Who would have thought that there would be injuries among several key players in the ACC so early on in the season?! Well... I guess that is just the sport of football.

Of course, beginning with Virginia Tech, Michael Brewer is out with a collarbone injury in the home opener game against Ohio State. Similarly, East Carolina University lost their starting quarterback, sophomore Kurt Benkert, to a season-ending knee injury which happened during practice. Duke lost their starting cornerback, junior Bryon Fields, to a knee injury as well during practice. University of Miami's junior running back Gus Edwards is out for the season due to a foot injury. The Pittsburgh Panther's junior running back James Conner will miss the rest of the season due to a knee injury during Saturday's game.

It is terrible that so many prominent players in college football have all gotten hurt at the very beginning of the 2015 season. I would like to know your thoughts going forward. When do you think Michael Brewer will be back in action? Do you think all of these players in the ACC that are out with injuries will give us a leg up even though our starting quarterback is out? What do you think?

Guys, I just got off the phone with South Caldwell (NC) four-star OL Landon Dickerson, No. 59 in the Rivals100. As most of you know by now, Dickerson is the Hokies' top target left for the 2016 class and he was on hand for the game last night.

I spoke to Dickerson for a few minutes before the game, but wanted to get the full scoop on his visit. He said he didn't go to school today, since he got home at 3:30 and said he wouldn't have been able to focus all day.

This was the third VT game Dickerson had been to. He was also at the Georgia Tech and Virginia games last season. This time, Dickerson said what stood out was the atmosphere. "That's the loudest game I've ever been to," he said.

Dickerson said he spoke briefly with assistant coach Stacy Searels before the game. Searels summoned him and OL Pete Leota over to where the VT OL was warming up before the game. Dickerson said Searels told him how glad he was that he came and that he reiterated how much he hopes he's a Hokie.

Dickerson will be taking his first official visit this weekend, to Michigan. After that, he'll be taking officials to Florida State Oct. 10 and Auburn Nov. 28. He also plans to go to the Georgia/South Carolina game, as well as the Georgia/Tennessee game. No plans on a further cutdown or commitment right now.

Full story coming, but as always, what's posted here, STAYS HERE. Don't de-value your own subscription by giving away information to others who don't pay like you do. It's also a violation of our terms of service and will result in the termination of your subscription.

Guys, just wanted to say a huge thanks to everyone who came to our tailgate Monday! Uncle Tom (Hokies73) had the grill fired up as always and we had four trays of wings from Bull & Bones. It was great getting to socialize and talk with you guys and I hope to see you all at some point this season! If Tom will have us, we'll be going again before every game.

Gotta first take note that there has been very little "meltdown" on the board after Monday's loss to OSU. Might be a first time for this board!!!

I thought the defense looked really, really bad despite the obvious talent OSU possesses on offense. I can't remember the last time we had zero sacks in a game under Bud Foster. Our secondary, including Fuller, were beaten time after time. Our defensive line that has been hailed as maybe the best since 1999 was absolutely manhandled at the point of attack and our LB's had difficulty getting off of blocks and had very few positive plays. Hopefully OSU is just that far superior to everyone else in college football this year.

I thought Brewer was having a really good game before we lost him. The offense wasn't spectacular but it was very consistent and I give Loeffler some credit for making some pretty nice play calls. I think THAT was the team we expected, When Brewer went out that changed everything about what would or could have happened those final 2 quarters. I don't think the outcome would have been the "beatdown" that it ended up becoming.

Now that Brewer is out for an extended time, I'm firmly on the Dwayne Lawson bandwagon. He needs to get a crash course on that playbook and get on the field and LEARN...for next year.

I think this year can still turn out ok.

Especially since we came back from 14 puts down and led at the half.

I hope we made headway with some recruits in attendance.

Our Mike Farrell went over a few thoughts in college football this week, including where VT is overall as a program: http://rvls.co/1K8jh5W

Thoughts?

with a few good bounces we can make it to November a sneaky 8-1?

- should make it through September without losing. This will give whoever (personally I think it will be Lawson's show. Durkin is suffering back issues)

- open October at home with Pitt who is lacking James Conner - winnable

- next week is State in lane on Friday Night. Will be tough but again winnable.

Close with Miami and BC On the road. Is it really that far fetched to see this?

I walked away Monday thinking we have more talent at all positions than we have had in a long long time. Anyone who doesn't think our defense will dominate the rest of the year is just plain dumb. There is a reason bud is considered one of the best in the game - and it is because he makes adjustments. September is the month we figure it out.

Offensively I like our backs. I think this is Shai's show. We have talent catching the ball and our line play is better than it has been. Again, give it the month of September to let the QB play figure itself out.

Get to November at 8-1 and brewer back....who knows how this season could turn out it is a LONG season.

or burn the season?

With Motley we have zero chance at the Coastal this year. JMO.
I'm assuming the same with Lawson (and the other backups).

So, I'm asking, which one is most likely to start next year?
Given all that our coaches know and intuit, whom do they see under center @ Bristol?


CSL, earn your next raise, bud.

...makes me wonder what the hell is wrong with his other 4 slackers (we already know what's wrong with VT).

Here's our grades on the game. What's anyone else's thoughts?

http://rvls.co/1NiMUaa

This is a damn good team we have. We moved the ball at will after the first drive or 2. Mix in the few dropped passes we had and we basically did what we wanted to do with Brewer in there. I will say this, Brewer was way too amped up. A ton of his passes were a split second behind the receiver.

The defense started to get spent as the 2nd half progresses (ok, I know they scored right off the bat). I really think the loss of Brewer was the nail in the tire for the defense. He's a leader and we lost him. The defense knew we were doomed.

We bring back Shai this week. Hopefully we can see some hope from our younger QB's (specifically Lawson and Durkin).

Let's go! Hokies!

Guys, for those of you who can't make it to Lane Stadium, come chat with plenty of Hokies fans and follow along with what you can't see on TV. Chat starts at 7:30 pm in time for the 8 pm kickoff: http://rvls.co/1JNxzd3

so upset with the Holies defense! I understand losing to a tough opponent but the arm tackles seriously? They are trying to tackle a big dude and trying to arm tackle. Not saying we could have won but would have been much closer.

Listening to ESPN and all these analysis today is hard to take. Like we got blown out etc! We were moving the ball just fine and may got FG and or a TD on Brewers drive. The game clearly changed after Brewer got hurt. And that isn't being a homer. Gosh hard to take these guys with agendas!!

Judging by the media, 2 of the 4 playoff spots have been clinched after one week of season. Notre Dame and Ohio State has locked up 2 of the spots. I guess they'll give one to PAC 12 Champion, thus leaving SEC Champion, ACC Champion and one other team fighting for final spot. I look for Baylor and TCU to get screwed again.

What do you think? Do we see Lawson this week and does he take over the rains

Anybody actually going to the game? If not where are you watching it at?

I wanted to get tickets but too expensive for me this year. I have class at my school in NOVA Tuesday morning anyway, just wouldn't work out. I may hit Buffalo Wild Wings though, that's my favorite place to watch games. If not, I'll probably get some food here at the house with the best view possible, from the recliner

I have been looking forward to this game for awhile like many of you, hope you all enjoy the game and I sure would like to see VT come out on top again!!

Says they don't plan on redshirting him and he has certain packages of plays and said he has them down. Motley 1 durkin 2 lawson 3

Guys, as promised, I've been compiling the recruits who have said they will be attending Virginia Tech's game against Ohio State on Monday. This is a very fluid list, as always, guys will be changing their plans for various reasons. I'll be updating the list as I get confirmation. Recruiting coach listed at the end:

As always, what's posted here, STAYS HERE. Don't de-value your own subscription by giving away information to others who don't pay like you do. It's also a violation of our terms of service and will result in the termination of your subscription.

Official Visitors:
TE Jovani Haskins, Bergenfield (NJ), four stars, No. 8 TE, No. 9 in NJ -- Brown

Unofficial Visitors:
OL Landon Dickerson, South Caldwell (NC), four stars, No. 59 in Rivals100, No. 3 OG -- Searels
LB Jaquan Yulee, Indian River (Va.), four stars, No. 165 in Rivals250 -- ALA COMMIT -- Stinespring
DE Josh Brown, Mallard Creek (NC), four stars, No. 17 WDE, -- FSU COMMIT -- Beamer
DE Jimmie Taylor, Southwest-Onslow (NC), three stars, No. 25 WDE, No. 24 in NC -- VT COMMIT
WR Divine Deablo, Mt Tabor (NC), three stars, No. 72 WR, No. 18 in NC -- VT COMMIT -- Wiles
WR Phil Patterson, Bayside (Va.), three stars, No. 99 WR, No. 18 in VA -- VT COMMIT -- Burden
WR Samuel Denmark, Hanahan (SC), three stars, No. 12 in SC -- VT COMMIT -- Beamer
LB Tavante Beckett, Indian River (Va,), three stars, No. 21 in VA -- VT COMMIT -- Stinespring
WR Eric Kumah, Forest Park (Va.), three stars, No. 22 in VA -- VT COMMIT -- Foster
WR Ian Boyd, Apex (NC), three stars, No. 36 in NC -- Wiles
DE JaQuan Bailey, Raines (Fla.), three stars -- Wiles -- FLORIDA COMMIT
DT Jamari Logan, Booker T Washington (Va.), two stars -- Burden
LB Victor Greene, Courtland (Va.), two stars, No. 45 in VA -- VT COMMIT -- Foster
OL Pete Leota, Asheville (NC), two stars, No. 49 in NC -- Searels
LB Emmanuel Belmar, Collins Hill (Ga.), two stars -- VT COMMIT -- Gray
OL Thomas Jarrett Hopple, Nansemond River (Va.), two stars -- VT COMMIT -- Searels
DE Patrick Jones, Grassfield (Va.) -- Stinespring
Safety Devon Hunter, Indian River (Va.), four stars, No. 26 in 2017 Rivals100, No. 3 safety -- Stinespring
LB Justin Foster, Crest (NC), four stars, No. 43 in 2017 Rivals100, No. 2 OLB, No. 1 in NC -- Beamer/Foster
WR Ryan Jones, Mallard Creek (NC), four stars, No. 145 in 2017 Rivals250, No. 21 WR -- Beamer
DE Tyjuan Garbutt, Riverbend (Va.), four stars, No. 171 in 2017 Rivals250, No. 3 WDE -- Foster
LB Ellis Brooks, Benedictine (Va.), four stars, No. 212 in 2017 Rivals250, No. 15 OLB, No. 7 in VA -- Beamer
DT Grant Gibson, Mallard Creek (NC), four stars, No. 218 in 2017 Rivals250, No. 15 DT -- Beamer
Safety Derrek Pitts, South Charleston (WV), four stars, No. 226 in 2017 Rivals250, No. 17 safety -- Gray
DE Yetur Matos, Chancellor (Va.), four stars, No. 236 in 2017 Rivals250, No. 6 WDE -- Foster
DE Jake Lawler, South Mecklenburg (NC), four stars, No. 244 in 2017 Rivals250, No. 8 WDE -- Beamer
LB Dylan Rivers, Sherando (Va.), (2017), three stars, No. 11 ILB, No. 12 in VA -- Gray
Safety Xavier McKinney, Roswell (Ga.) (2017), three stars, No. 18 safety, No. 27 in GA -- Gray
DE Chase Young, Dematha (Md.) (2017), three stars, No. 11 WDE, No. 9 in MD -- Burden
OL Seth Harrell, Grassfield (Va.) (2017), three stars, No. 14 OG, No. 12 in VA -- NO OFFER -- Stinespring
OL TJ Moore, Mallard Creek (NC) (2017), three stars, No. 14 in NC -- NO OFFER -- Beamer
OL Eric Douglas, Mallard Creek (NC) (2017), three stars, No. 17 in NC -- NO OFFER -- Beamer
QB Shon Mitchell, Oscar Smith (Va.) (2017), three stars, No. 18 in VA -- Stinespring
QB Alex Faniel, Glen Allen (Va.) (2017), three stars, No. 19 in VA -- Beamer
LB Dorian Etheridge, Capital (WV) (2017), three stars, No. 3 in WV -- Gray
CB Jacobe Clement, South Mecklenburg (NC), (2017) three stars, No. 15 in NC -- Beamer
RB PK Kier, Millbrook (Va.) (2017), three stars, No. 17 in VA -- NO OFFER-- Gray
CB Madison Cone, East Forsyth (NC) (2017), three stars, No. 24 in NC -- Beamer
LB Rayshard Ashby, LC Bird (Va.) (2017), three stars -- Beamer
Safety Chris Hunt, Bayside (Va.) (2017), two stars, No. 23 in VA -- NO OFFER -- Burden
OL Stefan Touani, Oxon Hill (Md.) (2017) -- NO OFFER
RB Ricky Slade, Hylton (Va.) (2018) -- Foster
LB Teradja Mitchell, Bayside (Va,) (2018) -- Burden
TE Zack Kuntz, Camp Hill (Pa.) (2018) -- Loeffler
WR Daniel George, Oxon Hill (Md) (2018) -- Burden

In all the hoopla of the big OSU game, lost was the honoring of a Legend of Lane Coach Billy Hite. Thanks Billy for all you have done for VT. Also thanks Ann and kids for sharing Billy with the Hokie Nation. This was long overdue and well deserved.

Guys, I'm Facebook friends with Charley Meyer, who posted this photo with the caption: "Hey everyone Michael Brewer 's surgery went well today! He's feeling good and hopefully he will be back out there with us soon! He's one tough son of a gun!"

Any chance of that for Brewer?

It has been a issue for a while recruiting in the 757 and also started to lose ground in DC to Ohio State, Alabama and Florida state. There is no limit that the NCAA set for hiring support coaches, so why doesn't VT hire some top HS football coaches in those areas to improve our recruiting. If we hire the head coach from Dematha who constantly puts out great talent or Phobeus from the 757 that should drastically improve our recruiting.

Wanted to get everyone's thoughts...

During interviews today, associate head coach and running backs coach, Shane Beamer opened up his interview by immediatly thanking the fans for bringing the heat in Lane Stadium.

"I want to say a special thanks to all of our fans last night. That was unbelievable - that atmosphere. It is my 16th year of coaching, and I have never been anywhere where the stadium was packed for pre game warm ups, 45 minutes before kickoff. Our players fed off that and our coaches fed off that. I've been hearing form recruits that were at the game last night and all day today, and all they are talking about was the fans and atmosphere making a huge impression on them. Our players loved it. Certainly thanks to all of our fans. Wish we played better in the second half for Hokie Nation but that was an awesome enviornment last night."

Go Hokies!