Sometimes It's Better to Be Lucky Than Good

No team in college football has won four titles in the span of 5 years. Alabama however, may be the first to do so if things go right again for the Tide. Take away the mishap that was the Oklahoma State- Iowa State game in '11 or the two missed FG's between Oregon and Stanford last season and this year's talk of a three-peat is possibly nullified. There is no denying that Alabama was good enough to get to- and subsequently win all three of their titles over the last four years, yet, without a little luck to boot they could have very well not have made it onto the national stage as many times. Maybe famed Yankees pitcher Lefty Gomez was right when he'd say, "I'd rather be lucky than good."

Our Hokies hosted their final open scrimmage today, exactly two weeks prior to the opener against the aforementioned formidable Tide, and it appears they may need to share too into Lefty's mantra as a recent rash of injuries and transfers has left the team with anything but luck. The defense looks damned mean and mostly ready to play, sans much needed experience in Corner Antone Exum and Whip Ronny VanDyke. Facyson and Fuller are both young, raw talents unseen in Blacksburg the last few years will hopefully plug in their place. Everything else, including the line and backers seemed to be moving at it's same, usually high motor. Not to knock Augie Contie taking reps with the 2s, but a leaner, meaner James Gayle won the day as he manhandled him on multiple occasions getting to Leal before he knew what was happening. He finished with 2.5 sacks of the 8 total on the day.

That's the good news. With our last glimpse of a newly designed offense under the helm of Scot Loeffler, Jeff Grimes, and Aaron Morehead there seem to be a lot more questions about this team that extend beyond just the Alabama game. The confidence in the offensive unit we wished to have a fortnight away from live action is pretty low. The swell of anticipation and readiness for #BEATBAMA has seemed to have gone from a definitive roar during the Spring to a hopeful murmur, dwindled down by each blow to the depth chart and showcase of the team's progression (or lack thereof) shown again today.

How each question mark receives it's answer throughout the season is anyone's guess. A lot will need to happen to get to a bowl, even more for another 10+ win season and an accompanied BCS bowl bid. The further we look, the more muddy the picture.

Here we are however, clearly two weeks now from a game we've all been waiting for since last December. Hell, most of us have been tasting revenge since '09 where our Hokies remain as the LAST (non-SEC) team to lead Alabama in the fourth quarter (yes, you read that right). The script on August 31st is yet to be written, but the territory is not new. Ten years ago another problematic Hokie squad was set to meet the wood chipper in a no. 2 ranked Miami crew, of which, later sent an ungodly amount of it's alumni to the NFL. That night played out differently than anybody imagined except those inhabiting a little corner of the world in South Western Virginia.

There were no hashtags or hype videos to keep the fanbase pumped back then. All we had was the collective energy stemming from the notion that we would be the team to derail the monarch of that time. It wasn't some hopeful assertion. It was a fact.

Even through a scoreless first quarter the intensity held in Lane, then the levy broke as DeAngelo Hall recovered a fumble for a TD. From that moment everyone knew the game was over. A little bit of good fortune on a wayward ball was all the team needed to put Miami to bed.

The stats of the day still read 44 through the air, a 3rd down conversion rate of 2-12, and a shade over 200 yards in that sixty minute span. Nonetheless, we all saw a much different game that night. All because a little bit of luck was better than just being good.

For the next two weeks it's nothing out of me but #BEATBAMA. We may not be supposed to win, but we will, and so what if we're a little bit (fan)atical in thinking so. We've done it before.