I've been thinking about the following things:
1) Even though we beat Miami, I still can't fully trust this team after losses to both BC and Duke
2) Players naturally have a lot of their mind that's non-football related (exams, thanksgiving-related distractions)
3) The game after UMD is UVA and I feel #DecadeofDominance is enough of a "game" that they're looking over UMD to UVA.
4) The cathartic effect of beating the #11 team in the country on the road after going through two weeks of hell.
Hopefully I'm proven wrong, but I'm a little more weary that I should be coming into this weekend. Who knows, maybe having Logan Thomas's last home game might light a fire under him and the rest of the seniors.
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sorry could not resist, even at work
That's the ugliest turtle I've seen in a long time.
I would hope not. When the situation is "win two games, and most likely play in the ACC Championship against FSU", it seems that guys would have their heads straight.
Also, I can't remember the last time we have lost a game on Senior Day. Lots of senior impact guys (Logan and half of our defense) wanting to walk out of Lane one last time with a win.
Well considering we play UVA every other year for Senior Day it's not hard to win a lot of them.
The Cadavaliers!
We should be careful some of the UVA player's moms might file a 'Bullying' form-
which is readily available on 'The Sabre'
Lets
This...just...win
Yes.
Ever since the ECU game, i've considered every game this season as a trap game.
We already had two trap games
Beamer has said there will be a lot going into preparing the players to handle the emotions of senior day and to make sure they don't overlook everyone.
Today, he said something to the extent of "beating Miami doesn't matter if we don't get the next 2." Everyone involved knows they NEED to win this Saturday or the Miami win means nothing.
I think it would be a bigger trap game if Maryland wasn't so depleted. That being said, it still is a trap game.
after reading this article I'm not sure the MD players will be able to get up for this game...I agree it's a trap game, but I think we'd have to try pretty hard to lose it
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/maryland-football-coach-ra...
my god maryland is a mess. couldnt happen to a nicer bunch.
"Is UMD a trap game?"
1. What string QB are the Terps on for this game?
2. Was he previously a linebacker?
3. Who's left for him to throw to?
No, it isn't. BC and Duke are legitimately good teams, not great, but good still. I think they're both 7 win or more teams. Duke might even get to 9 or 10. Maryland is a bad team that has shown signs of quitting over the last couple games. A trap game usually happens because a team is overlooking an above average to good team. Maryland is below average or maybe even worse with all their injuries. So no, this isn't a trap game. This is one of those ACC games against bad teams that we've gotten used to over the years.
Wow, I'll give you 20 bucks if Duke wins 10 games. Who did Duke beat again that makes them a "good" team? How good you are is directly linked to who you beat.
North Carolina Central, Memphis, Troy, Navy, LOLUVA, NC State, and last but not least Virginia Tech...which gave Duke the win. Where in that list is one flipping good team?
Duke is a good team. Their record may not be as good as it shows, but as opposed to Duke teams of the past then yes Duke is a good team.
No, we are not talking about past Duke teams. We are talking about a Duke team that has 7 wins over the teams listed above who are a combined 21-35 minus the VT game which they clearly should have lost.
to be fair, he said he thought Duke was a 7 win team...possibly but not definitely a 10 win team. I think after last season you would agree that 7 or 8 wins is vastly different from 10 wins
Duke isn't a good team..period. They are a bad team that has 6 cupcake wins and 1 gift.
no, uva is a bad team. duke is an average team
Makes sense, UVA has played a tougher schedule and shares common loses with Duke in Pittsburgh and Greogia Tech. The fact that Duke played a weak schedule doesn't make them good or average.
I didn't say they would get to 10 wins, I said they could possibly get to 9 or 10. But I expect them to end up with 8. And if you're gonna talk about Duke's combined opponent record then let's talk about Maryland's. Their wins this year have a combined 5 FBS wins. So my point remains that those two teams were much better than Maryland and this isn't at all a trap game.
After Miami, I am feeling like a plundering viking. I want us to beat the terps by 21 or better, roll into UVA and gang stop the piss out of them. Shut out city. Also, I would like some meat and cheese to go with my ale.
I would sure hope not after the whole Duke/BC debacle.
Yes, exactly..
agreed, i feel like the team is highly motivated after the shit storm that developed after bc.
Why are we discussing if MD is a trap game? We lost to DUKE & BC..what would the team be looking forward too? A 2 - 9 LOLUVA team??? You can't be serious.
To be fair, my old 1-win High School team would be looking forward to this year's 2-9 LOLUFA team.
(I know.. spelling. But after reading that out loud, I just couldn't change it.)
I don't think I'd classify this game as a "trap" game considering we need to win out to remain alive in Coastal. I am a bit nervous about us playing in every game simply because we're able to play any team in the country tough and also lose to any team in the country because of our inconsistency.
There is no such thing as a trap game for this team anymore this season. We know how good we can be, we know how bad we can be. If we lose to UMD or UVa it won't be because we weren't prepared...and that's partially why I'd bet a thousand bucks we'll win both games. Knowing the stakes. Knowing that these seniors like Gayle and Thomas came back to personally rebound this program with their own two hands (each ;))
Win every game for the rest of the year or bust. If we lose. Reset with the exact same expectations for the next game.
I know we should never lose focus, but in all honesty, our next two opponents are a COMBINED 1-10 in the ACC. It would take more than a 4 turnover game to lose either of these next two. Excited to see French and Mason's analysis though.
GO HOKIES!!
Admiral Ackbar says "It's always a trap!"
Like I told a co-worker today, we'll win out. Why? Because while we're pretty bad at the run-the-table storyline, we're REAL good at redemption storylines. Example: Boise St/JMU losses, followed by something like 10,000 straight wins to finish the year. (Note: actual number of wins may be lower.) And there have been plenty of other seasons like that, where we blow our higher aspirations, and then get back to the ACCCG and/or good bowl.
So, no worries - we're now in Redemption Mode. Goodnight, UMd and UVa.
Maryland has an athletic QB with a good arm, a variable front with lots of unique alignments coupled with a good edge rusher, the ability to play option, and good young talent at wide receiver with Diggs out. Right now, their head is in their behinds, but they do have the talent to be a problem. I think defending the option will be critical this week.
Leave it to you French, to provide some rational perspective - as always good stuff.
minus the MIA and GT games, VT has the tendancy to play at the level of their opponent.
(re: Marshall, Duke, BC ....)
I think the only way to combat this happening again is to get an early lead.
Here's to 19 in the 1st Qtr.
Lets...
8 safeties and a field goal?
that's the only possible combination I could come up with for getting 19 points
Two TD's w/PAT, field goal, safety.
3 TDs with 2 missed PATs (and let's face it, that is possible with us this season)
forgot the geek factor of thread dwellers...
19 has been done many times.
its not like 1-0 which can never happen...geez!
The way this year has gone, I think every game is a trap game, at least potentially. We've lost to teams we shouldn't have lost to, and beat teams that people didn't think we'd beat. We can't go into the Maryland game thinking it's a given, or we've already lost. We need to drive Maryland into the ground. I'd love for this offense to click the way it seemed to against Miami. If we can put up 40+ points on MD and UVA, it should make for an interesting end of the season...
In my view, every game is a test. Not a test of skill, but of will, of toughness, and of teamwork. Football is a game where every single positions have to function properly to excel, otherwise, it will be a hiccup.
From reading the beat writers' reports, it is clear Beamer has a tunnel vision, and the players are in lock-step with him.
While Maryland may be reeling, they are like a wounded animal, and that makes them dangerous. Like the quote I love to use, it is not the size of the dog in a fight, but the size of the fight in the dog, we will see how much fight Maryland have in them. The first few series on offense and defense will set the tone for the game, I believe.
If Virginia Tech can maintain the level of intensity they played against Miami, if Logan can continue to operate in the box, the offensive line continuing to put on their hard hats, the receivers continuing to step up their game, and the running backs hitting the holes with authority, then Maryland may be in for a long, emotional-draining, back breaking day.
I really think that the players are itching to cleanse Lane Stadium of the flith from losing to Duke with the tears of the turtles. Also, it will be senior day, and there is no doubt the players will be amped for the game.
Yes, we should all work to cleanse the flith.....lol.
"...cleanse the filth...with the tears of the turtles"
This is brilliant imagery and writing.
DOUT
Upvote for DogOnATreadmill.
Hey Buster, how's hydrotherapy going.
We play in a NCAA Div-1 BCS Conference. Every team we play (particularly in conference) has good athletes and proven high school players. Some are definitely better than others but if you don't play well any given week another team may come up and get you. This whole "trap game" mentality is silly to me. We act so afraid that we're going to screw it all up and come on here and criticize those of us who don't act as worried as some may think we should for teams that admittedly are less talented than us. Sorry if I'm not shaking in my boots during Duke week.
I get it, we've lost games we shouldn't before, sometimes to put a damper on what could have been great seasons. We've even done that this year, but I think it just goes to show how tough playing at this level is and how hard it really is to go undefeated.
This isn't a trap game, guys. We are a well-coached football team that has pretty good talent. We're far from a great or elite team right now though, and that means we could lose to anyone if we don't come ready to play. That's just what this team is so it's not going to surprise me if anyone gives us a game.
Let's all just take a second, breathe, and get ready to enjoy a great football Saturday this week. We may win and we may lose but just enjoy the ride and the fact that we are still playing for a conference championship.