Recent Comments
I'd be ok with Leal as the starter. I just wish the rest of Hokie Nationdom and TKP would do the same if he wins the job. Based off of reactions during and postgame I'm not getting that vibe here.
I don't think you can make a sweeping generalization on this topic. Over the past few years: we prepared well and executed solid game plans in '08 and '09. I'd say we didn't prepare well in '07 and '13. We didn't gameday coach well (or had a bad game plan) in '06 and '11. And we were simply outclassed in '10.
This is not the same Frank Beamer who built up the program to the '99 NC game. Frank is at the twilight of his career, and he doesn't have that many years left. His energy level is much lower. He went 'all in' with a set of offensive coaches who should have been replaced years ago, and that is time he will never get back. He now has to dig the program out of a hole - and has little time left to do so.
In order to get another shot at the NC, we have to recruit like gangbusters, pulling in several consecutive highly-ranked classes. We just don't recruit that way. This recruiting class might be our best top to bottom, but as you say still it is not enough.
And there is one other major factor at work. Frank has at his core several philosophies that drive our strategies, and those aren't going to change. But the college football world has changed around him. Offense is far more important to program success than it was in '99. In '99 we led the country in scoring offense with a tad over 40 ppg. This year, Baylor led it with over 53 ppg. Seventeen of the end-of-season AP Top 25 teams had Top 25 offenses - compared to the 14 who had Top 25 defenses. And eight have both. Closer to home, teams like FSU, Clemson and UNC have raised the bar for offensive effectiveness and will make it much tougher to win the ACCCG.
So I'll chime in and say yes, Beamer is most likely incapable of winning a national championship, at this stage of his career.
I think next year will be rough too. All I want to see is improvement and good playcalling. I know we'll see a lot of mistakes due to all of the players' experience level, but we still need to put them in a position to succeed. So I think it's best to compare how they start the year to how they finish it. If we start seeing better execution each game, we should end up with a decent team heading into 2015. On the other hand, if we don't see much overall improvement, then that is not a good sign.
true. it was a poor showing for college football on the whole.
Thanks for the memories Logan. You are a champion in my book, on and especially off the field.
at one point in the 4th Qtr Verne actually said "we are under 11" -as in minutes... in an obvious way that he couldn't wait for it to be over. 'keep the engine running Maw'. They were probably bitchy when they found out it was the only bowl game they are doing and its not SEC and its all very much beneath them. Pretty pompous display for 2 guys doing just about the easiest job I can think of.
" I got an idea. Lets run a fake punt at mid-field with a WR as the punter in a tie game with our D playing lights out. Instead of pinning them deep lets run the risk of putting them at midfield"
THAT WAS ALL FRANK BABY. NOONE ELSE. IT CHANGED THE GAME AND WAS A TERRIBLE CALL. Especially since he called a time out to do it, which was a huge red flag that something might be up. DAMN. No I feel even worse about the Sugar Bowl, this is self loathing at this point.
#1 I believe is the most indicting. Logan wasn't ready for it, and as a fan can anyone say they were ready to witness that either? I was shocked it happened, as in "ah, here comes a short dump off pass" and then "WTF?" It's like porn hard to define but you know it when you see it.
It was unnecessary, and rough, and frankly when I think about it I still get angry. Where there is smoke there is fire, and this kid leaves a trail of it.
Lets hope he stopped giving it to underage girls. Just saying.
Both of these guys battled injuries. Might as well keep them both. Its not a marriage.
The Miami catch and run? That was awesome.
So a 7-6 campaign will be a dream compared to next year? Yikes, those are some dark clouds you have forming on the horizon. I'm not ready to say that we are going to be back to 10 wins and a BCS automatic; but we get Miami, UVA, William and Mary, Western Michigan, GT, BC at home next year. UNC, Pitt, Duke all have new starting Qb's as well, and Duke will have a new OC to break in. And Wake will have a new coach as is Wake. I think we can hope for something like 8-9 wins and could be bowl eligible without having to win the last 3 game; which would be an improvement over the 7-6 nightmare season.
Why would that be Beamer's coaching? How often during a game in college football does the head coach make a call that affects the outcome of a game?? Unless that head coach is the offensive or defensive coordinator that is left out of their hands. Head coaches are involved in planning before a game and then with changes at the half but for the majority of the time are not as involved with in game changes!
For me, the Entire Miami game clinches it. I like the other individual plays, but beating Miami in an otherwise forgettable season will always be special.
4th down Qb showing his wheels was awesome. And we absolutely NEEDED that extra possession during that game.
I just hope people that support the coaches today support them the first week in December 2014 with the realization that if we are luck we'll heading to the Belk Bowl. I think next year will make last season look like a dream. We'll have a new QB and while I think the oline and rush attack will improve, every team is going to stack 8-9 in the box and dare the new guy to beat us. I don't see that happening. Our D will take a significant hit next year. It was obvious that Kyle was the MVP of that D, we weren't the same without him (no offense to Tyler, who is a great leader). We only return 5 if every one returns who cans, so can't expect it to be as good as it was this year. So while I think the coaches are on the right track, we are in a serious rebuild as compared to a reload and the fan base has to accept that.
Sorry, man, I was and am as angry as anyone about the hit on LT3, but Hundley had nothing to do with it and I don't wish any harm on him for something some other asshole did. As painful as it was to watch him carve up our defense, Hundley is talented as hell and fun to watch and I hope I get to watch him at the next level, even if it's just holding a clipboard and signalling in plays to LT3 or Tyrod.
Let's not turn into that board that wishes harm on other players who don't deserve it.
Tough to think the offensive highlight came in the first half of the first game.
I would have to say The Miami game, partially because I was there and to see all those snobby "The U is back" fans cry and leave during halftime was great. What made it even better was a lot of Hokie fans came down to the lower level and we made our own are in the corner endzone and were loud and proud. Then to top it all off the whole team came over and thanked us for standing in the pouring rain and then gave a bunch of "Daps" (The knocking of fists together as a greeting, or form of respect.) as they went around the stadium!!
hour 2
Note: For those who dont know, this is brianm11 on TKP, who held Adventures on Whiskey Lane here, TKP very own podcast for a while, prior to working for ESPN Blacksburg. So he really is one of TKP's own.
A Fuller coaching a Fuller would cause a rift in the space-time continuum. Too dangerous.
I don't wish any deseases on him, but I hope he stubs his toe really badly, and that it throbs for awhile and make it difficult to put socks on.
The CBS booth team said some B.S. about "Well, if you are going to hit someone you need to be prepared to get hit". They were referring to LT running over the LB the previous play. But saying a guy with the ball in his hands hitting someone compared to a guy getting a helmet to the chin after he lets a pass go (personally, I don't think the hit was as late as it was directed towards LT's head and chin) is total B.S. Those guys should be ashamed.
I watched the game on Tuesday and looked at things with bowl colored glasses on. The first thing I thought of when I saw QB6 go into the game, was "we'll finally, everyone will see why he was not in the games earlier in the year"
He won't be in next years either.
We are hyping these kids for a reason. They're good and what we want.
Plant a flag and forge ahead. The Hokie Nation is about to make some noise.
#anaxe10foottall
#choppinwood