Heading into the matchup against newly ranked #17 UNC, VT sneaks into the last spot in the poll.
http://collegefootball.ap.org/poll/2017/6
Looks like the AP forgot what our logo looked like, so let me go ahead and fix that.
The Hokies remain unranked in the Coaches' Poll, with 50 votes (ranked #32).
Forums:
DISCLAIMER: Forum topics may not have been written or edited by The Key Play staff.
Comments
That tough win against BYE was enough evidence for voters to put us in.
It was a pretty convincing victory over BYE.
Offense regressed a bit but can't complain with the defense allowing 0 points
was this the rematch of VT-Wake from two years ago?
That bye week will get after ya
Congrats VT. Hope you climb steady from here on out.
You're the man.
Nothing but class from you, thanks!
We would be remiss if we didn't congratulate Tennessee on their ridiculous, fantastic win yesterday. One for the ages for Vol fans.
True that! But I'll take it. Something to be said for never quitting though.
We can beat UNC. Let the ascent through the polls begin.
We have a legit chance to skyrocket these next three games. UNC is good. That offense is nasty, but luckily their defense is really bad. So while their great offense has to deal with our great defense, we get to take advantage of that other matchup.
Cuse really has looked terrible this year. Explosive on offense at times, but porous on defense.
Then Miami is our toughest game. If we somehow pull that out, I would think that is a top ten team.
I wouldn't be so quick to write off Syracuse. Their QB and #1 WR have been nothing short of freakish all year long. If our offense isn't on point, it will be a close game.
Yep, like I said, their offense is the worrisome part. But trust me, they are allergic to tackling.
Don't forget Pitt.
Pitt tasks me. Pitt tasks me, and I shall have him!
I wouldn't be so quick to say that - this Syracuse team is reminiscent of some of the ECU squads that have had our number in the past. I know many of you will point to the 54-17 beat down we gave ECU last week, but the reality is had they connected on a few of those deep balls in which their receivers had a step or two on our corners, the game would have been much closer than the scoreboard indicated when the clock hit 00:00.
Also, for everyone - check the highlights to the Miami GT game. Kaaya threw a slant to Stacy Coley for a TD that was shades of Brady to Edelman. The timing was unbelievable and Kaaya put it right on the numbers. That's going to be a tough team to shut down offensively.
http://www.espn.com/college-football/video?gameId=400869721
Have you watched Cuse play at all this year? The ECU squads are nothing like them. Cuses defense is worse than trash. ECUs D wasn't the most talented, but they could put some things together and the offense never sold out the defense. Cuse might put up some points, but 100% at the expense of the defense.
If games are based on what ifs we could easily be undefeated right now . Our defense got a little lazy at times in 2nd half . We also took out our 1s by the 4th. Miami looks like what they are a team that nobody is really too sure about yet . You point out 1 pass play they have but then i see 2 terrible turnovers for touchdowns by GT . Now the score is 21-21. GT is the only decent team they have played and They didn't show what their ranking suggest so far is what a lot of people see that is all
Somebody needs to do this gif with Beamer whispering into Fuente's ear.
Or Fuente whispering into Jerod's ear
Or Emma whispering in to Beamer's while he whispers in to Fuente's while he whispers in to Jerod's while Bud... wait...
The only way to keep it for more than a week is to beat UNC.
Go Hokies!
Yep. This says the voters have some faith in us, but we have to prove it.
If we play disciplined, controlled and smart ball against UNC, we will continue to climb.
I want to see Teller have a complete, and dominate game. If so, we'll an offensive machine in action, since he sets the tone for the other linemen.
GO HOKIES!
I want a ranked team Thursday night match in Blacksburg oh so badly. Energy will be out of this world.
I might just have to take two vacation days from Christmas for that.
Right now my plan is to leave work and Richmond at 2pm on Thursday and tuck tail and run for Blacksburg. That may change in the next couple weeks, though.
The last time I drove from Nashville to Blacksburg and bought 8 tickets to watch a Thu night home game against Miami.......was quite regrettable.
I was so pumped for #AllMaroonEverything. Random Hokie fan next to me questioned why I was so excited for Maroon unis. Then we proceed to get demolished.
Gotta have faith!
I have to agree with Random Hokie. I've always thought this forum's interest bordering on obsession in what we wear is a trifle odd.
Of all the shit that happens on here that's the one to give you pause?
How many games have you been to where the team wears all maroon? Now, of those games, which ones have been night/Thurs night?
Also, I bleed maroon. That's just my personality.
or your blood severely lacks oxygen...
All my Hokie gear is maroon. This may stem from growing up near LOLUVa and thinking of orange as a cavalier color.
Also, I remember it was a regular thing on tailgate fever to deride orange and promote maroon.
That was the game I attended that year as well... Unpleasant. My first ever VT game was Miami in 2005 so I have not had good experiences with Miami period.
Ready for this -- I also drove from Nashville to Blacksburg to attend the 2005 Miami game. Also regrettable.
Everyone should be happy to hear I have no such plans in 2016.
Last time we were ranked ECU embarrassed at home after beating Ohio State. Looking forward to seeing how Fuente's team plays with a bit of attention.
"Congratulations, some people think we're a good team. But we still need to go 1-0 this week."
-- Coach Fuente, I hope
I haven't quite gotten my finger on Fuente's pulse yet, but I would bet his strategy would be to flip the script. No congrats on the ranking at all.
"So people have started to pay us some attention. If you fall short now, people are going to notice. It's one thing to stumble when no one expects anything out of you. But to stumble when others expect greatness of you? That's how you lose credibility."
"...and now the real chess match begins."
And we have our answer:
So, to Fuente, the ranking means nothing. Probably a good mindset to have.
that's an interesting stance
That's the right stance.
All that matters is wins and losses.
Well, we weren't....I know that much.
I got curious and looked it up. Top 5 in the AP were tOSU, Mich St, Ole Miss, TCU, Baylor. Interestingly enough Clemson and Bama were 12 and 13.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2572701-ncaa-football-rankings-2015-w...
It's almost like Fuente is the Platonic Form of a coach. If you asked me what I thought the ideal coach response to something was, Fuente is basically batting 1.000 at giving those responses.
Eh, I don't really think Fuente's quote reaches that conclusion. That quote really is a non-sequitor coach speak statement. He says things, but they don't really say his opinion on the matter.
Non-sequitor. Unless you have an eidetic memory, of course not. Nobody does, but that doesn't speak to the significance of the situation.
For example, I can ask this question: "Can anyone tell me the security that had the greatest gain in the NYSE the first week of October in 2015?" Again, of course not, but that doesn't speak to the significance of that security, the money the shareholders made that week, and the significance to that's company's quarterly and yearly earning.
There is a lot of significance of being ranked whether anyone remembers it or not. Many others in this forum have stated great reasons on this significance (e.g. exposure, recruiting, building up the ranking for bowl selection), and I truly doubt Fuente is oblivious to these benefits.
Further reading of Fuente's quote reveals only more coach-speak regarding the significance of the meaning:
Extracting Fuente's true feeling towards the ranking from that quote is a fool's errand. He is, however, motivating his team to focus on the next task at hand, beating UNC.
I think the point was something along the lines of "Can anyone tell me who was ranked last October? How about who won the ACC?"
Even if Fuente said that, which is a reasonable follow up question, how does that answer his true opinion on being ranked?
CJF is a mastermind... period.
Makes sense with Michigan St., Utah, San Diego St., Texas, TCU, Georgia, and Arizona St. all losing ahead of us.
We got leapfrogged by UNC and Colorado and Utah is still ranked above us. #25 seems fair to me.
Time for hot takes about how we play better unranked or something.
Just checked ESPN.com, they're using the AP ranking. Would be some fan motivation if they or UNC chose to use the Coaches Poll on game day.
They've always used the AP poll ranking for television until the BCS or the now playoff rankings are released halfway through the season.
Didn't it used to be the "ESPN/USA Today" Coaches Poll?
It's now sponsored by Amway, ESPN backed out when they didn't agree with how coaches were voting for their past opponents.
My prediction for Thursday night that #10 Miami will lose to #15 VT is on the right track!
Of note: 6 SEC teams are ranked, as are 6 ACC teams. I guess the ACC can thank VT for bringing about the tie.
I think they're interested in having 3 each in the top 10 and thanking Miami for the tie.
Made that bye week our bitch.
aaaaayyye
How the heck do you end up ranked in week 5 with a .500 record? Your name is Oklahoma.
On a related note, it made me sad that Baylor eeked out the win yesterday. I want to see the BIG not-quite-12 implode under the weight of their undeserved egos almost as much as the SEC
Little tiny part of me is glad that Jim Grobe's career win ratio is now looking a little better thanks to Baylor. Everything I have ever heard is that he is a quality Dude.
Look at who they lost to. 2 Top 10 if not top 5 teams. Also considering they started pre-season as a top 5 team it's not a stretch at all to consider them a top 25 team, IMO at least.
I know it's #25 and if we don't win next week it's gone but god it feels like forever since we have had a number next to our name. So I'm gonna go ahead and enjoy this moment.
FUCK YAH!
After a hard fought win against BYE, we find ourselves ranked for the first time in two years about to take on #17 UNC...We're getting some love and this Saturday is the chance to validate it. I'm going to be in Chapel Hill for it, so let's paint Kenan maroon and orange!!!
Sweet. Now we need to get back to the mindset where we hate not being ranked.
And hate being ranked in the 20s. Or the teens for that matter.
VT rank: 25
Beamer's jersey number: 25
Last player to score a special teams TD: 25
Regular season games since being ranked: 25 (ish)
VT national champs confirmed
For the next 25 years.
It's worked for my NCAA dynasty team (although, truth be told it's been 37 years).
I was gonna up leg but it was at +25
YEAH!
This week will be our first ranked on ranked matchup since the Michigan Sugar Bowl. First regular season ranked on ranked matchup since 38-0 bro. That's a long time
DANNY. FUCKING. COALE. CAUGHT THAT BALL!!!!
I grumbled that all weekend watching the michigan game....
If you're talking about the game against UVA i was there, it was so much fun smashing their false sense of optimism just like every year
So...which poll does CBS use next week? Tennessee is 9 in both, but aTm is 8 in AP and 7 in coaches.
I'm not positive which teams were involved, I believe it was Alabama and Ole Miss or Mississippi State, but I remember a time in the last couple years when they used both. They used the Coaches poll to show Bama as #1 (when they weren't #1 in the AP) and used the AP poll to make another SEC school #3 or #4. They don't even try to hide it
Beamer's number. Victory is assured.
I'll just leave this here!
"I'm getting a little tired of hearing how good everybody else is. I'm getting a little tired hearing about other programs and I'm ready to start hearing about ours." Justin Fuente
Besides the ranking after the Ohio Stats win 2 years ago, when was the last time we were ranked?
2013. People forget we were 6-1 before it all went to crap
My forgetfulness that season has a lot to do with how much bourbon that team drove me to consume.
And that was about the only thing that offense could drive towards.
Just getting home from hospital and saw this. Happy but wondering who the
CoachesSID's voted ahead of Tech.Western Michigan, LSU, Michigan State, Maryland, UGA, Air Force, and UCLA.
Bye week didn't help in this regard. These teams put on some good displays/storylines while VT sat at home. Read somewhere that the Coaches Poll is more "cautious".
Doesn't really matter, though. Either we beat UNC or we're unranked anyway.
How did everything go?
Means about as much as UVA's spring festival attendance right now.
I am glad, but it is unexpected. With the bye, I thought we would not be ranked until we beat UNCheat.
Now, the Syracuse game has trap written all over it. Away game with little fan support and likely nooner versus a potent, yet struggling team. We beat UNC and Miami keeps winning, it could be a top 20, maybe 15 matchup that we are all pining for. Avoid the trap, Hokies, it's your only hope!
We should leapfrog 3-2 FSU and UNC with a victory this week, but the Noles/Canes game (during an actual hurricane?) could shake things up some more.
Poor ND, Pitt, Duke and UVA have round-robin'ed themselves out of a single vote.
I know people say "style points" don't matter but here'a proof they clearly do.
If the BC and ECU were Beamer era wins at 17-0 and 24-17, I don't think we're ranked today. And say what you will about mid season rankings not mattering but I've got to think it excites both recruits and fan base alike.
Happy that this regime knows how to put the foot down on the gas even with a lead.
What people said style points don't matter?
Rankings are all about style points and wins over other teams with style points.
Boom to the fuckeeng boom. Agreed. Leg that jank.
It's about god damn time. Let the climb up the polls begin.
UNC stands between VT and rankings glory.
Being ranked is pretty good for week five of a multi-year rebuild.
That UVA oracle is looking smarter every week.
I want his inbox flooded with O Rly? owls if we finish our season with 10+ wins.
I think they are more deserving of Cthulhu Owl....
Am I the only one who couldn't care what our ranking is? So many people seem overjoyed at it, but we didn't even play this week to earn that ranking. At this point in the season, the only number that matters is the one in the "Win" column.
I'm somewhere slightly north of indifferent. It's a little more than just a fun number next to the name. The perks of being ranked include getting more highlight show airtime and being on the default page when you check the scores on ESPN.
This guy gets it
hell yeah
I think recruits like it...
Agreed, which is nice. But overjoyed? Not even close.
Agreed. Rankings don't really matter, but it's nice that our highlights can actually be on national tv.
Yes...yes...yes...yes....and kick broklahoma out with their 2 losses
Since the Ryder Cup just ended, this is an appropriate celebration from the 8th hole today that can apply to the ranking news.
That match and the Mickelson/Garcia match may be the in the top 5 best Ryder cup matches of all time
Absolutely. The energy on the final day reminded me of what is shown at the Phoenix Open. Awesome day!
AM I LATE FOR THE "WE'RE RANKED PARTY?"
Perhaps I'm wrong and you know exactly what you're doing, but I'm pretty sure this doesn't meme what you think it memes.
So you're saying I blew this one too early?
Was someone otherwise preoccupied at a desk?
Honestly didn't get the whole Spiderman meme at first but now I do and I haven't stopped laughing for the past five minutes.
Gotta beat UNC to validate this recognition, but after what I've seen from them the last two weeks, I say bring them on.
I have a feeling we're ranked because we're playing another ranked team next week
#tinfoilhat
So we're ranked because they want us to be ranked?
It's almost like being in the SEC
Not quite, see Oklahoma's ranking.
I'm not overjoyed yet, but I am certainly excited about being ranked. It's been a while and it adds excitement to the team and the fanbase. I agree with what Coach Fuente apparently said at practice tonight: "This is what you play for... To have these opportunities."
While rankings don't mean everything in week 6, rankings are what gets you in good places come December. It also attracts extra attention from the media, which then attracts recruits- something we've missed out on in the few years we slipped into what one could and probably should call mediocrity. Happy to see the #25 plastered at the end of our name. Perhaps God picked a good number this week, eh? The players want this. They're in somewhat of the spotlight now, so they know they have a lot to prove. I'm certainly nervous about the game next Saturday, though. This will be the first time this year watching the Hokies play on TV for me and it just feels different. I desperately want that top 25 matchup on Thursday night in Lane on the 20th and for the top part of the south endzone to be completely full. Make Lane Great Again 2016.
I like your thinking!
Excited to see us back in the rankings and hoping for a steady climb even higher. I remember when I was in college laughing at the schools that got excited about just being ranked. We have fallen a long way since then, but it's exciting to feel like our program is getting back to national relevance.
Here's my prediction for the next 4 games: beat UNC (I like our chances with Bud's game planning now paired with Fuentes game planning having an extra week to put together a game), beat Syracuse, beat Miami (still don't think they've shown anything impressive yet, and Thursday night in Lane if we're 5-1 will be amazing), then Pitt. Pitt is who I'm most concerned about. I don't wanna call that one.
More than anything I just hope we're past our M.O. of getting everyone's hopes up then laying a big ole goose egg. Even if we don't go on to win the NC and Heisman, it seems like we're getting back to the fun days of being a VT football fan. Go Hokies!
I am thinking very similarly. I think we are just a little bit better than UNC, and even being on the road won't keep us from winning.
I think Miami is about even with us, but Lane on Thursday night will be the difference.
And then it all comes crashing down at Pitt (even though we still win the division).
No mission accomplished. Get after it and keep moving on up!
Those rankings, they'll get after ya
Am I doing this right?
Nice to see the Associated Press honor Frank Beamer as well.
Looking for Hype Train vid!
Not sure how I feel about this. While glad to see us back in the rankings, I don't know that we have beaten anyone to deserve the attention. Maybe it's because I've seen us go down this road before and I'm a little snake-bit. I want to believe that things are different now. If we go to Chapel Hill and lay an egg after a bye week, then I will be disappointed. I'd like to think that CJF & Bud have something special planned. I just don't know.
If we run "The Gauntlet" as Fuente noted, not only will I believe, but he will have pulled us back from obscurity and will have made us relevant again. There was a topic post a week or so ago related to CJF's reply from a reporter about ST and the lack of their production. Then Shibest answered the bell. But I got the sensation watching that interview that even referring all respect to Beams, CJF was getting a little tired of answering questions about "Beamerball". I think if he gets us through this stretch of games with only the TN loss, he will have cemented his stamp on the program, if he hasn't done so already.
I want desperately to be on the cow catcher of the hype train, but only time will tell. It IS a great place to start, and again, fun to watch the resurgance from the beginning. Let's go......!!!!
Off topic, but apparently the correct word is "gantlet". I had never heard of this word (because it's 2016 and gauntlet took over 200 years ago), but newspapers still use it (based on their style guides). And before we blame the Brits, supposedly Gantlet is more common in US, probably because of the aforementioned media.
Gantlet: running between two lines of people getting the snot smacked out of you.
Gauntlet: the knight's glove that often gets thrown down.
Not trying to be dick-ish, and will defer to your military experience ( thank you for your service ), but Wiki seems like we both are correct:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Running_the_gauntlet
I also was semi-quoting Coach, but either way, we have our work cut out for us. Thanks for the heads up & have a leg for the reply!
The Washington Post sports page used "gantlet" when quoting Coach Fuente, which is why I looked it up; but I'm with you, if I had to bet, he was thinking "gauntlet".
At this point in the season, a lot of ranked teams haven't played anyone yet - see Miami Hurricanes. It is how those games are played (and, unfortunately in many cases, an undeserved preseason ranking) that gets the attention of the voters.
I won't feel good about these rankings until UNC, Miami, and Pitt are in the rearview mirror. Until then, I'm sitting on a bench at the station.
When VT is ranked after those games, I'm buying a first class ticket on the hype train.
This. Our best win is over ECU. It's good from an outsider/recruiting perspective to be ranked, but if we're ranked after playing half of our ACC schedule then that warrants being excited IMO.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Why all the angst and double guessing the fact we're ranked? Can we not just enjoy the fact we're 3-1, just scored over 100 points combined over the last 2 games against FBS opponents (2 teams we were a combined 1-3 against the last 2 seasons) and people are starting to believe in us? Nobody, and I mean nobody, believed in us before this season started, and now we're ranked in Week 5.
Oh, and the spread for the game this weekend opened at what, UNC -6.5 and quickly dropped to UNC -2.5. Someone believes in us, and I wouldn't be surprised to see that line tilt towards our favor prior to kickoff.
Yadda yadda yadda, Linus has a new security blanket and its called Fuenteball
I wish I'd gotten my bet in when it was still UNC -6.5 Oh well, still going to do well when we beat them...
I believe its even now
is it really?
Wow, there have been some heavy movement on our lines for the last 2 weeks. For ECU we opened as something like a 3 or 6 point favorite only to see it balloon up to 14 or 15 by kickoff. Now, UNC opens as a TD favorite, and barely 24 hours later, its down to a FG favorite or so far as even up.
That spread might tighten further. UNC is in prime shape for a let down game and we are coming off a bye. If I am an impartial betting man (I'm not) I would push my money toward the hokies in this one. Also, the homer in me thinks that we match up well with unc and I expect a win.
Home field usually accounts for 3 points, but there were A LOT of tickets available for this game last week before UNC played FSU, giving VT fans ample opportunity to buy them up in droves. This is ripe for a stadium takeover, and the Hokies have had 2 weeks to prepare for the Heels.
I also would not be surprised if we're favorites by kickoff.
UNC also just beat Florida State who has probably the 3rd or 4th most stacked roster in the nation, while we've yet to show up to a good opponent. Let's pump all the brakes a bit, we're underdogs and deservedly so.
They have a bunch of talent, but they are not a good team this year, at least not right now.
They are still likely a top 25 team this year. They aren't playing particularly well, but Florida State is still a well coached team with a ton of talent and you don't just casually wake up and beat them unless you are also pretty good.
Oh I disagree, I think they're a bad team this year and the coaching isn't really helping them out. They have a boatload of talent, but they're tripping all over themselves so far this year. USF gave them more of a game 2 weeks ago than they really should have. To put it lightly, FSU has a lot of issues they need to address. (not just happening to FSU, also happening in the NFL. Look at Carolina and Arizona, two teams that should be lightyears better than the level at which they're playing)
But this is actually a really good thing for the ACC. The perception of FSU is that you don't show up and just beat them, so to see them knocked off by 2 ACC opponents helps the overall image of the conference and makes us look deeper. That win bumped up UNC, and should we beat UNC this week, that will help pump us up.
I think they have the talent to knock off Clemson. It will also be the first time Clemson has played a legitimately talented team in a true road game since 2014 (2015 Louisville game they didn't even play Lamar), so it's been awhile since they played a dangerously talented team in a true road environment.
It's college football, variance is crazy. FSU also beat Ole Miss and utterly dominated them in the second half. They've looked bad the last few games but that doesn't mean they won't look dominant down the stretch, especially as their r-Fr qb comes along and the defense gets healthy.
Yep, and if they have Derwin James back for Clemson that will be huge. If you don't think a hybrid defensive back can have that big of an overall impact on a defense, look at the difference between our 2013 defense before and after Kyle Fuller got hurt.
edit: Not saying the 2013 defense was bad without him, but it went from smothering to exploitable, and led to a few losses.
Same USF that is 4-1 and looks to be a much better team than anyone we've beat thus far? FSU is definitely not a top 10 team, but they have the talent to match up with anyone.
Their defense is currently 125th in the country yards per play... They have been shit defensively, no way around that.
They have also played 4 top 15 offenses including #1 and another top offense. The defense is playing poorly, but that doesn't mean they won't improve.
Giving up a ton of yards means the offenses you played will be ranked higher, stats-wise.
There is no valid reason for a defense that talented to perform this bad. 7 yards per play over 5 games is absolutely heinous regardless of opponent.
I agree with that, their attitude and work rate is poor. Hard to imagine that DC sticking around barring a huge turnaround.
definitely agree, I was just pointing out their win against USF is still more impressive than anyone on our resume. One playing being out on FSU's defense isn't an excuse for their horrendous showing.
Have you seen how bad FSU's defense has been since Derwin went out? Their stacked defense has been used as well as Les Miles LSU offense.
I don't have a frame of reference for this. Could you translate three points into the most important stat that will define Virginia Tech's season: Time of Possession?
Is it like a minute or three minutes or what
1 minute 18 seconds, on average
Oh holy d@mn that could pull a victory from the jaws of defeat. Need to get us some more home games.
Rankings don't mean shit until after the conference title game. Talk to me about it then.
I bet you're fun at parties...
you have no idea
Rankings aint shit but hoes and tricks
This is exactly the attitude I want the team and coaches to have. As for us fans, I don't think there's anything wrong with reveling in our return to the rankings a little.
Rankings matter to young impressionable sports fans. I can think of a few that we could impress. So yeah, it doesn't matter except that it does.
I know it's just a ranking and I'm not supposed to be excited, but just let us have a moment and enjoy that VT has a little number beside the name again. I'll return to being cynical Hokie fan tomorrow. Crisp high fives all around!
Since we're going to win the rest of our games, we're going to be ranked anyway...why not now?
For all of those who take the, "It's week 5, it doesn't matter," approach - I respect you, but disagree.
Reasons I disagree:
1. If we are ranked, that means we are winning football games.
2. You have to start with some ranking to climb up them
3. The key is to be consistently ranked, and in order to do that, you have to be ranked first.
4. The bigger key is to continue to improve that ranking each week. That means we are winning each game, and others are losing
5. By being ranked we are now included in all media articles that end in "For the Top 25 teams." - This is good exposure.
6. We are also now included when you open your ESPN score app. The original setting shows scores for the Top 25 teams - This is more exposure
Stating the obvious here, but Top 25 is not a bad thing. It is definitely a good thing. But like with everything, we cannot be satisfied and have to strive to keep climbing the rankings.
This is ALL true, and I'd agree with you if VT had beaten anyone, ANYONE, of note.
So I'll be a lot more convinced after VT beats UNC.
Without wins, rankings don't matter.
I agree it's good, and I'm happy. I'm not going to lose my mind about it though.