-
briancolligan Caught in the Devil's Bargain -
garycope Not your average Tumblr -
kimbaland ...and then I found $5. -
stanastia stanastia -
toddwickersty Todd Wickersty -
maryanne There's Something About Mary
Now that the regular season is over and the Hokies have finished 6-6 and qualified for a 20th straight bowl appearance, Virginia Tech fans are wondering, some even hoping, if more coaching staff changes are in the near future, particularly on the offensive side of the ball.
For years, head coach Frank Beamer has pointed to his team’s streak of eight consecutive 10-win seasons, three ACC championships, and four BCS bowl appearances as evidence that the offense is doing just fine.
This year, that streak came to an end. Additionally, Tech’s streak of 20 consecutive winning seasons is also on the line. Win the bowl game and the Hokies will finish 7-6; lose and they finish 6-7, the first losing record for the program since 1992 when the Hokies went 2-8-1 and Beamer nearly lost his job.
Much of the blame from fans is pointed at embattled offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring, who took over as OC in 2002. In 11 seasons, Stinespring’s offenses have finished no better than 35th in total offense (2011). On average, Tech has ranked 65th during those 11 seasons.
- 2012 - 72nd
- 2011 - 35th
- 2010 - 41st
- 2009 - 50th
- 2008 - 103rd
- 2007 - 100th
- 2006 - 99th
- 2005 - 57th
- 2004 - 65th
- 2003 - 38th
- 2002 - 64th
Before Stinespring took over, the Hokies finished a bit better. The NCAA.com website only has team stats dating back to 1999:
- 2001 - 64th
- 2000 - 20th
- 1999 - 8th
This season was particularly tough for the Hokies’ offense considering they lost the ACC’s leading rusher in David Wilson as well the top two receivers in the history of the program - Jarrett Boykin and Danny Coale - to the NFL. Tech also lost four starting offensive linemen.
This season, the Hokies aren’t the only big name team to struggle offensively. Below are the teams that rank below Virginia Tech in total offense this season:
78. LSU
79. Boise St.
80. Michigan
83. Stanford
84. Wisconsin
88. South Carolina
90. Michigan State
101. Florida
115. Auburn
LSU, Florida, South Carolina, and Auburn all play in the SEC and face much tough defenses week in and week out, so it’s not surprising to see them where they are. Not to mention that Florida, LSU and South Carolina are ranked in the top 10; the Gators are No. 4, LSU is No. 7, and South Carolina is No. 10 in the current BCS rankings.
Need more proof that offensive rankings can be misleading? Stanford is ranked No. 8 in the BCS standings, Boise State is ranked No. 20, and Wisconsin is playing for the Big 10 championship game.
Of the nine teams above who are ranked below the Hokies, five are ranked and another is playing in its conference championship game. Total offensive rankings, are you can see, are clearly not the defining statistic for a college football program’s success.
In contrast, here are some teams ranked ahead of the Hokies:
1. Louisiana Tech
6. Marshall
28. Georgia Tech
66. Duke
While the opponents and conference in which you play play a big part of offensive rankings, stats can be a bit misleading. What is your team’s average starting field position? How stout is your defense?
That being said, the Hokies have been in a prolonged offensive slump for about 11 years and perhaps it’s time for a change.
With head coaches getting fired at underperforming teams across the country, the up-and-coming coordinators are going to be hired first. If the Hokies are looking to make a change, they’d better get started.
Yesterday the ACC announced its 2012 All-conference football teams. For the first time since joining the conference in 2004, the Virginia Tech Hokies did not have a single offensive player on either the first or second team. Nor did any offensive players make the honorable mention team.
Three defensive players did, however, make the second team defense. And four more defensive players made the All-ACC honorable mention.
- Bruce Taylor, LB
- Antoine Hopkins, DT
- Derrick Hopkins, DT
- Kyle Fuller, CB
Taylor also made the honorable mention team in 2011, and in 2010 he earned second team honors. Derrick Hopkins and Kyle Fuller both made the second team defense in 2011.
Virginia Tech beat writer Andy Bitter, who covers the Hokies for the Virginian-Pilot and the Roanoke Times, noted in his article that this is only the second time the Hokies have not had a first team all-conference selection (offense or defense) since switching from an independent to the Big East in 1991 and then the ACC in 2004.
The Hokies, who suffered through their worst season since 1992, didn’t get at least one first-team all-conference pick for only the second time since going from independent to the Big East in 1991. The 2002 team also didn’t have a first-teamer.
The shutout on the offensive side of the ball is not surprising since the Hokies ranked 72nd in the nation in total offense, out of 120 teams. The Hokies’ defense, despite an up-and-down season, still finished ranked 24th.
(Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
Blacksburg, VA — The Atlantic Coast Conference announced its 2012 All-ACC football teams and for the first time since Virginia Tech joined the ACC, no Hokies made the first or second team offense.
Three Virginia Tech defensive players — DE James Gayle, CB Antone Exum, and LB Jack Tyler — made the ACC’s second team defense. It’s the second straight year in which the Hokies have not landed a defensive player on the first team after having done so from 2004 to 2010.
Since joining the ACC in 2004 (eight seasons), the Hokies have landed 28 players on either the first or second team offense. That’s an average of 3.5 per season. Here’s the breakdown season-by-season:
2012
None
2011
1st - David Wilson
1st - Blake DeChristopher
2nd - Logan Thomas
2nd - Jaymes Brooks
2010
1st - Tyrod Taylor
1st - Chris Hazley
2nd - Blake DeChristopher
2nd - Jaymes Brooks
2nd - David Wilson
2009
1st - Ryan Williams
1st - Matt Waldron
2nd - Greg Boone
2nd - Ed Wang
2nd - Sergio Render
2008
2nd - Darren Evans
2nd - Sergio Render
2007
2nd - Duane Brown
2006
1st - Brandon Ore
2nd - Duane Brown
2nd - Brandon Pace
2005
1st - Marcus Vick
1st - Jason Murphy
1st - Will Montgomery
2nd - Jeff King
2nd - Jimmy Martin
2004
1st - Bryan Randall
2nd - Jeff King
2nd - Jon Dunn
The Hokies’ streak of 10-win seasons ended this year, though with Tech’s 17-14 win over Virginia on Saturday, head coach Frank Beamer kept alive his streak of 20 straight bowl appearances.
Groh, the former head coach at the University of Virginia, was fired from Georgia Tech after the team suffered it’s third straight loss this weekend.
Through six games, Groh’s defense was allowing more than 31 points a contest. Things had gotten much worse, however, during Tech’s current three-game losing skid, in which the Yellow Jackets have allowed 42, 49, and 47 points to their opponents.
After Saturday’s 47-31 loss to Clemson, head coach Paul Johnson decided it was time for a change and fired Groh.
For those wondering about the injuries to Virginia Tech wide receivers Marcus Davis and D.J. Coles, the ACC’s voluntary injury reports should be out tomorrow (every Thursday).
Virginia Tech has been pretty good at providing this information, so when we know, we’ll pass it along.
That being said, don’t be surprised if both sit out Saturday’s game, especially since Demitri Knowles, Corey Fuller and the tight ends played well against Georgia Tech.
TheACC.com’s Virginia Tech preview. Watch at least the first 30 seconds of this video (after the commercial). You’ll be glad you did. Here’s a hint: 4th and 1 from the Miami 19 yard line.
Virginia Tech defensive end James Gayle, a redshirt junior from Hampton, Va., was named to the 2012 watch list for the Ted Hendricks Award, given annually to college football’s top defensive end.
CBS Sports announced its 2012 preseason All-ACC team this week and three Hokies made the team; two on defense and one on offense.
(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Virginia Tech lands three Hokies on 2012 preseason ACC team
Hokies picked to win Coastal Division; Logan Thomas second in ACC POY voting
Greensboro, N.C. — For the fourth straight year, members of the media covering the Atlantic Coast Conference have Virginia Tech and Florida State playing for the conference championship in December.
