Good afternoon, Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) sports fans.
This seems like an annual comment for me – but the Virginia Tech Hokies are the most disappointing football team in the ACC. The Hokies lost to a Vanderbilt Commodores team who is not going to be bowl-eligible.
There was lots of hype for Hokies football in the offseason – what seemed like the quarterback of the future in Kyron Drones (@TalkinACCSports #2 QB in the ACC), an underrated running back in Bhayshul Tuten, lots of experience back at the wide receiver position, an underrated tight end in Benji Gosnell (he’s a baller for sure), two of the five best returning cornerbacks on @TalkinACCSports list here (one did get roasted today a few times), and the most returning starters in the country of any team, etc. There were so many mistakes, I sort of ranted about it on Twitter:
Virginia Tech is the most disappointing team in #acc football. It’s not close – yes, I know the weekend is not over. #hokies
— AllSportsDACC 🇺🇸🦅🇺🇦 (@AllSportsDACC) August 31, 2024
The #hokies defense made Vanderbilt QB look like a second team all sec qb – a Vandy team that will not be bowl eligible
— AllSportsDACC 🇺🇸🦅🇺🇦 (@AllSportsDACC) August 31, 2024
There were issues on offense, defense, and really bad special teams coaching. That’s perhaps putting it mildly.
Offense
On offense, the Hokies made the curious decision to wait until the second half to pass downfield. I am floored by this, quite frankly. This was a conscious choice by Tyler Bowen, the Hokies offensive coordinator. I had a conversation with @RTD_MikeBarber about this:
Was just talking to my boss about that… Swing pass swing pass swing pass… Like they’re just hoping for something to pop
— Mike Barber (@RTD_MikeBarber) August 31, 2024
My friend and I were watching Virginia Tech and Vanderbilt – in an outdoor venue – gazebo, which was awesome. Both of us were calling for downfield passes the enter 1st half and none came (the Hokies have the best wide receiver crew since 2019 – and all seniors – they were not used at all in the first half). Every pass seemed to be a quick swing pass to the right or left hoping that something would work eventually. It was almost like you were giving up the entire first half – and spotting a team some points by limiting the playbook (it was shocking to me). Like if you pass downfield – and it works – then the running game is going to open up.
Defense
There were so many curious coaching decisions in the game today – but the Hokies had absolutely no defensive answer for Vanderbilt quarterback, Diego Pavia, who was made to look like a second team all Southeastern Conference Football quarterback today. The defense simply was pedestrian at dealing with Pavia.
Really Bad Special Teams Coaching.
Our friend @TimThomasTLP says it better than we can.
Virginia Tech lost to Vanderbilt 34-27 in overtime in a game where the Hokies had Vanderbilt ready to punt but gave the Commodores five yards and another chance after having two players with a #0 jersey on the field at the same time. That is the dumbest coaching mistake I’ve witnessed in person, with Brock Taylor seizing the moment for a 53-yard field goal that proved crucial in forcing overtime.
Is the hype over? In a word, yes.
It really is almost like you spotted Vanderbilt 17 points in the first half, which is kind of shocking to me. That hype is now gone. When you think of Virginia Tech now, the Hokies are going to be fortunate to be bowl-eligible. This is a team that is probably going to lose to Rutgers, Miami, and Clemson at a minimum – and probably Georgia Tech. That would put Virginia Tech at a 7-5 ceiling. With the most returning starters in the country, this absolutely puts Virginia Tech in the driver’s seat for the ACC’s most disappointing football team. I don’t think there is any other way to say this – you cannot really sugarcoat it. In our ACC season panel preview, I mentioned that Miami was the king of pre-season championships – they looked really good today vs. Florida – Virginia Tech might actually be the paper tiger pre-season champion.
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