2009.10.24
Hokies' Coastal hopes grow even dimmer
BLACKSBURG -- While Virginia Tech's football team conducted game-week preparations Saturday for Thursday's ACC contest with North Carolina at Lane Stadium, the Hokies didn't get any help in their bid to win a third straight league crown.
Georgia Tech's 34-9 victory at Virginia on Saturday puts the Yellow Jackets (7-1, 5-1 ACC) solely in the driver's seat for the Coastal Division title. The Ramblin Wreck can sew up the crown with wins over Wake Forest at home (Nov. 7) and at Duke (Nov. 14).
Thanks to their 28-23 loss at Georgia Tech on Oct. 14, the Hokies would lose the first tiebreaker (head to head) should they wind up in a two-way tie for first with the Jackets.
Virginia Tech's hopes also were dimmed Saturday by Miami's 40-37 overtime loss to visiting Clemson. UM's loss hurt the Hokies' hopes of stealing the Coastal since their chances would have been enhanced if all three teams had finished with a three-way tie at 7-1. In that scenario, the tie would have been broken by the BCS standings, and the Hokies (14th in the BCS) would have had a shot at passing Miami (10th) and Georgia Tech (12th), if either had slipped in a nonconference game left on the schedule.
Unless Georgia Tech loses to either to Wake or Duke -- the Yellow Jackets will double-digit favorites in both -- the Hokies' shot for a Coastal title and a third consecutive trip to the Orange Bowl are history.
Where's that leave the Hokies? How about another trip to Atlanta for the Dec. 31 Chick-fil-A Bowl? That's the best guess right now.
It's hardly what the Tech fans craved for in a season in which two weeks ago they still held out hope for their team making a possible trip to the Jan. 7 BCS championship game in Pasadena, Calif.
-- RANDY KING
I am willing to bet Bud Foster is obsessing over defending the spread offense with every extra moment he has. Both VT and UVA held well in the first half. The problem lies in the fact that the offenses did not take advantage of the opportunities afforded them in the first half. The only 'simple' way to defend against this offense is to keep it off the field. That means offense. Get up a touchdown or two, then the spread becomes a liability. It is designed to chew clock while forcing 4-7 yard runs. A team behind in the 2nd half cannot afford to chew clock. A team ahead can. VT was coming back on strong in the 4th quarter, but it was too late. So, this season for VT is turning on a deficit of 6 points. If they win out, I will not be upset with any of them. I think that this team will be better next year. I think Bud will have a better defense and a better plan against GT next year. Stiney is moving in the right direction, and I think that will continue. SO if we play TN in the Chicken Bowl and Win - Cool!!! However if Duke or Wake can find a way to beat GT, why we would be mighty thankful!!!!
Comment by David — October 25, 2009 @ 1:58 am
After seeing Georgia Tech play in person, I'm not sure that the style of offense Georgia Tech runs is the entire reason for their success. They have superior talent to most, if not all ACC teams! Georgia Tech's running backs looked physically stronger than all of UVa's linemen! UVa's tacklers bounced off of Georgia Tech's running backs all afternoon, and it wasn't because of poor tackling. It's hard to admit that the other team has recruited better, but that was the case today. Maybe it was the case for Virginia Tech when they played Georgia Tech?
Comment by Nelson — October 25, 2009 @ 2:18 am
uva lost to william and mary so bouncing off uva defenders doesnt surprise me...gt will always get it handed to them from teams with stout offenses and defenses neither of which vt has this yr
Comment by louisianahokie — October 25, 2009 @ 2:48 am
i would actually rather watch tech play another top half sec team in a bowl anyways bc until we beat a sec team, the hokies will never get any shot at a bcs title! i believe the orange bowl acc opponent is looking like notre lame or the usc-oregon loser? i wouldnt want to see tech play usc this yr bc they would lose due to stineys runs up the middle every play!
Comment by louisianahokie — October 25, 2009 @ 2:52 am
I am just very happy that VT is in the ACC and we have been very competitive. Hokies, just remember where we came from. GT is a great academic school with a great sports history, they deserve to be in the limelight. Paul Johnson is a great coach. Meanwhile Beamer is happy with Stinney. It is what it is.
Comment by Fromthebleechers — October 25, 2009 @ 8:51 am
It has been a great shock that once VT obtained a good but not great offense that Fosters defense was so far behind the trend. Georgia Techs play book is on line and available to all so I assume Foster read it and prepared for it but he did not. It took one player to destroy tech, far smarter than Foster and Beamer who watched Tech destroyed step by step using the on-line play book of GT. How much do we pay these guys? Cut it in half and it is still high, Coaches must be able to read the published play books, if on line, as copies are free. I tried to send it to to Foster but Foster 's e-mail is secret. I assume he had it and just never read it. The fans read it but Foster was still wondering after the game.
Comment by Ron — October 25, 2009 @ 8:42 pm
Do not blame this game on Bud and the defense, the offense lost it in the first quarter !!
Comment by Tony in Roanoke — October 26, 2009 @ 10:30 am
You know, I have admired VT and UVA for years, for always. Today in the Roanoke Times, I see cry baby tears from the mighty defensive coach at Virginia Tech. Four blocks found illegal. Are you kidding me. How many holds and blocks in the back and lord knows what are missed on every play.
I am a Georgia Tech fan. I have been a VT and UVA fan the rest of the time every year. To hear the BIG "D" coach Foster and the Beamer cry to the ACC Office is a great disappointment. To hear it out of C'ville is equally disappointing. NOW, I REMEMBER A CALL IN THE VT-GT GAME LAST YEAR THAT REALLY HURT, BUT DIDN'T COST GT THE GAME. We didn't cry to the ACC. Four blocks didn't beat VT--punches in the mouth beat VT. They'll have a chance again next year, and I suspect they'll do just fine against us.
I think VT ought to grab that famous lunch pail, tip their hats to toward Atlanta and get it done the rest of the year and try to get it done against their sister TECH NEXT YEAR.
The TECHS need to stick together -- except head to head, of course. After all, we are superior in every way that counts.
RoudtRred
Comment by roudyred — October 27, 2009 @ 10:41 pm
That last sentence didn't come out the way I hoped. I am a Techie after all.
We TECHs together are superior in every way.
Roudy Redd
Comment by roudyred — October 27, 2009 @ 10:45 pm
Ron:
Chill out, man. This year GT players were better than VT's. Next year it may, probably will, turn around. I hope not, but students move on and in. We'll see. Fun ain't it!?
Roudyred
Comment by roudyred — October 27, 2009 @ 10:49 pm