We Wouldn't Be Here if We Hadn't Been There
by furrer4heisman on Dec 7, 2010 8:01 AM EST
in Virginia Tech Football
Email
PrintSitting at 11-2 with 11 consecutive wins and an ACC championship, it would be easy for Virginia Tech fans to reflect on the start of the season and wonder what might of been. If Hokies had converted a late third down and beaten Boise State, there's no way they fall the next week to James Madison and on to a 13-0 season.
But I argue that without those two losses to start the season there's no way this team turns into what it has become. If Virginia Tech hadn't gone through the heartache and disappointment of those two games they wouldn't have come together to become the resilient team I've grown to love.
I don't think the Hokies were a team capable of going 13-0 this year. If they beat Boise State and James Madison to start the season, there were still going to be losses along the way. The BSU game drove home the point to this team that no game is ever over until it hits :00 and the JMU game drove it home not to take any opponent likely.
Those are two cliches that every coaches tries to instill in his team, but sometimes it takes real-world experience for college-aged players to get the point. It appears that's what happened with this team. Those two games I believe are the reason this team played so well in second halves the rest of the season.
Also, on paper this team was very experienced, but it was really pretty young. The youth on defense overcame the experience on offense and the O-line needed to time gel, like it seems to every year. Key preseason injuries to Barquell Rivers and Nick Becton compounded the problem. Even if the team had managed to overcome its youth against BSU and JMU, there were still going to be losses along the way.
Do we comeback against NC State? I really don't think so. Do we drop another game along the way? I really think so.
Even before the bowl game is played, I think this is a special, special team that will be better appreciated long after the season is over. I'll never forget the strange, magical journey this team has taken me on and I doubt many of you will, either.
The loss to JMU was deflating to the team and to those of us who follow this team so religiously. Throughout the following weeks I tried to keep in mind the idea, borrowed from the movie Apollo 13, that instead of this being our worst disaster it was going to be our finest hour.
I couldn't imagine being more proud of this Virginia Tech football team even if it had gone 13-0. And like it's current 11-2 record, that wouldn't be possible without the start the team experienced.
22 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I couldn't agree with you more
The way we started out each and every game, there’s no way this team learns the fighting attitude they had without the first two losses. I’m thinking we have more than two losses in the end if we don’t lose those first two.
Agreed.
It will be interesting to see how this core of players does over the next few years – the JMU loss is not going to fade from their mind quickly. If Foster can get the defense tightened up (which I have no doubt that he will) and if Logan Thomas picks things up quickly we might be in for a few more really interesting years.
The defense will no doubt be tightened up next year. With Barquell back and Bruce in there as well, the linebacking corp should be a typical Foster defense led by the strength of the linebackers. I’m hoping Chase Williams can fill in at the Whip spot and we can finally have a D that doesn’t get run all over.
The questions next year will be the progression of Logan and of course how quickly the O-line can gel. I think it’s important to get it done next year because after that the core receivers graduate, RW will definitely be gone, and possibly Evans as well.
Corps* of receivers.
Sorry, can’t help myself.
"[...] coordinator Bud Foster has never had problems filling holes."
Err
Nevermind, you had the correct use and I am tired.
"[...] coordinator Bud Foster has never had problems filling holes."
corps is correct.
A bullhorn, a bottle of whiskey and a dream. Gobbler Country | Twitter | Facebook
by furrer4heisman on Dec 7, 2010 11:26 AM EST up reply actions
it should be corps
like press corps, marine corps, linebacking corps.
A bullhorn, a bottle of whiskey and a dream. Gobbler Country | Twitter | Facebook
by furrer4heisman on Dec 7, 2010 11:41 AM EST up reply actions
ok i see
i didn’t even notice the receivers part. yes. “core receivers” and “linebacking corps” i wasn’t sure what he was trying to correct. its early for me, too.
A bullhorn, a bottle of whiskey and a dream. Gobbler Country | Twitter | Facebook
by furrer4heisman on Dec 7, 2010 11:42 AM EST up reply actions
One thing about the O-line
this bugged me during spring. They split the first team OL up during spring practice and didn’t have a true No. 1 and No. 2 unit. To me, that’s not the way to do it. You’d think you’d want the OL taking reps as a group and the spring game is the perfect time to do it.
A bullhorn, a bottle of whiskey and a dream. Gobbler Country | Twitter | Facebook
by furrer4heisman on Dec 7, 2010 11:28 AM EST up reply actions
Let's look at what we lose...
Def: Davon Morgan, Rashad Carmichael, Steven Friday, John Graves
Off: Tyrod Taylor, Andre Smith, Beau Warren, Kenny Younger
Spec: Chris Hazley, Brian Saunders
There are some players on that list that will be hard to replace. Morgan may be our biggest loss on defense. Does Exum or Whitley play there? Who’s on the field in nickel? Fuller looks to have a bright future, and we’ve got some good young talent at DE. Will we have enough depth on the D line? As for the offense… what will we get out of Logan Thomas, and how soon? Who is going to play TE? How long does it take the O line to gel with a new center? Can Oglesby effectively replace Younger’s blocking? I think we keep Ryan, maybe lose Darren, but even if we lose both I think we’ll be ok at RB if the FB and line step up. I’m most concerned at TE and QB.
Is Barquell
coming back? I thought he was a 6th year Sr with NO MORE options…..
he was a junior this year
he’ll be a senior next year.
A bullhorn, a bottle of whiskey and a dream. Gobbler Country | Twitter | Facebook
by furrer4heisman on Dec 7, 2010 1:46 PM EST up reply actions
I think
you’re letting the coaches (Beamer) off TOO EASY. The early hype was NC, not denied by the coaches. I can’t imagine Saban or Tressel not having his team ready in a BIG opener. There was some word that some of players hadn’t been in a plane before (before the BSU game, WELL find a way to getem in a plane before that!!!!!
The players have to be coached up ALL THE TIME, don’t wait till they’re flat on their backs.
ALOT of if’s,
If Barquell,
If Becton,
If Worlds,
Has anyone heard of a backup plan? Somebody has to STEP IT UP! How about (MUCH) MORE depth in positions (SOMEBODY NEEDs TO THINK YOU CAN NEVER BE TOO DEEP)! GOYA and recruit!
Some much talent, so little fore thought.
- We weren’t the only team hyped for the national title. Texas was, too, and we all know how well that turned out for it. The two teams that are in this year’s BCS National Championship Game had virtually no hype surrounding them nationally prior to the season.
- I’m fairly certain we bussed to the BSU game. Even if we did fly, I don’t know how the players not having flown before has anything to do with anything, ever.
- Getting off their ass and recruiting doesn’t replace experience. Seantrel Henderson was the No. 1 recruit in the country this year and even he sucked in pass protection this year.
A bullhorn, a bottle of whiskey and a dream. Gobbler Country | Twitter | Facebook
by furrer4heisman on Dec 7, 2010 11:39 AM EST up reply actions
Well...
I gotta be honest, I would be prouder of this team if it went 13-0 and realized its potential in every single game. That would have been such a rare accomplishment for any team, but rebounding from a terribly disappointing start is great too and shows admirable character. We are a proud school with a football team that has a lot of heart. I am so proud to be a Hokie, win or lose, as long as we show heart. Beamer is right that when you surround yourself with quality people, good things will happen even in tough times. It’s just too bad that he really didn’t have this team prepared for the first week. I still have to lay blame on his shoulders for that debacle.
Agreed
Agreed that I would be “prouder” for 13-0…
but, like pointed out above, without the hard lessons learned in those first two weeks, would VT have cranked out wins in all those games. With all the comebacks this team needed to win out – there’s just no way they would have come thru every time.
Fair point
The 2 losses could have broke their back, a GREAT team responds with a chip on their shoulder, and no lose atitude.
I can relate
Bronco fan here- just want to tell you congrats on a great season and a well deserved BCS game. Boise had a heartbreaking loss; but it did bring us perspective and it has been great to see a team and community rally together after unmet expectations.
This BCS system disgusts me so much I have considered that it might have been better to have VT beat Boise because VT likely doesn’t fall to James Madison 5 days later after a win against Boise. Boise would have to live with people telling them they are overrated and can’t win against a quality opponent; blah, blah, blah. But- if VT would have continued to win and gone undefeated would chaos ensue and cause a playoff demand? I would gladly suffer the ridicule as a Bronco alum and fan if it would bring a playoff to the only sport that outsources its postseason. If you believe VT was destined to lose somewhere along the line then I’ll just have to take your word for it.
Best wishes against Stanford- that’s going to be a great matchup.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
