Should VT add another annual opponent?
Boosting TV ratings is obviously critical now.
SEC and Big Ten heavyweights (e.g., Tennessee, Penn State) would likely never agree to play Virginia Tech every year.
Is there another high profile school that would play VT every year? Having Miami every year is good. Clemson just got a deal with ND.
Could Florida State be an option? (probably not).
If not, what about Louisville, NC State, or Georgia Tech as a new primary rival?
If no one agrees, I guess we could always ask WVU for decent ratings.
63 Replies
Id like to see VT play some home and homes with some former Pac-12 schools
such as Arizona State and Colorado.
(In response to this post by RandomAsianGuy)
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EDGEMAN
1y
...with Cal and Stanford...lol
(In response to this post by Maroon Baboon)
1y
wonder if VT will try to get a future home-home series with Arizona State at some point. I think Sun Devil Stadium is slightly bigger than Arizona Stadium.
(In response to this post by Truthahn)
1y
We have a long history going back to 1912 - like it or not - we have a similar culture and love of football - we have a real football rivalry - game day is crazy and has a feel that rival SEC - UVA - sorry - yawn - until they win and their fans show up - I just don’t care
(In response to this post by RandomAsianGuy)
1y
batteries and beer cups. If you believe the "Cultures" are the same, you must not have attended a game in morganhole since 1912!!
(In response to this post by Hokie12thman)
1y
Sporting events TODAY are very energetic. Go to the NFL games, fans energic, all types of words and comments, great parties, good drinks, Same in the SEC and BIG 10. AND guess what that is where the ratings and excitement that is branded throughout the countryl,
If you want a more polite, environment there is hamton sydney versus Bridgwater or Wake Forest.
BTW West Virginia isnt the same as in the nineties, (and that is 3o years ago), and its a different world
(In response to this post by Blueboy)
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LHSHokie
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Blueboy
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Stech
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since then with no problems.
(In response to this post by Blueboy)
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Truthahn
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(In response to this post by Stech)
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Gives enough variety to keep schedules from being stale. Gives exposure to three different states for fans to travel. It is frequent enough to develop rivalries. And the schools all care about football.
But as others said below, if I had to pick just one then it would be WVU.
If we could ever pull from the BIG or SEC then I would pick from PSU, Tenn, South Carolina as the options to keep some regional aspect.
(In response to this post by RandomAsianGuy)
1y
Even though they got into the P4 late, they still dont have the cache or branding like the P2 schools, Basically, you are who you hang with....
(In response to this post by HokieAl)
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Stech
1y
when it’s built. First week of the season. We have enormous amount of Alumni and fans within two hours!!! People who live in Blacksburg or Roanoke have no idea how hard and expensive it is for others to go to a game, plus it would help us in ratings and understanding our influence in DMV, RIC and HR.
(In response to this post by RandomAsianGuy)
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Truthahn
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We should at least have a long-term home and home series with WVU.
(In response to this post by Stech)
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Stech
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invested there and more.
(In response to this post by Truthahn)
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unless Terp fans have recently changed their attitudes about football.
(In response to this post by EDGEMAN)
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EDGEMAN
1y
...to watch a MDU vs UVA game. Massive vandalism!
(In response to this post by VTHokie2000)
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Stech
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We will sell out the stadium, and TV ratings will be ⬆️
(In response to this post by 1947Sunbowl)
1y
Whit is NOT going to buy out anyone for a game, and ODU is holding us to the contract. Thank you John Belein
Yes kill it in DMV, RIC and HR, but I saw that the kickoff event in Richmond was sponsored by the VT Foundation NOT within the athetlic Dept/Hokie Club (and I guess the same for the kickoff events in Hampton Roads, and Northern Va. Sad the lack of any hokie club fund raising development and relying on VT foundation to cover the bills.
(In response to this post by Stech)
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Truthahn
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The home to away ratio makes it OK, IMO. What is it? 10-2?
Pregame on their quad was pretty cool. They had a good band there, near the main beer tent.
During the game, I stood behind the first level seats with a beer in my hand the whole game, with perfect sightlines. We crushed them, so no worries there. It was awesome, like being at the tailgate and the game at the same time!
(In response to this post by 1947Sunbowl)
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VPI 1924
1y
Against a trucking company
(In response to this post by Truthahn)
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Truthahn
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We pack each other's stadiums. We aren't in the same state, or the same conference. We are close by, the travel is easy. Our fan bases overlap geographically a lot. We have lots of history together. It could even occasionally be played in DC. All that is perfect.
We already have Miami and UVa within the ACC. We don't need another ACC rival.
Out of conference, Tennessee won't do it. Penn State won't do it. At least not as a peer to peer in a long-term deal.
But WVU might do it, and should also want it, IMO.
(In response to this post by RandomAsianGuy)
1y
1. VT OOC schedule (no change from Whit) 1-2 Power 4 schools (hoome and home) and 2 Group of 5.
2. VT wants to keep the SEC schools on schedule and so far no indication they want to cancel us.
3. VT wants to keep the Maryland 4 game series( Per BOV and TIm Sands for covereage in DMV), WIsconsin and Arizona.
4. However, wait to see how the SEC rescheduling, as well as ACC re-scehduling in the future with higher brands and ND playing more games together and ther rest play crossword puzzles
(In response to this post by Truthahn)
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Stech
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He knew what could have happen with having them every year.
(In response to this post by 1947Sunbowl)
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anyone who has ever experienced morganhole would never go back there. DC? A different location could probably work once every decade. Would need 300 cops to keep the peace.
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Stech
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(In response to this post by ancient alien 2018)
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game being played at the Commanders' new stadium instead of it being a home-home series.
(In response to this post by Truthahn)
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Stech
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(In response to this post by HokiesACC2004)
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footprint when you consider both have a strong presence in the DMV.
(In response to this post by HokiesACC2004)
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Stech
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get any of this. They want everything in Mayburg (short for Mayberry and Blacksburg). :-) They don't want to go to the city, that's why they choose Blacksburg, not that there is anything wrong with that. :-) However, if they would learn how to share just a tiny bit, Virginia Tech would be way better off.
(In response to this post by VTHokie2000)
1y
For schools with a strong presence in the DMV?
(In response to this post by VTHokie2000)
1y
Virginia. Also, if you look at where the largest percentage of VT alumni are located within VA, then the topic 3 historically have been in this order:
1. NOVA
2. 757
3. Roanoke/NRV
When a person talks about VT's footprint, it isn't unreasonable for someone to conclude that it is the entire Commonwealth of Virginia. Heck you probably could even say that VT views it that way because of the decisions on what information to include on that webpage. When people talk about the importance of NOVA, it isn't uncommon to use it interchangeably with DMV because NOVA obviously makes up the "V." Given the DMV's unique relationship, it is possible that VT has a strong presence in the "D" and "M" too. Now that presence may not come in the form of a physical campus in those locations, but the impact the close proximity the NOVA campuses have on DC and MD. In addition to the large percentage of alumni living and/or working within the DMV.
Whereas, with WVU it is likely more about having a large percentage of alumni living and/or working within the DMV. However, WVU is about 4 hours away from DC. It is possible the school has a certain level of influence within the DMV because of the relationships the school has built over the years and/or the benefits the school has received because of the work influential politicians (i.e. Senator Robert Byrd, Senator Joe Manchin, etc.) have done while in office. I know Manchin graduated from WVU and I think Byrd may have graduated from Marshall. So a similar argument could be made that WVU's football extends beyond just Morgantown and even the entire state of WV. Given where Morgantown is located within WV, its footprint likely extends into parts of OH, PA, MD, and VA.
Link:
Click Here
(In response to this post by Pylons)
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Stech
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is everywhere when I do business there. Yes more than UVA that is a lot closer.
(In response to this post by VTHokie2000)
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to make that info readily available to people on its website. Then they either stopped sharing it or made it more difficult for people to find it for whatever reason.
(In response to this post by Stech)
1y
SEC is going to 9, therefore, they are going to drop their p4 teams (and keep the Group of 5 or FCS exclusively at home)... Therefore for VT future games with Alabama, Ole Miss, South Carolina are subject to be cancelled. (For WVU they have ala coming to WVU in 26 (that could be cancelled).
There are going to be less access to home and home series with the power 2 schools. (that's why the clemson ND series is so smart for ND, and for VT making sure the program is grouped with the BRANDED schools and not relegated to BC Pitt, Cuse, Wake Stanford Cal
(In response to this post by RandomAsianGuy)
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EDGEMAN
1y
Like the upcoming USC-E game. We probably need to do what F$U did to build their brand...play anyone, anywhere as long as it gets prime time television coverage.
(In response to this post by RandomAsianGuy)
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Stech
1y
why do we keep on doing this? Either play a Big 10 or 12 team in DMV, or don't play them. How many times do we have to make the same mistake before we learn from it?
(In response to this post by EDGEMAN)
1y
opposed if the game was played in NYC (Giants/Jets stadium), Dallas (Cowboys stadium), Houston (Texans stadium), San Antonio (Alamodome), Las Vegas (Raiders stadium), Denver, New Orleans, or some other location that could potentially benefit the program in some way. At least maybe VT will have to consider expanding where it is willing to play neutral site games beyond Charlotte, Hotlanta, and DC if the program wants to "take that next step" in terms of perceived "value."
(In response to this post by Stech)
1y
one of the best fan based home field advantages in the NCAA. They fill up their stadium, and make bank in ticket sales.
it won't happen, but VT also has to consider going into the lions den, and play a few road games without a guaranteed home game. Most of the B12 need to consider this move as well. Michigan for example, will not schedule a 1 and 1 with KU or K-State as an example, but they would be more likely to schedule a home game with KU or a K-State without a return visit. Play a few "buy" games with the blue bloods.
Pick a USC, OSU, Oregon, and ya, even ND. You would lose money with one less home game, but if it's a Penn State, and you win, your rankings, profile, and viewership numbers go way up. Unless you are in the P2, or are going to get the brand money in the new ACC distribution system, it might be a good idea to schedule a few of these.
(In response to this post by EDGEMAN)
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Truthahn
1y
They love that BECAUSE they win 80% of the time. It is how they became brands.
Home and home or nothing.
IMO, we should play as many uneven arrangements as possible where the opponent comes to us, with the caveat that we only play FCS teams at home and only max one per year. I'm fine with any G5 team doing a 2-1 (3-2 if a bigger name, etc.) with us.
We should, however, always make sure we have at least one P4 team on our schedule each year, provided it is a home and home arrangement.
I don't want us travelling the globe to play far away P2s unless we get a home game, too. That is asking for a loss with no chance to make it up with home field advantage.
Also, make sure to arrange for very stiff cancelation penalties, because the bigger the brand the easier it is for them to just buy out the return leg if they think you might be getting good enough to beat them.
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
1y
8 acc games 4 home 4 away
UVA game will always be last game
4 OOC games
At least 1 Power 4 every year home and home or neutral site
2 Group of 5/ or FCS.
Looking at schedule
26 OOC 1 POWER 2 MD 2 GROUP OF 5 ODU/JMU 1 FCS VMI
27 OOC 2 POWER 2 MD NOTRE DAME, 2 GROUP OF 5 LIBERTY ODU
28 OOC 2 POWER 2 MD NOTRE DAME 1 GROUP OF 5 ODU LIBERTY
29 OOC POWER 4 2 MD ARIZONA 2GROUP OF 5 ODU LIBERTY
30 OOC POWER 4 2 BYU ARIZONA GROUP OF 5 ODU LIBERTY
31 OOC POWER 4 1 POWER 2 WISCONSIN, 1 GROUP OF 5 ODU
32 POC POWER 2 OLE MISS WISONSIN
33 OOC POWER 2 NOTRE DAME BYU
34 OOC POWER 2 ALA, SOUTH CAROLINA
35 OOC POWER 2 ALA, SOUTH CAROLINA
36 OOC POWER 1 NOTRE DAME
37 OOC POWER 2 OLE MISS
So we are ok
(In response to this post by Truthahn)
1y
Wholeheartedly agreed with you.
However, things have changed, especially with the uneven distributions being based on viewership.
(In response to this post by Truthahn)
I agree. I always liked the Fresno State approach.
Anybody, Any time, Any where.
The better programs (like Penn State) aren't probably going to do home and homes with us from now on. Not sure if 2 for 1 is the way to go or not. But nothing would be better than beating an elite program at their house.
And yeah. I hate neutral site games.
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
1y
they want exposure to the blue bloods, or top BIG and SEC schools. Buy in games is the worst result when you have a 60,000+ stadium that gets filled, but the B12 schools may not have a choice if they want to position themselves for a national audience. VT, Louisville, NCSU, and just about everyone else except for the "blue bloods" are in the same boat IMHO.
(In response to this post by Maroon Baboon)
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Stech
1y
Boise versus Virginia Tech at Fed Ex was off the hook for atmosphere and TV ratings. Why not Kansas Virginia or Virginia Tech Kansas State for football and basketball too? How about some creativity and unique matchups between the other two P4 conferences?
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
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Truthahn
1y
We should all be doing 1-1's with each other like crazy. I'd consider a handful of G5 teams for that, too, like the PAC teams, UNLV, Memphis, Tulane, USF, and maybe a few more.
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
1y
though. The P2s could leverage the "new reality" to be 4-for-1, 5-for-1, or even 6-for-1 with a guarantee that the P2s play all their home games first before the ACC/Big XII gets its 1 home game. Do you think most ACC and/or Big XII teams would agree to those terms?
If that ends up being the case, then I think you can see where it could be going; aka the P2s opt to pay the early exit fee to not play the 1 away game so they could schedule a neutral site game against a P2 team from the other conference, establish a new home-home series, or pick up another home game against a G5/DI-FCS opponent.
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
1y
a long time. Schedule the buy in games is almost all they can do. Miami was excoriated for scheduling a 2-1 with Toledo, as have other ACC teams. I'm not sure it will be much different for the P2 moving forward.
That being said, Toledo is 1-0 against Michigan, 1-0 against Penn State, and came within 2 minutes from being 1-O against ND. The point, is that in order to schedule them, you have to in their stadiums.
I'm not saying VT is a G5 school, they are not. I'm saying that the reality of scheduling the Penn States has become much more difficult.
(In response to this post by VTHokie2000)
1y
opponents. A few even started negotiating 3-for-1 deals. I think VT's series with Marshall and maybe ODU were either 3-for-1 or parts were 3-for-1 in the case of the long-term ODU series.
My point was that ACC and Big XII teams may not be able to assume that the P2s will necessarily agree to do 2-for-1 deals with them right out of the gate in this new P2 World because 3-for-1 deals is already an established practice. Since the P2s have the money to buy out the ACC/Big XII opponent, as was the case with Michigan when it bought out playing at VT so it could replace VT with a home game against Arkansas State (the home-home series was ultimately canceled because VT refused to still play at Michigan), I do think the new norm will be at least 3-for-1 or more likely 4-for-1 deals right out of the gate.
What I don't know is how that new reality will sit with most ACC and Big XII teams. If the ACC and Big XII teams aren't willing to accept that new reality for whatever reason, then their OOC will be filled with basically all non-P2 opponents. The only time a P2 opponent appears on their schedule is when they agree to play in a neutral site game. The ACC-SEC annual rivalry games could end up being spared because the SEC teams are willing to continue them even after going to a 9-game conference schedule. For the Big XII, I think only Kansas (Mizzou), Iowa State (Iowa), and Oklahoma St (Oklahoma) are the only teams that could end up in that situation. Iowa State may be the only fortunate team depending on what Iowa wants to do with that series or if the state govt passed a law requiring the rivalry to be played annually.
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
1y
the other two will continue.
Hindsight being 20/20, VT probably should have have played Michigan, but i certainly understand why they didn't.
Times have changed, and if those in the lower 3/4's of the ACC want the high profile games that garner media numbers, they just might have to sacrifice some home games. This includes all of the B12.
(In response to this post by VTHokie2000)
1y
Michigan made its decision. Michigan decided in either January or February of the year Michigan was supposed to start the series with VT that it was buying out the game at VT (and maybe the entire home-home series). As a result, VT was forced to scramble on short notice to find a replacement opponent or only play 11 games that year. Ultimately, VT was forced to agree to a home-home series with Middle Tennessee State with the first game being played at MTSU. The game at MTSU was canceled because of COVID, but MTSU was still willing to honor its commitment to play at VT. I'm not sure if the schools had any discussions about the possibility of rescheduling the game at MTSU or not. As of today, MTSU is not identified as a future opponent for VT. Michigan's decisions is why you may hear Hokie fans refer to them as McChicken.
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
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Truthahn
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One of those games was vs Maryland, before they were in the B10. That was rough on Maryland.
They say home field advantage is worth 3 points. Not there. It is much higher than that, especially for non-B10 teams, that are not used to it,
(In response to this post by VTHokie2000)
1y
I always thought Michigan viewed VT in a similar light as Penn State does for various reasons. Even though it was cool that VT had a home-home series with Ohio State, I don't think I would have placed them near the top of my wish list. If I had to identify the Top 3 Big Ten teams, then it would probably go in this order.
1. Michigan State
2. Iowa
3. Wisconsin (aka the series that will never take place)
The reason I identified these 3 programs is because they all seem to be mirror images of VT's program in terms of philosophy (aka a blue collar work ethic).
(In response to this post by Truthahn)
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Marooned
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Auburn - one of the upper echelon SEC teams that has a rabid fan base and great name recognition, but is in jeopardy of becoming an afterthought with expansion. I honestly don’t see how Tennessee would not fit that bill either. We just have to hold up our end in whatever series we’d initiate.
(In response to this post by RandomAsianGuy)