Bold Scheduling Doing Virginia Tech More Harm Than Good
by furrer4heisman on Jun 29, 2011 10:32 AM EDT
in Virginia Tech Football
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PrintVirginia Tech appears ready for another crack at Alabama.
As the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot's Kyle Tucker reports, the Hokies have all but made it official that they'll open what would be quarterback Logan Thomas' senior season with the Crimson Tide:
Tech athletic director Jim Weaver confirmed Friday that he is in negotiations for a potential rematch between the Hokies and Alabama in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff to start the 2013 season, which would be broadcast nationally on ESPN.
The move would continue Frank Beamer's philosophy of not backing down from the national spotlight when it comes to these games. Tech has always been willing to go up against the nation's best regardless of the opponent or the location. But how much has that really helped the Hokies?
As Tucker points out, Tech hasn't had a good track record in these made-for-TV games (they've lost all of them) and with the exception of two wins against Nebraska, have not been very good against their non-conference schedule for the better part of a decade.
What these games do is keep the Hokies in the national conversation during the off-season and thrusts them into the spotlight when the season begins. But whenever they lose these games, they're off the national radar for the rest of the season.
I'd rather the Hokies schedule more winnable games at the beginning of the season that keeps them in the national discussion later into the season. The last time anyone really cared about Virginia Tech entering November was 2005 when Tech started the season 8-0.
I have a lot of respect for Beamer and the administration for their bold scheduling philosophy, but at this point I'd rather be relevant in November than in June through September.
The Hokies have tried this strategy and it's failed so far. If Norm Wood of the Newport News Daily Press' recent blog post is any indication, it will probably fail again in 2013. On paper, the Tide will likely have a much stronger team going into that match-up with the Hokies unless Tech's increased recruiting efforts bears fruit well ahead of schedule.
The Hokies made their 2011 schedule knowing they would have to break in a new quarterback. The result is one that should keep Tech undefeated through September (though it's no guarantee) and give its young players time to mature and get used to the speed of D1 football. But more often than not, they'll play a very lose-able game early, according to the Daily Press' David Teel.
Future schedules include Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Kansas State, Ohio State and Wisconsin. That's great for season ticket holders, but bad for a team that doesn't have a good history in marquee games. Is there a happy medium the Hokies can find? Can they keep ticket buyers happy and still give themselves a chance to be in the hunt for a national title late in the year?
I'd like to see them limit themselves to at most one BCS-conference non-conference opponent per year. It would keep them from completely losing their reputation of quality scheduling and give them something they can manage as long as they stay away from these made-for-TV games.
Tech's goal should be to play teams like Alabama in January, not on Labor Day weekend.
For the Alabama Crimson Tide point of view, go to Roll Bama Roll.
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Disagree….What Beamer has to learn how to do is WIN the early season challenges, not avoid them. I’m not the coach, but there is something being done differently during the offseason by Saban, Carroll, Kelly, etc to prepare their teams for an tough opener? Absolutely no argument about the coming season: it was smart to give a new QB a chance to ease into the role (unlike TT’s debut in Baton Rouge), but you just know that if we are undefeated in November, we will be roasted in the media for having beaten NO ONE: it will be the reputation of the basketball team spilling over to Lane Stadium. Beamer has shown a willingness to learn/evolve over his career…..I think that needs to be shown now in his off season routine & late summer preparedness.
That’s fine. But if we haven’t learn how to win these games by now, when will we? Plus, it doesn’t matter who we play OOC. At the end of the day were going to have to be 1 of 2 remaining unbeaten BC’S teams regardless of whether we open the season with Bama or Western Carolina.
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by furrer4heisman on Jun 29, 2011 11:35 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
It’s a given that we’ll have to run the table if we ever hope to put that crystal ball in the trophy case, but being undefeated doesn’t get you to the dance. Look at TCU last year, or Boise the year before, and Utah before that. Those were all undefeated teams that weren’t given the shot at the NC because they had the lack-of-quality-wins tag hanging on them. You have to have respect, in addition to results, to get the #1 or 2 ranking….I know that this season is a rebuilding year, but IF the 2011 Hokies were to finish 13-0, their signature wins would be a home victory over UNC, and a neutral field victory over (prob) FSU. If Oregon is there, they would have gotten past LSU. If Oklahoma is there, they would have won in Tallahassee. ‘Bama plays at Penn State. Stanford would have beaten Notre Dame. Boise plays Georgia and TCU. I’m just saying, if you want to run with the big dogs, you gotta play their game. It would suck to have an undefeated season, and not have a ticket to the Big Game…
TCU last year, or Boise the year before, and Utah before that.
Crazy logic. If VT is undefeated the Hokies will have played 5, 6, maybe 7 bowl teams before ever playing a top program in the ACCCG.
Boise and TCU play 2-3 bowl teams a piece. Big difference. They are not in BCS conferences, VT is. F4H is correct.
'11: Minimum Goal: Win 10 games again
'10: 7th in offense, 41st in defense. Division Champions. 10-4. (6-3)
'09: 3rd in offense, 107th in defense. 7-6 (4-4)
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by Bud Elliott on Jun 29, 2011 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions
2 points
I like the big games, but wish they were scheduled later in the year. No way we lose to Boise St towards the end of our roll last year. Heck I even give us a better shot at Bama in ’09.
The thing that I always go back to is be careful what you wish for. In the Big East days (not too long ago) we got skewered on a regular basis in the media and polls for SoS. Even in ‘99 1-loss Nebraska was nipping at our heels in the BCS and we almost didn’t make it by decimals.
These games don’t get scheduled in November. As I said in the post, you don’t have to play a cupcake schedule. Just play teams you actually can beat. Wisconsin and Pitt are great series for us because we actually stand a chance of winning those games.
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by furrer4heisman on Jun 29, 2011 1:55 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Definitely
We need to schedule the “Big Boys” of the Big East and overrated Big Ten (Oh sorry, B1G). I am really looking forward to the future matchups VT has against Cincy, Pitt, Wis, and even OSU. They’re winnable games against teams that have a legitimate chance of winning their BCS conference. Playing the best team in the SEC is not really going to help. If we must play the SEC, Ole Miss, UGA, or Tenn would be better.
by Chazz Micheal Michealzz on Jun 29, 2011 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
WI and OSU sure
But nobody cares about Cincy or Pitt- even Hokie Nation has already forgotten our Orange Bowl victory 2 years ago.
It's not about caring, it's about climbing the BCS rankings
If VT beats Cincy and Pitt, and they do well in the Big East, they’ll likely be in the top 25, boosting up VT’s BCS ranking. You don’t have to beat top 10 teams to get a good BCS standings, just good teams. Look at TCU, how many top 10 teams did they beat to get to the #3 team in the nation? They beat Oregon State, Air Force, and Utah. That’s enough to get them the respect to be the #3 team in the nation and go to the Rose Bowl?!? Combine beating up teams ranked 15-25 with undefeated season in the ACC, and you’ve got a good chance to make the BCSCG. It’s not fair, it’s not exciting, but it’s the BCS system.
by Chazz Micheal Michealzz on Jun 30, 2011 6:51 PM EDT up reply actions
I actually agree with your points and the theme of this article, didn’t mean to go down this rabbit hole as I do 100% believe an undefeated ACC team with a quality win carries significant weight in the standings (even have a post below similar to that). I just like these big games. I guess to me it doesn’t matter if we make it to the big game and a bigger stronger team like Stanford is waiting there to smack us around. To me these games pre-qualify us, and maybe that holds us to a higher standard than others but I do believe in pay now or pay later. Who knows one of these days we might just win one of them.
OK, have it your way: Yes, we are in BCS conference, but I think ESPN has us pre-season #22, even though we are expected to win the Coastal division. Lotta good those 5,6 or 7 victories over bowl teams does you when they are all from the ACC: a conference that has actually fallen below the Big East in strength.
valid point
But I think the bigger picture here is that there is a pecking order of undefeated teams, and I would say that an undefeated VT definitely is above the non-BCS conf schools, which is the exception that Bud and myself took to your earlier post.
Personally I think if FSU takes care of Oklahoma, and VT and FSU are undefeated in December winner of ACCCG goes to the National Championship. There is enough inductive logic here for the pollsters to compare marquee wins. The PAC-10 might prove me wrong, but this is my stance.
Agreed
Naturally, I want to see us go back to (and win) the BCS Championship game. However, it would look good for the ACC if the Noles take it to the house, as well.
Born and raised in the 804, VT '10. Hokies, Braves, NY Giants, and NY Rangers are my teams.
Pulling for the conference!
As hard as it is to say this we need to be pulling for some of our conference rivals! This entails pulling for clemson against auburn and south carolina. FSU against OK and UF. Miami against the Ohio St. and any other big out of conference games. The conference as a whole needs wins.
As far as OOC schedule...
I would like to see the Hokies renew the rivalry with the Mountaineers. Those are winnable games, we can carry a crowd to Morgantown for the away games, and VT vs WVU in October just makes the leaves on the trees more colorful.
by Leonard Thompson on Jun 30, 2011 11:34 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Win or lose, early season marquee games strengthen a team.
Having an extremely difficult high profile game to start a season is the best spur to intensify off season strength and conditioning, recruiting, and coaching.
Even if VT loses they’ll be a stronger team for the remainder of the season.
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