Recent Comments
In my opinion, our top 3 goals every year should be:
1. Beat UVA
2. Play for the ACC Championship
3. Put ourselves in the best possible situation to play for the MNC
The thing is, these are not difficult goals to achieve. We've been there before, and we can do it again if we get back to playing smash mouth defense, running the ball until the defensive line breaks, beating teams 62-0, making our opponents terrified of playing in Lane Stadium, re-focusing on special teams, and giving every ounce of blood, sweat, and tears we have for 60 minutes.
I refuse to believe that we cannot get back to the championship game. I admit I'm a total fan boy and wear my orange and maroon glasses every day, but I want us to start reestablishing ourselves next season by having a pissed off, unranked VT team roll into Atlanta and punch Alabama in the mouth to set the tone for what is to come.
I have to agree that the uniforms do carry a big weight with recruiting. If you don't believe it look at VT players twitter pages when Oregan plays. Players get fixated on em and wish they had something like that.
But hey... we have turkey feet and can't find a ________ pair of maroon pants for our team to wear.
A National Title is the goal. We're the best program currently in the ACC (FSU and Clemson are better programs than us, but over the past 10 years we've clearly been better) and with the playoffs we should have a shot again. We've played in a title game before, so we've been right there, there's no reason to think that getting back there and winning it this time is unreasonable. I still think if Marcus Vick wasn't an idiot we would have won it his senior year and if Josh Morgan had recovered that onside kick we would have played Ohio State for the title that year.
The SEC seems like it's going to dominate for awhile, but it doesn't mean we CAN'T win. Any given Saturday. It only takes one time, just give us a shot and anything can happen. So yea, I think a realistic goal is a National Title, if it's not then what's left for us to accomplish?
A huge part of Oregon's success is that are equal players to USC in southern california recruiting. Why? The Swoosh. (The offense doesn't hurt either.)
it's been the case in basketball for years, that your shoe contract was a huge part of your recruiting effort. Some kids wouldn't go play for non-Nike schools. Oregon is the first to bring that element to football recruiting, in large part because of those flashy uniforms. Its not about the shoes in football, but the 386 different ensembles Nike has given Oregon. Traditionalists and adults often don't think much of Oregon's uniforms, but kids love them.
I'm not trying to be difficult, I just don't understand, what do you mean by doors?
hightytighty needs to start picking again so we can just fade them
Its a huge deal. The Nike support they receive is completely unique. Not only financially, but the perception of their brand gets them into so many doors all over the east coast that they wouldn't be able to get into without Nike.
Oregon isn't a comp for anyone, they have such a huge advantage that nobody can relate to. Notre Dame, maybe, in an odd way, because that brand gets you in doors that you don't deserve to be in based on record.
You know Nike is going to hook us up with some sweet special-edition uniforms for the Music City Bowl
This is reasonable. I don't necessarily agree with the sub .500 years happening much, but I think a lot of people are very delusional about competing for a national championship annually. Who does that? Oklahoma? Alabama? LSU? That's about all I got. Hell, last year, Florida went 6-6, right? Texas didn't even go to a bowl two years ago. I'm cool with being pissed this year... as fans, we should be. But these seasons, ya know, happen. ULTIMATELY the goal is the National Championship... but the stars have to align. Compete in your conference (which, thanks to a horrible division, we are doing this year), keep knocking on the door, and eventually, something might happen.
That being said.... this season sucks.
Is it achievable? Of course. We're a top team in a BCS conference. We've won 10+ games a ridiculous number of times in the BCS era. Any one of those years if a bounce or two goes another way, we make the championship game and who knows what happens after that. Last second loss to Boise and subsequent shitting the bed against JMU in 2010. Boston College recovering an onside kick to win in 2007. The pass interference against USC and missed FG against NC State in 2004. Just a few plays change in each season and we make the championship.
And with the 4 team playoff coming, we'd be guaranteed a playoff spot with an undefeated season, and have a shot with a 1 loss season. Like all other sports, the important thing is just getting that postseason shot, and then hoping you win when it matters.
But is it realistic to expect it? Probably not. Going undefeated requires a crazy amount of talent, skill, and, most of all, luck. We're a top team, but we're not a dominating team over our competition such that we'll only be challenged by a few teams a season. And I wouldn't expect us to - half our conference recruits and spends near or above our level. We're simply not on the same level as the top tier powers. And since, as you show, only 13 teams have even played for the MNC, it's a fairly exclusive, dominating club. And even among that top tier, history shows that it's far more likely to slip up even if you have the team to win it all.
As the above examples show, to make a playoff we'd need everything to go right. Win all the close games, not have a single off or bad luck day. It's something to hope and cheer for, but it's not something I'd reasonably expect. To have an amazing team by VT standards, have every break go our way during the season, have the schedule shake out just right, have the competition for the 4 slots fall if needed, and then to win the playoff games if we get there. For VT that's shooting the moon. We can do it, but it'll be rare.
for the amount of blood, sweat, and tears (and money) that fans have put into this team over the last MANY years, CFB owes it to himself and Hokie Nation to put the team in the best situation to reach its goals, short term and long term. That being said, some changes in the organization need to happen .. plain and simple.
As far as realistic expectations:
- we should expect to compete for the ACC championship every season and be in the CFB playoff at least every 5 years (expecting this team to compete at that level every season is not realistic)
- we should expect our team to win games that they should ... in dominating fashion
- we should expect our team to win their share of games that they shouldn't .. to expect to win all the big games is not realistic, but we should definitely win the sugar bowl's, the boise games
- we should expect our coaches to make good decisions .. top fucking notch decisions .. tough decisions ... to put an edge and attitude back into our team. if you're not performing at a top 25 level .. sit the hell down on the bench
- start running this program more like a business ... if the coaches aren't getting it done long-term, they gotta go .. if a player isn't cutting it (look at some of our oline, backfield) -- then sit 'em down. those who perform deserve to play .. period
O'Cain's justification for calling WR screens.
Before I go into my glass half full rhetoric I need first and foremost to state that we need to make some changes in the offense coaching staff. Like many of you I get so frustrated watching us march it down the field with our passing game to all of the sudden decide to run a trick play or jet and buck sweeps repeatedly that are getting stopped. I think we need to get some fresh blood to replace Newsome and Stinespring at least. Our line hasn't been great for a few years if we look at it objectively. If Tyrod wasn't such a good scrambler we wouldn't have had much success with him either. Wilson used his athleticism to get out of bad situations. I think we recruit horribly for lineman. Painter was our only real gem, and luckily he is now turning out some good play. I do feel the tragedy at Tech affected recruiting.
As for the outlook. This is all probably not likely but I think we have a fighting shot to come out of this season with wins throughout. It is possible, we can hang with these teams and beat Miami, FSU and the rest. If we (by the grace of God) won out, had a strong showing the rest of the season, and didn't lose Thomas, Fuller, Gayle etc. to the draft we would start the season with a lot of buzz going into a very difficult Alabama game. This site would be buzzing with NC dreams and complete turnaround.
I think we can make it back to the NC but it will take a great end of season run, a favorable schedule, playing strong and winning our games. Next year's schedule is not going to do much in the BCS computers but with the exception of the first game they all looks winnable and could put us in the hunt. In 99 we actually had a weak schedule. We never played a top 15 team until the NC. However our offense was dynamic and put up buckets of points on almost everyone.
We need to start slowly getting some playing time for our upcoming line. Both tackles are graduating so the new guys need work, interior line needs work now and for the future. Also working in RVD on D, and getting this next wave of receivers going more. We also need to pray Drew Harris does come to VT in spring as committed and does what some of us thinks he can do.
You guys will probably thing I wrote this faded but I have a feeling.
uniform changes.
If Oregon can be as successful as they have been with Chip Kelly the last few years, I would think Virginia Tech could do something along the same lines. I think the only edge Oregon has are the flashy uniforms. (for the record I am NOT an Oregon fan, but I do respect their football program)
Stadium Size: smaller than Lane 54,000
In-State Recruiting: minimal
Conference Opponents: Tougher than ACC opponents
If Oregon can do it, VT can too.
Take Kansas State right now. In a lot of ways, that is a very good comp for VT. History, consistency (during Snyder years), talent, relative context with regional competition, etc. One could argue their dependence on local JUCO talent is comparable to the 757 advantage VT has used over the last 20 years.
Kansas State is in the national title hunt right now. VT was in 1999. Why? A once in a generation QB. Klein is 5 games away from a Heisman and undefeated season. He's spectacular, in his own quirky way. His uniqueness, in comparison to Vick's, is also an interesting comparison. Did both of these spectacular talents end up at 2nd tier schools because they weren't the prototypes? (Remember that Vick set a new prototype, the real prototype that year was Ronald Curry and how he could be a pocket passer...who could run. Vick set the non-wishbone QB prototype of tailback who could pass. Today, the Vick prototype is common.)
After Klein, as before, KSU isn't a Big Boy. They may have a few seasons where they are relevant. Even compare KSU in '11 to VT in '00, when we deserved a BCS at-large and didn't get it. (irony, I know).
So what is VT (and KSU's) ceiling? Relevance, and wait around for the stars to align with the right defense, the right QB and the right regional and national competition to open up a chance for a national title. That's not the goal, however. That's luck, which is when preparation meets opportunity. KSU (and VT) prepared to be in the title hunt when the opportunity arises. Alabama prepares for the title, and has to "lose it" every year.
I have said many times that I think we have seen the best of VT football. The new equation includes ACC offenses with real QB's, ACC HC's who don't shoot themselves in the foot, a guy not named Al Groh also recruiting VA, less of a foothold on 757. I see the Beamer era in phases: pre-Vick relevance, The Vick Era, Post Vick BE re-definition, ACC era to Tyrod, post Tyrod ACC. TT is a marker here, not an indicator. The indicator is larger, a more competent ACC.
I project our next 10 years to be about what PSU has done the last 10, maybe Tennessee the last 10. Fleeting relevance, some sub .500 years, far less stability (more in the UT model, of course nothing like PSU has gone through in the last 18 months). Still a recruiting threat, talent to play with anyone, but lacking in a true vision of excellence in a new era.
Buckle your seat belts.
Funny, yes, I was there in person for that one too, appropriate no... thats how it always is I guess
I think so
And what he did at Maryland. Players put up with a lot of BS from us fans. I'm pretty sure during the Miami game last year, Travis Benjamin wanted to come punch me in the face before a kickoff because I was in his ear from the North Endzone. Regardless, there are classless fans out there and the players are still human. Comments get to them at times. They hit a sore spot or they reach their breaking point. Those actions are not professional, but as a fan, I like when a player shuts a fan up. Granted, I'd rather him do it by making a play on the field, but sometimes it takes more than that.
Isn't #5 the definition of insanity, by Ben Franklin.
Considering that the person I'm citing actually met up with us AFTER brew do, I highly doubt we're talking about the same person. I don't believe he was ever actually there. And even if we are talking about the same person, all of your information is coming from "your sources," who, by your own definition, must be (a) not Hokies, (b) not credible sources or (c) not worth quoting based on the fact that they would say another teammate didn't "have the ability to play D1 football." Unless that's not badmouthing in your opinion.
Even if you are 100% right on this, I still feel like it's something that people should know about. Am I great buddies with this guy? No, I met him once. Could I have gotten "duped" in a conversation in which he had no idea who I was? Sure? But until further notice, I'll believe my first hand experience over any "Team First" award. I know that the "hardest worker" on my high school soccer team was one lazy piece of shit. I'll trust team awards and Beamerball.com about as far as I can throw them.
WHAT'S A HOKIE? 🦃
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13 years 8 months
# | We have angered the football gods, and I don't know why. I dunno, flipping off the Cousins is pretty funny. I mean, even Tyrod threw daU at Miami fans...
I think success is top 12 in the polls at the end of the year. Ultimate success, however, is playing in the National Championship Game or the 4-team playoff.
Winning the ACC is an achievement, but does not necessarily mean success. One can win the ACC with 3-4 loss season. FSU won the ACC in 2005, went 8-5 and finished the year ranked 23 in the polls. VT has had similar years, which are not successful. Likewise, if another team wins the ACC, but VT finishes with a top 12 AP ranking, then I consider that success.
By these standards, VT has reached ultimate success once in 1999. They have had successful years in '95, '99, '00, '04, '05, '07, and '09.
With this current coaching staff, I think VT still can be successful, even next year. Due to their offensive abilities, however, I don't think they can reach ultimate success without an athlete like Michael Vick that can score on any broken play. So, if VT wants ultimate success, they must either find a better offensive system (new coaches) or find the next MV7/RG3... The MV7/RG3 thing ain't gonna happen.
Dislcaimer: Selection of AP Top 12 is the top 10% of the 120 FBS teams. If considering the top 5%, VT has finished in AP Top 6 twice, in '99 and '00.
Bench Holmes. Put Gregory on the hot seat. Give Scales and Coleman the ball, depending on the situation.
I honestly think we're going to be ranked at the start of next year no matter how this season ends. Even if we finish 6-6 I wouldn't be surprised if we start out ranked, I know we shouldn't be, but they overrank us in the preseason every year just because we've dominated the conference. And if we beat Miami, well then we have a legitimate shot at the ACC Title game. Even a bad year in Blacksburg can end in an ACC Championship!