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As I said on Twitter French +100,000,000,000 and as many zeroes collectively fit in this text box. Of all the crap that happened in that game, that single comment pissed me off the most. Period. Truly gutless on the part of Beamer to not at least take the heat off an emotionally devastated player who gave his heart to the program for four years.
All the Michigan fans I talked to on Bourbon Street and in New Orleans were friendly and knowledgeable.
I'd love for there to be a VT-Michigan home-and-home. It'd be fun to have an excuse to visit the Big House, and I think you guys would love the gameday atmosphere in Blacksburg.
Thank you (and that goes for all Michigan fans) for a great game, and for sharing your insights here!
I hope to high heaven that our fans aren't expressing angst toward Michigan players or its fans. As with any fanbase there are bad eggs but as you've seen the group here is pretty level headed. The main contention lies in the fact that no matter what this game is marked as an L. Its a blemish against our overall BCS record as well as for the ACC. Most argue that it was a hard fought game turned by costly mistakes. The call will be debated time and time again. If some are delusional enough to take that as a Win and ignore the final tally that's on them. Nonetheless, our displeasure goes beyond losing to Michigan. It was a loss when we thought everything was in order to get a win. It was another loss on the big stage. Years down the road no one will remember how close it was. They will just see a big. fat. L. We're so tired of it.
As a fan you expect losses to come. We ate crow with Clemson twice this year. We've also, same as you, had a baffling loss to A FREAKING FCS SCHOOL HAHA. Those however don't hurt like these types of heartbreaking losses. Auburn in '05 16-13 was the same kind of deal. Phenomenal defense with bonehead offense that couldn't seal it up. USC was going along swimmingly until that odd PI call. 'Bama unravelled in the fourth. Then Boise St with 3rd and long heroics late that couldn't get it done. The starvation for a marquee win is now to the point of desparation. Everyone will point to one reason or another. Blame the coach, players, calls, etc. Blame doesn't change the outcome of anything though.
Most of us are highly respectful of your program and what you've done. We're just waiting to pop that bubble. Our consistency is amazing and should be highly lauded. We just dislike waiting again and again in the shadow of an empty trophy case.
It was bad, but not as bad as I recall. I just watched some of the RZ possessions on ESPN3. Before the half, VT was only in RZ twice. The major problem was that they did not once throw the ball into the endzone. However, they had good reasons for the run-heavy play calling. On both drives, VT was running the ball down UM's throats entering the RZ. And it continued from the 20 to 10 yd line. The problems were this...
On the first possession, it was 1st and goal from the 4, and DW4 had gotten them there. So, they called another run. He slipped, then bone-headedly decided to make something out of nothing and ran back 30 yds. I do agree however, that they should have mixed it up and thrown a pass or two, but if DW4 doesn't slip, he may get 2 yds on the run, and it's 2nd and goal from the 2. Or if he just went down where he slipped, it would be 2nd and goal from the 5.
On the second possession, they had Ogelsby in the game, and he was doing well. In this possession, the UM D-clamped up and the LBs played tight on the line. VT should have called more passes, especially ones to try and get the linebackers off the line of scrimmage.
Finally, in the 3rd RZ possession, they first throw the ball into endzone on a 3rd down and goal, and Davis was held to draw the pass interference. A few plays later, LT3 sneaks it into the endzone.
Bottom line though, if you want your RB to run it into the endzone, which VT was clearly trying to do, you need to call pass plays from 15-30 yd line area in which the receivers catch the ball behind the LBs. This will get the LBs to move backwards or at least delay when you call a run inside the 10.
I'm starting to feel a little piled on. Michigan played a clean game (as clean as football gets) and played as a team. They didn't play well, but well enough to not lose. EDSBS wrote "This is not a very good Michigan team, but they are a very good Michigan team" and I think that's right on the money. Teams find a way to win even when they are playing badly, and yes, this is the type of game Michigan has won this year (see ND) because they don't give up. I know it doesn't help the bitterness, but VT doesn't have anything to be ashamed of. It was a hard fought game, someone had to lose. I picked VT to win because I thought that this would be the kind of performance the Wolverines would put on (because that's what they do in big games), and its why I said what I did in this thread.
I honestly hope that the angst VT fans feel is not against this Michigan team or its followers. Blame the refs, blame Beamer, but you can't blame the kids cause both teams played their hearts out.
I completely agree with this post. I feel like unless he can pull a magical NC win out of his ass then his legacy cannot be overwritten. Its printed loudly, in all caps, bold font.. "Can't win the big one."
I feel like a crack head. I love the high that VT football gives me. The anticipation, following recruiting all Spring, Buying my Orange and Maroon Effect Shirts, talking trash about UVa, going to Lane and doing the Blacksburg Bounce 6-7 times a year. All the great feelings that go along with the regular season get me high as fuck and I love it...
But then, that "big" BCS game spears its fat, ugly head. We lose. And I get this sick, demented, helpless feeling that I can't escape. I roll around on the floor in pain with my soul being sucked from my body. The football gods just look down at my wretched body and smile. In this moment I wonder is it worth it? How many years of this football tradition of "should have been" and "almosts" can I handle. Why me? Why do I do this? Why?
A few months go by and I start to sober up. Back to even keel. I've burned the evidence (sugar bowl shirt in this case) and spent sometime on a beach enjoying summer, living free, and being easy.
Then September rolls around and I smell that smell again.
Right when you think you made it out alive... your back in Lane chanting "LETS GOOOO!!!!!" HOKIEESSSS!!!!
I do know one thing. I may have to do an extra bluefin tuna trip this February to wash the salty taste from this game out of my mouth.
I saw someone post on twitter than the Hokies ran nothing but running plays inside the Michigan 20 yard line in the first half. Horrible, given that Logan did whatever he wanted through the air in the first half.
First, let me say it was a great game. I had great sideline seats and I enjoyed it thoroughly. The mistakes in this game are difficult to swallow, but the fact remains this D is going to be legit next year (although, we do read too much into bowl games...).
Solution to VT's Safety problem: put KFuller at Free Safety. VT has extremely talented, although young and inexperienced, players for corner (Bonner, Jarrett, and January enrollee Manning). If Fuller plays safety, VT won't lose the playmaking ability on blitzes and tackling, and all around defensive football knowledge of Fuller. Plus, much like Vincent, I think Kyle's future at the next level will be free safety. Bottom line, he can do it all, so he'll be dominant at any position.
I guess you got your wish.
Agreed, the play selection inside the 20 was frustrating. I'm not sure if O'Cain was trying to go against trends and do something that M wasn't expecting, or if someone just slipped something into his Diet Coke.
Is Ricky Bustle still kicking around bayou country? That might explain the bad red zone karma.
Yeah, I think you're overreacting. I'm not a fan of Steiny, and I think some changes are in order, but I think that CFB has proven he's not opposed to changing something that doesn't work. But he is deliberate in doing so, sometimes to a fault. I've said in another post that it has crossed my mind that it might be time for Frank to hand off the special teams coaching to someone, and concentrate on being Hokie Football's CEO. Perhaps he'll consider that, but I doubt it. I do think you'll see some changes over the off-season, though. It'll be interesting.
I'm more about change on the OL, mainly because that's the core of any offense. The line needs to be big, fast, and nasty. We've been lacking on the nasty a whole lot recently. A really good line will make a decent QB great, and a great QB (LT3, perhaps?) a Heisman candidate. They will make an average RB a 1000 yd rusher, and a great back an ESPN highlight reel. That's the biggest necessary area of improvement.
BTW....did you used to post on Florida State blogs? Sounds an awful lot like an anti-Bobby Bowden blog.
This game hurt and I'm not sure if I will ever get over it. The effort put forth by our guys was incredible and will be overshadowed by controversial calls and coaching blunders. But next year our team will be stacked. Our recruiting class is awesome, our D which was riddled with injuries will finish just outside the top 10 in total D will 10x better, and our offense will still be led by a 6'6" giant.
Do we need a change in our O philosophy? Maybe, but every year we always say we need a change. Our receiver corps will be led my Marcus Davis & DJ Coles and whoever we put next to LT will be the next great RB stud at VT. If DW comes back we will be sick on O, but if he doesn't, we will still be ok.
Our D will be one of the best in the country. Jayron & Whitley leaving will hurt, but we are DBU for a reason and they will be replaced. Don't be surprised if our D leads the country in total D next year.
What we really need is more constancy on special teams. We will have an "unproven" kicker again, but for the past several years we have had pretty damn good "unproven" kickers. Our punters will have another year under their belt, our KO coverage will be more experienced, and teams will still create new punt packages to run against us to keep us from blocking punts.
Next year we will be ranked top 15, still be favored to win the coastal, be favorites to win the ACC (along with Klempsun & FSU), and win 10+ games again. We will play in Miami in January, so book your hotels early.
The offensive playcalling really has me flumoxed. Yes, the Hokies were dreadful in the redzone all year (most of which was attributable to the poor drive blocking and athleticism on the left side of the offensive line), but O'Cain was a very aggressive playcaller all year. Even in the games I was critical of O'Cain, it was for getting "too cute" with his playcalling. Sometimes it was overly aggressive. Other times it seemed to be focused on tricking opponents.
The Sugar Bowl really smelled like Stinespring/Beamer took the reigns from O'Cain a bit. Again, this is a hunch, but that looked like Ricky Bustle had somehow jammed the playcalling radio once the Hokies got into field goal position with about a minute left in the 4th quarter. Even more than OT, that drove me bonkers. The playcalling at that point is simple. Throw for a first down on each play to stop the clock. Emphasize with Logan that if he doesn't have a wide open receiver, throw it into the second row. Logan did it all year. Why not trust him in that spot? It was baffling.
My other beef was the offense not utilizing the quick WR screens more inside the goal line. I know space is tighter, but with the opposition loading up on the run, it makes it easier to get one quick block and bust a big score on the screen. Instead, there were three different plays where JOEY PHILLIPS was the primary in short yardage passing situations. Joey Phillips is a good kid, but you have 4 of the top WR's in the history of the program, a good tight end, and a tailback who in theory should be dangerous after the catch. I like tricking somebody, but you go with the guys who got you there.
Your posts are anything but drivel.....some of the best analysis and commentary on Hokie football anywhere. Thank you!!!
My "wish list" starting lineup next year.
SE- Dyrell Roberts
FL- DJ Coles
3RD- Marcus Davis
TE- Ryan Malleck
LT- LAURENCE GIBSON
LG- Daivd Wang
C-Andrew Miller (need depth here)
RG- Bruce Benedict
RT- Michael Via
QB- Duh
RB- ???????????
FB- Martin Scales
SE- James Gayle/JR Collins
DT- Antoine Hopkins/Luther Maddy
DT- Derrick Hopkins/Kris Harley
DE- Corey Marshall/Zach McCray
MLB-Jack Tyler/ Telvion Clark/
Backer- Bruce Taylor/Chase Williams
Whip- Tariq Edwards/Trey Edmunds
BC- Kyshowne Jarrett/ Dietrick Bonner
FC- Kyle Fuller
FS- Antone Exum
R- Cyrus Jones/Joel Caleb
To me, this is an upgrade at every position on defense except boundary corner. I am not sure if I would want Fuller there because I would not want to waste his tackling ability.
In the Iowa game:
1. The catch is ruled incomplete on the field. It was allowed to stand in review. There was not overwhelming evidence to overturn the call. The refs on the field had it right.
2. The receiver pins the ball against the ground as he falls. This is referred to as the ground aiding control or the catch. If he were able to roll to the side and control the ball, he would have been in bounds and clearly would have had a TD.
In the Tech game:
1. The catch is ruled a touchdown. Again, the refs on the field had it right, but were inexplicably overruled by the replay official. I have yet to see any overwhelming evidence to overturn the call. Neither did ACC director of officials Doug Rhoads, according to the Richmond Times (http://www2.vteffect.com/sports/2012/jan/05/tdsport01-virginia-tech-play...).
2. Coale pins the ball against his chest with his arms, not the ground. Yes, the ball hits the ground, but it does not influence Coale's control of the ball, and his arms are underneath the ball. His elbow clearly lands in bounds. and the ball stays in the same place in his arms as he rolls over, maintaining control through the end of the play. I've seen some posts that say the ball wasn't in his hands. We've all seen plays where the receiver catches the ball in his arms, not his hands. Not an excuse.
So, it actually was not the same type of call. I've said it before. I'll go to my grave believing that Danny Coale caught that ball. Hosed yet again, but the game was lost on three or four other plays in the game. Should have never gotten to OT.
That being said, I've been impressed with the class of the Michigan fans posting on The Key Play. We appreciate your passion and candor. (and yes my wife is an Iowa grad...she'd hit me if she knew I said that).
I can honestly say that if the ruling on the field had been incomplete and they did not overturn it I would not say a thing. The ruling on the field though was that is was a touchdown, so I do not see enough evidence to overturn that it wasn't a catch.
I won't blame the call though because this game should have been put away before overtime. It is hard to see the look on Coale's face, and how the rest of the team must feel. Bad penalties and some bad calls from the coaches cost this team a win they deserved.
Next year we will have one hell of a football team.
Thanks! I have my "D1 Playoff Plan" article in the hopper, and I am eager to comment on the final results of recruiting.
Anticipate a great deal of frustration if Marshall doesn't get moved back to strongside defensive end. I just get the feeling he could be a star at end (first bull rusher who also has hand movement), but he is undersized at DT. I know they have Gayle, Collins, Wilson, and McCray all back, but Marshall would give them greater size and a different means for pass rush. It makes more sense with both Hopkins, Maddy, and Harley all available at DT (and possibly Williams and Kirrven coming in.)
Thanks! I am working with the Key Play on getting some kind of "electronic playbook" functionality so I can actually draw up the formations. It is a good thing I didn't try to do one for Michigan's defense pregame. They used so many multiple fronts that it would have been a fruitless excercise.
he won't, he is to good of a writer.
I'd like to commend you on how the Michigan kids handled themselves during the game. They carried themselves as well as any team I have seen this year. The trash talking, dirty hits, and taunting, were minimized. That was the only silver lining for me during a heartbreaking loss. Best of luck next year.
As for a Michigan home and home. Sign me up. Especially since the Volunteers are way too scared to sign the dotted line.
Still looks like his right hand has it secured. I cant argue that the ball did not make contact with the ground. But, contact with the ground does not automatically negate a catch. Also, if you watch the tip of the ball you can tell it is clearly secured. If Danny did not secure the ball it would have shifted upwards once contact was made with the ground.
I remember watching that call from the Iowa game and I did not agree with the refs decision their either. Sucks to have a bunch of nerds that have never played the game take away such a big play based on the personal understanding of a rule book.
No doubt this is a great gif and is a good defense on behalf of the refs, but the argument is not just about the catch. The argument is did the referees have enough evidence to overturn the call on the field?? I think not. The announcers, who played football thought not, your coach thought not, our coach (how has a lot of experience) thought not. If all booth officials can't say with 100% confidence that they made the wrong call on the field then there is no way the call can be reversed.
Can't change anything now. Hopefully we meet again soon.
to whom Shane Beamer can get to come to Tech. He personally turned the USC program around with his recruiting, pulled mad talent away from of the other $EC schools. Plus, Hite has turned Blacksburg into a tailback producing town.
Now, if Frank can only find a kicker or two....
Wonderfully written once again french. I have enjoyed your articles all season and hope you dont wait until the spring game to write more articles, maybe you could cover national signing day or any other breaking news between now and then. Thank you for the great reads all season.
The future is bright and I cannot wait for next year. In the past I was worried by the unknowns. Now I am somewhat excited by them particularly since Shane has aided the growth of recruiting to such a degree.