Quick 鈥� how many states are there in the U.S.? You might say 50, but technically you鈥檇 be wrong.
Virginia is one of four 鈥渃ommonwealths鈥� (Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts are the others) but the distinction is in name alone, although the term exudes something a little bit more special than the name 鈥渃ommonwealth鈥� would suggest.
No matter what happens this fall in the commonwealth, neither Virginia nor Virginia Tech enjoy being told they have much in common with the other. For Virginia, it鈥檚 a bit of 鈥渙ld school ACC vibe鈥� that has Cavalier fans believing their true rival is North Carolina (friends in Durham and Raleigh will beg to differ), while Hokie rooters believe a rival is one that beats you in football more than once every 17 years.
But past the initial reluctance, these schools do have quite a bit in common: Each head coach is in his sixth season with the school, and has guided his team to a Coastal Division title (and the corresponding loss to Clemson in the Championship Game). Each school is coming off a disappointing 2020 that saw multiple games moved, including one where the Cavaliers had made the trip to Tallahassee before Florida State canceled the game due to COVID-19 concerns.
They鈥檙e each of the mindset that last year was an aberration in an era where the program will contend for division title and lock up bowl berths on a regular basis. And even though 80 of 130 schools reach postseason play while every Coastal school has won the division since 2014.
Fuente’s Hokies look for a rebound season
Since taking the Coastal in his first season at the helm, head coach Justin Fuente鈥檚 Hokies have gone 19-15 in conference play. The Hokies return plenty of talent on both sides of the ball this fall, including quarterback Braxton Burmeister who started the team鈥檚 win over Virginia Tech last December. Two years removed from Oregon, the junior鈥檚 arm and legs will definitely expand the playbook.
鈥淵ou try to get Braxton to use some of that athleticism, whether that鈥檚 moving the pocket or creating plays to get him to kind of get on the move,鈥� Fuente said. 鈥淚 think the focus more so is not just what can you do, but why are you doing what you鈥檙e doing and how can you play to the strengths of those players.鈥�
Burmeister鈥檚 receiving corps returns almost intact from 2020 with Tayvion Robinson and Tre Turner (not to be confused with the former Nationals/current Dodgers infielder) stretching the field 鈥� and a full year in Blacksburg can only help.
鈥淚 feel like there were times last year where I was dropping back and wasn鈥檛 as comfortable as I should be with the offense and receivers,鈥� Burmeister said. 鈥淚 feel like I鈥檝e had a whole spring ball and fall camp to get on the right page and feel going into the season about it.”
They鈥檒l have to find a new primary running back after Khalil Herbert was picked by Chicago in the NFL Draft, with junior Raheem Blackshear providing a potential dual threat (288 yards rushing and 154 yards receiving last year).
The Hokies D ranked 10th last season in the ACC, and the defensive line is expected to spearhead that unit鈥檚 return to its previous form. Clemson transfer Jordan Williams likes the mix.
鈥淚 came in and I felt like I fit in right away with the guys, and we all got along right away,鈥� Williams said.
鈥淲hen you talk about effectiveness, you鈥檝e just got to go out there and make plays, and I feel like we鈥檝e got the guys up front in our room to be able to do that.鈥�
Junior Amare Barno (6.5 sacks in 2020) is the player to watch up front while the back seven boasts returning leading tackler Chamarri Conner at nickel back and Dax Hollifield at middle linebacker.
Virginia Tech begins the season by hosting preseason Coastal favorite North Carolina and pro prospect Sam Howell, but previous Labor Day weekends have seen showdowns with nationally ranked foes like West Virginia at FedEx Field and in Tallahassee at Florida State.
鈥淲e鈥檝e played in big opening games before. We haven鈥檛 really been a stranger to that, at least in our time here.鈥� Fuente said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know that it changes a tremendous amount.鈥�
The Hokies are 4-1 in openers since he took over. The rest of the month doesn鈥檛 lighten up as they鈥檒l visit West Virginia 15 days after facing the Tar Heels. No. 9 Notre Dame comes to Blacksburg Oct. 2, and Tech closes the season with four road games in five weeks.
Cavilers look to match ‘thrilling’ 2019 season
Virginia would have been hard-pressed to match a 2019 where the football team captured the Coastal after beating the Hokies in thrilling fashion (and that鈥檚 after a spring where U.Va. won national championships in men鈥檚 basketball and men鈥檚 lacrosse). The pandemic moved the game with Virginia Tech twice and wiped out a trip to Florida State the morning of the game.
Coach Bronco Mendenhall returns eight starters on offense and six on defense, and what was once the most volatile position in the ACC is becoming the most stable with Brennan Armstrong returning for a second season at starting quarterback.
鈥淎 lot of times as a first-time starter, you鈥檙e focused on your performance,鈥� Mendenhall said (he completed 59% of his passes for 2,117 yards and 18 touchdowns with 11 interceptions last year).
What is he looking for this year?
鈥淣ot only maintaining and improving the execution level in Brennan鈥檚 play in our offense,鈥� Mendenhall said, 鈥渂ut then applying it in context to defensive recognition and possible alterations of a given play.鈥�
The sophomore led the team in rushing last year, and although his legs can make plays, the hope is for Wayne Taulapapa and Mike Hollins to provide running threats.聽 Armstrong also gets his top two receivers back in Billy Kemp IV (6.7 catches per game last year) and Lavel Davis (25.8 yards per reception in 2020).
The defense allowed 30+ points in six of the team鈥檚 10 games last fall to allow the most points per game since Mendenhall鈥檚 first year at the helm. Linebacker Zane Zandier and his awesome nickname 鈥淶Z Stop鈥� may be gone, but linebackers Nick Jackson and Noah Taylor are back to extend his legacy.
The secondary returns three starters-including a healthy Joey Blount (five games missed with injury in 2020)-and looks to be much better than the unit that allowed the most yards per game through the air in the ACC.
鈥淨uite frankly in the world of college football, the secondary controls points.鈥� Mendenhall said. 鈥淚n that position you need to have enough quality and enough depth.鈥�
While Virginia also plays North Carolina in September, the team does have a pair of tuneup games in William & Mary as well as Big Ten West-bottom feeder Illinois. The Cavaliers鈥� date with Notre Dame is in mid-November (perhaps Fighting Irish fans can get a package deal on two flights to Roanoke this fall?) and the Cavs play three of the final four ACC games at home, including the Saturday after Thanksgiving against Virginia Tech.
We all know what happened the last time the Hokies went to Charlottesville, and if you don鈥檛 there are more than a few U.Va. alums who are happy to fill you in.
