Week 3 Discussion

[countryboy]

Re: Week 3 Discussion

It's our fault. Nobody wants to watch us.

I do!

[The GIGGAS]

Re: Week 3 Discussion

It has nothing to do with Virginia Tech and their decade-long win streak against us

He's actually right here. VT does get beaten out by UVa for a decent amount of top talent coming out of Virginia. Once the SEC figured out Hampton Roads area had superstars coming out of there, though, both teams get beaten soundly in that region.

I think there's a recruiting difference, though, as through my orange and maroon glasses. Virginia Tech seems to have a philosophy where they're going to get [b]their[b] guys, recruit ratings be damned. Virginia seems to go collect the high rated guys (although I'm not huge into recruiting). In fact, other than the fact that we beat them every year, I can't tell you a lot about Virginia's football team.

Hooe is right on the fact that there's no good QB play, but you could say that about VT too (I'm holding out hope on Brewer, but we tend to break good QBs (Logan Thomas...)).

I'm sure I'm not 100% right, and I look forward to Hooe's corrections.

It's our fault. Nobody wants to watch us.

Yeah, I barely want to watch the Thanksgiving games anymore. No drama.

[JHooe44]

Re: Week 3 Discussion

A few things on UVa:

UVa-UL is on the ACC Network at 12:30. It's on ESPN3 for people who are outside the ACC Network footprint.

UVA did have a 10-win season in 1989. UVa has also posted multiple 9-wins seasons, and was ranked #1 in the nation in 1990.

As for why can't UVa be a Top 25 program today, it's a really simple. We haven't been willing to make the sacrifices needed for big-time football.

-UVa does not accept junior college transfers. Aaron Rodgers would not have been allowed to enroll at UVa.

-UVa also, until very recently, did not allow January enrollment - these "grey-shirts" do not count against your 25-person limit on a recruiting class, and it is very valuable to get an extra 6 months of workouts.

-UVa also does have higher admission standards than the NCAA minimum. While this isn't a huge deal overall, it's worth mentioning.

-UVa does have a demanding course load, even in gut majors such as Sociology and Anthropology. UVa's core requirement of four semesters of foreign language is the most stringent of its kind in the country. That alone is difficult, particularly for athletes who balance it with a full-time job.

-UVa has hopelessly bungled its coaching situation since 2000. When Al Groh came in, he brought of ton of talented assistants. But UVa let most of them leave, and the turnover killed the program. Then, when Mike London came in, they were hell-bent on building tenured assistants, until they weren't and cleaned house one year after a 8-win season (I still don't understand who justified firing Jim Reid, an all-time great guy and damn good defensive coach).

-UVa has botched it's QB situation hopelessly. Phillip Sims should have never been asked to come to UVa. We had a sophomore QB who had just won 8 games. Rocco and Sims carousel ensues, everyone loses. When Rocco left and Sims got booted, London was hell bent on looking like he knew what he was doing so he stuck with Watford for an entire freaking year. David Watford should not have never been playing in D-1 football. Period. As such, now we have two unproven sophomore QBs in Year 5 of the London Era, because he has not built a depth chart at that position.

-Last, attrition on the OL has hurt. A lot. Al Groh did not recruit the OL well in his final years. While CML recruited well, he did not keep his kids in school. Or they got hurt. Or left. As such, it seems like every year we have 2 proven players and 3 adventures playing on the OL.

The only reason for hope is that London has stockpiled true talent all over the roster. The team goes two-deep at almost every position on the field, save the OL and QB. If London fails this year, and the administration can keep the skill position talent there, the new coach will walk into a situation that's a QB and an OL from being a legitimate contender for the ACC Coastal.

[JHooe44]

Re: Week 3 Discussion

Virginia Tech seems to have a philosophy where they're going to get [b]their[b] guys, recruit ratings be damned. Virginia seems to go collect the high rated guys (although I'm not huge into recruiting). In fact, other than the fact that we beat them every year, I can't tell you a lot about Virginia's football team.

Each school goes for their "guys." DE Chris Canty had two scholarship offers out of HS - UVa football and Boston College basketball. He became an All-ACC DE by his Sophomore year, and borderline All-American by his Senior year (when he got hurt, ugh). Just this year Max Valles, who now leads the ACC in sacks as a sophomore linebacker, was recruited as a 2* TE.

Yes, UVa has gone after some guys for their "star"-ratings. Darius Jennings and Dominique Terrell come to mind as 4* WRs who simply aren't pure receivers. But the idea that UVa doesn't have "their" guys and just goes after highly rated players stems from UVa landing guys like Morgan Moses, Tra Nicholson, Quin Blanding, Andrew Brown, Jamil Kamara, and the other highly touted in-state guys who have (for some God forsaken reason) chosen to go to UVa over VT.

Regardless, I hope my insights have been at least somewhat helpful and not a complete nuisance. Cheers, Hokie!

Oh, I almost forgot. GO PIRATES!

[Amoo316]

Re: Week 3 Discussion

I look at the entire Virginia situation and I honestly think it's just bad coaching combined with the academic standards. Academics was the first thing that popped into my mind when this question was posed, but as stated that can't be the only excuse (see Stanford).

I personally would equate Va Tech's decline to losing the Hampton Roads region of the state and Virginia's lack of success to what was previously stated.

[Watson]

Re: Week 3 Discussion

Game 2 of a 4 game homestand, leggo

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/PE_rZFgeYPc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[SPTO]

Re: Week 3 Discussion

I'm going to be watching the Houston/BYU game tonight mainly to watch the BYU QB who was talked up like the next big thing by Steve Young. Hopefully this year's game is as exciting as last year's.

[bad_philanthropy]

Re: Week 3 Discussion

I'm going to be watching the Houston/BYU game tonight mainly to watch the BYU QB who was talked up like the next big thing by Steve Young. Hopefully this year's game is as exciting as last year's.

Isn't it the same QB who ran for like 300 yards against Texas last year and got their DC fired? He reminded me a lot of that kid from NIU who ended up drafted as a RB in the NFL.

[Amoo316]

Re: Week 3 Discussion

I'm going to be watching the Houston/BYU game tonight mainly to watch the BYU QB who was talked up like the next big thing by Steve Young. Hopefully this year's game is as exciting as last year's.

Taysom Hill is legit man. The kid can flat out play. I can understand Steve Young talking him up due to alumni ties, but the kid really is good. One of the better QBs in the nation by the time the season is all said and done. He's not going to let the air out of the ball and is only an above average passer at best, but his dual threat ability is legit and he's akin to a poor man's Tebow.

[SPTO]

Re: Week 3 Discussion

Isn't it the same QB who ran for like 300 yards against Texas last year and got their DC fired? He reminded me a lot of that kid from NIU who ended up drafted as a RB in the NFL.

Yeah, I think you're right. I didn't get to watch much of BYU or get that much of an exposure to a lot of the games last year but thanks to TSN expanding i'm watching more than I have in a long time.

[Amoo316]

Re: Week 3 Discussion

Yeah, I think you're right. I didn't get to watch much of BYU or get that much of an exposure to a lot of the games last year but thanks to TSN expanding i'm watching more than I have in a long time.

Pretty sure I got to see him 3 or 4 times last year, and although I missed the Texas game this year, I'll be watching tonight. The one area he struggled in last year was his decision making (young qb go figure). He was trying to force the ball too much into double coverage. I've heard he's fixed some of that this year. I think Houston will be a better test then an Ashe-less Texas, but I haven't seen them yet this year either so we will see.

[TripleCrown9]

Re: Week 3 Discussion

BYU is gonna run the table and be the 4th team in the playoffs.

[coogrfan]

Re: Week 3 Discussion

Tony Levine must go.

[Amoo316]

Re: Week 3 Discussion

Tony Levine must go.

I was purposely not commenting about how bad UH is because I was thinking about offending you, but man this team is terrible.

[Amoo316]

Re: Week 3 Discussion

I will add, great job on the 9/11 salute by both BYU and Houston. Especially like the patch on the mid back of BYU's helmets and the air brushed flag mid field.