JUST when you think they've won or are about to win it, Beamer's squad manages to continue to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. But take comfort in the fact that we were a good 4-5 plays from winning. oh well, maybe next year. Yea, there's ALWAYS next year. Right??
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Sorry. Unlikely next year though I will hope. We are not only lacking fire/brilliance at the top, we are also seriously low on talent currently, in spite of the gurus who frequent these and other message boards. This will take time. On the other hand, we fought hard against a team that appeared better than us in many facets of the game - INCLUDING Coaching and game prep.
Short on depth. I think tonight was a result of coaching miscues and not a lack of talent.
I feel we have way more talent then duke but they were well coached. Smart plays on their part.
Can you imagine what UT would look like in the ACC with our schedule. Can you imagine Buzz not playing Bball not in the ACC. You have seen what Jimbo did at FSU, or Dabo with Clemson? Can you imagine what USC would have been had they not been led by a drunk. Alabama maybe BAMA but they went 30 years without Top football before Saben brought it back in 2 years.
The Kevin Sumlin era is what I see for VT
The ACC is growing, but still lots of chances to get to the top.
That Duke team...they'll get after ya.
Well, we were just a 67 yard FG from winning. /s
interestingly enough that would have tied the NCAA record:
Wikipedia Entry
I think Slye has about as much chance of making that as Brewer or Motley has of making that hail mary pass, so it really isn't as bad a call as some are making out.
I agree. Slye's long misses have usually been a matter of aim more than distance.
Tell that to FSU tonight
A block can happen on a FG of any distance
Yes, and a hail mary pass can get intercepted.
Like someone else mentioned, VT had a choice of two pretty low percentage plays. It really wasn't the worst call in the world, and was an attempt not to go into overtime, which is always a crap shoot.
What was inexcusable was not calling a time out or spiking the ball after the forward progress call.
I don't remember seeing a Hail Mary getting intercepted in one end zone and run all the way to the other for a game winning score. I agree it's not a huge difference but the odds were better for the HM over the Fg from both a success standpoint and averting disaster
But we have seen Motley sacked, and have his subsequent fumble returned for TD haven't we?
the NCAA record for longest FG is 67 yards
There are more than one of those, and they have that kind of confidence in Slye's leg.
It really doesn't matter. They took a shot, and the result was the same as a hail mary likely would have been. With 2 seconds left at that kind of distance, you have very limited options, and the opponent can predict it quite well. They're both pretty low-percentage plays.
That call wasn't even close to the worst coaching mistake in the game, which was time management/letting the clock run down when the ref called "forward progress". If you want an inexusable lapse of coaching awareness or judgment, it's right there.
Overall, I think this loss was more on the defense than the offense.
Frank was every bit as awful as Mike London with that clock management late in the game.
It's pretty inexcusable that they weren't more aware. I'm guessing 90% of VT fans at home were screaming for a timeout.
I know the ones on this board were. And they had time to type it out and hit "send".
And we have an OL that can't keep a QB upright long enough for a 20 yard pass more times than not, but you trust them do block long enough for a hail Mary?? Duke flushed out our QB with a TWO man rush yesterday ffs
Even though we had the lead multiple times in overtime, I still never really had the feeling that we were going to win this game. I was just waiting for us to make some mistake or give up a big play, and we eventually gave up multiple big plays in OT.
I'm with you....every series on D during the OT periods, I was like "well we'll do something stupid soon"....
I'm looking forward to the "Just Like Football!" chants the Duke basketball fans are gonna give us when we lose by 25 at Cameron Indoor next year.
THOSE. ARE. THE. WORST.
Then Buzz's mission is clear...
Arent the Defensive line and Secondary suppose to be a strength of this team? and yet we can't get pressure on the qb or play man to man coverage. Has Foster finally come to the point where he can't out scheme lack of talent?
Um. that was PRESEASON - reality is upon us.
Are we in the regular season now?
Seems more like POST season to me.
Unfortunately we won't be playing then. :(
I think we got invited to the 'Guess Who Wont Be Coaching Next Year Bowl' in beautiful Charlottesville, VA on Nov. 28th
The only college football game that can end in a tie....
No we are not in regular season. These are exhibition games remember? Oops ... sorry ... the ECU game was an exhibition game.
BUZZKETBALL!!!!!!!!
Now that is what you call being OPTIMISTIC!!
On to BUZZKETBALL!!!
Our defense isn't even average. It's bad. D Line is TERRIBLE. Seriously, not one fucking sack the whole night? Moto is bad. DBU is dead.
Kids played their hearts out but were out schemed and out matched.
Nothing much to add about Beamer except that he is done. Pathetic clock management and decision making. No drive whatsoever.
It was a fun game, but extremely frustrating. I'm sick of not using our talent. I'm sick of poor play calling. I'm sick of complacency. I'm sick of VT Football.
Frank just needs to announce his retirement on Monday. Maybe that'll lighten this team up a little bit, and make them play some inspired football. I really don't know what else to say. I'd be beating a dead horse by ranting about how bad we suck and how Frank and his buddies need to GTFO. It's just a sad, bad deal in Blacksburg.
Son of a bitch
It's totally sad that frank ends his career this way , but its over.....we have no life , we don't play inspired.....we have no depth.....its just bad....recruiting which has been getting worse for years goes completely in the tank now...bowl streak, over!!!!.........horrible way to end career
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor, or was that the Italians? Never mind, I don't wanna know.
That one always merits an upvote.
I was wondering on the drive home tonight if the season going this poorly would actually make him feel more determined to coach next year...like if he was 7-5 or 8-4 maybe he steps away but if he's 4-8 or 5-7 maybe he thinks "no way, I can't go out this way."
Wonder if Whit will have to give me a little nudge...
Take this with whatever salt you want, but there will be a major announcement after the BC game. There will be a new head coach for VT in Bristol. Wouldn't post this unless I felt comfortable with what I've heard. God bless Frank, and everyone please show up for UNC in force.
Despite how hard these last four years have been to watch, no matter how harshly all our hearts have been ripped out by this slide into mediocrity, if this is true, North Carolina better god damn fucking well be a sellout.
And we'd better rip Virginia's heads off and shit down their necks.
These 2 things should happen no matter what because we are Hokies.
Holding you to that JA :)
Offense and defense alternating doing just enough to win and just enough to lose.
I've lose track of the number of times I've said/written/texted "just enough to to lose" the past couple weeks.
Yeah, we are just 4 or 5 plays away each week.
It's a sad ending for a great man. CFB did a lot for VT and I'm grateful that he built up the program. Just wish he would retire and enjoy the golden years.
*sigh*
Thing is, to be completely honest guys and gals, I knew we weren't going to win. Some way, some how, we were just not going to make a play and bam, we lose. The only positive for me is that I knew last week we would lose, so I didn't get my hopes up. Just a sad feeling, but no anger or disappointment. The wife is grateful that the anger is gone.
Gotta admit, it was an entertaining game and the kids played hard. It just wasn't enough.
Our defense is shit. Pure shit
And even that might be complimentary
Are we now what Duke used to be? Or are we headed down that "tobacco" road?
Sadly I think someone could make a long highlight film of the missed tackles by the defense. Just 10 minutes of our defensive players laying on the ground, arms out stretched watching the ball carrier run by.
This team is losing my interest game by game.I haven't missed any part of a game since starting to attend VT, yet tonight, I only watched 2 of 4 quarters + OT. It's the same story every game. Lack of execution when it counts, and failure to use the team's essential guys until the final drives of the game. It gets old, and it sucks as a person that has lived and died by the team results for years.
One positive is we finally started using McMillian consistently. Saw it last week but today he just seemed to get better. Should have been riding that horse all year. He reminded me of the running game we use to live off of. He's the type that keeps improving with more carries. I don't understand what the coaches were looking at and CFB should have stepped in earlier in the season than he did. Still don't understand why Motley still went in for a series or two. Defense is just average. Do Not dominate but what is worse is other teams are flying past us in ability. Finally if you are going to try a running back option, why not do it with Sam Rogers who can run but was also a former QB.
You can see the fire in Brewer and Rogers. Wear their hearts on their sleeves. Wish they could play defense also.
What really kills me is that we have several great guys on the team that I really want to see succeed -- Brewer, Rogers, McMillian, Bucky, Malleck, Ford, Phillips, and Slye.
But those guys don't have the full supporting cast around them that they need. I thought the OL was improving this year, and yet I still see plenty of stupid penalties, and next to no protection on the QB. Meanwhile, I see the defense continue to give up big play after big play.
I really wish they still made the NCAA games, because I would go out and buy this year's edition to make this season play out the way it should.
We had about 3 to 4 chances to win the game during the course of the game. Our coaches let us down. The final duke td was all sirk.
I don't think we are going bowling.
4 - 5....
Its 4 - 5 plays to win the game...
Lol
We lost again. This game had a lot of what-ifs and near-misses on both sides, with their field goals and our clock management. It is a trademark game for the way have been losing, not a blowout but seemingly inevitable because of inconsistency on both sides of the ball.
I am not venting because Duke beat us and we are 3-5. I am venting because I HATE this for Beamer. I know it's easy to say he's old and should have already retired. But, I honestly think he believed he had a 10-win type of squad this year and he was building things to get the team in a good spot so he good stroll off to the sunset this year or next. But, they just fell hard and kept falling and now it's all about what week the announcement comes and then everything that follows. Big changes, that's what 2015 will be remembered for. Few of us thought we would be here right now. I know I didn't.
At the end of the day, we do have some talent and it is far from a dumpster fire from a program standpoint. The next guy will have some pieces, and VT football will rise yet again. We will need a good hire and a patient fan base, but I am confident in both.
I'm just going to support the kids and the legend they're sharing a locker room with, win or lose, Hokies ride or die.
You make a few good points but Beamer has done this to himself.
It takes a helluva man to walk away on their own. That's why it happens so rarely. Coaches coach until they aren't wanted any longer. Just the way it goes.
Agreed!
CFB should've recognized his "mic drop" moment like this:
Instead, CFB will be going out like this "mic drop":
They showed a video today during the game showing him having Gatorade poured on him and being carried off the field. Considering whats been going on, it was hard to not get emotional about seeing it.
Our defense is playing like shit... Loved the way Brewer played today.
The one thing that is bothering me more than anything else is whenever Brewer gets hit, NOBODY from the OLine goes to help him up. That speaks volumes to the type of team we have.
I actually saw him get helped up a few times today, but then again he is on the ground so much they are bound to get a few.
Agreed. At one point I thought to myself "if the o line did their job, they wouldn't be helping him up so much."
The way this season's headed makes me wonder if Bud Foster regrets not taking that A&M job.
Right now he seems to be auditioning to NOT to be in the running for the HC in Blacksburg
The way this defense gets worse every week in one way or another, it makes me wonder if A&M isn't glad he stayed at VT
Today's game was the last of the fucks I had to give...at least for this year. I just can't do it anymore. Maybe it's because I had fairly high hopes of what this year's team could do, but tonight it was clear this team cannot get out of it's own way.
I absolutely hate this year's defense...I've been following VT since 98' and I don't think I have seen a unit as a whole be this poor over the course of an entire season. The next most disappointing defensive unit may be the collapse of the 03' squad, but even that was of the course of the final 5 games where they really fell off; this year's D hasn't had any strings of strong performances. Moto and Clarke are absolutely abysmal, if anything gets past the first level it's going for a first down more times than not. I'd love to criticize the secondary, but we're playing 3 freshman with Edmunds, Mook, and Alexander...not everyone is a Fuller who can come in as a freshman and play well. Not having Reavis and Kendall makes a difference. The D-Line, injuries or not, have not played great. The unit as a whole can not tackle on a consistent basis.
This game was the gut punch for me, I don't know if I'll go out of my way to watch this team again until UVa (which may be the ultimate gut punch).
More than anything and I think somebody already mentioned this, but I feel sorry for this year's graduating class; they've witnessed the worst run of VT Football in over 20 years.
We just haven't turned it around since ECU. I thought we would. I was wrong. I only see two more wins on this schedule, but we could very easily go 4-0 or 0-4. Some perspective on the season, we've been in every game with a real chance to win all (taking into effect pre-Brewer injury against OSU). That tells me one thing: execution and coaching. The talent to win these games is there, situationally, we've dropped the ball, literally and figuratively, more than once. I don't think the talent is the issue. We've got some kids who can play football. I don't think it's all the coaching, the kids, if I'm giving them their due on talent, have got to make the plays and execute their assignments. We are though, in desperate need of a regime change.
With that said, I love Frank Beamer. I would never wish the ax upon him. I would never advocate firing him, he's meant way too much to this program. However, I don't think we're going to make a bowl game. Just a gut feeling. So if we're out of it by UVA, I'd like to see Frank come out and publicly retire with UVA being his last game and that'll fire up the lads and then go out and crush UVA one last time.
And can you imagine how much more Hokies will pack Lane North than normal? It could truly be a Tech crowd and that would be awesome.
I vented my spleen in the post game write-up by Koma.
Piss poor coaching decisions have been the epitome of Tech's most gut-wrenching losses in the 2000s. You can go way, way back to prove that point.
2002: inept, vanilla play-calling led to the first loss of the season against Pittsburgh. That was then followed with an embarrassing loss to an atrocious Syracuse team, getting shredded through the air by Troy fucking Nunes for several records.
2003: fast forward one year and we are watching the defense again get dismantled by every team in sight towards the end of the year. The major coaching blunder in this season was the decision to pull Bryan Randle, who was on fire, in the Boston College game, and replace him with below average Marcus Vick at the time. Lost that game 31-24.
2006: the two losses that cost VT a chance to the ACC championship saw us make Glennon throw the ball way more than he should have, even though we had a stud of a tailback (sound familiar?) in Brandon Ore.
2007: Bud Foster's decision to switch from man-to-man to a prevent defense in the final minutes of the 4th quarter, which led to the Boston College comeback.
2008: redshirting Tyrod and then pulling it after losing to ECU in game 1. Then, in the Miami game, Dustin Pickle was put on the field rather than Darren Evans and got a handoff and was stuffed on a crucial third down.
2010: we lost to JMU. Don't really want to go into specifics there, but a running QB shredded us.
2011: who can forget the fake punt against Michigan? Yeah, Danny Coale caught that ball. But he should have never been in that situation.
2012: the recruiting that we insisted wasn't a problem in prior years really came back to bite us.
2013: Maryland and UCLA both shredded us with, wait for it, a running QB. Trey Edmunds lack of carries up to that point was inexplicable as well.
2014: season was riddled with injuries but once again saw Tech get bent over by running QBs, and Michael Brewer was probably less than 80% healthy the entire second half of the season but still played every game.
2015: on drives that do not in involve McMillan touching the ball, I think we have a sub 25% scoring rate. Defense still gets eaten alive by running QBs, and players who are nowhere near 100% are still playing.
Another common theme amongst every one of these seasons are the fact that defensive backs are not taught to locate the ball when they are on an island with the receiver. With certain players like Macho Harris, Brandon Flowers, and Kendall Fuller, this works. But those are very special players who don't come around very often.
This coaching staff has done an embarrassing job putting players in positions to succeed over the last couple years, and it really didn't occur to me how bad it was until I actually looked at why we have lost several of the tougher losses that we have in the last decade and a half.
This may be the substances talking but I say we retire maroon pants until 10 wins come back.
^- THIS.
Personally, I think our home game uniforms should always, be maroon helmet, maroon jersey, and white pants.
What frustrated me was seeing our O score an opening TD in TWO overtime periods and then seeing the defense give one up in a matter of just a few plays! In years past, our O scores a TD in OT and you expected to win the game! I went into this game with the mindset of this being the last time I get to see Frank on the sidelines and it kept me from getting too upset, but they drug my emotions back into it with the way they fought back to tie it up. These Hokies remind me of the flirt in my high school. She was always giving me enough hope to think I had a chance, but ripping my heart out once she knew she had a grip on it! To me, that has been Virginia Tech football the past 4 years!
While the offense might have been horrible in the 2nd quarter, they can in no way be blamed for the loss. It was all on the defense, special teams, and coaches. It was the coaches who called for the worst time management in Lane Stadium in the 4th quarter.
Agree with you 100%. From my seat it looked like the coaches saw the clock was running and complaining to the refs that it was going. I still have no clue why the didn't call that timeout. Frank was definitely hot over the "squib" kick. He threw all his papers down on the ground, put his hands on his knees, and had the usual WTF look. The interns quickly picked up the mess. That kickoff is all on the coaches as how in the wide world of sports do you get your kicker thinking that you want an on-side kick when you really want a squib kick.
The funniest moment yesterday was Searles. We had 3 and 2 and it was Edmunds' third straight run, and Duke completely blew the play up for no gain. Searles took the meat tenderizer, hit the crap out of some box on the sideline, and threw it on the ground. He was livid! It was good to see and he is always coaching his boys up between series. My father-in-law rarely saw it when Newsone was on the sideline.
Was that Searles moment caught on video? I would love a gif of that
Well, we were only called for five penalties this time.
But they reviewed every good play we had just to kill the momentum
Yes they did and it was frustrating. Did anyone see if Ford was actually down on the one catch where he was brought down but ran it into the end zone? Is that not a reviewable play? Whoever runs the replays on the video board needs to step it up. On numerous occasions we were not shown the conclusive shot in the stands or the video was frozen and we got to see the clock counting up to what felt like 15 minutes.
Basically the decision was that Ford's left elbow tipped the ground.
Thanks for the update. Hoping we are so wide open next week where all these close calls don't even come into play.
But then that would be inconsistent with Hokie football. Amiright
And they were all pretty much deserved. The officials didn't call some penalties, but the ones they did were justified.
Officiating was decent for the most part in this game.
And how often do we get to say that?
I'm not even mad. I'm just embarrassed for the coaching staff.
I feel the way I would feel if I saw Coach Beamer and Foster walk out into a press conference with no pants on, and they didn't know it until too late.
They really need to stop with the lack of execution thing. If your kids don't "execute" for half of the season, it's time to execute something else. That's on you. Just stop.
I guess I don't understand the onside/squib kick from your own end zone thing.
It seems high risk-high reward, but does someone know what they were trying to do, and why that was a good time to do it?
I'd be interested in understanding that a bit better.
We also had zero turnovers yesterday
I'm not going to vent about the game. It sucks that we lost and that we might not make a bowl game, but that was an entertaining game. It was the first my wife and I have been to since we graduated in 2014 and it was just as electric as ever. Our team played hard and did well. I was frustrated about some things, but overall I had a great time, which is what I want out of football.
What I need to vent about is the "fan" sitting a couple rows behind me. I can understand being mad about playcalls and saying things about the coaches. Saying Bud should go coach Blacksburg Middle School is sort of funny because just try to picture that. Saying it ten times is annoying. Saying that Frank should shoot himself is just another level of unconscionable venom. Calling players worthless pieces of shit and bastards for a blown coverage is about a million steps over the line.
Beamer is a person, regardless of how you feel about his coaching down the stretch. He deserves a basic level of respect and compassion. The players are 18, 19, 20, year old kids playing a game for YOUR enjoyment. If you are that mad about a missed play, you need to take some time off football, you are clearly not in the right frame of mind for this when you call a player a bastard.