The first news items are rolling in from the various player award committees. Watch lists for particular awards are recognition in itself. There are few players being observed out of hundreds playing those positions. So, getting your name added to the list means that you’ve attracted serious attention from award committees.

There are more than a few Hokies being named to lists.

Dalton Keene is getting some interest from the Mackey Award List. That’s the award for Tight Ends - for those of us who actually saw John Mackey play football, living up to that standard is special.

Rayshard Ashby looks like he’s attracted some serious interest from the Bronco Nagurski Award committee... This is special for Rayshard. He’s a tough player and hard worker.

Look at this one. The Offensive Line’s outstanding performers getting some kudos from the boss. Almost no one says much about individual players inside the most unexciting (and ironically most important) unit on any football team. Darrisaw and Dzansi are going to attract next level attention.

The most ridiculous preseason poll, ever.

Yeah, the Hokies are picked to be relegated to 3rd place in the ACC Coastal by the “powers that be”. Miami, for no reason other than it’s Miami and people see the name and are hypnotized by it... comes in ahead of us at #2. And then, at the top of the list has honorary meat for the Clemson Tiger table, are none other than the Wahoos of Hooville.

A few questions come to mind.

1. The entire Virginia football team’s offense is Bryce Perkins. Where in the box of magic tricks have they developed any receivers the quality of Zacchaeus and running backs like Ellis graduating?
2. Since when does last season not make sense? Tech’s eviscerated 2018 defense and marginally employed offense still beat them on a cold Thanksgiving Friday Evening. So, you think that a much better prepared, identical Virginia Tech team will show up to Scott Stadium (often flooded with Chicago Maroon and Burnt Orange) and roll over? Just wondering.
3. Miami still hasn’t found a quarterback and its head coach was a seesaw gig promotion from Defensive Coordinator because the administrative atmosphere was so weird an excellent head coach like Mark Richt hit the bricks... Please... enough.

Frankly, this is good... Tech’s always done better when “Dissed” by the punditry. We are all remembering that first year in the ACC when we weren’t supposed to get out of the cellar. Sure... buckle up guys... it’s going to be an interesting season. We return a practically intact football team with an entire season’s experience and adversity under its belt.

All that I have to say is....

GO HOKIES!!!!

John Schneider - SB Nation