File Under: Numb

Apathy has set in. And that's a program killer.

Recruiting busts, missed evaluations, and unanticipated attrition might set a program back for a season-plus. Mind boggling play calling could and does lose games. But fan disinterest will strangle a program into the dirt. From social media to message boards, there's been a plethora of takes distilled into a similar sentiment, 'I'm done with this', 'I have better things to do'.

Those cries were made and observed in the heat of the moment, or the scortched bytes thereafter. Perhaps they're reactionary. However, HokieNation, and its financial and in-person support, has helped sustain the program through its rise and over the long haul. It's a scary proposition to envision the result of a pullback of either. Moreover, the product on the field may turn away the potential next-generation of supporters.

"We just saw their sideline," said Pitt defensive end Rashad Weaver, "they weren't ready, honestly. And we were."

That's a damning indictment of the current state of Virginia Tech football. The Hokies had everything to play for on Saturday — bowl eligibility and a Coastal crown. Yet, the Panthers smelled the blood on the turf and pounced.

From inside the bubble, it's hard to put things in context. However, this feels like a new low for the program over the course of the bowl streak era.

This team is really bad. I don't know. We haven't had to deal with this since 2003. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯— THE KEY PLAY (@thekeyplay) November 10, 2018

That tweet was met with barrage of responses, 'No, it's worse'. It's hard to argue against that.

The identity of the program is lost at the moment. Virginia Tech football was never fancy, but it was dependable. You knew what you were getting: tenacious defense, playmaking special teams, and an offense that knew how to leverage the former. It was unnecessary to define "tough" as part of the program's mantra. There was an implicit blue collar mentality.

This season it's anything but.

The defense is setting new, embarrassing records.

Virginia Tech allowed 49+ points 1 time from 2004-2017 (the bowl win vs. Tulsa in 2015).They've allowed 49+ three times this season.— Hi, I'm David👋 (@ADavidHaleJoint) November 10, 2018

#Pitt's 654 yards most allowed by #Hokies under Bud.— David Teel (@DavidTeelatDP) November 10, 2018

And yes, the defensive two-deep has progressively gotten worse since the close of the 2017 campaign by way of NFL departures, dismissals, and injuries. However, it's November and both Justin Fuente and Bud Foster cited gaffs in force-spill concepts, a core and fundamental tenet of Foster's defense, as a reason for the 492 rushing yards (!) surrendered to Pitt. Point being, there are other issues at play.

There were more baffling decisions than offensive fireworks against the North Carolina (No. 95 S&P+), Georgia Tech (No. 104 S&P+), and Pittsburgh (No. 87 S&P+) defenses. Shuttling in Quincy Patterson, and flirting with burning his redshirt, for spot duty running the dang ball down multiple touchdowns made little sense on Saturday.

Overall, each unit is equally culpable in this disaster of a season.

Even though the chatter has escalated after each loss, it's not time to fire Fuente (or really consider it). Beyond the buyout, Whit Babcock would blemish an otherwise attractive post by terminating a coach who won a combined 19 games in years one and two. Fuente hasn't forgotten how to coach, but perhaps he hasn't learned yet how to manage a Power Five program — its roster, its fans, its staff.

To the latter, Fuente's been on the record multiple times he will pick the team over a single player.

Fuente on Mook Reynolds' situation: "I tell our kids all the time:: guys, don't put me in a position to choose between you and the team, because I'll choose the team every single time." #Hokies— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) July 18, 2018

That line of thought should extend to any individual, including Virginia Tech's assistant coaches.