Ryan William drags a defender into the endzone in the game against UVa.
As the Virginia Tech football team trotted off Worsham Field for the final time in 2010, celebrating its seventh consecutive victory over in-state rival Virginia, the sense of accomplishment from a once-embattled team was abundantly clear.
The Hokies’ well-documented early season woes, with losses to Boise State and James Madison University, sent shockwaves through the Tech fan base. Whispers mounted after the loss to the Broncos that maybe Frank Beamer’s time as head coach was wearing out, and only intensified after Tech’s embarrassing display against FCS opponent JMU.
Sitting at 0-2 and unranked, the Hokies had squandered their highest preseason ranking ever. Additionally, with another loss to a high-profile opponent coupled with the debacle against JMU, it seemed as though Tech’s football program was in a dire situation.
A recurring discussion among fans was the necessity for new blood in the program — particularly at the top.
After all, Beamer is in his 24th year at Tech, an eternity considering today’s constant coaching turnover, and at 64 years of age he certainly isn’t getting any younger — even by his own admission.
When someone asked what it meant to Beamer that he passed longtime Ohio State coach Woody Hayes on the all-time wins list, he quipped “it means you’re getting old.”
Also, Beamer’s undoubted loyalty to his staff could be seen as unwillingness to adapt to the changing landscape of college football.
That discussion, however, ended when Tech started reeling off win after win. Despite the hopes for a national title being gone, the Hokies were still playing for their pride and an ACC Championship.
Ten straight victories later, they will meet Florida State in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday for a chance at just that.
It is the most remarkable comeback in the program’s history since the 1995 season. That also happens to be the last time the Hokies started a season 0-2, but they finished that season with 10 straight victories, including a Sugar Bowl win over Texas.
As Beamer put it after Saturday’s victory, “they were clinging onto hope week in and week out.”
“Where we started and where we finished, they’ve been remarkable,” Beamer said. “We were at a point where we were just trying to win the next game. Those two losses make you appreciate these 10 wins even more.”
A version of this article appeared in the Nov 30 issue of the Collegiate Times.
Leave a comment 7 Comments Write a letter to the editor
All letters to the editor must include a name, e-mail, daytime phone number and affiliation to Virginia Tech. Affiliation includes: year and major for students; position and department for faculty and staff; current city for alumni and parents.
What happened to tech's "championship contending season" ?
"To win a championship you need the right players, coaches and a bit of luck. "
- and the right offensive coordinator.
"Yet there’s no question the best shot Tech has to win a title in the near future is with Beamer on the sidelines."
Huh? .....Then why haven't we won a NC in 23 years let alone at least show up to one more NC since 1999?
Look at what Nick Saban has done to Alabama in just a few years. Look at what Boise State's coach has done to that program. At least they have beaten more top 5 opponents than we have in 25 years.
Half of the problem is Beamer's unwillingness to can Stinespring as Offensive Coordinator or that Stinespring is just implementing Beamer's vanilla offense philosophy in general. The other half is that Beamer can't win Big games. With "Big" Meaning against top 5 opponents. 1-26 against top 5 opponents is not NC material.
We have the right players for a NC, just not the right offensive coaches/strategy and philosophy. We have the right offense for the ACC, but not for a NC.
I knew the 10 wins for 7 straight would make it's way the CT and mask the problem of why we lost to JMU in the first place!!!! but the CT shouldn't overlook that the problem because it is still there, it won't just go away.
Reply to this Top
Continued:
For those fans who are fine with "10 wins" as the ultimate goal of the program then things are fine just as they are but for those fans like myself who would like to see that trophy case filled, changes still need to happen whether that means canning Stinespring or "flesh blood" in a head coach.
Otherwise It'll just show up to next season's first few games, just watch and this time we won't have Tyrod Taylor to make plays out of dumb plays.
Hey winning 10 games every year is better than not but you can't deny we hit a plateau as a program of which 10 wins a season in the ACC of all conferences is the best we can do.
Tech is a good program (top 25) but not an elite football program. I was one of those fans my freshman year thinking tech can beat Texas and USC ect on any given day but all that changed over my stay here at tech after losing to #2 Boston College, getting blown out by then #2 LSU, and this year to #5 Boise state then JMU! becoming the 2nd ranked FBS school to do so since Michigan. Hey those are big accomplishments.
Don't get me wrong...we are a good football program but not an elite program, fans should know where VT stands. For many fans being the top of the ACC and no more is just fine but some would like to see a NC appearance hear and there.
Reply to this Top
Coach Beamer is a great coach and I'd have to agree with you on the Off. Cordinator. Our offense needs to be revamped seriously. Even Bud Foster this year was found slipping a bit. Its a little crazy to think that we can win with this kind of coaching crew. The Off coach has to leave. And with our new QB standing 6'6 he will be able to see over the off. line. NC here we come.
Reply to this Top
Nonsense from anon! You guys have not seen enough losses to know what it means to be a champion. The team and staff are champions.
Reply to this Top
They aren't champions of anything this season....yet, and the answer of being ACC champions will be answered in 36 hours.
My point is addressing the mentality of "complacency" and success is all relative to the fan. In my case the ultimate goal/success left for the program is a National Championship win (even just one) since they have already achieved
1. Their first bowl: Sun bowl (1947)
2. 7 conference titles (including big east and southern conference).
3. Three BCS bowls (Sugar bowl 2004, Orange bowl 2007, 2008)
4. National championship loss (1999).
And they won't win a national championship losing 2/3 games a season because of poor play calling and bad coaching decisions like poor time management and bad 2 minute come from behind drills.
Reply to this Top
They aren't champions of anything this season....yet, and the answer of being ACC champions will be answered in 36 hours.
My point is addressing the mentality of "complacency" and success is all relative to the fan. In my case the ultimate goal/success left for the program is a National Championship win (even just one) since they have already achieved
1. Their first bowl: Sun bowl (1947)
2. 7 conference titles (including big east and southern conference).
3. Three BCS bowls (Sugar bowl 2004, Orange bowl 2007, 2008)
4. National championship loss (1999).
And they won't win a national championship losing 2/3 games a season because of poor play calling and bad coaching decisions like poor time management and bad 2 minute come from behind drills.
Reply to this Top
They aren't champions of anything this season....yet, and the answer of being ACC champions will be answered in 36 hours.
My point is addressing the mentality of "complacency" and success is all relative to the fan. In my case the ultimate goal/success left for the program is a National Championship win (even just one) since they have already achieved
1. Their first bowl: Sun bowl (1947)
2. 7 conference titles (including big east and southern conference).
3. Three BCS bowls (Sugar bowl 2004, Orange bowl 2007, 2008)
4. National championship loss (1999).
And they won't win a national championship losing 2/3 games a season because of poor play calling and bad coaching decisions like poor time management and bad 2 minute come from behind drills.
Reply to this Top