The Plane Ride Home

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, 9/6/2009 1:53 AM, Atlanta, GA

Virginia Tech players enter their charter plane in a somber mood after a tough loss to Alabama. Offensive Coordinator Bryan Stinespring slinks into his seat next to Running Backs Coach Billy Hite in the second row as others pass. The players find their seats, leaving the coaches alone.

Bryan Stinespring: Man that was a tough loss. We really almost had them there. What do you think went wrong Billy?

Billy Hite: Dagoneman I thank it mighta bin yer playcallin I do.

BS: What? How can that be? We racked up over 150 yards of offense!

Hite: Whoona hell thanks thass good? Thas nawt eevun great fura haff.

BS: Well how much did those Tide miscreants manage on offense for the game?

Hite: I reckon it wer bout fahve hunderrd er so. You might oughta do sumpim bout...(trails off, something about NRV superbowl)

BS: What are you talking about? No way. Bud wouldn’t have let that happen. Never in a million years. And we only got 150? Gosh I hope he’s not sore with me…

Plane door is kicked open…Bud Foster storms in.

Foster: SOMEBODY’S GONNA DIE TONIGHT!!! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU, STINESHIT?!

BS: Over here sir. (Raises hand meekly)

Foster: You wanna tell me what the hell happened back there? Seems to me my boys were on the field ALL DAMN NIGHT!

BS: Well we had a little trouble maintaining possession sir. We had a bunch of three-and-outs…

Foster: …well how the hell does that happen? Maybe if you ran some misdirection or some routes that WENT BEYOND THE DAMN FIRST DOWN MARKER WE WOULDN'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM!!!!!!

BS: Well I have an obligation to give up the run early in big games. That Terrance Cody kid was going to eat Ryan Williams for breakfast, lunch and dinner. He already took a chunk out of Beau Warren’s arm (points over his shoulder). They were getting punished out there.

Foster: Punished? PUNISHED?! You wanna see punishment? GET OVER HERE GOLDILOCKS!!!!!!!!

Starting Linebacker Jake Johnson Enters

JJ: YES SIR! YOU CALLED ME UP SIR?!

Foster: (calmly) Johnson. What happened on that screen pass to Ingram in the fourth quarter? How did he get past you?

JJ: I BIT ON THE RUN SIR! I WAS CAUGHT INSIDE!

Foster: Exactly right soldier. Do you know how I punish players that get caught inside on touchdowns?

JJ: NO SIR! NO IDEA SIR!

Foster: Well we’re gonna show Coach Stinespring how well we tolerate missed assignments…

Foster: RRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH (rips off Johnsons head, lifts it up by long blonde hair, drinks blood)

BS: (pees pants)

Foster: You see how we tolerate losers on defense? You’re lucky you have those pictures of Frank on that cruise, or you'd already be out of a job. You’re unlucky that you have nothing on me, and I'll do more than fire you.

BS: But I couldn’t help it! I think that Hightower kid’s a wizard! He turned Blake into stone tonight! Look!

Trainer Mike Goforth walks by wheeling a statue of right tackle Blake DeChristopher on a dolly

Foster: Good Lord…I’m so sick of your excuses. That’s absurd. Maybe if you’d call better game once in a while that kind of shit wouldn’t happen! You’re never gonna learn unless you get punished. FOSTER’S…AUSTRALIAN FOR FEAR BABY!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

BS: Oh God, oh God, oh God. I PROMISE we’ll be better next week. It’s Marshall, so we should get at least 200…

Foster: 200. 200 YARDS?! If you don’t put up AT LEAST 400 on those Thundering Turds, I’m mounting your ass on my wall. Literally. Next to Ronyell Whitaker’s. GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER.

Alabama Recap: Hokies fall to 0-1

I don’t think any of us can act super surprised this morning. Tech mixed a combination of pressure defense and a few special teams sparks to carry a 17-16 lead into the fourth quarter…and blew it. Our offensive line, which was supposed to be vastly improved…well…wasn’t. Ryan Williams was dynamic but made redshirt freshman mistakes at the same time. Bryan Stinespring couldn’t diagram a play to get his receivers some separation to save his life. The game was completely status quo. That being said, Alabama is a hell of a team, and it’s hard to feel terrible after hanging with a team like that for 3 ½ quarters (especially with little to no offense). Hats off to ‘Bama and Saban, and I hope they smack the hell out of Florida in the SEC Championship game. Here are some specific thoughts on last night:

• Jake Johnson had a very hot and cold game. He was very strong and an effective tackler at points, and confused and out of position at others. It seemed obvious to me that Johnson had never started a game in his career.
• Kam Chancellor let me down (a la my preview). He may have all the size and athleticism in the world, but until he can package that with consistency and heady play, he’s not going anywhere. He’s starting to remind me more and more of Aaron Rouse. I would say he had a hand in about 200 of Alabama’s (close to) 500 yards of offense.
• We have to tackle before we look for the big play. We had at least 20 missed tackles due to players going for the strip before trying to bring a player down. That being said, Cody Grimm has a free pass from now on to always try and force a turnover, because he’s damn good at it.
• ESPN commentary said nothing about the why Greg Nosal was in the game. That irks me. Nosal looked OK at points, and certainly better than Blake DeChristopher did in the last 10 minutes.
• Speaking of our starting right tackle, he won’t keep his spot long if he keeps looking like a statue when he “pass blocks.” ESPN caught him at least three times misreading blitzes and getting caught looking at guys just running by him.
• Our defensive line is damn good, and just had trouble when the linebackers broke down in the 4^th. Alabama got their yards when they got to the second level (which led to mistackles), but there were a lot of times that they didn’t have that chance to do that. Thanks to big John Graves, Cordarrow Thompson, and Antoine Hopkins. All three had great games.
• Tyrod didn’t look that bad. He didn’t rack stats up on the box score, but he didn’t make any dumb plays and took what the defense gave him (which was little to nothing). Stiney and the receivers take the blame in this one. Receivers for not getting separation in the secondary and Stiney for diagramming plays that a fourth grader can figure out pre-snap.
• Losing Greg Boone for the second half really didn’t help our offense at all.

Overall, Frank Beamer was right. We aren’t to Alabama’s level yet, and we need to pass block and not make stupid plays on special teams. Alabama has some of the most elite athletes in the country, and that won things for them in the 4^th quarter. If the Hokies want to stay in the national picture and win the ACC, they must learn from this game, and quickly, Marshall will be a welcome tune-up before Nebraska and Miami. Hopefully they can get things together before then. Here’s to finishing 13-1! Go Hokies.

Week One: Rammer Jammer Make 'em Eat That Yella Hammer

Ok, it’s game day…time to put up or shut up. I know this is a little late coming, but here’s what I think they keys to tonight’s game will be:

Alabama will win the game if:

• Julio Jones and Javier Arenas run wild. The Hokie defensive secondary must do their best to contain Jones, and Kam Chancellor will probably shadow him quite a bit. If Jones goes crazy or Arenas breaks some big kick returns, the Hokies will be in trouble.
• The defense rattles Tyrod early. If he’s going to show he improved, he’s got to do it early, so if ‘Bama can force an early turnover or a bunch of three-an-outs, they’ll have a big advantage. That’s a very realistic possibility.
• They pass protect. Jason Worilds and Cordarrow Thompson will have a big day if the Tide offensive line cannot deal with their pass rush. Worilds is an elite talent and will have a big day if he rattles new starter Greg McElroy early.

Virginia Tech will win the game if:

• Tyrod Taylor can use his legs and arm to free up the run for the Williams/Wilson/Oglesby trio. If the passing game is nonexistent, the Hokies have no prayer of trying to run on Alabama. Their defensive talent is too good to allow any yards up the middle if the Hokies can’t pass.
• They can make a big defensive/special teams play and capitalize. Field position will be huge in this one, and a block or turnover could make the difference. A short field is our offense’s best friend. We’re perfectly capable of making that happen.
• Kam Chancellor has a monster game. He needs to have another Orange Bowl-type performance (at least) for the Hokies to try and keep the Tide passing attack grounded.

I think that this one could get out of hand early, but probably won’t unless Tyrod and the offense hand the ball over to ‘Bama in their own territory. Alabama has the talent to run away with it as well, but I’m just not convinced that Beamer will be outcoached and outclassed by Saban. Playing in an SEC stadium (with SEC refs, might I add) is intimidating and difficult, but will not decide the game). Everyone seems to be afraid of Alabama, their tradition, their championships and their fans, but I’m not. I might be roasted on here in 12 hours, but I just cannot, and will not pick against the Hokies in this one. My over/under is at 25 for this game. The lower the overall score, the more it favors the boys in Chicago Maroon.

Hokies 13
Crimson Tide 9

ROLL THE TIDE

Bama Week

As of 8:00 PM this evening, we will have exactly one week to prepare for the beginning of the college football season. September 5 has been circled on the calendar of Hokie fans for a long time and with hopes high after a second consecutive ACC Championship and subsequent Orange Bowl victory, Hokie Nation is basically foaming at the mouth for the season to start right now. Needless to say, this is the biggest game in the country on opening weekend, and there will probably be more media coverage than you’ll have time to wade through. For this week, and this week only, I’ll do my best to throw out some final interesting nuggets leading up to the game, as well as essential links for the football crazed. At this point, here are some good starting resources for reading about the 2009 edition of your Hokies as well as game previews, and season previews:

Kyle Tucker is the leading beat reporter/blogger for the Virginian Pilot, and he brings you daily updates and interviews from practice. Today he looks at the solid Whip/Rover dept on the Tech roster. [Virginian Pilot]

Gobbler Country explores the key reasons why Hokie Nation MUST taste victory in Atlanta next Saturday. [Gobbler Country]

Illinois Hokie over at FBS explores how the Hokies can navigate their way from #7 to the National Championship Game in Pasadena. [Fire Bryan Stinespring]

Doesn’t have anything to do with ‘Bama, but TNE explains why we hate Miami. [The North Endzone]

College Game Balls explains some deficiencies in NCAA 10…my only big gripe is that EA’s Tim Tebow > Tecmo’s Bo Jackson. [College Game Balls]

Football Girl contemplates the question on every Hokie’s mind this week. [The Football Girl]

Eight in the Box (a solid ‘Bama blog) examines exactly how the Hokies overcame Bryan Stinespring’s ineptitude last season. [Eight in the Box]

Roll ‘Bama Roll has a solid SEC West Preview to look at…gives good insight on the 2009 Tide. [Roll ‘Bama Roll]

10 Days...

Watch this and watch it now. If this doesn’t get you pumped, shove your headphones in your ears, put your volume up to 11 and blast Enter Sandman…the journey begins in 10 days…(HT College Game Balls)