Editor's Note: This article was written for Canespace by blogger J.W.
It’s not because of their winning record against Miami since 1995.
It’s not due to the fact that we have the indignity of being their only win against a team ranked in the Top 5 at the time of the game. (2003).
It isn’t even how their run of success against us began when they broke our QB’s leg (Ryan Collins 1995), or even how they defeated us in the de facto ACC championship game in 2004, the only time we actually competed for the title. No, hatred for Virginia Tech is more visceral for us.
We hate them mostly because of their attitude about us, prominently displayed when Assistant Coach Charley Wiles told Juwan Blue “You want to go to a program that wins bowl games, a clean program that dominates in the ACC.” To Wiley, Virginia Tech espouses all of these attributes while Miami has none.
For those who don’t remember this gem, Juwan Blue will be a freshman on the 2012 University of Miami football team. He verbally committed to attend Virginia Tech, realized that Miami offered him a better opportunity and was closer to home, and thus chose to sign his letter of intent with UM. Chalk one up for Head Coach Al Golden. Charlie Wiley accused young Mr. Blue of “lying to me,” taking a cue for the All-time Idiot Lou Holtz.
Charley Wiley said what we’ve all known. Virginia Tech is one of several schools that will use whatever negative recruiting tactics they can against UM to pluck talented young players whom they hope we overlook. And they think they are better than us; not on the football field, we would all concede that the most recent Miami teams have lagged far behind Virginia tech, but in the culture of their team.
Virginia Tech recruits against Miami by not just implying, but overtly calling us a dirty team. They hypocritically ignore the facts that for years, Va. Tech has had more players with a criminal record than Miami:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/the_bonus/02/27/cfb.crime/index.html.
Arrests for Viginia Tech football players have exceeded those at Miami for more than a decade as well. Miami may be the big bad city to anyone in Northwestern Virginia, but Newport News seems to have more than their fair share of characters as well. And we don’t need to name names, it’s not our style.
As for winning bowl games, Tech is 8-11 since 1993. They have lost their past two games, much like Miami did under Shannon (yes, we lost 3 in a row.) But let’s look at games that matter that is national championship games: Miami has won 5. Miami has lost 3, 4 if you want to count the 1994 Orange Bowl. VT has won none. And lost it’s only shot at the title (2000 Sugar Bowl vs. Florida State, 46-29). For a school that touts bowl wins, it’s funny that Virginia Tech’s best season (1999) wouldn’t be considered a special one for Miami. (See 1992 Canes, who finished 12-1 and lost to Alabama in the Sugar Bowl).
VT prides itself on staff stability, and while literally true, how much of this stability is due to loyalty as opposed to lack of opportunity for some of these guys? Tech’s offense hasn’t been noted for its creativity, ever, and when was the last time you heard a VT offensive assistant on any team’s short list for head coach? On Defense, Bud Foster typically has a very good defense, in regular season games. His name is bandied about as a coaching candidate every single off-season. Yet he never gets the offer, while others without the credentials do. (see UNC, Clemson, Maryland for examples).
As for developing talent at Virginia Tech, you don’t see toom any first-round draft picks coming out of the school; David Wilson became the 9th tech player ever selected in the first round in the 2012 NFL draft.
Anyone remember when Miami had 6 in one year? Or 14 years in a row with at least 1 first round pick?
Yet, this is the school that thinks we are unworthy. Yes, they fill their stadium against most opponents, but the school is located in the freaking town of Blacksburg! Blacksburg is 45 minutes from Roanoke, and closer to West Virginia then Washington D.C. They aren’t competing with world-class beaches, four professional sports teams, and a night life like no other in South Beach.
And don’t get me started on game day traditions. The Hokie walk to the stadium is a nice tradition. Jumping around like 5-year olds to a Metallica song stolen from Mariano Rivera isn’t. The Hokie is supposedly some kind of a wild turkey. Wow, a bird most famous for being rejected as the symbol of the United States of America. Too bad they didn’t have a bird brave enough to wait until the last possible minute to evacuate before a Hurricane destroys everything in its path close to Blacksburg.
Miami is not perfect, we have made our share of questionable decisions and will pay the price for the sins of a rogue booster that we may or may not have known more about in the near future.
However, Miami is still a King in College football:
Viginia Tech is not, nor is it on the verge of becoming one. Over the years that Miami has struggled, VThas still not been able to take advantage. Yes, they win conference titles. But national prominence always eludes. Tech's out of conference schedule is an annual joke, and the few elite teams they play typically find a way to win. And then there are the bi-annual choke fests against seemingly undermanned ACC teams. This is not the resume of a team that is better than Miami.
So yes, we hate you, Virginia Tech.
We hate your nickname, we hate your traditions, we hate those hideous uniforms, but mostly we hate your condescension. But now, we have a coach who is on to you, VT. He not only took Juwan Blue away from you, he nearly beat you, despite having no defense, a broken QB, and a roster of disinterested leftovers from the previous regimes.
As Coach Golden himself said, enjoy it while you can, Hokies. Golden beat you on the recruiting path, give him a couple of more years and we’ll see who’s better, and who’s best.
boing
Posted by: solarcane | July 17, 2012 at 09:16 PM
That was for you Soup.
Maybe around 250 FIRSTS by now?
Posted by: solarcane | July 17, 2012 at 09:16 PM
Hey soiler McGinnis ale. Give me the inside word....
Posted by: Mcginns ale house | July 17, 2012 at 09:22 PM
wad up Mc how you been doing? been awhile
Posted by: solarcane | July 17, 2012 at 09:27 PM
Al Blades (R.I.P.)
Posted by: HawaiiCane | July 17, 2012 at 09:31 PM
So, what's happening Monday?
Posted by: LB | July 17, 2012 at 09:36 PM
Thinking of a placing a bet solar...can we cover 7 wins?
Posted by: Mcginns ale house | July 17, 2012 at 09:44 PM
The bet is sizable, would like to hear how we will win seven.
Thanks
Posted by: Mcginns ale house | July 17, 2012 at 09:48 PM
That's open question to all canes fans? Thanks
Posted by: Mcginns ale house | July 17, 2012 at 09:50 PM
Not to sound "condescending"... but I will enjoy remembering this article when we beat you again, and again, and.... again. If it's any consolation, I don't dislike the Miami team or fans at all. I love Miami "sure bet" win week. See you I'm the green! :)
Posted by: Scott | July 17, 2012 at 10:06 PM
Nice article. Didn't we steal Lockhart from VT as well? Or am I wrong on that? Times a changin. We had that game last year and ahould have won it. There is a shift in the ACC and we are finally going to take our spot as the dominant team in the ACC and college football.
McGinnis, I think we will get to 7 wins.
Last season - average strength, below average heart, experience, lack of developed players, lack of interest/no motivation, NCAA sanctions
This season - Inexperience/youth, physically stronger, mentally stronger, more heart, more acclimated to system, no more drama, better team chemistry, competition for each position.
Compare the two and I say you will get 7 wins. I truly believe we will get to 8 potentially 9 but safe bet is 7. Among our victories will be hated VT.
Posted by: The What | July 17, 2012 at 10:19 PM
Mc,
I wouldn't bet on us winning 7 games at this particular moment. Like everyone here I think we will be in every game and if we got all the calls and all the breaks every game we could pull an upset and maybe finish with 7 or even 8 wins.
I'm not sold on our offense putting up a ton of points but if D Johnson could be what we thought Bryce Brown was going to be who knows.
Posted by: solarcane | July 17, 2012 at 10:32 PM
Scott...please tell us more?
Posted by: 86Cane | July 17, 2012 at 10:37 PM
Solar...U have the record with the MOST firsts ever in the history of Canespace. And now that U are back in action there is no hope for the rest of them! LOL
Posted by: 86Cane | July 17, 2012 at 10:38 PM
So, what's happening Monday?
Posted by: LB | July 17, 2012 at 09:36 PM
Cane-Ageddon.
Posted by: 86Cane | July 17, 2012 at 10:40 PM
pre83,
good to know you are still here and posting
Yea that was really me on the SS responding to the new beat writer.
I hope he does well, I tried to let him know Cane fans don't really care where a guy picked up his paycheck before he got here
monte, cgnc thanks,
great to see lots of my ole friends are still spacing out
Posted by: solarcane | July 17, 2012 at 10:44 PM
Solar...there are LOTS of old school Canespacers still here. And there are also a lot of NEW Canespacers here.
U will get the feel for it after awhile.
Posted by: 86Cane | July 17, 2012 at 10:49 PM
WURD ON DA SKREETZ IZ:
1. I guess I forgot to add Standish as a ballah that Al will have to keep workin to make sure he inks with Miami. What that ballah did at that camp was straight nasty. He just to da&# good to not have teams still comin after him. That boi is yoked the f up and could still put on 15lbs of pure muscle. Hes that type that could roll into the Gables and contribute right away. Aint no RS n that boi.
2. Before everyone gets all hyped with little Olsen just remember hes throwin to NJ speed and aint ready for Miami speed yet on either side of the ball.
Posted by: 86Cane | July 17, 2012 at 10:51 PM
So, what's happening Monday?
Posted by: LB | July 17, 2012 at 09:36 PM
Cane-Ageddon.
Posted by: 86Cane | July 17, 2012 at 10:40 PM
----------------------------------
Lol, THIS!
Posted by: Ohio_Cane | July 17, 2012 at 10:51 PM
Thinking of a placing a bet solar...can we cover 7 wins?
Posted by: Mcginns ale house | July 17, 2012 at 09:44 PM
THE ANSWER IS YES!
Posted by: 86Cane | July 17, 2012 at 10:52 PM
You guys behaving over here....?
Posted by: Hurri | July 17, 2012 at 10:56 PM
Thanks-- i will take it under advisement. I have faith but have to watch my
Money. Things are not as easy as yesterday.
Posted by: Mcginns ale house | July 17, 2012 at 11:08 PM
Posted by: Scott | July 17, 2012 at 10:06 PM
Its just a blog article. Something for the dead of summer. And BTW I don't remember seeing a crystal trophy in your case.....just sayin'.....
Posted by: CGNC | July 17, 2012 at 11:09 PM
Thinking of a placing a bet solar...can we cover 7 wins?
Posted by: Mcginns ale house | July 17, 2012 at 09:44 PM
THE ANSWER IS YES!
Posted by: 86Cane | July 17, 2012 at 10:52 PM
LOL 86 and I have been at 9 wins for several years, we should get it right at some point
Posted by: CGNC | July 17, 2012 at 11:10 PM
LOL 86 and I have been at 9 wins for several years, we should get it right at some point.
Posted by: CGNC | July 17, 2012 at 11:10 PM
AMEN sister.
Posted by: 86Cane | July 17, 2012 at 11:14 PM
Ale House...please email me at:
canespace86@aol.com
Posted by: 86Cane | July 17, 2012 at 11:17 PM
Did somebody say Ale House??? One of my fav hangouts....
Posted by: raizecane | July 17, 2012 at 11:22 PM
Raize...YES, we said Ale House!
I have a feature coming up with U and your buddies and other MAIN Canes fans as a central theme.
U gonna like it!
Posted by: 86Cane | July 17, 2012 at 11:28 PM
SOUP,
NICE----
write up on the last blog.
THE"U"
Posted by: Ucane | July 17, 2012 at 11:31 PM
U gonna like it!
Posted by: 86Cane | July 17, 2012 at 11:28 PM
*****************************************
Speaking of which...I am going to start making plans on what game we are attending this year so let me know what home games you plan on attending so we can meet up.
Posted by: raizecane | July 17, 2012 at 11:40 PM
Raize...VT or FSWho?
Posted by: 86Cane | July 17, 2012 at 11:42 PM
Not sure which game....need to get with the homies and see which one they can attend. FSU is going to be crazy from parking to finding decent seats for decent price.
Posted by: raizecane | July 17, 2012 at 11:52 PM
So what's happening Monday??
Posted by: Willie Will in Nashville | July 18, 2012 at 12:01 AM
This article really fails to understand VT. It is not in Northwestern Virginia, it is in Southwestern Virginia. In VA, there are two big state schools, the University of Virginia, which is a state school but caters to the elite. There is no VSU, ala FSU, but VT.
VT is the state school that the overwhelming number of good but not great students attend. A large number of these students come from the Northern Virginia/DC suburbs area. It is 4 hours from home so that a student can be a student but not so far away that kids get homesick.
There are many other excellent schools in the area of No/VA, in DC and Maryland but these are not state schools that participate in the VA pre-paid tuition program and so alot of students go to VT.
In SW Virginia, you have a wasteland of entertainment. You can drive on the interstate, I-81, and see signs that the area is a technology corridor, and there is not a building in site for miles. So college football is the ONLY game in town, and it is a BIG DEAL. They don't hate Miami personally, like UF fans do, and to a lesser extend FSU fans do. They just hate any opponent. That is a key difference in the rivalry.
Besides the DC area, VT recruits primarily the Virginia tidewater area, which is the southern east coast of Virginia. This is where Michael Vick came from. It is extremely poor part of the state and equivalent to Overtown or Liberty City except many of the recruits may be military kids. They also recruit heavily in North Virginia and Richmond.
Yes, Beamer will occasionally try to find a nugget in Florida but that isn't his standard Method of Operation. I am sure he was disappointed in losing Blue but it wasn't as big a deal as the article implies.
Beamer has great coaches. Period. And he is a great coach. The reason the balance of power has changed recently is we haven't matched it. When the QB ran for 20 yards on a fourth down QB sneak last year, it proved we still can't match his coaches. Hopefully, next year the talent will match the coaching.
Please don't demean VT and make it sound like UF or FSU. It is not. Plus, why do we need to hate and not respect our opponents? In our prime, we didn't hate anyone, we just fielded the better team. That should be our goal.
Posted by: SJMPARMAN | July 18, 2012 at 12:12 AM
2. Before everyone gets all hyped with little Olsen just remember hes throwin to NJ speed and aint ready for Miami speed yet on either side of the ball.
Posted by: 86Cane | July 17, 2012 at 10:51 PM
Greg will make sure he is ready.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjLDKIira1Y
Posted by: Montreal-Cane | July 18, 2012 at 12:30 AM
Hey 86 I e- mailed you bro
Posted by: Mcginns ale house | July 18, 2012 at 12:57 AM
Talked to a coach today that thinks
We are in real good shape with Thomas.
Says we really always have been. For what
It's worth.
Posted by: Mcginns ale house | July 18, 2012 at 01:01 AM
I like the sound of Cane-a-geddon.
Posted by: LB | July 18, 2012 at 07:04 AM
I hate to keep looking back, but...
http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/8175462/jerry-sandusky-scandal-penn-state-nittany-lions-trustees-passed-reform-2004
It adds context to our arguments for NCAA penalizing PSU.
Posted by: LB | July 18, 2012 at 07:08 AM
From yesterday. It may have been missed.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/umiami/2012/07/fisch-were-counting-on-duke-to-make-an-immediate-impact.html
Posted by: LB | July 18, 2012 at 07:10 AM
So what's happening Monday??
Posted by: Willie Will in Nashville | July 18, 2012 at 12:01 AM
-------------------------------------
Canes could (should) be getting a commit from another very good CB, Artie Burns
Posted by: Ohio_Cane | July 18, 2012 at 08:00 AM
Plus, why do we need to hate and not respect our opponents? In our prime, we didn't hate anyone, we just fielded the better team. That should be our goal.
Posted by: SJMPARMAN | July 18, 2012 at 12:12 AM
I liked your comment and saw you made several keen observations that were helpful. That was until I got up to this point.
This is where your train completely derailed. IF U talk to former players they will tell U that Miami's success was fueled by hate. Hatred of losing, hatred of the other team and the player lined up across from U. The players at UM went from hating losing more than anything else in the world and being completely devastated after a loss to saying: "Well the other team has players on scholarship too."
U might have heard a little something about Miami's "Us against the world mentality" back in the day? Well that all came from hating and being hated.
They had a saying: "EMBRACE THE HATE".
Some players have gone as far as to say that the reason Miami is losing over the last 6-8 years is that the players don't hate anything. They don't hate losing, they don't hate their opponent, they don't hate anything. A few former players have said that until Miami's players learn to embrace the hate they will not win again.
I know that sitting there on your high and mighty, holier than thou throne it may sound childish or petty but like it or not it is true that hate was and is the basis of little old Miami's success over the years.
EMBRACE THE HATE!
Put that in your pipe and smoke it!
Posted by: 86Cane | July 18, 2012 at 08:18 AM
Scott, I'm directing a performance of Richard McBeef for the stage, I'd like to offer you the lead roll in it.
Posted by: Turkey shoot for charity | July 18, 2012 at 08:41 AM
Papa Cane - 2014 WR Ermon Lane, an elite prospect out of Homestead, was offered by Alabama yesterday. FSU is his next stop. Expect same. Miami leads.
Posted by: Ohio_Cane | July 18, 2012 at 08:59 AM
Ale House...check your email, I replied.
Posted by: 86Cane | July 18, 2012 at 09:23 AM
Ohhhhh uhhhh, I won't say I hate VT...but I will saaaaay uhhh...PHUCK EM'!!! PHUCK EM'!!! is worse than hate, 10Xs WORSE!
I hate VT, more than I hate FSU,UF, and ND COMBINED!!!
And DeAngelo Hall is a SUCKA!, running up on A.Rolle when He was on crutches, on the sidelines, ya'll remember that.
They're fans are SUCKAS! to, if I recall correctly, they're the ones that dropped a beer keg on Randy Shannon's when He was the DC.
And ScarFace<------Shout out to my dawg OGV)is a SUCKA! to, slapping that young man on national TV, and allowing His ACs to threaten a teenager because He didn't want to go to your SUCKA-ASS! school.
In summary PHUCK!!! VT, and everything that they stand for.
Posted by: CaneRock | July 18, 2012 at 09:28 AM
Jimbo Fisher banned FSWho players from using twitter... Wonder why? Lol
http://floridastate.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1386312
Posted by: Ohio_Cane | July 18, 2012 at 09:42 AM
Good news for the Orlando Citrus Bowl: A $189 million make-over has been approved!
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-07-17/sports/os-mike-bianchi-citrus-bowl-0718-20120717_1_college-football-citrus-bowl-citrus-sports
Posted by: 86Cane | July 18, 2012 at 09:54 AM
"Jimbo Fisher banned FSWho players from using twitter... Wonder why? Lol"
Smells like Randy Shannon to me. Looks like that cupcake schedule is already causing problems?
:)
Posted by: LB | July 18, 2012 at 10:52 AM
This team more than any gives the reason why, a good stable coaching staff, helps teams win. AAH, Va Tech our albetros. If anything can go wrong, it does when we play these guys. They win, not so much with great talent, it's the coaching and they live off other teams mistakes, especially us. We look like punch drunks on dollar day. I watched us play them back, i believe back in 2002 or 03, in Blacksburg. They had aproximately 190 yds total offense for the game, we had somewhere near 325 and we get hosed 31-7. Hell even Marcus Vick threw a TD on Sean T, that game and I'm sure everyone remembers Everetts drop in the endzone when he was wide open. Last year for once we actually played a descent game offensively, only to see our dee- be a sieve. Anyway, you guys no the scoop.This dude wanted me to give his 3 year old a high 5, when they scored on us, even stuck him in my face. Little did he know, I was about another beer short of knocking them crubs on little Johnnie's bib down his throat, Nah I wouldn't of done that but they are irritating and listening to than dam gobbling all night, stinks!
They win because they don't lose games very often that they should win, unlike us and there're going to win 8 to 10 games most years, as long as Beamer is their and his lifers coaching staff stays put but they will never be us and win ships, they can only sniff and that's what winning 10 games is, sniffing.
Posted by: herbieibis | July 18, 2012 at 10:55 AM