- Don Vaughn passed away yesterday, 4/8/24. He spent a long time with the team and Pry mentions it was a somber day.
- Pry briefly mentions the NIL fund raising initiatives going on with Triumph and The Hokie Way through the spring game. During followup questions Pry notes that VT's NIL offerings are strong, but you never want to be overconfident. "We are competitive, but don't have the war chest some have". He still makes the point that he doesn't want players to come to or stay at Tech for NIL, but that he wants to make sure we are competitive.
- Some of the team has already been earmarked for decreased snaps for the spring game because they are a known factor. Drones, APR, and Strong all mentioned.
- Spring Game format will be similar to last year. First half has usual clock rules with a 15 and 12 minute quarter. Second half will be two 12 minute quarters with a running clock.
- Depth is better this year, particularly at OL and DL. These groups will be split up between the 1s and 2s to allow for better evaluation of players and a more competitive game.
- Grannam and Cunningham are both getting reps at tackle and guard. IMO, reading between the lines, it seems like starting guards are still questionable, but I'd love to hear what others more in the know have heard.
- Keller has definitely shown to be one of the top 3-4 guys at LB. He has been playing Mike and Will. Made strides in scrimmage play this spring and has proven to be a better communicator.
- Pry mentions that the entire defense has improved in communication and specifically mentions the hand signals being used accurately across the board.
- A big storyline to follow for the Spring Game will be the battle at backup QB. Pop currently ahead. Him and Wittke got about 100 snaps at the last 2 live scrimmages.
Injuries - Out for Spring Game
- Holloway
- Stroman
- Lawson
- Hanchuk
Also, as mentioned previously I will keep up with the Pry-ssrs through Fall Camp, but will have to dial it back once the season is underway. I believe heuplek had mentioned they would help, but it would be nice to have a handful of people to compile and edit these. It's a decent amount to keep up with during the grind of the season.
Forums:
DISCLAIMER: Forum topics may not have been written or edited by The Key Play staff.
Comments
thanks! and Lets Go...
Hokies!
In limited clips I've seen, Pop has looked great. IF he can continue to mature, I think we have a good one waiting in the wings.
What's the context on Keller? That he's improved as a communicator, or that he's a better communicator than everyone else at the position?
After one of our early bad loses last year Pry mentioned that the defense wasn't getting the correct play calls. Upon film review and additional Pry-ssrs it was suspected that Keller was pulled in favor of Tisdale because he was reading the wrong signal caller. I don't think this was ever confirmed and I don't think he was the only one with suboptimal communication last year, but that's the context to Pry's comments on defensive communication.
Every year he looks great in practice. We heard it last spring, and then he was wretched in the spring game, which was a precursor of what is to come.
I really hope Woodson, Williams, and Stevens can pass him by. I just don't see a scenario where his brain isn't tying up his feet. I also hope I am wrong.
Yeah Fu was raving about him way back when. I discounted him totally until these comments. If he actually does look better in a game then maaaybe he's turning a corner. Won't believe it unless it actually happens during the season.
If Brumfield ends up being a solid Mike for us, do you think that helps untie a players feet like Keller, who has less to worry about next to him?
Does this change with the new headset rule? That's this season right?
Hasn't been approved yet, looks like the vote is on 4-18
I totally read this as the vote was at 4 for to 18 against, and was trying to figure out the numbers when I realized this what a date.......
What time is spring game?
3pm on ACCNx/ESPN3
Here's the complete ACC Spring schedule for those interested.
Thank you. I am hoping the rain will have stopped by then.
I love these posts , thanks for taking the time to do them
You're welcome. I honestly like doing them, but I'll just let the cat out of the bag now. We are expecting our second kiddo in mid October and that last month or 2 is going to be hell at work getting ready for my leave and at home prepping the house and the toddler. Good news is after the baby is here I will probably have some extra time to be on TKP far too much and at weird hours.
Congrats - my TKP contribution definitely decreased when my second joined us. Have a third coming in July, so it's about to get real wild.
Never let them out number you.
Just kidding, congrats!
Yep - already know I'm totally fucked
Switching from Man to Zone is a helluva change. Good luck, sir.
Thank you, please pray to the dork magic gods that no pussy touchdowns are denied, and I can manage 3 under 3
I was about to say that 3 kids isn't bad...but then you said "3 under 3" and that sounds awful. Godspeed, friend.
Ya know, 2 under 2 was managable, and going from 1 -> 2 was infinitely easier than going from 0 -> 1. We have lovely family and friends nearby who are always willing to help, so while I know it will be tough, I think we'll get through it.
Glad to hear you have support. That's huge.
Glad to hear someone say 1 -> 2 was easier than 0 -> 1. I feel like everyone I talk to just says 2 is so much harder than 1.
pssht. Naw man. Even with the sleep deprivation that came with #2, in most ways, 2 was easier than 1. Never underestimate the stress that comes with learning to do the basics for the first time. Yes, playing soccer is hard, but that's just because no one remembers how hard it was to learn to walk in the first place.
So, in my experience, and talking to my friends, how well your first child eats mostly defines how easy the first nine generally goes.
If you have a child who nurses really well then the mom is going to do the bulk of the heavy lifting, and going 0 -> 1 is going to be relatively easy for the Dad. But then when the second comes around, the dad has to start being much more involved with the first and that's really difficult.
If you introduced a bottle earlier with your first – whether out of necessity or by choice – then the duties of keeping your baby alive become significantly more equal between the two partners, so when the second comes around, everyone is 100% up to speed and on the same page.
Anyways, I could talk for ages about this, but I've recently developed a propensity for taking TKP threads way off topic, so I'll chill for now.
recently?
Here, here, and here.
Our first was difficult - hated to sleep, stubborn (would cry for an hour to get what he wanted, etc.) The second was so much easier we talked about a third, but decided to pass incase we got another like the first.
not tryin' to be that guy but....did you do 3 under 3 on purpose? I am genuinely curious
I always thought we'd try to group ours closer. My wife was one of 5 and the first 4 were across 5 years and they were always close growing up together like that so we wanted to replicate. Then we had our first and struggled with the adjustment. Our second came two years later and did not sleep for 3 years (ok, that's hyperbole, you could bounce her for 45 minutes and she'd sleep for 30 minutes, rinse and repeat until insanity sets in). My wife literally cried when she found out she was pregnant with #3 two years into that sleepless nightmare. Then, of course, #3 was a great sleeper and we almost tried for #4, but didn't want to risk a repeat of #2
This hits home lol - my wife is the oldest of 5, I'm an only child. Our first was a straight terrorist, but our second is the most agreeable baby ever. But we were still not planning for #3 (not right now at least)
Absolutely not on purpose... feel like we have to say that all the time, otherwise people will think we're crazy. Yes, we are crazy, but no, not this crazy.
well, I imagine it's going to be hard as hell for about 6+ years and then once the youngest is like 10ish it'll be a hell of a lot of fun (and also hard, but in different ways)
bar1990......
I was 6th of 7 kids (plus mom had five miscarriages too-oldest six of us within 9 years along with 4 of the miscarriages
(side note -when my dad went ahead to Okinawa to set up housing, mom went from upstate New York to Okinawa-on prop planes- with a 6 yo,5yo,4yo and twin nine month olds BY HERSELF, The oldest three on harnesses and leashes(don't like them in general but given her situation couldn't blame her) and the 9 month olds were one on each hip. she told us that on a layover in KC, the three oldest got loose and ran in three different directions and wouldn't look back-cause she new they wouldn't keep going if she caught their eyes. She said she sat down and smoked a cigarette then a drunk guy came up and asked if she wanted hinmto track them down. She said she thought about it for 10-15 seconds before saying "yeah- their dad would probably miss them!")
Ex was 3rd of 6 kids herself. we had two kids together-Irish twins 10 days shy of a year apart, She actually had a pregnancy test at her 6 week checkup. She ha her tubes tied at same time as delivering the 2nd or we would have followed i parents' footsteps I'm sure.
Fast forward 30 years. Our daughter had a kid in March 2020,May 2021, May 2022, and August 2023. Apparently fertility runs in the family from both sides lol.
Maybe take a break from the pussy touchdowns or you're going to end up with 4 under 4.
Yea probably time to get snipped
obligatory:
Congratulations to you and your wife.
Whelp I assume this means drones is gone because we should have on #25 for Frank but we have #24gete and 25-#1 = 24 thus Drones is gone. /s
Missed opportunity for the orange jersey to be 20 and the maroon jersey to be 24.
Is it a Maroon vs Orange game this year? It's typically Maroon vs white right? Maroon vs orange would be way better.
Got an email for the Triumph Spring Sweepstakes they're doing. Seems like a really smart way to get people to donate to NIL given the potential things you could win. I would love to see them do a 50/50 during the game as well, looks like UMD does that so I assume its not against collegiate rules.
2024 Triumph Spring Sweepstakes
Idk if if was coordinated or not, but really smart on the VT NIL people to have the sweepstakes for the folks like me that dish out $5-10 at a time and the auction for the more monied fans.
I just purchased four items for a total of $25 but the grand total without an itemized report came to $36.43 so you're telling 46% extra to pay for processing/taxes?!
They should find a new partner to administer the sweepstakes should they do it again. There has to be a cheaper host, the fees are way too high.
I think this is one of the the NIL support opportunities they've mentioned they'll have going at the Spring Game so the $5-10 entry fee is very smart.
Like I said above, though, they should absolutely run a 50/50 raffle inside the stadium to encourage even more people to donate.
A few follow-ups if eye may...
Drones... very slight (left) leg-ding; +l.$.u. being a very live N.I.L.-whisper... and this (as you do rightly "100-snaps" state)... led, or possibly forced greater scrutiny re: the Qb2-derby. ('cause if Drones does go... it is actually a Qb1 derby in hiding). (Barring scraping a portaling Qb1 up-- which seems leaner/less likely this time of the year to us four). Finally, 'pop' and Wittke could be conducting a '25 portaling Derby if Drones is still a Techman at that point in time. Consider that as well... this is a Seller's market to be sure... consider that even longer.
Your oLine takes are correct in relative terms... the harsh part has been 'depth' or the lack thereof for years. This messes with what textbooks call: "content validity". i.e., are you measuring a false-positive because the opposing blocker/tackler is really suspect and he is masking or making the kid you really do need to accurately eval' look better than he is. Like, say getting '23 run-fit smoked by real trench warriors at F.s.u. and Louisville. Who ate our lunch upfront. (Our 1's lunch... mind yah!).
Tho' Eye would (relatively) agry... Ot is not chasing G. Again, in relative terms... although to me? This is more so code for Ot is about one to one-point-something legit deep. Dt being the thickest part of this depth equation overall... and G-c-G being the thinnest. (Recall: we do not have a true home position C1 in the mix). And that could be making so-so G's look worse than they really are. A reverse F.s.u./L'ville reading if you will. Or, so we all hope... Rutgers=tell.
HTH's... see you full articalizing soon... Coach God Willing,
b.street
I feel strangely similar after reading bourbon street's posts as I did after my freshman calculus class with Fred Walton.
I'm still trying to parse the first paragraph and figure out if I should be worried about Drones or not. 😅😭
Health?
Prolly no. He was back next day.
Non-VeeTee=???
Who knows...
...though I do know that VeeTee entirely and absolutely must win this defacto P2 round no.1. IF we do not? The Talent scalping vultures will pick us clean from here on out.
...you jus' gotta stop hitler in Munich-- not in '45.
b.street
p.s. This is why I am delaying this next article... where will Drones' play, out???
"...you jus' gotta stop hitler in Munich-- not in '45."
This is why I love TKP, obscure WW2 references while we discuss Hokie Sports. The Beer Hall Putsch indeed!
This quote seems oddly apropos to a lot of parenting challenges we have faced with our five kiddos.
A thick, delicious turkey leg to you B Street for the memorable quote.
you should venture over to MGoBlog sometime lol
FREE the 5-hour-Dr.-Ruth!!!
(maybe a few of you are of a McBryde age to recall -or even know- what I mean...)
b.street
I actually read this one straight through and understood it all! I feel super accomplished!
I'll be looking for that "most improved" trophy on Saturday. Catching my flight this afternoon.
If Drones bolts at this point I think I'll just throw in the towel on cfb in general
I'd just start rooting for Iowa to win 2-0 every game
Did they ever hire an OC?
No idea, but no OC would still probably be an improvement
Amen, their offense the past couple years was worse than our worst ones- which is bad.
Tim Lester brings them 12 years as an Offensive Coordinator, 12 years of College Head Coaching and some time as a senior analyst for Green Bay Packers this last season. He was head coach at Western Michigan from 2017-2022 where they were top 35 in D1 in offense for his last four seasons there.
But will Kirk over rule him on play calls? They might discover the forward pass.