The Resurgence of Virginia Tech Sports
It is January 2, 2017. Virginia Tech’s football team just capped off a 10-win season, and their Men’s basketball team is 12–1 and ranked number 21 in the latest AP polls. Yes, you read that correctly, a 10-win football team and a ranked basketball team. Are we still not good at basketball -cough cough UVa fans? I’ll just leave it at that.
As a diehard Hokie, the last couple of years haven’t been the kindest. After suffering through four consecutive seasons of 6 and 7 wins as a football team (this is suffering in Blacksburg, not Charlottesville).
Have we been spoiled for years of 10+ wins in football? Yes, but it’s been a gift from the football Gods. First-year head coach Justin Fuente (not a Mexican, contrary to Luke Marston’s belief) led the Hokies to their first 10-win season in five years. If you had told me this team would’ve won 10 games, including a win at Notre Dame (come on, it’s a win at Notre Dame), before the season started, I would’ve said no way in hell.
I think what makes this season even better is the fact that it was our ‘rebuilding year.’ If a rebuilding year yields 10 wins, I can’t wait to see what Fuente can do with a class of seniors that sticks around — best of luck and well wishes to Isaiah Ford, Bucky Hodges, and Jerod Evans as they pursue their careers in the NFL, it’s been fun to watch all of you over the years. To Coach Fuente and Co., thanks for the 2016 season, it was truly a gift as a freshman at my dream school. I’ll gladly take the 10 wins and hope for many more.
In year three of the ‘Buzz Williams Era’ in Blacksburg, the Hokies are ranked number 21 in the nation. Yes, clean your glasses, perform a spit-take and reread that. Do what you have to do. Virginia Tech Men’s Basketball is ranked 21st.
It’s the first time the Hokies have been ranked in basketball since November 2010. This Hokies basketball team is FOR REAL sitting at 12–1, going head-first in to ACC play. Had it not been for a tired performance in a beginning-of-the-season tournament out west this team could be 13–0 right now. Despite that ugly loss to Texas A&M, the Hokies have beaten New Mexico (4-loss team), Nebraska (6-loss team with wins @ №16 Indiana and Maryland), an SEC foe in Ole Miss (4-loss team), and the now former-№5 Duke Blue Devils. Say what you want about Duke playing without Grayson Allen, I don’t care.
This Hokies basketball team is for real (until I get let down in classic VT basketball tradition), and it’s a beautiful thing.
Going from the bottom of the ACC to being relevant again has been one hell of a ride, and I’m sure I’m not the only Tech basketball fan who is enjoying watching this team grow over the years. Now, I don’t want to jinx the whole season away, so I won’t even dive in to the rest of ACC play, I’ll just let our UPSET WIN OVER DUKE fade quietly just like ESPN did (*rolls eyes*), sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.
Also somewhat worth noting: VT Women’s basketball is undefeated and ranked in the Top 20, and VT Men’s Soccer made it to the Elite Eight. UVa, where you at?
JHokie out.
