Well, There Goes That Idea

I had really high hopes for Darryl Tapp.

When Tapp was hired to Virginia Tech’s staff as the assistant defensive line coach, I envisioned a scenario where Tapp’s long NFL career, storied past in Blacksburg and connection to the Hampton Roads area would bear delicious fruit for the Hokies.

My vision included a larger and more productive defensive front that more closely resembled that of college football’s elite. It included Tapp boosting Virginia Tech’s recruiting efforts, not just along the defensive line but in his home area, one of the biggest population centers in the Commonwealth. Continue reading “Well, There Goes That Idea”

That’s Why You Build Depth

Once again, it seems Virginia Tech basketball is not allowed to have nice things.

It’s always something. It could be a catastrophic injury to a star player, it could be your head coach flirting with other programs. But it’s always something.

This time around, it’s the legal system. Continue reading “That’s Why You Build Depth”

An Incredibly Weak Solution to a Significant Problem

As more and more players transfer from their original school each season, Justin Fuente has repeatedly used the transfer portal to bolster his quarterback room.

Fuente added JUCO stud Jerod Evans for the 2016 season, acquired AJ Bush for the following year and prior to 2018, Fuente signed Oregon transfer Braxton Burmiester.

After two more departures, Fuente dipped into the portal again on Tuesday and brought in Texas A&M transfer Connor Blumrick. While Blumrick’s may not be a bad thing, it barely addresses the elephant in the room — the Hokies’ quarterback situation is unsettling. Continue reading “An Incredibly Weak Solution to a Significant Problem”

Dreaming of Fun Matchups for Virginia Tech

One of my favorite parts of the NCAA Football video games was custom scheduling.

Before every season, you as the head coach got to build your schedule for the coming year. It was fun replacing no-name programs like Middle Tennessee State or Old Dominion with the likes of Alabama or Ohio State. It enhanced the game’s replay factor and allowed you to adjust your schedule depending on who the best teams were.

Real football doesn’t work that way. Athletic directors schedule games far in advance, sometimes a decade before the game is to be played. It’s an odd practice. But sometimes, you get the chance to schedule a game in the short-term, which is what Whit Babcock did last Friday when he added South Carolina to the 2025 slate. Continue reading “Dreaming of Fun Matchups for Virginia Tech”

Taylor Heinicke’s Heroic Performance is the Latest Tale of Inspiration from Washington Football

The grind is called “the grind” for a reason.

Typically, you’re doing something you don’t really want to do at the moment. But you do it because you know what the potential reward at the end of the road. You know the process bears fruit, but the process is arduous and filled with obstacles. Continue reading “Taylor Heinicke’s Heroic Performance is the Latest Tale of Inspiration from Washington Football”

The Glaring Positive from Virginia Tech’s Frustrating Loss to Louisville

Virginia Tech basketball is this close to being a really good team.

The Hokies dropped a road tilt with Louisville on Wednesday night in frustrating fashion, giving away an early lead and falling just short in their comeback attempt.

Poor shooting was once again the problem. Virginia Tech hit just shy of 43 percent of their shots overall and went an abysmal 9-30 from three-point land. Players not named Jalen Cone were an even more dreadful 3-18.

Even still, Virginia Tech scored 71 points and lost by two. Continue reading “The Glaring Positive from Virginia Tech’s Frustrating Loss to Louisville”

The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same

Judging from what Marshall football did yesterday, you’d think the Thundering Herd were a year-in, year-out perennial football power, where anything less than a bowl win and a national ranking was unacceptable.

Unfortunately, they’re not.

There have been two periods of prosperity in Marshall’s past. Bob Pruett engineered five seasons with 10 or more wins over a six-year span around the turn of the century, helping Thundering Herd fans move on from the aftermath of the 1970 plan crash that decimated Marshall for two decades.

The other period likely ended on Monday, when Marshall decided to not renew Doc Holliday‘s contract. Continue reading “The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same”