The Goat Pen

Miami runs off-tackle on 2nd and goal from the 30...and scores. That's how this game has gone in the second half for the Virginia Tech defense. They're down a starting DT, a starting DE, a starting LB, and they're down to their last chance in this one. This is a situation in which Virginia Tech offenses have usually not distinguished themselves.

Virginia Tech barely survives a second-half Miami onslaught, and the offense managed to score a game-winning touchdown in the last two minutes. The defensive injuries and mistakes are troubling, but it was nice to see Logan Thomas, a week after struggling all night against Clemson, come back strong. He was the best player on the field for Virginia Tech, and the Hokies needed every single play he made to win this one.

Dewey defeats Truman!

A bizarrely lifeless effort today from Virginia Tech in Durham, and the Hokies are in serious trouble against a outmanned Duke team that's played harder than them on nearly every play. Virginia Tech's defensive injuries are an issue, but today, the bigger problems have been on offense and special teams-- Logan Thomas has thrown two redzone interceptions, VT's been unable to move the ball in the second half, and VT's lost the hidden yardage game. If Duke's kicker was any good, Duke would have the lead in this game right now.

The VT defense stood on its head in the second half, and managed to save a game VT's offense and special teams did not deserve to win. It was a very similar game to the East Carolina game-- VT made enough mistakes to keep an underdog in the fight, but managed to avoid the one killer mistake that would have forced them to play from behind. It's pretty clear that this team goes as Logan Thomas goes. Today he was not sharp, and that nearly cost VT an embarrassing defeat.

Life with a first-year starter at QB-- the VT offense looked like death warmed over at Duke, and deserved to lose. Then VT goes to a much better Georgia Tech team that handcuffed Clemson's offense, comes from behind twice, puts up nearly 500 yards, and scores 37 points. The personal foul against Attaochu was huge, but it's one thing to get a break, and another to make it count. VT's offense made GT pay for that mistake immediately, and that swing really decided the game.

That and Paul Johnson going for it on 4th and 1 deep in his own territory when only down 1 pt - that was a headscratcher.

Sometimes when you get on a bit of a roll, you get some luck. Virginia Tech got a lot of luck tonight, and they needed just about all of it, because UNC outplayed them for most of the game. I've got to give a lot of credit to Everett Withers and his staff. After their terrible showing against N.C. State, and with all the turmoil surrounding that program, it would have been easy for UNC to come in flat and just play out the string. Instead, they came in with a solid game plan, exposed VT on the perimeter in the running game, and battled back after going down by three scores. UNC didn't get any favors from Ron Cherry and his crew(that bunch has screwed everybody in the league at least once-- it was UNC's misfortune that it was apparently their turn tonight), they suffered a major setback when Giovani Bernard got hurt, and several key bounces didn't go their way. UNC nearly overcame all of that. I hate saying UNC deserved better tonight, but they may well have.

Ron Cherry is god-awful. fire his sorry ass.

He's still living off the "giving him the business" glory...I give him credit for the humor there but otherwise he's absolutely awful.

Cherry likes to fuck us versus VT, but you have to overcome the officiating. The bounces didn't go our way. While some things are certainly pure luck, you are responsible for making most of your luck.

Had Houston not fumbled inside of the VT five and thus robbing Carolina of going up 14-0, it would have been a different ball game.

not saying the fix wasnt in to keep vt at one loss but Cherry doesnt like to 'fuck" anybody. he's just that bad.

AugustWest wrote:not saying the fix wasnt in to keep vt at one loss but Cherry doesnt like to 'fuck" anybody. he's just that bad.

Well, I didn't mean for it to come across as him having the intention of keeping VT at one loss, but it could have been. I do agree that his crew is the worst crew in the conference, which is saying something, and he is one of the worst referee/crew chiefs in all of major college football.

Houston didn't fuck you, Cherry didn't rob you....

your placekicker handed that game to the cHokies.

Well, he couldn't help one of the misses. The wind gusted right as it was in the air and that ball had no shot.

typical Bleaksburg weather

I thought VT lost the first game against Clemson as much as Clemson won it. This one, Clemson won impressively, and I think they won it in the week before the game. Dabo Swinney motivated his team all week(wearing the Orange Bowl shirt in press conferences drew a lot of negative attention, but clearly, his team appreciated the gesture), and the Tigers wanted this one to save their season. They outplayed VT in nearly every way possible from the opening snap. I didn't think it was possible for Dabo Swinney to outcoach Frank Beamer twice in a season, but he and his staff pulled it off. They exploited their match up advantages, they called an aggressive game on both sides of the ball, and they just got terrific effort from their kids all night long. Clemson was the best team in the ACC for the first two months of the season. Tonight, they remembered that, and there wasn't much VT could do. 11-2 and a Chick-Fil-A Bowl is about right for this Virginia Tech team. They've had a lot of great moments this year, but they just had one team they couldn't handle.

This most inexplicable game of the year was NC States beatdown of Clemson.

Doesnt seem any way in any universe that could happen

CU was looking past us to the cocks, plus they were already in the title game, and I guess they figured they had no shot at the national title regardless, and they were missing their best player. perfect storm.

So, Virginia Tech gets destroyed in the ACC championship game, and their reward is...the BCS game most VT fans actually wanted in the first place, since everyone's tired of going to Miami, and New Orleans is a much better trip anyway. This is great! Now, who are the Hokies playing?

OH, GODDAMNIT!