I was thinking back on the season and just realized the last quarter of the regular season is upon us already. There's still 3 games left that will determine a lot about this season, program, and possibly Frank Beamer's legacy but feel it's a good time to look back. I think that so far this season can be broken down into three 3 game series as far as team performance and fan expectations. I'll say that I came in thinking with the schedule that VT would go 9-3.
1st Quarter: Warm up Against W&M, "Mission Accomplished" ... and the Pirate Hangover?
Of course the beginning of this season will always be remember by the win against the Buckeyes. I was there in Columbus and it was an incredible memory that I will never forget even though the season has soured now. Right after the mission accomplished shirts were created VT came back home as a ranked team to be shocked by ECU. At the time my feelings were just that VT came out flat after a big win and ended up losing in the last second. The interceptions by Brewer started to get noticed but he still had the shine of being the moxie Texas gunslinger that got the big win.
From the high of VT fans thinking up playoff what if scenarios came the reality that it was still a young team. I know after the ECU game I was heartbroken but rationalized that I thought team was going to be 2-1 anyways but just now we really have a great win instead of just being status quo.
2nd Quarter: Realization of problems.... but weak Coastal though
This was the stretch when VT fans got to know that this team has problems, realized the loss against ECU was not just a hangover against an underrated team, and Brewer became known more for interceptions than making plays. There was the second loss in a row at home losing in the final seconds against a Georgia Tech team that didn't look good to start their season. The Western Michigan homecoming game was a malaise of awfulness on offense for the first half before there was a half team Beamer to Loeffler confrontation to run the dang ball which lead to some excitement that was tempered by Shai getting injured. VT was able to end the first half of the season on a strong note though beating a UNC team that had high expectations coming into the season.
The bye week couldn't have come at a better time with a team that was in desperate need of rest and recovery. After this series of games the top 3 RBs, top 2 DTs, top CB, and 2 of the top 3 TEs all had big injuries. The WR that was supposed to be a leader on the thing had gone AWOL.
My preseason prediction had VT right at the same record at 4-2 but with losses against UNC and OSU. My thinking though was even with the injuries and the youth that being in such a bad coastal division could mean a trip to Charlotte. I was excited to see GT lose during the bye week thinking VT would just by 1 more loss by GT away from controlling their path to Charlotte....
3rd Quarter: The nightmare that #ALLMAROONEVERYTHING couldn't save...
This was the worst stretch of 3 regular season games for Virginia Tech football arguably since 1992. The only argument comes from the 2003 season when VT needed overtime to beat Temple then lost to both Boston College and UVa to end the season.
Against Pitt I thought we would lose before the season started #BecausePitt and also it was a bad matchup for VT with a small inexperienced, injured defensive front against James Conner. I had thought that VT would be 4-3 at this point of the season but that the classic Frank Beamer comeback would come through and a young VT team would rally on a home Thursday night game against rival Miami.
The 2014 Miami game will be remembered as an embarrassment at home in front of a national audience akin to the 2011 Clemson and the 2005 Miami games. So far through the season this is the only loss that didn't come down to the last second.
VT showed fight against Boston College but there was the same result of a lack of run game along with youthful mistakes on defense leading to a one possession loss.
4th Quarter: Season/Program/Legacy Defining 3 Game Series
This is a very young team that has played 21 freshman so far and went through a ton of injuries with all but 1 loss coming down to the last possession. This team still has a lot to prove against a #19 Duke team, an improving Wake Forest team, and a Uva squad that's hungry for their first win at Lane Stadium since 1998.
Most of the time a recruit mentions VT they mention the winning tradition and the symbol of that is the bowl streak. VT has to win the 4th quarter of the season in order to continue the tradition of the program the Frank Beamer built.
Next year has already been mentioned in press conferences but the future is now. I still have faith in VT to finish strong and get a bowl berth.
Comments
Excellent post HokieJoe - assuming this is another late night "life-of-a-consultant" post.
Here's a cool stat - we can still finish the season 8-5. 8 wins after an abysmal 2nd and 3rd quarter would be a huge turnaround going into next season. Coach talk warning: we have to take it one game at a time. I still have faith that the same team that beat OSU can show up and win this weekend, and regain some momentum to end the season on a positive note.
Duke is deservedly favored but VT could show up and beat Duke. It is one game at a time and this team is still pretty injured but VT still has more talent on their roster. Duke however is a team that has experience winning close games. VT is desperate for a win. Hard to believe it's been over a month of not having getting a W.
Duke might be having the best season of their program's history with a top 20 ranking. Maybe a Duke team comes in a bit lethargic after 2 road weekends and thinking of a short week before their rivalry game against UNC. Duke is a well coached team though and it is a big challenge to beat them.
Agree completely. Duke very close to being undefeated at this point - they should have had the win vs. Miami, but a late game interception allowed the Canes to come out with that win.
Good stuff, well written and considered.
My optimistic prediction about how this goes down:
VT 26, Duke 24 -- VT finally leans on Marshawn down the stretch, as he scores two fourth qtr TD's to regain the lead. Duke drives for the winning FG but misses wide left (VT is due a close win)
VT 19, Wake 3 -- Wake's defense really isn't that bad, but this may be the worst 1-A offense we have ever faced. They had 119 yards, total, vs. Clemson last Thursday. We just wear them down with field position.
VT 20, uva 14 -- In another close win, Brewer outplays Lambert down the stretch. Corey Marshall with the sack/strip in the fourth QTR to preserve the lead
Music City Bowl -- VT 24 Florida 20 -- Wrapping up the season with a bowl win that looks better than it is (like 1998?). Late 2nd qtr punt return for TD by Stroman sets VT up 14-3 at halftime and defense holds on with late Chuck Clark interception.
(Other interesting potential bowl assignments: Detroit or Yankee Stadium vs. Michigan or Penn State)
Music City Bowl would be my dream bowl game for sure. Even when I thought VT would go 9-3 I hoped for Music City Bowl as a different locale and playing a SEC school. If Tennessee and VT are both bowl eligible it would almost be a no brainer to match us up.