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Bottom line is our players were the reason we were even in this game. They overcame shitty playcalling. O line was outstanding, fosters children were fucking on point. We left 30 points out on the field. Thats the problem right there. I can understand beamer going for it, but at least in the first half take the points on the field goal. Bottom line somethings gotta gives. The acc and vt look fucking wack right now. Even though we showed up and played and dominated, we still get flack for losing. Big game beamer needs to get his mind right, I dont see foster staying much longer, im surprised he is still here after all the losses because our offense cant do shit.
Next I cant be mad at the players for this one, except for whitleys dumbass dropping interceptions, and not going for the hit on the td play. Logan Thomas is the fucking man, and he will bring us to the national title game sooner or later, im hoping on sooner, as in next season. I think we got great talent and always have, but nobody knows what to do w it except foster. Im glad this season is over finally, we fucking underachieved once again.
Collin Carroll's latest article on ESPN Page 2 about Justin Myer: http://espn.go.com/espn/page2/story/_/id/7424999/virginia-tech-player-sa...
It's a great piece.
Love his writing and I hope he makes it to ESPN!
Amen.
I have enjoyed reading your analysis this year. I come to the site to share my genuine love and passion for Hokie football with others who have similar views. I particularly enjoy the breakdown of the offensive and defensive strategies - I can say this season I have never spent more time watching plays develop as a whole rather than watching the ball go from point A to point B and it has added a whole new dimension and joy to my game-watching. Thanks for your time in writing the articles and I look forward to reading more next season!
The catch/no catch was the same call that was made against Michigan in the final seconds of the Iowa game:
I hated it when it was called against us, and I know how bitter this is for VT fans, but they are calling it consistently, FWIW. The rule is that the ball needs to be firmly controlled. But here you see Coale's hands aren't even on the ball when it hits the ground. It is nested in his forearms.
The announcers were focusing on the elbow but the question is still one of whether the ball was firmly controlled by the player before it hit the ground.
A good test of this "firm control" (this is a sanity check not the final arbiter) is whether the ball moved when it hit the ground. It stands to reason that if the receiver had firm control of the ball when it came in contact with the ground it won't move that much.
VT played a hell of a game except for a few key turnovers and some bad special teams. Football is a zero-sum game and it is heartbreaking to lose one like this. Michigan fans are realists, we know that this game was a lot of pixie dust, unicorns, and horseshoes. It left us befuddled trying to wrap our heads around the game and all we can come up with is, "so, yeah, that happened."
To echo the words of another UM alumnus posting here, I'd love to play a home and away with VT again. My experience with VT fans, coaches and players was overwhelmingly positive.
In this case, it is what is contained in the head of the Frankenator between the inches that separates his ears. According to Pete Thamel's article today, Beamer said about the faux fake punt “I’m about half sick,” Beamer said, adding, “It was just kind of fluke plays.” About half sick, nice. How about I am beyond stick and what a douche I was for calling that play. Calling out Danny Coale for this is beyond reprehensible. I guess coach-speak includes not totally caring and letting graduating seniors take the blame.
I love my team, and my alma mater but seriously this got old 8 years ago.
I want to offer a quick defense. I think it was poor to say that as it looks like he is passing the buck. But I actually just took it as him explaining the play... i.e it wasn't a designed sneak it was a run/rugby kick option. I do think he should have said "that's my bad, shouldn't have called that" just to totally absolve Danny. But I think if you asked Frank what he meant and gave him the opportunity he would gladly reword things. Just my take.
First off, as a Michigan fan I was very impressed with you guys on both sides of the ball. Your players are top notch. I watched the replay and have read all the analysis of the Danny Coale catch and I think it was a reception. In fact, during the review I was hoping it was called a touchdown because I can't stand field goals. Winning on a field goal after putting up less than 200 yards offense feels cheap. I wanted Michigan to have to score a touchdown for a victory. It should be said that you guys did an excellent job in putting your critics to rest. We scored more points and played a shitty game yet won. I have some friends who have already deleted this from their DVR because it is pretty painful to watch. If I want to remember this game later, I will watch a YouTube clip of Junior Hemingway crying during his MVP speech, or laugh at our long snapper catching a pass deflected off a defender. I certainly don't want to relive our offense or our non existant defense on 3rd and 4th down. I too, share your pain even though the score says that I shouldn't.
With that said I do think that we were missing our best player on offense last night. David Molk. Even though he was on the field, he was not the All American Michigan fans have seen all year. I'm not trying to make excuses, I don't think we would have produced 500 yards of offense with him healthy, but we would have done slightly better. He is an incredible reach blocker and we would have had a few more plays break for 10-15 yards with him healthy.
As for Denard - Denard is what he is. He is as exciting as he is excitable. He is as rewarding as he is punishing. There are times that many Michigan fans would settle for a large consistent passer like Logan Thomas. On Michigan blogs and even in the stands there were cries for a 6'4" pocket passing Devin Gardner this year after our first loss. In the end our love for Denard blinds us to his faults. He can be shut down. He can throw like a spastic 6 year old. He fumbles trying for an extra 1/4 yard on first down. Denard is the zenith and the nadir. He is victory and defeat all rolled into a 200 pound frame. He wasn't himself last night. I wrote it up mostly to your solid run defense and our loss of Molk. It was also mentioned that he had an ankle problem. I'm not sure if that is just a rumor or not, because our coach is super quiet about injuries and calls them boo-boos when asked what they are. However, as spastic as he was last night I don't think that it was ankle problems, but it might have bothered him (who knows). I also understand that injuries are part of football though, and you play through them like every team has to. I know you guys were missing some key players as well.
As for Virginia Tech, I welcome a rematch any day of the season with your program. Your fans are fantastic. You athletes are elite. Your coach is a legend. Your school has tradition. You don't write "Fuck Michigan" on signs and hold them up for the busses when they arive at the stadium (okay only people who shit in coolers at a football game do that - stay classy Ohio State http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Cooler%20Pooper). Seriously though, I told my wife that win or lose, it felt good to play a quality opponent. I too share Joe's sentiment that the thing that makes winning so great is the risk of losing. I will blatently steal that quote about what makes it great because the entire piece is an excellent write up on what it means to be passionate about a football program. I wish you guys the best of luck next year and thank you for your kindness on this blog.
but Hosley has already announced -- either way, I think our defense is looking good next season .. better than this season IMO
Beautiful write up...
As I noted in my blog posting, Beamer can go fuck himself for throwing Coale under the bus during the postgame interview. Even if it was Coale's option, you are the head coach. Accept the blame instead of inadvertantly making it sound like the kid made the wrong read. He was already devestated. Beamer skirting the blame only made it worse.
Hokiesports just lists the rotating teams in the Atlantic last. The schedule won't come out for at least a couple months.
I tweeted him about it and he told me he was coming back.
Heartbreaking loss for VT, but not unexpected.
Congrats to Michigan.
Hokie until I die, Tech, Tech, V-P-I!
Dyrell Roberts will also be back next year. With him, Davis, and Coles, and an experienced LT3, I think we all have something to look forward to for 2012.
Did anyone hear Foster mention Michael Holmes after the game (as the next in line for RB)? Assuming DW4 is gone (and he will be), then the difference between another 10-win season and something even better may rest in his hands. We also have a few stud's coming in at RB in the 2012 class, so let's hope someone can step up.
Next time anyone asks what it means to be a Hokie, just point them to Danny Coale. The effort, the determination, the drive, the heartbreak.
I think that image is going to stick with me for a long time. That's 2 years in a row I have had to watch two men who represented the university so well, who were the definition of what it means to be a Hokie stand on the sideline and look helpless. They deserved better.
WORD TO THAT.
kills me, I almost expected to get the shaft when it came to review time on that play.
about last night was seeing Danny Coale's face as he waited for the call and after the call. I knew they were going to overturn it. I was already heartbroken, but the look on his face made it hurt so much more. He made the play of his life and it didn't stand. He deserved better. BUT I am sort of glad it happened to him. He handled it with so much dignity. And that's why we all love him, because he's so much more than a great football player. He will go down as one of greatest Hokies of all time.
And can I just say how awesome Justin Myer is? Loved his performance. He played fantastic last night, especially with so much responsibility. He deserves a lot of credit.
All in all, I think it was a great outing by the players. There were a few play calls that I questioned, but other than that every thing was good.
I love this Senior class and they will be terribly missed next year. I just hate that they couldn't go out on a win.
Dyrell was not introduced on Senior Day with the rest of the Seniors, so I think he's coming back. And his tweets lead one to believe he is coming back...
The football gods were not with VT last night. Sometimes there is nothing that can be done. I still want to punch things over and over again though which can't be healthy.
i totally forgot about Marcus Davis .. hell yeah -- has anyone heard whether Dyrell will pursue a medical redshirt or is he done?
Fact is beamer has won some big games, actually beamer was the last coach to beat lsu when lsu was on the road, and i think the nebraska games were big. but your right, he just doesnt want to win the big i think. I dont know what happens to his preperation, even reg season he cant win them. I think its time for him to make foster or lil beamer the head coach. Love the man but damn, im tired of underachieveing every single year.