Hey y'all from Blacksburg/Virginia Tech....

BburgHokie

Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2024
Messages
13
Reaction score
66
Points
13
looking forward to seeing you guys in Charlotte! Guys sitting out bowl games changes the dynamic, but I would think, all things being equal, you should come out on top in this one. I've watched the Gophers three times this season, including the Penn State game, and I just think you're a better team than we are. But we're glad to have a few more weeks of practice, play a lot of our younger guys, and have some fun in Charlotte. I've been to Minneapolis a few times and it really is a great city. Charlotte is an OK city, not a cool as Minneapolis, but you can definitely have a good time there for a few days. Anyway, we're looking forward to meeting you in Charlotte and hopefully having a good game.
 

looking forward to seeing you guys in Charlotte! Guys sitting out bowl games changes the dynamic, but I would think, all things being equal, you should come out on top in this one. I've watched the Gophers three times this season, including the Penn State game, and I just think you're a better team than we are. But we're glad to have a few more weeks of practice, play a lot of our younger guys, and have some fun in Charlotte. I've been to Minneapolis a few times and it really is a great city. Charlotte is an OK city, not a cool as Minneapolis, but you can definitely have a good time there for a few days. Anyway, we're looking forward to meeting you in Charlotte and hopefully having a good game.
Welcome, looking forward to what should be a competitive game. Have you guys gotten word of any opt outs yet for the game?

Our QB and one of our key graduating lineman have already said they are going to play. As far as opt-outs we are assuming our LT is going to sit it out since he got dinged in the last game of the season and is a good NFL prospect but don't think he has said any thing official yet.

For the most part our guys tend to pay in the bowl games under Fleck. Tradition of dumping a bucket of Mayo on the head of the winning coach is nasty but Fleck has said he is all for it :)
 

One of the really cool things about Bowl season is playing some team you are not that familiar with, and getting to know some of their fans. Va Tech and Minnesota have never met before. I have a brother who did grad school in Charlottesville. He says the Va- Va Tech rivalry is pretty intense! Looking forward to this matchup, and learning a litttle about the Hokies.
 
Last edited:




One of the really cool things about Bowl season is playing some team you are not that familiar with, and getting to know some of their fans. Va Tech and Minnesota have never met before. I have a brother who did grad school in Charlottesville. He says the Va- Va Tech rivalry is pretty intense! Looking forward to this matchup, and learning alitttle about the Hokies.
Could be that my friend is just an old school Virginia Tech fan, but I was told that Va Tech is not a preferred name. Maybe some of the visiting fans can chime in? IIRC correctly: Virginia Tech, or Tech is okay? Again. could just be a particular persons pet peeve?

Just hoping to be good sports. All Virginia Tech (Hokie) fans have been great people. Look forward to a friendly "rivalry".
 

looking forward to seeing you guys in Charlotte! Guys sitting out bowl games changes the dynamic, but I would think, all things being equal, you should come out on top in this one. I've watched the Gophers three times this season, including the Penn State game, and I just think you're a better team than we are. But we're glad to have a few more weeks of practice, play a lot of our younger guys, and have some fun in Charlotte. I've been to Minneapolis a few times and it really is a great city. Charlotte is an OK city, not a cool as Minneapolis, but you can definitely have a good time there for a few days. Anyway, we're looking forward to meeting you in Charlotte and hopefully having a good game.
Thanks. It should be a good game. Virginia Tech has a great tradition and Frank Beamer was a legendary coach. You've had a lot of good QBs over the years (Vick, Druckemiller, Tyrod Taylor) and Beamer's teams were always very physical. Haven't seen that much of Virginia Tech the past few years, but I know the Hokies will bring the lumber.
 

looking forward to seeing you guys in Charlotte! Guys sitting out bowl games changes the dynamic, but I would think, all things being equal, you should come out on top in this one. I've watched the Gophers three times this season, including the Penn State game, and I just think you're a better team than we are. But we're glad to have a few more weeks of practice, play a lot of our younger guys, and have some fun in Charlotte. I've been to Minneapolis a few times and it really is a great city. Charlotte is an OK city, not a cool as Minneapolis, but you can definitely have a good time there for a few days. Anyway, we're looking forward to meeting you in Charlotte and hopefully having a good game.
Do you have any thoughts on Bojangles, Biscuitville, or Cookout?
 

Could be that my friend is just an old school Virginia Tech fan, but I was told that Va Tech is not a preferred name. Maybe some of the visiting fans can chime in? IIRC correctly: Virginia Tech, or Tech is okay? Again. could just be a particular persons pet peeve?

Just hoping to be good sports. All Virginia Tech (Hokie) fans have been great people. Look forward to a friendly "rivalry".
Yeah, people on our message boards (techsideline.com), hate it when ESPN calls us Vah Tech. I have more important things to worry about than how they refer to us. We're looking forward to having a beer or two with you guys. Nothing to dislike about Gopher fans. I'm sure we'll all get along great. Hokies are good people, we're a friendly bunch. It's always great to play a team you've never played before and interact with a fan base you've never met. I know for a fact that Minnesotans are great people.
 



Minnesota played Virginia once in a bowl game several years back. I was kind of ho-hum about it. I'm really looking forward to the Golden Gophers facing a real football school like Virginia Tech.
Our team is so-so, but our fan base is great. Hokies are a great fan base, friendly people, just like you guys.
 


Yeah, people on our message boards (techsideline.com), hate it when ESPN calls us Vah Tech. I have more important things to worry about than how they refer to us. We're looking forward to having a beer or two with you guys. Nothing to dislike about Gopher fans. I'm sure we'll all get along great. Hokies are good people, we're a friendly bunch. It's always great to play a team you've never played before and interact with a fan base you've never met. I know for a fact that Minnesotans are great people.
Couldn't agree more with the bold if I tried!

Thanks for the feedback. Not sure that I will make it to the game yet. I am trying to make it work. If not for any other reason, but to send my friend and Virginia Tech alum a bowl game shirt.
 

Do you have any thoughts on Bojangles, Biscuitville, or Cookout?
Cookout is great if you like a ton of fried food, cheap. Seriously, you can pig out for like $8. Their milkshakes are amazing. Definitely get a milkshake. Bojangles is OK, I think Popeye's chicken is better, definitely spicier. Biscuitville actually does have decent biscuits and biscuit sandwiches. I would check the Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives website for a list of the good places to eat in Charlotte, for like bar-b-que and soul food, fried chicken, etc...Guy Fieri has been to Charlotte a few times and the places he's visited is on the Triple D website.
 



Our team is so-so, but our fan base is great. Hokies are a great fan base, friendly people, just like you guys.

Actually, in terms of computer rankings, VA Tech was the closest match to us among the ACC teams mentioned in the final bowl projections (Duke, NC State, and Tech). Our average ranking among the four rating indexes (Sagarin, Team Rankings, Massey, and Sports Reference) was 31.5 and VA Tech's was 34.5 so the two teams are considered very close in quality according to the indexes. Two of those indexes had Tech ranked above the Gophers. I was hoping for either one of the ACC "Techs" but we played GA Tech in a bowl in 2018 and never played VA Tech so I'm happy with the matchup.

Like your team, our team will have opt outs. They haven't announced definitively yet but they are expected. We did get a big boost when our 5th year transfer QB (Max Brosmer) announced that he was playing. He's been a godsend. He's not a long bomber but he's a smart, focused, and efficient QB who manages the game and moves the chains.
 

Mrs. spermophilus and I visited Blacksburg as our 1st stop of our tour of VA and NC in advance of the Gophers/Tar Heels game in September of 2023. We walked into Lane Stadium and snapped a few pix, and spent the night downtown and enjoyed a good meal and a beverage or two. Very scenic and intimate city (pop. ~45K). We did our best to spread, and leave behind, a lot of good Goldy karma!

IMG_7858.jpeg
 

Our team is so-so, but our fan base is great. Hokies are a great fan base, friendly people, just like you guys.
That's what we like, a bowl game that generates some fan interest. Looks like these teams have some things in common this season. Both had some close games that just slipped away (North Carolina, Michigan and Penn St. for the Gophers) and both somehow lost to Rutgers. Part of that will Rutgers was that our former QB is now the starter for Rutgers. He had something to prove against the Gophers and he did.
 

Welcome, looking forward to what should be a competitive game. Have you guys gotten word of any opt outs yet for the game?

Our QB and one of our key graduating lineman have already said they are going to play. As far as opt-outs we are assuming our LT is going to sit it out since he got dinged in the last game of the season and is a good NFL prospect but don't think he has said any thing official yet.

For the most part our guys tend to pay in the bowl games under Fleck. Tradition of dumping a bucket of Mayo on the head of the winning coach is nasty but Fleck has said he is all for it :)
Drones, who had been our starting QB is done for the season, supposedly he had surgery on an ankle, but nothing official ever came out on that. I'm not aware of any opt-outs yet, but I'm sure there will some. Bowl games just aren't what they used to be. Playing in these non-playoff games isn't a big deal to guys like it used to be. College sports is a whole different thing now.
 

Drones, who had been our starting QB is done for the season, supposedly he had surgery on an ankle, but nothing official ever came out on that. I'm not aware of any opt-outs yet, but I'm sure there will some. Bowl games just aren't what they used to be. Playing in these non-playoff games isn't a big deal to guys like it used to be. College sports is a whole different thing now.
Couldn't agree more but for whatever reason our guys seem to take pride in playing in the bowl games for the most part. Fleck seems to have a good approach to them, puts the focus on the young players during the leadup but still takes game seriously and puts value in game itself and our performance in it.
 

looking forward to seeing you guys in Charlotte! Guys sitting out bowl games changes the dynamic, but I would think, all things being equal, you should come out on top in this one. I've watched the Gophers three times this season, including the Penn State game, and I just think you're a better team than we are. But we're glad to have a few more weeks of practice, play a lot of our younger guys, and have some fun in Charlotte. I've been to Minneapolis a few times and it really is a great city. Charlotte is an OK city, not a cool as Minneapolis, but you can definitely have a good time there for a few days. Anyway, we're looking forward to meeting you in Charlotte and hopefully having a good game.
As long as you hate anything Wisconsin Badgers you're good people in my book.
 

I enjoy these threads that pop up early in the season with non conf opponent fans and then again during the bowl season. Appreciate the visit to our board and the posts.

Opt outs will indeed tell a lot and it is something we typically didn’t have to worry about in the past. It definitely puts a damper on the bowls. The Gophers have some critical players that we have not heard from on the topic yet and unfortunately it is often Fleck’s way to not announce stuff like that until the last minute.
 

I enjoy these threads that pop up early in the season with non conf opponent fans and then again during the bowl season. Appreciate the visit to our board and the posts.

Opt outs will indeed tell a lot and it is something we typically didn’t have to worry about in the past. It definitely puts a damper on the bowls. The Gophers have some critical players that we have not heard from on the topic yet and unfortunately it is often Fleck’s way to not announce stuff like that until the last minute.

It's always funny how we meet people from distant lands with open arms, but when we talk about Iowa or Wisconsin it's all "I hope your entire bloodline perishes in a fire!"

I guess familiarity really does breed contempt.
 

Brent Pry (Head Coach at Virginia Tech) was DC at Penn State (2016 to 2021). That may give us an idea of his style of play.
 

It's always funny how we meet people from distant lands with open arms, but when we talk about Iowa or Wisconsin it's all "I hope your entire bloodline perishes in a fire!"

I guess familiarity really does breed contempt.
To quote Aretha Franklin: "R-E-S-P-E-C-T" Or in this case lack thereof. When it comes to some Badger fans, they are convinced that Barry Alvarez invented football.
 

Minnesota played Virginia once in a bowl game several years back. I was kind of ho-hum about it. I'm really looking forward to the Golden Gophers facing a real football school like Virginia Tech.
UVa is not a football school and their fans are pretty pompous. I think you'll like us a lot more. In fact, I know you will.
 

That's what we like, a bowl game that generates some fan interest. Looks like these teams have some things in common this season. Both had some close games that just slipped away (North Carolina, Michigan and Penn St. for the Gophers) and both somehow lost to Rutgers. Part of that will Rutgers was that our former QB is now the starter for Rutgers. He had something to prove against the Gophers and he did.
we lost a bunch of close games this year. but i still honestly think you're the better team.
 

Welcome, looking forward to what should be a competitive game. Have you guys gotten word of any opt outs yet for the game?

Our QB and one of our key graduating lineman have already said they are going to play. As far as opt-outs we are assuming our LT is going to sit it out since he got dinged in the last game of the season and is a good NFL prospect but don't think he has said any thing official yet.

For the most part our guys tend to pay in the bowl games under Fleck. Tradition of dumping a bucket of Mayo on the head of the winning coach is nasty but Fleck has said he is all for it :)
actually, we've had a few guys opt out, entering the portal. mostly guys on defense. college sports is a cluster, between NIL and the portal. might as well just call it professional sports now.
 

actually, we've had a few guys opt out, entering the portal. mostly guys on defense. college sports is a cluster, between NIL and the portal. might as well just call it professional sports now.
We have that discussion around here all the time. To me though what is going on in college sports is way worse then professional sports. Pro sports has structure, rules....what is happening to college football and basketball is just chaos.
 

Couldn't agree more but for whatever reason our guys seem to take pride in playing in the bowl games for the most part. Fleck seems to have a good approach to them, puts the focus on the young players during the leadup but still takes game seriously and puts value in game itself and our performance in it.
i think we've had 8-9 guys declare for the portal since the weekend, no big surprise. i'm sure most of our team will play, but there's always going to be guys who are ready to head off to another program as soon as the regular season is over. i don't know how head coaches, football and basketball, have the ability to deal with it, unless you're at one of the schools with unlimited $$$.
 

Could be that my friend is just an old school Virginia Tech fan, but I was told that Va Tech is not a preferred name. Maybe some of the visiting fans can chime in? IIRC correctly: Virginia Tech, or Tech is okay? Again. could just be a particular persons pet peeve?

Just hoping to be good sports. All Virginia Tech (Hokie) fans have been great people. Look forward to a friendly "rivalry".
Copy that. VA Tech only moving forward. Noted.
 

looking forward to seeing you guys in Charlotte! Guys sitting out bowl games changes the dynamic, but I would think, all things being equal, you should come out on top in this one. I've watched the Gophers three times this season, including the Penn State game, and I just think you're a better team than we are. But we're glad to have a few more weeks of practice, play a lot of our younger guys, and have some fun in Charlotte. I've been to Minneapolis a few times and it really is a great city. Charlotte is an OK city, not a cool as Minneapolis, but you can definitely have a good time there for a few days. Anyway, we're looking forward to meeting you in Charlotte and hopefully having a good game.
I’m kind of impressed that you watched 3 Gopher games, the National standing of the locals must be improving!
 




Top Bottom