Notre Dame’s ACC partnership yields a new opponent this weekend, as Virginia Tech and the Irish meet for the first time. After Frank Beamer took his alma mater to unparalleled heights and a national profile on the football field, he turned the program over to Justin Fuente, and the former Memphis coach has done big things in his first year in Blacksburg.
With transfer quarterback Jerod Evans behind center, Fuente has the Hokies offense back on track. Inheriting long-time defensive coordinator Bud Foster keeps Virginia Tech’s defense among the most aggressive and stingy in the country.
To get us ready for this weekend’s game, I’m joined by Faizan Hasnany, the sports editor for the Collegiate Times, the student newspaper at Virginia Tech. Born in Pakistan and raised in Northern Virginia, Faizan is a senior studying Business Information Technology with a passion for sports analytics.
In the middle of a chaotic week and a packed course load, he took some time to get us educated on the Hokies. Hope you enjoy.
* The change from Frank Beamer to Justin Fuente appeared (from afar) to be one of the best transitions from coaching legend to new leader. Can you speak to the job Fuente has done so far, and how he’s handled taking over for the guy who essentially built the Hokies into what they are?
Justin Fuente has done an incredible job so far taking over for Frank Beamer, and has really won over the fanbase at Virginia Tech. It was definitely a very smooth tranistion for him, since Beamer left behind so much returning talent on both sides of the ball and since the Hokies did retain Bud Foster at defensive coordinator.
The one thing that sticks out to me about Fuente is that he doesn’t show a lot of emotion particularly after wins and losses. He is a firm believer in going 1-0 in each week, a statement that is echoed by him and his players numerous times in every press conference.
* Jerod Evans is having a big season. His two interceptions against Georgia Tech doubled his season total and he’s thrown 22 touchdown passes while being the Hokies leading rusher. There were great expectations for the JUCO transfer before he arrived. Has he exceeded them?
Surprisingly, with Jerod Evans, despite being such a highly touted JUCO recruit, nobody was truly certain until the season started that he would be Tech’s starting quarterback. Evans and redshirt-senior Brenden Motley, who filled in as the starter for Michael Brewer most of last season, split first team reps throughout the entire offseason.
That being said, Evans undoubtedly exceeded expectations, and is on his way to surpassing Tyrod Taylor’s record for most passing touchdowns in a season of 24. He has also led the Hokies in every rushing category with 608 yards on 132 attempts and six touchdowns on the ground.
* Hiring Fuente felt like a coup for Virginia Tech. But getting Bud Foster to stay as defensive coordinator may have been even bigger. How has that relationship been, considering some people expected Foster to be the guy who took over for Beamer when he hung them up?
Retaining Bud Foster as defensive coordinator was huge for Virginia Tech. In addition to his abilities as a defensive coordinator and recruiter, Foster has also been important by just giving the Hokies continuity and easing the transition between head coaches.
The relationship between Fuente and Foster seems great so far, with Fuente granting Foster the freedom to just keep doing what he has been all these years as the main defensive playcaller for the Hokies.
* Tremaine Edmunds and Woody Baron are wreaking havoc behind the line of scrimmage for the Hokies, a combined 31 TFLs and 9 sacks between them. What do they do so well that allows them to be so disruptive? What other defenders will be key in slowing down DeShone Kizer and the Irish offense?
Both Woody Baron and Tremaine Edmunds are exceptionally athletic and quick at their positions, allowing them to get in the backfield with ease. Baron is very explosive off the ball and has great hands and technique.
Another player on the defensive end who will be a key in slowing down Kizer and the Irish offense will be Tremaine’s brother, Terrell Edmunds. Terrell has 61 tackles this year along with three interceptions and six passes defended and is extremely versatile at that rover position.
The lopsided loss to Georgia Tech seemed to be a huge let down. Was that a product of facing a triple-option opponent—something Irish fans know well—or an inconsistent team still learning how to play under a new head coach?
The loss to Georgia Tech showed on full display something that has plagued the Hokies defense consistently in recent years. Not specifically the triple option, but just mobile quarterbacks in general that the Tech defense has struggled with.
* Vegas has Notre Dame slightly favored at home on Senior Day, yet the Hokies are tied for 1st in the ACC Coastal division while the Irish are fighting for postseason eligibility. In the first ever matchup between these two programs, how big of a game is this for Hokie fans, and what does VT need to do to earn their eighth win?
This is definitely a big game for the Hokies being that it is the first matchup between the two and they don’t want to drop two games in a row at this point in the season, though it is probably a bigger game for the Irish, fighting for postseason eligibility. Since it is an out of conference match-up this game won’t have any implications on Tech’s chances at winning the division. Tech will need a consistent offensive performance up front from its line. Last week they allowed five sacks and were unable to create holes consistently to get the run game going.
