How many of the transfers and starters as a whole are eligible to play next year if they decide to stay
Mamajc
Thank you for the great article Andy.??
Super Proud of our Hokies and our coaches?? Our big boys are playing hard!! Lots more time for Kyron to throw, holes to run through and the D line was awesome! Way to go Coach Crook and Coach JC Price. ??
Coach Holt, loved the fake punt call. I was there and literally went “oh no it’s over his …look. there it is ,and started screaming and hollering my head off shaking my Chicago maroon Pom like crazy. So many good plays and so excited to continue to see your hard work pay off. An amazing night even in the rain and we diehards stayed the entire time with y’all Go Hokies??
HokieTC
Yes to Andy comment. Great read. Yes to team spirit. Very positive place right now. I hope it continues all the way through the bowl victory!!
JC in FC
The fake punt play came at a critical time and was executed perfectly. It fired up the crowd and the players. Great call. Also, the crowd continuing to show strong for VT with multiple sell outs despite some disappointing early results. Sends pretty strong message to the coaches and players that we are behind them. Keep working and playing hard at all times because these games can turn on a couple of plays.
reconhokie
Black uniforms. Matte black or matte dark maroon helmets.
Scare the bejeezus out of anything orange.
Blackout game??
Bugle76
I think we’ve laid an egg the 2 times I remember wearing all black…..Beamer’s last home game (v UNC) and Boise State.
hokiehill1117
All maroon seems to be working just fine. I say, run it back!
reconhokie
That was not a seminal moment in the Hokies’ Sugar Bowl season.
That was the literal firing gun of the start to the modern VT football program success. You can’t understate that game and that performance.
NMB Hokie
+1
mknj91
Awesome article Andy. Love the recap and the shots at UVA
Austin Hokie
Super comment…on the mark!
133549Hokie
Really want this to come across as positive, but per PFF Drones was 0 - 0 on passes greater than 20 yards. Is it POSSIBLE that Bowen recognizes what he has, adapted, and is DEVELOPING otj into a competent/good OC with what he has to work with. Jury is out but trend is encouraging
Lane2024
Yeah, I guess Bowen did not get the Pry memo to take one shot a Qtr. I was at the game and felt like we missed a couple opportunities with momentum and field position to take a shot and break WF’s will. If we did not connect, still in position to move the chains or flip the field.
132965Hokie
I completely agree. Not being negative, but there is a lot of room for improvement and the stats prove it. Before all the haters pipe in, YES, I think he is VT's best option! But lets be realistic and state that there are areas that he needs to improve on
Novahokie`99
You guys are tough. I realize that Wake isn't great but neither were so many of the ACC teams that we played from 2004 through now and he just did something that only two other of our quarterback have done (throw for 300 and run for 50). That's not an accident. For those of us who have been around, we understand that VT is best when they have a quarterback who can run. Drones isn't MV1, MV2, or Tyrod - he's way more Al Clark, Bryan Randall and Jerod Evans - but that type of quarterback is what we thrive on. I appreciate Grant Wells, but he got plenty of time to show what he is, and what he is, is a 9 TD, 9 intereception quarterback who is okay at running and throws the ball too hard on short passes. Drones raises our ceiling on offense so much and I'm so happy that we're starting to let him shine. I can't beleive he didn't beat out Wells in the offseason but coaches don't always see it all. As we all know Fuente and Cornelson thought Burmeister was a better option than Hooker and we see how that turned out. I'm very excited about what Drones can do and I'm thrilled to see the success he's having.
NC Hoke
Jerod Evans, without the polish. Yet.
We can win with this QB.
Austin Hokie
??
HokieTC
Drones was good, Need the deep ball in your arsenal to open up the field and we have the speed, JL, at WR. I Drones hits a few deep plays. All three posts on point
joepugh2
Well I feel like Drones has really provided this team a spark and I was initially skeptical when he started. He is getting better every week and yes the line is playing inspired. I think we have a great chance at winning out. The Louisville game is the toughest and if we win that on the road, this team will be suddenly relevant again. I will be happy with 6-6 and hope to have the momentum carried on to the recruiting trail. This team has a positive culture and that is leadership from head coach! Way to go Coach Pry!
fosterD1
Nothing easy about the remaining schedule…they can lose any of them if they don’t bring their best.
TomTurkey
Not Ready For Prime Time Officials, but they weren't funny.
`lag
Don't look at me, that first pass to Lane in the Pitt game convinced me, that was on stride and perfect. Likewise that slant to Wells again in the WF game was a thing of beauty as good as anyone in college football. Comparisons? A better Bryan Randall maybe? Also, some intangibles like leadership, hear him speak and you feel he's taken ownership of the team already. I'm convinced the D rallied to the cause in the FSU game because of him. I've thought from the git-go he sees the field too as in someone who can build that progression map in his head. Aside from seeming befuddled by short swing passes (to be fair over a defender's head) it's just a case of building experience seeing different D's. Also a shoutout to Gosnell whom I like last year.
Now having said that, I've level set myself to being happy if they get to 6-6 and a bowl game. One game at a time of course, but boy a win against the 'Cuse and a 4-4 record would seem like a fresh start. Off week comes at a good time too.
hokiepro
Pass to Felton vs Pitt and Lane last night
`lag
Thanks, perfection though.
Smirnoff
“ A better Bryan Randall…”? Randall was ACC player of the year, that is high praise.
I’ll take a poor man’s Logan Thomas.
133222Hokie
The 2004 VT team under BR's QB leadership almost beat USC in Fed Ex Field (USC won the National Championship), won the ACC outright in our first year in ACC play, and "should" have beaten an undefeated Auburn Team in New Orleans, losing 16-13 while shutting down the vaunted Auburn running game. That was a team that overachieved and BR's leadership was a major reason. If Drones can match BR's leadership qualities, we are in for a fun couple of years.
Remember, BR was a 5 star recruit out of Williamsburg- a major get for VT under CFB.
HokieTC
Thanks for that excellent recap. I don’t think we have ever had a better leader than Bryan Randall
mrbutler52
Agreed 100%
Novahokie`99
He's a better Al Clark - too short to be Logan Thomas. Bryan Randall and Jerod Evans are the best comps but he's not at their level yet. He might be able to get there though.
`lag
I didn't intend that as hyperbole, I mean that, that was meant to be high praise. To be clear, that's an expected value, I'm not comparing senior Bryan Randall to current sophomore Kyron Drones. I'm very aware of BR being the top player in VA that year, remember driving by on my way to VA Beach and looking over. He seemed to be the only knock on effect from having Michael Vick around. On top of his being big, tall, and an accurate passer, he keeps his eyes down field and think he sees the field well, As far as leadership, I think you just saw it in the FSU game, his play rallied the team some even on the D. Also, listen to him speak, he's already taken ownership of the team "We need to do this, we need to do that etc" I'm telling ya, by his senior year Drones will at least match Randall and I'm seeing an NFL career for him.
mrbutler52
A better Bryan Randall?? 2004 ACC POY ACC OPOY Bryan Randall. I like Drones but he is not Bryan Randall. Maybe one day…
mrbutler52
Probably should have kept reading but couldn’t. Bryan Randall is one of my favorite players. He was a fantastic leader and brought some class to QB when it was needed. Plus he helped introduce the ACC to Virginia Tech football.
`lag
It wasn't a cut at BR by any means, on top of everything else I have a BR award for the guy who stays upright the entire season b/c there was no viable backup. And yeah, I understand the "class" comment if that's what this is about.
mrbutler52
Probably should have kept reading but couldn’t. Bryan Randall is one of my favorite players. He was a fantastic leader and brought some class to QB when it was needed. Plus he helped introduce the ACC to Virginia Tech football.
Tailgate Guru
No one seems to notice that the offensive line is getting better. Not perfect and still times that it muffs a play, but clearly making progress and getting better. And that is the key to our offensive improvement.
IB4TECH
As young as that line is, we are blessed.
`lag
Yep, only do so much in a year, next year we'll hopefully really have something going.
frankyfrankerson
ya- i mean the run game was awful- im excited about performance but runblocking has to improve
DaytonaHokie
Andy, good article as always. You hit the nail right on the head. Just this morning, as I was drinking my Orange and Maroon cool-aid, it occurred to me that, with the exception of maybe Louisville, we are more than capable of winning all of the remaining games. Just sayin....
Durham Hokie
We are also capable of losing any remaining game. 6-6 seems very doable.
phtbddh
Slowly turning that corner... Anxiously hoping for the best while bracing for that car crash. This bye week seems to be well timed. Hope to get everyone healthy and ready for Syracuse. Let's go!
Coattail Hokie
Great game yesterday, something I haven't said in a long long time. Sorry for the question as I've been away for awhile. Will Jennings get a medical redshirt and if so will he use it come back next year? A little taste of what he brought and I'd love to see an entire season of more.
hokiepro
Basically if you don’t see Jennings by the BC game, yes they’re applying for medical redshirt and he will come back
Tallwino
I hope the recruits are seeing what a lot of us are. The steady improvement of our Hokies. Take what our team is and is growing to be, add some great recruits (next years class), and we will have a pretty solid team. And that won't be the end of improvement. Hopefully some solid transfers too this fall.
Go Hokies!!!!!!
And how about the Hoo Babies? They have a win. Probably their only one this year.
`lag
Yeah, I was giving Pry three years, so next year would be my "show-me" year. Part of that is because VT is behind the power curve on attracting talent that is, there's still a lingering wait-and-see attitude among recruits. Fingers crossed but a decent late season showing this year might start loosening up some of those four stars.
Novahokie`99
I think you're wrong about where we are regarding attracting talent. Pry had a very strong recruiting year last year (after a 3-8 season) and did pretty well in the portal. This year things are trending in a good direction. I listened to the pre-game on the radio and Pry was absolutely jacked about a sold out homecoming game with over 80 recruits in attendance. This guy really gets it and he even got me fired up. After the game he was more of the same. I think he understands how to recruit at VT and I think that we'll be able to get our talent level back where it needs to be sooner rather than later.
`lag
I'm seeing 39th and 41st recruiting rankings for 23 and 24 so yeah, things are trending in the right direction, I would think getting in say the top 25 would be conducive to being a top 20 team though, He's a great talker but it's going to take a couple more years of success feedback to get there.
He is a fantastic talker and there's no lack of trying on his part.
`lag
PS yeah, he's pretty good in the portal, there's that. it does make me wonder about the portal/hs recruit balance in the future. Clearly, you only take portal players if you think they can start while hs recruits woul dbe more hit or miss/practice team. guys.
Austin Hokie
Those capacity crowds in a down year sure are important and impressive. Would think they help recruiting! AH
delmarva hokie
This season I wanted to see a team playing better football in November than it was in September. It's not November yet but I like the way its trending.
No_Limit_Hokie
Hope springs eternal!
Hokies93
I have been very skeptical of this team, but I must admit I am seeing improvement. I was slow to warm to Drones, but he's getting better with each snap, let alone game. He's changed our offense by just being on the field. Damn, if only we had Jennings! The next test I want to see us pass is for the defense to play well against an O with a pulse.
PAHokie7
We got playmakers for sure, weak link is still the offense line. If we could get a true center in the portal and roll with Chaplin, Moore, transfer center, Moore, and bump Meads out to right tackle, we could be really dangerous.
PAHokie7
Meadows* Drones is another Hooker in the making. Dude has it. Just hopefully we don’t get raided with transfers too bad this offseason.
HokieJB
Am I the only one who noticed that crowd noise was dramatically suppressed by the network broadcaster?
wsmallwood2005
Well, to be fair, a lot of the students packed it in at the half. However, the audio for the entire tv broadcast was abysmal. Definitely not the top-tier crew by any stretch of the imagination from the officials to the booth.
IB4TECH
I was at the game and was disappointed with the noise BEFORE the rain came.
Durham Hokie
The music played between snaps is way , way too loud. It may discourage fans from making noise
HokieGuru
I noticed it too, terrible audio from the network for some reason
Novahokie`99
It had nothing to do with the actual crowd noise and everything to do with the way that the ACC Network mixed the sound. I'll defer to Will and actual audio engineers but from my couch they had Herzlich and the other guy at about 100 decibels and the surrounding game sound at about 50. It was impossible to correct and my kids and I talked about it constantly. While I was running around during the game I listened on the radio and the crowd sounded great as always. Crappy production value of the ACC Network, nothing else.
Hanover Hokie
Feels like progress if they somehow make a bowl? Heck the already have made progress.
wsmallwood2005
Yes, it feels like progress, but making a bowl would be quantifiable progress to use to hold together a pretty solid recruiting class and maybe, just maybe flip a recruit or two back into the fold. That shaky start to the season could be erased by a really good close-out down the stretch.
`lag
we only just stepped away from the edge of not making it. Unfortunately, it's the stretch goal right now...but attainable.
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