If you follow the Gobbler Country blog you might have seen his recent post where he polled several Virginia Tech rival blogs and asked them to comment on why Virginia Tech would or would not win the ACC this year. It was a good read. Several interesting opinions from our 'enemies' and also some typical rivalry banter.
We'll he's doing the same with some Virginia Tech Sports blogs so I'm going to give you my answers to each question as well.
Why will Virginia Tech win the ACC in 2009?
- The schedule sets up nicely. While the OOC schedule is tough, the rough ACC games are at home. The game at Georgia Tech is the only major hurdle. The Hokies avoid FSU and Clemson on the other side of the conference this year (the 2 best teams).
- Returning talent. In college football, your year significantly depends on who's coming back, and the Hokies have a lot of talent coming back from a team that won the ACC last year. The offense has not been this talented in years. The defense has holes to fill, but when is Virginia Tech's defense ever not good?
- Experience at quarterback. Tyrod Taylor is talented but is also now experienced. Look at the history of teams that do well in conference, or in college football in general and it almost always involves experience at quarterback.
- Who else? There is probably a surprise team in the ACC for 2009 but up analysis of the above factors, Virginia Tech is clearly best positioned to win.
- (p.s. I personally am in the camp of those who believe Georgia Tech will have a drop off this year due to a season of their offense on film for defenses to study)
Why won't Virginia Tech win the ACC in 2009?
- There's always a problem area, so pick your worry: depth at defensive line, youth at linebacker, Darren Evans injury, no backup quarterback, or the new kicker. Its a razor thin conference and any area can lose a game or a league.
- While the Hokies do have the tougher games at home this year, you could argue they have been a better ACC road team than home team. Would a Miami, BC, UNC, or NC State loss at home surprise anyone? Not really.
- FSU in the championship game. Despite our win against FSU in 2007, this team still has our number, and they will be the opponent in the ACC Championship game. Virgnia Tech cannot beat FSU in a big game.
- The odds are against them. In the 'new' ACC (post-expansion) I belive the league is simply too balanced for a team to win it 3 years in a row. Odds are stacked against the Hokies. All it takes is one fluke play in one fluke game.
What do you think???
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
As I travel around the country and talk with coaches the one thing is clear: For VT to go from Good To Great, we need a great offensive coordinator. Beamer is too loyal when year in and year out the offense just does not perform to the level it should with the tallent that comes to Tech due to Beamer. Coach Foster has to get very upset that he puts together a great game plan but is responsive to the game developing, only for the offense not to perform week in and week out.
You are dead on with that. And its killing us die hard Hokie fans. I wonder (more like worry) about when Bud Foster is just going to have enough and jump ship.