5 Thoughts The Day After The Hokies' Win Against VMI

Andy Bitter

Senior Staff Writer

September 06, 2026 33

Chanz Wiggins scores on a 40-yard pass in the fourth quarter Saturday against VMI. (Jon Fleming)

The fight happened 31 years ago, so finding the press conference clip proved to be a nearly impossible task, but I swear it happened.

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Five Thoughts 2026 VT-VMI Football

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33 Comments

Hokie CPA September 7, 2026 at 10:05 AM

The Governor's Sword is sharp? I thought artistic/display edge weapons were usually kept dull?
hokiehowl September 7, 2026 at 3:50 AM

VMI only has about 1500 students. They have NIL but they cannot use the portal. Keydets transfer out but they cannot transfer in. Would Frank have taken his foot off the gas and gone to run only? And are there reasons in the current college landscape to continue to run your full offense?
1. Andy Bitter September 7, 2026 at 10:06 AM
  
  He addressed that afterward. Said when backups go in, they have to be able to run the whole offense. They deserve that. And the staff needs it to get a full evaluation of what guys can do.
2. LXNTN_HOKIE September 8, 2026 at 3:14 PM
  
  VMI can take transfers, but it basically has to be after freshman year because they have to be in barracks three years to graduate. I'm not sure about football, but basketball and baseball have taken a few transfers in recent years.
Techman77 September 7, 2026 at 1:37 AM

There was one thing about VMI that impressed me. Even though they were out-manned, out-gunned and they had no chance at all, they never gave up. They played as hard as they could to the end. Maybe nobody else learned anything about VA Tech, but I learned that the Hokies are a pretty well oiled machine. Just about every play they tried worked, and they weren't hurting themselves, save for a few penalties. I also learned that Bryce Baker is a pretty good quarterback. I now feel a lot better playing ODU than I did a week ago. This is going to be a fun season to watch!
1. HtownHokie September 7, 2026 at 11:37 AM
  
  genuine and verified observations, T'77. i concur. hat's off to VMI (and i only capitalize schools names who i respect) for not whining, moaning or "aw shucks!" when things went badly, wrong, questionable ref calls, etc for themselves - - - and, for VMI, that was a majority of the 40 minutes (and maybe more). i hope VMI can somehow put the pieces together, find some unknown roster talent, and get a quarterback, wide receiver, and running back with the "it" factor to marshal their forces and get some wins. they deserve it. go Hokies! . . . go VMI.
hokiebuc91 September 6, 2026 at 6:41 PM

Some people are tired of hearing we shouldn’t be playing FCS opponents. I say keep beating that drum, Andy! I have to admit that it was a nice way to get year one under Franklin going, but doing that year after year is definitely going to get old, which is a point I have heard you make a few times. Anyway, new subscriber here. Have always enjoyed your coverage and thanks to all the guys at TSL. Glad to be here! Go Hokies!
1. HtownHokie September 7, 2026 at 11:39 AM
  
  welcome aboard. happy Labor Day! keep posting, ... on the boards, too. go Hokies!
2. vtpaul82 September 7, 2026 at 1:58 PM
  
  All the SEC schools play cupcakes first game, and also 1 before their rivalry game at the end of the season, so I have no problem with that.
3. Nick Brown September 7, 2026 at 10:08 PM
  
  Welcome HokieBuc! We’re so glad to have you on board!
4Hokies4U September 6, 2026 at 3:54 PM

Great stuff! A few thoughts, we the fans may have learned nothing about the season, but the coaches have tape on 90 plus players. Most with more than one series. They learned home game operations, including on site recruiting, pre game planning, confirmation of the players speed numbers and game logistics. Everything about yesterday game screamed professional and BIG TIME
Spartacusjones September 6, 2026 at 3:46 PM

The Hokies needed this game. Franklin clearly had a script and wanted to see how well the team would follow it. I bet the film will provide a lot of coaching opportunities as they fissect the details of how the team played (Franklin strikes me as a big details guy). I like the progression of this years schedule. The Hokies get a couple of what should be tune up games before facing opponents that will present more of a challenge. The Maryland game will also,provide a shakedown of the Franklin road game schedule and process. They will need it given the opponents and road games stacked in the latter part of the schedule.
SunDevilHokie September 6, 2026 at 3:01 PM

No injuries and no lack of concentration penalties (by coaches or players) like… wrong personnel on the field, multiple players with same number at same time, or even forgetting the snap count. Saw all these in opening weekend and none of those depend on the level of opponent.
1. hokiepro September 6, 2026 at 5:05 PM
  
  St Germain TE hurt his shoulder and C Kyle Altuner tweaked a knee
VTHogmollies September 6, 2026 at 2:23 PM

VT football for the first time in a long time, went out and did what it was supposed to do on the field. Pounded an inferior team with authority. It felt great, and I'm going to enjoy it as the VT gameday flag is still flying at the house as it will until sundown. Now, Hokies, do the same with ODU - absolutely curb stomp them next Saturday. Go Hokies!
HOKIERIT September 6, 2026 at 1:47 PM

Great insight as usual Andy...BTW, I "watched" that Tyson massacre at the Richmond Coliseum on pay per view. I say I watched it, but actually, not really. After all the prelim bouts, when the fight started, I was all excited and ready to settle in. I bent down and set my drink on the floor between my legs. I heard the crowd erupt, looked up, and McNeely was on his back. Fight OVER! Kind of like the game last night, although I DID see the first few "knockout punches" this time by!
TomTurkey September 6, 2026 at 1:25 PM

I would have rather played JMU, who struggled some against Liberty. But, game experience for most of the roster, in-game coaching exposure for most of the roster, and pregame experience for the staff and team. Now, improve from week 1 to week 2. CFB has decreed it. Do it!
1. HokieTC September 6, 2026 at 3:52 PM
  
  Agree
1990 Hokie AE September 6, 2026 at 1:21 PM

Maryland actually played the Hampton Pirates, not the Howard Bison
1. Andy Bitter September 6, 2026 at 1:21 PM
  
  My mistake!
JHHOKIE September 6, 2026 at 1:11 PM

I don’t think anyone is thinking we are world beaters. But, we beat a team like we should beat a team that weak. It gets tougher naturally, but seeing us finally do what we are supposed to do is a far cry from the past few years. My personal thoughts for this year was get to a bowl game. I’m at least somewhat optimistic we can get there now. Go Hokies!
DADEC52 September 6, 2026 at 1:10 PM

Andy, we all know who we played. You've been relentlessly clear about it and honestly we all get it. Each of the first three weeks gets more challenging and will reveal far more about how good this team is and how we are developing. In the meantime can we just enjoy the ride, it's been bumpy for a while!
1. Stork September 6, 2026 at 1:32 PM
  
  Agreed
2. 1977hokie September 6, 2026 at 1:51 PM
  
  Truth!
3. HokiesandHerd September 6, 2026 at 2:21 PM
  
  Cut him some slack. Andy brings an excellent perspective to this website we love that has pretty much always been Hokie personnel.
  1. laurieonthebike September 7, 2026 at 7:59 AM
    
    Exactly! I eagerly look forward Andy's columns!
4. Flytyer September 6, 2026 at 2:26 PM
  
  Truth, this has taken Beat a Dead Horse to a whole other level
5. Seikoh_04 September 6, 2026 at 4:47 PM
  
  Do we? I do. I'm not sure all fans do. I think there are still some that put a team like this VMI in the same category as current JMU. Not everybody knows. Enjoy it all you want but I for one would have rather played a team with a pulse and lived with the consequences.
  1. DADEC52 September 6, 2026 at 9:47 PM
    
    I would rather have played someone else myself but they were not on the schedule so we played who was and took care of business. That has not happened in far too long! I long ago got Andy's point and no I don't need to cut him any slack at all. Andy is more than capable of defending himself and If you notice I sure didn't shoot at Andy! He wouldn't let it go!. It's not that Andy is wrong - never said that. Just that we heard him the first few times we got this diatribe. He knows, he said so himself. Right up front I said and believe he's a smart guy!!!
spudman September 6, 2026 at 1:07 PM

I think we learned very little from this game but it sure felt good to finally blow someone out
1. SCHokie1103 September 6, 2026 at 5:59 PM
  
  Yeah we did. We learned how to play good football and beat a team like we should have. Last year with the players and coaching staff we had in place and with a lack of killer instinct this might even have been a close game. We should beat teams like this big but that has not always been the case for the last several years ex: ODU for one.
  1. Tidewater Hillbilly September 6, 2026 at 9:27 PM
    
    Agree. And Grunk learned (twice for good measure) that Brown (while he IS fast) isn't THAT fast! That will pay dividends when it really matters.
2. MDFinnigan September 6, 2026 at 10:02 PM
  
  I assume you mean the fans - not the coaches

5 Thoughts The Day After The Hokies' Win Against VMI

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