2009.01.07
Tech figures to open season in top 10
Two-time defending ACC champion Virginia Tech has 18 starters returning next season off this year's Orange Bowl champion squad. The Hokies have a strong shot at beginning the season ranked in the top 10 of the Associated Press preseason Top 25 poll. Tech never has been ranked higher than eighth in the AP's preseason poll:
RANDY KING'S PRESEASON TOP 15
1. Florida
2. Texas
3. USC
4. Ohio State
5. Oklahoma State
6. Alabama
7. Oklahoma
8. Virginia Tech
9. Penn State
10. LSU
11. Georgia Tech
12. Boise State
13. Florida State
14. Cal
15. Ole Miss
Hopefully they will end higher. The ACC will be tough next year.
Comment by cd — January 7, 2009 @ 2:06 pm
The kiss of death for my Hokies however I will try to think positive!
Comment by Mike — January 7, 2009 @ 2:39 pm
Who cares? Tech will start the season in a perfect position to make noise next year. If VT beats Alabama the first week of the season, Tech will be the first team with a quality win and make a significant jump in the polls. VT can then coast to another ACC championship and possible BCS national championship game. BUT.. as we all know this will not happen. Tech will show up week 1 and get blasted by Alabama by two touchdowns then suffer another unexplainable loss to a team they should beat within the ACC. But since the ACC is so weak, VT will win the conference again, play and possibly win the Orange Bowl again and we will be looking at the 2010 preseason poll with Tech in the Top 10 again! Then the above chain of events will happen again!
Comment by M Brown — January 7, 2009 @ 2:59 pm
Tech can do well in the 09 season if they can run the ball more and T (showboat) Taylor does not get hurt. If he does the Hokies will have problems.
Comment by Tom — January 8, 2009 @ 12:14 am
Virginia Tech has a powerhouse in football these days.
Comment by Nelson — January 8, 2009 @ 12:56 am
It is nice to have high hopes for Virginia Tech, and I certainly am one of the people that has high hopes for us this fall. I always expect the best of our team, always think that we have a good chance for a good season.
Based on how our season ended and with the returning players(18 out of 22 starters returning) that we have, Virginia Tech fans should have high expectations for our team.
It is reasonable to expect many wins, a good chance to win the conference championship, and a good bowl game selection.
The problem is that in the past high expectations for our team have not always worked out accordingly. Fans must be cautious in this area of high expectations.
There are two very good reasons to be cautious about having hopes too high. We must remember that we had to have help just to make it into the championship game, certain teams had to win or lose for us to even get into the game. Each thing that had to happen took place to help us get into the game.
The second biggest concern is that we are thin at the quarterback position. We have Tyrod Taylor and no proven backup quarterback on the team. Greg Boone played quarterback some for us this year but never had to pass to get us down the field, so that is really an unproven area. If Tyrod sustains any injury, and he has had injuries each of the two years that he has been at Tech, we could be in a tough position in some games this fall.
Another thing to consider is that many of the ACC teams are going to be improved this fall also, not just Virginia Tech.
I will keep high hopes for our team and hold out for good
results for our team. I have been a Virginia Tech fan for over 40 years and always will be a fan.
GO HOKIES!!!
Comment by Frank — January 8, 2009 @ 8:12 am
The baby bird leaped from the nest, encouraged by his mother he flapped his wings as hard as he could, the small little body took flight and rose above the tree line. He was moving so swiftly his mother could no longer find him. The baby bird had conqured its' fear and conqured (sp) the challenge. THWAP!!! the baby bird looked down and Opie Taylor had him in his sights via his sling shot. The baby bird did not make it through the Gauntlet that Opie had masterfully applied. Despite the warnings of its' mother the little bird focused solely on the success and not also on the hazards.
Go Hokies
Comment by Golfman2 — January 8, 2009 @ 12:25 pm
Good point Golfman2. I hear ya. Also, great job working TAGS into a Hokie football post.
Go Hokies!!
Comment by Justafan — January 8, 2009 @ 3:48 pm