But then I got to thinking. What kind of garbage attitude is that? You know what doesn't make you a better team? Playing a shitty Penn State team. You will NEVER get better by scheduling cupcakes. Virginia Tech's rise to "prominence" is built on 10 win seasons over Austin Peay. But you know what happens whenever they play against a good team? They get boat raced. The wins they pile up from that garbage schedule they play looks good on paper, but ends up screwing them over. The idea that the way to build up your talent level is getting 10 win seasons over crap teams is ludicrous That's not how you build a team of tough-nosed winners, that's how you build a team of over-inflated egos. And to quote the great Mike Singletary, I want winners. You build up a successful team by challenging the big dogs, exposing the kids to that level of play, and challenging them to come meet that level. If you don't want to accept that challenge, get out, I don't need you. If you want to build this program to a nationally relevant level, this is how it is done. This is also a no risk situation for us. Lose, well we didn't really have a chance. Keep the game close, it's a success. Win? It's a game changer. A win over Oregon, or Alabama, or Stanford, is the inverse of a loss to JMU by an over-inflated Virginia Tech. It shoots the season into the stratosphere. The more games we play, the higher the level of execution that is expected on a weekly basis, and the easier it makes games against Wake, Duke, or Maryland. Our schedule this year includes Oregon, BYU, Clemson, UNC, and Miami. Five teams that should be very good. Five teams that we should strive to get to the level of. Five teams that will help us get to the level WE WANT TO BE AT.
I think Kendall disagrees with me, but I think building a program on a foundation of shitty wins is not a strong base. That makes you a program with a bunch of 10 win seasons, and 0 national titles. A team that is expected to lose in big games, and a perennial choker. Why do people think the SEC teams are so good? The schedule. We NEED these kind of games to get us where we want to go. We NEED to not be afraid of these games. Otherwise, we are shooting for mediocrity. So UVA fans, quitcher belly achin' and man up. Let's go hunt some duck.
I'm with Mike. UVA, in general (not just football) is way too much about using our head and not our balls. We need some cajones for once. I love it.
ReplyDeleteMike, I do not disagree with you. For the record.
ReplyDeleteNoted. Please strike Kendall hating from the record. He has seen the light.
DeleteA brief rebuttal, from Pierce:
ReplyDeleteI totally support playing top teams and the idea that if we want to get to that level, we'll have to play those level teams more frequently. I just think next year is an awful choice for the game. We're now down both Coordinators, coming of a terrible year. We neeeeeeeeed to make a bowl game - hopefully this is only year that's in doubt in the foreseeable future - but it's absolutely in doubt this year.
That said, I'm excited for a bigtime game and certainly the players/recruits are. I just did't see anyone after the home game v USC while back saying "this was worth it."
Reply from Mike:
DeleteI see what you are saying, but just as a point of reference that USC game the next season at the coliseum got us all giddy. To me it's a low risk, high reward game.
This may not be the best year to start it, but I think it's the approach we need to take.
Also the only thing I remember from the USC home game was almost having a heatstroke.
It's all in how you approach it and frame it. Frame it appropriately - we know we aren't there, but let's test ourselves and understand what it takes - it helps the kids. Frame it poorly and we look like clowns.
ReplyDeleteI'm in favor of it as long as the coaches can sell it correctly to both the current players and recruits. Low risk/high reward.