I'm talking about ESPNU, who for some reason has suddenly decided to jump on the Hokie bandwagon. I was flipping through the channels last night before bed and came to rest on College Football Live, catching Craig James's top-5 list. To quote James:
"At number four I put Virginia Tech. I've been high on Virginia Tech, but, man, especially after last Saturday. What they did to Miami, a good football team, really impressed me."It should be noted that at #4, James has the Hokies ranked ahead of unbeatens Boise State and LSU, both of whom are ahead of VT in the AP and Harris polls.
After James finished up his top-5 (Cincy at #5), the camera cut back to host Dari Nowkhah:
"By the way, I love that he has Virginia Tech up there. That looks like a really good team."
What just happened? What is this "recognition" you speak of? It makes me feel awkward and uncomfortable.
But in all seriousness, this is what happens when Virginia Tech puts together all three facets of the game simultaneously. The national college football media, that rabid pack of frantically masturbating howler monkeys, is desperate for an elite team. They thought they had found one in Miami (and in all reality, they might have; don't sleep on the U the rest of the way). And after essentially being Jacory Harris's fluffer all week, the pimp slap Miami received on a rainy Saturday in Blacksburg made them sit up and take notice of what's going on in Blacksburg.
To end the tangent before we even get off on it, I could care less that Craig James has VT in his top-5. The rankings aren't important - not until at least week 8. What's important is the lesson here that the only thing that has been missing from Hokies football is a coordinated offense. As soon as there are signs of one emerging, the program starts to get some recognition as a truly elite team. And with recognition comes opportunity.
Bryan Stinespring, please pay attention.
