CC On Sunday: It's Finally Over, And Now We Can Move On

39 Comments

1. 

   Clark1 December 2, 2025 at 2:08 PM

   Chris, are you going to share anytime soon, or ever, the stories you referenced regarding our previous Coach being way over his head from the onset and further? Just wondering.
2. 

   jk8hc December 2, 2025 at 9:31 AM

   As Gerald Ford said “Our long Hokie nightmare has ended.”
3. 

   VTownie December 1, 2025 at 9:10 PM

   Chris, Duke did play, and lost to, Georgia Tech this year. GT’s conference win percentage is what gave Duke the tie-breaker…. Soooo ridiculous. Now uva has a cakewalk to the playoffs. We will have to hear about that until we make the playoffs. ?
4. 

   hokiettb December 1, 2025 at 8:13 PM

   The UVA game result was Clearly the consequences of the Whit Babcock era. Why has Babcock not been fired? Apparently, you will have to fire Sands to get rid of of Babcock.
5. 

   EmbreyVT December 1, 2025 at 6:20 PM

   Chris! Are you insinuating your work load is too heavy over the next few weeks? Like any business, there's ebbs and flows. Thank you for your diligence and dedication to bring TSL what it does. We can tag team at a press conference.
6. 

   133222Hokie December 1, 2025 at 1:05 PM

   Maybe the best column this year. CBP was not bright enough to manage a power 5 program. To coin a phrase from the military- “great First Sgt but not a company commander. Cannot multi-task!!
7. 

   Arch72Hokie December 1, 2025 at 9:33 AM

   How is it that UVA's game vs. NCSU was non-conference? Al Clark was hobble by injuries, esp. in 1997 due to w weal OL.. That was the worst Beamer team since the program turned the corner in 1993 until the late Beamer era. Clark showed his stuff in the 1998 Music City Bowl. Drone projects as a TE.
8. 

   downjerseyhokie November 30, 2025 at 9:33 PM

   Really wished at some point this season Monty would’ve just turned the O over to Brent Davis and we would’ve run the triple option. Seems like our personnel would’ve been good at that.
9. 

   HtownHokie November 30, 2025 at 9:32 PM

   i hope all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! thank you for the succinct, not too painful article. i see what you did there - no summary or play-by-play of the game: wise move, no one ants to relive that. never. Shibest for next ST Coach! or suggest someone better, please. two of your five "Other Notes" ["it could have been ..." and "Brunswick stew" (chicken I presume)] didn't mention football - at all; and more precisely our Saturday night loss. that said a lot without saying a football thing! go Hokies! a new day is dawning.
10. 

    mdriver November 30, 2025 at 7:31 PM

    Chris, thanks so much for your always excellent article during an era of VT football history that all HOKIES would like to forget. No thanks to the big wigs in the athletic dept. and administration that allowed the disaster over the last decade to occur. Living in Texas, many times when wearing my VT garb (which I still do for some odd reason) I am constantly asked by friends and strangers alike what the heck has happened to VT football? My honest reply is that what happens when you have people running the show that obviously didn't have a clue as to how to do that properly. Being originally from Harrisonburg, I am constantly amazed at how well the Dukes have done over the years, and not just in football. If I am correct, they hold a coveted Div 1 championship (in field hockey) in addition to their Div 2 championships that our current AD can only dream about. To put it mildy, our loyal and rabid fan base definitely deserves way better than what we have been receiving from the higher ups in Merryman and not just in football. So sad in so many ways, but here's to Coach Franklin hopefully turning the ship in the right direction!
11. 

    A79Hokie November 30, 2025 at 5:50 PM

    One team I loathe more than UVA is Miami. If they’re so dang good why didn’t they win all their ACC games. It’s a “B” league by most people’s accounts. Whoopie they beat ND. Miami is over-rated year in and year out. Let’s make everyone happy and just let Clemson, FSU, and Miami play in the championship game every year. Got that off my chest. Thanks!
12. 

    Sportn November 30, 2025 at 5:29 PM

    How do Clark and Drones compare when it comes to reading the field, reading a defense, being a leader? There is a bit more to it than just the physical part of being able to run or throw a pass.
13. 

    DCL November 30, 2025 at 5:28 PM

    I think I saw one fair catch when we were receiving on a kickoff and it was in fourth quarter last night. Excluding John Love we witnessed the worst special teams play in years and penalties killed them
14. 

    133895Hokie November 30, 2025 at 5:21 PM

    One big difference that Franklin will solve, hopefully, is in-game and halftime adjustments. We were very good at that during the Beamer/Foster era, but not so good since. Our competition, on the other hand, made adjustments that buried us.
    1. 

       tspoon5 December 1, 2025 at 12:30 PM

       Maybe... That's his biggest criticism is in game management. The floor is higher, but thats been CJF's Achilles heel.
15. 

    HokienGeorjaw November 30, 2025 at 4:47 PM

    One big difference between Clark and Drones. Drones got a million bucks and all Clark got was a full scholarship. I think we got our money’s worth in Clark. Just a terrible job of evaluating the most important player on your team.
16. 

    VPI4Life November 30, 2025 at 2:20 PM

    Comparing Drones to Al Clark is a disservice to Al Clark. While he was not great, he was a serviceable QB who was a team leader who got the job done. When Clark left I certainly didn’t come away feeling like he was one of the worse QB’s we’ve ever had, as I do Drones.
    1. 

       Boblope November 30, 2025 at 3:09 PM

       Agree 100%. The numbers may not prove it out to be true, but I certainly perceive it and feel the same way. Maybe for the reasons CC laid out - being surrounded by much better players and coaches.
    2. 

       Cheesehokie December 1, 2025 at 12:15 AM

       Agree completely
    3. 

       133222Hokie December 1, 2025 at 12:57 PM

       Amen. We need to remember that Frank Beamer promised to redshirt MV in 1998 & he kept that promise. That 1998 team might have gone undefeated if VT started Michael. MV never really studied the playbook & he never developed as a passer finding 2-3 receivers. His raw ability would have overcome rookie mistakes & VT only benefited from 2 years playing time. We definitely would not have blown a 29-3 halftime lead in the UVA. Oh well!!!
17. 

    DW Hokie November 30, 2025 at 2:09 PM

    Pry was all sizzle, no steak. If sources are telling you that he was overwhelmed from week one, I'm guessing that was well known among college football insiders. Point being, Pry may not have been ABLE to hire a good, experienced coordinator, because the good ones might have known he was radioactive and were keeping their distance.
    1. 

       Hokie PE November 30, 2025 at 5:06 PM

       I'm guessing that's why Pry had to hire first-time offense/defense coordinators. No one with any chops wanted to hitch their wagon to a 1st time head coach.
18. 

    Aero81Hokie November 30, 2025 at 2:03 PM

    Really good work Chris. You summarized things really well and captured how I was feeling this morning. I thought your summary of the Pry era was spot on. I look forward to some of your other thoughts. I also commend you for always being fair to Pry or at least avoided piling on while he was the coach. I did not realize your true feelings until after Pry was fired. I see now you cautioned us all along but I missed it. I will try to a closer attention n the future. When I was a student at Tech (77 - 81) FB was not always great but it still seemed “fun enough” (although that might have been the Wild Turkey). This season had very few moments where it seemed we were watching good football. Often there was great effort and I applaud the team hanging together but things always felt off. Thanks to all of you for helping us (at least me) understand what was happening throughout the season. It really helped. My subscription to TSL saved me lots therapy session dollars! ?
19. 

    TomTurkey November 30, 2025 at 1:55 PM

    If we had NOT scored... Please, don't lose the streak to...them.
    1. 

       Boblope November 30, 2025 at 3:09 PM

       Amen
20. 

    2hhoop3 November 30, 2025 at 1:54 PM

    The best thing that can be said about the last four years are that they are over. Great and apt story title. The Pry era, like the 1998 Temple game, is best considered to never have happened.
21. 

    J2KHokie November 30, 2025 at 1:42 PM

    “ The other thing I can promise is that this year’s Signing Day will be a lot more exciting than in recent years. Franklin has hit the ground running, and the Hokies are about to reap the benefits starting on Wednesday.“ Finally- I’ve lived 67 years and anything I’ve ever achieved has been the result of hard work. This is exactly what we need! A go-getter, hard worker. This will reflect in the team on the field as well!
22. 

    farmville hokie November 30, 2025 at 1:40 PM

    Special teams play has featured at least one big negative play in almost every game this season. Last night when they announced a big penalty on a punt return I told my wife what uniform number it would be without even seeing the play or flag. It had to be on a guy who had made this blocking error multiple games this year. I won’t include his number but I was spot on. Why was he still on that unit. Throw in the first play of the game featuring the decision to run out the kick from at least 5 yards deep into the endzone. At least he didn’t step out of bounds on the 2 yard line this time.
    1. 

       seekoHoG November 30, 2025 at 5:15 PM

       My goodness, how will we ever figure out this player‘s number? T I C.
23. 

    HOKIE SEAN November 30, 2025 at 1:37 PM

    Our ST’s were really bad this year. Poor decisions (which I assume were coached) and even worse execution. That needs to be fixed by week 1 next year.
24. 

    MrBayAreaHokie November 30, 2025 at 1:29 PM

    VT is like a house that is mice, rat, mold, termite, and cockroach infested. Franklin is the bulldozer needed. I hope nohing is sacred in the rebuild. Everyone associated with this program as of 11/30/2025 failed. Time to move on.
    1. 

       133222Hokie December 1, 2025 at 1:00 PM

       Clean house 100%.
25. 

    dobrohokie November 30, 2025 at 1:29 PM

    Where did you get that Brunswick Stew? My favorite!
    1. 

       vtdwight November 30, 2025 at 2:54 PM

       Great Article!
    2. 

       middletennhokie November 30, 2025 at 3:24 PM

       Not sure where Chris got his, but the best recipe is found in the 'Virginia Hospitality' cookbook, just use more apple cider vinegar than called for.
       1. 

          vt78hokiehi November 30, 2025 at 6:22 PM

          You are absolutely right it is the best!!!! Have had it for years.
    3. 

       Chris Coleman November 30, 2025 at 3:29 PM

       My mom got it for me in Danville
    4. 

       ToledoHokie November 30, 2025 at 6:35 PM

       Toledo doesn’t even know what Brunswick stew is….its so sad… That’s one of the things I miss the most. Use to get this in those orange and white checkerboard containers from the Forest View rescue squad in Richmond….made in those black kettles….simply the best!
26. 

    icelus November 30, 2025 at 1:13 PM

    lol, special team coach. They said we hired him because his father was a legendary high school coach in NC. Of course, we had signed all the top players out of NC since.