There’s a big difference between 3-1 and 2-2.

For the second season in a row, Virginia Tech had a chance to build momentum for the program, and for the second season in a row, they lost to an ECU team that made more plays and wanted it more.

It’s insulting to a football team and its coaches to say that the other team “wanted it more,” so I’ll put it a different way: for the second season in a row, East Carolina had an edge to them, made plays, and separated themselves from the Hokies with a superior will to win. Not a desire to win, because the Hokies have that as well … ECU had the will to win.

Last season, the Pirates finished a middlin’ 8-5, after looking like world-beaters against Virginia Tech (and a week later, against UNC in a 70-41 win). The same thing will happen to ECU again this year. They looked like a darn good football team against Virginia Tech Saturday, but they’re not. They’re not terrible, but they’re not very good, and making a bowl game is a borderline proposition for them. They’re 2-2 after the VT win, and they’ll walk that .500 line all season long.

...