Wednesday: ACC gets it done
THE PAST TWO DAYS HAVE BEEN BIG FOR THE ACC, as league teams go 3-1 to cap a 4-2 bowl season. Clemson’s win over LSU in the Chick-fil-A was a biggie, as was Georgia Tech’s upset of Southern Cal. Florida State holding serve last night as heavy favorites over North Illinois last night was a must, as a loss there could have negated all the positive gains that came before it. It also saved the Orange Bowl some embarrassment, after a bowl official reportedly told an NIU staffer: “We didn’t even want you here.”
ON DECK: Today is the Sugar Bowl, with Louisville taking on Florida. Kickoff is 8:30 p.m. on ESPN.
LID-LIFTERS: Closing in on conference opener time for Virginia Tech and Virginia. The Hokies travel to Maryland on Saturday for a noon tip, while the Wahoos host North Carolina at 8 p.m. Sunday on ESPNU.
AL GROH UPDATE: Doughty catches up with the former UVa coach, who has this to say about his time at Georgia Tech: “Just to say it briefly, this circumstance here was the most unprofessional, divisive and negative environment in which I’ve ever been,” Groh said. “To say more would be unprofessional of myself.
It was just a bad cultural match.”
January 2, 2013 - 8:33 AM
It doesn’t look like basketball season will necessarily be a time of celebration for the Hokies this year. As I pointed out back in August, Erick Green needs major help scoring from his teammates, and Johnson doesn’t have the manpower to run a high octane fast break offense. For a coach that was touted as being a defensive specialist, the biggest weakness has been on the defensive side.
Let’s hope they can pull it together, because the ACC season is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. Beyer seems to be the find of the year thus far Rebounding, ESPECIALLY on the offensive boards, needs to be a priority of the highest order. The ACC schedule favors us this season, as we’ve got the easy end of the schedule. The oreseason is over now, we’re playing with real money from here on out.
The ACC really had a chance for an eye-popping record, were it not for the unfortunate fumble by Duke. 5-1 would have looked really good, particularly when you can brush the ’1′ under the rug with it being a team running on an interim/lame duck staff.
It is going to be interesting to see how Tech responds at Maryland. I know they are short handed, but the entire gameplan seems to have gone out the window. People didn’t like the Greenberg deliberate offense . . . well, this is starting to look just like it the last few games. The idea of firin’ a shot up in the first 10 seconds of the shot clock has gone AWOL.
crooked is also right on the money – the defense is like Elvis, and has left the building.
The biggest excitement, or anticipation, now is what happens on the coaching side of football.
The Hokies are about where I thought they’d be after non-conference play. I was figuring 8 +/- 1 wins, and they’re 9-4. I also figured about a 4-win ACC effort, and given the thumpings they took at the hands of Bradley and BYU, that seems about right to me. If Green isn’t scoring, they’re toast. And their lack of depth will hurt down the stretch, as they simply lack the bodies to keep up the fast pace of gameplay. Plus, the lack of height continues to sdemonstrate itself with weakness on rebounding. But, despite all that, this was a rebuilding year anyway, so the fact that they’ve picked up some good wins and showed some sparks of brilliant play give me hope going forward that James Johnson is the right guy, and will be able to build a good team as he gets players into the program that fit his system.
The bowls…haven’t watched a single snap of any game this year. Why? Well, for starters, all but the GT-USC game (as far as I can tell) were/are on channels I don’t get…and I’m not going to a bar to watch these games anyway. Plus, the fact that the games are so spread out from mid-December through the first week of January, and it’s lost the luster. That, combined with so many 6-6 teams playing, and I just really don’t care for most matchups anyway.
The bowls used to be great many years ago when good teams played other good teams, and the bowls were contained largely within a 1-week stretch between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Lots of great games on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day and then it was done. A solid 2-day bowl smorgasbord, and it was awesome. Now? I really don’t care. I’m actually enjoying the NFL more for the first time, ever…and my team hasn’t been relevant all season.
Agree with OJ on the bowls, each seemed to be a good match up worth watching. Now there are too many bowls which leads to too many mismatches. But separating those, there still have been some good ones ala CU/LSU, USC/Mich, Stanford/Wis., Ga./Neb.
The win over OK State shows our guys can play. The lopsided losses show the importance of depth. Foul trouble will be our enemy so I doubt we can afford to play tenacious “D”. With tough D comes fouls and we just can’t have anyone foul out.
No team wins every game and most suffer some bad loses. No one expects an ACC Championship but no one expected a win over OK State either.
I believe we will continue to surprise and I love JJ’s coaching style. No matter how this season goes ( and I thought at the start it would be a “lost” season) the win over OSU already has this year exceeding my expectations.
I posted this question late in the day yesterday on Andy’s board and got little response so I’ll try here. Saw very little of Stanford throughout the year but did watch yesterday’s bowl. I must say I was unimpressed with the O which seemed pretty much generic and showed nothing new or innovative (that I could tell). Checked the year’s stats and saw they were ranked 83rd in total O compared to VT’s 71. Theeir scoring O was ranked 68th. So the question I have is what is it about Pep Hamilton that will make such a vast improvement at VT (of course I acknowledge any O without Stinespring is a better O)? I know he coached Luck for a year but there has to be something I’m missing? Anyone?
If you don’t play defense you will lose, plain & simple. We knew prior to the season how many scholarship & non-scholarship players we had. We had the same opportunities as every other team out there. We’ve got some serious issues to address in order to save the season. Nobody reasonable had high expectations for the season.
Let’s also not get carried away with one upset win. Going 12-20, but bragging about a victory over OkState is pretty ridiculous. Or are we going to ignore the loss to Georgia Southern? Sort of a wash on those two games. If you want to hide behind the OkState win, then you’ve got to be man enough to accept the GaSouthern loss.
The first seven games were well above expectations, the last five games have been right in line with expectations.
Short handed or not, the time for excuses is over. We’ve GOT to play tough defense, no excuses, no apologies, no spin. We’ve got to rebound, and do all the hard stuff that doesn’t get you on ESPN highlight clips. Deron Washington wasn’t a great Hokie because of his dunks, he was a great Hokie because he left everything out there on the court. Right now, we need more guys busting it like Beyers, and less doing it like Raines.
The hill starts to get steeper now. It’s not a sprint – like the first seven games – it’s a marathon, like the next 19.
The fantasy about Pep Hamilton is the same as the fantasy about Tony Franklin. If you take off the O&M sunglasses, it makes zero sense. It will not happen. Expect a much lower profile hire, not the fantasy of someone willing to take a lateral job title for an inferior team. It was never going to be Tony Franklin, and it will not be Pep Hamilton.
OC can be anyone as long as it is NOT a former hoo !!!!!!!!
Hi Aaron. I have heard lots of rumors about the current O staff’s future. Purdue, JMU, etc. Can you tell the readers if any of this is true and what do you think might happen?
I don’t remember who it was (crooked, maybe) that responded to the ‘teaser’ I said about the possibilities for the Tech OC earlier, couple or three weeks back, but now that he is officially in rumor land, it was Pep Hamilton that I was referring to.
crooked, I wouldn’t exactly call Pep Hamilton a high profile hire, if you ask me. The dude doesn’t even call his own plays. When I first heard it (and it has been a while, so there must be some meat in this soup), my initial reaction was “wow!” – but now, not so much.
The NFL pedigree is pretty impressive, but it also dangerous. Guys like that go back, given a chance.
Also, an OC in the Pac 12? Come on – do they play defense in that league?
In the game yesterday, Wisconsin pretty much adapted to what Stanford was doing, and there weren’t any major, in game adjustments made by Stanford to counter it – and this was a Wisconsin team that did not deserve the Rose, but backed into it, and was coached by the AD, who wasn’t so bad a coach, to begin with, but still has been off the field for a while.
Tony Franklin, kind of the same way. Do you really want a guy that jumps from a job he just got? Pep did. He had a cup of coffee at New Mexico, literally, a cup of coffee.
Rick H, I’m not sure what point you’re trying to make. we can argue back & forth for whatever pointless points you consider valuable, no big deal to me. Pep Hamilton is the OC at a school rated FAR higher than VT nationally, and his salary is as large as that of Stinespring, Beamer’s favorite son from another mother. To take the VT OC job would be a financial demotion, as well as a HUGE PR demotion. All for the pretend aura of family in the CLT region? Of recruiting in the DC region? Seriously? A paycut to a dead end job where zero offensive creativity is allowed? Yeah, EVERYBODY’S going to be leaping at that chance.
You can label me as the skeptic of choice for whatever point you want to make in an apologist manner, it’s no big deal. Pep Hamilton isn’t coming. Frank has NEVER thought that big. And that’s not even big. Regardless, Frank doesn’t go outside the comfort zone.
KR…
Why does Pep Hamilton vanilla offense work. his offensive line blocks. Any offense will work if you have blocking. Stanfords strength and conditioning coach trained at Tech. I like the attitude he has developed. I haven’t done any deep research, I’ll let Donald do that, but did anybody besides me notice the Virginia QB’s in the bowl games. VT, FSU, Clemson, NC State, and Stanford all had QB’s from VA. If UNC had been eligible, it would have added another. Not bad for the state. I know of 4 more HS players who have committed from the 757 area as QB’s in Div I.
#11 Not so with the salary from what I’ve heard, he’d be making more at VT.
Sorry did not read all of crooked’s post. From what I have read elsewhere, there has been contact with Hamilton, who is from N.C. and went to school in D.C. And I’m not so sure about him taking a financial demotion. Apparently Stanford does not pay it’s athletic coaches on par with the other Pac-10 schools and in his last year there Harbaugh was the second lowest paid HC in the Pac-12. And I’m not on board with the “HUGE PR demotion” stuff. Stanford is good now but really how long has that been and how long will that be? From ’04 (when VT joined the ACC) through ’08 Stanford was simply bad with a 19-39 record and no bowl appearances (they went 1-11 in ’06). They did very well with Harbaugh, yes, but he came and went in 4 years. To imply it would be like going from the Yankees to the Pirates say (huge PR demotion) is to me highly inaccurate and distorts the record. During Beamer’s tenure at VT there have been 8 different Stanford coaches. During VT’s 20 year bowl run Stanford has only been in 8 and four of those were in the last 4 years. I’ll be the first to admit that the last 4 years they’ve been the better team but if your an asst. coach looking for a consistent winning team and more money than Stanford has to offer, and be closer to your roots, you bet VT looks good. I’m just asking why him.
crooked, I’m not labeling you as a skeptic. If you could read beyond a couple of sentences, you’d realize you and I are on the same page. Apparently, you cannot.
But, I am going to call you out. Prove that Pep Hamilton, or any other private school coach is making more, less, or the same, as a public school coach. You can’t even do it with public schools, because of the ‘private’ money involved.
Also, please tell me how Stanford is rated “FAR higher than VT nationally.” Tech hasn’t pulled a 1-11 recently.
Day 2 of year 2013 and no new info on staff changes.
What I’ve heard is that Pep makes approx. $360K, which is on par with Stinespring. Neither salary is ‘large’ for a BCS AQ team. Bud’s $450K is more in line on that factor. I don’t have copies of their W-2′s, so I guess that doesn’t qualify as iron clad proof, though.
As for the point I made about PR ‘demotion’, that would reference the final rankings over the past four years of Stanford & VT. Factor in the ascent/decline of each school, and the point seems pretty clear to all but some Hokie fans. Doing a two decade comparison? That would be as silly as comparing Beamer & Nick Saban as ‘equals’ over the last two decades – I think any objective analysis doesn’t need to be explained there.
I’ll stick with my info on Hamilton until proven wrong. It would be an interesting hire, if Frank actually allowed him to run the offense in his manner. I’ve not heard anything that even whispered that Pep had been asked or shown interest, other than message board gossip. I’ll have to see it to believe it, though. I’d love to be wrong on this one, just as I’d love to see the housecleaning done that needs to be done. Label me skeptical on that one, though. Regardless, we’ll find out in two weeks. Not leaving Logan a lot of time, though he’ll know well enough in advance to file his paperwork.
Acworth — I’ve heard the same, but none of them have confirmed anything on the record as of yet. So we’re still in a holding pattern.
AMc, it’s pretty well known all the decisions have already been made. How is it that the lid has been capped so well in Merryman? Anywhere else, word would be out, but here, not a peep. That’s pretty interesting.
AAron, coaching search.com has Kevin Sherman already at Purdue unless I am reading this wrong.
I’ll go with what I said about VT/Stanford. One is a program showing very recent football success and the other a program with long term success. Given Stanford’s history and the fact it is an academic school and has been for a very long time the Duke and Vandy and N’Western of other conferences, I question how long they will stay where they are. The fact is Hamilton is from this area and he will likely make more money and thus the job should grab his attention. I’m just not totally convinced he’s the guy to turn things totally around. And crooked, Beamer may be stubborn but he’s not dumb. I say whoever the new guy may be, he is going to be get a looser leash than Frank Jr., I mean stiney. Frank is going out soon and he wants to go out with a far better team than he gave us this year.
CR, Help me out. What are the decisions that have been made if you know. I live in the hinterlands of Lynchburg and don`t get info to quickly although I can tell you Logan was not saying anything in Wal=Mart the other night. Thanks.
Crooked Road, yes skeptic fits nicely with your antagonist, naysayer, pessimist labels. You have been on quite a roll since the bowl game. My advice is to tone it down a bit so the other 1% won’t figure you out. 99% of us already have.
CR, IF you are correct and decisions have already been made, I think it’s admirable that no leaks have come out. I think the principles involved should be able to handle things in the manner they wish.
Crooked Road-how about showing some patience on the coaching change announcements? This is a marathon, not a sprint. Remember?
I am still amazed that any predicted VT coaching changes still have not leaked or been annouced. Feb. 5th is National Recruit signing date. The season finale ended over five days ago.Holding Pattern? Business as usual?
Damage control?? Rumors flood but the truth trickles. Time to show the prize catches or just keep cutting bait!
Like I asked several weeks ago…….where is Kevin Rogers ?
Appreciate the update on Al Groh. With his ever present appeal to the media, fans, and HS coaches throughout VA, it is surprising that he had to go to Atlanta GA to realize he is not a good cultural fit in a certain situation, being around people. Here’s hoping Al goes back up to NJ and lives a normal life of a disgraced football coach.
JD, Kevin Rogers is currently unemployed – since his head coach took the Boston College job and hired a different Offensive Coordinator. As I mentioned weeks ago, KR is indeed one of the few inside the Frank Beamer Circle Of Trust not already employed by VaTech. Kevin Rogers has a long history as a QB coach, and is considered to be somewhat old school in his approach to offensive strategy – little to no spread option, etc. (Any of this sound appealing to Frank, you think?)
Kevin Rogers could also handle the dual titles (like many OC’s have) of OC & position coach, the position being QB coach. Let’s pretend he came to VaTech. If he did so, Mike O’Cain could ‘retire’, Stinespring could ‘transfer’ to Recruiting Coordinator at equal salary (vastly overpaid, but what does Frank care?) to his current position and salve his ego. Rogers could come in at roughly $400K annually. Rogers would be paid less than Bud Foster, soothing another ego, Stinespring could still make almost $400K annually, soothing HIS ego and Frank’s, and the staff reduction would mean the recruiting coordinator could travel to recruit players.
As for my personal flamer danny? Feel free to discuss substantive topics if you know any. I’m as patient as can be about the upcoming coaching changes. I realize what matters is Frank’s attitude, not the name of the OC. But, hey, danny – what about you? What do you think? Feel free to elaborate on anything, if you’ve got a thought other than chasing me from afar. I didn’t see a preponderance of posts by you following the bowl game, or about the much discussed coaching rumors. Do you have anything? Other than envy for thoughts of others? Chime in, I’m openly encouraging you to generate discussion and not vitriol.
How many here think Crooked road is an idiot?? Show of hands, please….
Suggesting a blog pool being published to pick a date as the tie breaker if or when Beamer hires a new offensive staff, perhaps even with 8-16 brackets for choosing likely candidiates.This idea seems inherently indecisive yet creative and likely faster acting than what’s currently not happening in Blacksburg!!!
pep? bring in the total pep boys garage mechanics — Manny, Moe and Larry! pep it boys!
Did I miss a vacation announcement? I guess the hot stove league must be stuck in neutral. No local coaching hires or searches we’ve got clearance to admit, or anything like that?
Mi amigo, pete, why the ire? You’ve got to learn that we’re discussing sports here, the country’s playground. Well, sports & their causation on SAT scores and socioeconomic strategies, of course. All intricately intertwined. Um, yeah…
All light stuff. No need to get your dander fluffed. Besides, you’re about 8th in line. Consider yourself forgiven…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co5xVHsMRV0
Pete, after reading his blogs, I don’t think crooked is an idiot. He has a lot to say and is not bad at saying it. What he is, is a narcissist. He speaks for himself, to himself. Nobody should take his jibes personally, he certainly doesn’t mean them personally, he’s just verbally masturbating. Practicing for a Jim Rome amateur smack-off or something. Thing is, he is so prolific, I think it is all he does, all day, every day…from blog to blog, but he does have some ideas and opinions that are valid, just like the rest of the contributers. Problem is, he thinks that he is the TOP dog on the blog, instead of just another barking mouth, speculating like the rest of us. I’d definitely rank him above Barry from Ivy, but unlike Barry, the blogosphere would probably miss him a little if he were to dry up. Gives us all something to be annoyed about other than Coach FB’s nail pulling pace at overhauling the O. And crooked, nothing personal, man, keep spewing. I learned long ago how to hit the down tab.
Don’t forgive me, I also, think you are a overbearing, obnoxious self serving bag of wind.
#32, PETE……. dude……….. both of my hands are up. My feet, too! Wiggling fingers and toes for effect!!!!!
I’m CR’s first in line!
Don’t let the apparent rationality of post #35 fool you. Its a deception!
Zman, I’ll give you credit, as it is due – you’re a fun adversary, and very near the top of the line. Probably first, heck, I’ll be generous, and give you that, for today (only, don’t get conceited), and just for kicks, even if you fail to appreciate it (like usual) and still stay bitter. Primarily because you’re not a fool, like a half dozen of the others. You’re just a little too high strung, that’s all. I really hope the strain of all this Hokie football discussion isn’t more than you could bear.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfbAFgD2mLo
I’m in that kind of a mood today. Remember, this is all fluff, mi amigo. Even if you refuse to accept me. Why harbor such venom? Football is only a game. This is all talk about a game. A game…
I forgot to add, Zman. You evidently halfway understand nuance, unlike so many others. That gives you about a 63% boost above the others. If you could only add in a smile to the posts, then it would be really, really fun. For 2013, that’s my New Year’s resolution for you. That you can smile about it all, instead of being so angry. Notice how I didn’t even mention your being defensive? Isn’t that a gift in itself? See, I’m extending the olive branch way further than 36″, just in the holistic desire for appeal…
Aw CR ….
If ah thought ah wasn’t your friend ah just couldn’t bear it……
#39, See?!? That is EXACTLY why I enjoy the repartee! I discarded that clip in favor of the other. You’ll NEVER admit it, but you can’t quit me, and you know it…
My second favorite movie and I knew what you were referring to right away.
Today’s lyric:
I can’t quit you babe
So i’ll just have to put you down
for a while
@41 Are we talking “Tombstone” and Doc here? Jut checking my memory
In ACC football news – Congratulations to Daniel Rodriguez: walk-on Clemson football player and more importantly, Bronze Star & Purple Heart recipient. Rodriguez was named the winner of the Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award for 2012. It’s nice to see Rodriguez able to make his dreams come true, and the publicity that surrounds the people who made the effort to help that happen. It goes to show what just a little extra effort by potential supporters of our military – especially the decorated veterans – makes possible. Rodriguez is a tireless worker. I’m glad somebody gave the veteran an opportunity.
@ Crooked Road-The Rodriguez story is a feel good story for sure. Praises to him for his service to the country and efforts in college.Well done young man!!