Saturday was a dreary, rainy day in Blacksburg, and I take that as a sign that the Football Gods themselves were mourning Virginia Tech’s Friday loss to in-state rival UVA that ended The Streak and Tech’s chances of an Orange Bowl berth.

I kid.  That’s typical Blacksburg late November weather.  I woke up this morning to a wind advisory notice on my phone, so Sunday wasn’t going to be much better.  But I’d take all of that with a smile on my face if I knew the Commonwealth Cup was still resting in Blacksburg.  Alas, it’s not.  The Hokies will have to win it back next season, and when they do, it’s going to be reeking of Zima and moldy cheese. 

Again, I kid.  UVA won the game.  They beat Tech straight up.  I can tip my cap to them, because it wasn’t a fluke.  They earned it.  Under Bronco Mendenhall, their No. 1 focus each and every year has become “Beat Tech.”  They even have a countdown clock to the game in their locker room.  They made that their No. 1 established goal, and they poured all their resources, including scheduling, to make it happen. 

I’m not mad about it.  I’m not even sure that I’m depressed.  I had mentally prepared myself to lose to UVA last year, and the Hokies upset the Hoos and won.  I mentally prepared myself to lose to them again after the Duke game, too, but then Tech turned their season around.  So being mentally prepared to lose to them twice in the last 12 months, I guess I didn’t take it as hard as some folks, even though I still expected the Hokies to win the game.  Last year I thought UVA was the better team, but Tech won.  This year I thought the Hokies were better, but UVA won.  I wouldn’t want to play last year’s game again, but I’d play Friday’s again.

...