Virginia Tech Hokies Face Manageable 2011 Football Schedule
by furrer4heisman on Feb 16, 2011 5:15 PM EST
in Virginia Tech Football
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PrintThe ACC released its conference schedule Monday, which completed the Hokies' 2011 slate. Virginia Tech will get its entire non-conference schedule out of the way before facing a single ACC opponent, a smart move considering it'll be breaking in a new starter under center.
This is the first time since Tyrod Taylor's freshman year in 2007 the the Hokies will open with four consecutive non-conference games. However, this year's schedule is significantly easier than that season's as the Hokies will play games against Appalachian State, at East Carolina, Arkansas State and at Marshall. In 2007 their non-conference schedule included a trip to LSU in which Taylor made his debut.
You hate to over-look an FCS opponent after last year's loss to James Madison, but the Hokies should sweep through their opening month unscathed. East Carolina lost four starting offensive lineman, its two best running backs, wide receiver Dwayne Harris and three of its best defensive players from last year's team. However, it will be quarterback Logan Thomas' first road game as a starter, so it will definitely be a game to watch.
The only part of the Hokies' schedule that really troubles me is opening ACC play with Clemson and Miami. Those games are at home, which will help Thomas a lot, but they will be against two of the better defenses in ACC play from last season.
Tech will also finish its conference schedule with three out of four road games, including a Thursday night trip to Georgia Tech. Tech last played in Atlanta on a Thursday night in 2007 in a game that might have been Sean Glennon's finest hour and a 27-3 Hokie win. This is the first time since joining the ACC in 2004 that three of Tech's last four conference games will be on the road. That will be a good test the good finishing power Tech has had since joining the conference.
Things I really like about the schedule include the extra prep time for Georgia Tech (though we've seen that teams have had more trouble with their games AFTER playing the Jackets than before), playing one of our more important conference games at home on a Thursday against UNC (despite what happened last time), catching Clemson early and playing three teams (Clemson, Wake Forest and Virginia) the week after they've faced Florida State.
Also, the Hokies will face only two opponents (Boston College and North Carolina) that have had more rest than they will for the game. Only BC will have a full two weeks to prepare for the Hokies.
In all, this is a very good schedule for a team that is replacing very key members of its starting lineup, particularly the quarterback. I don't think the Hokies can go undefeated with this schedule, but their chances are much better than they have been in recent years, schedule-wise. Needless to say, I'm happy about the schedule and we should all be happy about the schedule.
| Day | Date | Time | Opponent | Prior Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat. | Sept. 3 | TBA | Appalachian State | None |
| Sat. | Sept. 10 | TBA | at East Carolina | South Carolina |
| Sat. | Sept. 17 | TBA | Arkansas State | Memphis |
| Sat. | Sept. 24 | TBA | at Marshall | at Ohio |
| Sat. | Oct. 1 | TBA | Clemson | Florida State |
| Sat. | Oct. 8 | TBA | Miami | Bethune-Cookman |
| Sat. | Oct. 15 | TBA | at Wake Forest | Florida State |
| Sat. | Oct. 22 | TBA | Boston College | Bye Week |
| Sat. | Oct. 29 | TBA | at Duke | Wake Forest |
| Thu. | Nov. 10 | 8 p.m. | at Georgia Tech | Clemson (Oct. 29) |
| Thu. | Nov. 17 | 8 p.m. | North Carolina | at NC State (Nov. 5) |
| Sat. | Nov. 26 | TBA | at Virginia | at Florida State |
Schedule Notes
- Hokies open with four non-conference games.
- Tech will finish with three road games out of four for the first time in the ACC.
- Only two opponents (BC and UNC) will have more rest than the Hokies.
- Tech faces three teams coming off a game against FSU.
- Blacksburg will be Clemson QB Tahj Boyd's first road game as a full-time starter.
Schedule News
- The mothership has a round-up of reactions.
- App fans appreciate us stepping up to the plate.
- Pre-Snap Read says we have the easiest ACC schedule.
- Tomahawk Nation has some suggestions for future ACC schedules.
- Tar Heel Fan doesn't like playing in Blacksburg on a Thursday night.
- D1scourse says we should have no complaints.
- BC Interruption likes having a bye week before Blacksburg.
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Virginia Tech Hokies | Minimum Season Goal: 10-2 | Benchmark: 6-1 or better after October 15th
With the smartest non-conference schedule in college football, the Hokies should easily be able to win 10 games. But to get there, they probably need to win six of the first seven: App St, at ECU, Ark State, at Marsh, CU, UM, at WF. If the Hokies do that, they can probably close with four of these five: BC, at Duke, at GT, UNC, at UVA.
'11: Minimum Goal: 9-3 Regular Season. Given FSU's non-con slate, don't care who the 9 are.
'10: 7th in offense, 41st in defense. Division Champions. 10-4. (6-3)
'09: 8th in offense, 88th in defense. 7-6 (4-4)
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Glad I’m not paying for season tickets next year.
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Sadly, I’m more excited about this schedule than last year’s
"When I put on my uniform, I feel I am the proudest man on earth."
-Roberto
by blackjackfishtaco on Feb 16, 2011 6:42 PM EST up reply actions
When you look at the schedule
The home slate isn’t terrible at all. I mean sure we get App State and Arkansas State, but we also get Clemson, Miami, BC and UNC (Thursday). So, not too bad if you ask me.
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