stuff.
This rant! Yes. What bothers me is that every other big 5 conference has managed to start a dedicated network. The ACC is really lacking here. I have watched the B1G network and its a bit nauseating but impressive how they are dedicated to simply promoting their own brand while showing their own games. Doesn't even matter what sport. Our deal as little brother to the SEC with ESPN is really just a shitty situation. I suppose it pays the bills though...lame. I hope the ACC gets better treatment during squeaky fouls season.
LOL
What you missed watching the TV is that as soon as the VT football team came running out of the tunnel, the Cavs ran out too. Instead of allowing us to come out then their entrance.
Showed a lack of respect right then. When the Cavs started the jawing at the coin toss, I figured it was a game plan. Try to get the Hokies off their game.
It did the exact opposite. All they did was fire or guys up.
It certainly fired me up
plus it allowed ML to say "look how many people are cheering for you"
In at least 1 game, this year, TimeCop wanted the UVA team to run out to the sound of more than 1,000 screaming fans. He knew that Friday was the last chance to do so.
Amen. To everything.
I'm thankful for that LOLUVA lineman who decided to inexplicably run 6 yards down the field before the ball was thrown to negate a 70 yd pass play late in the 4th.
And it's not like he leaked across the line while looking for someone to block. He came firing out of his stance like it was a run play. He actually altered the D on the play, because the LB looked like he was picking up the OL like he was an eligible receiver.
I held my breath until the penalty was announced!!!
6 yards, I feel like it was more than that. He tried to block the CB covering the WR who caught the ball
Some of that excellent Mike London coaching...along with going for it on 4th down with a handoff to your running back who is seven yards behind the line of scrimmage when you need less than a half a yard.
I can't get on them too hard for that, that exact play seemed to be the Stinespring Special on 3rd or 4th and short for a while back when...
You could tell there was going to be a penalty because Corey Marshall started to give chase, saw the flag, then just stopped and watched him run.
On top of that the official was blowing his whistle and waving his arms. That was a pretty strong sign the play was over as well.
Yeah, I thought I heard a whistle, but they kept running and all the people around me didn't see the flag so they thought it was a touchdown. Of course one of the ladies behind me shouted obscenities everytime Brewer was on the field so theres that.
It did look pretty comical when just about everyone else stopped playing and he looked like he thought he was a total boss running through the defense with such ease. Then Dadi and Ken reminded him just what it feels like when the lunchpail D is actually trying.
You guys are thinking of the play where lambert ran for the score not "smoke" for 70 and not a score. Although on that play I was nervous as crap that it would be some fluke and they'd let the TD stand even though everyone stopped besides lambert and maybe one or two of our guys in the secondary who didn't seem sure cause lambert was still running like he was TT.
Am I the only one that thought they were calling the UVA linebacker "Max Phallus" until I finally saw the back of his jersey about halfway through the game?
No doubt, and I'm really glad that you saw the back of his jersey when you did or I would have thought his name was Phallus for the whole game.
;)
Just realized that you're a newbie. Leg for you, welcome.
Just realized your comment made me chuckle. Leg for you, awesome.
I'm thankful that local Wahoo fans are silent this week.
I walked into a coworker's (Hoo) office this morning (first day back in office for me), and I wasn't even talking about the game, and he brought it up. He had said "I don't know what would have happened if we won. It just wouldn't feel right. A win at this point would be life altering."
I had to laugh.
I'm thankful that Chase Williams got to get out there and hit someone. Motuapuaka is going to be a good one, but the defense was better this year with Chase. He played a hell of a game, and I was glad he was able to see the field again his senior season.
Agreed, Chase Williams is way better right now than Motupuakakakaakkkaakaka
Love the avatar. Watched an episode this weekend on tv actually, it's been a while!
Scott Loeffler is a great play caller when he has nothing to lose/his back against the wall. It's like he stops over thinking and sticks to things that work. I've never seen a team where we look awful, then suddenly have a drive that looks like we can do no wrong (game winning drive against OSU). It doesn't make much sense to me, but I'm sure glad it worked last Friday.
I am just waiting to see an announcer pronounce EE-CAN-EM properly. Their research is generally pathetic.
Did anyone else notice that at about the 13:55 mark in the 2nd qtr, there was a short Hoo pass for 5-6 yards and it got reviewed and overturned. Since it was originally called a complete pass ( with all our guys jumping up and down that it hit the ground), the game clock ran down to 13:25. When it was overturned, they did not reset the clock to around 13:50 when the ball hit the ground. It stayed at 13:25 and no one on the Hokies, officials or the announcers caught it.
Game clock officials have been very poor this year.
First play at home for us, we had to call a timeout to get the playclock running correctly, which we certainly could have used later in the half....