If we get the chance, do you think we should run up the score on opponents?
The reason for this question.
VT gets more money if we get more tv viewers.
VT gets more tv viewers when we win OR when we have interesting players and team that scores a lot.
VT has more interesting players and team if they build up a lot of stats and scores (in addition to the winning).
VT with interesting players and team that gets more media coverage also helps recruiting.
So, when we play VMI, MD, UVA etc., do you think we should build up those stats and run up scores as much as possible? Or do you think old school gentlemen’s agreement to not embarrass other teams is still valid and has a place in the current college football?
57 Replies
2w
We haven't been rlevant in 10 years, time for some payback.
(In response to this post by HokieAl)
2w
(In response to this post by HokieAl)
3w
I also don't think you should limit the playbook with the backups either.
(In response to this post by HokieAl)
3w
But get your younger guys reps and if they’re good enough to keep on scoring when they’re in there so be it. Let them try to score too
(In response to this post by HokieAl)
3w
Most of those subs will end up playing significant roles in the future. It's called building depth and it makes practices meaningful for the whole team.
(In response to this post by HokieAl)
3w
hand, give them the same plan as your starters. Big margins of victory get national attention ( VMI is being handsomely compensated, as wells as ODU, they could say no)
(In response to this post by 1980VT)
3w
I grant the caveat of "If we get the chance", but I REALLY would caution people to not let all the hype cloud the reality of the situation. What Franklin has achieved in a very short time is amazing and unprecedented around here, but 2/3 of it ('26 and '27 high school classes) won't materialize on the field this year.
We brought in a really solid, 3* heavy transfer class, with a few really nice pieces, and retained a few nice pieces. I think the realistic take right now, is that we have a legit P4 roster for the first time in years, but something most of the middle ACC also possesses.
(In response to this post by HokieAl)
3w
Plus, if a 3* does well, he’s out of here. If Franklin does well, he’s out of here. However, to make sure a ridiculous assumption about running up the score when a game hasn’t even been started is beyond comprehension. Obviously, he hasn’t followed VT sports as long as I have.
(In response to this post by Techsupport)
3w
(In response to this post by HokieAl)
3w
late in games when our victory is already decided. The backups should be trying to score on offense and stop scoring on defense. That's what I consider running up the score. Doing on-side kicks and trick plays that might work in a meaningful situation are unnecessary.
(In response to this post by HokieAl)
3w
Grow up!
(In response to this post by HokieAl)
3w
(In response to this post by HokieAl)
L
lazarus1
3w
years without running up score. the only exception to this rule would be the Hoos and the Tarholes.
(In response to this post by HokieAl)
3w
football philosophy.
(In response to this post by lazarus1)
3w
Part of my reason for asking this question was to see how open people were to the changing times and the challenges we now face.
ESPN cares about the SEC
CBS FOX and NBC care about the BIG and Notre Dame
The ACC as a whole, and VT, face a lot of competition to get on the good channels, on a good day, and at a good time. We have to be entertaining.
** Edited by HokieAl at 7/9/2026, 4:03:02 PM
(In response to this post by lazarus1)
Yes yes and yes run it up $$$
(In response to this post by HokieAl)
3w
about running up the score on anyone.
(In response to this post by HokieAl)
3w
I say we keep the foot on the gas until we reach 50 points.
** Edited by VT ChemE 1986 at 7/9/2026, 2:04:00 PM
(In response to this post by HokieAl)
B
Bert66
3w
Franklin will put in his second string with clear orders to run his offense. He wants them to play meaningful minutes and get better.
(In response to this post by HokieAl)
E
EDGEMAN
3w
We don't need to be constantly throwing downfield to run up the score, but I would much rather have the 2nd string guys run our base offense instead of "taking knees" for a quarter.
(In response to this post by Bert66)
3w
Always - play to your potential and let the chips fall.
Of course, substituting is going to be important to building depth and getting young players game experience in low risk situations, especially given the new eligibility rules.
(In response to this post by HokieAl)
3w
Winning a lot and being in the hunt for championships maximize viewership.
I don't think score differential means much at all. Interesting and explosive playmakers will help, but no need to run up the score, just look good when the game matters.
(In response to this post by HokieAl)
3w
Close games against ODU just make us look bad because the casual college football fan expects us to win that game easily.
VT only has 300,000 living alumni. Even if every single one of them watched our games on separate tv/devices, that is not enough for good viewership or ratings. A good viewership number is over 1 million. Top brands with big regular season matchups get 7-10 million.
We need those other fans for the viewership. And we need to give them a reason to watch VT instead of other schools and other games.
(In response to this post by Seikoh_04)
J
jecvtmgr
3w
Just win, everything else will take care of itself
(In response to this post by HokieAl)
3w
But it will get less when tvs cut off in the 2nd half because the game is out of hand.
If you want good ratings, you better hope we have more viewers than alumni. I don't think we pull in the casual fan by running up scores on lesser opponents. And definitely by not obviously doing so when the game is out of reach. Beat the heck out of those teams in the first half if you want a wow factor on the ticker.
I will say this though, and it's a little different than the original question. If we get the opportunity to play subs, call real plays. Sportsmanship be damned, I always have felt subs get BS playing time if everything goes ultra conservative and vanilla. And defensive subs need to know the expectation is to shut them down regardless of who is on the field. That will improve our depth and pay dividends deep in the season.
This team will lose multiple games this year. I'm fairly confident in that. Hopefully we look competent and have a few memorable sparks to keep the momentum rolling because I think the next couple of years can be special.
(In response to this post by HokieAl)
3w
As for viewership, people don’t need to watch a full game for it to count. They literally count any unique tv or digital view that watches a game for at least a min. It’s all about how many people tune in.
(In response to this post by Seikoh_04)
E
EDGEMAN
3w
...get better air times, on better ESPN channels.
(In response to this post by Seikoh_04)
3w
Never take the foot off the gas pedal. Championship teams bury their competition. Within the team and within the entire program that attitude becomes infectious.
(In response to this post by HokieAl)
3w
There's is still right and wrong. Always good to choose right. As it relates to UVA, choosing right means running up the score.
(In response to this post by HokieAl)
3w
(In response to this post by EDGEMAN)
K
KCHokie2
3w
I could definitely see Damien portalling to Chapel Hill.
** Edited by KCHokie2 at 7/9/2026, 10:27:49 PM
(In response to this post by Hate2SeeItEnd Hokie)
3w
I have no problem if UVA's offense never sees the field the entire game. :-)
(In response to this post by Hate2SeeItEnd Hokie)
E
EDGEMAN
3w
...more PT.
But when it comes to the first game of the season, not sure I would want to do that unless the starters are moving like a "well oiled machine."
(In response to this post by HokieAl)
3w
At some point sacrifices will have to be made in order for us to get there.
Is perception and people liking us worth more than a championship? I guarantee not everyone here would answer that question the same way.
(In response to this post by HOKIE75-79)
H
Hokie622
3w
You can have class and RUTS a bit. They're not mutually exclusive. It's not a summer camp, it's an FBS football game. If one team is better, they might win by a lot. If this offends someone, maybe sports aren't for them.
Do I think it's necessary to throw a Hail Mary in the last minute when you're up by 50 against directional Michigan? No. But you also don't need to totally change your game to prevent your team from scoring. Those minutes are valuable, and I want my players learning what it feels like to score. I want them to be used to that feeling and crave more of it.
(In response to this post by HokieAl)
Hate to say this but in this day in age in college football
Class DOES NOT generate revenue strongly disagree when it’s comes to football on this subject matter!
(In response to this post by HOKIE75-79)
3w
the same friendship treatment Beamer showed to Ralph Friedgen.
(In response to this post by HokieAl)
B
BoozVT
3w
But, nowadays you can't let up or slow it down and try to just run clock even when up 3 or 4tds in the 1st half or early second. We see these sort of comebacks pretty much weekly now. Have to continue playing your game all the way through today, even with a huge lead. Every Tuesday night we hear announcers talking about a team near the edge of getting in the playoffs or not and saying "well, that close game against (any bad team) is really standing out". Gotta take away as many of the variables as possible.
(In response to this post by hokeyhokie)
H
HokieNL
3w
Rutgers was so bad, and Syracuse was up by so many, the Orangemen took a knee four times, in the Rutgers red zone.
IIRC, there was still a good amount of time left in the game. I believe it was fairly early in the 4th Quarter.
I forget what the score was at the time, and what the final was.
That was mercy. I do think mercy has a place. In the 2nd Half, at least. But, only after we get what we need.
I think, and I don't know if you can reduce it to an exact formula, that there should be a point where you call off the dogs. I don't think I can define it, exactly. It could be different, considering the opponent.
If you are covering the Spread, meeting expectations, maybe that is the baseline, a starting point. If you are favored by 35 over Central Michigan, you had better cover! If you are an underdog, just winning covers, and the rest is icing on the cake.
Am I saying always cover the Spread? Is this the standard? The Spread expressing what the public thinks? The Spread, of course, being a mixture of expert analysis, and how much money is being bet, on either side.
(With the expanded Playoffs, one would think that this RUTS issue means less. How many times have we finished Top 10 in the Polls? How many years would we have had a shot, adding to 1999?)
Emotionally, I want to run it up on UNC, UVA, ODU... but I realize that's not exactly rational thinking. That's not focused on our success. That's focused on grudges.
Thoughts?
** Edited by HokieNL at 7/11/2026, 3:54:55 AM
(In response to this post by BoozVT)
To a point, yes, perhaps. But playing your best players late in a game...
... where you're up 3 TDs just to get more points on a decided underdog, becomes counter-productive, in my view.
(In response to this post by HokieAl)