Highlights | Box Score
*The stats below were pulled from ESPN.com’s box score, which are not official, so they may not be completely accurate.
Five forced turnovers, two interceptions returned for touchdowns, and a blocked field goal attempt were not enough to overcome offensive inadaquacies as the the Virginia Tech Hokies fell on the road against the Boston College Eagles, 23-28. The loss was just the second conference road defeat for the Hokies since joining the ACC in 2004 – both losses have come against the Eagles.
The Hokies offense did not reach the endzone the entire game. Brett Warren (LB) and Victor Harris both returned interceptions for Tech’s only two touchdowns of the game. Place kicker Dustin Keys was 3/4 on field goal tries, but the offense as a whole had its second worst performance of the season, managing just 237 yards. Hokies QB Tyrod Taylor rushed for 110 of Tech’s 237 yards – nearly half.
Tech’s offense was abysmal. In fact, it was their worst performance of the year. The last time the offense managed fewer yards was against Clemson last season - Oct. 6, 2007 – 219 yards. Tech passed for just 90 yards; the third time this season they failed to reach the century mark. Tech’s offensive line couldn’t open up any holes and running backs Darren Evans and Josh Oglesby combined for 39 yards on 23 carries. At one point, the Hokies had a key 3rd and 1, but couldn’t convert. They tried again on 4th and 1 and got stuffed … again. It pretty much summed up how bad of an evening it was. I won’t even mention the deep pass that hit our open receiver in the facemask and fell incomplete … oops.
Aside from the two INTs returned for TD, there isn’t much of a silver lining. Even the defense looked suspect giving up several wide open passes and failing to make stops on critical downs. Harris got burned on several occasions as did the rest of the secondary. You could argue that Tech’s defensive line did a good job limiting the run by giving up only 87 yards, but BC was playing freshmen RBs. Besides, the Eagles were able to pass fairly effectively.
I’m going to wrap this up – it’s late and I’m supremely disappointed. I’ll break it down some more later this afternoon.
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This game was just strange. 5 forced turnovers, 2 defensive TDs, and a loss.
As for the offense, the failed 3rd / 4th and 1 was indicative of the night, but what really sealed it for me was the first play call of our 2 minute offense: quarterback draw.
hokieg
How does Stinespring STILL have his job? My roommate and I were calling out the plays all game long, including the two Darren Evans stretch plays that got stuffed. Bottom line, Stinespring has to go. And to be honest, as much as I love Beamer, we may have to accept that this is as high as he is going to take the program. Their collective philosophies almost ensure failure without top notch athletes like we had last year. The Hokie community has obviously become frustrated with the lack of offense and the ever-conservative strategy of the Beamer and his cohorts. 10 points is not a lead you can milk at the nine minute mark of the first quarter! I’m so distressed at the state of the program I don’t know what to do. Bottom line, whether Stiney’s in the box or not, they have to open up the offense! They do not have the personnel to execute their philosophies and they have to accept that and adapt to it. Until they do that, fans in Blacksburg will be falling off like flies…if it’s not exciting to watch (and trust me, at no point this season has a Tech game been exciting, rather nerve-racking) people won’t come to watch the Hokies struggle.
I have to agree with ChicagoMaroon – somewhat. It has been absolutely painful to watch the Hokies struggle on offense this year. However, I am not one to fire the staff after every loss. Stinespring may be an unimaginative boob, but he can’t go out there and make the catches for the guys when they hit them in the facemask. Our PERSONNEL is not getting this year. Now is not the justifiable time to fire Stinespring. Last year when we had NFL guys out on the ends and we couldn’t get it done would have been more appropriate. This year will be chalked up to rebuilding and learning. Now, after next year, and the offense still isn’t producing…, I say get the hatchet out.
I agree with your reasoning Leonard, it’s pretty sound. I just don’t understand the point of delaying the obvious, because inevitably the offense WILL NOT produce next year and I think that it will impede these young players’ growth to wait to bring in someone new rather than to do it now. And you are completely correct on that one about the players not executing. Stinesrping may be a surefire knucklehead, but I’m saying it now, none of these guys are the next Eddie Royal. We’ll be lucky if we’ve got a Josh Hyman in the group. Watch out next year for D.J. Coles though, he’ll be in the mix from day 1!
I don’t think anyone is the next eddie royal, but danny coale is a pretty good possession reciever, and dyrell roberts is still an athlete out there, not a reciever yet. also, jarrett boykin has a lot of potential, and d.j. coles could be very good. 6′ 4”, and he runs a 4.5-4.6.
i saw 2 plays where the ball hit our receivers in the hands and they dropped it. that doesn’t give Stinespring a free pass on the entire game. Keep throwing the kids the ball! We are ranked like 110th in offense in the country. We have to have enough talent to be at least in the top 50-75. Like someone said earlier, the play calling is just ridiculous.
“And to be honest, as much as I love Beamer, we may have to accept that this is as high as he is going to take the program.” What is that? Beamer built this program on 1’s and 2 star athletes. He took us to the National Championship game, he has taken us to a BOWL GAME 14 stragiht years. He has earned his entitlement as a “lifer”. If you think Beamer can’t coach anymore, go root for another team your a disgrace to Hokie Nation. As far as the team and season, we will be fine, we are young, THIS IS PART OF FOOTBALL PEOPLE! It was just a bad time and game for the youth and inexperience to show up.
How many of those 14 bowl games has Beamer won? I mean, yes, he has taken this program to a completely new level than it has ever been before, but once again, we’re talking about past. My point is still absolutely relevant. You’re citing examples of what Beamer has done for us. I’m do not disagree with that, but I’m not concerned with the past. If he starts going 0-12 every year (and I know this is an extreme example, but stick with me) are you going to use the excuse “well at one point he did blah, blah, blah…for us, so he’s a lifer!” I didn’t say Beamer cannot coach anymore, I think his philosophies are outdated and his personnel don’t match his plan. And I take offense to the fact that Beamer called out those of us he donned the “vocal minority” (which is obviously an overwhelming majority) for criticizing Stinespring and said that they weren’t true Hokie fans. In fact, it is exactly the opposite. It is out of the LOVE and concern for this program. I’m not a bandwagon jumper, I didn’t just show up when Tech started winning, and I am insulted that you would think that. I don’t want to accuse you being a disgrace your “Hokie Nation” like you have me, but if you don’t see something wrong with the 110th offense out of 120 FBS teams, I think you’ve lost touch with the Hokie Nation and been a little lax on the expectations. Oh, and please learn the difference between your and you are, that is truly disgraceful and detracts from your argument. Summary: Did I know this year was going to be a down year, yes. But did I think we’d look this terrible in the process, no! I know we’re young, but part of the consistency you mentioned about Beamer, his staff, and this program is being able to curtail the problems even after losing as substantial an amount of talent as we did last year. Bottom line, Stinespring has gotta go! And if things don’t change, we may have to look further up the pecking order!
I do not*
Excuse me, I apolagize for calling you a disgrace to Hokie Nation, it was a bit extreme, I am sorry. Second, I’m an Accountant not an English professer. Now, I agree with you that this season isn’t pretty, but we are, were, winning and still very much in contention for the Coastal division. I also agree with you that Stinespring needs to go ASAP. I think the man has had his chances, and it is time to turn the page to the next chapter. However, my problem is when you stated the possibility about letting Beamer go. You sound like the fan from every other school who starts burning the coaching staff when things aren’t going great. Don’t stoop to that level, you seem better than that. Yes your right, my opinion would be different if our record right now was 2-5, or 0-12 like you said, but until THAT happens I will back the current coaching staff. Besides, before we had a disasterous season like that, Beamer would make approprate coaching changes.
Yes college football is a business, but even mentioning the possibility of letting Frank go is outrageous. That man has created his own brand of football, and is exremely consistant and exciting. Now, yes Beamer did denounce the fans for going after Stinespring. He had back his staff, otherwise you might have tension among the coaching staff, which could lead to a bad atmoshpere on the practice, and playing field.
So, like I said, my first comment was a bit extreme, I am not trying to bash you or test your fan hood or whatever. However, our chips are not down, and I know that the staff and players will bounce back.
Okay, I’m fine with that. Just disagreed with your reasoning on the first comment.