There has been a running theme about the growing apathy and, for lack of a better term "fandom", by the current students or recent Hokie graduates returning to Lane. See: paper airplanes, leaving early during games, starting the wave, being somewhat less passionate than the old guard (again I'm painting with a broad brush here).
I had some downtime at work today and decided to look at the state of VT Football when I was at school vs. what you would be experiencing if you were currently a Senior at Virginia Tech today. I was really blown away by the difference in my experience vs. the current student body.
I attended VT from 2000-2005. At some point during each season, VT was ranked in the top #10 and had a winning streak of at least 6 games during each season.
2000-2001: 11-1 (highest rank during season #2, finished #6)
2001-2002: 8-4 (highest rank during the season #5, finished #18)
- Ranked Wins: None
- Longest Winning Streak: 6
- Bowl win: No
2002-2003: 10-4 (highest rank during season #3, #14/#18)
- Ranked Wins: #14 LSU, #16 Marshall, #19 Texas A&M
- Longest Winning Streak: 8
- Bowl win: Yes
2003-2004: 8-5 (highest rank during season #3, finished unranked)
- Ranked Wins: #2 Miami
- Longest Winning Streak: 6
- Lost to UVA
- Bowl win: No
2004-2005: 10-3 (highest rank during season #9, finished #10)
- Ranked Wins: #7 WVU, #16 UVA, #9 Miami
- Longest Winning Streak: 8
- Bowl Win: No
Overall Record: 47- 17 (73%)
Wins Against Ranked Teams: 8
Bowl Record: 2-3
If you were a Senior now, this is your football experience at VT. During that time they have never been in the top #10, have had one winning streak longer than 6 games, and beat 3 ranked teams.
2012: 7-6
Highest Rank (#13, unranked)
Ranked Wins: None
Longest Win Streak: 3
Bowl win: Yes
2013: 8-5
Highest Rank (#16, unranked)
Ranked Wins: #14 Miami
Longest Win Streak: 6
Bowl win: No
2014: 7-6
- Highest Rank (#17,finished unranked)
- Ranked Wins: #8 Ohio State, #19 Duke
- Longest Win Streak: 2
- Bowl win: Yes
2015: 2-2
Record: 24-19 (55%)
Wins Against Ranked Teams: 3
Bowl Record: 2-1
A very different college experience indeed. VT's "worst" season during the time I was there would match the ceiling for the time a current student was there. Ouch.
Comments
This made me sad.
Just close your eyes, take a deep breath, and think of the HighTechs.
eye opening...I was in school from 06-10 and those were glorious football years. I'm probably at the tail end of your "old guard"
The fact that I spanned both of these intervals (2003-2012) makes me very sad. I saw the whole thing, firsthand.
I've been thinking to myself lately how spoiled I was between the 2008-2011 football seasons. I saw at least 40 wins (idk the exact #), respectable bowl games every year, and expected to be ranked. I definitely took the success for granted because it was all that I knew. Winning regularly can definitely make a fanbase complacent and have a negative effect on support when everything comes crashing down
I attended Tech during the 2001-04 football seasons. I experienced the highs (2003 Miami, 2004 ACCCG) and the lows (Grant Noel led Virginia Tech offense, 2003 Pitt game).
As it stands right now, an entire graduating class of Hokies (2012-15 football seasons) could be students during the worst period of Virginia Tech football in about 20 years. What's worrisome is the apathy that could develop if these kids don't have the same fond memories of Hokies football as those of us who experienced the 10-win seasons and conferences championships. It will be harder for the Hokie Club to pry donations away from disinterred alumni.
Was thinking this could be a case on the macro level. But just as an overall gameday expectations too, I want it to be loud and raucous. I hope it doesn't turn into a great place to read a book.
Life must suck for that class, huh Joe. Oh, wait...
It's going to be ridiculously hard to get money from them. I was there from '09-'13 and I was still only 8 years old when Tech went to the NCG in 2000. I'd say my clearest of memories probably started at the Bryan Randall/Marcus Vick era so we can kind of say the kids there probably remember the end of the Sean Glennon/beginning of Tyrod era the most clearly. Then just a blob of mediocrity after that. That'll be tough.
You just made me feel old as crap.
Your profile pic is shows it
"Disinterred alumni" ...yeah probably. :)
And as we can see from the fellow second from the left, sometimes plans just fall through. Or is it a cryptic message to us that we should "think outside the box?"
Nah, he just got finished reading French's review of our defense against ECU.
i just assumed he meant disenchanted...but then again, it would be pretty tough to pry money from the disinterred as well
Well, all those fans that showed up in 1999 had to come from somewhere. There is a crowd of old(er) Hokie fans that have been fans since before consecutive 10 win seasons was a thing. The win total is one thing, but there is something to be said for the experience and the family atmosphere (and don't forget there is more to VT than the football stadium).
What I'm saying is, these kids will be back, especially if we have a 1995 or 1999 or some other magic happen.
I was there from 2005-2009. Saw two conference titles, one BCS bowl win and three total home losses. I didn't know how good we had it. Spent most of it griping about the lack of a national championship.
Pssssht. 1988-1992, represent. I got escorted out of Lane for standing - in the student section. Against JMU.
This ride has been wonderful to experience, and there aren't any highs without some lows to judge them by. The current lull is the ebb tide. I'm a fan and supporter for life. GO HOKIES!
That's the thing. You've witnessed the rise of VT football. Having just graduated last year all I've seen is one promising season in 2011 with LT #DannyCaughtIt and then a depressing fall into mediocrity.
87-91 myself. We had our choice of great seats back then, not sure why you had to stand up so much.
"Good seats" is just another way of saying you have the best place to stand. ;)
Right there with you. I can remember when we'd leave the game at halftime a) because we were probably getting crushed, and b) because we were out of liquor. (Side note - who remembers the gauntlet of police that would be lined up just inside the student gates looking for ANY sign of alcohol? I can remember people getting busted with some pretty ingenious ideas for sneaking it in and thinking "how in the f*^k did they sniff that out???" But I digress...) We'd all complain for about 15 mins about us sucking and Beamer being a terrible coach, and then head down to the river. Ahh, the good old days...
92-97 here. Lived right behind the stadium in 96. Would tailgate, go to the game, head "home" at half to hit the keg a little more, grab another ticket from the pile (back in the days of athletic cards, waiting in line to get group tix, not everyone using tix for the game...) and head back in for 3rd quarter.
i attended VT from 2009-2012 but stayed a year later to do research with one of my business profs before hitting the "real world."
i was spoiled by the success of Tyrod Taylor, Boykin, Coale, Evans and Williams and thought our program was on top of the world. reality sunk in when everyone graduated/went pro and Logan Thomas didn't have the weapons that Tyrod had. Ten win seasons were followed by 7-6 ones and my whole world fell apart.
the takeaway? with every high point, there's always going to be a low point and college football success comes and goes in cycles just like the markets (studied finance). i love Coach Beamer but i'm starting to fear our program is headed the same direction Bowden's time did at FSU in his later years.
don't know what to think at this point but i've sucked it up and have supported the Hokies nonetheless. i think it's our resilience and ability to weather all these bad times which makes us Hokies...i like what AD Babcock has done with Hokie hoops so when it's football's turn, i'll put my faith in his decision to do what's best for the program.
2014 Grad here: I would say the level of appreciation was MUCH higher in 2010, even within this short window, I'd say there is a new breed of students in the stands since losing became a norm. I always enjoyed the likes of the lifelong fans who can talk football, who might not have even gone to Tech, but know all the players names and roles despite their BAC. I feel like these type of obsessed fans are no longer created in volume, with the student sections becoming a herd of frat stars. They leave early and they are accustomed to losing, a win for them is good blackout, not a thrilling game.
The losses in the Orange bowl and then the Sugar bowl were incredibly deflating, but at least we strung together hard-fought seasons back then. Losing to the east carolina teachers college again, with plenty more miserable matchups on the horizon (thanks alot Jim Weaver). I've been around long enough to fear each Pitt matchup.
The mental anguish of the last few years is getting to me. I have trouble visiting this site after a weekend like the last, just to see the headlines hurts, I don't like to talk football like I once did. I can find pride in a hard fought loss, but we are now just the definition of consistently inconsistent. I never know what team is going to show up each week, and that drives me insane. This program has grown stagnant. We lose to the teams were 'supposed to lose to' but we also shit the bed against inferior opponents. The Wake game last year was such an absolute kick in the nuts.
Thanks for letting me rant, internet. Onto Shitsburgh, go Hokies
You hit the nail on the head. I've regularly attended games in Blacksburg since my toddler years. I came to Tech in 2013 and have been so disappointed with the lack of support and interest in Tech football. I'm in a fraternity here at Tech and got season tickets with a group of guys that share my enthusiasm for Tech football because my fraternity brothers always leave after the first quarter to continue drinking. I agree, the student section isn't what it once was, but the majority of students have no idea what Tech football used to be either.
Right there with ya. Same exact experience except coming in 2011. I was literally the only person I knew that actually went to the spring game this year. Granted it was shitty weather but that didn't stop everyone from continuing to tailgate through the whole game/scrimmage.
My story is very much the same. We used to max out our student group at ~30, we would deliberately chose people we knew would stick around for the game, not be a problem to other students/families at the game and we would go all out for gameday. Stick around to the bitter end despite the outcome. That is something I will be just as fond of, in comparison to the big wins I experienced.
Now, there is shell of that former group around, who have little interest in seeing an entire game. Some sell their tickets to randoms.
This year, I was able to get a ticket to Ohio State on the cheap. How? - I paid for an entire season's tickets for one of my old dumbass friends who is struggling to graduate, just to take the one game. This was just a few weeks before the season opened. I was grateful to have found someone, but so damn disappointed that he didnt have tix already. Even worse, he was not alone in his half-assed fandom. We let freshmen buy tickets now because demand is so low. I didnt have that luxury when i was a freshmen, yet i still made every home game but Wake (thanks to my selfish damn sister for getting married). This year, the student allotment didnt sell out until like 2 weeks before kickoff. What kind of new fans are those?
Love sharing that section with you in the NEZ, JJ
Senior here. Luckily engineering co-ops have made this my fifth year. Got a nice little taste of good football in 2011 which was cool.
I'm a senior this year so I'll chime in.
Am I disappointed that we haven't had a great season in my four years? Absolutely. However that doesn't affect my experience. I will always have fond memories of spending Saturday afternoons and various nights yelling my head off in Lane. I will always remember my first game as a student - beating GT on Labor Day night in OT. I will always remember shutting down Main St last year after beating OSU. I have fond memories of the Marshall game in 2013 in the rain when my friends and I stuck it out in North and helped keep it loud. The 2nd quarter of this year's OSU game was insane. I couldn't hear myself think in North after we went up before half.
As a fan, I'm frustrated in the moment following losses. I yell, I'm disappointed, I'm mad. But that usually only lasts a few days until I start gearing up for the next game. Those great moments I mentioned above? I remember those like they were yesterday. That's the great part about being a fan. You hold on to the great moments and look past the bad in hope for more great ones. I refuse to let my football experience at Tech be solely defined by wins and losses. Instead I define it by memories, and more often than not its the good ones that last.
Just my two cents
That was nothing compared to coming off the field after the pregame show for 2003 Miami.
Along those same lines are the players. Part of our Big East and early ACC success was that year to year we had great senior leaders who had been there before and done it before. Now, the leaders of this team haven't been to an ACCCG. It is always harder to do something for the first time. Even though are coaches have been there and done it, right now our players haven't. That is why getting back to an ACCCG is so important. We need to rebuild that player mentality and tradition.
Edit: If the players can get back there, the students and the fans will follow suit.
You and I had the same tenure. I was 2000-2005. When it was good, it was GOOD. When it was bad, it was 2005 Miami bad. I was unable to experience the sheer joy of being good because that was the way it always was when I was there.
Between Vick and Randall, we won a lot of games and it felt good the whole way through. Never saw a paper airplane. Shook a lot of keys. Jumped to many Enter Sandmen.
After leaving, Tyrod kept it up. I was still smitten.
Now, I'm a little done. My fandom won't die, I'll still watch every game I can get, but it's really debatable how much time and energy I'll put into it anymore. I won't travel for games, I don't think. Not even a playoff semi. A final, sure, I'll spring for that. But unless I'm already in the area, no games, no bowls. No donations to Hokie Club.
But I'll keep cheering, sure.
I'm with you, I'm tired. Tired of getting excited about a season and it's buildup. Tired of getting pumped for games only to see us fall flat on our face the same way every time. And a lot of fans are going through the same thing. I'm not done yet, but if the next few games are like the ECU one then my approach to the program is going to become a lot different.
Yup, you get me. I might have to start taking the same approach with the Hokies as I currently do with the Redskins
I attend from 93-97. My freshman year we played in the first bowl of the now longest going streak in the Country. I have attended at least one home game every year since. Season ticket holder since 2003. In that time, I have only missed one home game (Nebraska - dad was having heart surgery). I will continue to be there supporting my hokies. My fear is if I stop going the bowl streak will end.
Another guy that was there 93-97. I remember we kicked off against Bowling Green in 1993. They were favored! The upper classmen on my hall were warning us all not to expect much, and it seemed a good idea when, early in the game, Deshazo made this awful pitch attempt, looked like one of the most athletically awkward moves I've ever seen, the BG guy scoped the fumble and scored. Everyone around was screaming "G** Da**it, Deshazo!!" He had been the butt of a lot of fan angst during the prior year's 2-8-1 campaign.
We won that game something like 33-10 (don't remember exact score, too lazy to pick it up). Everyone was like "where'd that come from? we never beat anyone that bad."
The difference, there was no expectation of being good back then. Beamer was on thin ice that season and did well. Came back, but we were always sort of expecting another backslide and Beamer to get the can. It just never happened.
Overall, I think it has to do with expectations. Back when I was a student, we always had an expectation that teh 1992 days could happen again. We invested anyway. Beamer had a way of engaging the fan base better, we loved being the 12th man, and it was all talked up big time and cultivated. I don't see that now. The environment in Lane has been sanitized. Kinda sucks. In 1999, Beamer would talk about each game being a 1 game season. Now it's non-conference games aren't as important. If I were a student and I heard that, especially without good knowledge of what it was like in the past, I wouldn't get particularly fired up either.
A lot has changed.
'68 to '75, then lived in the county next door from '87 till 2012. I haven't seen it all, but I have seen a lot of it. From marching at halftime in the 60s to the Sugar Bowls, my game time experiences span a lot of time. I don't know what to expect in the near future, but if we don't step back up, we'll be stepped on. Either way, I'm watching.
"The environment in Lane has been sanitized."
Yep. #StickItInStickItInStickItIn #HokiesRespect
We used to have an empty trophy case for the national championship...now we have a hokie bird (http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/virginia-tech-s-empty-na...)
I want to buy season tixs. I finally have a full-time job where I could afford that...but I won't buy tickets if I don't even buy into the program...and I don't buy into Beamer's program...I don't buy into the non-conference games are not important...I don't buy into it being completely the player's fault we don't win a game full of horrible refereeing, bad personnel decisions, and penalties...
I want to...I know alot of us do...but there's no other way to take Frank's quotes, he doesn't...
Alums are feeling it too. There a lot of factors that I wont get into.
But one thing's for sure, losing at home on the regular certainly isn't helping things. Lane used to be a feared environment for opponents (especially Thursday Nights) because they knew they had to play an almost perfect game to come away with a victory.
Compare that to the 2013 Duke game where an out-manned Duke turned the ball over 4 times, played like absolute crap and still walked out of Lane with the W.
VT hasn't won a home Thursday night game since 2011
VT hasn't won against a ranked team at home since 2009. Yes, it's been 6 years since we beat a ranked team at home.
We've played 3 ranked teams at home since then. In the 6 seasons before that, we played 10 ranked teams at home. That's not exactly the best barometer.
Its like our record against top-5 AP teams. We weren't exactly world beaters every chance we've had to face a top 5 team. Of course, OSU was top 5 last year when we were scheduled to play them, but they just had to drop down to 8 after Braxton's preseason injury so we only get credit for beating a top-10 AP.
The statistic further illustrates that the lackluster ACC Coastal is also negatively impacting the fan experience.
and 0-3 just means 3 missed opportunities.
Point is, you have to go back to the 80s before you can find a similar drought at home.
You're reaching with this here. You're using the ineptitude of our opponents who we have no control over in regards to scheduling to now justify why our fans aren't as invested.
I don't think I'm really reaching that far.
Losing at home is all a certain generation of fan currently understands (Freshman class of 2013 ie.)
They are Juniors this year - what have they seen?
They saw a streak of 5 straight home losses against unranked ACC teams.
They've seen just one ranked team come to Lane (Ohio State) - and while that was fun for the first-half, it ended in disappointment.
It's just an incredibly different time then when I was there (02-07), when you would see either a ranked VT, a ranked opponent or a combination of both. I still see that excitement when I watch games on TV in other areas of the country - most notably in the PAC 12 and SEC.
Your initial point was that we hadn't beaten a ranked opponent at home since 2009. Then you proceeded to say that we did not play quality opponents. I'm trying to follow your case here and having a hard time. You admitted we don't play good opponents in the ACC Coastal because it hasn't been that great nationally lately. So how can we beat ranked opponents at home when we don't play many at all? There were years in the mid 2000's where we played about 5 ranked opponents during the regular season and 3 of them were home games. If you want to make the argument that fans are less invested when we aren't winning, that's fine. But you stated that it was because we weren't playing good opponents. I think you meant to say it was because we have been losing to bad opponents at home lately. So that's why I said it was a reach to say that, more or less, the fact that our opponents are the ACC Coastal teams that fans are less excited. You can't blame your opponent for your problems.
With regards to the fact that VT isn't seeing the success it saw in the 2000's, that's part of the ebb and flow of college football. EVERY team experiences it. Some go further down than others and some reach higher peaks, but EVERY team goes through ups and downs. We WILL be back up. It's the job of the fans to continue to support and help propel our team back up to those peaks quicker and to push to higher levels. That doesn't happen by refusing to go to games or withholding donations. If anything, that just sets the program further back. The idea that "well that will cause change" does not get the change that fans actually want and would get if they continued to attend games, continued to write checks, and continued to support the program. From recruits to coaching hires, fans have some ability to play a factor, whether it's by providing an intimidating and exciting gameday environment or by giving the Athletic Department more money to spend on coaches and other things that aren't currently in the budget. We need to realize this and continue our support if we want the success to return.
I'm trying to follow your case here and having a hard time.
This was my initial case in my first post...
But one thing's for sure, losing at home on the regular certainly isn't helping things. Lane used to be a feared environment for opponents (especially Thursday Nights) because they knew they had to play an almost perfect game to come away with a victory.
The Duke example I gave was to illustrate how opponents can come into Lane and win without playing anywhere near perfect - a tough thing for most teams to do on the road.
The lack of wins against ranked opponents and Thursday night at home was to illustrate that we no longer win "on the regular" at home.
I could have been clearer in my case, but you addressed the lack of wins against ranked teams at home part.
For the casual, younger student/fan who isn't knowledgeable on the past successes of Virginia Tech, this is a big deal. Playing home games against ranked teams enhances the entire gameday experience - the casual fans feed off the energy of the hardcore ones. The lack of opportunities to win these games in front of the home crowd, while not the fault of the VT program, is still detrimental. A non-ranked VT playing non-ranked opponents and losing does not have the vibe of a good P5 home experience - and this is what the current students are seeing. Our gamedays used to be the envy of other programs across the country - now, I watch the later games and feel the envy.
I understand the need to support the program through thick-and-thin. I've been to about 20 homes games between 2008 and now and plan to go to a couple more this year. Recently, the game itself has often been the least favorite part of the gameday - with the tailgating and going DT in Blacksburg being the better. So I can understand why they students - who don't always have access to awesome tailgates and are too young to go downtown - aren't as hyped as they used to be.
Bad opponents are a reason for lackluster fandom at home. It's harder to get excited for a bad ACC team at home than it is for a good ACC team at home. Couple that with how the team on the field and you get disinvestment by fans. When Miami or FSU is in town the fans went crazy. When a bad BC team came in there was noticeably less excitement, even when I went during '07-'12. Even if we would probably get clobbered by OSU or Bama the big time opponents are fun leading up and into the game, even if we don't do so well.
Now that we have a good chance to lose to them? Even worse. At the same time there is nothing to get too excited about halfway through the season. Coastal winners? Only if Duke beats UNC while UNC beats GT who loses to WF who then manages to upset FSU. And no, the Bob's Burgers Alaska Bowl is not an exciting goal.
One thing it seems a lot of people are forgetting is the blossoming of the overall gameday experience. I was at VT from '98 through '02, a great run when it comes to wins and losses, but I am amazed with what gameday has become. The additions to Lane, the introduction of Enter Sandman and its solidification as a tradition, the increase in tailgating, the money the school has started putting into pre-game activities (i.e. Hokie village)....it all adds up to an experience bigger than anything I remember. And I can't imagine how different it is for grads from the 70s, 80s, and early 90s. My freshman year, the family friends I always tailgate with would set up under the giant oaktree across Southgate Dr. from the stadium. By my senior year, so many people had started giving money that we were pushed out to Lot 8 by Wallace Hall, which is now an awesome scene I wouldn't want to leave for the world. Hell, I spent a good part of my day before the OSU game down in the grass lot off Smithfield Rd., right next to Stroubles Creek, and now I think that might be the best tailgate scene on the whole campus. Back in 1999 and the early 2000's I doubt anyone was parking down there (and if they were, I doubt it was packed like it was for OSU).
Point is, I hope that the program and all of the stuff that surrounds it has reached a tipping point where just experiencing the day is a large part of the reward. Sure, there will always be stretches where we can't fill the SEZ and where the student section is only 4/5s or maybe even 3/5s full, but just one hot start to a season can cure all of that. Imagine if we were in the position of UNC or UVA, where even if they started a season 8-0, there's still no guarantee they're selling out games/generating excitement.
Gameday was a big deal when I was in school, but it hadn't become as ingrained as I sense it is now. I don't imagine things are to a point where we could sell out an 0-22 stretch, ala South Carolina, but I do think this recent downturn will not result in a class of graduates with complete apathy toward the program. At least that's my hope.
Freshman year was 2009, graduated this past spring (transfer into architecture, 5 year program, 6 years total), so I got to see the fall to our current status in person.
The worst part for me, besides the obvious disappointment in our record, is how far attendance has fallen and how little the students seem to care these days. My first two years we had Tyrod, the stadium was always packed, and there were rarely if ever empty seats in the lottery section in the Upper South Stands. The fans didn't care about rain or cold, if anything it made the crowd louder.
As the years passed the lottery areas became empty, students started leaving at half-time. If the weather was bad people just didn't show up. Even in 2011 this was happening. While the Miami game was electric, the Clemson game was a dud. Even before the Tigers were winning, the crowd didn't have the electricity it should for a game against a top ten team. Chalk that one up to the cold, but that used to never happen in Blacksburg.
Just look at the Furman game this year: almost the entire upper deck of the South End Zone was empty. There were thousands of empty seats scattered around the stadium.
There needs to be something that brings the spark back to this program.
Shucks...1998-2003 here.
I remember 1998 with Al Clark and then lightning struck in 1999 with MV7. Those two years compared to eachother were night and day. I really wish alot of the current classes could have that experience. That is why I, like many of us, am passionately hopeful we'll get a chance to compete for a NC. All of us deserve that experience...period!
Attended Fall '08 - Spring '13. I remember being cringing every time Tyrod threw the ball. Truth be told, I never thought he was going to be that great until the Nebraska game. I remember bitching about alumni not being loud enough, and think that the stadium was too small, and needed to be expanded (apparently I had yet to take any cost/benefit analysis classes yet). I think the first game I remember seeing paper airplanes at was Miami in 2011. It was dumb, but whatever.
After the debacle that was the 2012/2013 football season, and after our offensive staff was fired (Yes, that pun was intentional) I said I would give the new staff until 2016 to get back to a typical 10 win + Coastal Champion season. I always remind myself of this after tough losses. Improvement is rarely linear - there are peaks and valleys along the way. I do think our offense is trending up. It sucks that our defense is struggling, but again, this is one week in a season, a lot can change.
I live in Atlanta now, but I make sure I return to Blacksburg for at least one home football game each year, and typically make it to 2-4 VT games/year (including away/neutral site). When VT/GT is in ATL, I'm always there. If we make it back to an ACC championship, I'll be there. If we ever make it to a playoff game, I'd rather sit through a 62-0 loss than not go at all. I'll go to any bowl game in a cool location (Sorry - not going to Shreveport). Have never donated to the Hokie Club - Not because I'm unhappy with the football/athletics, I'd just rather spend my money elsewhere.
The OSU weekend was my best trip back to Blacksburg as an Alum. I had a blast. I stayed until there was no time left in the fourth quarter (although I admit, stopped yelling sometime at the start of the fourth quarter, and might have even sat the last 5 minutes). I had a blast at Bosie State in 2010, had enjoyed playing Alabama in 2009 and 2013. ACC championships in 2010 and 11 were great, and I had fun in New Orleans at the Sugar Bowl (this was far and away the toughest of those losses for me to handle btw). As long as the friends I made in college are willing to travel to games with me, I will go too. I'm hooked for life. GO HOKIES.
Good take on saying you'd give the new staff until 2016. I'm always hearing media laud the decision back in '92 to keep Beamer and extolling the patience of the decision as a juxtaposition to the knee-jerk hirings and firings you see now. And I tend to agree. That's what I think about when people ask me about CFB. That and Paterno. People forget he had two losing seasons in a row in 2003 and 2004, and then ripped off something like six straight 9 to 11 win seasons. Forgetting the scandal, if Paterno is an analogy to our situation, then it seems to me a reason to be patient (within reason).
It's tough to stay optimistic after a game like last week, but think back to last year, after losing to Wake Forest, we're 5-6, beat up, demoralized and we have to play our rival, who would love nothing more than to ruin our bowl streak. That might have been one of the ugliest games I ever watched, but it was probably one of the gutsiest wins I've ever seen us pull out.
Since that game, our offense has been without a doubt going in the right direction. The penalties this season are very troubling, as is the running back rotation. If we can square these two (seemingly simple) things away, we could make something out of this season.
If someone figures out how to fill college or hell even NFL stadiums every weekend they will be a rich man when EVERY team comes calling. Every team (with a few very minor exceptions) have seen attendance decrease. No matter the product in the field someone will always have a reason to not buy tickets.
Also very true. I once read a post on TKP where someone was talking about Kevin Jones' first game. It was against Akron. TV networks didn't want to broadcast VT vs Akron, a sure blow out, so there was literally no other way to see the #1 recruit's first game unless you went to the game. Reading this blew my mind.
Think about that.
Only some 66,000-some people saw the first collegaite game that the Number 1 recruit in the nation played in. Today, high school games routinely draw more viewership. If you had basic cable in 2000, and lived in Big East Country, I'd imagine you couldn't see more than one half to three quarters of VT's games each season on TV. If you lived out west, maybe 2-4 tops? I didn't follow VT at the time, so I have no idea, but that's a guess. Now, you can stream it online from any state.
I remember back in the early 90s we were lucky to be on tv at all, we played GT the year they split the national title, I remember when they announced that game was picked up for tv it was a big deal
99 - 03 for me. The NC run was my freshman year and what a way to be introduced to college football. It was an amazing year and a ton of fun. Everyone was obsessed with how the team was doing, checking out the rankings each week, and cheering as the teams above us got knocked off. The next year with Vick as a sophomore was also a blast but his ankle injury didn't help and we lost to Miami on the road.
I've been following VT football closely since 1999 and there have been some great games, great players, and great seasons. The stretch of the last 4-5 years have been really tough to watch and I've always thought about the current students and how they feel about VT football. I've told friends that the passion for the team is going to decrease with each class if this keeps up because there has been very little to get excited about.
Beamer is a class act and has done so much for the school. I don't think anyone would doubt that. I still do not think he is a bad coach, but the game has passed him by. He's an old man now and should be focusing on retiring. He has said that he is very aware of how long he has been here and is even more aware of how his friends Mack Brown, Joe Paterno, and Bowden left their schools. He doesn't want that to happen, but he is going down that path.
We need some new blood that can do a good job. Someone that can sell the program and recruit, can play with the new styles of football, and lead this team back to being a contender. I am sure Whit is paying attention and is very concerned with how this season has started. Our two wins have been against Furman (FCS) and Purdue (a disaster of a program). They aren't exactly powerhouses. We have struggled against OSU and ECU. We've failed the first two tests of the season.
Next coach? Who knows. I'd like to see Chad Morris, and I've heard the rumors about Rich Rod. I do have faith that Whit will make a great decision and bring in a top coach.
Beamer is a class act and has done so much for the school. I don't think anyone would doubt that. I still do not think he is a bad coach, but the game has passed him by. He's an old man now and should be focusing on retiring. He has said that he is very aware of how long he has been here and is even more aware of how his friends Mack Brown, Joe Paterno, and Bowden left their schools. He doesn't want that to happen, but he is going down that path
Agree 100%. I want Beamer to have a proper farewell - but I'm afraid he wont let that happen. He is already in Mack Brown territory, but he thinks he still has a few more good years left.
There's also been a fair difference in the current college basketball experience and the peak Greenberg Years experience. I really love college basketball and as a fan, I loved watching the Hokies in the role of Giant Killers. I loved watching the Hokies take on the ACC on the Weekend Raycom game. I loved watching College Gameday make the trip to Cassell and so many big time wins vs the Duke and Carolina. Seemed like every year we were a tournament contender (even tho we rarely made it). It was a good feeling knowing we could go toe-to-toe with anyone.
But I spent my student years (2012-2015) watching the Hokie bball team get blasted every week. 4 straight dead-last finishes in the ACC. I tell people I was going to a Wednesday Night game in Cassell and people seemed to be shocked because they had no idea there were games going on. It was tough to find people who shared my pain (12 conference wins in 4 years was not what I expected), because no one really gave a damn! There seem to be just as man Duke, Carolina, VCU bball fans on campus as VT bball fans and I was disappointed in that.
And When I say this, I'm talking more mid-2000s than early-2000s or late 90s
To me you gotta go back to the mid 90s when Bill Foster was coaching the men's basketball team for the peak. Winning the NIT, and making the NCAA next year and winning a game or two while there is something we're not even close to right now. Ace Custis was the Man! Such a shame that we've dropped so far.
Well, my four years have been the worst four in the past 20 years, so maybe I can offer some perspective.
I absolutely love college football and started watching the Hokies once we moved to Roanoke in about 2005. I didn't watch Vick, but I watched Tyrod tear it up and the good version of Logan Thomas.
Honestly, it absolutely stinks that my four years have been so bad. My older sisters were tech students (they attended at different times from 06-2013), and they can recall much fonder memories than I can in Lane Stadium. Not to say I don't have a lot of good memories, but let's be real: It's not fun to lose.
Overall, I think most of my graduating class has given up putting faith into the football team. Since it's happened for 3 (and it's looking like 4) years in a row, I think people are thinking that this is who we are now: a middle of the road team that will probably make a bowl game.
I think I'm pretty jealous of you older Hokies that got to be in Lane for the much bigger games that we could win. I think if we don't start winning again soon, more and more people will lose interest.
I think the one thing that saves these past 3+ years is that win over OSU. That's something that we can always hold up as a high point. If current students don't get excited about that, I don't know what else we have recently.
Holding up one win as a high point for your football team while being mediocre the rest of the season is very JMU like
I was lucky enough to see it in person. And it was awesome. But damn if it didn't make the rest of the season that much harder to swallow.
Made this point above and would be interested to hear from current students/recent grads: Despite the run of mediocrity, do you still get up for gameday? Make a big deal of it? Wake up earlier than you would otherwise? Tailgate and or otherwise center your day around the game?
I have a working theory that the program has become such a part of life on campus and in B-burg generally that interest will never wane to a point where it really hurts stuff like recruiting. Have no idea if that is right though.
Yes.
the discussion today was whether we should get a bigger tent in case the rain comes in sideways on Saturday.
don't want breakfast to get wet.
My years at Lane will be 2010 to 2015 - graduating this year. The 2010 season, minus that one game, probably gave me my best memories, having been able to watch Tyrod. Our home record these last few seasons has been atrocious, not too fun to watch. It's been a lot of heartbreak, and every time I see a quarterback take off and run against a team I like - NCAA, NFL, whatever - my PTSD acts up.
I still love Hokie football but I am very very jealous of alums who were here during the best years.
2010, minus those 3 games*
Late heroics from Kellen Moore were a killer. BSU fans were such good people all in all, it hurt even more to lose to them.
Follow that up with that one FCS team on a miserable and rainy day. I remember nonstop fire alarms in the dorms that day thanks to the opposing fans.
And then to finish the year with an absolute drubbing by the likes of Harbum's cardinals and that one kid from the DirectTV commercials...all in the worst city in America - Miami. I have never seen more tricked out bluetooth headsets in my life. What a dump that place is.
And with all that said, this was the best season I've experienced as a Hokie fan. Yikes.
And what I wish is that all the alum and faithful post '99 get to experience that NCG run in the near future. You have the passion and that's what counts. You all deserve it. We all do. Now we just hope to add the experience of a future NCG run and seal the deal.
Every year I was student (05 - 11), VT won at least 10 games. I graduated and they haven't done it since. I'm thinking I should probably go back and get another degree.
Can you play Mike?
I did play strong safety in high school but unfortunately there are two things keeping this happening:
1. My eligibility expired after the 09 season
2. I wasn't very good
How do you know his name is Mike? Also, you need a comma there. /s
Also, how did the VT-UVA rivalry feel in 00-05? Because I'm not sure how many fellow students were itching to get back from Thanksgiving Break to catch the VT-UVA game in my time from '11-'14. A lot of the students are just gone.
And I didn't even get to experience the VT-WVU rivalry at all!
The VT-UVA rivalry is between douchebags and us...that's pure hate...I don't know the exact details, but I refuse to believe that our "nickname," that's in our fight song, and eventually became the official name of our mascot, is in the dictionary not only for us, but also as "fake" is a coincidence. That stinks of either being called fake way back, or getting our nickname defined as fake way back.
VT-WVU...you should not rue lacking that experience...#FlamingCouches -need I say more? We've had several players hurt by flying beer bottles, and untold numbers of fans injured in that stadium of ignorant retards...it's literally a death trap, and not in a football sense. The only good thing I ever saw in that stadium that wasn't a win, was a demonstration in public of how suited to WVU Marcus Vick was...
EDIT: added the phrase is a coincidence...since I so helpfully forgot it.
'02 and '04 were fantastic uva games. I was a Freshman in '02, Lane was packed and it was cold. My ticket was in the front row of the South Endzone (it was student seating when it first opened). Seeing Lee Suggs play his last game in Lane and a Blocked Punt for a TD at such a close vantage was amazing. '04 was like having a championship game in Lane, not the loudest ever, but a lot of nervous energy followed by elation.
I have been attending Tech games since the mid 90s. My years in school were 08-12. I have had the luxury of witnessing some great players and exciting games at Lane. Recently I have watched the morale fade. Fans are becoming disconnected. The stadium atmosphere is fatigued. When I think of VT football I think of Enter Sandman, the noise in Lane that you can feel in your chest, special teams truly impacting the game, swarming defenses and an overpowering running attack. The atmosphere we have always loved as fans is being jeapordized because the things we used to associate VT football with are no longer there. We cant blame the current students for being disintersted. I am disinterested. The team that made me scream in Lane was a team that fought even during tough losses. It was a team that I always felt had the drive, leadership and talent to redeem themselves after a loss. It was a coaching staff that was energized and passionate. That kept me excited. It kept me in Blacksburg on Saturdays. Thats gone.
It is our responsibility as fans to keep cheering and keep attending. But I think it is the coaching staff and athletic dept's responsibility to ensure us fans that every step will be taken to make sure this team is as good as it can be. Unfortunately, I no longer feel that is the case. I just flat out look at this team differently than I used to. I see Beamer's pride getting in the way of success. I see Beamer's loyalty causing him to retain coaches that were detrimental to our team. I see Shane coaching a position that he is not qualified to coach. I see recruiting being slightly better than an afterthought. I see excuses and empty promises. This is a different football program with a different attitude. Which is why this is a different fan base producing a different atmosphere.
BUT...My ass will be in that stadium this Saturday cheering in the rain because I have hope that I will one day see this football program get back to where it once was.
Really well said!
Choose one:
A) our talent is that far down
B) our staff forgot how to coach
Hint: the answer is A
Down in comparison to those years and down in comparison to much of the ACC.
What about C?
Our talent is that far down because our coaches forgot how to recruit.