But the comparison to the '92 season is undeniable. VT led or was tied in the 4th quarter in 10 of 11 games that year, and went 2-8-1. They couldn't finish. That sounds hauntingly familiar.

The kids were fully in support of Beamer then, and in listening to the player interviews after this last really tough loss, these players are not casting stones or placing blame. They really seem united in their front as far as the team splintering due to the pressures that seem to mount with each close loss. That just doesn't seem to be the case from the outside looking in. And I think that means the team is still in Fu's corner, too.

And for the first time in how long, VT actually has a couple of the higher end homegrown kids in what is shaping up to be one of VT's best classes ever, at least according to the rankings. That in itself is a marked program improvement. If Fu goes, chances are the meat of next year's class disperses to the four winds without a home run hire, and no one except for Like Fickell, who we aren't getting has been mentioned with that kind of gravitas and resume.

Whit Babcock is going to have to earn his salary over the next six weeks.