Five Thoughts The Day After Virginia Tech's Win Over UVa

24 Comments

1. 

   cpacheco December 2, 2024 at 3:10 PM

   Are the bowl sponsors allowed to pay student athletes to promote the bowl game?
2. 

   middletennhokie December 2, 2024 at 9:35 AM

   Thanks Andy, agree with you on the APR vote, especially based on the 'head-to-head' game. Too bad it won't happen. Now, go help Chris find his cat!
3. 

   Tbone8147 December 1, 2024 at 7:36 PM

   Any changes to coaching staff. Pry needs veteran help to correct so many in game mistakes. Hokies could have been 10-2 or 9-3 if Pry didn’t screw up so much.
4. 

   tman93hokie December 1, 2024 at 6:46 PM

   You know, there are scenarios that could put us in a bowl vs WVU. Would that not be awesome? Give us chance to take the Black Diamond Trophy back to where is belongs.
   1. 

      Atlee Hokie December 1, 2024 at 8:47 PM

      Or not. if we are in the same place Tulane was last year.
5. 

   phtbddh December 1, 2024 at 5:44 PM

   I think even with a healthy Drones, Pop has the higher ceiling. His passing seemed superior given only two games to evaluate. I only wonder about Pop's ability to stay healthy with a smaller frame and his scrambling.
6. 

   lazarus1 December 1, 2024 at 5:35 PM

   if the football team was as consistently good as Andy Bitter's columns we'd be in the cfp easily.
   1. 

      Roland Lazenby December 3, 2024 at 12:27 PM

      I heartily agree.
7. 

   HokieAvalanche December 1, 2024 at 3:57 PM

   No QB dilemma. Let Drones and Watson go after it in the Spring if Drones stays. May the better player win the starting job.
   1. 

      VT Realist December 2, 2024 at 12:01 PM

      In the NIL era, I don't think we can keep both. If we keep both guys and let them battle it out in the spring, the loser will transfer. We should go with Pop and let Drones walk. Pop has 3 years of eligibility left. We can use the money elsewhere
8. 

   HokieJB December 1, 2024 at 3:47 PM

   We may not have an ACC Championship, but we have TSL ... and the best sportswriters ANYWHERE. This Hokie appreciates the expert and entertaining coverage.
   1. 

      Novahokie`99 December 1, 2024 at 4:33 PM

      That's a fact - TSL is the best.
   2. 

      tman93hokie December 1, 2024 at 6:47 PM

      True story!
   3. 

      B Hokie December 1, 2024 at 7:04 PM

      Agree 100%.
9. 

   justolerable December 1, 2024 at 3:32 PM

   Watching Muskett run through the Defense, makes me expect a severe butt whooping by USC and QB Sellers in 2025 opener.
   1. 

      Boblope December 1, 2024 at 7:22 PM

      Scary stuff. We MUST get some portal talent at LB & safety and shore up that defense up the middle
10. 

    TomTurkey December 1, 2024 at 2:34 PM

    Not sure comparing Pop to Tyrod after playing UVA is a true indication of his mental and physical skills, but he did look pretty stout. He did show stronger pocket awareness but his O-line did a good job of protection.
    1. 

       HOKIEFROY December 2, 2024 at 11:25 AM

       Pop showed a lot more than I expected. Not sure he will be ever to take the pounding that Drones has taken.
11. 

    75hoke December 1, 2024 at 2:10 PM

    Andy, regarding bowl destination, I recall that bowls could take teams with one or two (?) fewer wins over a team with more wins. With VT history of traveling well, which teams do you see VT possibly be chosen over that have more wins?
    1. 

       Andy Bitter December 1, 2024 at 2:33 PM

       Maybe Pitt and BC, but the selection process isn’t as rigid as it used to be. Used to go down a pecking order. Now there are tiers with all the bowls getting priority in certain years on a cycle. (The Sun had “first pick,” so to speak, last year when it got to that tier and took Notre Dame.) Which is a way of saying I’m not really sure how it’ll shake out.
12. 

    delmarva hokie December 1, 2024 at 1:35 PM

    Another nice touch to go along with Nick Gallo (I hadn't realized he had gotten in at the end of the game since I don't think Roth and Burnop mentioned it), was Ben Locklear getting in at QB for the victory formation drive. For a guy who apparently turned down FCS scholarship offers to walk on at Tech and be a part of the team for four years, it was a nice touch to finally get him game action. It's true that he has one more year of eligibility, but with him going through the Senior Day festivities and likely getting his degree, I suspect that he will be moving on with his post collegiate life or maybe will get a shot at playing at a smaller school as a graduate student. I was hoping that Davi Belfort would get a few snaps at the finish, but then I thought it would be great to get Locklear in and I was happy to hear that happen.
    1. 

       George Baylor December 1, 2024 at 3:04 PM

       I saw Gallo carry the flag, but did not see him in the game. Thank you coach Pry for having a "RUDY Moment" for Gallo & Locklear. THAT WAS A CLASS ACT. Agree that if a player believes (and the coaches, scouts, etc.) have told him he likely will be drafted, I too would not play in a cold weather bowl. Mr. Tuten should go down to Florida to one of those "Getting ready for the NFL camps" and train.. Just ask Caleb Farley. Thank you seniors for beating UVa & hope you have your degree or get it.
13. 

    GO_HOKIES_GO December 1, 2024 at 1:35 PM

    You are correct - this contest was closer than the score indicated. My concerns during the game were that VT kept putting the ball on the ground and it appeared in the second half Tony the ex-Tiger had figured out that running the QB was VT’s kryptonite. Fortunately, the Hokies made enough plays on both sides of the ball (and UVa made enough mistakes) to retain the Commonwealth Cup. I don’t blame the guys with pro aspirations for not playing in the freezing cold on a baseball field - they need to focus on their career opportunities and the future.
    1. 

       El Paso Hokie December 1, 2024 at 9:47 PM

       Someone like Ali Jennings, who barely made his presence known over the past two years, might actually benefit from appearing in the bowl game in order to have one more opportunity to shore up his status as an NFL draft candidate.