Introduction…
When I think of Pittsburgh, I think of tough, hard-nosed, hard to beat. We know first hand. We’ve won one out of the last five with them. It’s just a battle. We have to pull our end of the deal in that situation, so that’s where we are. We have to have great practices, and we did. We had a great practice yesterday. Get ready to play our very, very best. We need to play the best we have all year, really.
On why Pittsburgh has had recent success versus Tech…
I think every year is different. What caused the first loss, second loss, third loss, fourth loss are different reasons. The bottom line is they are always a very physical football team, very tough. They don’t beat themselves. Tough team to beat.
On if he will talk about the recent struggles with Pitt…
Oh, absolutely. I think facts are facts. Know what you’re getting into. Sometimes you get thinking this or thinking that, and what we need to be thinking is that this is going to be a tough, tough football game.
On WR Joshua Stanford’s status…
He’s back within the football program. He’s working to get back on our football team, and we’ll leave it at that. It’s a football issue.
On if Stanford’s leave was his decision or the team’s…
That was a… well I’m not going to get into the “this and that.” He’s back in the program. He needs to do some things to get back on the football team.
On if CB Brandon Facyson will apply for medical redshirt…
Probably. He’s just still not right. I think you can keep waiting for the time he is going to be right, but there gets to be a point in time when you try to do what’s for sure in his best interest.
On if he roots for Florida State to carry ACC banner…
I think there is always pull for any ACC team against an outside opponent. Always do. And certainly pulling for Florida State to play well.
On if he can pinpoint why Tech seems to be playing better on the road…
Not really. And I think we said it here this week, when you get to be a good football team and have a chance to win championships is when it really doesn’t matter what day it is, what time it is, what team it is. Virginia Tech plays consistent their way. That’s been true over the years. Not being an up and down football team and having good enough players, you’ve got a chance to win championships. I think the crowd out there this year, the coaches reminded me that they opened up with Florida State last year and the place was full, excited and so forth. And I expect the same thing Thursday night. It’s an exciting atmosphere, you like being in games like that. Hopefully our team will know exactly how tough of a football game this is going to be.
On having CB Kendall Fuller to match against WR Tyler Boyd…
Yeah, Boyd is a really, good productive receiver, punt returner for them. Having Kendall on our side, I think he’s as good as it gets. Two good players going against each other.
On if he is concerned that QB Michael Brewer will run more given all of Tech’s injured RBs…
No, I don’t think you play timid…I think you gotta go play the game. Be good about when you need that extra yard for a first down or keep the chains moving, but use good judgment. Don’t take hits that you don’t need to be taking. He’s got a good head on his shoulders. He knows how to play the quarterback decision, and I trust him to make the right decision in that regard.
If there is anything the Hokies noticed about themselves during the week off through self-scouting…
No. We’re not going to talk about that. Let some other people do some work.
On physicality of Pittsburgh RB James Conner…
He’s a guy that’s powerful. He’s got enough speed, but I think the power is what you notice about this guy. Any time there is a great back, you need to have a lot of people going toward that football and tackle it that way. One man in the open field, he’s a hard man to tackle backwards, knock him back in the direction he came, that doesn’t happen to him very much.
On his philosophy to get players to step away from football in the off week…
I think mentally, resting your mind a little bit. It’s a grind. But what really pleased me is we came back yesterday and had a great practice. Sometimes when you are away, you come back and it takes you a little while to get right back into it. I think we understand what an important game we got and how much we have to practice for it to prepare for it. I was pleased to see us come back and I think really get into it.
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Typical response from FB. Pitt has had our number in the past, BUT this Pitt team lost to Akron and UVA. There is absolutely no excuse to lose this game. Period. We are a better team.
On what basis are “we a better team?” Almost every objective measure says we are about equivalent. And VT has a massive string of injured players.
Heinz Field has been a graveyard for the Hokies. I’ve personally been to at least 3 games there and we have yet to win one. Despite that, I’m going again. Hokies have played well on the road so far, and our bad luck at Pitt has got to flip. How many Hokies are making the trip?
We’ve only played there 3 times…2001, 2003, 2012, so you’ve been to all of them apparently
I would LOVE to go, but right now money is tight and I already have @Duke and @WFU lined up. Hope this turns out to be a great trip for you and that you bring back a Hokie win!
Question to general public:
Has Beamer ever said “Nah — we didn’t have a great practice; we need to have a better practice else we’re really gonna blow” or something like that? I understand it’s coach speak, but was just curious if he ever said something contrary to that.
To AXD1985- I have heard Beamer say on many occasions, that we were “ragged”, “sloppy”, etc. in practice, so yes to answer your question.
He needs to say quit the F-ing holding and false start penalties our you’re benched!
Yes, let’s bench every player that makes a mistake. I think we’re going to need to increase our travel roster from 65-95 or so, though.