Monday Thoughts: The Glorious and the Ghastly

Will Stewart

September 18, 2023 90

Rutgers Mascot Scarlet Knight Virginia Tech Monday Thoughts — Wouldn't you love to slap that smug grin off his face? Alas, the Hokies could not. (Ivan Morozov)

For many years, as UVa football was sliding into the abyss under Mike London, Chris Coleman and I used to sit around the TSL office and talk about how difficult it must be for the staff at TheSabre.com to continue to write articles about a program that was falling off a cliff.

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Monday Thoughts 2023 VT-Rutgers Football

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90 Comments

VPI81 September 19, 2023 at 12:25 PM

The difference in an optimist and a pessimist: A pessimist compares Brent Pry to Mike London An optimist compares him to Mac Brown who went 2-20 during his first two years at UNC (1988-1989)
1. phoenixhokie September 19, 2023 at 2:48 PM
  
  +1
2. cdogvt September 20, 2023 at 6:19 PM
  
  Well said
Al Czervik September 19, 2023 at 12:09 PM

Keep writing Will, we will contiue to read, no matter how hard it may be in light of the material you have to work with. Thanks for the balance and perspective in hard times.
GoneFishin Hokie September 19, 2023 at 10:19 AM

This is the first game since that 63-21 Pitt game that I neither watched or listened to a single play. Being on vacation and fishing played a part, but I've lost a lot of my enthusiasm for watching Hokie football.
HokieJB September 19, 2023 at 9:55 AM

Our linebackers have made a habit of ENGAGING offensive linemen, getting tied up, and essentially removing themselves from the play. Exactly what the offense wants. Bonehead.
Arch72Hokie September 19, 2023 at 9:50 AM

Re: Mike London...he is a decent, likeable guy who did was as well as he could @ UVA given the dumpster fire he inherited from Al Groh. At UR, he inherited a team in 2008 from Dave Clawson (yes, that Dave Clawson) that had advanced to the FCS semis in 2007 and which returned a veteran team (25 players). In 2008, UR started 0-3 but went on to win 13-straight and the FCS NC, proving he could coach. In his second and final year, 2009, UR was 11-2, and advanced to the national semis. Lost in his success though was the fact that he hadn't built a program at UR but was expected to do so @ UVA. The UVA AD, Craig Littlepage and his assistant who was charged w/oversight of the football program were both black and they thought a black coach alone was enough. To this day though, UVA has never figured out the football thing. Case in point was Bronco, a guy who was not only a cultural misfit in Charlottesville, he was from the west who had exactly zero connections to the east. He was a, “Stranger in a Strange Land.” Again, like London, not Bronco's fault. Truth be told, the two best coaches in UVA football history, Art Guepe (1946-52) and Geo. Welsh (1982-2000) were run off. Post-Guepe, UVA became a national laughing stock w/only 2-winning seasons beginning in 1953 and extending through 1982; Welsh suffered only 2-losing seasons, his first, 1982 (2-9) 1986 (3-8). Otherwise, he was good for an avg. of 7-wins/year. (What UVA fan today wouldn’t settle for that?) By current measures, that’s good for a bowl game every year. Returning to London, he’s doing a credible job @ W&M, 25-16 to date, incl. 11-2 in 2022 and a Qtr.Final appearance in the FCS playoffs. At UVA, he was dealt a bad hand and never had a chance but that's the way things in Charlottesville roll. .
804Hokie September 19, 2023 at 9:50 AM

Touchdown Tommy! I was at that VT-Pitt Johnny Majors game. Went to Rockies-Pirates game the previous night and saw Gallaraga hit a pop up, that went out of the park. Good times!
SarahVTHokie24 September 19, 2023 at 9:32 AM

I love your stuff Will
SBISHokie September 19, 2023 at 9:19 AM

It is hard to wait for success when you see other first-time coaches go out and win and do well. Think of Elko or the coach at Michigan State. However, sometimes they never equal that first year and are on their way out (again see Michigan State coach). I don't think any of us want that. To really rebuild a program you have to do what Pry is doing and build it from recruiting and a youth movement. I did see some promise on the field this past Saturday, and if that continues we should start to get better little by little, slowly but surely. And it will have been done the right way.
1. I-W-K-Y-I-T-N September 19, 2023 at 9:50 AM
  
  If there were a Hall of Fame for stupid, Mel Tucker would have a statue out front. Lots of guys get busted for that kind of conduct, but how in the world did he think it was a good idea to pick that woman? Wow.
  1. Arch72Hokie September 19, 2023 at 10:10 AM
    
    Fool!
VaPoly07 September 19, 2023 at 8:56 AM

KD has a better deep ball than I think many led on to preseason. I believe we roll with him and build on his skill set from here on out, even if Wells is healthy.
1. Arch72Hokie September 19, 2023 at 9:53 AM
  
  Wells deserves a shot to play a series or two @ Marshall vs. hisold team but otherwise, we know what's he's about. From now on, it has to be someone else. KD? Pops?
Bwaterhokie September 19, 2023 at 8:51 AM

I’ll keep watching. I’ll keep buying season tickets. Not supporting the team isn’t the answer to VT getting better.
1. SarahVTHokie24 September 19, 2023 at 9:32 AM
  
  True
2. gaholder81 September 19, 2023 at 12:28 PM
  
  I'll always support the Hokies. It's just tough watching them get worse from one coach to another and not better. People say it will take time to rebuild. Rebuild from what?? It's not like we were this bad under Frank and Fuente. Going to two games this year. Louisville and State. And I'm excited!
CaryHokie September 19, 2023 at 7:58 AM

1976 BSME grad, my father a 1947 BSME grad, been a Tech fan all my life. The ‘73 game with Alabama was so bad that they played backups most of the game and still scored at will. Ugly doesn’t even begin to cover it. I’ve been a faithful Hokie through all the ups and downs, so why not now?
1. Hokester September 19, 2023 at 9:11 AM
  
  I went to that Bama game and it poured the whole time so not only were we watching the Hokies getting murdered, we were getting soaked while doing it. As I recall Bama broke the VT punter's leg early in the game so the VT QB punted the rest of the game. It was a disaster.
  1. Lancelot Link September 19, 2023 at 1:54 PM
    
    Rick Razzano anecdote: John Hannah pancaked him on the first play from scrimmage, looked down on him, and said:"its gonna be a long day, boy"
2. Arch72Hokie September 19, 2023 at 9:59 AM
  
  I was living in LA at the time. Headline in the LA Times about that game: "Alabama Humbles Foe." Yes, things have been bad before, even worse but nothing like 1947-51: 7-38-3.
Femoyer74 September 19, 2023 at 6:45 AM

Will, I read your comment on the VT at Alabama game in 1973 “ Is this 2023 rush defense on a record (bad) pace? No. According to the Virginia Tech Football Record Book, the 1973 Hokies gave up 313.9 yards rushing per game (including 833 yards given up to Alabama in one game). So there’s that.” Myself and a bunch of Femoyer dorm mates listened to the first half of that game. One of my best buddies in high school and life was Dennis Dodson who played Mike and was the captain of the defense for VT. The VT play by play announcer commented in the 2nd quarter “Dennis has been all over the field and has made 15 tackles”. The color announcer said “Yes, he’s been all over the field, but the problem is he’s 10 yards past the line of scrimmage before he can make a tackle”. Alabama could have competed against most NFL teams in those days. We had Don Strock who next to Mike Vick, one of the best QBs in VT history, but our defense, especially the line could not compete against most D1 schools. And that was the way VT was until Dooley came along and well into Beamer’s years. I along with a lot of my VT alumni went through a lot of tough times with VT football, yet the university and football program continued to grow and eventually became a national program. So I agree with Will’s premise of this column, those of you that are Hokies, hang in there and support the program.
1. Arch72Hokie September 19, 2023 at 10:06 AM
  
  That Alabama team was One--Dimensional, featuring the Wishbone, didn'y throe 10-passes/game. Given such predictability, how could they have competed vs. even the worst NFL teams? The Wishbone was a fad, ancient history. Miami Hurricanes (1982) changed that. .
VicDrit September 18, 2023 at 10:38 PM

Maybe they should stop wearing those damn white helmets!
1. Arch72Hokie September 19, 2023 at 10:06 AM
  
  Hate 'em, and the Orange look.
2. GoneFishin Hokie September 19, 2023 at 10:29 AM
  
  Best looking helmet they have except the old one with TECH on the side over the outline of Virginia. Everyone has an opinion and I doubt changing the color of a helmet would make one bit of difference in this team's play or coaching.
Cheesehokie September 18, 2023 at 10:22 PM

Thanks for putting a smile on my face, Will ? I went to the 1993 Pitt game, along with a couple of friends you've met. That was the most fun I'd had since a hog ate my little brother ? Spent $150 in the Oakland bars that night and the hangover lasted until Tuesday. It was worth it because that was Frank and VT's coming out party. We'll get back there!
1. Hokester September 19, 2023 at 9:14 AM
  
  I remember Major's press conference afterward. He started by saying "Evening. I would have said Good Evening but as you know it was not very good for us."
VT One September 18, 2023 at 9:46 PM

Drones reminds me of Jerrard Evans.
1. gaholder81 September 19, 2023 at 6:13 AM
  
  He does have similar traits. Let's hope he can be as good!
  1. vtn8shn September 19, 2023 at 8:43 AM
    
    Ready for the next “Drones Strike”, hopefully it won’t be dropped. I graduated in’94 so I know the 2-8-1 year very well. A year of close losses but losses nonetheless. I think/hope we can turn the corner and take advantage of others mistakes. Still keeping the faith.
hoaf September 18, 2023 at 9:45 PM

I was a student in 1973. Maybe that’s why I’m conditioned to a lousy run defense.
Savagehokie September 18, 2023 at 9:41 PM

Refreshing to see founder and general manager of a website rising above skin- in-the-game interests and share unvarnished/brutally frank opinion. Tough to read but spot on...
Hokie E63 September 18, 2023 at 9:34 PM

Wasn’t Brett Favre the So Miss quarterback?
march99 September 18, 2023 at 9:27 PM

i've had season tickets 59 years; missed very few games. i saw Beamer's first bowl win and his last in Shreveport. I've been through a lot of thick and thin. But i saw promise against Rutgers. We will overcome. WE ARE VIRGINIA TECH!
1209bHokie September 18, 2023 at 9:12 PM

The 2-8-1 season was miserable for sure. I think what we are seeing now is just how bare Fuente left the cubard. He alienated the high school coaches in VA. He didn’t engage with the fans much. The only thing he was able to do was use smoke and mirrors to mask deficiencies. This is a total rebuild unfortunately. Pry is also learning on the job. Something that is not well thought of in modern college football. I hope he gets it right. I hope he is the answer. But I don’t think we will know for another 2-3 years….if he lasts that long.
HokieNLot11 September 18, 2023 at 8:39 PM

Mike London has found a home in Williamsburg and truth be told he should have not left Richmond. BP's tenure at VT will be saved only if he stops being the nice guy and do what is necessary. Or it will be said he should have not left PS.
Tallwino September 18, 2023 at 8:37 PM

Agree with those saying lets give Pry and all time. Sure, I'd love overnight success. But lets be realistic. It looks to me that they are doing things to bring the team along. I feel they will get there. I'm also a Hokie fan through thick and thin. I'm not one to be a hater. Think positive. They can do this. They're gonna do this. LET'S GO.........HOKIES!!!!!!!!!!!!
nvpbrown September 18, 2023 at 7:51 PM

> There were no delay of game penalties and no timeouts caused by not being ready. That's not correct. In the middle of the 4th quarter, we had this sequence where we called timeout (from the bench, I assume) immediately before getting hit with a delay of game. And that 3rd and 9 at VT 49 Timeout Virginia Tech, clock 07:32. and that followed a false start: 3rd and 4 at RU 46 PENALTY VT False Start (Turner-Bradshaw,Xayvion) 5 yards from RU46 to VT49. NO PLAY.
hokieusc September 18, 2023 at 6:53 PM

I am a 1985 Grad. I have seen the good and bad. 80's so so, 90's bad then got better, 2000-2013 Best teams ever, since then, with one exception, the program has not been very good. I have an annual $100 wager with a Miami friend of mine, and you know how that has gone lately. I am getting older, but, I do have my RV buddies and Club House Tailgate friends to party with, win or lose. The problem is I cannot drink as much as I used to in dealing with all of the losses. If we keep losing, I may have to switch from Wild Turkey 101/Russian Standard Vodka, to Bud Light Seltzers. :)
Suffhokian September 18, 2023 at 6:12 PM

Great article, Will. I know these are tough to write about when you're seeing the same thing.
aint2Hokie4me September 18, 2023 at 6:06 PM

I was at the 1990 FSU game with my oldest son who is now 46. We had tickets from FSU prof who could care less at the time. We had to wear ponchos as it was raining a bit, but not too much. The sun came out in the 4th quarter and so did the 'noles. We have lost a bunch of games to opponents in the 4th quarter, which IMO is due to lack of depth/S&C. 'noles play worse in weather conditions that we tend to thrive in. Praying for snow in Tally on October 7.
smokey de hokie September 18, 2023 at 5:38 PM

I started following VPI in 1945. Many of those years they were very bad but I still followed them. Sure I like for them to win but if they don't, I still call them my team. I was a student at Tech 1959-63, they were not conferance champs but they were still my team. I was also a Brooklyn Dodger fan where our rallying call was -"Wait for next year!" I always think Tech will be better next year and they will still be my team no matter what their record is this year.
1. VTaimhigh September 18, 2023 at 7:33 PM
  
  There is wisdom in those words.
2. A79Hokie September 18, 2023 at 7:59 PM
  
  Well said, sir!
3. jfhokie September 18, 2023 at 9:28 PM
  
  I've been a VPI fan since 1962. Through thick and thin they will always be My Hokies. A little patience will be necessary here
Willamette Hokie September 18, 2023 at 5:27 PM

I was at that Pitt game ("Touchdown" Tommy Edwards anyone?) at the old Pitt Stadium, and Johnny Majors was back on their sideline. Return to glory, right? Nope. No one expected a 63-21 Tech win. Afterwards at a bar, some drunk Pitt fan threatened to kick my ***, but then her boyfriend had to step in and calm her down. She was cute, too.
1. Hokies93 September 18, 2023 at 10:18 PM
  
  I wish I had a "like" button here
proudhokie2001 September 18, 2023 at 5:08 PM

There is no defense that protects a safety who cannot tackle. Running games over the decades have found ways to isolate and leave unblocked the least dangerous tackler on D. That way you can double the two most dangerous tacklers and give the back a chance to make two people miss for 6 points and one of those players should be backside.
vtgriff09 September 18, 2023 at 4:31 PM

I won't lie Will, it is funny you wrote this article, because it is something I am struggling with personally. I haven't missed watching a game in some capacity in the 25 yrs since I started at VT, haven't even considered not watching, honestly...got super hopeful and excited for all gms. I saw every TSL staff abd every 247 staff pick Rutgers. I saw over 75% of TSL fans and over 90% on another poll pick Rutgers....Rutgers...Yes, GULP, Rutgers...and they aren't good. It has me considering to stop watching games. The idea of hope is not a reason for me to keep watching, there has not been a single thing done by this staff to make me hopeful they can fix any issues. Areas of strengths are biggest weaknesses. This is a worse Mike London.
1. aint2Hokie4me September 18, 2023 at 5:55 PM
  
  Mike London was a cop.
2. AbsolutVT03 September 18, 2023 at 6:10 PM
  
  To be fair you literally never gave this staff a chance. You were complaining about them from the first game of the first season.
  1. Maroon Effect September 18, 2023 at 9:56 PM
    
    I guess that means he was right
3. Hokie DKE September 18, 2023 at 9:00 PM
  
  I read here that many posters who claim to know what to fix and what is wrong say or imply that this is the worst that Tech ever has been. To them all I say four words: “ Charley Coffey. Jimmy Sharpe.”. It can get worse. A lot worse.
  1. Billyburg Hokie September 19, 2023 at 12:14 AM
    
    R J McNeish
    1. scbeachhokie September 19, 2023 at 12:59 PM
      
      Mmmm, I think your history is amazing clear!
FloydsBarberShop September 18, 2023 at 4:25 PM

At 75 I keep going to games because I love these Fighting Gobblers or Hokies or what ever name they go by. I prefer Fighting Gobblers, it just sounds nasty. I have hope and hope is a good thing. For every game from Miles Stadium to Lane before kickoff I am optimistic we will win - even when it looks bleak. I'll be traveling to Huntington for the game Saturday, I'll be walking up those steps to the very top row thinking we are going to win .... so lets buckle up and find a way.
1. pine52x September 18, 2023 at 5:12 PM
  
  Your positive attitude is appreciated. I'm just a couple of years behind you and your post reminds me that I too need to stay positive.
2. A79Hokie September 18, 2023 at 7:58 PM
  
  Well said, sir!
3. No_Limit_Hokie September 18, 2023 at 9:48 PM
  
  You are an ideal fan!
4. VicDrit September 18, 2023 at 10:55 PM
  
  I'll be in Huntington too with hope and optimism.
5. T-Austin September 19, 2023 at 8:48 AM
  
  I'll be there in Huntington with my wife and 2 children as well. Go Hokies!!
TomA September 18, 2023 at 4:16 PM

Will, why do we keep watching — hmmm; I have season tickets and have not been to a game in 2 years — there is the fascination of watching a train wreck in progress…
arcadtect September 18, 2023 at 4:11 PM

My Hokies are like my children. No matter how frustrated or mad I get at them, I can't abandon them. They are a part of me. I do redirect my attention every so often to alleviate the frustration. I will be hoping for better in the future, like the rest of the Hokie Nation.
1. hokiepro September 18, 2023 at 5:01 PM
  
  Yep
2. VBHokieman September 18, 2023 at 5:20 PM
  
  +1!
3. IB4TECH September 18, 2023 at 7:18 PM
  
  From Miles to Lane to now, I’m with you.
4. HokieACC September 19, 2023 at 12:13 AM
  
  This! I watch because of hope yes! But it goes much deeper than that, because I simply must!
No_Limit_Hokie September 18, 2023 at 3:45 PM

Depression is hard to handle. Marshall is more than a Touchdown favorite against Virginia Tech in football. Ouch. I'll take in the game somehow this weekend. I fear the worst. Remember when The Herd came to town with Heisman hopeful Byron Leftwich (who was better than advertised, I must admit)? The Hokies steamrolled them, being up by 33 and cruising to a 47-21 win. Those were the days. Since then, we have lost to JMU once and ODWho TWICE.
vtce2000 September 18, 2023 at 3:43 PM

so basically you are saying that your lack of hope resulted in you missing the miraculous Pitt win. and that should be the message - if you don't continue watching you'll possibly miss the turn around?
1. Will Stewart September 18, 2023 at 3:52 PM
  
  That is correct.
grampa September 18, 2023 at 3:39 PM

Will Pop Watson be the back-up QB this week?
1. Will Stewart September 18, 2023 at 3:53 PM
  
  He was last week, so sure, probably this week as well.
Atlee Hokie September 18, 2023 at 3:35 PM

To say VT defense has spring leaks, is like saying the Titanic just sprung a leak.
1. No_Limit_Hokie September 18, 2023 at 3:46 PM
  
  Time to rearrange the deck chairs!
  1. phonedude September 18, 2023 at 4:19 PM
    
    Will: I’m not sure you get full credit for tracking the 1998 Temple game ;-/ They had ESPN on the TV's in the bookstore, and I managed to catch the score of the Tech game just before half time: VT 17, Temple 0, with 2:08 to go in the first half. It was about 2:15 in the afternoon. Happy and secure in the knowledge that all was going as expected back in the ‘Burg, I went to the Penn State game. The Nitanny Lions and Purdue Boilermakers teed it up and started playing what would turn out to be an entertaining game. The minutes passed, and with just under two minutes go in the first quarter, at approximately 4:05 p.m., the Penn State PA announcer came on the microphone and said … "Scores of other games … these are all finals … Temple, 28…." (and my brain said, "Well, why in the world would he announce the losing score first? And how did Temple score 28 points on us?") " … Virginia Tech 24." https://archive.techsideline.com/football/1998/games/temple.htm
    1. HOaKIE September 18, 2023 at 5:35 PM
      
      oh my gosh....that article Will wrote in 1998...that was me (HOaKIE) writing about my 4-yr-old son attending the Temple game with me. That son of mine did graduate from Va Tech with a BS in Finance. Has been extremely successful in investment banking and make me one very proud father. Reading that article brought tears to my eyes. Thanks for posting! By the way, I took his twin sisters to that crappy JMU game that we lost in the rain....neither went to Va Tech though...one to Syracuse and the other to UNC-CH.
    2. No_Limit_Hokie September 18, 2023 at 9:54 PM
      
      That Temple game never happened. I blame mass hysteria.
    3. MaroonMark September 19, 2023 at 2:41 AM
      
      So your message is the opposite of Will's. Yours is if you don't skip the game, you might see something so horrible that we now deny it happened. I see both you and Will's point :)
    4. Will Stewart September 19, 2023 at 8:31 AM
      
      That day is seared into my brain. Can't remember what I did last week, but I remember that day.
  2. IAHokie September 18, 2023 at 5:53 PM
    
    Isn't that what we've been doing?
OakHillHokie September 18, 2023 at 3:34 PM

Seth Greenberg was a New York/not a Virginia Tech kind of guy. Many on this board couldn't get past that.
1. Will Stewart September 18, 2023 at 3:53 PM
  
  Did you mean to post this here?
  1. OakHillHokie September 18, 2023 at 7:44 PM
    
    Mike London and Pry are liked by their fanbases, but it is not what wins games.
    1. MaroonMark September 19, 2023 at 2:49 AM
      
      How did you post your original post without realizing you were going to have to explain it? I know I'm slow but dude
2. VT_Consul September 18, 2023 at 3:55 PM
  
  Well...that's quite a non-sequiter.
  1. Kboy65 September 19, 2023 at 12:19 AM
    
    And yet I understand his thought process. Many in SWVA never will.
    1. MaroonMark September 19, 2023 at 2:54 AM
      
      I'm guessing VT Consul posted before Will's response prompted an explanation
      1. Will Stewart September 19, 2023 at 8:30 AM
        
        Yep. Check the time stamps.
        
        MaroonMark September 21, 2023 at 1:53 AM
        
        ah the time stamps. Seems so obvious now. In fairness to myself I did let OakHill know in my post above that I was slow ......

Monday Thoughts: The Glorious and the Ghastly

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