Miami probably just wants an audience when they sweep Tech by a combined score of 20-2.
Just kidding...but not about the eminent sweep, though!
I think it is ludicrous for Miami to bring extra security. The despicable murderer is dead, and quite honestly, Blacksburg would probably be the safest place around right now. Extra security makes the Thugicanes look not only scared, but insensitive.
Graham appears to be the Rodney Dangerfield of Southwest Virginia football: "don't get no respect". Less than they should, at least.
BigD is exactly right. Graham held Richlands to 33, I believe it was. Likwise, I believe that's the closest game Richlands has played.
Let's also look at precedent, shall we? Graham played Tazewell twice this year, both at Tazewell. Graham lost the first 7-6, won the second 41-0. I believe Graham has improved a WEE bit since that game. Last year, Richlands beat Graham 30-0 in the regular season, and Graham came within 59 seconds of forcin' overtime in the sequel. This year, unless I'm mistaken, Graham won 33-9. This Friday's game, in my opinion, will be closer than that.
Richlands better come prepared to play a hungry, hot Graham team that could upset them if they look past this game. Graham's defense will be pumped coming off the shutout. Also, I think last year's game will fuel their hopes even more for an upset. I don't believe Richlands overlooks Graham, though, and so, I believe Richlands will win a classic.
I don't believe you can honestly go up to the DCI bands...competitive marching bands...and tell them that marching band is not a sport. They spend 12-14 hours a day rehearsing drill in the summertime heat on turf fields reaching 140 degrees at times. It takes a high level of physical maintenance to perform at this level for the 92-day season.
Likewise, even playing the instrument is becoming more and more a physiological science. Athletes utilize at a maximum sixty percent of their available lung capacity. Professional musicians, and those in competitive marching bands, train to optimize their lung capacity in order to expel air through the instrument while marching, and some of the best, notably a tuba player named Patrick Sheridan, have reached a point in which they can utilize 95% of their total lung power.
Any kid can get out there on the field and march and play. Will they ever achieve their optimum potential without training? No. Same goes with football. If a kid goes out on the field, he will never reach his full potenital. Marching band now is reaching a trend in which the ones who really care are beginning to train more like athletes. Therefore, I strongly disagree to anyone who says marching band is not a sport. Just like football, it is definitely a sport if one expects to compete/play at a high level.
Graham hasn't been truly competitive (and by that, I mean, having a legitimate shot to win the Southwest District) since 1991, which by my recollection, is the last time Graham played for the district title. Graham has had more raw talent than other teams, especially the team two years ago, but it hasn't been cultivated 'cause Campbell does not work with his players on any facet of the game. A 10-year-old can set up a pitchin' machine and hit fungo all day. That accomplishes nothin'. The guys on that team have always have, and will, work as hard as Campbell pushes 'em. Tazewell, Richlands, and Carroll County will work harder. I've seen it. Obviously, you've played with your teammates all through little league up to high school. In fact, most everyone does that. Therefore, that's not that much of an advantage. Graham will not be competitive within the district, nor will it until Campbell is gone. It's that simple.
There is only one team in the Coastal Division better than what it was last year, and that's Georgia Tech. Honestly, without Reggie Ball and Calvin Johnson, that team is easily 8-4/7-5. The Atlantic division is quite strong, though. Only Florida state is "down", and I'd take their "down year" right now, since Virginia is starin' down the barrel at 4-8, at VERY best, and I think, 3-9.
Virginia Tech is certainly not as good this year as last, for sure. Tyrod Taylor will be a beast, I believe, and for their sake, I hope they do get ahead enough to give him a chance.
Miami lost their invincibility for years in the Peach Bowl last year. I haven't seen a team get whipped like that in a while, and they flat out quit last year in that game. They're still athletic, and I think Coker will have his boys ready for Tech; I also believe they'll have a chip on their shoulders from this fight the rest of the year.
On the fight, it was a complete disgrace. Miami's thugs and FIU's lesser thugs totally embarrassed themselves. You used to see that kind of anger taken out during the play with monster hits, great blocks, and great tacklin', maybe a fist pump after you made a big play. The punishment definitely does not fit the crime. 1 player withheld from Miami and the rest on a one game suspension, which they'll serve against Duke, nonetheless. That's pathetic; Miami's practice squad could beat Duke. I think the ACC/NCAA should send a message, and dismiss all players involved for the remainder of the season, postseason included. That action was a shameful one, especially to Miami, with its history, and this one will take a long time to wear off in people's minds.
First, this game is in Coral Gables against a Miami team that always seems to play Tech close, and I do believe Miami holds the edge over Tech, but I'm not a Big East historian, so I may be wrong.
Second, I don't think Virginia Tech has the athletes to compete with Miami. When both teams are equally well coached, athleticism often makes the difference.
Third, Miami will have all its players back (it appears very likely with today's Miami/ACC joint action), so the brawl will have little ramifications.
Fourth, Coker's job will be hangin' by a thread by this time, and I believe the team gives an overwhelmin' performance.
That's exactly my gripe. There was too much preferential treatment of Brooks because he was a Butkus finalist and All-American. If Groh were really just and fair, he'd hold his players, regardless of the depth chart, equal.
Hindsight's 20-20 in Bradshaw's case. There is no doubt Groh would've kept him had he known the situation now would be as dire as it is. I hope Groh learns a lesson and at least gives some of his unproven talent a second chance when they mess up.
If Bradshaw had been Ahmad Brooks, he would've been given a second chance, as Ahmad had several chances to change his ways, and couldn't. I think very strong disciplinary action was needed for Bradshaw, but kickin' him out I think was a step too far, especially since he would've been redshirted anyway, most likely. Losin' him hurts, more than we could've seen in the past, 'cause he could've been the first true runnin' back we've had since Alvin Pearman.
There are several reasons UVA is havin' their worse season since 1981. They are, in order of importance:
1. Bad coaches
I honestly believe I could create a gameplan that Mike Groh. I am not sarcastic when I say it. Anyone who has seen a game of high school/college football knows that on 3rd-and-2, the team will run a vast majority of the time; yet, I see a soft zone coverage played again and again, allowin' back after back to get 4 and 5 yards to convert third downs. Likewise, we play the 3-4 zone, a soft zone that came to notice last year with very limited success.
Last year, we had the athletes at linebacker to make this moderately (6-5) successful. This year, we lost Parham and Brooks, and we kept the same stinkin' scheme instead of switchin' to a 4-3 to take some pressure off the linebackers. On offense, we have the most unimaginative play callin' I have seen since Graham in the early 90s. 1st down: run with our fullback (who is faster/stronger than our tailbacks, which is again, a problem) for 2 yards. 2nd down: swing pass to Ogletree (either dropped or caught for 2 yards gain). 3rd down: throw 5 yard out pass for a 5 yard gain, leavin' us with a 4th and 3/4th and 1, which Groh never has the guts to go for (twice yesterday had 4th and inches, and decidin' to punt). Since I can give you a rundown of the average Virginia drive, the opposition coaches can plan for this far infinitely better than I can. Our coaches seldom deviate from this formula which makes us predictable, and stupid, frankly, for not throwin' any variety into a formula which does not work.
2. Bad recruitin':
Beamer slaughters Virginia year in, year out in in-state recruitin'. Virginia traditionally does fairly well in the Richmond area and mediocre in northern Virginia. Beamer cleans house in southeastern and southwestern Virginia. Virginia, therefore, is forced to look outside (mainly to New Jersey and Pennsylvania} to lock up the recruits Penn State didn't want. So, Virginia Tech hits the gold mine, Penn State hits jackpot, and Virginia gets the 7th best class in the ACC year-in, year-out.
3. Player flaws:
Two parts here:
A. Some just don't peter out, and that has been the case with many of the few five-star prospects we get. Michael Johnson was a great five-star recruit, and had absolutely horrible field-vision and no power. Kai Parham did fair, but did not live up to expectations. Eugene Monroe currently looks incredibly slow, and it doesn't look as if he's utilizing speed drills as Brandon Albert is, per se.
B. The players now just seem to give up when they get down, especially the offensive line. Look at the Maryland game this last weekend. Virginia is up by 20 in the third quarter, Byers muffs a punt, and the world tumbles after a muffed punt, a pick-6, and no effort to tackle Lewis on a sweep. The Western Michigan game was the same way: that team came out and hit us in the mouth, and we folded. Pittsburgh as well. The players also have an incredible knack for playin' under their potential. Gould has punted the ball progressively worse every game. Emmanuel Byers has muffed more kicks than any return man should. The offensive line is atrocious with the exception of Brandon Albert, who could be another D'Brickashaw Ferguson. Ogletree drops more passes than anyone I've ever seen. The secondary is very susceptible to the big play, hence Calvin Johnson catchin' 3 passes for 151 yards.
The situation is just a mess right now, and I believe I'm fairly accurate, 'cause I've been to all home games and most away games. It's a mess right now, and I just hope we don't embarrass ourselves against North Carolina Thursday night.
Yes, I'm sure the title of this post has "Richlands and Salem" in it. I'm also sure that there's another thread discussin' this. I'm also quite sure we should leave this thread for Christiansburg-Salem commentary, lest we get everyone's blood boilin' once again.
I was talkin' 'bout the program self destructin', not Sam. I wouldn't doubt it a bit to see him successful up in Wheeling, he certainly helped the modest Graham teams of the late '80s/early '90s compete in the Southwest District.
Can't say it any better than that. Been there, and it's all true.
When McKinney left in 1991 (I think it was), Graham baseball fell flat on its face, and it's been down for the count ever since. The Little League program is fairly good, but the learnin' curve stops there; there is little teaching and no conditioning in middle/high school, and it's killin' Graham in baseball. One day, maybe...
Ringstaff did make the team at UVA, but at the moment, he's little more than practice squad material. He hasn't seen the field yet, else I've missed him, since I've been at every game. I've heard that he's third on the depth chart for fullback. Traditionally, fullbacks at UVA seldom get playing time, Jason Snelling bein' an exception since he can outperform our tailbacks. Likewise, he just doesn't have the size to compete as a fullback at the I-A college level. It took an incredible amount of heart to go out there, give everythin' he had, and make the team, and I wish him nothin' but the best, but I believe his on-field will be highly limited, if at all, though I hope I'm wrong.
You're right. The Massey ratings have Salem ranked eighth in the state, with Richlands twentieth. Home-field deviation does not account for too much in that poll. Therefore, Salem would win, most likely. I'd say by 17 points, 37-20.
Also, to an earlier comment that Richlands could beat anyone in the state...that is a ridiculous statement to make. Landstown would put up a basketball-like score on them, as would C.D. Hylton, etc. There's a mighty strength in numbers.
However, you said, "IF they make the playoffs" and "bow out quietly", and I was refutin' those statements. Yes, Bluefield has the 2004 state title. However, there have been at two seasons, 2001 and 2003, where Graham was beaten by the state champion, and 2005 was beaten by the state runner-up. Bluefield was beaten *twice* by the state champion, 2002 and 2003, I believe. Both are strong teams, both have lost in huge games, neither would bow out quietly. Some similarities to note, my friend.
"The Beavs lost last years first game to Graham and still went on to the title game(yes and lost, but they wre there) and we're sure that will happen again while the G-Men IF they do make VA playoffs will bow out quitely like the many many years past."
Not exactly.
2005: 19-13 loss to an undefeated (at the time) Richlands team in the Region IV Finals
2003: 34-22 loss to state champion Gretna (lowest point total for Grenta that season, Graham overcame a 27-0 deficit to get to 27-22)
2002: 21-14 loss to Grundy in Region IV final
2001: 24-10 loss to Harrisonburg in AA Division 3 state title game
1998: 42-7 loss to Rustburg in state semifinals (with a team very much like Bluefield's last year)
Also, have registered playoff appearances every year since 1997 (and Graham was 7-3 that season), which Bluefield cannot itself claim.
Therefore, I must respectfully disagree with your thinly-veiled, arrogant jab at Graham.
And yet again, I hate to see Virginia get a cakewalk opponent in this stinkin' conference challenge. Wasn't Purdue dead last in the Big Ten a year ago? Also, we lose no one. Well, we lose Billy Campbell. No one that mattered, anyway...
Groh gives the men here a fightin' chance to prove themselves, and if they show heart and grit, they do get a chance to play.
However, I do strongly question how much he'll get to play. He has Snelling, Peerman, and Pearman (Alvin's younger brother) ahead of him on the depth charts, and a fourth-string back doesn't see the field too often. I was at the spring game here, and I did not hear his name nor number called. Still, he'll probably have to wait his turn behind three fair backs.
The savin' grace in all this might be that this year is not lookin' like UVA's finest. Quarterback questions, losin' three players (Brooks and Hamilton the two big names), and a new offensive and defensive line don't bode well for UVA. Ringstaff very well may get his share of reps this season as Groh experiments with different packages. I wish him the best in everythin' he does: may he stay healthy, and God willin', get a shot to get out there and show everyone what he's got.
Graham's defense is weak. It has been since I've been able to remember, and havin' played on some of those teams, that's been my biggest complaint. It's offense is *finally* comin' around, which keeps them in, and wins, their games. The pitchin' is fair...you shouldn't give up 10 runs to Bluefield, but if you can score 11, that's all that matters. Defense will be their undoin' this season, as it has been in the past.
Although, this Graham team has found ways to win, unlike the Graham teams for the past 15 or so years. They're not losin' the one-run games anymore. They're managin' to pull out these 11-10, 5-4 games, and especially in the final at-bats. This team could easily be 7-6, but they've managed to go 10-3 thus far (correct me if I'm wrong). On the teams I was on, we'd lose games 3-1, 4-3...the close ones, that is.
However, This team could very well sneak into the district finals, dependin' on how Carroll County finishes, for the first time in I don't know how long, and they just may possibly crack the region tournament due to an overall weak Southwest District.
Richlands is good. Not great, not excellent, but good. Grayson County made them look easy, and Abingdon made it look like a cakewalk, but Abingdon's done that to most everyone thus far. Richlands will win district, no question in my mind, but I think they're out in Round 1 of region. Again, these are my thoughts...enjoy!
I believe Graham's a year off from another district title, personally. Give Cole another year to mature, and another year to that two-back tandem, and I think great things could happen in 2007. Richlands is my pick this year, though, with Graham not far behind 'em. I give Grundy the 3rd spot, 'cause I just can't see another 2-8 season out of them. Tazewell and Carroll County round out the five. Again, everyone's 0-0, and will be 'til the mud flies in August.
UVA is 14-10, and 7-6 in the ACC, good enough for fifth (ACC record better than Maryland, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, Miami, all those schools who were supposed to be REALLY good this year), so don't knock us quite THAT fast. I reiterate CONTINUALLY that UVA has played BOTH teams, and Redick had BY FAR the best performanceof the two against us. Not to mention, UVA was by far WORSE at the beginnin' of the season when we played Gonzaga than in January when we played Duke. J.J. Redick has not stumbled much, and he didn't stumble when Georgetown gave them their ONLY loss. He had 41 points! Overhyped? I think NOT. I'd love to see Duke thrash Gonzaga in the Elite Eight just to show the nation how much better Redick is than Morrison.
I'm just sayin' that Virginia is one of only two schools in America that has played against both Gonzaga and Duke. Morrison beat a Virginia team that was in dire straits in Washington by 11. Duke single-handedly lit up a streakin' Virginia team in Durham by scorin' 41 of Duke's 81 points.
Again, havin' watched both games closely, Redick far-more impressed me. He's a fantastic pure shooter; in that game against us, he didn't even have to have a good look; when he hits shots from 22 feet with a defender right in his face, what can ya do? He hit his first nine shots that way.
I think Morrison is overrated, yes. I think part of it is the Bird-esque peach fuzz under his nose. I think part of it is that Gonzaga is in the almighty West Coast Conference, where they are a bass in a minnow pond. I think part of it is that he gets his 30 point games against the likes of Santa Clara and Pepperdine, while Redick gets his against North Carolina (27 in that one, I think), Virginia (41, don't remind me), and Maryland (27). Even on a down year for the ACC (five tourney teams maximum), it's far superior to that cupcake conference (2nd place Loyola Marymount is a massive 11-14 overall, and Gonzaga beat 'em by 9).
Thus, I find Redick has proven himself, while I believe that Adam Morrison is suspect. Take it as you wish.
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Miami Baseball Team Adding Extra Security for Trip to VT
in College and Pro Sports
Posted
Miami probably just wants an audience when they sweep Tech by a combined score of 20-2.
Just kidding...but not about the eminent sweep, though!
I think it is ludicrous for Miami to bring extra security. The despicable murderer is dead, and quite honestly, Blacksburg would probably be the safest place around right now. Extra security makes the Thugicanes look not only scared, but insensitive.