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Food completes this site.
I think they're holding out two carrots.
Just saw over at Beamerball.com's "Locker Room" section that we'll be wearing the orange lids this weekend. Hope we get better luck with them this time around. GO HOKIES!
It seems like a bunch of spin from Marinatto considering Uconn wasn't at yesterday's meeting.
http://espn.go.com/new-york/story/_/id/6998720/commissioner-john-marinat...
UConn president Susan Herbst was not in attendance at the meeting, sources told Schad, as the school focuses on lobbying for entry to the ACC. Herbst was expected to send a UConn official to the meeting as its representative.
A source with direct knowledge of the meeting told ESPN.com's Andy Katz that UConn didn't commit to remain in the league and is still actively pursuing membership in the ACC.
"The ACC is the preferred place for (Connecticut)," the source said. "That hasn't changed."
As bad as it sounds, killing the Big East has to be Swofford's goal if the ACC wants to land Notre Dame. I wouldn't be surprised if sometime in the not so distant future the league announces one more Big East team will join, Uconn or Rutgers, and the ACC dangles the instability of the Big East and the final spot in the ACC out like a carrot to see who bites.
the first pic gets my vote
Is he rocking the Speak n Spell??? Awesome. At least they're using some sort of technology in the state of WV now...who knew??
Seriously...what is the punting plan for Marshall. If we're going to switch to Branthover they need to do it now and let him get game experience before starting ACC teams. My head still hurts when thinking that our special teams isn't set yet and it's the 4th week. Beamer Ball???...haven't seen it yet.
You guys are making alot of sense here. I forgot how bad academically WVU is. I read this morning that the ACC presidents are being very adamant about the academics of any further additions to the conference. If that's going to be a solid requirement then WVU can just keep making moonshine and stay in the remnants of the Big East. I figured ECU wasn't really going to be considered, but thought i'd throw it out there. Good call on the NC schools not wanting another ACC competitor fighting for in-state recruits. All said and done, ND or PSU would fit the mold though.
I think it makes a lot of sense for the ACC to ask Pitt and SU what other BE schools they would recommend. They've been in those board rooms and know the internal politics of the league. We've all heard how messed up things have been in BE politics. The last thing the ACC wants is to transplant a cancer from the BE to the ACC. I don't think the ACC will necessarily go with who Pitt and SU recommend, but why not ask the question and listen to their reasoning? Might learn something very useful.
Dad, this petting zoo is really lame.
This thread was parralleling actual discussions and pursuit of two teams.
I love how many WVU fans bring up the 2006 Sugar Bowl and beating their SEC opponent as an indication of success. However, I tend to agree with you dwalt88 concerning the possible consequence of this move. Another factor, as we saw today, is that the SEC doesn't even want WVU in their conference. They're literally the sixth team on their list behind FSU, Virginia Tech, Clemson, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas A&M. I actually kind of feel bad for them and their probable role in all of this- left overs. It really is a shame because I think they would fit perfectly in the SEC as a middle of the road program (though the claim by some that they would dominate Virginia in recruiting is insane- Beamer & Co., London & Co., Sweeney & Co., and Muschamp & Co. would NEVER allow that to happen- all these programs have first dibbs on the top talent in the state) with a real good year once a decade where they could reach the SEC Championship Game and an At-Large BCS bid.
I keep seeing this as well but I just can't see Penn State leaving the BIG for essentially the exact same situation in the ACC. Their chances of winning the ACC, at least in my opinion which has been wrong before and will be wrong again, are essentially the same or a little better than the BIG (or BI6...whatever that conference name is). In another view it would definitely enhance their basketball program if they moved here and would add legitimacy to the ACC as a football conference. I think it would be cool to a certain extent to play PSU and have the two winningest coaches in FBS go at it at least once before JoePa and Frank hang 'em up (though I don't think JoePa will ever retire...seriously Frank may retire first).
PSU fans seem interested in bolting for the ACC. It makes sense for them in all areas (recruiting, alumni base, travel, rivals) except for TV money. PSU has no rivals in the B1G, but they have rivalries or could easily develop them with Pitt/Maryland/VT. PSU is an eastern school, not a midwestern, and they generally recruit the same way. If the ACC somehow could bring in Notre Dame and Penn State, I'm sure the ACC TV deal would get reworked for A-L-O-T more money. All signs point to a move to the ACC (if ND is also coming). It would create a hell of a conference.
Hokies currently rank 114th in the nation in punting avg. There's only 120 teams playing Division-I football.
Can we please put Branthover out there?
well blocked first two plays. Good blitz pickup by Wilson, then a solid hook block by DeChristopher on a zone read resulting in Wilson's longest run of the day.
Sprint draw leaves a huge hole, but slow developing allows the safety to come up and Wilson doesn't make him miss or truck him. At the same time, the play was designed for that man to follow the bubble screen fake. He didn't even look at Boykin heading to the flat. (Same action as the Coles TD)
Straight I power play with the fullback going to the weak side doesn't work because the LB's ignore the FB and stay with the tailback. I am thinking that the Hokie coaches should stay away from influence blocking these teams because they stay fixed on Wilson, not the blocking.
1st and 15, none of the OL gets to the second level. All 5 guys look like they are blocking 3 guys. Too slow developing.
D had the swing pass to Wilson dead to rights. No chance there. 3rd down Drager had a DE by himself. DC got the tackle on an outside stunt. The DE stunted in, used the DT to pick Drager, and Brooks (I think) was looking inside and never saw the DE come through his gap. I still have not noticed/spotted Via.
Maddy and Marshall in. Both guys plug their gaps, but not getting off blocks. Collins limping again after another tackle. Did anyone notice that Gayle didn't make a tackle all game long? He is invisible on film this game. T.Wilson in here with McCray. Great tip by Fuller, but no pressure from the kids. Then great coverage by Hill. Have you noticed that the mike and backer are both seemingly being spies and rarely dropping into coverage? Also, no teams yet have tested the short middle of the field in their area, which is odd give how much we were picked on in the short middle and seams last year. (No TE's and Kyle Fuller on the slot guy helps.)
Via in now, for Brooks. First play, he pulled nicely but didn't make good contact with the defender, who made the tackle. Miller is really struggling as a puller versus blocking a nose. Good protection on second. LT3 smokes a high throw to Coale. Get it down. Good blitz pickup by Nosal, but he got pushed into LT3's lap. Next, LT3 hits Boykin on a hot route where an unblocked blitzer stepped in. Good read. LT3 had 250 of his yards by the 7 minute mark of the 2nd. Good push by Via and Miller on the JP 3rd and short dive. 1st down run by Oglesby opens up nicely, after what looks like another LT3 audible. If so good switch. 3rd and short, nobody gets off their combo to get to #40, who fills the hole nicely. GREAT DOWN BLOCK BY DRAGER ON 4th and 1. I'd like to see that off tackle power used more in their every down O. WR sweep is well blocked. Unbalanced off tackle power again, and all Hokies blow the Wolves off the ball. 7 straight runs. THAT IS WINNING FOOTBALL. Via looked good. Wilson hit the hole and finished strong rather than trying to bounce it.
The more tape I watch, the more frustrated I get with the Tech RBs. The Hokie offensive line looks much better when you watch them closely. Almost every play, the RB has one guy to beat that you can't account for, but the RB isn't beating them.
Man, Collins is getting off blocks and DHop is cleaning up, with a linebacker filling behind. This is classic front seven team defensive play. Whitely got suckered on a modified wheel route on 2nd down, and Hosley saved a TD. Great tackle by Hosley on the longer Jackson run. JGW and Gayle both had a chance to tackle him for a loss. AHop blew up the 3rd down. D looked a little tired the next two plays. The blitzes are a step short of getting the QB. DHop and Edwards again blow up another 3rd and short. So far, Fuller, DHop, and Edwards (and Hill in the nickle) make this defense much better.
In general, the D looks better rushing four, mike and backer playing short zones, and man by the corners and safeties.
I love the idea of Notre Dame in the Atlantic Coast Conference because of the storied tradition and the fact that they have expressed an openly positive view concerning joining the Conference. I think that the inclusion of ND IN ALL SPORTS would be the biggest deal or steal of the entire expansion process across the board, particularly since the BIG has tried for decades to get ND in and they have pretty much said, "No thanks. We like being Independent in football and the association with the BIG EAST in every other sport". Though the ACC would still lag behind the SEC in football, Notre Dame's addition would propel the ACC to the level just behind it and would gain even further national and recruiting exposure. Let's also not forget the ND basketball program is solid and would only help the ACC's Basketball rep and give it another potential annual NCAA Tournament slot.
Connecticut worries me somewhat. Academically, ideologically and in basketball they are a perfect and welcome fit in the conference but what about football? Yes they are the defending Big East Champion and yes they have appeared in a BCS bowl but can they recruit to compete with the current ACC teams and ever represent their division in an ACC Championship Game? Personally I think they could and eventually would but it would take quite a while and wouldn't provide the immediate football impact the conference needs to solidify itself as a viable National Championship producing Conference. For me, though I know it will not happen after today's events and rejections, I wish Swofford would get West Virginia or Texas along with Notre Dame and call it a day. In terms of WVU, make an exception to the stringent academic standards or provide incentives such as higher profit sharing if academic standing is improved. Let's be frank- their inclusion and interaction with the other members would grant tons of research and cooperative opportunities only few other conferences could provide. A natural byproduct would be the enhancing of their reputation and standards. I know it sounds like I am saying pay them to improve- why not? Its not like its not already being done on one level or another throughout this entire process.
One final thought as to alignment- don't create pods. Have eight teams in each division, remove a non-conference game and make it a division game while keeping two non-division games making it an even 12 for the season (7 division games, 2 non-division games, 3 OOC games) plus the ACC Championship Game in a rotating location (Miami, Charlotte, DC, Philadelphia and New York (Yankee Stadium or Citi Field)/New Jersey (MetLife Stadium)). In reality, one game is added and one of two open dates disappears. Also add the teams into the current division format. Put Pitt and ND in the Atlantic to keep the Catholic Schools/traditional rivalries together and Syracuse and WVU/Texas/UConn/Rutgers in the Coastal. Preserve the current rivalries at the expense of the geographic malarkey. As a VT fan I don't want to play Maryland or Pitt while losing Miami and Georgia Tech on an annual basis.
Linebackers give me a warm and fuzzy right now. Taylor and Tariq could be the most talented LB combo since X and Hall. In my mind, jury's still out on JGW. I saw him blitz the edge on 4 straight plays and get picked up by a blocker every single time. If we're going to succeed blitzing the ball he needs to shed a few of those and disrupt the QB rhythm.
I like how Dunn's getting open but his routes and hands need some work. If we can spring Drager once or twice I'll be a happy camper. Obviously the coaches like him as a 3rd Tackle (rightfully so) but the kid can ball and we need to involve him in the passing game.
thanks for the break down interesting read
I agree on taking our time. It is looking like the odds of 4 "Super Conferences" are pretty likely, with the count probably being 16 teams apiece. I kind of like the idea of the 4 major conferences having 4 conference championships and then a +1 scenario to determine a Nat'l Championship.
That means that there are still plenty of chips to fall and existing conferences to fold, so we should have somewhat of our pick when it comes to adding a final two. Curious, what do you all think of Notre Dame? Obviously out of the geographic footprint (even the expanded one) but it would be a HUGE get for the ACC and I have heard that they prefer us over the Big Ten?? (could be posturing)
All things being equal, I would rather take 2 strong football/academic schools such as a Notre Dame and a ......??? than take rutgers and/or Uconn just to fill out to 16. Hopefully we will have the option.
Agreed. Its all postulating at this point. If Notre Dame gets an attractive offer from the ACC or BIG (which they have stated they prefer the ACC to the BIG) where they can keep much of the revenue generated by the NBC contract then they're as gone as Pitt and Syracuse.