Recent Comments
Great job pabooth. This only gets fans more pumped for the upcoming season! Let's continue the dominance!
Unreal. I love it. Getting too excited for the season, I need to temper myself a little bit.
As tired as some may be of hearing about our 10-win season streak, this really puts it into perspective. In the 7 seasons we've had 10 or more wins, the entire conference (outside of us) has produced just 5 such seasons of 10 wins or more. BC with two, FSU, GT, and WF each with one.
So I, for one, will give Beamer a pass to bring it up in interviews a few more times.
"Cody Grimm withdrawal" pretty much sums up the entire defense last year, if not the entire season for the Hokies, yes Jayron was incredible but I feel like we lacked that hard working lunch pail guy on defense that seemed to always be at the ball.
Their defense is embarrassingly talented. They're big strong and fast and their defensive line will give Newsome's bunch fits. The front-five is massive: 6-3 320, 6-7 340, 6-3 310, 6-7 315 and 6-7 310. Bigger lines always are trouble for our slightly undersized athletic front-seven (see Stanford). Bryn Renner is supposed to be the real deal at quarterback. They always play us tight and know what it takes to win in Lane on Thursday night. The pieces are there for a nice run before the NCAA hammers them back to irrelevance.
at the end with DW4 says it all
Like everyone else I am eagerly awaiting a passing game that doesn't neglect the middle 7-15 yards of the field. I still have no explanation for why the coaches didn't move Tyrod outside of the pocket on bootlegs or rollouts to give him a better view.
I had been working on the head-to-head wins. Read it from left to right.
I 2003-04 I knew the ACC would be a good fit for us regionally, but I never thought we'd dominate the conference like we have.
I realize how insanely contradictory my first and last statements are. The loss I feel is a result of statistical probability. The desire to hope for the dream season is how I'll approach the season regardless. I also don't listen to math.
I also have trouble picking a single game in which we lose, but of course feel that an inexplicable loss will happen. It's football, that's how it goes. I feel Miami is always an indeterminable coaching change or not, and UNC's D-line worries me, especially because I also agree with Duffman's comments about our O-line. Our line is getting a lot of love from pundits, but I remain skeptical.
I am, however, extremely excited for what could be if they are "WHO WE THOUGHt THEY WERE." David Wilson is hilariously athletic, and I think he'll have a season better than most are expecting. The chemistry that seems to be developing between Thomas and Davis is exciting as well, even though I'm rooting for Coale to solidify his status of "Legend" in his senior year and gets plenty of looks. Logan seems to be a smart kid, and while I think he'll manage the game well, I'm excited for the flashes of brilliance we are certain to see. I can see him taking us to a whole new level of exciting.
On defense I'm more confident than most would be in a defense that finished 52nd last year. Much of this is because of Bud Foster obviously, but I also have huge faith in our personnel. Jayron will continue to be where the opposition's passes go to die, and I'm pretty high on Kyle Fuller. He impressed me big time last year and I think he'll build on that success in a big way. I'm sold on Bruce Taylor, and although JGW gave me my fair share of mini-strokes last year, I'll believe the coaches are just blowing smoke up our asses and that he has turned it around. Hard work is great, but unless it translates on the field I don't care, bring in Tweedy and the laughable animal comparisons the coaches have made. I'm just still in Cody Grimm withdrawal. In speaking to Orion Martin about James Gayle, he can't stop going on about him. His athleticism at that size is terrifying. His numbers in the weight room are hard for me to even imagine being real, and 4.4 speed with that frame should make any opposing QB soil himself immediately. Add in a more cohesive group, and Bud Foster jumping into some ass and I think we'll see opposing numbers go down.
Clemson does worry me, only because they usually have a sizeable line and Andre Ellington is better than his toe has let him be so far. His YPC is high, and stopping the run needs to be fixed by the time we play them. If we get through them, Miami is still worrisome. I always go back to the home game in 2005 when I get overconfident about our home-field advantage against Miami. Then again, 2003 and 2009 against Miami remain my favorite home games of all time. Boston College doesn't bother me one bit, Harris's numbers are attained through attrition, and Kevin Rogers < Bud Foster. If we play consistently though and get a bit of luck I don't see why we can't flirt with the possibility of running the table.
The schedule works so well for us, and FSU's hype-machine works in our favor, because I truly think we're a better team than they are. If we meet them in the ACCCG, I think it will be our's to lose. Last year was just too dominating of a performance to think that replacing a QB will make them magically better than us, and the Tomahawk Chop is a gesture that makes my eyes and ears bleed, unless done ironically.
I also think that, if undefeated, we would have a great shot at the Super Dome. BOLD STATEMENT ALERT!!! Given the SEC is more evenly matched than recent years makes me think none of them will go undefeated. Plus, I'm so sick of God's Conference. My dad is a die hard Tennessee fan. I've already settled that argument, now I want to settle the better conference excuse. I do think Oklahoma will go undefeated though. Landry Jones is the truth. As far as the Big 10's chances: Any conference that divides themselves between leaders and legends shouldn't make the Championship Game on account of douchebaggery and principal alone. I'm relying on the football Gods to ensure that a conference that refuses to listen to math play for a championship. Pac 12? Nah. Big Yeast? LOLZ
Either way, I'm wishing for the best, and going in hoping for the dream season. No matter what my expectations, I'll still be heartbroken over any loss. Tempered expectations or not, I hate losing just as fervently, and at least enjoy the feeling of blind hope while it lasts. Call me crazy, but I feel going in full-blast optimism is the only way to cheer, and praying for perfection is better than being that guy that's "just waiting for us to trip up". Screw that guy, he's a dick.
GO HOKIES!
Nice work- thanks for the jolt!
"actually being able to see over the OLine to realize that Danny Coale is always open will help"
^This.
Nice work Billdozer.
This is very good stuff.
YES! CAN'T WAIT TILL FOOTBALL SEASON!!
Great video of all of the ridiculous catches from last year. Can't wait till the season starts!
^^What he said.
I have been through the emotional roller coaster of high expectations every year, and it seems to happen every year that I go to an NFL stadium (ECU in Charlotte, Alabama in Atlanta, Boise in DC) to open the year and I go home disappointed and with a very sour taste in my mouth. I was proud of the teams in the Boise and Alabama games, they played their hearts out, even with mistakes. Needless to say I am overjoyed to start the year in Blacksburg for a change. The thing that scares me this year is believe it or not, the two OOC road games. Marshall and ECU rarely get the chance to welcome in BCS competition and those teams will be ready to play, as previous stated ECU has done it before and can't be taken lightly. Marshall is still probably a few years away, but last year WVU was on the ropes in Hunington before they finally got their act together (much to my disappointment.) The point being with a young quarterback if you get your back against the wall on the road you are far more likely to make mistakes than you are in the comfy confines of Lane.
Clemson any other year would scare me as the first "real threat" to the Hokies, but after facing defending NC Auburn and the always hyped FSU team they will almost certainly be exhausted and not looking forward to a trip to Lane. Miami will almost certainly have growing pains under Golden and though I'm sure it will be a tight game I don't see Miami winning.
I don't want to set myself up for disappointment, but I just can't imagine Bud not getting this defense ready to play two years in a row. Taylor and Hosley will be massive game changers this year. Hosley Island will be alive and well and force quarterbacks to the other side of the field to a very talented Fuller, and I don't expect GW to make as many mistakes as last year.
And it would not be a VT11 post without mention LT3, frankly I think by the time he leaves Tech he will be one of the best we have ever had, his size and athleticism are incredible, and actually being able to see over the OLine to realize that Danny Coale is always open will help. This corps of receivers will definitely make LT3's job a lot easier, and Wilson is simply an incredible football player, who embodies the phrase gamebreaker.
I hope I am back in Charlotte to watch us defend the title, and hopefully it will be against an undefeated FSU team, though I can't see Oklahoma losing that game, if all the cards fall right, I don't see how an undefeated VT couldn't have a strong case for the BCSNCG. It would be all too poetic that a first year quarterback takes us into the Superdome.
Can you please put away the "We love Shane!" sign?
and appropriate ending, man, i will never forget that moment last year. an all time high in lane. love sticking it to pj.
"I wonder what kind of sammich Cheryl made for my lunch today..."
1. The truck drivers I talk to have less dirty mouths. Bravo.
2. You had me at hair on balls.
I'm not going to lie... my hopes were (unjustifiably?) high last year. I rely on gut feelings, and my gut was telling me we'd beat Boise State. I was not prepared for what transpired, and words cannot accurately describe the JMU game. Ok, maybe they can: HHHHNNNGGGGGGGGGG. So, for 2011-12, I'm not letting myself get too jazzed.
Joe, Duffman, and Hokiebonoz all make excellent points, and I for one am happy and relieved to see others share my somewhat lowered yet reasonable expectations.
I think we're still going to be dealing with some growing pains this year. Plain and simple: LT3 is a greenhorn. If Gameday happens to meander down to Blacksburg and you catch a glimpse of a crazed girl dancing to "No Hands" and juggling a box of Franz and a sign that says "LOGAN THOMAS IS NOT THE NEXT CAM NEWTON. LOGAN THOMAS IS THE NEXT LOGAN THOMAS" well, pat yourself on the back because you have discovered the elusive HokiESQ. I think he has a good head on his shoulders and rumor is that he's emerging as a good leader, but the kid is a r-Sophomore who saw very minimal time last season. He was impressive in that limited time, so I have hope. But I'm also expecting some frustrating WTF moments. Otherwise, I recommend you invest in some quality slow-motion equipment so you can catch a glimpse of my future baby daddy on his way to the end zone. Although I will say that, despite LT3's relative inexperience, I'm oddly not worried about our offense this year. I'm sure the Stinespring/O'Cain combo will make me regret ever saying that, but I'll try just a little optimism on for size.
The time for excuses with our defense is over. Bud won't take that shit anymore, and now that we have some starters with hair on their balls I expect our defense to start wrecking bitches again. Our early schedule will be extremely helpful giving the defense some exercise in pushing people around and building confidence. As for the secondary, the party line about JGW seems to be that he's a hard worker. I'm hoping JGW's hard work pays off, because both he and Fuller will need to step up their game, especially with the departure of resident Lil Jon doppleganger Lyndell Gibson.
I agree with duffman that our biggest problem is also the one we can do the least about - size on the lines. As the sister of a former O-lineman and current O-line coach, I am a big believer in big bubbas on the line. Our guys have decent size and great speed, but that speed won't do much good when they're sitting on their asses after a monster tackle comes across the line. We should be well-versed in managing this lack of size since its been an isue with the Hokies for some time, so I'm expecting big improvements in both of our lines.
So, say we survive the Clemson-Miami week-o-fun (sidenote: I'm definitely getting fired sometime between Oct. 1 and Oct. 8) and leave Winston-Salem 7-0. I am bracing myself for the Hokie Hoops/ ACC effect to hit... people will start talking about our weak schedule, and how we haven't beaten anyone of note. To those people, I say: shut the fuck up. Then I say: BOISE STATE. Remember when ESPN was fap fap fapping to those golden children despite them only beating up on Little Sisters of the Poor every week??? I think we can expect the opposite reaction with the Hokies. So, while our easy schedule can get us prime positioning for The Big Game talk, I think we'll be out of the picture in favor of the usual ESS EEE SEE teams (but not Tennessee, because, well LULZ)... who will eventually have to vacate their wins anyway.
I tried looking for some film on him, but was unsuccessful. Considering his size and speed being so prototypical of a I-A receiver, he must be really raw I like how we seem to be going after bigger, more physical receivers though.
Here's some more information about him him: http://www.vagazette.com/articles/2011/07/17/sports/doc4e209d882cd140465....
If Smith accepts the offer, the plan is to spend a semester at Fork Union Military Academy next fall before transfering to Tech in January 2013. His scholarship will be a part of that recruiting class, an important distinction to Smith’s family.
They met with athletic director Dan Barner and the football coaching staff last year and laid out a plan that would help him reach the next level.
"This is really good for Thomas," said Lafayette coach Andy Linn. "They want him to mature academically and physically, which was his parents' plan all along."
Smith, a year younger than most high school seniors, received scholarship offers from at least a dozen colleges, including Ball State, James Madison, Old Dominion and Norfolk State.
While he's received significant interest from JMU and ODU, Smith said his heart is with the Hokies.
"I'm still thinking about it, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to take it," Smith said.
He went to two camps at Virginia Tech over the last six months and felt it was the right fit for him.
"The facilities are top of the line and the competition in the ACC is top-notch," Smith said. I love competition and the coaching staff is great. Plus, it would be good for people down here to come see me play."
DW will be more than established with the position solely in his posession.
I can't wait to see what he does!
Nice to hear from LT in that interview. He's got some good confidence in our team.