Well TKP, thought I would just drop this in right here. I am pretty old, age-wise, around here (almost on the wrong side of 40) and have been a big Hokie fan for a while. I can say that I am not really surprised that Duke happened. It has been happening this way for quite some time, and I have become used to it. In retrospect, it is really not that bad comparatively. I mean, Tyrod and CO. dropped one to JMU. There was Miami of Ohio way back in the day. I could go on, but why?
It is also true that many around these parts knew this was a possibility. I saw quite a few posts that said, just don't lose to Duke or BC. The bright side is, I have also come to expect the team to bounce back from this, and exceed newly lowered expectations. I believe Macho Harris' quote should be inserted at this point. The team knows that the ACCCG is still attainable and that it still controls its own destiny in that regard. They will finish strong. They always do.
We always play better when we are unranked and have no expectations. Sometimes for, whatever reason, Tech teams find a way to put themselves there and then go on to light it up. It is annoying, but like a quirky family member who has their issues, you love them anyway.
There are many things to look forward to. BC will pay dearly for this loss even though it was not their fault, but hey - Fvck em if they can't take a joke. Miami will be huge and I believe it is definitely winnable. There are many things to root for like say, a UVA curb stomp. And against better judgment, but because I am just that way, I will continue to dream of BCS bowl possibilities.
While I am disappointed, I am not freaking out. We have been here before. It is not time to point fingers, or place blame. It is not time to lament our failure or bail on our coaches or players. It is time to shrug it off. It is time to show our true fanhood. It is time to win the next game. And most of all
It is time to... Keep Calm and Sam Rogers.
Comments
As a long time fan, and watching college football all around, every team is susceptible to such games. Every year we see big time programs lose to teams they shouldn't. It still sucks.
For me, it's primarily disappointing knowing that it all seems to be there, it's just never all there at the same time to be able to make the run for NC. We can still win out and go to a decent bowl game, and hope that some time in the next year or two everything can line up perfectly to make that run.
I had a friend tell me once that Beamer would never win an NC, at least the way it's currently run, because VT inevitably blows one game a year. Unfortunately, he's right. Except for 1999 (which the WVU game was close to being that blown game), we have blown a game by poor execution or whatever each year. It sucks to think that's what even people who respect Beamer as a coach think. "He's great, but he'll never win a National Championship."
Anyways, just venting...sorry if I changed the subject a little.
I was just about to post this (except titled "DON'T PANIC"). Coming into the year, we all thought this was a 8-10 win team. That hasn't changed. We are still good enough (because of that defense) to beat any team remaining on our schedule. We're also bad enough (because of that offense) to lose to any team left on the schedule. We've been living dangerously and winning by the skin of our teeth all season now, and we had to know it'd bite us eventually.
NICE!
Replace the crown with a caricature of Rogers and it'll win the internet
I hope you don't mind, but my phone has a new wallpaper now.
Free for anyone to use as they like. I'm honored. Enjoy!
And I now have a new Facebook profile pic. Much thanks.
I feel a T-Shirt may result. The time, the message, and the featured player all strike the right cord for this moment.
Can't use Sam's likeness or image for profit or else it's an NCAA violation. Perhaps we can do it as a tribute to him after he graduates.
This kid wins both Halloween and the Internet. When are we holding the celebration ceremonies?
Great Post!!! Thank-you!
I don't know. I would have agreed with you had this been Pitt or UNC, even ECU or Marshall.
But this was Duke. And they didn't even play that good, even for Duke, as far as I saw. Logan Thomas had an absolutely TURRIBLE day at the office, and once again the run game couldn't get going. Now we've got Cody Journell problems. That kid is going to be a psychological grease fire by Saturday.
In my unecessary, humble opinion, the team has got to come up with a plan, process, or mission statement, that discourages LT from playing hero ball. That's where he gets into trouble. I've said it before, every time LT is thinking about THE game, and not HIS game, VT does ok.
If the Hokies going up to Chestnut Hill for a nooner and carving out a 6-3 win is your idea of payback...I'm cool with that at this point.
That's the point though. It has to be Duke. It falls in the grouping with Temple and Miami of Ohio, and JMU. Has to be a given nobody team.
Picture of the number 2007. Drinking. Fuck BC.
Honestly, I wouldn't have minded this loss nearly as much as I do right now. Going into the game I figured we would have a larger than normal chance of losing because I just had a feeling. So I was kind of expecting it. The only reason it felt so much worse is because of how good the defense did. I think it was less than 200 yards, no completions in the second half, 0-11 i think on third downs, <30% on completions all game, four turnovers, and doubling their time of possession were all won. If you put all of those stats together and showed me nothing else, I would have thought it was a blowout. Those are the stats that get me the most upset and yet I'm still very hopeful because I feel there is no possible way that the offense can do as poor as they did this past weekend.
TL;DR: winning is the only important statistic
No killer instinct. Duke seemed to me one of those games where Beamer just hoped to get by. He might never learn, but Sam Rogers has six more games this year and three more seasons and as bad as he is, he'd better never let his teammates forget how they got Duked out. Kick some BC arse. kick it hard!
Go Hokies!
What are you talking about? Beamer was super aggressive. He went for it more times than I've ever seen Beamer go for it. The offense not scoring points ~= Beamer being passive
I remember it being fourth and 1 and thinking "Here comes the punting unit" but no, no that's not what happened.
Then fourth and 3.
Then fourth and 8.
All I could think was "Frank, you ballsy motherfucker"
Clearly, this is the direction we are heading for the Hokie program...This team hasn't punted since 2007...goes for it on 4th down every time and onsides kicks it every time....and WINS. Something to think about...
http://preterism.ning.com/profiles/blogs/sabermetrics-for-football-dont-...
http://www.dennismansfield.com/business/2009/09/going-for-4th-downevery-...
In case anyone thinks I am serious, I know this will never happen. I just find the sabermetrics of this interesting.
Wonder how long it would take this gamelan to be exposed at the college level? I'm thinking 5 minutes.
At least Duke isn't winless..hopefully they continue to win so this lose makes more sense. Go Hokies
I hate you for bringing up Miami of Ohio. Freshman year, so sad...
Yeah, I was an outta state soph. and got a WTH call from my "buddy" back in Illinois. It helps to remember these things though. It puts things into perspective and promotes healing.
Guys, I've finally digested the loss, ..and I'm finally ok. I'm already looking forward to Boston College this week. Ready for some football, ...lets makes things right Hokies!!!!!!!
Those of us well over 50 feel like beating you with our cane for that comment.
Speaking of Sam did he get any carries on Saturday? Would have thought he would have been able to gain some ground on duke.
Only thing is that Macho's quote was about losing to #2 BC in 2007. I'm not saying that this team isn't capable of coming back, just that the loss against BC vs the loss against Duke is apples and oranges.
This may be a dumb question and yes I've seen his weight from the Hokiesports, but how much does Sam weight? I think over the offseason he's going to have to put on some serious weight. I'd like to see him in the 230's but I'm not so sure that's possible. But I've noticed that Biero and those other guys were more heavier than 217. I think once he hits the offseason workouts and Gentry gets a hold of him I think we can see a better running game next year.
I would look more at his build than just his weight. Biero and Sam both are good sizes for their height. Sucks that Biero is done for his career, but with Sam, we should be able to say we have a 4 year starter at fullback. It is an underrated position especially if you want to pound the ball. Our fullbacks tended to be former linebackers who just weren't big enough or running backs there weren't fast enough. Considering how well Sam runs, catches and blocks, I'd say we have our first natural fullback since kenny jefferson.