SEC Realities, Hokie Thoughts on an Off Week

Posted by hokieg

October 10, 2008

So Tommy Tuberville and Auburn today showed us the kind of patience they have for offensive ineptitude in SEC country. Tony Franklin, offensive coordinator, was fired after only 6 weeks on the job. Franklin brought his spread offensive from Troy, which was highly prolific. But so far this year it was dismal - Auburn ranked in the 100’s in most offensive categories and obviously fans were pretty livid.

So did they pull the trigger too quickly on the poor guy? Doesn’t he get some time to teach the players a completely new system? And does he even have the right players? My Auburn buddy told me that their current wide receivers couldn’t catch a cold. That’s not good in the spread offense. Well, all that doesn’t matter in SEC country. Either produce, or your out.

Also, some Hokie football thoughts for the second half of the season.

I talk to lots of SEC fans and they take football pretty darn seriously (tailgating especially). In fact, a recent article on techsideline.com talks about how the Hokie fans base is possibly becoming more demanding like an SEC crowd. So there’s not much patience at a place like Auburn, especially when your performance reaches the lows of their offense so far this year.

I like how Colin Cowherd put it on ESPNRadio put it today. Is firing a guy purely based on poor performance in such a short time ‘collegiate’? Sure it is - its the real world. In the real world, you perform, or you get fired. Assistant coaches at high profile schools make good money, so it comes with the territory.

Now who knows, it may be unfair. The guy may have no players, may have a head coach not fully committed to the spread, or whatever other reasons why things are working. But it certainly is an interesting contrast to the delicacy that coaching changes are treated at other places.

(Random) Hokie Thoughts for the Second Half

Chris Drager needs to play more. The VT passing game is getting good protection for TT, my guess is the young receivers are learning to get open. Tight ends draw LBs in coverage, and my sense is Drager is one of those guys who just knows how to get open.
Josh Oglesby will make some big plays this year. A Hokie trait has always been the dual backs. Play two talented guys, keep them fresh, one will likely be hot and make plays. JO will be that guy a few times this year.
Would VT be undefeated if Macho Harris plays against ECU? Think about what Macho means to the team - clearly team MVP.
Hopefully this won’t jinx, but one of the simple pleasures in life: having a money kicker. We are getting spoiled.
I’m sure I’m not the only one worried that Jim Grobe is going to end up in Charlottesville.
Please do away with the orange uniforms. Ugh. Maroon home. White away.

This has been a fun year so far…and more to come.

Go Hokies!!