CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Two years ago, a well-dressed Brent Pry — wearing a maroon suit with an orange lining festooned with old-school HokieBirds — made a grand entrance on the ACC Kickoff stage. In the middle of his press conference, the first-time head coach paused and announced Virginia Tech picked up a commitment, which caught everyone’s attention.
At last July’s event, Pry was excited and confident when he firmly said, “We’re the flagship school in the state” — a remark that stirred the pot in the Commonwealth of Virginia. He was persistently optimistic coming off a tough season, too: “I don’t think you can find a 3-8 team right now with more momentum and excitement than the Virginia Tech Hokies.”
Things are different entering Year 3, though. When he took the podium Tuesday morning in his charcoal suit and maroon and orange tie, his enthusiasm was projected in a causal, conservative manner.
Virginia Tech doesn’t need to draw attention to itself this time around because of its progress through Pry’s two years. The way it finished the 2023 season — five wins in the final seven games — speaks for itself, as does returning 18 of 22 offensive and defensive starters.
The Hokies no longer have to hope they’re part of the conversation. They’re in it now — and are even a preseason top-25 pick in some cases — which comes with higher expectations, though they’re not shying away.
“It's one of the reasons I returned to Tech,” Pry said. “I want those expectations. I understand those standards. People talk about how you handle the expectations. Well, we all know that has nothing to do with the team that we can be when we go to Nashville. At the same time, we all came to Virginia Tech because of those expectations.
“This is a place where you should expect to compete for the playoffs and expect to compete for a championship. That's who Tech is.”
The players echoed that sentiment. Quarterback Kyron Drones said having so much returning continuity “exudes confidence.” Cornerback Dorian Strong described the offseason love as a confidence-builder. But defensive end Antwaun Powell-Ryland was quick to point out that those pats on the back don’t matter at the end of the day.
“It’s always good to get exposure,” Powell-Ryland said, “but we’re not really looking for validation from nobody but us. It’s definitely great, but we’re still working the same way.”
That’s easy with the right culture in place, which was displayed this offseason. Pry said there was no complacency or any sign of people letting their foot off the gas in the program, from the staff to the players.
That’s partially why there is a palpable buzz around the Hokies. Position groups that were weaknesses two years ago are now strengths. They’ve cultivated a unique brotherhood that guys don’t want to leave, whether it’s to pursue other college or professional opportunities. The same goes for coaches and staff members who turned down opportunities elsewhere to stay at Virginia Tech.
“There’s a belief in our team, there’s a belief in our process,” Pry said. “The culture is strong. To me, that’s where it starts.”
It’s also why the Hokies’ approach at the ACC Kickoff in Charlotte wasn’t surprising. While they’re not shying away from letting the ACC know they’re going to be a factor in this year’s race — they have some massive statement games at Miami (Sept. 27) and vs. Clemson (Nov. 9), respectively — they’re trying their best to fly under the radar until their trip to Vanderbilt on Aug. 31, when they hope their play will do the talking.
As August and the start of fall camp grow closer, Virginia Tech is in a good spot. It checked almost every box in the offseason, from retention and culture to recruiting and development. For the first time in a few years, it’s in the spotlight the program knows so well. Now it’s a matter of winning football games.
“We’ve got some good momentum, but nowhere yet are we the team we can be,” Pry said. “We need to have a heck of a camp. These guys have a great mindset, they’re invested everywhere they need to be invested. I’m excited about the team that we can be.”