Kyron Drones tries futilely to convert on a late fourth-down play. (Ivan Morozov)
ATLANTA — There’s always plenty of intrigue in college football. On Saturday alone you had Northwestern upending a reeling Penn State squad, Indiana traveling across the country to make a statement against Oregon and Texas letting everyone know it ain’t dead yet after a Red River Rivalry smothering of Oklahoma.
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Some of the fans like myself have been pulling for the Hokies for over 50+ years. I promise you we have seen worse teams than this. We’ve also seen teams that won 8, 9, and 10 games or more a season and won Bug East and ACC titles and even played for a National Championship. Whether some have looked deep enough to see when this started going south in 2012 or not. It did and has now reached the level if you can even say it’s a level that it is now.
I never dreamed with the facilities and the fan base we have now it would get this bad again. I don’t think it is as bad as some of the many years past before Beamer got there. But nonetheless, it’s embarrassing and shameful that it has reached this level due to a lack of vision and commitment to keeping the program on par and the level it should be in the ACC for a Virginia Tech football.
People can argue all they want about blame for this because there’s plenty to go around. But I stand by my comments and feelings that Sands although doing the job from an educational and admissions standpoint failed when it came to our athletics department and holding people accountable that contributed to the total embarrassment and decline we are now witnessing at Virginia Tech. Along with WB, John Balien, and the entire athletic department, as well as an overhaul of the Hokie club. It can’t happen fast enough.
I still support these kids that are trying really hard and giving a lot of effort as I can’t imagine how hard it is coming to practice and giving everything you have, knowing the cards are stacked against you. I’ve been on teams like that before. But like some on here have mentioned. As long as you still see the effort as Hokies we have to support them if you call yourself a true Hokie fan instead of a Fairweather supporter. I lived through many bad seasons, remembering one in particular playing VMI in one of the coldest, most bitter games I’ve ever set through in Lane Stadium. In some of those seasons only winning one or two games. Our players come out back then with different rag tag, warm-ups socks and apparel that look like a club football team although I’ve seen some club football teams have better uniforms than we had then. I remember I used to get excited when they would play a game from victory Stadium or Lane and it was on TV after being taped and shown a day later. Now, just about every game can be found somewhere when they play.
College football all around Virginia Tech continued to get better after 2012. Poor leadership was too busy living off our successful years under Frank Beamer to pay antt and it has now gotten to the level you are witnessing like it or not.
We can only hope now that fresh blood and smart people will write the ship, that for the first time in a long time have high leadership qualities, but also love Virginia Tech and Virginia Tech football and want to see this program play tough, hard, physical football that can play with anybody it takes the field with. We used to be able to do that. There is no excuse or reason whatsoever for us not to be doing that now other than the failure or lack of leadership and people responsible for digging this hole we are in now.
It’s not just a saying when you say Virginia Tech has the best fans in the country as just about every team in college football says that anymore. When you have a losing record and you’re still selling out your stadium or coming close to it, the fans don’t deserve what is happening to our football program right now. All we can do now is hope these committees and people in charge clean out the stench of our athletic department and make good hires and decisions with the influx of new money to get it done. Chris Coleman wrote an article that said “it is time “. I would like to add to that by saying “enough is enough “. Get it done and remove all the people responsible and leave no stone unturned and start a fresh so that all of us Hokie fans can have something to be proud of and support in our football program again after a decade and a half of mediocrity and embarrassment. Go Hokies!!!!
Clark1
Thank you. What an insightful narrative. It was very much thought out and presented. You have traveled this journey before as I have.
hokie1120
Good article that is 100 % correct
OhioHokie74
It is easier watching losses when there is some effort. There is a reason Pry was a DC for 15 years and passed over for multiple HC jobs before the powers that be at Tech overlooked the red flags and hired him as their DC and part-time HC.
A79Hokie
Look at this season as a scrimmage to prepare for one game - go to C-ville and beat UVA!
kennedyvt
It is a sad, sad day when we have reached the point where our effort is what we highlight in a postgame analysis. It takes a lot of self control and perspective to not be apoplectic at the university leadership responsible for this travesty.
Hokie 04
Agreed completely. Never should have gotten to the point that we're saying, "Well, they tried," about our well paid players.
Walkin` Willie
I appreciate the majority of comments on this article - seems like the fans understand the situation. Times are tough now but change is coming. GO HOKIES!!!
Maroon Unit
Great write- up. If this team can beat only the hoos down the stretch I can assure you it will get a Gatorade bath and shoulder ride from Hokie Nation.
George Baylor
We won't win in Hoo-ville. Only player we have better than their counter part at UVa is LOVE our kicker. Tony E and his staff have done a wonderful job getting Portals that have really helped them.
I appreciate the effort, but GT's speed make us look like we are running in mud boots.
HokieJB
We all know the score, and Andy captured it. We don't have the horses. Neither Drones nor pop is the answer. Thank God for the coaches, underclassmen, and subs for staying in the fight.
Techman77
Yeah, yeah, yeah.....we all hate losing, but you know the score: the head coach is gone, the interim coach is a brand new offensive coordinator hired this year, plus we have a brand new defensive coordinator. I mean c'mon, what did you expect against a top 15 team that had two weeks of rest and a chance to regroup? Not to mention all the injuries, especially on the offensive line. Of course we don't look great, who thought that we would? But I agree that this team has shown a lot of spunk. Enough so, I can see us getting another win, maybe two. And still go down swinging in the losses. I, for one, will be rooting for them the rest of the way.
namibiahoke
You’ve got to hand it to Montgomery, he knows he’s “one & done”, yet he is demonstrating the professional he is. This is a team he did not build, but unexpectedly inherited after three games. He has motivated the team and the coaches around him, elevating them to a higher level under duress.
There’s a bye week coming up. I don’t think Montgomery is going on vacation (a la Belichick)! When there’s nothing to lose, let’s kick some ass as underdogs!!
DCL
Running for his life. Well put. Garrett and Lynch are not D1 offensive tackles getting beat on essentially every play. Drones is terrible passer that compounds things too
McHokie78
We’ll be in the spoiler role from here. Let’s stay behind this team and show our appreciation for the guys still playing hard. Better times ahead.
HokieJB
That's the spirit!
spudman
Yes that was disappointing
HokieTC
Agree. Not only did they fight to the end. They made Good plays on O and D to the end. Effort with execution!
Tank
"Grading on the curve".....what a great way to express how we all have to view this season.
VT_Skier
Except for Drones' "effort" on the 3rd down at the end. That was inexcusable and certainly wasn't there. Any QB worth anything tries to stretch and dive for the first down.
naynay136
100% agree. That is a situation where, if you are a QB who really wants to lead this team no matter the situation and the record, you lower your shoulder, stay in bounds and try for as many yards as you can. I am really struggling to understand why he is still the starting QB at this point. His overthrow earlier in the game that resulted in the INT was just a boneheaded play and killed a drive where they had momentum. A high school QB could have hit that pass. Why not put Pop in at this point and see if he can provide a spark?
Andy, would be really interested in your take on the starting QB situation. Agree totally with you that this team will be lucky to scratch out another win or two. But given that, we know Drones is gone next year regardless. Why not play Pop so whatever new regime comes in at least has some more data points to judge what they have in him?
Andy Bitter
Why would Monty care about giving the next regime a look at what Pop can do?
He’s trying to win games now. Whether VT fans admit it or not, Drones gives them the best chance.
El Hokie
Best chance. But still a poor one. Seems on some plays at least he’s already checked out.
mwills98
Disagree, Drones give us close to zero. Way too inconsistent, just doesn’t have it for this level. Pop has been here three years now. He should have been starting game three to gain more experience and prove what he can do under the lights.
tallahasseehokie
Wait till u do get a look at the next man up…the qb room is empty.
SarahVTHokie24
Except Drones is making a million year. I guess they can't justify paying that to a backup qb.
HokieTC
Pop is really not it
drewwine
o/u 55.5. Stretch for the first down and give a chance at a little joy.
28 Comments