Bitter: Smile, Hokies Fans. This Team Might Finally Be Turning A Corner

46 Comments

1. 

   MaroonMark October 28, 2023 at 1:03 AM

   the depantsing, no mas pantalones
2. 

   HokieLF1 October 27, 2023 at 8:46 PM

   The most fun I’ve had watching the Hokies in years. Impressive in all phases. But talk of going to the ACC Championship is silly. Pollard is right…one moment, one day, one week at a time. Stay focused in the moment and good things can happen. And yes, Andy, truly enjoyed NOT experiencing a three-hour stomachache!
3. 

   Hokiedanville October 27, 2023 at 1:26 PM

   This effort had a very late 90's beamerball feel to it. The targeting call was nasty, put fear in the wr's eyes for the rest of the game.
4. 

   ReffinHokie October 27, 2023 at 1:06 PM

   Great article to go with a great win! My favorite non-football quote was during the Jumbotron “word scramble”- “Nad, nad is a word isn’t it”!
   1. 

      Miller_Time October 28, 2023 at 12:58 PM

      Hey, I got 6 words… same as my number! :)
5. 

   masshokie1 October 27, 2023 at 12:32 PM

   I think we need to acknowledge that the O-line is starting to play well. I don't want to get too far ahead of myself but that line looks night and day from last season and earlier this season.
6. 

   KKPsiHokie October 27, 2023 at 12:17 PM

   My fave Dan Mullen quote last night was when he called Tuten "a human first down." I sure hope he can hold up.
7. 

   75nokehkey October 27, 2023 at 11:57 AM

   So, People want to know… what are the tiebreaker rules for the championship game???
8. 

   alphahokie October 27, 2023 at 11:25 AM

   Nobody likes a Debbie Downer.
   1. 

      Turk Malloy October 27, 2023 at 11:31 AM

      I like little debbies....
      1. 

         Two4VT October 27, 2023 at 11:51 AM

         Little Debbie Christmas Trees are about to arrive!!
         1. 

            jfhokie October 27, 2023 at 6:52 PM

            They're here
9. 

   Aero81Hokie October 27, 2023 at 11:06 AM

   Funniest thing I heard on the TV halftime report was one of the commentators summary about Syracuse in the first half. It was something like: well at least they should be well rested after their nap in the 1st half.
   1. 

      atlhokie1 October 27, 2023 at 1:07 PM

      They were kind of entertaining. Think of it from their viewpoint, we've got to keep this butt kicking entertaining.
10. 

    Hanover Hokie October 27, 2023 at 10:19 AM

    I was one of the few to be arguing we needed to keep the faith. I saw progress.
    1. 

       Techman77 October 29, 2023 at 10:10 AM

       Ditto!
11. 

    Arch72Hokie October 27, 2023 at 10:16 AM

    That's the way I like it, that's the way I like it, like it!
12. 

    132960Hokie October 27, 2023 at 10:06 AM

    First 2 words in Andy's title. We all Bitter Smile at this one.
13. 

    `lag October 27, 2023 at 9:53 AM

    I forget where, podcast? Mail bag? But somebody wrote in asking the odds of VT actually making the ACC championship game. Kind of a just for fun question, which didn’t seem too likely with three undefeated teams in the ACC. Well, what a difference a week makes UNC and Louisville both lost a game and this week the question gets answered again with a little more sincerity. It has entered the realm of possibility. Of course, VT has to win out, including beating Louisville next week, but that’s not out of the question!
    1. 

       `lag October 27, 2023 at 9:58 AM

       I will note, however, that VT in the Fanbase seem focused on one game and one game only the Syracuse game, a little of that NC, State, UVA and BC game. Should I be winnable And you start getting a little that Hugh Bree sneaking in. Still, I expect to see the same this week, there’s only one game to be played: Louisville. We’ll get there when we get there for the rest of the games.
14. 

    TomTurkey October 27, 2023 at 9:19 AM

    "Screw that." Won't become as infamous as Gen. Anthony McAuliffe's, "Nuts!," but summarizes my Hokie pride. Great article.
15. 

    Hokie Witch October 27, 2023 at 9:14 AM

    “Special teams joined the depantsing too…” classic. This program is currently about making progress. It is making progress. We would have lost the three games that we won last year. At least now there is hope. We have seen the offense produce. We have seen the defense work. I have even been looking forward to watching Tucker return punts.gulp. Last year I couldn’t watch for fear of the muffed punt. Eff it. I am getting excited!
    1. 

       Tim Lewis October 27, 2023 at 7:56 PM

       Holloways punt returns were the definition of "outkicking your coverage". Give him room to operate and you will pay.
16. 

    GOML October 27, 2023 at 8:35 AM

    “I appreciate everyone pouring into this program right now,” Pry said. “It takes everybody. And right now we’ve got a lot of people moving this thing in the right direction.” At this point in my career, it is possible to identify some of the best managerial advice that I ever received. For me, the top three includes: 1) You lead your way to success. That is exactly what Pry is doing.
    1. 

       MaroonMark October 28, 2023 at 1:30 AM

       you said the top 3 and only gave us 1. I realize you did that on purpose, though I'd like to hear the other 2 :) Please and thank you
17. 

    HtownHokie October 27, 2023 at 8:25 AM

    what fun(!) last night. “back to the thunder dome ” i certainly don’t want to get ahead of myself. we need to follow the program: “ “The goal is the ACC championship, but we preach one week at a time, going 1-0,” a sufficiently programmed Pollard said. “And not just one week. One day, one moment at a time. Just being where your feet are, and everything else is going to take care of itself.” “ “programmed” or not, that’s the leadership we need! this season and every season, every game, every practice! Go Hokies! and thank you, Andy. beat loserville!
18. 

    Lane2024 October 27, 2023 at 8:25 AM

    Coaches are putting players in position to succeed and players are executing. Especially, playing calling on O. Much different from the three losses. Fun to watch again! These three wins might not be against the best in the ACC but we beat them down handily as a better team should. It would be awesome if this team continues to resemble the ‘93 team and rattles off win after win the rest of the season. Stay tuned.
19. 

    cdogvt October 27, 2023 at 8:19 AM

    “ depantsing “ - great word!
20. 

    GO_HOKIES_GO October 27, 2023 at 8:13 AM

    Getting Tuten some room to run is the difference on offense - he has the ability to both the tough yards and break open a big gain. Not many backs have that ability. He could have had 200 yards last night if didn’t trip on the turf early in the third and get a big run called back in the fourth for holding. I had a flashback to Herbert in 2020 when he got injured in the first half and they took his helmet away for a few minutes - luckily it must not have been too serious. As long as he is 100% the Hokies have a chance to win. Great team win for the Hokies - long may they continue.
    1. 

       OklaHokie October 28, 2023 at 2:48 AM

       I also felt like Thomas had a heck of a game too. Both had about the same YPC. Plus add in Thomas’ perfect QB rating!
21. 

    chico October 27, 2023 at 8:10 AM

    Kudos Andy, a great balanced article. This is why we love your writing and commentary.
22. 

    zman1978 October 27, 2023 at 8:08 AM

    Gotta love “GOD DANG”. We should put that on VT shirts…
    1. 

       DW Hokie October 27, 2023 at 8:43 AM

       No, we shouldn’t.
       1. 

          VWhokiehi October 27, 2023 at 12:34 PM

          I'm pretty sure it's spelled Gawd Dang....
    2. 

       MaroonMark October 28, 2023 at 1:43 AM

       When Pry's is able to say it's gawd dang beautiful to win an ACC Championship, I'll buy the shirt. Pry is a good character, seeing this success for him the last two weeks has been nice.
23. 

    HokienGeorjaw October 27, 2023 at 7:57 AM

    “Only thing they good look forward too was the clock turning zero.” Sounds like a Taylor Swift song lol
24. 

    OhioHokie74 October 27, 2023 at 7:34 AM

    It was a great win for the team and for VT fans. Definitely a sign of significant progress which is good to see. But if you want to be "Debbie Downer", don't focus on the level of competition. Pitt, WF and Cuse are as tough a stretch as Purdue, Rutgers and Marshall. We always knew this season's schedule was soft. If I were a coach and wanted to keep the team humble, I would point out that five FGs are a mixed blessing. Nice to make them, but it also meant the team was only 2 for 6 scoring TDs in the red zone. And one of the 2 came off a trick play. The long punt return resulted in "only" 3 points, starting from the SYR 29. The offense was great between the 20s, not as great inside the 20. Against tougher competition, settling for FGs leads to losses. With 528 yards, they should have come away with more than 38 points. But the progress is good to see and it was a lot more fun to watch than the first 15 games of the Pry era.
    1. 

       `lag October 27, 2023 at 9:18 AM

       I am sure Redzone be brought up in team meetings
25. 

    AlrightGuy October 27, 2023 at 7:10 AM

    "But screw that." - I love it, Andy! Sounds like this felt good for more than just the Hokie faithful. As hard as it is cheering for a bad team, it has to be tough covering a bad team. Let's hope those days are coming to an end.
26. 

    Mapmaker October 27, 2023 at 7:07 AM

    All maroon uniforms under the lights. So, so many good memories! They came out ready last night. Go Hokies!
27. 

    Dublin Hokie October 27, 2023 at 6:51 AM

    I love that we can see week after week improvement. This improvement is in the players, and the coaches. I am a believer in CBP, and believe he will lead us back to being a really good team with consistent wins. There is still work to be done, but as a program, we are heading in the right direction.
28. 

    squarerootof1 October 27, 2023 at 6:22 AM

    “Special teams joined the depantsing too…” The only other time I’ve seen or heard the “depantsing” term used is on the Simpsons. Apu Nahasapimapetelan looked at the KwikEMart and said, “This is the scene of my spiritual depantsing.” Well played Andy. Well played.
29. 

    Spartacusjones October 27, 2023 at 6:21 AM

    I feel that this years team hit bottom at the Marshall game. The fanbase was really on them and very vocal about the lack of game production. Coach Pry signalled something by starting to block some people on social media and talk about telling the 5eam to "block out the noise". The teams improvement has been very noticeable since that game, even in the loss to FSU. One of the things I learned in my sociology classes in college is that groups of people frequently bond In The face of pressure from an outside group. This clearly has happened with the Hokies. Pry stayed the course, his coaches continued to develop the players, and the players have "gotten better".
30. 

    selhini October 27, 2023 at 2:52 AM

    The one thing I have seen under Pry that I really appreciate is how hard the team plays. You can teach technique, discipline, tactics and strategy, but you can't teach grit and heart. This Virginia Tech team doesn't necessarily lose to FSU 39-17. It doesn't necessarily win either. Let's see if we can take this show on the road. Go Hokies!
31. 

    No_Limit_Hokie October 27, 2023 at 2:25 AM

    On to loserville!
32. 

    nkhooch October 27, 2023 at 2:23 AM

    "stomaches" - maybe meant "stomach aches"? We are in the running and already 1 win better than last year. You have to love it! But, we have to stay humble for sure. Or we can get caught off guard. UVA and BC showed they can win and so there are no automatics left.