I
saw a lot of encouraging signs Saturday night for the 2009 Hokies, but I also
saw a lot more of the same-old-same-old. On the positive side, Tech played hard
and played with composure, and one new player in particular, Ryan Williams,
really stood out. But on the offensive side of the ball, the team once again
struggled with many of the same issues we have seen for three years running now.

Can someone explain to me why I picked Virginia Tech to win this game? Just
hard-headed, I guess, and full of preseason optimism. But after three straight
losses to three of the perennially more talented teams in the SEC — Georgia
(2006), LSU (2007), and Alabama (2009) — I’m finally ready to admit it: the
Hokies can’t play for 60 minutes with the big boys of the SEC.

Sorry to reiterate what you’re going to hear from SECSPN from now until
eternity, but it’s true. Virginia Tech has some talent and is a tough, gritty
football team, but the Hokies don’t have the sheer depth, size, and speed of the
top SEC teams. And offensively, the Hokies have now wet the bed three straight
times against quality SEC competition:

• Georgia (2006): 189 yards, 9 first downs
• LSU (2007): 149 yards, 11 first downs
• Alabama (2009): 155 yards, 11 first downs

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