I'm sorry you are having to experience the year we all feared would come one day. I'm sorry you have to listen to the opposing team's fans jeering and rubbing it in as they are winning. I'm sorry paper airplanes are flying all around your field like there's nothing better to do. I'm sorry the production on the field causes fans to leak out early because they've seen enough. I'm sorry the highlight for fans is the entrance, singing karaoke, or doing the wave. I'm sorry losing rather than winning on your field has become the norm in recent years. I'm sorry that your nickname "Terror Dome" no longer applies.
Hang in there old friend, better days will return!
Respectfully,
VTacajoe
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Comments
RIP
This-the wave-while losing...wtf
It was a lengthy timeout break and it was obvious that our team wasn't going to be doing anything to win the game. The Corps thought it would be good to try the wave, maybe to try and get something back into the fans. Can't fault them for trying to inject some liveliness into the crowd. Compared to the energy in the '05-'12 crowds, the ones today suck.
To be honest the crowds at ND and Clemson last year were pretty good till about the 4th quarter. Was at both those games. The crowd did their part till they realized that we just weren't going to get it done. Would love to have seen how loud it got with a win in either game but I never felt like the crowd gave up on the game prematurely.
I agree that those games were good, but they're the exception to the rule as of late.
It shouldn't take a top 5 opponent to get Lane rocking.
I may be old school, but I feel like we did more (noise) with less back in the day.
I totally agree. All that glitters is not gold, and new isn't always better. Also, in the olden days, people didn't sit around half the game trying to get a signal on their cell phones. I think it's engagement. It just felt like more people were more engaged in the actual games when I used to attend regularly, and there certainly weren't as many of us in the stands pre expansion. I do like the Sandman intro and the bouncy-jumpy thing, but I'd rather hear the bands than too loud loudspeaker music after that. I got a big kick out of the "stick it in" thing, though. Wish it could have stayed around. Seemed to get folks up and energized at a crucial time when they were excited (yeah, I get the "phrasing" thing) and provided an outlet before shutting up for the offense to play.
It does seem, though, that it isn't enough to just come out and support the team anymore for more and more folks. They want to win, and that's it. It's not enough to just be there for all the other experiences a college football game offers. Solution's simple, though. Win every game at home and everybody's happy. Easy, huh?
The students did their best to get the "stick it in" chant going...that really needs to come back (phrasing gets ya every time lol).
I suspect if recruiting evaluations where back then what they are today, we'd have a very, very different opinion on how much 'less' we had than everyone else back in the day. We just benefitted from being in a region that had a hidden diamond mine of talent that was largely overlooked by the powers that be in football. Once we started making serious noise, people took notice, and our diamond reserve started getting the hell mined out of it, and we never adjusted.
It's been this way for about 6-7 years now.
Oh I know, but something about yesterday's game experience just felt different.
I think it was good up until the last 1:30 in the 1st half when CJF wasted time on calling a time out and then the team played sluggishly to go into the half versus trying to drive down the field and put up some extra points. To me that sucked the energy out of the stadium because the fans thought, "same shit, different day". After coming out of the locker room and going 3-and-Out, and then the fumble recovery followed by the 3-and-out, then the energy really died.
"A minor setback for a major comeback."
- Victor "Macho" Harris (circa 2007)
Applies in 2018 as well.
2018 is anything but a minor setback.
In the grand scheme of things, a single season compared to the "success" of the last 25 years of playing in Lane Stadium would be considered minor.
If you look back at the last 25 years, we are very similar to the Hokies of 2014 - fighting to keep the bowl streak alive going into November.
If bitcoin taught me anything, it's to not HODL too long before a major correction.
Buy and hold value.
Don't buy and hold speculation.
Bitcoin has no value is pure speculation
Yes, that was my point.
It may well turn out to be, but you're calling the game before it's over. Win out, win the bowl game and you'd be wrong. Do I expect that to happen based on what we've seen so far? Of course not, but I'm willing, even now, to at least wait for the actual results before calling the race.
Well, TECHNICALLY, BC can beat Clemson and win the Atlantic.
VT controls its own destiny.
We can meet BC in the title game and AVENGE this loss.
P.S. Fuck Matt Ryan.
Yes, I thought Tempest Keep was a minor setback.
As was Naxxanar, (Elwynn) Forest, undeath, us, Ashenvale, Stonecore, Mardum, Mildenhall Meadery...
That's a nice sentiment. Unfortunately that mindset has NEVER won us a National Championship, BCS bowl or host of other things. It has long since been irrelevant. The fan base is beyond tired & exhausted of it taking a dumbshit loss (see: GT, JMfU, ODfU, 'Cuse, etc) for the team to get their collective shit together & just meet expectations. That statement is beyond inapplicable here & this day/time.
Wrong.
Ok, when did that mindset/sentimentality win us a BCS bowl? If you're referring to the '08 season, I thought that quote didn't appear until the 2010 season after the Boise St & JMfU losses.
That mindset did exist, even before that quote.
Alright, I can concede to that, though, historically, I remember it being more/most prevalent during the '10 season. Also, even though it conceivably existed in our program before it was quoted, I think that it could be argued that it wasn't the mindset/mentality of it that won us the Orange bowl that season.
That quote is from 2007 after we lost to BC. We lost to ECU to start the 2008 season. Then we went on to win the Orange Bowl. I'd say it applies.
Ok, well while that mindset might've been helpful back then, it's no longer helpful now. In fact, the argument can be made that this mindset has hindered us from true growth & reaching the next step as a program.
Maybe we should give the current experiment the time required to know if it works before we abandon it.
Listen, for clarification purposes, I'm not in the camp that believes Fuente should get shit-canned, & I actually get annoyed when folks irascibly fire that off. I, to a degree, still feel & believe he is a good coach & can help improve the program. In fact, almost anytime someone spouts off "fire Fuente" my immediate reaction is to challenge them "ok, specifically with whom."
I say 4-5 yrs (from his 1st season as HC) is a fair-generous length of time to assess & render a verdict (I mean, it's half a damn decade ffs). Six is pushing it. Anything beyond that is just flat out unacceptable.
I agree.
So where are we going with this?
And so does his contract.
His buyout is down to $500K is his contract is terminated on of after 8/32/2021.
Oh no, I was just creating a clarification of where I stand/sit on the matter so as to clear up any potential misunderstanding &/or misinterpretation. My main initial point is that the whole "minor setback/major comeback" sentimentality is outdated & inapplicable to our program in this day & age, also, that it never launched the status of our program to the next level of success. That's all.
Ain't no mindset winning a National Championship. Kidnapping football players from their dorms in Tuscaloosa might give the Hokies a shot though.
I watched Alabama and LSU last night. Hell, dude. We aren't even close. (Not many are.)
The crowd yesterday was beyond disappointing. The stands we're noticably different immediately after halftime, before the team collapsed on the field. The West stands looked like no one that got up for halftime came back. This game was still in doubt until the last minutes of the game and people were steaming out during the 4Q like it was a route. No sense in that.
This was the first game I made to Lane this season, but I've been to at least one home game every year since 2001. The showing yesterday by the fans was pathetic. Embarrassing.
Coaches tell the players to control the things that they can control. Fans need to do the same. The apathy in the stands yesterday was eye opening. I'm ashamed right now because I feel like I've been living a lie.
For two decades I've told everyone how great game day is in Blacksburg and how great Lane Stadium is. None of that was true yesterday. Someone made a post a few games ago that I scoffed at at the time, but indeed, we are nothing more than an entrance right now and I'm not talking about the team.
This team will get better, but from what I saw yesterday, I'm not sure we deserve any better.
They are controlling what they can control. Now the coaches need to control what they can control to get the fans back. I don't blame fans for being less passionate this year. We suck. We are even embarrassing at times.
Wow. So we should only passionately support the team when they're on top of the world and not care through the tough times?
Strange times we're living in.
The vast majority of fans are not TKPers or living/breathing football followers. Most people go to these games to have fun. This season has, for the most part, NOT been fun. And after the GT game, the writing was on the wall when the offense once again faltered coming out of the halftime break. It was getting colder, some of the hardcore fans started to get really toxic, and it just wasn't fun to sit in the stands anymore.
I get it, the atmosphere isn't great and that sucks. I didn't leave early yesterday, but I understand why someone who just wanted to go have a good time felt like it wasn't worth sitting through the 4th quarter.
This will fix itself if we start winning games again.
No.
But when a team is terrible you cant expect passionate fans filling stadiums. You live in an idealistic world if thats the case. Adjust your expectstions of people. Not everyone is a diehard fan and i dont expect them to be.
It's hard to be passionate when we are losing and the program is hidden from us more than ever before
I think many left after halftime because they only came to see homecoming ceremony.
It's the truth when it comes to the student section. After the halftime ceremony, the parties start.
Maybe for the student section, but I interpreted the comment as being more general than that.
The students are all about the party. I can't so much blame them for that.
Yes this isn't new at all. I was a student from 2010 to 2015 and it happened every single year for the homecoming game regardless of opponent or if we were winning.
Been happening a lot longer than that. I can tell you the students cleared out after halftime of Homecoming as far back to when I was a student starting in 2002. The frats and sororities literally only care about the Homecoming King and Queen announcement, and then they all clear out to go back to their parties for the rest of the day. Happens every year, and will continue happening every year for the rest of time. Its a tradition, and it isn't going to stop.
We should really steer into that skid and make sure our absolute worst opponent every year is Homecoming just so the halving of the student section doesn't impact us on the field in a game that matters.
The frats and sororities literally only care about the Homecoming King and Queen announcement, and then they all clear out to go back to their parties for the rest of the day.
Frat dude here and we did not clear out early to go back for a homecoming party. Definitely cared about who won, but immediately left afterward? Absolutely not. I was there 2003-2007. Blaming it on frats now is pointless anyways, the University is kicking them off left and right.
Is this the new 'I was there in 1992'?
Not sure what that means, I was simply letting Alum07 and others know when I was there for the basis of my statement.
Not blaming it on you, but you can't deny the sea of people wearing their frat/sorority colors in the NEZ, cheer loudly for their organization when mentioned during the halftime ceremony, and then leave.
The NEZ has always been half empty after halftime during the Homecoming game, and yes, the frats are the reason why, even if your frat isn't part of the problem.
I do deny that because I seriously don't remember that being a thing. I wasn't there for this game so I didn't see it but I don't recall it being half empty after halftime at every Homecoming game after a mass exodus of Greek affiliated students. Perhaps I'm wrong, the poster above was a student after me and said it happens so I'll be sure to look for it next Homecoming game. I surely have seen the NEZ half empty later in games after the team continues to lose games they should win. The school is actively trying to get rid of Greek life, so this supposed problem of a half-filled NEZ at the start of the third quarter of the annual Homecoming game will likely be fixed in the next five to ten years.
What about a Greek organization or the Chess Club, or Car Club or any other type of organization, or any other students for that matter that don't go to the game? Should blame be placed on them for not attending? My cousin is in a sorority and has been to exactly one game in three years. She finds it boring. If those students went we could probably completely fill out Lane.
Interestingly enough, Maryland is having a problem with students sticking around for games. So now they are offering a drawing for a $5000 scholarship for students that stay. I hate Maryland, but seems like an interesting idea.
I totally concur with you that it's annoying to see the stands empty out. I'm not a fan of it but I completely understand it. If Tech is getting their ass kicked, I leave too when the outcome is in no doubt. I love VT football more than any other sports team out there, but I've realized that my priorities lie with catching up with friends and family that I see far too little since everyone is spread out, married and having kids. I'd rather spend an extra half hour with them at Tots or a tailgate catching up on life and talking about the good old days than seeing another check down fall far short of a first down on 4th and 8 with 4 minutes left to play down by 16. I don't blame Greek students, non Greek students, or any age fan for feeling that same way. If Tech is in it, you're going to keep people in the seats. LSU fans started leaving at the end of the 3rd against Bama on Saturday too.
Tomato, potato.
Score at end of 3rd quarter in Blacksburg: 21-14
Score at end of 3rd quarter in Baton Rouge: 22-0
Also, with regards to the annual Homecoming halftime exodus, here's a discussion from 4 years ago.
Great, so what's your solution to this apparent enormous frat exodus problem for the Homecoming game?
I'm all ears.
We aren't promoting a solution here. We're just complaining that it happens.
Huh, sorta like a "vent thread"🤔 Imagine that.
Hmm, maybe someone should start a vent thread about all the vent threads. Oh, wait, we already have one.
Yep, it's called TKP /s.
Sell beer at Lane
They already do, you just gotta be in a certain section.
That's discriminatory (yes I know, not legally)
I don't think anyone is blaming frats exclusively. Greek life includes sororities too. If you go on the Virginia Tech free and for sale page, every year around homecoming, its all the people (read: heavy Greek/sorority influence) trying to get tickets just to see the homecoming court get announced. Those are the people that leave right after halftime. You want a solution to that? Don't announce homecoming court at a football game, announce it at whatever homecoming event Tech has (do they do dances/socials? I honestly don't know.). Another option would be to allow a set number of people per sponsoring organization onto the field to help cheer on their candidate. Make it an option where they don't have to purchase a ticket, just have the groups meet in Cassell/Jamerson and walk through the tunnel. After halftime they can just leave since they won't have ticket.
Thanks, not bad ideas.
Why not just announce it after the game ends?
I'll go one further and say that we didn't even care about who won - even when there was a member of our organization on HC court.
If they are waiting until after the game for the parties to start, then they are doing it wrong. Parties started on Monday of homecoming week and usually were biggest Thursday/ Friday night as most people were worn out by Saturday night from being up for the parade, tailgating, and partying for a week straight.
This is exactly what I remember
So, now we are blaming Lane's atmosphere and the team's performance on the notion that 500 kids leave at halftime? WUT? They aren't there for the game, so they aren't part of the noise anyway. (And yes, it can be loud even with them in the stands. It was loud before the SEZ and NEZ were complete. Same number of fans yelling means the same noise...) And they don't run, throw, tackle, play call. It's nitpicking and it's silly. Pet peeve? Sure, but saying they are THE problem, really???
Two words: WINNING HELPS. You want asses to stay in the seats, WIN. You want folks to shut up & stop complaining & constantly pointing out the failures & shortcomings of the team, WIN. Part of the deal.
I've been to at least one or more games since 2005 every year myself, and I have never been that embarrassed by the crowd environment and fanbase. That was by far the most pathetic atmosphere I've ever seen in Lane. I couldn't believe how pedestrian the noise level was and how infrequently it was ever loud on defense, even though the defense was playing their hearts out.
I'm glad I wasn't the only one to notice.
So, not sure where you were sitting, or what your expectations for the game were, or what lens you were looking at the game thru, but to be honest, I thought the crowd was just fine thru the 3rd quarter. I was in the SEZ in section 102 and there was plenty of energy around us, and we could see both East and West stands...and they were loud and rocking as well.
I will say this, it was cold. We were in a spot tailgating that the wind never gave up on us. And we were frozen going into the game. Did that stop us yelling, supporting, being positive? NO. But I know others were cold and probably didn't last past halftime. And to that point...all of the complaints (not just you) about fans leaving at halftime. SO WHAT? If they aren't going to cheer and support, what difference does it make? Those that want to be there, and participate in the game, and that cheering, and the yelling, are still there. Those that don't do those things leave, you aren't losing any of that. Screw the optics of "it looks bad on tv when the corner is empty?" Really???? Really. Come on. Losing to BC looks bad. 4-4 looks bad. Giving up 462 rushing yards looks bad. The 12 fans that aren't in their seats in the corner mean NOTHING to that end. Support. Be a part of it. But stop worrying about optics. Do your part, and be a Hokie.
Thanks. THIS^^^so much.
I was on the 50 in the west stands about halfway up.
I am seriously doubting how many VT games you've been to if you think that was a regular or acceptable amount of noise. I am talking about ESPECIALLY the first 3 quarters when the game was within a score for the most part, the noise level on defense was not what I have come to expect from Lane over the years. There are multiple people in this thread who were at the game, myself included, who thought the atmosphere was below our standard for Lane Stadium. I'm not dogging our fanbase as a whole, or saying Lane sucks, but it was not up to snuff on Saturday, it was by far the worst stadium atmosphere I've seen in 13 years of going to games.
I could care less about the upper deck or the corner having empty seats, there were 2nd and 3rd downs where the crowd made barely a muted excuse for crowd noise in a one score game. I've never seen that in my entire life as a Hokie fan.
2005??? But wasn't the team (pretty much) kicking ass & taking names in BOTH '04 & '05???
...what?
You said "in 13 yrs". That would put it at 2 dubba aught 5. We (the team) ruled then.
Yeah we were great back then, but I've been to games every year in that span through Saturday. That was by far the least intimidating, and most subdued stadium experience I've ever seen outside of garbage time in a loss. I've never seen Lane that subdued during a game that was still in the balance. Obviously the ends of the 2014 Miami and 2005 Miami games were pretty weak, but early on those games were mf rocking.
2006 Kent State game, for example, was substantially louder and more intimidating than Saturday's in conference game against BC in a season where we can still win our division.
Chris, I'm with you...and in no way am I or you bashing the fans that left or didn't even show up.
I could give a damn about optics either.
I've been going to games since the mid-90s and I can assure you we made more noise before the south and north end zones were ever built compared to the noise and energy in the stadium Saturday.
Mind you, I still had a good time and my cousin enjoyed his first game at Lane. Maybe it can be attributed to homecoming, but it just felt different in the stands Saturday.
If others noticed something completely different than me, good!
I was in section 18 (West Side - Best Side) and the Alumni stayed and were cheering until we got down 2 score late in the fourth. Then some people left. But more people stayed for BC than GT. When GT went up three scores I watched the east side bleed orange to the exits.
Winning will help. That said, rain or shine I am there for the entire game and some times it seems like I am the only one cheering on the defense in the fourth quarter.
Nope-I'm also there yelling just as loud for the defense whether we are up 25 or down 30, and whether the opponent is Notre Dame or "Southwestern Michigan Devries Tech State ". Heck I like to think the opposing QB and/or coach can hear my individual voice and think to themselves "Damn that guy is crazy!"
And even this past weekend, as I walked down the steps, I was singing along to the band after time ran out. It may be true that not everyone is a diehard fan win or lose, but I'll be damned if that will ever be me!
There will be a historic come from behind win in Lane. It may or may not happen against Miami. It is more likely to happen if the crowd keeps the energy up. If you leave before the game is decided you will miss it.
Many of us stayed for a great improbable finish at UNC a few weeks ago.
I was actually hoping for this yesterday!
After that 75 yard TD drive! With a key 1st down by QP, then Willis came back to finish the TD drive. We just needed a stop. I could feel it in my gut about to happen.
Guess it was just gas.
The Arkansas comeback happened in the Fuente era. At it's best this year's offense is just as good as that one. (See the beginning and end of the last 3 games)
But that comeback happened because of turnovers. Which we cannot consistently generate.
You didn't specify which season.
I sure hope its this year. Miami or UVA would be awesome!
Hokie football is dying and the fans are giving up, no point in watching when it's a guarantee loss. It only gets worse next year
Guaranteed loss when winning 14-7 at halftime, we are in store for dark times indeed if this is the mindset of fans!
You should have seen how empty that stadium was after halftime and the exodus continued to grow as the second half wore on, even when only down one score!
Part of the reason I go to any sporting event is to put away my phone, and get into the game. It can be a great, fun escape from everyday life.
Apparently the lack of cellular data connectivity inside arenas is a chief reason why attendance is down, too. It was a lot different a decade ago.
I do think there is difficulty is determining the balance of cheers, band(s), EDM & karaoke.
I do think that the fan envolvement has declined with the increase of pumped in music but I also note that in some instances, the pumped in music get the crowed fired up, not just singing along. Maybe some film review by the stadium staff to determine what to play and when to be able to try and get the best out of the crowd.
Losing sucks for players, fans and coaches. At least there were moments of high level play yesterday; followed by horrible play. Last week was almost all bad with few glimmers of hope. In time the good should start to outweigh the bad. I do believe that great times will return to Lane, I will be there hoping for the best every game until the next memory I will cherish for my entire life.
The TKP fans seem a bit more fair weather than the ones in the stands.
Yes, it's going to be a bumpy ride.
If you can't handle that, go root for UVa. Oh, wait, their ride has been even bumpier, and is only easier right now because they have lowered expectations.
I'm all for venting, and even a bit of dark humor and sarcasm, but the amount of negativity on TKP lately has me not wanting to even visit it even to see the best articles that we have here. I just have to bring that up because I'm sure I'm not the only one that feels that way.
Was my OP negative?
I forgive you
Nice
How are you holding up after having 45,000 people get in and out of you each weekend?
Better than your mother
I may be in the minority of thinking this way. VT Football is a product and the fans are consumers of that product. Product satisfaction is often based on how the product performs vs expectations. Sometimes when there is a severe underperformance, consumers lose their confidence in the product. That loss of confidence isn't simply based on binary results. It's not as simple as winning or losing at that point. Losing to ODU was incredibly damaging to supporters' view of the program and greatly reduced their tolerance for "youth and execution problems." I'm fairly sure a good number of fans feel that a property recruited and coached freshman VT team should beat ODU anytime. That may not be a realistic expectation, but neither is expectation a fan base to tolerated such a loss. And when I say such a loss I don't mean a stinker of a close loss that looks like success is around the corner.
In general I don't think fans look at this season in a vacuum. It seems that fans (including myself) are looking at this season and the state of the football program as something that began in 2012, had improvements in 2016, and then started trending back down. The product that was supposed to be delivered was an offense that didn't require nearly prefect defense to succeed. That product may not been delivered in 2016 (I'll examine that in another post) as Fuente says in defense of Cornelsen:
That's a bit of a sit down and shut-up response to criticism. I don't think any fan appreciates that.
In summation (and my estimation) the fan base is reacting to the following:
I'm not a football coach and will probably never be one. I am a business man and if one if my employees comes under attack I will defend them but not by telling my customer to sit down and shut up. That doesn't work. I may say something like, "I see where you are coming from and and I will look into this and work on ways to improve." Period. Then you have to improve...
Please understand that I'm not calling for Fuente to be fired. Like I have said, I think he CAN be a really great HC. Ultimately the ball is in his court in how he wants to handle criticism.
I also understand the view point that voicing criticism isn't going to change anything. I offer a counter point of view. Not voicing criticism is guaranteed not to change anything. A silent fan base will be assumed to be a satisfied fan base.
Regardless, there is plenty to look at with respect to this team without fighting each other. We all want one thing. A winning (or at least looks good while losing) football team.
Go Hokies!
I agree completely. I came here to say just this. To me, I don't look at a season in a vacuum. The tough seasons towards the end of Beamers career went down a bit easier for me because I could understand and even rationalize what was happening. Lots of recruiting misses, negative recruiting about Beamer retiring, and other issues. We were trending down and had understandable reasons for it. But the last two years I could somewhat see a trend in the other direction. Even though we had issues with those teams with lack of talented depth at various positions, I remained hopeful that we were going where we wanted to go. I think what is making this 4-4 team cause so much anguish in Hokie Nation compared to the other .500 teams of recent years is due to the sudden adjustment back to a negative trend. I think I saw the defense being weak this year but with the best offensive line and deepest receiving corps we've had recently, I felt our offense could keep us in games. Seeing the lack of production from a supposed offensive guru has given me pause. That being said, I remain hopeful that this staff can take us back to where we were in the 2002-2007 years I enjoyed as a student. They might even have the ability to take us to the next step.
What concerns me most, however, is Fuente's reaction to criticism and what I perceive to be the wrong response to fans, media, etc in the face of challenge. I don't know what exactly it is but the Hokies today don't have that killer, kick your ass, attitude. Maybe it's just me getting older, but when I was a student, I had complete confidence in competing with anyone. Seeing a single digit ranking next to Virginia Tech was the assumption not the exception. I don't claim to know how to fix it, or even if this is accurate. I'm just saying how I feel about the program. Seems most younger fans and students come to the game as a social event and care more about what's happening in the stands and what's coming out of the speakers than what's happening on the field. Maybe it's a chicken vs egg situation and once the team is winning again we'll have that back. Maybe it isn't though. I don't know.
What I miss is a team, while maybe not the most athletic or talented, would execute the little things properly, wouldn't beat themselves, and would be busting their asses to give 60 minutes of in your face attitude and effort. Might just be me, but it seems that recent teams don't have this. If true, I don't know where the blame is placed for that. I just hope we find a way to get it back. If we don't, darker days lie ahead for Hokie Nation.
Tend to agree with most of what you say. There is one thing most are overlooking when talking about fan feelings and game entertainment/value: donation costs.
The cost to attend a game for the dedicated fan, alum or not, has increased significantly over the last 2 seasons now. Regardless of your view on it, there's no denying that the increase in prices have an effect on opinions and how loud you voice that opinion.
You can't sell your tickets for what you have in them. GT tickets were $30 or less the week of the game, BC was even or less. You are going to get more fair weather fans at those prices because the cost/investment to them is lower.
I believe the behavior we see at games will continue unless we catch fire and start winning consistently and convincingly.
Sports ARE entertainment, and in that regard, your comment is valid.
But a good amount of fan/media criticism shows a fundamental lack of understanding of player capabilities or how the game is played. A coach isn't going to be able to teach the typical fan to understand the nuances of playcalling.
Fuente can certainly explain what's going through his mind after he makes coaching decisions. I just think he realizes that the competition is also watching, and trying to get inside his head, and it's more this aspect that he doesn't care to share. A good bit of coach speak is just telling people what they want to hear, without giving them a lot of insight into what's actually happening. You see it from most successful football coaches.
This is assuming that he is actually calling good plays though and that the fans are incorrect. There is a very plausible scenario that they are in fact not all good plays being called and that he and Cornelson are refusing to take criticism
It's just as likely that they're calling the correct plays and don't quite have the execution they need.
Reality is probably somewhere in the middle
I can't argue with that.
I agree with everything you posted, but damn bruh...grammar.
"It's not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game". And this year we are not on a consistent positive trend on how we've played overall. It took a miracle to win against UNC and a couple of our other wins could have been losses if the opposing QBs could throw accurately. I somewhat agree with those who don't fully buy the "youth" excuse re all of the stupid mistakes and penalties this far into the season. How many more times this year are we going to give up critical plays (& possibly lose a game) due to bad snaps? One thing that has been eating at me (as much as the decisions and play calling) is why does every player that can possibly leave VT other than Ricky Walker decide to leave? No I don't have data to support it, but it seems to me that we have an issue with talent retention. Yeah they're an outlier but look at the retention at Clemson this year - why did those D-Line guys stay? Why the fallout with that recruit last year and the recent recruiting near misses? I still believe in Fu and Bud, not sure about the rest, but there are undercurrents that hopefully winning will cure, whenever that happens. Not saying the sky is falling but I am beginning to be concerned.
On the plus side, I thought our pass protection was really good overall (at least 1st half), against a D-line sporting two draft-worthy DEs. Ryan Willis' arm is amazing, the dude has tools. LSU could have used him against Bama (not that it would have helped). Peoples is running like a man possessed every single play. Our D is decimated but seems to be doing more with less.
One last impression, from watching Bama: we need better blocking on the outside, particularly by the WRs. Everyone not carrying the rock on Bama is blocking the snot out of people, every time, without exception. The precision was devastating, & that was against a really, REALLY good D (LSU's). We don't have Alabama talent but surely we could do better in this area. Our passes to the flats need to generate more than a yard or two (when complete). End rant.
VT is 13-15 at home vs P5 teams since 2012 and hasn't beaten a ranked opponent at home since Miami in '09 (we're like 0-8).
Why exactly should the fans be apologizing?
Paper airplanes. Always apologize for paper airplanes.
CJ Brown running wild for a bad Maryland team coached by a clown was the start of killing the Lane mystique. We need to get it back. That game was a synopsis of this year. Look at Edsall's record since. He couldn't coach a pop warner team. And he came into Lane and beat VT.
Dear Lane Stadium,
I'm sorry, too. I yelled so loud my voice is still hoarse today, but it didn't help the team in the end. And I didn't leave early, either. I stayed until the final whistle.
I tried.
Love, Bobby
Dear Bobby,
Love,
Lane (and Emma)
hey, wait a second! You're not me!
If Lane Stadium looked like Emma Watson.....nope I am going to stop right there.
Not for nothing, but the tickets for the game in the section I have season tickets are $70 per. For a family of 4, that is $280, plus parking, plus food.
If the fans with families seem a little muted, it is because you are in for nearly $350 to watch a team play one solid half of football and run out of gas.
Not saying the boys aren't doing their best, but it is a wallet punch to go along with a gut punch.
Yeah, and with the new price per game oddities, Tech isn't having to refund that much for the ECU game.
Will be honest, Lane Stadium started to lose the mystique when we stopped the Hokie Pokie during the 3rd quarter stretch. Bring back the Hokie Pokie!
You're just trying to stir the pot now mister! /s
I agree that the quirky things added to the gameday experience. Stopping with the Hokie Pokie and Stick it In and all fo the things that made games at Tech unique reduces the appeal to attend. I can get EDM and every top 40 jam on the radio, but I don't get the band playing during commercial breaks. Also, too many commercial breaks causing fans to tune out for 5 minutes at a time.
FTFY.
I'm surprised this hasn't been posted yet...
Even though this is animated, Imma have to say this ventures a little too close to the NSFW realm for many
Well - you all shouldn't be wasting time on TKP at work anyways - get back to being productive!