A View from the Sidelines: Hokies beat the Blue Hens 27 to 0

It’s the first installment of the 2017 View from the Sidelines. The Hokies took on the Delaware Fighting Blue Hens. The 27-0 score didn’t do Delaware justice. They came to play football, and did far better than you can see at a quick glance. But it’s our job to bring you Hokie football and here’s a look at Saturday’s best pics.

By John Schneider Sep 11, 2017, 8:16pm EDT

Photography by John Schneider

Coach Fuente gets ready to lead them out.

A View from the Sidelines Hokies beat the Blue Hens 27 to 0

It’s Monday, and the reality of the game, along with the effort of paging through 2,093 pictures, is starting to focus a bit. Taking a break from typing lots of opinion stuff, and wading into the pile of shots (I didn’t even put a dent in the 128GB SD Card that I have for the camera) gives you a real opportunity to see the game from a perspective that you just don’t get on TV, or film reviews for that matter. You are at ground level, fighting to get the camera to focus, and stay up with the play.

It’s always great to get out of the box and down on to the field. I always find it useful to see the team warming up. It’s one of those quirky sorts of gut feeling things that comes from seeing the interactions, looking into faces, and watching for issues with physicality. It’s also a great time to get headshots, and human interest stuff.

As I was walking along the home sideline, and fiddling with my camera after swapping out my lens, I spotted Greg Stroman and Sean Savoy warming up with other wide-outs and defensive backs. I’d like to think that I was being prescient, since they both had really great games; but I was just seeing what was immediately interesting as a picture.

Greg Stroman and Sean Savoy have some warm ups to do

I made it to the Northwest corner where “the Tunnel” is, and caught quarterbacks Josh Jackson and Jack Click coming down the tunnel.

The Quarterbacks come out for pregame warmups

Then there was Tremaine Edmunds who was warming up in the North End Zone. He was seemingly lost in concentration, probably visualizing sacking 3 or something of that nature. It just looked like an interesting moment.

Then there was Big Tim Settle. Funny, I didn’t even need to crop this one. It just looked about perfect without touching it.

Then there was Coach Fuente; being calm and patient as the team formed up on either side of the 50 to go through some final thoughts, stretches, and other encouragements. Fuente’s demeanor is so different from so many other coaches that I have seen in warmups. No shouting, glowering, calling out drill counts, etc. He’s just a knowing presence that the players feel and see.

Of course as the show started, and the National Anthem wrapped up, I had to get this shot. Because they are jets! The lead flown by a Hokie, and I will never turn down the chance to see and hear stuff that roars like freedom.

The Navy Hokie in the lead, flies overhead

If you know me, you know that I am all about “The Bird” and that first appearance out of the tunnel as the walk-up is playing. So here’s the Hokie Bird, just to remember why we are here.

It’s the Hokie Bird starting off the jumping

And here is the moment, just before the third or fourth bar of “Enter Sandman”. Note, everyone taps the Hokie Stone; coaches, players, assistants, photographers, EVERYONE. To pass that tunnel without tapping the stone is pure bad luck.

I caught Terrell Edmunds, and Adonis Alexander just off to Coach Fuente’s right. Terrell looks like he knows something that everyone else doesn’t. Maybe he was visualizing something like a pick?

Then there was this one; Coach Fue being Coach Fue, and Cam Phillips with the American Flag, preparing to do serious damage Cam Phillips style.

Colton Taylor the starting long snapper got to wear the 25! What a great honor for a position that so many games count so much on.

Guess who had the Lunch Pail?

This is him just a bit later.

Drawing a bead on the QB. It was a hurry.

Then there was Josh Jackson and the Offensive Line. Look, before anyone gets all upset at the young #17 for having an “off game”; there are many QB’s out there who would love to have a 222 yard - 2 TD afternoon. What’s more there were exactly ZERO interceptions registered for young Mr. Jackson, again.

Josh Jackson audibles at the line of scrimmage

The left side of the Hokie Offensive Line is good… really good.. Nijman, Teller, and Gallo are finding their stride.

No one is saying much about someone who needs to be mentioned in a sentence starting with “Wow”. Oscar Bradburn has been the surprise of the early season. He is repeatedly pinning the opposing teams around their own 10 yard lines. Saturday he dropped several in the coffin corner with no returns. He’s becoming a defensive weapon of serious importance.

Here is a picture for you #LPD fans. Ricky Walker, Vinny Mihota, Tim Settle, Travon Hill, and in the pile with the wrap up of Delaware’s Walker we have none other than Tremaine Edmunds. He was all over the field driving the Blue Hen offense crazy; which is as it should be.

I got it!!! I got it!!! Stroman praises Beamer Ball, and scores six on a punt return.

This wasn’t a hand-off, trust me.

The option read merge. Jackson ends up keeping it.

This one came really close… like really…

Here is Sean Savoy’s big catch see if you can spot the ball coming in. That he hung on was a major accomplishment.

Savoy keeps it over the defender’s shoulder

Sean Savoy was catching balls yesterday. He’s another surprise new addition who is stepping up big.

Here is the “fumble” from Cam Phillips, who clearly does not have control of the ball. It was being stripped as soon as it got to Cam’s arms. It was a good defensive play, but we won’t mention how we feel about the instant replay that upholds the integrity of the on field officials… instead of the game.

This is a shot that I liked more for the shadows and the feel of it than the actual content.

The game is getting late, and the sun is setting over the West stands

#3 gets sacked by Vinny Mihota and Mook Reynolds

Now a sack by Trevon Hill, gives Walker the worst of the increasingly bad day for the Blue Hens.

Tremaine Edmunds snuffs a Walker run for nothing going.

Nearing the end of the game Fuente just began to run the ball up the middle with a new number and fresh attitude. Jalen Holston gets to carry the rock until Coach Cornelsen calls for the Victory Formation.

Jalen Holston gets to carry the rock through the zero hole

And that’s a wrap!!!

JJ Takes a knee in the Victory Formation

This game will sort of fade, it’s a win, and a shutout of a team that was much better prepared and more physical than many folks in Hokie Nation anticipated. The offense sputtered here and there, but Josh Jackson is the real deal. It’s the tough games where you see if your players can reach down into the bag and pull out their last bit of whatever they have in order to do what it takes to win the game. Jackson and the offense made no serious mistakes. The one fumble that was lost, er um, wasn’t, and that one got the defense so angry that they flat out stoned the Delaware offense.

It wasn’t a perfect game, but it was an absolutely perfect day in Blacksburg, and at Lane Stadium all wins end up being beautiful things.

A View from the Sidelines: Hokies beat the Blue Hens 27 to 0

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