Heading into UVa game, Hokies know what’s at stake
It has been 24 years since both Virginia Tech and Virginia went into a Commonwealth Cup matchup with losing records, so it’s no secret there’s less buzz around this game than, say, last year’s battle that decided the Coastal Division.
But for Virginia Tech, there’s still plenty to play for. First, a win gets the Hokies to a bowl game for a 20th straight year. Second, it keeps the team’s winning streak against its state rival going.
“I think of it all the time,” freshman running back J.C. Coleman said. “I don’t want to be part of the team that loses to UVa after we beat them, what, eight times in a row? I don’t want to be part of that team or part of the team that doesn’t go to the bowl. … It’s a lot of pressure.”
The Hokies have won eight straight games in the series and 12 of the last 13. According to Virginia’s sports information department, coming into the year, Virginia was one of four schools that has beaten its rival only once in the last 13 years, joining Army, Vanderbilt and UCLA (the Commodores and Bruins, it should be noted, won their rivalry games against Tennessee and USC this year).
“It’s huge,” linebacker Jack Tyler said. “Just growing up with half their team, played against them in youth league, high school, there’s a lot of comparisons between the two. Realistically we’ve been compared to UVa way before we even came to Tech, just being compared to their recruits. It’s a big game for this program.”
As for recruiting purposes, head coach Frank Beamer doesn’t think this one game has a big impact one way or another.
“Basically I think kids grow up in this state and they either grow up a Virginia guy or grow up a Virginia Tech guy, for the most part,” Beamer said. “I think there are a few exceptions to that. People choose a program on not particularly one game, but on a season, or seasons or overall history. I think that’s more it.
“It’s two programs — I’ve always said this, and I believe it — two programs that do it the right way and compete very hard.”
Still, Beamer didn’t understate the importance of this game for what it could mean for the team this year.
“I’ve never been to a bad bowl game,” he said. “I mean, they’re all good. I think it’s Virginia, your guys grow up with a lot of kids from up there. They played against them and with them. It’s just natural that this game means a little bit more than your average game.”
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Here are some more notes and quotes from the press conference …
- Everybody seemed to be regurgitating the “there’s no such thing as a bad bowl” comment today. (Twitter followers of mine immediately said they’ve obviously never been to Shreveport.) Defensive tackle Derrick Hopkins summed up wanting to keep the season going, even if it means going to a lower-tiered bowl, like this. “As a football player, you just want to play games,” he said. “There’s a lot of people out here who can’t play football like we have the opportunity to play, so we just go out there and just thank the Lord for the opportunity to actually get to play. It doesn’t matter where we go to as long as we’re playing and game and we strive to win the game.”
- Coleman said the backs never quite know how many carries they’ll get going into a game, but he thinks he and Tony Gregory have established themselves. “I think for the last couple weeks, me and T.G. have pretty much separated ourselves from the two,” he said. He noted that after what Martin Scales did last week, especially in short-yardage situations, “he’d probably be in the mix a little bit more too. So we’ll just see what happens this week and from that we’ll go on.”
- Oscar Smith High will be well-represented this weekend. Coleman graduated from there last year. On UVa’s side, quarterback Phillip Sims, running back Perry Jones and receiver Tim Smith are all Oscar Smith products. Coleman was a sophomore on the Tigers team that went to the state semifinals during Sims’ senior year. He said Jones, a senior, taught him a lot during the recruiting process. “I definitely would want to get the last laugh on those guys and be able to win so I can talk trash on those guys for the next year,” Coleman said.
- Coleman said he’s learning from quarterback Logan Thomas not to let what outsiders are saying affect him. “After games, we all go and we read what people say on Twitter and he sees it as well, but he doesn’t let it affect him at all,” Coleman said. “He just kind of shrugs it off and comes out and does it again next week. He’s a very mentally strong guy. That’s something that you have to have as a leadership role. And that’s something he does well. That’s something that I’m picking up as well, learning it from him. Don’t worry what everybody else has said. Just do your job and whatever happens happens.”
- Tech has upped its pass rush the last couple weeks, with 22 sacks in the last five games (something I’m writing about this week). The Hokies have done part of it by blitzing a lot. How much? “A ton,” Tyler said. “I couldn’t put a percentage on it. … Coach Foster is a blitzing defensive coordinator, that’s kind of his M.O.” Tyler thinks the d-line’s depth has helped keep it fresh, too. “It’s kind of pushing those starters to play even better,” he said. “Because of that our pass rush has been great.”
November 20, 2012 - 3:51 PM
Can’t wait for Saturday. Put up or shut up time, folks.
Go Hokies.
GOOOO HOOOOOS. I doubt we’ll win but who knows? If there was any year to beat Tech it would be this year but when have the Cavaliers ever won a game they were supposed to? Anyway hope its at least a good game. WAHOOWA
J, it should be a good one. Probably the first time that I am nervous…since last year.
Hey, I live in Texas, 75 miles from Shreveport…I would love the opportunity to watch the Hokies in the Independence Bowl.
You know why Frank Beamer’s never been to a bad bowl game? Because he gets several tens of thousands of dollars for going to whatever bowl game his team is granted. Let’s all be honest, if we were paid $50K to go to even Shreveport – which is certainly the pits – for 5-6 days, we’d think the town had a certain blue collar appeal that we really appreciated. So that sentiment means nothing other than protecting the shield of the program. As for the players, they get swag, even from the bad bowls. Sometimes the bad bowls give better swag because they know they’re bad bowls. So, even though it’s not tens of thousands like Frank Beamer & his coaching staff each receive, the players profit in a nice way for college guys.
Mr. Bitter,
Have you compared notes with Doug Doughty at all with regards to both teams’ preparations? If there ever was a year for UVa to think they had a chance over VT, this would be it. They began practicing for this game Friday, whereas VT began their game week on Monday. Are both teams sticking with previous Thanksgiving Day with practices resuming Friday? While VT players may get adequate rest over the week, do the VT coaches feel they have enough time to install their UVa-specific game plans? Given the two separate QBs, do you know of any additional prep necessary this year?
Here’s my contribution, as ‘merely’ a fan…
http://www.dailypress.com/sports/colleges/virginia-tech/dp-spt-feature-tech-game-week-presser-1121-20121120,0,4093320.story
I look forward to see the reporter’s take on this. A note to keep in mind in the mean time – these type of coaching hires are typically not ‘leaked’ until they are really near completion. Considering the source – Frank himself – I’d put HUGE weight behind the probability of it. It would also provide that ‘valuable experience’ to answer the primary question of Frank’s retirement and anointing process.
Trevor, that seems to be the sentiment I’ve gotten from most of my hokie friends, but of course last year seemed like it could/would be the year and we got killed. I do feel we’re more evenly matched this year but having been conditioned by season after season of losing as a UVa fan I really do not expect a win. But I’m still hoping.
Since the WHOLE problem with Tech players, brought on by the poor coaching, is morale and motivation I would think Tech would win easily at home with Lane filled to capacity against the instate rival. One never knows for sure when morale is the problem, but I would guess a score of VT 34 – 10 . I expect a poor year of recruiting but beating UVA might help some little bit. BUT IF they lose there are plenty of players to blame, since we hurt some morons feelings when we criticize the freeble old coaches.
Three more moves will be made in January, too, for those interested in checking…
Oh yeah, the reason behind the moves? Big Money is not happy. So, despite the apologists on here refusing to even discuss such, there are perceptible cracks in the foundation, and Big Money wants them repaired, not just painted over…
I have not watched UVa this year so I really can’t make a prediction. I have seen VT and can say their record of 5-6 has been well earned…The streak has to end so this would be the appropriate year for it.
UVA has some great backs and there QB’s have occassionally played well. I do think Bud Foster proves to be the difference.
The last time UVa beat Tech,
1. Barack Obama was an unknown Illinois state senator
2. “Friends” and “Frasier” were still airing new episodes
3. Dumb phones were smart…surfing the web meant sitting at a computer
4. Renting a movie meant driving to Blockbuster and getting hit by late fees
5. Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter did not exist
6. 18-year-old prodigy LeBron James was a month into his NBA career as the savior of the Cleveland Cavaliers
7. Michael Phelps’s best result in the Olympics was a 5th place finish in the 200 fly
8. Roger Federer had one Grand Slam singles title
9. The 3rd Lord of the Rings movie was not yet released
10. It was a non-conference game for Tech
Why are some people so envious of Beamers salary and perks??
Frank: Do all the Hokie fans a big favor this Thanksgiving and write letters of recommendation for Stinespring. I hear he loves fishing in Idaho. Along with Stiney write one for O’cain and maybe Sherman as well. Anytime coaches are happy after a pathetic win at Boston College something needs changing.
Tom, to your questions on practice and prep time for the Hoos and the Hokies. The following article from the Daily Progress (Charlottesville) says the Hoos had Saturday and Monday off. Throw in Thanksgiving and a travel day and it doesn’t sound like they are going to get much practice time in.
http://www.dailyprogress.com/cavalierinsider/article_b80567e0-32c5-11e2-99ff-0019bb30f31a.html
Crooked, you are obviously a Democrat who has issues with successful people who make money. Coach Beamer has had bonuses due him as part of his contract and he did not take the money. He gave it to the school and he continues to do that. He also gives time and money to charities. What do you do with your money and time? Never mind, I know, you pay for the internet so you can take shots at others anonymously