We hear a lot of talk about these next two football games being about the
Coastal Division, and whether or not the Hokies will get a chance to get some
revenge on the Clemson Tigers. The reality, however, is that these next two
games mean more than that.

Clemson can wait. We’ll cross that bridge when and if we get there. But think
about these next two opponents, UVA and UNC. We’ll talk about Virginia first,
even though they are last on the schedule. Virginia is the in-state rival, Mike
London is the new coach that everyone is talking about, and the Hoos think they
are gaining ground on the Hokies. UVA’s recruiting is picking up, and they’ve
even managed to steal a few prospects from VT this year, though the Hokies are
still having a great recruiting year.

In today’s what-have-you-done-for-me-lately society, winning and losing these
rivalry games can be important. If Virginia wins, it shows recruits that Mike
London has the program on the right track. If the Hokies put a beatdown on the
Hoos, then it’s “not so fast my friend”.

Besides, does anybody really want to face friends and family who are UVA
grads over the holidays if the Hoos manage to beat the Hokies? For the better
part of the decade, losing to UVA has been unthinkable, and you know that all
your Wahoo buddies have a lot of ammo saved up for the moment that it actually
does happen.

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