Hokie Tracks Are Going Door-To-Door

Tempo is a work in progress.

[Mark Umansky]

Hokie Tracks returned last week, and based on its positive reception I decided to bang out another edition. As a clarification, this won't be a catch-all of Virginia Tech headlines (mostly what I want to comment on), and will aim not to duplicate threads started by the TKP community. (For example, I scrubbed my blip about Taysom Hill returning to BYU because Lozo1016 already posted an informative thread.)

That feeling when 2,322 yards of offense is at your door. ESPN's Andrea Adelson provided an overview (and more-or-less advertisement for Tech's #ThisisHome campaign) of Isaiah Ford and Travon McMillian's door-to-door fan outreach.

"Knocking on doors and seeing their faces when they saw it was me and Travon at the door -- it was priceless," Ford said in an interview with ESPN.com. "Just to put a smile on their face and show them how much we care about their support was truly a good time."

Tech's players should be commended for delivering a premium fan experience in addition to their other responsibilities (namely football and school).

They didn't even lean back.

Big 12. Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said in January, "(The Big 12 doesn't) have any imperative for getting larger." Although, Bowlsby disclosed some league members want to expand (Oklahoma and West Virginia), some don't, and others are probably undecided. Fast forward a few weeks to Tuesday when Oklahoma president David Boren dropped a timetable for a Big 12 expansion decision.

"We're in a fact-finding mode, we're in a data-gathering mode," Boren said. "In other words, what will it mean to the stability of the conference? What will it mean financially to the conference?

"We've sort of said to ourselves, come this summer, we're going to have to finally make a decision about what we do. We cannot indefinitely postpone decisions. That's what I had gotten frustrated about. I thought we were spinning our wheels."

It needs to be noted a recent NCAA ruling will allow the Big 12 to hold a championship game between the top two teams in the standings even at ten members (as long as teams play a full round-robin regular season schedule). Said title game's TV rights could be worth as much as $25-$30 MM. However, that may not be an optimal arrangement. A title game may feature a rematch from the last week of the season, a less than ideal draw in certain circumstances.

Worst fans period.

Whit Babcock visited China, Vietnam and Hong Kong on the Swoosh's dime. Babcock detailed the trip, the learning opportunities it provided, and revealed his chopstick game is weak.

Justin Fuente will get after ya. HokieSports.com published a brief piece on Galen Scott, but this was the most interesting tidbit.

"(Fuente) coaches offense like a defensive coordinator," Scott said. "If you just walked out on the field and didn't know which side of the ball was which and saw coaches just coaching, most people think it's the defensive coordinator just yelling and chasing people down the field and that type of stuff, but it's really across the board. We coach offense the same way a lot of people coach defense. We get after people."

Six reps of sonic. Mel Kiper predicts Kendall Fuller to end up in another 'Burg(h) next season. The Hokies are T-12th nationally and T-3rd in the ACC with 16 total starters returning in 2016 (8 on each side of the ball). Athlon named Jerod Evans one its impact JUCO quarterback transfers.

Comments

I don't mean this as hyperbole and I know it's said almost weekly, but every week my pride and confidence in the entire university grows. From Dr. Sands and the academic side to a Whit and athletics, there's just a solid feeling that we have tremendous people in numerous positions ready to make VT and even better place. This new feeling was long overdue.

VB born, class of '14

yas

Favorite play that never was - "Hooker with the dime to Pimp...leton."

Wet stuff on the red stuff.

Join us in the Key Players Club

The Orange and Maroon you see, that's fighting on to victory.

just ignore it. internet forums come with noise. tune it out.

Onward and upward

I see him more as a puppet master

via GIPHY

Like a Bad Ass Mr. Rogers

"Welcome to the Terror Dome." -- Corey Moore

Outspoken team cake advocate. Hates terrapins. Resident Macho Man Gif Poster. Distant cousin to Dork Magic. Frequently misspells words.

inside joke between friends, guess they didn't back me up lol

Favorite play that never was - "Hooker with the dime to Pimp...leton."

You may want to edit your first post before you get negative legged to the point you can no longer post

Plan for the worst and hope for the best, not the other way around.

Of who?

Even when you get skunked; fishing never lets you down. 🎣

I think based upon the growth at Tech in every measurable area the best leadership team in total is there.

Wet stuff on the red stuff.

Join us in the Key Players Club

Don't be alarmed that Alabama & Ohio State are 98 & 128 respectfully with returnees. TIC.
They just eject the empty magazine and pop in a fresh one.

BroncsZoo

AnOSU will have some struggles this year. They lost over 14 players who started a game this year.

Wet stuff on the red stuff.

Join us in the Key Players Club

something tells me they'll be fine

"That kid you're talking to right there, I think he played his nuts off! And you can quote me on that shit!" -Bud Foster

Fine by what definition? I don't think they will win BIG this year and clearly won't make the playoffs, for many anOSU fans that's an issue.

Wet stuff on the red stuff.

Join us in the Key Players Club

Man just call them OSU lol. anOSU was funny at first now it's just overdone.

I have no idea why my username is VT_Warthog.

Arkansas blew a 24-0 lead in the Belk Bowl.

don't bring up recruiting success, because that doesn't help make a team successful! /s

Well if Mel Kiper Jr predicts it, you know it won't happen.

"When I was growing up, Virginia Tech was a school that was kicking ass and taking names, and it's time we get back to that" - James Franklin

Too bad, he would have been great in Charlottesburg, NC.

Some interesting points on links from within the Athalon article.

On the way to early starting QB rankings VT is a #68 with Dwayne Lawson.

68. Dwayne Lawson, Virginia Tech

Lawson is unproven and isn't guaranteed to win the starting job. However, new coach Justin Fuente has a good track record at developing quarterbacks. Whether it's Lawson, Brenden Motley or junior college recruit Jerod Evans, the Hokies should find the right answer under center.

In the way to early ACC rankings, Clemson is obviously expected to win it again with FSU right behind. Shocker. On the Coastal side it's a new twist with UNC, Miami and VT in the top three (GT is at 5th in the coastal behind Pitt).

3. Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech athletic director Whit Babcock wasted no time in replacing retiring coach Frank Beamer, and the program landed a home-run hire in Justin Fuente. After struggling on offense in recent seasons, Fuente's background on that side of the ball should pay off in 2016 and beyond. The quarterback position is up for grabs with Michael Brewer expiring his eligibility, but the Hokies return running back Travon McMillian and standout receiving targets in Isaiah Ford (75 catches) and tight end Bucky Hodges (40 catches). One of Fuente's biggest moves so far was to retain veteran coordinator Bud Foster and most of Beamer's defensive staff. Foster has a busy spring ahead, as three starters depart the line and linebacker Deon Clarke must be replaced. The secondary held ACC quarterbacks to a 49 percent completion clip this season and should be solid once again in 2016.

The top-75 returning RBs has McMillian at #42.

42. Travon McMillian, Virginia Tech

New coach Justin Fuente inherits a couple of talented options in the backfield, with McMillian leading the way after recording 1,042 yards and seven touchdowns in 2015. He was the first 1,000-yard rusher for the Hokies since David Wilson reached that mark in 2011. Shai McKenzie and Marshawn Williams return to the mix after redshirt years in 2015.

edit: James Connor is the #18 returning RB. Glad he's made it through cancer and an injury but not looking forward to having to deal with him again, although he hasn't trounced us as much as others have in the past but still. Nards expects him to play.

If you don't want to recruit clowns, don't run a clown show.

"I want to punch people from UVA right in the neck." - Colin Cowherd

Agreed on Conner. I am thrilled he is doing well and going to be back on the football field. I am not thrilled that he will be running against us.

"Exit light..."

#42??

Amateur superstar and idiot extraordinaire.

Well, I guess that makes him the answer to life, the universe, and everything.

"Exit light..."

Ayyyeee

Amateur superstar and idiot extraordinaire.

thanks for bringing my attention to the Athlon articles. A few thoughts:
- Brad Kaaya is the best QB we face, at #8. Zaire/Kizer at #11 and Dobbs at #12 are about right. Of all four of them, I probably fear Zaire the most. Very talented guy.
- Chad Kelly is #6.....
- Lamar Jackson from Louisville is #16. Wut?
- Gunner Kiel is back at Cinncy. I think he just turned 35.
- Thomas/Sirk/Trubisky in a row from 28-30. Of course, Sirk is out. But I don't have any problem with those three, all of them are solid at least.
- Tommy Armstrong is back at Nebraska. I think he just turned 34.
- Kenny Hill transferred to TCU. Huh.
- Patrick Trowles from Kentucky transferred to BC. I did not know that. Good fit for Addazio (not Loeffler's) offense. He's better than that kid they had two years ago we couldn't stop.
- Brandon Harris is #47. He's awful. I'm not sure who VT's QB will be, but he will be better than Brandon Harris.
- I'm not sure who Tyler O'Connell is, but he's QB at Michigan State which means he's better than the #57 on this list. And he will be a good NFL QB.
- Dungey/Johns/Wolford at 57-60. That's about right. All three will have good games and will lose games all on their own.
- I'm okay with Dwayne Lawson at #68. I would rank Jerod Evans about 35th.
- Trace McSorley is the starter at PSU? I hope they have a really short OL. I doubt he's 5'10".
- Austin Appleby transferred from Purdue to UF? I know he's not listed as UF's starter, but let's play spoilers here: he won't be the starter. Ever. And what happened to that UF guy with the PED's? I thought he was pretty good.
- Kurt Benkert at ECU is #97. I honestly can't remember who they hired. If they had their old staff, I would propose to cut Benkert's ranking in half. At least against VT, Benkert will be a top 20 QB.

I am shocked to see Armstrong is still at Nebraska.

Will Grier, I'm pretty sure he is transferring out.

That is accurate

So if Bud coaches defense, and Fuente coaches like it's defense...

Confirmed best defense in the country?

Outspoken team cake advocate. Hates terrapins. Resident Macho Man Gif Poster. Distant cousin to Dork Magic. Frequently misspells words.

We gonna coachy like it's 1999!

Reel men fish on Wednesdays

Agreed that President Sands and AD Babcock are in a position to ratchet up the Universities standing, but at this point, it is only a hopeful expectation. Come back in 3 years and we can evaluate things then.

Thanks for putting this together Joe. I like to think I'm up to date on most things Hokie related but each time you provide links to articles that I must have missed. I appreciate you keeping all of us in the know.

Okay, I apologize, but I have probably a silly question on Ben Swain's tweet. Did Seth mean that UVa has the "worst fans on Twitter," or did he say on Twitter that UVa has the worst fans. I think that I read it wrong at first. Okay, okay, it's true either way, I'm sure.

I can see the ambiguity there. I took it as UVa fans are the worst on Twitter. That doesn't surprise me much because the anonymity that comes with a twitter handle affords idiots a plethora of opportunities to show their colors.

Onward and upward

That settles it, most douches on twitter are UVa fans.

Pain is Temporary, Chicks Dig Scars
Glory is Forever, Let's Go Hokies!!

I feel like we're narrowing it down where it doesn't need to be narrowed down.

Fact: Most douches are UVa fans

"When I was growing up, Virginia Tech was a school that was kicking ass and taking names, and it's time we get back to that" - James Franklin

standardized test prep for hokie fans:

Given:
1- most douches are LOLUVa fans
2- there are douches on twitter

Which following statement is true?
a)most douches on twitter are LOLUVa fans
b)most LOLUVa fans are douches
c)38-0, bro
d) all of the above

Warning: this post occasionally contains strong language (which may be unsuitable for children), unusual humor (which may be unsuitable for adults), and advanced mathematics (which may be unsuitable for liberal-arts majors)..

It really has amazed me how quickly Beamer has faded away. It feels like Fuente has settled in very nicely with the fan base at a very quick pace.

I miss the CFB but damn I haven't been this interested in VT football in a long time, especially in February!

"Welcome to the Terror Dome." -- Corey Moore

I think this is by design. I imagine that Whit, CFB, and Justin Fuente all wanted this and there is an intentional plan to make it so. It makes sense.

Pain is Temporary, Chicks Dig Scars
Glory is Forever, Let's Go Hokies!!

This just reinforces how classy CFB was in his exit. Things could have been a lot messier (i.e. FSU).

I believe that's because reality hasn't sunk in for us fans. I'll wait until I see a VT football sideline with no Frank Beamer on it. Just typing that makes me sad.

"How you doin', Randy?"

So much gold sparkle in that helmet, it looks like a reverse ginger kid

"When I was growing up, Virginia Tech was a school that was kicking ass and taking names, and it's time we get back to that" - James Franklin

Using /s is for cowards.

Man, that kid is straight spittin fire!

"When I was growing up, Virginia Tech was a school that was kicking ass and taking names, and it's time we get back to that" - James Franklin

It's indigestion from all the souls he's consumed

yeah, I've never been a fan of the sparkles

"That kid you're talking to right there, I think he played his nuts off! And you can quote me on that shit!" -Bud Foster

More for me then.

Outspoken team cake advocate. Hates terrapins. Resident Macho Man Gif Poster. Distant cousin to Dork Magic. Frequently misspells words.

I was laughing before I even saw the gif. You definitely know how to earn a leg.

Reel men fish on Wednesdays

Love you!

Outspoken team cake advocate. Hates terrapins. Resident Macho Man Gif Poster. Distant cousin to Dork Magic. Frequently misspells words.

Stop it now. I'm blushing!

Reel men fish on Wednesdays

yeah, I've never been a fan of the sparkles

I mean, she did have a couple hit songs back in the day

"When I was growing up, Virginia Tech was a school that was kicking ass and taking names, and it's time we get back to that" - James Franklin

Well played.

I'm here for the memes, I just stay for the football.

Front page of the local sports section has University of Cincinnati putting together a pitch for Big12 admission so they must not be too serious about not expanding.

Plan for the worst and hope for the best, not the other way around.

I love this campaign. Whoever is behind it is doing a terrific job.

Onward and upward

This is total awesomeness.......Things like this are why even though I'm 500 miles from Blacksburg, i still feel like every last person associated with VT past, present or future is part of my family, and that Blacksburg will always be Home to me.........

Whit gets it...
Buzz gets it...
The student athletes get it...
It looks like Justin gets it...

Damn, I cant wait for the upcoming season already...gonna be a long spring & summer....

My wife takes the kids and leaves the house while I watch my Hokie games.........nuff said

Sam will no doubt go down as my favorite Hokie. Guy has more love for all things Hokies and just great overall guy. Might be the first player I ever shed a tear about on his Senior day.

"Welcome to the Terror Dome." -- Corey Moore

What's better to me is he is the idol of a lot of the non-student or alum fans. He perfectly represents the South Western Virginia mentality. In another life, this guy would be a sun up to sun down coal miner and you know he's a role model to a ton of young kids. I remember being immensely proud when I think Kendall Fuller was out reading to a bunch of kindergartners. That's the kind of thing that's great to see from a group of young men that stay humble.

Outspoken team cake advocate. Hates terrapins. Resident Macho Man Gif Poster. Distant cousin to Dork Magic. Frequently misspells words.

the great about him is that he is choosing to be "that" guy. The leader, the one that pushes the others, the hardest working, no credit is needed player.

I know he is an offensive player and I'm not sure what justifies going into the lunch pail but damn if he doesn't personify the lunch pail mentality to a T. His number or jersey may never be retired but put that dudes jersey number in that pail as an example of what it means to have the "lunch pail mentality" for all future Hokies

"Welcome to the Terror Dome." -- Corey Moore

If you watch him on the snapchat machine from this morning you would swear he is a coach.

Outspoken team cake advocate. Hates terrapins. Resident Macho Man Gif Poster. Distant cousin to Dork Magic. Frequently misspells words.

you would swear he is a coach.

I think he may be one day. I'm rooting for him.

Onward and upward

Sam just seems like the kinda guy who will fit in wherever he goes and everyone will love him, and we we just lucky enough to get him. Serendipitous.

His humility is something else, you just don't see it in today's sports. He's a kid who had it made in Hanover, mom and dad do really well for themselves. When he got his scholarship, he let Frank know to use it on a player who needs it.

Meanwhile, P. Diddy's son gets a scholarship at USC or UCLA or something, and he tried to start a fight at practice for not playing. Or was it Kanye's kid?

TKPhi Damn Proud
BSME 2009