Sunday Thoughts...

I have been watching Hokie football for a long time now, and I honestly can't recall feeling this good about a game we lost.

Consider this.

Tyrod Taylor goes out of the game on the FIRST play from scrimmage with a high ankle sprain. Uh oh. I could just see FSU pinning their ears back and coming full force at Glennon knowing he can't run and has to pass. Not to mention our receivers did not distinguish themselves last weekend, dropping passes and not getting open. Game over right?

Not quite.

VT was up 13-10 at halftime outgaining FSU 204 yards to 70 yards in the half. Not a typo, even though it looks like it. Glennon was outstanding in the first half, connecting with quite a few different receivers. And our defense was superb in the first half as well.

And just like every FSU/VT game I can remember watching, a special teams play turned the game. It was 4th and 20. Bud had just engineered an amazing stand, and we were about to get the ball back. Frank sends the heat and we try to block the punt. Roughing the kicker. 1st and 10. FSU scores on the next 3 plays. Ouch.

Can anything else go wrong? How about losing your second string QB to injury? Sean went out with 5 minutes left in the 3rd quarter and judging my his expressions, his leg had just been amputated without anesthetic. So, our third string QB Cory Holt comes in not having taken snaps in a long, long time. He played very well, considering, leading us to a 4th quarter TD drive and making it a 27-20 game.

As you know, VT ended up losing the game 30-20, but more importantly losing Taylor and Glennon to injury. Early indicators are that Glennon is in better shape then Taylor, and may even be able to start the Maryland game in 11 days. The difference in the game turned out to be an area that we have strong in all year - turnovers. Two freshmen ended up costing us on those, and it is hard to fault them. They are freshmen, after all, and we lost our FIRST fumble of the year on offense. Really.

But the kids played really, really hard. The coaches coached well, and Stinespring called maybe his best offensive game of the year. We knew Bud was going to call a masterful defensive game, and he delivered. We are still susceptible to the big play, but we limited a top 10 offensive team to 248 total yards. Not bad. For the most part the running backs ran, the receivers caught and the quarterbacks got them the ball. We are still a very young team, but thanks to the Cavaliers turnaround season, are still in great shape to win the division. If we win our next four games, we will be in Tampa in early December. A tough task to be sure, but what more can you ask of a super young team that is not short on effort or heart. I like this team. A lot.

I am not sure what I am going to predict from here on out. If UVA keeps winning, that game is going to be mighty interesting. Duke is winning on the road. Maryland is 6-2 and Miami is turning things around. My early thought is we win at least 3 of those, if not 4. This team grew up a lot yesterday and if Glennon stays healthy, I trust he can lead us to wins. Go Hokies!