Saturday’s 31-17 loss to Syracuse has bumped the Hokies out of the Top 25 where the Hokies had been ranked No. 15 after being No. 25 the week prior when they throttled North Carolina, 34-3.
The Hokies may be (4-2, 2-1) but are no longer solid favorites to win the ACC Coastal. North Carolina are now favored to win the Coastal by 65%, Virginia Tech sitting at 22% and the Miami Hurricanes at seven percent.
First year head coach Justin Fuente understands what must be done to get the best from his players on a short week, and is excited for his first Thursday night game in Blacksburg, which traditionally is the most anticipated on the schedule each season by fans, students and the school in general.
“If there is anything to it at all, we played a bunch of Thursday night games at TCU while I was an assistant. I don’t remember how many. I paid close attention to how we went about things there, so at least I was able to formulate an opinion on how I wanted to do it when I got to Memphis,” Fuente said.
Syracuse may have pulled their biggest upset in recent history over the Hokies last weekend, but Fuente says they were not caught off guard or looking ahead to Miami on Thursday night.
“They ran their offense and their defense and executed it at a high level. Our kids played hard. We didn’t play well enough,” Fuente said on Syracuse’s success. “I don’t think our kids were overlooking Syracuse or looking ahead to Miami, we just didn’t execute and that is my fault.”
MIAMI LOOKING TO BUILD PROGRAM
Hurricanes defensive coordinator Manny Diaz was asked on what it was like preparing with three linebackers who are freshman, his response was simple.
“We’re taking this program somewhere,” Diaz said.
Fuente also gave the proper applause to Miami. “They have three freshman linebackers that don’t play like freshman.”
Miami, like the Hokies, come into Thursday night looking for a signature win. For Miami they should have a lot of confidence going into their big showdown with the Hokies.
Over the last two years the Canes’ have defeated the Hokies by a combined 60-26, including a 30-6 stomping over the Hokies in 2014 on Thursday night in Lane Stadium.
It’s a short week for the Canes and Hokies, but Diaz says that his defense isn’t worried about that.
“We’re not worried about that right now. We’re worried about changing the way the Hurricanes play and we know that if we continue to do that, eventually, we’ll get this program where we want it.”
HURRICANES AND HOKIES MATCHUP
When the Hokies suit up to face the Canes on Thursday they will try their best to hold off a program who’s has their number over the last two years.
The Canes currently have a two-game winning streak over the Hokies, the last time the Hokies lost three in a row was to Pittsburgh from 2001-2003.
You can view the entire Hokies and Canes matchup here: http://www.hokiesports.com/football/opponents/Miami
STARTING A NEW TRADITION IN BLACKSBURG
When Fuente took over the helm in Blacksburg for Frank Beamer he asked the former coach if it would be acceptable for players to wear his [Beamer] new number, without hesitation, Beamer agreed.
This week wearing the No. 25 against Miami will be Anthony Shegog.
Proud to announce @A_BasedGog will be wearing the 2️⃣5️⃣ jersey Thursday night!! #BeamerBall 🦃🏈 pic.twitter.com/EhvEZkdWZA
— Justin Fuente (@CoachFuente) October 19, 2016
If starting a new tradition with the Hokies football team doesn’t get you excited, then maybe taking a flashback to when the Hokies beat Miami, 38-35 on Thursday night back on October 8, 2011 will get you excited.
The Hokies and Canes rivalry goes way back before their ACC days, but one this for sure, no matter the records, no matter where the game is played, these two teams will do anything to beat the other. You can bet on Thursday night the Hokies and Canes will be one of the most intense and hard hitting games of the season.
LISTEN TO PREGAME
You can catch the pregame show with me over at http://espnblacksburg.com today from 5-6 PM EST.
