I don't necessarily know if this blogger speaks on behalf of many Clemson fans, but he had some interesting things to say about what he wants his Clemson team to look like:
I don't know how in the world Tebow keeps winning but he does. All I have to say is Tebow is terrible and when the Broncos D goes back to being terrible, Tebow goes too. Broncos should've just kept Orton. Tebow sells tickets and gets the Broncos on SportsCenter, and he's beaten some bad teams (minus the Jets) but he sucks.
I don't see the Broncos D going "back to being terrible" anytime soon. So why not just stick with Tebow? I think we have a strong enough sample size at this point to say that if you give Tebow a chance to win a ball game, he'll do it.
The Hokies have been almost great for so long that they're easy to forget about. But Beamer and those guys are consistently consistent. This should be a heck of a game. Bud Foster trying to slow down Sammy Watkins & Co. When a fancy team like Clemson starts losing, it's fun to see whether it rights the ship or drowns, and if it does right it against a tough-minded, Beamer-coached squad out for revenge, it'll be quite a trick. The ACC title doesn't mean anything, but beating VT twice in one year would.
I think "consistently consistent" is a good way to describe VT football. Thoughts?
here is the thing if you do not want to read about it why do you click it you know what the disscussion is so if you end up having to read something you do not want to see anymore it is your own fault.
Here is the thing. If you do not want to read about it, why do you click it? You know what the discussion is, so if you end up having to read something you do not want to see anymore it is your own fault.
If Tebow was doing this with the Hokies...would people here be as critical?
Logan Thomas kind of is, right? Putting up mediocre to bad passing numbers but still getting wins.
So the answer is no. Virginia Tech fans would probably defend Tebow like we defend Thomas if he played for VT, and we wouldn't be near as critical. But then again, doesn't that come with the territory? I mean, come on. Observer even defended Michael Rocco for a while.
I think what kills LBJ, is that he has had to handle the majority of the load his entire career, so he was getting really tired late in the season. Anyone who watches the NBA knows he Was the Cavs. And I think he handled much of the load last year as well, simply because they hadn't worked together long. So in year two, I expect the three to coexist well, and gel a little better, which should produce a ring in June.
The Heat still don't have a point guard. Don't overlook that.
I said it in the chat box and I'll say it again here just so it's archived. The Miami Heat will lose in the first round of the playoffs to the New York Knicks. Chris Bosh will (unfairly) be the fall guy again, and will be traded next offseason.
And I'll take the Lakers to win it all as much as I hate to say it. They've somehow become the sleeper team, but last time I checked, they still had Kobe Bryant who has enough left in the tank for a killer short season, as well as a talented team around him.
Maybe there is a reason for this...one you always seem to avoid...
I think you missed the thesis of Observer's post. Regardless of wins and losses, the garish lampooning that VT fans inflict on our neighbors up the highway a little ways is completely counter to the culture that Virginia Tech hoped would come post-April 16th. And to think that the mockery is simply based on football... Yes, I like the sport. But the tribalism and barbarianism that it elicits is something that is unnecessary and off-putting. It seems like now is the time that we, as a sports/entertainment-loving society, put the games we love into perspective.
If that happens, maybe it will finally force college football to do what it needs to do, and that's institute a playoff, whether it be a plus one or something else. There's no reason we should be trying to decide this off the field. Every other major sport decides the championship on the playing field. Saying the regular season serves as a playoff obviously doesn't work as well as the BCS says it does, or we wouldn't be discussing it.
Yeah, you're exactly right. There have been many possible situations given by sports writers, NCAA execs, etc. who propose a playoff that also keeps the current BCS bowls as rich as they're used to. And I can't have this conversation without reminding everyone that there are NCAA Division I teams that have a playoff already. It's called the FCS, and it seems to work pretty well.
The NC title game will be played on Jan 9th if I'm not mistaken. That's 43 days away. Nick Saban has proven time and time again that if you give him that kind of time to prepare his team he is deadly. It also gives the players time to heal those nagging injuries after the long grind of the SEC season, and Bama has a few players who would benefit. I understand the anti-Bama sentiment here by some of you, and I understand the argument against a rematch between LSU and Alabama. But those of you who say Bama has no chance are delusional. Did you even watch the first game? Bama outplayed LSU, and should have won had it not been for an inept field goal kicker. Bama would LOVE another shot at LSU, and I think they deserve it. They are the best team left standing by a long shot, and all of you know it regardless of your bias against a rematch. Roll Tide!
I totally agree with you here. But I think the question comes down to which argument is stronger; the argument against having a rematch (remember, the BCS kind of set a precedent of no rematches when they didn't let OSU and Michigan play each other a couple years back) or the argument of actually putting the best two teams in the game?
Blueinbama, you may be right as to what you say, but I think you, as an Alabama fan, should prepare yourself just in case the BCS again shows how bass-ackward it really is. Because I think 'Bama is about to get screwed.
I haven't said much about this game because I didn't think it deserved the hype. UVA is still two or three years from being truly competitive, and yesterday was an example of that. To me, it seemed pretty obvious that Tech would come away with a win simply because we have more talent. But I never would have seen us putting up a shut out. Great showing by the Hokies.
I voted RGIII. I think he's done enough to make the voters take notice. Any chance David Wilson gets an invite to New York? That in itself would be a great accomplishment for DW and Virginia Tech.
If you'd told me in September that UVA would be 8-3 and ranked, and would be playing Virginia Tech on 11/26 for a trip to the ACCCG, I'd have slapped you. Since UVA stopped that crazy "rotate-the-QBs" experiment after NC State, they haven't lost. How does a team come back from a 4-8 season to go 4-1 ON THE ROAD?! Not to mention, sweeping the state of Florida when they hadn't won a game in Florida before 2007. The 2nd half of this season has just been a magic carpet ride, and I want to know what an ACCCG feels like.
What Virginia Must Do to Win
1. Get traction running the ball. UVA's not going to win a 2nd game by rushing for under 100 yards. Then again, FSU's rushing defense is 3rd in the nation. That's really what they do. Virginia Tech's is 13th, giving up 104 yards per game. This is going to be another week that UVA cannot afford to dance in the backfield. Were it me, a steady does of Clifton Richardson would suffice.
2. Be proficient in the intermediate passing game. This is where UVA dominated FSU last night, but it's not an area where UVA's particularly adept. We have the WRs (Tim Smith, Kris Burd) to make it happen: good hands guys that have underrated speed. UVA may need to pass to set up the run in this game, against a VT defense that can be caught napping.
3. Make Logan Thomas win it. You know my thoughts about Thomas. Reid's going to have to dial up heavy pressure not only to stop the run, but force the pass. Thomas has shown inability much of the time to throw accurately while under pressure. If Thomas is ~55% completion, where he's been for most of the season, it won't be enough. He needs ~65%.
4. Avoid special teams mistakes. This is UVA's Achilles' heel. Perry Jones did nothing short of a horrific job returning punts, even fielding one in the end zone. It is imperative that UVA does not make these sorts of mistakes. One miscue can lead to the deciding touchdown.
What Virginia Tech Must Do to Win
1. Ride the horse that got you there. That's David Wilson. He's the ACC's leading rusher for a reason: pressure over time. If UVA's giving the run, VT needs to exploit it. UVA's rushing defense is 28th nationally, and was gashed for 180 yards against FSU. A similar performance would be disastrous. Wilson needs about 30 carries for VT to have a strong chance.
2. Grab some big plays. Opponents have torched UVA for big gains this season. Even FSU had gains of 57 and 68 yards. This comes down to Logan Thomas. He's going to have to step up and make 1 or 2 to give VT a greater chance at winning. The big plays are there, VT just has to take advantage.
3. Get up and pull away. If you let UVA stay within a score, as you saw last night, they will make you pay. No team has beaten UVA by more than 14 points this year. VT can take a clue from NC State, who in beating UVA, kept a 2-score pace the entire second half. VT's going to have to answer UVA when UVA scores.
4. Special teams. For all the talk of "Beamerball", it's not really shown itself much. This is just the special teams unit to exploit, one that doesn't know it's ass from a hole in the ground most of the time. A blocked punt/kick, a fumbled punt, could be the difference in the game.
Applicable Statistics
Total Defense: VT-12th, UVA-25th
Rushing Defense: VT-13th, UVA-28th
Passing Defense: VT-35th, UVA-50th
Total Offense: VT-37th, UVA-42nd
Rushing Offense: VT-26th, UVA-40th
Passing Offense: VT-71st, UVA-60th
Scoring Defense: VT-10th, UVA-28th
Scoring Offense: VT-51st, UVA-76th
Turnover Margin: VT-27th, UVA-63rd
Prediction?
Pain.
Just kidding. UVA's a much different team in the last 4 weeks than in the 7 weeks before, and I attribute that the the QB rotation ending. Since the NC State game, UVA's been one of the more consistent teams in the ACC, whereas much of the conference has been helter-skelter in its play. That includes VT: a 3-point comeback against Miami, 3-point referee-assisted win against UNC, and a 4-point kicker-assisted win against Duke. But VT just keeps winning.
Until Saturday.
Virginia-31, Virginia Tech-17.
Not bad analysis. I still think you undervalue Logan Thomas, but that's just me. As far as this game goes, I don't know where 48 total points are going to come from. I think first to 20 points will win it, so I'm going to predict 20-17 VT.
The other thing about this game is that we're dangerously close to "Chokie" levels. This is the perfect game for that little moniker to make its ugly return.
Yep, great work by UVA tonight. This is a team that if you let them hang around, they'll beat you. I'm personally terrified going into next week. We've had a ton of wins in a row now against them, and it looks like the tide is turning in the 'Hoos favor.
Oklahoma St. loosing to the unexpected Iowa St. football program puts a real stir in the BCS. LSU is still number 1 with a pretty commanding schedule left, Bama may just be moving back to number 2. Oregon is still in the mix. Looks to me if every team wins out itll be an LSU vs Bama or LSU vs Oregon rematch for the National title. My personal opinion I would like to see the Bama LSU rematch. Bama is hard to beat twice in one season but the Bayou Bengals under the Mad Hatter is IMO the 32nd NFL team. What do yall think
I have no strong feelings anyway as to what should happen. All I know is that whoever plays LSU (assuming they remain undefeated) will be controversial. Also, are we positive that LSU will stay undefeated? Who are they going to play in the SEC Championship?
Thanks! We couldn't have done it without the overwhelming bias from ESPN, John Swofford, ACC officials, and everyone else that can apparently decide the outcome of a game... other than the actual players.
Three thoughts, and only three thoughts, because if I say what I feel like saying, I will be permabanned. These will be my only comments.
1. This is quite possibly the worst officiating job that I have ever seen in my life. Only one other time in my life have I ever been upset about officiating like I am tonight, and that was at the 2005 Women's ACC Basketball Tournament. I've seen enough games to know when something's not right, and this game was obviously altered in the favor of VT. PI calls on balls literally 15 yards away. Obvious fumbles not reviewed. Phantom holds. Offensive PI when the WR was everything short of sodomized.
2. The ESPN telecast was unwatchable. Since this is a PG-13 site, I cannot tell you the scores of pornographic imagery that apply to the level of bias in favor of Virginia Tech. The Bachelor was praising Logan Thomas for AUDIBLING, the 1st and only time in the game he did (in the 3rd quarter). QBs learn to do that in high school, but Logan Thomas is surely the greatest quarterback in history for making a read that Mike Rocco makes 10-15 times per game.
3. If VT plays like this in 9 days, not only will the streak end, but it will end by double-digits.
I would say that I hope we can beat FSU, but knowing the ACC and its officiating mandates, the zebras will not allow us to win. It would interfere with what the ACC deems an appropriate championship game.
Hahaha, if all sports are equal at UVA, do you think Observer would make ridiculous rant posts about, say, a swim meet?
The ones that hate it are the ones who remember the days of Bird, Magic, Jordan, Ewing, Reggie Miller making everything from downtown, Celtics/Lakers, the Bulls, Knicks, and Pistons...great rivalries and great basketball!!! What it has evolved into today pales in comparison...
What, exactly was better about the Jordan/Bird/Magic era? Short shorts?
I just don't understand it. The league today has evolved into more talent per team than ever before. That means night in and night out, every team has to bring their A game. And all of you who say that no one plays defense today. It's funny that you block out Jordan et. al drifting through pretty much every January and February.
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ACC Championship Game
in College and Pro Sports
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I don't necessarily know if this blogger speaks on behalf of many Clemson fans, but he had some interesting things to say about what he wants his Clemson team to look like:
http://www.tigernet.com/blogs/plyler/?entry=virginia_tech