Bitter: 10 Things As Some ACC Powers Face Serious Questions Out Of The Gate

59 Comments

1. 

   SmithDM07 September 12, 2026 at 1:00 PM

   Hi Andy great article as always . When talking about Michigan don’t forget about the Dany Cole made that catch game in the sugar bowl - cost us the game and it was Big 10 refs. Took them something like 10 minutes to find a reason to call it incomplete. Total BS.
2. 

   75nokehkey September 10, 2026 at 9:58 PM

   I’m wary of those new lights. I’ve seen stadium lights on tv games where the special effects seem to just turn off the lights after a touchdown. I’m sure it’s cool for those at the game but on tv - it just looks dark. Certainly don’t want that to happen to enter sandman. Maybe their lights are different and ours will look great on tv too.
3. 

   CoachSchoen22 September 10, 2026 at 7:20 AM

   How is that question to Dabo not a "gotcha" Andy? What's he supposed to say? "Aww shucks, yea, I regret my roster construction, oh darn."
4. 

   watermanmr September 9, 2026 at 10:39 PM

   “Lane’s walkin’ the streets at night….!” Hahaha. Solid
5. 

   VT GUY September 9, 2026 at 5:03 PM

   The most epic power ballad of all time is November Rain by Guns N Roses and it’s not even close. 😁
6. 

   Tallwino September 9, 2026 at 1:12 PM

   Greatest band ever: THE BEATLES!! Greatest rock band: The Rolling Stones! Period. Go Hokies!!
7. 

   hokie0611 September 9, 2026 at 8:21 AM

   With respect to Pop Watson and the UVA game, my guess is by that point in the season Montgomery and the rest of the interim staff just didn't have it in them to think that strategically and prep a backup to play significant minutes. Not sure last year's coaching staff was firing on all cylinders even before Pry was fired
   1. 

      Coattail Hokie September 9, 2026 at 11:44 AM

      I'll say it, both the Montgomery and Marve were terrible.
8. 

   SavannaHokie September 8, 2026 at 10:16 PM

   Next top 5 list: Top 5 schools that should be kicked out of their conference and forced to wander in the land of Nod.
   1. 

      jackofalltrades September 9, 2026 at 10:37 AM

      I like this one
   2. 

      InherentlyHokie September 9, 2026 at 11:22 AM

      Yes please
9. 

   VTKATT September 8, 2026 at 10:11 PM

   Life on Mars…Bowie
10. 

    md53355115 September 8, 2026 at 10:06 PM

    Can we name just name this column "The Bitter End"?
11. 

    Hokie Nutz September 8, 2026 at 9:53 PM

    Andy.....as a man of a similar age as you, how could you exclude ANY song by one of the greatest hair bands of our generation: White Snake. "Is this love?" Is a true slow down power ballad that should be in the top 5 especially over Firehouse. And while not a power ballad, how do you not get any more epic than "Still of the Night". Sure "Here I go again" gets all the accolades and we all had that Tawny Kitaen poster on our wall growing up, but Still of the Night had it ALL: - Epic guitar solos - David Coverdale vocals that would make Bruce Dickenson jealous - the breakdown in the middle with the synthesizers and bowed electric guitars is chef's kiss It may not a true power ballad, but this is your home run hitter that defined that genre. I said what I said... #PlantingMyFlag
12. 

    ngahokie September 8, 2026 at 9:48 PM

    Progressive metal has the best ballads. A couple of great examples...... Opeth The Baying of the Hounds Porcupine Tree- Anaesthetize.
    1. 

       VT_Consul September 9, 2026 at 12:47 PM

       You just made those up.
13. 

    kpileski September 8, 2026 at 9:24 PM

    In the spirit of NFL kickoff weekend, next random ranking: Top 5 Vikings’ quarterbacks
14. 

    knapnhokie September 8, 2026 at 9:18 PM

    Power ballad or ballad from rocker? How about “More than Words” by Extreme
    1. 

       Andy Bitter September 8, 2026 at 11:23 PM

       A classic.
       1. 

          knapnhokie September 11, 2026 at 10:48 AM

          One or two more Steelheart “I’ll Never Let you Go” and Slaughter “Fly to the Angels”
15. 

    Boblope September 8, 2026 at 8:48 PM

    More power ballad candidates: Cinderella (2): You Don’t Know What You Got, (Til It’s Gone), Nobody’s Fool Tesla (2): Love Song. What You Give KISS: Beth Warrant: Heaven
    1. 

       Sloth September 9, 2026 at 10:59 AM

       I came to the comments just to make sure Cinderella and "Nobody's Fool" got some recognition - an all-time favorite. Saw Tom Kiefer in Roanoke back in June and he can still belt it at 65!
16. 

    Vtskier1 September 8, 2026 at 8:25 PM

    Random ranking suggestion… top characters you see in the stands at football games…..
17. 

    Nortazhokie September 8, 2026 at 8:24 PM

    For the power ballad, I do really like Love of a Lifetime by Firehouse, but Still Loving You by the Scorpions is very high on my list.
18. 

    HokieVT1984 September 8, 2026 at 8:07 PM

    Plus, Andy, a bit of trivia for ya, Love of a lifetime, sung by my good friend Bill Leverty of Firehouse, they are from Richmond VA, and Bill was my fraternity brother at TKE, at the barn on Ramble Road 1983. So yup, he is a Hokie, and the band plays on for them. They still sound great!!
    1. 

       6Hokies September 8, 2026 at 9:39 PM

       Never knew this! Did he have a band in Blacksburg? Wondering if I would have seen them on the local scene...not that there was much one. I was there from 80-85.
19. 

    HokieVT1984 September 8, 2026 at 8:06 PM

    Plus, Andy, a bit of trivia for ya, Love of a lifetime, sung by my good friend Bill Leverty of Firehouse, they are from Richmond VA, and Bill was my fraternity brother at TKE, at the barn on Ramble Road 1983. So yup, he is a Hokie, and the band plays on for them. They still sound great!!
20. 

    PFHokie September 8, 2026 at 8:06 PM

    Andy, your choice of music... I have nothing but distain for the power ballad.
    1. 

       Andy Bitter September 8, 2026 at 8:20 PM

       I mean, it’s not the *only* music I like.
    2. 

       VT_Consul September 9, 2026 at 10:28 AM

       How much disdain do you have for bad spelling?
21. 

    Andy Bitter September 8, 2026 at 7:43 PM

    Oh, man, I forgot a great one: "High Enough" by Damn Yankees. We need more rock supergroups these days.
    1. 

       Andy Bitter September 8, 2026 at 7:44 PM

       This should probably be at least No. 5 on my list.
22. 

    Durham Hokie September 8, 2026 at 7:28 PM

    Bama plays Kentucky this weekend not FSU
    1. 

       Andy Bitter September 8, 2026 at 7:38 PM

       Yeah, meant to say FSU's next game, which is in two weekends.
23. 

    NokieHokie September 8, 2026 at 7:25 PM

    Dabo is a P.O.S. hypocrite fraud. I hope his arrogance takes Clemson down with him.
24. 

    GO_HOKIES_GO September 8, 2026 at 7:16 PM

    Really looking forward to the ODU game to see if the trends from VMI carry through with an upgrade in opponent. As for power ballads, my favorite is “Roll with the Changes" which was released on REO Speedwagon's 1978 album You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish.
    1. 

       spudman September 8, 2026 at 8:06 PM

       One of the best album names ever
25. 

    Tidewater Hillbilly September 8, 2026 at 6:44 PM

    You gotta go way back to get the really good stuff!... 1. Angie or Wild Horses by The Rolling Stones 2. More Than a Feeling or Amanda by Boston 3. Somebody to Love or Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen 4. Hard Habit to Break or You're the Inspiration by Chicago 5. Come Sail Away or Lady by Styx 6. Don't Stop Believing or Open Arms by Journey 7. All My Love or Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin Rock On!
    1. 

       GoFightingGobblers September 8, 2026 at 8:29 PM

       Now you're in my era!
    2. 

       ancient alien 2018 September 8, 2026 at 11:54 PM

       Thank you!! I've never heard of any of Bitter's, or any others, ever. Nothing better to listen to no matter what type of song, is a good 12 hour Zepathon, or 3 days of "The Dead". Damn, I'm older than dirt!!
26. 

    jkc327 September 8, 2026 at 6:35 PM

    actually thought the cell service was noticeably better. Was able to text my son on the other side of the stadium the entire first half without issue.
27. 

    VTBuck20 September 8, 2026 at 6:08 PM

    Bobby Knight Ranger. That's hilarious. Love how they throw the chairs at the end 😅
28. 

    89gEEk September 8, 2026 at 5:40 PM

    Hey Andy, I think "prompting the never-retrained Lane Kiffin" should be "never restrained"? Although both are true.
29. 

    GoneFishin Hokie September 8, 2026 at 5:35 PM

    Nope... all the good rock was gone by the 80's. 10, in no particular order: Back Sabbath - Paranoid (I actually prefer War Pigs, but Paranoid was more popular and a good song) AC DC - Highway to Hell Deep Purple - My Woman from Tokyo (never a fan of Smoke on the Water) Derek & the Dominos - Layla Led Zeppelin - Black Dog or Whole Lotta Love, take your pick Aerosmith - A BUNCH, but I'm picking Walk ths Way Jim Hendrix Experience - Purple Haze Big Brother and the Holding Company, starring Janis, - Piece o' my Heart The Who - Won't get Fooled Again ZZ Top - LA Grange Edgar Winter - Frankenstein I don't know that there are many bands after the early 80's that I listened to. I saw The Dead twice, but was never a huge fan... my favorite band of all time, and IMO, a much better jam band is Little Feat, excellent with Lowell George, but some of their best stuff came later. JMO
    1. 

       hokiesteve01 September 8, 2026 at 6:09 PM

       Nailed it!!!
    2. 

       spudman September 8, 2026 at 8:10 PM

       Love War Pigs and pretty much any Allman Brothers or Dead song
    3. 

       ancient alien 2018 September 8, 2026 at 11:55 PM

       Absolutely!!!! Great list!!
30. 

    RoanokeGobbler September 8, 2026 at 5:24 PM

    Top five songs with long instrumental solos. Think: Tom Sawyer November rain Dazed and confused Do you feel like we do Sweet child of mine
    1. 

       proudhokie2001 September 8, 2026 at 5:51 PM

       What about foreplay longtime by Boston?
    2. 

       theposey September 8, 2026 at 7:04 PM

       Sultan of Swing - Dire Straits
       1. 

          HokiePilot September 8, 2026 at 7:59 PM

          Let us not forget "Free Bird" which should be #1 on the list. Got to be the best guitar solo of all, but Sultan of Swing is a strong contender.
          1. 

             VicDrit September 8, 2026 at 10:41 PM

             100
    3. 

       DADEC52 September 9, 2026 at 9:09 AM

       Lou Reed "Sweet Jane" and the intro!
    4. 

       pgaiser1 September 9, 2026 at 2:25 PM

       Chicago - 25 or 6 to 4
31. 

    ColoVT82 September 8, 2026 at 5:20 PM

    Hard to beat Ann Wilson.... As many of you know, I watched the plane hit the Pentagon. From up close. A sight, sound and feeling thru the ground I cannot forget. And I was supposed to be in that wedge for a mtg early in the afternoon that day.
32. 

    hokies5007 September 8, 2026 at 5:06 PM

    On a 9/11 note, I highly recommend the book The Only Plane in the Sky by Garrett Graff. It’s a tough read in parts but really covers the experiences of that day from a bunch of different angles. Journey has to be in the running whenever we’re talking power ballads
33. 

    `lag September 8, 2026 at 5:04 PM

    Yeah, had a buddy, Khang Nguyen, at the Pentagon seriously don't know if they ever found any DNA. Smoke was curling up there for weeks and this was after I had returned from an overseas trip. His name is on one of those benches just outside the Pentagon. Weird living in a city like DC w/all the statues to Civil War heros, Founding fathers, writers etc. that if you live long enough you might even end up knowing one of those people who have been memorialized. Twenty-five years, time flies.
    1. 

       hokies5007 September 8, 2026 at 5:11 PM

       Thanks for sharing! His son is in the documentary Turning Point: Generation 9/11 on Netflix. He seemed like a great man and his son seems like a great young man too!
       1. 

          `lag September 8, 2026 at 5:21 PM

          Are you serious? (yes, of course you are) I was around when an (ahn?) was born, so yeah, being a little funny her but I've met him. I've got a picture I might want to give him, Khang and I standing in front of the Imperial Palace in Japan, we were there for work.