Thursday December 01, 2011

Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech
I usually do not want what I don't have. Too many times in life I see people wasting time concentrating on what they don't have instead of being thankful for what they do have.

I can't remember ever feeling envious. But I must admit that I want my football program to have what Virginia Tech has.

What we will see Saturday night is exactly what I want. I want a football program that has an identity.

I want a football program that is consistent.

I want a football program has has stability in its coaching staff.

I want to be a tough football program.

I want to be a fundamentally sound program.

I want an attacking defense.

I want to be a program that improves each week.

I want a football program that doesn't have to brag on recruiting rankings in February but one that can just show you their rings each year.

I want a program that does not let injuries define its season.

I want Clemson to be Virginia Tech.

The Hokies have won at least ten games in eight straight seasons. I want that kind of consistency.

In the last 16 years Tech has played in four Orange Bowls and three Sugar Bowls. I want to play in big games like that.

Don't misunderstand what happens in Blacksburg though. Their fans want more than they have right now too. They are not happy all of the time. A few years ago Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer stopped taking phone calls on his radio show because fans were upset with a couple of bad years on offense.

Last season fans in Hokie Land were complaining about a defense that allowed 20.6 points per game.

Tech fans want to be able to beat the nation's elite teams which is something they have not done a lot of.

But But Saturday night Tech will try to win their 85th game in the last eight years. They are 84-22 in that stretch.

Tech is looking for its fifth ACC Championship in the last eight years Saturday night.

They don't rebuild at Tech and that is what I want. They lose Michael Vick or Marcus Vick at quarterback but their program does not slide. They lose Kevin Jones or Darren Evans at running back but they still win division and conference titles. They graduate Hall, Adibi or Moore on defense but they still win at least ten games. That is what I want.

Virginia Tech is a program that has an identity which is toughness. They usually play great defense but when they don't it doesn't matter because they are mentally tough. When the offense lacks talent or experience, the defense carries that year's team. Last year it was Tyrod Taylor that carried them when the defense was down.

The names change but the toughness doesn't and thus the record doesn't.

Next year Tech will be without four starters on the offensive line. They will lose the two most prolific receivers in school history. They may lose the ACC Player of the Year in David Wilson if he enters the draft early. But next year they will still be the same old Virginia Tech team that will be fundamentally sound and will win 10 games and the ACC's Coastal Division again.

Earlier this season I went to Blacksburg and I saw Clemson destroy Virginia Tech. I saw the Tigers beat Virginia Tech soundly in all three phases of the game. Clemson was the more physical team. The Tigers out rushed Tech. Tehy out passed them. They out blocked the Hokies and out tackled them. They even won the special teams battle against a program that prides itself on Beamer Ball.

After the game I heard Beamer tell his team that he wanted another shot at Clemson. He said he wanted to comeback and win this division so he would have another shot at a team that embarrassed his team on their home field.

At that time I thought he was crazy. Clemson looked superior in talent and scheme to Tech. The Tigers looked like the faster team that first night of October. Tech looked like it had no one who could stretch the field. Clemson looked like a modern offensive scheme while Tech looked like it was stuck in the eighties.

Here are nine weeks later and these two teams have gone in opposite directions. Virginia Tech lost at home by 20 points to Clemson nine weeks ago and the Hokies are a touchdown favorite heading into Saturday night. Who would have thought that?

I want what Virginia Tech has. I want ACC titles and Saturday night Clemson could start to gain what Tech has by beating them at their own game in Charlotte.

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

Prayer List
We have started a prayer list on the blog. Here are the guidelines:

If you are offended by prayer or prayer lists then I apologize in advance. The blog is free and the prayer list will be on the bottom of the page so you don’t have to read it.

If you would like to add someone to the list please e-mail me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com

*Please let me know when it is appropriate to take the person off of the prayer list.

Those who need our prayers include:Finn Brookover, Mary-Louise Pawlowski (John's daughter), Jo Ann Bachman, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard, Gillespie and his family, Jim S, Daniel Rosborough, The Huffman family, Nancy Winkler, John Reeve, Ethel Southard, Vinnie Brock, Kaitlyn L, Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs,Perrin Seigler, Candee Massee, Lindsey Jordan, Sam Catoe, Tyler Felch, the Nicolopulos family, "the Jacksonville, FL guys", Kim Sims, the Coyle family, Ryleigh Tedder, Steve Lee, Kelly Trakas, Jimmy Moore, the Thomas. V Family, Emary Claire Young, Kitty Bowers,Julie and Austin Locke, the Scheider family, Lauren Kittles' family, Frank Gentry, Joyce Bussey, Stacey McKeown, Mary Priester, Dale Childs, Larry Lentz, Jr, Carl Sharperson, Scott Hannon, William Perry, Tyler Swaney, Randy Anderson, Lillian, Matt Hogan, Mark Feit, HB Rollings, David Frame, Chad Berry, the family of Matthew M. Watson, Nancy Taylor, the Dowis family, Shervin Messer, Alan Putnam, the Olivers, Lee Tate, Ronnie Abrams, Eddie Greene, Tricia Hood, Bryan Jackson, Bill Vader, Nancy Taylor, Tina DeWitt, Rock Horne, Christopher Tuten, Jimmy Head, Bobby Wayne Thomas, Emma and Danielle Carothers, Robert Ditty, Murray Smith, Dot Cartee, Ayden Mills, Millie Heatley, Lynn Martin and family, Michael Pinson, Jack Bailey, Jake David family, Janice Thompson, Angie Crowley.