A collection of links from the national media, our beat writers and bloggers about Virginia Tech's shocking loss to James Madison on Saturday.
Face the Nation
Is JMU-VT A Bigger Upset Than App. State-Michigan? (SB Nation)
"Is it a bigger upset than App State over Michigan? Probably not, since Michigan was a perennial top five team with a vast history of beating patsies at home at the time. (Things have changed in that department of late.) Virginia Tech has played close games against nominally inferior competition before, and have a fraction of Michigan's long tradition of winning. App State committed regicide in their coup against Michigan; James Madison's assassinated not a king today, but someone of a lofty but slightly lesser rank. You know, someone like....a Duke. "
Hokie, Hokie low: JMU sends VT crashing down at 0-2 (Dr. Saturday)
"Every single one of Tech's offensive drives crossed into JMU territory, but following a 94-yard touchdown march to open the game, none of them ended in the end zone. The special teams got into the act by roughing JMU's punter in a last-gasp attempt at a block – their second straight game with a roughing the punter penalty – slamming the door on a miracle comeback. Every "Beamer Ball" stereotype was turned on its head, none of them in more dramatic fashion than the final score."
Boise State’s Bye Week Woes (Pre-Snap Read)
"Don’t bank on the win over Virginia Tech remaining commonplace. Tech is still going places; at least to 9-3, in my opinion, and potentially to the top of the conference. The win doesn’t mean much today, but it will mean more on Oct. 1. And more again on Nov. 1. And by the end of November, when teams are preparing for conference title games and bowl play, those who demean Boise’s win today will recall just how meaningful a victory over Tech in early September really was."
Week two full of bipolar teams (College Football Talk)
"The team who's too hard on itself: Look, we know losing to Boise State was tough, but did Virginia Tech really have to take it out on itself by losing at home to James Madison? The Hokies are better than that. Or, at least, we thought they were. "
Virginia Tech Beat Writers
Hokies fans: I've been there (Mark Giannotto)
"Before I go any further, I bring you a light at the end of this long, dark tunnel that appears to represent the rest of this season. The week after that loss to Appalachian State, Michigan looked even worse getting blown out by Oregon, 39-7. But the Wolverines regained their footing once Big Ten season arrived."
What went wrong for Tech against JMU? (Norm Wood)
"Gone is the national title buzz. Gone is any semblance of hope for a Ryan Williams run at the Heisman Trophy. Judging from the reaction of the Lane Stadium crowd at the conclusion of today's disaster, gone is most of the confidence that Tech's coaching staff and players can get it turned around...and how can you really blame the disgruntled Hokie faithful? This one was as ugly, demoralizing and inexplicable as they come."
Tech toppled in full-blown disaster (Kyle Tucker)
"Whatcha want me to say? This is a terrible, terrible loss, and I no longer know what to make of this team. I wouldn’t dare to guess now how many games the Hokies will win. I’d tell you devastated fans to take heart, that the last time Tech started 0-2 was 1995, and the Hokies didn’t lose again, ultimately beating Texas in the Sugar Bowl. But that team didn’t lose to a I-AA team. This team did. And there are some brutal games left on the schedule. The real good news for Tech? After today, it appears the entire ACC is terrible, so maybe the Hokies have a chance."
Thoughts on an unthinkable game (Darryl Slater)
"Gouveia-Winslow also missed a tackle on a third-and-9 pass that went for 16 yards. That James Madison drive ended with a touchdown that cut Tech’s lead to 16-14 in the third quarter. And on the Dukes’ final drive, when they were killing the clock, Gouveia-Winslow was frozen in the backfield on a read-option play that went for 14 yards on third and 3. Make that stop, and Tech still has a chance."
Hokies fall to Dukes in home opener, 21-16 (Collegiate Times)
"The Virgina Tech Hokies are feeling rather water logged, as the pouring rain not only washed out the crowd’s annual "White Out," but also what was supposed to be an easy victory. For the first time since 1995, the Hokies dropped their home opener in a 21-16 loss to the James Madison University Dukes."
Virginia Tech (and JMU) Bloggers
Debacle against the Dukes (The Key Play)
"And for anyone who's blindly muttering, "Fire Byran Stinespring", because it's convenient and lazy, watch the games. This isn't 2007 or 2008. Yes, the second and third down calls on the second to last drive against Boise State are beyond comprehension and are inexcusable and he had a couple of questionable decisions against today. But, Stinespring isn't fumbling the ball, missing field goals, missing blocks, missing tackles, impersonating a leaking dike in pass protection, allowing blocked punts, whiffing on coverage in the secondary, etc, ..."
JMU 21, Virginia Tech 16 - What we learned (VT Campus Blog)
"The Hokies have to guard against the foundation of one of the most solid programs in the country crumbling beneath them. The streak of six consecutive ten-win seasons? Likely to be snapped. A fourth ACC Championship in seven years? Still mathematically possible, but there doesn’t seem to be much hope for that at this time. This was supposed to be the year the Hokies took a step forward in establishing themselves on the national stage. Instead, Saturday’s shocking defeat set them back an inordinate amount of time in reaching that level."
JMU 21, Virginia Tech 16 - What we learned (VT Campus Blog)
"The Hokies have to guard against the foundation of one of the most solid programs in the country crumbling beneath them. The streak of six consecutive ten-win seasons? Likely to be snapped. A fourth ACC Championship in seven years? Still mathematically possible, but there doesn’t seem to be much hope for that at this time. This was supposed to be the year the Hokies took a step forward in establishing themselves on the national stage. Instead, Saturday’s shocking defeat set them back an inordinate amount of time in reaching that level."
Look Familiar? (Tech Super Fans)
"And this isn't the Little Program that Could anymore, just trying to climb the mountain. This is a program with a target on its back after 10 win seasons the past 6 years and 3 ACC titles. That team in '95 didn't have any added pressure. No expectations built on a tradition of success to be nervous about. They just went out and played their hearts out every week. This 2010 squad carries the added weight of that tradition on their shoulders. So they are REALLY going to have to dig deep down for the type of run that team in '95 put together."
Inconsistent Play Allows For JMU Upset (VT Fan)
"Honestly, I expect the Hokies to get back on track but I have a feeling that this season will go down as a major disappointment. The good news is that I think this is what the program needs, as crazy as that sounds. The 10 win seasons and BCS bowls are nice, hell I’m happy with 11 wins and an Orange Bowl trophy. But, in recent years the National Title phrase has been tossed around too much and I think all of that just needs to disappear. This program is at it’s best when expectations aren’t sky high."