CC On Sunday: Trust Issues

Chris Coleman | Lead Analyst and Columnist

September 22, 2024

Virginia Tech, Brent Pry, Greg Schiano — Virginia Tech seemed to be outschemed again on Saturday against Rutgers. (Ivan Morozov)

Virginia Tech struggled for three quarters, made a late rally in the fourth, but ultimately fell to Rutgers 26-23 on Saturday in Lane Stadium. It was yet another one-score loss, with the Hokies falling to 1-9 in such games under Brent Pry.

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83 Comments

89gEEk September 23, 2024 at 6:33 PM

Excellent summary, CC. It's like you've been listening in on my conversations with my VT buddy and me. Do you think that Whit has the hutzpah and vision to do a 1992 Dave Braine and tell Pry "you're our guy, but your staff gotta go"?
HokieinSD September 23, 2024 at 3:45 PM

Maybe this year expectation is too high, based on beating some bad team last years near the end of the season. Drone, seem to be an average QB, who may be able to run the ball but not good enough as a passer and reading defense coverage. Bad offense line play and an average QB will not win many games. IMO, both OC and DC are learning on the job under a 1st time HC. A recipe for low expectation on build a winning program in a short period of time.
1. Billyburg Hokie September 24, 2024 at 1:16 AM
  
  Drones
133222Hokie September 23, 2024 at 1:32 PM

Chris- you made a comment last week that interest in college football is less when VT football is not relevant. Arrived home yesterday afternoon after drive home from B’Burg & there 8 recordings of College Football Final. I deleted all recordings & did not watch 1 minute of the show. I was so discouraged after watching the Rutgers game, that my interest in watching other successful programs was zilch. Sigh!!
1. GoneFishin Hokie September 23, 2024 at 3:12 PM
  
  I might watch the first half on Friday. If that goes as expected, off it goes in favor of a decent night's sleep. I had never missed a televised Hokie game until the last couple years of the Fuente Fiasco. I grew up in the 'burg, and attended every home game from 1964 thru 2002 when I moved to Idaho. Then, I made yearly trips when I could attend 3 games over a two week period. Point is, I love Tech football. I saw the lean years prior to Dooley, and the cleanup years under Frank. It was a dream come true, going to New Orleans twice to watch us play in the Sugar Bowl, and many of the other bowls we've played in. During the last couple years of the prior staff, I found other things to do on Saturday and did not watch as I was tired of watching a loser. I cancelled my subscriptions to TKP & TSL. After a couple of months, I could not stand it any longer, and reupped with TSL... on a month-to-month basis. Pry brought me back, but he, too, is losing me... I'm so tired of the coach-speak. I was excited for this year, but something kept me from fully jumping on the bandwagon. I had concerns about the O.line and the LBs and safeties. But, I certainly thought KD would be improved. The defense has its issues, but seems marginally better; they'd be much better if they could stop the busted assignments creating the long runs. On offense, the line has not taken any steps forward (that I can see) , and Kyron appears to have regressed... I have my ideas about that, but won't share my uninformed opinion here. So, here I sit again, on the verge of pulling away from one of the few routines left to me. It's hard to watch a team with some talent continually shoot themselves in the foot. I do like what Pry has done with the program, but I'm afraid this won't last into next season if this year goes along its current path. His coaching choices concerned me from the start; it's obvious now that those concerns were well placed. With all the money going into the game, this is no longer the college game I grew up loving in the '60s and 70s. My rope has been stretched to its breaking strength; I sense this is the year that it snaps.
VTAtlantaHokie September 23, 2024 at 12:21 PM

I've worked and hired for 4 employers over 25 years and built teams at the plant and corporate level. There's a saying that many subscribe to: "Your 1st loss is generally always your best loss".... meaning human nature will often get too prideful and spend way too much time and energy trying to repair what is broke instead of moving on, starting over, and spending less. It feels like we immediately need significant dynamic change to occur to get this program back to where VT use to be. It must start with new organizational leadership under Coach Pry if he wants to hold unto the wheel. He must hire away/steal away proven coaching talent from elsewhere right now. Reach out to Jimbo Fishers, Urban Myers and the like. Reach out to the offensive and defensive coaching staffs of College Football's Winningest FBS programs for the last decade: BosieState, San Diego, UCF, Utah, Washington, Toledo, BYU, Houston, TCU etc. Seek out significant upgrades now. Bring Torrian Gray back to Blacksburg where he rightfully belongs. To keep trust, he needs significant dynamic change.
1. Not-a-Hoo September 23, 2024 at 12:42 PM
  
  This may sound strange, but how about luring Vince Vice back to coach the O-line? Maybe get the guy from Vandy to be the OC. Or get our former DC to be a consultant for Marve. And Coach Beamer to be a special teams consultant. Might be blowing smoke up my butt, but we need some changes.
huskerHokie September 23, 2024 at 12:08 PM

WB hired a guy for HC who had no HC experience. Newly hired HC hires a DC and OC who had no Coordinator experience. Not sure you could expect much success in the absence of a miracle or two. In the postgame, HC said something to the effect that the team had so much potential, but wasn't playing up to that potential. Who is responsible for getting players to perform to their potential?
steves13 September 23, 2024 at 11:38 AM

Whit’s not hiring a 3rd head football coach so 1st things 1st. I’m embarrassed by this staff most of all for not doing their job. I disagree Chris that Pry can have the hard conversations…where’s the evidence? Hard conversations should have happened already, but yet here we are. This program needs a transfusion because the elements remain for success. But how long will we, the fans, wait??
Oldfan September 23, 2024 at 10:51 AM

Your comment in the article about whether the particular Rutgers play that we had trouble adjusting to was coaching or the players rung true to me. It seems like, at least on defense, there is a possibility that we don't have a coaching problem as much as a player problem. My memory may be a little flawed, but when our defense was at its best, we had some coaches on the field, some guys who seemed to smell out the offense, who may not have been the biggest or fastest, but always made adjustments on the field along with staff. Rick Razzano, Mike Johnson, Ben Taylor, come to mind. Rashard Ashby, in recent years, always seemed to be where he was supposed to be. Now I haven't seen all the games, and I am sure someone can take issue with my examples. But do we need some more guys with football sense, rather than new coaches?
MDHokie79 September 23, 2024 at 10:47 AM

Only 2 or 3 plays away....BALONY!
1. Billyburg Hokie September 24, 2024 at 11:40 AM
  
  Baloney
middletennhokie September 23, 2024 at 8:28 AM

Thanks Chris. Best part was the JMU UNC Video!
Chasesfish September 23, 2024 at 7:39 AM

Frustrating. You want this coaching staff to be successful, you like them as people, yet this is a performance based business. 0-11 against teams in the Top 60 is not sustainable.
fosterD1 September 22, 2024 at 10:13 PM

I think one of the measuring sticks of a superior football coach is what his record is in one score games. 1-9 is unacceptable and I’m wondering if Pry can keep his job if that particular record doesn’t improve drastically.
1. pharlap_99 September 23, 2024 at 1:03 AM
  
  He won't be fired before the end of the '25 season, barring a major scandal or losing out this year (even then it's not happening). Maybe if WB resigns / is dismissed ... but he's done a solid job overall (imo). Staff changes forced upon him? I will be stunned if that's not the case, even if we win 7 or 8 games.
2. Hokie90_CA September 23, 2024 at 7:34 AM
  
  I think way too much emphasis is placed on the ‘one score game’ record. In 6 of those games the opponent had 3 score leads (including down 16 pts to Rutgers as 3 scores) that the Hokies came back from and made it interesting. If you are down 3 scores at one point and it ends up a one score game, you are more likely to have lost than won. That’s math and common sense as to net outscore an opponent by 3 scores in only the 2 remaining quarters or so of playing time left is MORE difficult than to net outscore them by 2 scores and thus less likely to happen. All the one score games in 2023 and 2024 fit this category (down 3 scores and mounting a comeback). So what you are really lamenting is the fact that the Hokies aren’t good at winning games where they find themselves down by 3 scores at one point. But that is true of all teams.
  1. rpotts12 September 23, 2024 at 11:16 AM
    
    This begs the question....Why are we down three scores so often?
    1. 11hokie September 23, 2024 at 11:50 AM
      
      +1
    2. Hokie90_CA September 23, 2024 at 9:52 PM
      
      That is the right question!
      1. gaholder81 September 24, 2024 at 10:43 AM
        
        Ok. So the point remains. Why is our coaching staff so bad at starting games well? It's a bad trend however you look at it.
  2. nkhooch September 23, 2024 at 4:22 PM
    
    Great points. Numbers can be deceiving.
  3. gthompso77 September 25, 2024 at 8:46 AM
    
    Great point!!! How is it we are able to mount those comebacks after several quarters of lousy offense? Does our play calling change? Is Drones less cautious? Other reasons? Chris - maybe you could analyze for a future article?
HokienGeorjaw September 22, 2024 at 9:39 PM

Another concern is the transfer portal. With all the hype Pry put on these players to return, it could be mass exodus come season end as the offense has not performed as advertised.
1. MKD September 22, 2024 at 10:10 PM
  
  I'm thinking the same thing....
  1. MidloHokie September 22, 2024 at 10:53 PM
    
    Well, maybe we'll have some NIL payroll to redirect to the area of most need; the OL.
    1. ncook September 23, 2024 at 2:56 PM
      
      To bad we cant use NIL money to hire new coordinators, that's our greatest need.
lotion boy September 22, 2024 at 9:23 PM

Let’s see if Miami picks on our safeties like Rutgers did.
bonedoc September 22, 2024 at 9:07 PM

You nailed it CC. DC washed the same offensive play gain significant yards at least ten times without making an effective adjustment (not sure he ever did). I mentioned this on the message board, this game was a coaching study in contrast. Rutgers has NFL quality, VT has D2 or D3 quality. Steve Jobs philosophy was to hire A players. We need A level coaches.
74hokie September 22, 2024 at 8:44 PM

Is it that Marve can’t see the issues from his field level and neither can his coach in the box or no one on the defensive side knows how to make on the field adjustments? I think we all have seen issues with containment or the same play being run without any changes. It brought back painful memories of Stanford throwing to the tight end over and over….
1. MidloHokie September 22, 2024 at 10:56 PM
  
  In-game adjustments are about implementing schemes you have been trained in. I'm just not sure our defensive staff is getting that training done.
2. pharlap_99 September 23, 2024 at 12:57 AM
  
  Marve is still learning how to be a DC; making adjustments on the fly is part of that process. Maybe he eventually becomes a decent DC but nothing to date (here or at fSu) point to that happening. I actually really like the guy, am rooting for him to take the next step. But, if anything, he's regressed this year re: in-game adjustments. Overall, the D does seem improved, better coached ... just not once the game really gets going. We were spoiled to have one of the best at adjustments.
  1. gaholder81 September 24, 2024 at 10:44 AM
    
    Agree. A great place for Marve to learn how to be a DC would have been VMI, or Richmond.
MKD September 22, 2024 at 8:43 PM

This is probably the most talented roster VT will have for at least the next 2-3 years. The portal could obviously be a factor but I don't expect Pry to be very convincing in what I call "college free agency."
1. TimmyBarkVT September 22, 2024 at 9:40 PM
  
  Yeah. Wasted opportunity. ?
Hokie90_CA September 22, 2024 at 8:40 PM

C’mon the TSL consensus going into the game was we were going to get run over by Rutgers ground game and lose convincingly. We did not get run over and we all liked our chances to win after tying it up late. We STILL felt good after the Rutgers field goal with 2 minutes and 3 timeouts and the ball at the 25, TD to win, FG to force OT. One play, the tipped pass interception, went bad and we lost. This game was closer and a better outcome than most expected going in. A play or two went against us late & we lost….that’s football and that’s life. Nothing is guaranteed. Be stoic. Don’t go calling for a new AD, new coordinators, new QB, new head coach and all of the other nonsense I see on the message boards after one close loss which was better than you expected going into it. This coach, these coordinators, these players are going to make you feel great here soon. Just have a little patience and don’t act like it’s your birthright to win every game or even any game.
1. olemisshokie4life September 22, 2024 at 8:59 PM
  
  Completely agree. It’s gotten so negative recently. Nothing positive written about how we haven’t folded, or anything.
  1. MidloHokie September 22, 2024 at 11:00 PM
    
    This game was not close as the score. We were badly beaten for 3 quarters. RU left a lot of points on the field. It was a worse beating than Vandy in that sense.
  2. HokieGator September 22, 2024 at 11:03 PM
    
    This is hilarious. How far we have fallen as a program that our only positive is "hey, we played hard and didn't quit... So there's that!"
2. spudman September 22, 2024 at 9:09 PM
  
  If it was a one off I would agree but it has become the norm to lose close games / games with could / should win something is wrong
3. gaholder81 September 22, 2024 at 9:30 PM
  
  It's only one close loss? Did you read the article you're commenting on? The whole thing is part of a trend. 1-9 in close games and Pry is 12-17 as the head coach. Of those 12 wins, only SIX are against Power 4 teams. I could go on. This is the third year now. The sample size is big enough. If you are the type of fan that will support the staff no matter what than great. And I mean that sincerely. But myself and many other fans do expect to win against bottom level Power 4 teams by now.
4. HokieGator September 22, 2024 at 10:59 PM
  
  Let me get this straight. We expected to get blown out at home by Rutgers so we should be happy that we made it a close loss? This is where our football program is now?! "Hey, at least we didn't get blown out at home to Rutgers! Things are going well!!" Honestly, do you really feel good about how things are going for VT football? You have confidence in the coaches based on 2 good drives against Rutgers? Or is it because we were able to beat Old Dominion and Marshall?
5. Tracy September 23, 2024 at 6:55 AM
  
  I don't think many people actually believed the defense would stop Rutgers from scoring on the final drive.
  1. nkhooch September 23, 2024 at 4:30 PM
    
    Right. No matter how well the defense is playing, they always fold on game-winning drives. And this goes back to Fuente's last year.
6. Hokie67 September 23, 2024 at 7:43 AM
  
  EXACTLY! Thanks for the simple observation that says everything in a nutshell.
7. KyHokie September 23, 2024 at 9:19 AM
  
  Spot on. Compared to last year's game,, huge improvement
8. moneal September 23, 2024 at 1:10 PM
  
  Did we watch the same game? Your glass half full has holes in the bottom
9. 134762Hokie September 23, 2024 at 1:24 PM
  
  Wow. Can you sell me some of glasses you are wearing.
MKD September 22, 2024 at 8:35 PM

The biggest thing I've noticed is no development or improvement with the players. Also, the coaching is a serious problem and I don't see that getting any better by the end of the season. 5 wins might be the ceiling for the 2024 Hokies.
Precast Hokie September 22, 2024 at 7:49 PM

Great article as is usually the case. While changing 1 thing is possible to equal 4 and 0. It is just as likely to equal 2 and 2. Keeping the theme of trust. I don't trust them enough to keep from slipping somewhere else. It's the same line as saying we were a few plays away from winning. Good point about prymanaging tough conversations with players. Coaches?? Hopefully this 4 game showing has him questioning coaching moves!
rickbattle September 22, 2024 at 7:36 PM

This team is playing below its talent level. They need a reset that probably isn’t coming until next year.
1. pharlap_99 September 23, 2024 at 12:49 AM
  
  I respectfully disagree. The OL, interior DL, LBs and probably the QBs are not that talented. Rest of the position groups are pretty strong. imo. KD may yet improve but he will not become a top 25 P4 qb
2. teaysvalleyhokie September 23, 2024 at 4:35 AM
  
  With NIL and the portal, every year can be a reset if you want it to be. I don't like Deion Sanders, and his results aren't good, but he took over and team and had like 70 new players. My point is, if we needed a reset, why has that not already occurred? What makes next year special?
jesuisvtguy September 22, 2024 at 7:06 PM

We need a LIKE button for articles. Conveys what a lot of fans are thinking.
1. steves13 September 23, 2024 at 5:05 PM
  
  Agree, +1 or...thumbs up
Wtcarter12 September 22, 2024 at 6:36 PM

Does VT have the resources to hire experienced coordinators?
1. pharlap_99 September 23, 2024 at 12:43 AM
  
  We 1000% had the $$ to at least hire ONE experienced coordinator and I believe both having significant coordinator experience was possible. Instead, we threw a bunch of $$ at Rudolph (granted, an excellent OL coach historically) and overpaid 2 other initial assistants imo. Hiring Pry as HC probably wasn't the issue .. the lack of an experienced staff doomed this group. Maybe one coach hits (Fontel sure has been a success), but placing the future of VT football in relatively inexperienced hands (at a very important time in CFB) was way too risky. Of course, if all the coaches meshed and the inexperienced coordinators were stars, then my gripes at hiring time would have been moot. All except taking that risk ...VT should not be in a position to roll the dice that way. Especially with the additional funds for coaches/support and the University matching said funds.
Hokester September 22, 2024 at 6:01 PM

Unfortunately, to be a Hokie fan is to expect disappointment after disappointment. It is in our DNA. I am not a football expert by any stretch of the imagination and my eyes glaze over when you start talking about offensive and defensive strategies. However, I do know enthusiasm when I see it and the Hokies under Pry just don't have it. My opinion is that the coaches are just not up to the task of getting a team ready to play and then during the game the coaches are either incapable of making adjustments or are making the wrong ones. Whit is too quick to pull out the contract extension and going forward I would hope (no way in hell it will happen) that all assistant coaches be put on year to year contracts. If they leave, they leave. I am dreading the Miami game.
1. spudman September 22, 2024 at 8:03 PM
  
  Amen
Va Tech 71 September 22, 2024 at 6:00 PM

Pry seems like he's got the program going in a positive direction. Getting good recruits. But, having 2 coordinators with no experience, unable to adjust on the fly and having to hire an offensive line coach at the last minute seems to be showing.
1. DADEC52 September 22, 2024 at 8:39 PM
  
  Pry is a positive communicator almost always. Now if just some of it was warranted.
2. MKD September 22, 2024 at 8:48 PM
  
  I disagree with the recruiting as it's only slightly better than Fuente. We're consistently ranked somewhere between 40 to 60. With that type recruiting, a 6-6 record is what we should expect year to year.
3. pharlap_99 September 23, 2024 at 12:28 AM
  
  Pry has improved relationships with some important VA high schools (esp their coaches), which has marginally improved recruiting (the '25 class did have good momentum but that's reversed the last 2+ weeks). He's also much easier to like than the introverted Fuente (who could coach circles around Pry). Other than that, his tenure has been a disaster. Not all his fault imo, as he was not ready to be a HC at this level and then was allowed to hire inexperienced coordinators .. but the damage has been done. In a time when the football program HAD to show relevance and an upward trajectory, the powers that be screwed up hiring Pry. But, to be fair, Whit's first 2 choices apparently said No Thanks VT athletics is still strong and proud ... but football may never be the same. Hope i am wrong
Hokie90_CA September 22, 2024 at 5:57 PM

Great article, CC, a couple of things I would challenge: Lamenting the ‘one score games’ record (1-9) is not something I endorse. I think it’s the classic mistake of ‘not considering the alternatives.’ Our beloved Hokies were down multiple scores late in the 2nd quarter or in the 2nd half in 6 of those 10 games and then subsequently outplayed the opponents to narrow the gap to a one score final margin. Miami in 2022. Purdue, Marshall, NC State in 2023 Vanderbilt, Rutgers in 2024 In those 6 games would we feel better about the Hokies’ grit and character and would it reflect on the coaching staff better if we had continued to go in the tank and lost each of them in blowout fashion by 3+ scores? Obviously not, but if that had happened this tired ‘one score’ game trope wouldn’t even be talked about as our ‘one score game’ record would be 1-3 with all 4 games occurring in Pry’s 1st season. Instead we’d be talking about something that would be an actual problem: The Hokies getting blown out often. In mathematical terms: conditional on being down multiple scores in the 2nd half, a given team is significantly more likely to lose one score games than win. The other thing is you can’t solely eliminate all of Rutgers bad plays, mistakes, bad luck, bad play calling (some of which were actually strong plays and good play calling by the Hokies defense) and surmise a meaningful scenario where the Hokies get down 43-7. To have a chance to make a meaningful statement you have to eliminate those same things in equal measure on the Hokies side of the ledger. In this more pleasant Universe Drones hits Felton on both deep balls like he reliably did last year, our defensive back makes the right decision to stop the 68 yard screen pass, Jaylin Lane doesn’t fumble the punt return (which was barely a fumble), Delane isn’t called for the phantom PI and the tipped ball interception at the end falls harmlessly to the turf. Reverse all those plays on both Rutgers and VTs ledger and I’m not sure you are calling for coordinator changes.
1. DADEC52 September 22, 2024 at 8:43 PM
  
  Trying to put a positive spin on what we have all seen with our own eyes is a challenge I'm not sure many could rise to. Nice attempt but most of us watched and the spin doesn't match what we saw
2. crsuther September 22, 2024 at 9:56 PM
  
  Agree wholeheartedly.
  1. crsuther September 22, 2024 at 9:58 PM
    
    Lest there be confusion, I agree wholeheartedly with Hokie90_Cal’s assessment.
    1. Reston Hokie2 September 23, 2024 at 11:48 AM
      
      Same here ... at the age of 74 and in the twilight of my life I have watched 57 years of Hokie sports and win or lose I have enjoyed every season. I say again I have enjoyed every season. Now a true fan roots for his/her team through thick and thin. The majority of the posters on this website are not fans. I would bet good money that many of the negative posters rushed home and wrote their poisonous comments even before they could post. To the negative posters on this website you clearly have your head sooooo far up your ass you see the world through your belly button.
      1. Reston Hokie2 September 23, 2024 at 11:50 AM
        
        BTW your comments here have the same effect as if you put your hand in a bucket of water then withdrew it. Unless of course you annually contribute to the Hokie Club with a 7 figure number.
      2. gaholder81 September 24, 2024 at 10:49 AM
        
        Only a snowflake can't take valid criticism. I don't define what a "true fan" is and neither do you. But to criticize bad coaching absolutely does NOT mean you are a bad fan.
3. HokieGator September 22, 2024 at 11:11 PM
  
  I get that, but the sad part is the fact that we WERE down so much in all those games. Yes, I give our guys credit for playing till the end. But that may make it even worse... Because in some of those games we weren't really ever in it. I agree it looks better in the stats that we only lost by one score... But being there for most of those games, we weren't really in those games. It's like hitting a 3 pointer at the buzzer when your down by 6... Yes, technically it was a one basket game... But we all know it wasn't.
  1. VTgilligan September 23, 2024 at 12:08 AM
    
    ^^ This ^^
  2. tspoon5 September 23, 2024 at 8:41 AM
    
    I agree with both statements. The narrative shouldn't be about how Pry loses close games. It should be about why are we always trying (and failing) to win a comeback? I'd be curious how many of those 1-9 close games were close the whole way and how many were VT attempting a comeback... AB mentioned in an article about how VT is a terrible 2nd quarter team. That seems to match the "slow to adjust" narrative.
4. spudman September 23, 2024 at 8:19 AM
  
  There are no moral victories
5. willgowin September 23, 2024 at 10:16 AM
  
  Hokie90_CA, I like your thought process. I have not given up on this team or the coaches. At Tech I played for a 10-1-1 team and a 2-9 team (Beamer's first year).so I know what it feels like to have people love you one minute and hate you the next. I wish that fans would be more supportive and have some patience, but that is not the way it is today. Tech fans got spoiled during Coach Beamer's wonderful run. Pry is cut from the same cloth. He is a very good man and I believe he will turn us back into a consistently winning program. I do feel that we need to fix some things, but let's state them and be positive and supportive. Like the great Frank Beamer said, "We are only one play away". I believe we are that close.
  1. Hokie90_CA September 23, 2024 at 10:17 PM
    
    Yeah, this! I’ll bleed orange and maroon for the rest of my life! I’ll support our boys no matter what happens! I know they put it all out there and want to win more than anyone. I’m awed & humbled by their Frank Beamer’s greatest quote, possibly the greatest thing any Football coach has ever said is too often forgotten, so I will remind everyone: It is timeless advice that applies to every field of human endeavor: Bobby Bowden had lost the thread at FSU late in his career so he calls up Frank and asks him how he turned the teams’ fortunes around in 2004 after the 2003 disappointment. Among many other nuggets, Frank told him: “It’s a very fine line between being OK and not OK” We aren’t quite OK right now, but the evidence is strong that we aren’t far from being OK. Give this staff and these players just a little time to work through it! They are going to make you proud here soon!
    1. gaholder81 September 24, 2024 at 10:52 AM
      
      It is very disheartening to see that some fans are being told we aren't "supporting the team" because we criticize coaching and development that doesn't put them in a position to win! We are all fans!
SCHokie1103 September 22, 2024 at 5:53 PM

A team that plays like this after 4 games=poor and inexperienced coaching. The OC is at best a TEs coach and the DC is at best. A LBs coach like he was at FSU and I heard from friends who are FSU fans. They were not sad to see him go!
GO_HOKIES_GO September 22, 2024 at 5:14 PM

If the goal was to play “complementary football” then Pry and staff have accomplished that - all three phases are conspiring to lose football games. The strategy, scheme, execution, attention to details, and discipline have been there in short spurts throughout all four games, but in general the lack of any consistency is why this season is circling the bowl. As you noted, things could improve but it would be a shock if the Hokies role into Miami and beat the ‘Canes (or even cover the spread).
BoomerFL September 22, 2024 at 5:01 PM

So many veterans returning. More experience showed equate into fewer mistakes - but it hasn’t. What we are watching is a repeat of every game we’ve played this year. The offensive coordinator must be replaced even if we’ve only played 4 games. And Pry needs to be more involved in defensive calls and reevaluate the packages used. We need a QB who can not just run but one that can throw the 10-20 yard passes. And receivers who don’t break off their routes 2 yards short of the line to gain.
2hhoop3 September 22, 2024 at 4:42 PM

As I watched yesterday's game one line kept replaying over and over in my mind. Brent Pry's quote where he told players not to come back to be the same guy, looks to me like a lot of coaches and players did exactly that, if not maybe even getting a little worse.
1. HokieFanDC September 22, 2024 at 4:55 PM
  
  Yep, that sums it up pretty good. If he's consistent with players and coaches, we're going to have to go to the portal for some coaching upgrades.
2. NokieHokie September 22, 2024 at 6:38 PM
  
  BINGO!

CC On Sunday: Trust Issues

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