Monday Thoughts: Psychiatric Help 5 Cents, The Doctor Is In

49 Comments

1. 

   VAHokie89 October 19, 2022 at 4:46 PM

   No offense Will but i came out of reading this article feeling like i had not read much? :).
2. 

   Al Czervik October 19, 2022 at 7:31 AM

   Even when the topic is a turd, still love Monday Thoughts.
3. 

   nchokie55 October 19, 2022 at 6:43 AM

   Thanks for the article Will I know it is tough for you guys to "stay above the fray" and report in a manner that approached balanced. I've been fortunate enough to have attended Hokie football and basketball games since the mid-sixties, my Dad's employer, then Roanoke Memorial Hospital, now Carillion Clinic was a significant supporter of Tech athletics through the purchase of season tickets and membership in the Hokie Club. Having Parents who were Tech grads and having attended VT myself in the mid -70's and participating in the original Marching Virginians I've been a fan for a while. Just as you have Will, I've enjoyed the ups and downs of Hokie sports, winning the NIT, having to play against Larry Bird in the big dance and watching the national coming out show for MV in the Superdome against FSU. The last several years have been tough to watch at times and tough to read about, I still support the Hokies and hope to continue to do so for many years to come.
4. 

   VaPoly07 October 18, 2022 at 4:14 PM

   I disagree that Miami is a rival and we should play them every year. Our rivals are, in my eyes, UVA and WV. That’s it for “big rivals”.
   1. 

      earmuffs October 19, 2022 at 11:26 AM

      Miami is very much a rival. I have a bit of experience with Miami fans, and they think so, too...despite what they may tell you.
5. 

   earmuffs October 18, 2022 at 3:22 PM

   Which outsiders have said that Beamer was the only coach who could win at Tech? That's laughable.
6. 

   daddio October 18, 2022 at 2:22 PM

   Thank goodness for B ball, football is at least this season is “A bridge too far”
7. 

   IB4TECH October 18, 2022 at 12:33 PM

   Why were Duke and Wake not paired every year? Wake should have gotten a game with one of State and Cheat.
   1. 

      Will Stewart October 18, 2022 at 1:08 PM

      ?‍♂️
8. 

   smokey de hokie October 18, 2022 at 9:32 AM

   I want to thank you for helping me understand why some many of the current comments are always negative. It wasn't until you wrote "1987, which is how far back Virginia Tech’s searchable football database goes". Having followed the "Fighting Gobblers" since the mid 40s I realize they have no knowledge of the history or how far this team has come over the years. Thanks for TSL and all you have done for Tech Sports.
9. 

   Hokie67 October 18, 2022 at 7:21 AM

   There are some things that stand out as 'problems' with VT football: 1) A defensive alignment that has Dax covering a receiver 20+ yards down field. Doesn't matter that it took a great pass and a great catch. 2) VT has limited speed - especially in the skill positions. 3) The OL has experience - but is especially slow. In addition - too many false starts - which seem to be caused by players trying to make up for the lack of speed and getting a 'quick' jump. It's evident when VT 'tries' to run a stretch play. 4) Why hasn't the O staff figured out why the opposing D reacts like they know what play VT is about to run? They can't just be guessing and getting it right so many times. Inquiring minds want to know.
   1. 

      VaPoly07 October 18, 2022 at 4:17 PM

      All our players are garbage. They stink. Pry is playing freshmen bc he’ll need them in the coming years. Our upper classmen suck, and the freshmen are learning on the fly. Also, we have a qb who we didn’t originally offer, by a “qb coach” in Fuente. That says it all, Wells isn’t good enough. JMO
      1. 

         phoenixhokie October 18, 2022 at 9:19 PM

         You’re a complete child for trashing 18-22 years who bust their butts out there.
10. 

    Bugle76 October 18, 2022 at 12:29 AM

    Love Monday thoughts, but routine questioning if this staff can get it done is tiresome. Kind of early for that kind of talk IMO. Heard same thing about a coach Beamer. Why wouldn’t we give Pry a chance to make adjustments to his staff and get his own players in? The complaint about Fuente was that he didnt recruit well. What baboon would then expect to do well with the talent everyone said wasn’t very good? Don’t be that guy.
    1. 

       hokiebird1990 October 18, 2022 at 9:08 AM

       Agree.
    2. 

       Will Stewart October 18, 2022 at 11:44 AM

       Yeah, I'm tired of it too, to be honest. But we catch way more flack if we *don't* question some of the coaching decisions and techniques than if we do.
       1. 

          ToledoHokie October 18, 2022 at 12:42 PM

          Will, I don’t think you have a choice….it’s a whole different climate now then it was when Beamer started, the world doesn’t allow, or have, the patience it did back then to build a program.
       2. 

          DADEC52 October 18, 2022 at 12:59 PM

          Just curious have you seen any reason to think this O staff can get it done. I have not and to have the big whistle commenting on lack of imagination (vanilla) and not having the right players on the field for a given play makes it an incredibly valid question. I don't see how you can not question the coaching if you are covering this team. When you comment on the QB with 3500+ yards and a WR over 1000, you specifically say not the least talented! That leaves coaching the questions are valid but won't unfortunately be fully answered until years end if then. The O staff has seriously disappointed. Out here we could keep our head in the sand but we're paying for this team and asked to pay more all the time and this is not holding up their end. Not looking or expecting a winning or bowl season but 118 yards through 3 qtr. and 232 total with back ups playing d and penalties helping the scoring drives. How do you not question coaching? not firing at this point certainly but questioning - damn right!
          1. 

             DADEC52 October 18, 2022 at 1:13 PM

             One more thing - hiring your staff is critical to the success of any program and Pry's hires are so inexperienced in a number of areas, he has really tied his future to a big gamble. These guys may grow and perform but they aren't now and Pry has to know it will damage him professionally as a HC is they don't come through or he doesn't make the needed changes.
       3. 

          Bugle76 October 19, 2022 at 11:52 PM

          To be clear, questioning individual calls is fair game. But saying you aren’t sure this staff will ever get it done is totally different. I get it, Whit is paying him like a tenured coach. That’s on Whit. I’m saying, let’s see if he makes some moves,either in recruiting and/ or coaching.
    3. 

       phoenixhokie October 18, 2022 at 2:01 PM

       You're my new hero, Bugle. I think Will and staff do a great job of measured and appropriate questioning. It's the dolts who want to 'fire Pry', 'fire Whit', 'fire Bowen', fire EVERYONE! I'll say it until I'm red in the face. Wait .. already am. This is SEASON 1, FOLKS! Can we all assume the 'fire em all' crowd takes the same 'logical' approach at a restaurant? You sit down, and maybe that first cocktail doesn't come out quite to your liking. So you throw the glass on the floor, curse the staff, declare the menu is totally disgusting and storm out before eating one bite? Because that's the way you're behaving. Just completely irrational and that's putting it VERY kindly. Check your own expectations and the realistic goals that are VT football in a rebuild.
       1. 

          DADEC52 October 18, 2022 at 2:31 PM

          So am I to understand you don't think that questioning the staff is reasonable 7 games in. Not sure who is firing them but you think they should not be questioned over the truly poor performance we have been experiencing.
          1. 

             phoenixhokie October 18, 2022 at 9:23 PM

             Not at all. It’s the ‘Fire em all’ crowd who have ZERO perspective on building a program. I mean .. Fire Whit Babcock? One of the best, most respected AD’s around? These dolts have no clue; they’d make us Tennessee. (Excluding this season of course. Go Vols)
    4. 

       VaPoly07 October 18, 2022 at 4:17 PM

       +1
11. 

    TECH87 October 17, 2022 at 10:58 PM

    I included the 2009 game in my list for several reasons: (1) we shut down the "Jacory Heisman" nonsense early thanks to Dorian Porch and never looked back; (2) a blocked kick for a touchdown in a game in which we beat the Canes; and (3) games where the weather is atrocious (we were soaked to the skin) but you still win are awesome (when you don't, it's the worst--see, e.g., BC in 2007).
    1. 

       Thornton Melon October 18, 2022 at 7:00 AM

       You said it all. That's why I picked the 09 game also. All the Jacory hype coming in... To a game with the swarming defense and the all maroon look with the ugly weather. If I remember, there was a scoop and score where the D just absolutely plowed thru the Miami line.. just ran thru them.. such a fun game to enjoy.
12. 

    hokiepro October 17, 2022 at 9:33 PM

    Funny how you have a picture of a late hit by Miami that was flagged THEN waved off ??‍♂️
13. 

    NRAHokie October 17, 2022 at 9:06 PM

    Even with VT football impersonating a dumpster fire, I’m actually excited about the new YouTube segment y’all are starting. Nice!
    1. 

       teaysvalleyhokie October 17, 2022 at 9:36 PM

       It's really supplementing (or replacing) what the ACC Network had promised, that schools could use their new million dollar studios to create their own content that would show on the ACC Network. Since that never happened, Will and TSL have stepped in...
14. 

    BlackwaterHokie October 17, 2022 at 8:21 PM

    It's a shame 2004s game with UM isn't getting more love. Winner take all for the ACC in the Orange Bowl?
    1. 

       ONELLY October 17, 2022 at 8:37 PM

       Agree. With the Jim Davis batted down pass, right?
    2. 

       Atlee Hokie October 17, 2022 at 8:58 PM

       I was looking for a place for my 3rd vote. I didn't remember that game at the time. If I had, that's where I would have voted. Personally, the 1995 game was the #1 for me. 1) We had never beaten them before. IIRC. 2) We had lost the 1st two games in 1995 and were facing a terrible season. 3) It became the anchor for the best season in VT, up to that point. The only downer was not scoring much. We rushed for 300 yds in that game.
    3. 

       PBHokie October 17, 2022 at 10:03 PM

       2004 Miami is comparable to 1995 Texas and 1999 WVU first ACC Championship regular season game at Miami and ACC didn't want VT
    4. 

       Novahokie`99 October 17, 2022 at 10:33 PM

       That's such a tough one. I started at VT in 1995, so the 95 game is number one. Then it was a tie between 2003 and 2011. 2003 was the best atmosphere I've ever been in (until 2005 when we pooped the bed) but 2011 was special because of the crowd and the comeback. 2004 was the next best but it was in Miami so hard for me to judge as high. 1999 was flat out awesome, Corey Moore took over, but we were way better than them that year. 1998 in OT with Al Clarke is sneaky underrated, as is 2019.
    5. 

       AlfHokie October 18, 2022 at 9:45 AM

       That was one of my top picks. One of the few VT games in history where everything was on the line, I expected us to lose, and the Hokies came through in a big way.
15. 

    phonedude October 17, 2022 at 8:08 PM

    Is there such thing as a favorite loss? I hated that we lost in 2001, but I knew I had witnessed an historically amazing game. I remember how loud Lane was for the blocked punt.
    1. 

       JAG88Hokie October 17, 2022 at 10:35 PM

       Loudest football game I ever attended
       1. 

          133222Hokie October 18, 2022 at 7:49 AM

          Agree. If Williford had not dropped the 2 point conversation from Grant Noel, the game would have been tied with 5-6 minutes left. Miami would have been forced to score & VT had all the momentum. That Miami team went on to win the national Championship.
16. 

    ldhart1959 October 17, 2022 at 7:48 PM

    Hopefully Bowen gets better but don’t understand why a defensive minded head coach would hire an OC with no experience
    1. 

       fosterD1 October 17, 2022 at 10:04 PM

       I agree. Barring a full 180 in performance, I’d say Bowen won’t be retained. 19 points a game just won’t cut it.
17. 

    CapeCodHokie October 17, 2022 at 7:40 PM

    I love that poll, Will. I had about 5 games I wanted to pick. 2001 was an amazing game to be that close to knocking them off. Even after the Wilford drop we got the ball back around the 50, still had all the momentum but couldn't make anything happen. I probably love the 2011 game because I've rewatched the ending so many times. "These people are losing their minds!" The 99 game was special as all game in 99 were, but Miami was playing particularly dirty that game and we were up to the task and ground them to dust. And 2003 was all about the Walk, A call to arms, and Give it to me Roscoe! One of the funnest games I've attended. Last, the 2004 game is underrated, maybe not the most exciting, but when Randall to Royal to the house and we were ACC champs on our first try. Maybe at the end of conference realignment we end up in some kind of revamped Big East. People ragged on the BEFC but it had tons of great rivalries.
18. 

    Dbl Eagle October 17, 2022 at 7:02 PM

    I chose other, 1967 Tech - Miami. Tech was 7-0 going into the game and I think Miami was ranked in the top 10. Tech tied the score at 7-7 in the 2nd qtr on a Loria punt return. Miami scored late in the 2nd qtr on a hook and ladder. There no scores in the 2nd half and the score ended 14-7 UM.
19. 

    GO_HOKIES_GO October 17, 2022 at 6:33 PM

    VT continues to field bad offenses because they continue to hire unqualified people as offensive coordinators. If by some chance of fate Beamer had hired Fuente as offensive coordinator in 2005 (when he should have fired/demoted Stinespring) the Hokies would have won more games, built a successful program, and we would not be in this mess right now. Of course, that is not what happened and here we are - Bowen is not the answer, so it is time to find someone who can recruit and coach offense immediately if not sooner.
    1. 

       teaysvalleyhokie October 17, 2022 at 9:41 PM

       Okay, you got me wondering what Fuente was doing in 2004 and 2005. Looks like he was the OC for Illinois State from 2004-2006. He followed that in 2007 as the RB coach at TCU. I also wonder if being here as a coordinator, under Frank, would have allowed him to learn more what is needed to be a P5 head coach.
20. 

    vtgriff09 October 17, 2022 at 6:22 PM

    Great article with tons of common sense. The common sense, but still homer, writers of TSL even see the writing on the wall. This is not close go historically low talent, especially when we are playing some historically bad defenses. Outside of the offensive players you named, I feel as if Wright is a must to be on the field (CC mentioned it, and I continue to say it). Also, what happened to Christian Moss? The most we have seen him (since showing some ability) is being named the punter. Lastly, Pry mentioned tons of times in the preseason that King and Blumrick are the playmakers that need to be on the field. Well...we can't get big plays, but guess which 2 players barely play? King had a long td run and Bowen said from that moment, "Hold on...TSL excuse makers can't continue to say we have no talent if I play this guy who is electric. I gotta keep that narrarive going."
    1. 

       AbsolutVT03 October 17, 2022 at 7:02 PM

       King had a long TD run and injured himself on the play and never came back into the game. Saturday he got hit on the sideline and came out injured and never returned to the game. Hard to keep a guy on the field when he gets hurt almost every other play. I don’t think it’s some conspiracy to not play King. He simply gets banged up more often than not and therefore is unreliable. The same thing happened back when Fuente was the coach and King was mostly returning kicks. He got hurt constantly.
21. 

    meglow000 October 17, 2022 at 6:16 PM

    They called Peter Moore Moss the whole first half.
    1. 

       knapnhokie October 17, 2022 at 6:30 PM

       yeah saw that too i thought moore got benched
       1. 

          teaysvalleyhokie October 17, 2022 at 9:43 PM

          I think they called Malachi Thomas something like Malachi Carter at one point. Those guys were not well-prepared. Say what you will about the ACC Network guys, but they seem better than the RSN (Bally Sports) guys.