While many credit John Madden for eloquently adapting Yogi Bera’s inane quote to the football realm, it doesn’t take away some of the truth inherently within. Much credit is given to the coaches and players for getting physically prepared to take the field every Saturday for 60 minutes. Champions however, are able to take a winning mentality with them and translate it into success in the face of adversity. For the Hokies, this mindset can not be separated any further from the truth. We’ve often joked here about being a team that turns “a minor setback into a major comeback”. Anyone in doubt can simply look to the eight consecutive ten win seasons, 5th ACC Championship appearance since inception, 13 game road streak, 18 straight Bowl slots, and consistent top 25 ranking over so many years.
Last year it was back to back losses that led to a clean sweep of the ACC including a 44-33 win over the media darling FSU. With all the question marks leading into this season under a new signal caller, uncertainty over special teams, and a reloaded defensive corps the doubt was palpable. Most of us held true with the highest of hopes, but braced ourselves for the inevitable loss(es) that were to come. Surely enough, after four ho-hum performances everyone’s nails were all but nibbled to the bed in anticipation for the biggest night game of the year against a smoking hot Clemson team. A team starting an abnormally high 25 underclassmen who batted top ranked teams wayward like flies (including us).
As happens every year in the College football landscape however, things change as drastically as the weather transitioning into Fall. What was once the sensational poll rattling force that was Clemson has hit somewhat of a slump over the last four games. Tajh Boyd and Co. started with a tough loss against a scrappy Georgia Tech team only to fall even further against NC State and in-state rival University of South Carolina due to a variety of issues, namely in the form of turnovers. After an 8-0 start they only had one in each game whereas they’ve finished the season compiling another 11 with Tajh being responsible for 7 of them compared to his 4 TD’s. Meanwhile, in that stretch since the Clemson game our guys have done everything to turn it around. Logan Thomas alone has accounted for 23…let me repeat, 23 touchdowns with only two interceptions during the Duke game. Withstanding the close bouts against Duke and UNC, the game against UVA last Saturday has truly shown how far we’ve come as a team. Logan has assuredly done his part to mature throughout the season, but proper due should also be given to our reeling Defense and Offensive line play. Frank promised the team, fans, and country that we’d still get to the ACC Championship Game again. It wasn’t a belief. It wasn’t wishful thinking. It was a God damn promise.
Now, that being said, anyone who treats this Clemson team with anything less than respect is outright foolish. The NC State loss led many to perpetuate the “Clemsoning” meme without hesitation. Unfairly so, since more than anything this downfall has come due to the youth of this squad raring its ugly head. The fact of the matter remains that the same youthful talent did embarrass us at home, at night, in Lane. They are hungry to get their first ACC championship in 20 years with all the right tools to do so. The advantage we do have though is being in this position before. In 2007 Matt Ryan crushed our hopes early only to take care of business in December. As well, with our appearance in Charlotte last year a great many of our troops have seen this stage with great success. What’s left for us to do now is what we continually do, win. I unfortunately can’t make the trip, but for those of you who are make sure to hit up the TKP tailgate in lot 118 with the same fervor and excitement we had in early October. Just remember to stay warm as most forecasts show temperatures closer to the 40’s. Somewhat fitting though, as revenge is a dish best served cold.
