Virginia Tech Football Wishlist: 10 Series Fans Want to See in the Future
For the first time in a long time, Virginia Tech doesn’t have a big name program on its football schedule. This year, fans will have to back up a very soft schedule, both in and out of conference. The toughest out of conference foe will likely be East Carolina, who Virginia Tech desperately needs to stop playing – it does no good for the Hokies, and the toughest home game will likely be UNC on a Thursday night.
While Logan Thomas will certainly appreciate the time to settle in to game situations, fans enjoy the publicity and atmosphere that come against big name opponents. And the historic giants in the ACC haven’t been the same since the Hokies joined the league.
There are some great games already scheduled for Virginia Tech in the upcoming years but here are ten more fans would like to see.
Games That Will Be Played
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Pittsburgh: 2012-2013 – This revival of a Big East rivalry is another great series. Pennsylvania is full of recruits and the Panthers are continuing to get better. A new coach may change that pattern but Pitt has always played the Hokies tough and that likely won’t change.
Ohio State: 2014-2015 – This series reeks of primetime television and it’s a perfect fit for both schools recruiting wise. It really is a mutually beneficial series between two passionate fan bases that will be sure to test which stadium is louder.
Kansas State: 2014-2016 – This one is more of a head scratcher from a practical standpoint but it should be a good series nonetheless. This was most likely organized in conjunction with the basketball series where the Hokies traveled to Manhattan and the Wildcats will travel to Blacksburg this fall.
Wisconsin: 2016-2017 – Another fantastic series between schools that have a lot of similarities. Both have seen a fair amount of success in the last decade, both teams are defense-first and run the ball heavily and both have spectacular rituals involving jumping – Enter Sandman and Jump Around.
West Virginia
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Virginia Tech needs an out of conference rival every year and they had that it, West Virginia. The Black Diamond trophy used to be one of the most coveted trophies in the country, now the game isn’t played.
Conference realignment had a lot to do with the loss of this game but it was due to the unhealthy amount of animosity between the schools.
Assuming a massive brawl doesn’t break out at every game, this game against the Mountaineers should be played every year.
Texas A&M
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If it’s not West Virginia, it should definitely be Texas A&M. The schools had a series earlier this decade that was swept by the Hokies but fans still talk about it as one of the best and most friendly series they’ve been a part of.
The schools have a crazy amount of similarities, both have active Corps of Cadet programs, passionate fans, strong engineering and agriculture programs and great football programs. During the most recent conference realignment talk, the Hokies and Aggies were possible candidates for SEC expansion and would’ve been natural cross division rivals.
Given the bond the between the schools and a common repertoire of good spirit, this game would make an amazing neutral site game. The two logical locations would be New Orleans or Atlanta but my preference would be to have “The Friendliest Rivalry in College Sports” played in the Super Dome.
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Tennessee
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The next best option for a yearly out of conference rival would be Tennessee. The schools played in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl in 2009 and it was a matchup long overdue for schools that are only 4 hours apart and are essentially on the same highway, interstate 81.
Virginia Tech would be greatly served playing any SEC school other than Vanderbilt and the traditional powerhouse Volunteers are a perfect fit. Outside of their proximity, both schools have spectacular entrances that are generally considered to be two of the best in the country.
“The 1-81 Battle” would be a great addition for both schools. This seems more like a series that will happen at some point but it’s a game that should have been played for a lot longer.
Iowa
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The Hawkeyes picked up on the trend of playing Enter Sandman before games but hasn’t had nearly the success that Virginia Tech has had with the song and on the field recently. Iowa could take some pointers from the Hokie faithful on how to properly introduce their team because it’s rather boring.
Outside of the entrance similarities, Iowa is another great defensive team which would make the rivalry add a little something extra to it all. This is definitely a series game but it would be a fun series for both teams.
Penn State
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The Nittany Lions and Hokies have a lot in common and their coaches are two of the oldest and most well respected coaches in the business. It only makes sense that they have a series together before they both retire.
This game almost happened but the 2005 ACC championship derailed that possibility for the Hokies whose spot was taken by the Florida State Seminoles. But Virginia Tech and Penn State aren’t that far away and they share two of the best fan bases in the country.
Penn State could use some out of conference cred seeing as their only notable OOC game in the past 5 years was Alabama a year ago. Virginia Tech is still looking to make some inroads in the talent rich Pennsylvania. This game has the potential for turning into an annual event but it would be best as a home and home or a home-home and neutral game.
Oregon
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Two teams with great recent success that are constantly in a battle for top small stadium in the country. This can only end in a rivalry.
Outside of the fan bases, these teams could not be more different and neither could their coaches. But the fans and the country would love to see these teams go at for all of the similarities and differences mentioned above.
The Ducks just completed a series with Tennessee so a trip to Blacksburg is not at all out of the question. This is another game that would be a fantastic home-home and neutral series with the teams meeting in Jerry Jones Stadium for the series finale to put the fans head to head. It doesn’t do too much for either team in recruiting but would be a television magnet.
South Carolina
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This series just became a lot more interesting with the addition of Shane Beamer to the Virginia Tech staff. He was a coach and mega recruiter for the Gamecocks. Steve Spurrier and Frank Beamer are also two great coaches and both love their relatively underachieving teams.
South Carolina already has their out of conference rival in Clemson but a series would bring a lot of publicity to both teams given their superb entrances. Like Tennessee, South Carolina is in the SEC which can only help the ACC.
The Gamecocks may be reluctant to go into a series with the Hokies but the schools have a lot in common and aren’t very far apart. It wouldn’t be surprising if this game got scheduled in the near future.
Michigan
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These teams are very different though Michigan’s identity may change again under Brady Hoke. Still the one thing that draws these two teams together are the fan bases and stadiums.
The Big House is the largest football stadium in the world but they reportedly have some very quiet fans. The exact opposite can be said about Virginia Tech. This series would a challenge for both fan bases trying to outdo each other but would also be fantastic for both programs. Virginia Tech would be served well to play a big name school and Michigan could use a game against a big name opponent.
The game would have had another level of intrigue if former West Virginia coach Rich Rod was still on the sidelines for the Wolverines but new coach Brady Hoke will likely make the series more competitive.
Navy
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The military background should make this game between two close schools a no brainer. Given Navy is an independent school, it makes no sense that this game isn’t already scheduled.
Despite Navy’s recent woes, the Midshipmen would make a great addition to any team’s schedule. Additionally, Virginia Tech’s troubles with the triple option would be greatly helped by facing another team employing the same offensive scheme.
The Hokies play Cincinnati at FedEx field next year but it would make much more sense to be playing Navy at the same place. The teams have much more in common and now that Brian Kelly has moved on, the Bearcats don’t nearly have the same appeal they did a few years back.
Notre Dame
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Speaking of Brian Kelly, Notre Dame would be another great series to add. They are another independent team that could easily move a game or two to accommodate the Hokies.
This game is potentially more exciting than a matchup against Navy considering Notre Dame is on the up and up while Navy has plateaued at barely bowl eligible. Not to mention there would be more national publicity as well as an equally intricate background story.
The Fighting Irish are a tradition rich team who has struggled in recent years while Virginia Tech is just the opposite. But they both have a signature sign that they touch before they go out onto the field and fans that are very loyal and boisterous.
For more news and updates on Virginia Tech, the ACC and national college sports, follow me on Twitter @VT_CaceClosed.
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