Virginia

Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights: The Good, Bad, and the Ugly

Published

1 year ago

September 23, 2024

Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights: The Good, Bad, and the Ugly

It was Miliary Appreciation Day and a White Effect Game

The best part of the start of the game? The flyover by the three Army UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters to honor their fellow service members, and the swearing in of a large number of Army ROTC cadets.

Three Blackhawks flying in formation from south to north for a change.

John Schneider – SB Nation

You could tell something was off though because it was a day game, and they brought out the big marshmallow roaster effects and a smoke generator. The smoke was barely a poof here and there, and one of the marshmallow roasters stopped working after the first jet of flame.

Maybe that was an omen of some kind or another, but the Hokies even lost the coin toss, again. That is one that seems to be defying any statistical odds in the Spock notice that he was beating the computer at 3D chess.

There was just something off about the whole beginning of things. Even the rain couldn’t make up its mind if it was going to douse us or keep trucking to the southeast without doing more than block out the light and mess up the camera settings.

This G, B, and U isn’t going to be a long one. It unfortunately could be a copy and paste from the last one, and the one before. That’s going to be the final note, too.

The Good That Did Happen, Anyway

Bhayshul Tuten was listed as a doubtful by the media folks in the pregame shows. There were quite a few walking wounded including backup Offensive Lineman Laythe Ghannam so the already shifted around line was shifted around again. But the good thing that happened was that Tuten, right knee all trussed up in a lineman’s knee brace, was out on the field, dressed out, and ready to go. It ended up the best thing to happen for the Hokies in the game. Tuten accounted for 18 of Tech’s points on powerful long runs. He had 122 yards for an average of over 8 yards, and most of that was pretty evenly distributed. The truth is that without Tuten the team had almost no offense.

To go with Tuten’s runs, was the banged up offensive line. Lots of folks will still gripe about it, but the O-Line actually did the blocking for Bhayshul Tuten, and gave Kyron Drones more than enough time on most pass plays (not all, but most). The oddity here is that their run blocking has improved greatly even if it has made the pass blocking look a bit less accomplished by comparison. There is still much work to be done, but the Offensive Line wasn’t the major set of woes in this game on that side of the line of scrimmage.

Okay… Found Two ‘Goods’ but the Bads Cometh

As I told someone on the sideline as I was waddling back down the field to take pictures of the Rutgers side of the field after the Hokies’ first possession. “That’s it… That’s how we lose this one…

Another Wasted Slow Start

Bowen limped in, and the Hokies went three and out on three really poor play calls that were also executed without much enthusiasm. It’s almost like the players knew that they weren’t going to move the sticks when that ‘jet sweep’ to Jaylin Lane was clobbered just behind the line of scrimmage. Then 2nd and long was a dud that made up nothing and the third down pass was a total play breakdown and a throw short of the sticks that fell incomplete. It was a really disappointing start, and even as the defense stopped Rutgers for their own three and out, it just didn’t feel like when Tech got the ball back that they were going to do much of anything with it. Well, the bad went to worse as Lane, on review, was hit with a fumble on that punt return and Rutgers drove it straight into the endzone to score the first points of the game on the first embarrassing error.

The Old Turnover Bug is One Thing, Drops and Wasted Opportunities Abounded.

Tech struggled with hanging on to the ball when it had possession. Tech gave up 2 fumbles, and a critical interception that stopped the 2-minute drive to try to win or tie. Tech’s passing game was terrible. Kyron Drones had more than enough time to hit 3-4 second routes, but there were just none to be had. He was offered either screen pass patterns short of the line of scrimmage and nowhere near the line to gain, or impossible naturally low percentage deep balls that he ended up overthrowing. Drones did not have his best day, no. But his offensive coordinator did absolutely nothing to help him for the 4th game in a row. Drones did gain yards on a few purposeful runs, and some scrambles, but by and large the Hokie offense was one dimensional (and almost won on that dimension, alone).

Can you imagine what would happen if Drones had half of Rutgers’ QB’s pass patterns to throw? Rutgers averaged 10.8 yards per passing attempt. Tech’s average was 5.1. (That included several 3, I think but I haven’t watched the replay.) ultra-low percentage deep throws that were called with no real intermediate checkdown patterns. Tech would be at 3rd and medium (4 or 5) and just need to get the patterns past the line to gain to move the sticks, and somehow chose to throw impossible bombs. The big problem, there, is that Felton is struggling to get to the ball, and when he does get there, he’s having difficulty hauling it in.

Not Much Zebra Laundry, But What Was, Really Hurt

Tech was only penalized 4 times, but it was for 34 yards total. One penalty was a totally bogus pass interference call on Mansoor Delane which on the stadium replay showed nothing more than incidental contact that always happens on pass plays. The crowd protested, and nothing could be done, the Scarlet Knights got their much needed first down after that third and long, and frankly the situation stunk because of some other sketchy flags during critical plays.

What You Don’t Play, You Don’t Practice

Tech’s secondary was having a really tough day. Rutgers, when it wanted to, could drive the ball right up the field with a mixture of intermediate passes and only occasional rushes. The truth is that Tech’s run defense was pretty good, and held Rutgers to 2.9 yards a carry. And they lost 34 yards total. The team that was expected to run all over Tech’s defense didn’t. That might have been a “Good” that could be listed, BUT! Rutgers didn’t run, it passed for significant intermediate yardage, and when it needed to move the ball, it did at will, through the air. Tech’s pass defense was just not ready for that sort of challenge and is probably a hat tip to Schiano’s OC but should also be a real warning to the Hokie defensive staff. The secondary was just not prepared for what hit them, and they had trouble adjusting.

There is Just Too Much Ugly…

You can fill in the ellipsis with some list of issues that are really ugly things that are hitting this program. Have you ever been waiting for an elevator that just never seemed to show up? Yep, everyone has. It’s common in high rise situations. What do you do? You can stand and wait for the thing, doing something else, like talking up a friend or stranger. You can take the stairs, but if it’s an express to some high floor you aren’t doing that… so you get frustrated and keep punching the call button hoping that the danged machine will finally pay attention to you and the elevator car will magically appear.

Well, I feel like “that” guy. The ugly thing about this season, last season, and the season before… and before… that several seasons. This offense does not work! How many times does somebody have to slam their head against a brick wall before they figure out that what they are doing is not doing a thing to the wall? The play calling is poor. The game planning is impossible to call anything but pedestrian, and the plays, themselves, are right out of the first few chapters of a high school “Power Spread” playbook.

The offensive assistants (The Dancing Itos – are an OJ Trial reference and I am dating myself, I suppose) grind, gesticulate, glower, and wave away for 10 or even 30 seconds only to produce a lame dive-play that gains 2 yards. Or that ridiculous slot receiver jet sweep that opened the Rutgers game. If you wanted to go wide with an opening run, why not run a toss sweep to Bhayshul Tuten on the field side? Why follow it up with another lump into the line of scrimmage to put your QB, who seems to be struggling a bit this season, into a third and long situation where the defense can pin their ears back and make him throw it away or to a dump off receiver short of the sticks?

It all makes no sense, and the occasional gap busting gash run for significant yardage on one play does not make up for the 10 plays that were tanked into the line of scrimmage for little or no significant gain.

Not only that but this team has had several opportunities to close out games with 2-minute drill plays that put the ball in position to score quickly and there is nothing in the play cupboard that even approaches an effective 2-minute offense. A huge percentage of games are played to draws until the final five minutes of the game, and for an offense to not have a 2-minute drill is a glaring deficiency. The reality is that such a drill requires an intermediate passing game that this team has only made an accidental acquaintance of.

There are already full-throated cries for changes coming from the peanut gallery. Many aren’t even willing to wait for a new season. Currently Hokie Nation is in a mood, and it’s the last ugly, here.

Yes, the last Ugly is the mood that a huge chunk of the fanbase is in right now. They were sold a Cadillac only to lift the hood and find a sewing machine running a bondo plastered hooptie. That’s when fans get disillusioned and stop showing up and caring.

We’ll leave it at that, for now.

The Pictures are up on Facebook.

Friday, which is a terribly short time to prepare to be plucked by a team with a bird mascot, too. The road trip to Miami portends to be brutal. I see little hope that the game planning and play calling will “suddenly and miraculously” get better. Let us hope that the walking wounded list coming out of Coral Gables isn’t too long to put up a good fight against Stanford.

GO HOKIES!!!!

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Virginia

Virginia Sports Hall of Fame announces Class of 2026

Published

12 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

Virginia Sports Hall of Fame announces Class of 2026

HENRICO, Va. (WWBT) – The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2026 on Wednesday.

This year’s group of athletes, coaches, administrators, and contributors whose influence spans generations, levels of competitions across the state. This includes one man from Richmond, who has also been named the 2026 Distinguished Virginian.

The Class of 2026 inductees are as follows:

Bobby Ukrop (Richmond): Robert S. “Bobby” Ukrop has been named the “2026 Distinguished Virginian” presented to an individual with a sports background who is a distinguished citizen of the Commonwealth based on outstanding life accomplishment”. A former basketball player at the University of Richmond, Ukrop has been a transformative community leader, leading initiatives throughout Central Virginia including the founding of Richmond Sports Backers, construction of the Diamond baseball stadium, efforts to “Drown-proof Virginia” learn to swim initiative.
Grant Hill (Reston): ACC Player of the Year; two-time consensus All American; two-time NCAA Champion; one of the ACC’s 50 Greatest Players; 19-year NBA career – 17,137 points -7-time NBA All-Star- 3-time NBA Sportsmanship Award; Olympic Gold Medalist; member of the College and Naismith Memorial Basketball Halls of Fame. National broadcaster for both NCAA and NBA games. Co-owner of the Atlanta Hawks (NBA) Orlando City SC (MLS), Orlando Pride (NWSL) and the Baltimore Orioles (MLB).
Marcellus “Boo” Williams (Hampton): Widely regarded as one of the most successful and influential youth basketball coaches in the nation, Williams has helped shape the careers of countless young men’s and women’s players. Walt Disney Wide World of Sports named Williams its 2001 Volunteer of the Year; The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame presented him with its 2013 Human Spirit Award. Williams currently operates his youth basketball programs from the 135,000 sq. ft. Boo Williams Sportsplex in Hampton.
Michael Vick (Newport News): The former Virginia Tech standout and NFL quarterback, Vick became one of the most dynamic players of his generation. At Virginia Tech, Vick led the Hokies to the 1999 National Championship game and was a 1st team All-American and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. The #1 overall pick in the 2001 NFL draft, Vick played in the NFL for 13 seasons, earning 4 Pro Bowl selections and the 2010 NFL Comeback Player of the Year. After his retirement, Vick was a commentator for Fox NFL Sunday. He is currently the head coach of the Norfolk State University Spartans.
Wally Walker (Charlottesville): Often credited with starting the prominence of UVA basketball, Walker led the Cavaliers to their first NCAA tournament berth in 1976 when he was the MVP of the ACC Tournament. Walker was the #5 overall pick of the 1976 NBA draft and played for 8 NBA seasons winning two NBA Championships. Following his playing career, Walker moved to the front office, to become the President of Seattle SuperSonics.
Kristi Toliver (Harrisonburg): One of the most accomplished basketball players in Virginia history. Toliver was the 2009 ACC Player of the Year, a 2-time All-American, NCAA National Champion, 1st round WNBA selection, 2-time WNBA Champion and a 3-time WNBA AllStar. Toliver is currently the associate head coach of the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA.
Terry Driscoll (Williamsburg): A visionary leader in collegiate athletics, Driscoll served with distinction as the Director of Athletics at William & Mary for 22 years, during which the Tribe won 114 Conference Championships, had 118 teams with 100% graduation rates and oversaw a dramatic increase in funding for new facilities and the College’s endowment. A true “Scholar-Athlete” himself, Driscoll was an Athletic and Academic All-American, the #4 overall pick in the 1969 NBA draft, and a championship professional coach in Europe.
Roland Lazenby (Wytheville): A former reporter with the Roanoke Times, Lazenby is best known for his award-winning author of over 60 sports books that has vaulted him to the top of his profession. Widely regarded as an “expert or authority” on NBA basketball, several of his most prominent books are “go to” references on Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
Tony Bennett: Former University of Virginia basketball coach, two-time Naismith Coach of the Year, and national championship coach as long stood among college basketball’s most respected leaders. Over an 18-season head coaching career, including stops at Washington State and the University of Virginia, he compiled a remarkable 433-and-169 overall record. He took over Virginia in 2009 and transformed the Cavaliers into a powerhouse, amassing a 364- 136 record while becoming the programs all-time wins leader. His crowning achievement came in 2019, when his team captured the NCAA national championship- a milestone that delivered Virginia its first ever national title in men’s basketball. Under Bennett’s stewardship, Virginia won six regular season conference titles, two conference championships, and made 10 NCAA Tournament appearances.

The 53rd induction events are set for Saturday, April 25, 2026, at the Hilton Richmond Hotel and Spa/Short Pump.

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Feds want graduate nursing programs to reduce costs. This Virginia nurse worries changes will increase debt.

Published

24 hours ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

Feds want graduate nursing programs to reduce costs. This Virginia nurse worries changes will increase debt.

RICHMOND, Va. — University of Virginia graduate nursing student Nelly Sekyere worries that proposed federal loan cuts could prevent future students like herself from pursuing advanced nursing degrees that are helpful in filling shortages in underserved communities.

Sekyere’s parents moved to the United States from Ghana to pursue the American Dream. They worked hourly wage jobs to support their two kids and ultimately became licensed practical nurses, but they never had much money.

Nelly Sekyere

“My dad’s credit score was to the point where it was just awful. He had to file for bankruptcy. He was in so much debt,” Sekyere said.

Still, their children had big dreams and understood the value of hard work. Sekyere, who currently works as a nurse for a local health department, is now a student at UVA pursuing her doctorate to become a family nurse practitioner and to teach others who want to be nurses.

“I do plan to work in underserved communities and rural regions because that is something I am used to, and I feel that is where my expertise are needed the most,” Sekyere said.

She is able to pursue the doctorate because she qualifies for $200,000 in federal graduate degree loans. She said that without the loans, she couldn’t afford the degree.

“I would not. I physically could not afford it,” Sekyere said.

But future nursing graduate students like her may not be able to access as much federal loan money under graduate loan program changes within the One Big Beautiful Bill. Those changes would mean students enrolling in post-baccalaureate nursing programs would be eligible for half the amount of money in federal graduate loans they are currently allowed to take out.

Currently, they can take out $200,000 in federal graduate loans. That number would drop to $100,000 if the changes take effect.

“This impacts those that are pursuing a master’s in nursing, a doctorate of nursing practice or a PhD in nursing,” said Cindy Rubenstein, Director of Nursing and a professor at Randolph Macon College. “Those graduate programs actually prepare nurses to be advanced practice nurses whether that is a Nurse Practioner in primary care, midwives specialists, and also as educators and nurse scientists.”

On its website, the U.S. Department of Education states “95% of nursing students borrow below the annual loan limit and are therefore not affected by the new caps. Further, placing a cap on loans will push the remaining graduate nursing programs to reduce costs, ensuring that nurses will not be saddled with unmanageable student loan debt.”

Rubenstein said she understands the administration’s desire to control tuition costs and limit borrowing amounts. But she says the reality is that the proposal does not take into account the cost of key professional programs that we have shortages in.

“Health care training at the graduate level is more expensive than other training programs and other graduate degrees and that is because of the requirements for clinical practice,” Rubenstein said.

Both Rubenstein and Sekyere worry that reducing the amount of federal loan money a person can take out to pursue those higher nursing degrees will stop people from entering the programs because they either don’t qualify for a private loan or the interest rate is too high.

“I likely foresee in the future that graduate students are going to get themselves into private loan debt and with these programs there is no student loan forgiveness, there is no leniency, there is no income driven plans for you to be able to pay that back,” Sekyere said.

The federal loan changes are slated to take effect July 1 of next year. The Education Department is still working to define exactly which professional programs will no longer be eligible for the higher loan amounts and may make changes based on public comments.

CBS 6 asked Congressman Rob Wittman (R-1st District), who voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill, about the changes to the graduate nursing loans, and he sent us the following statement:

“Our healthcare professionals, especially our nurses, work tirelessly to serve our communities and ensuring pathways to training and education is essential. This proposed rule from the Department of Education has not yet been finalized, and there will be another opportunity for public comment. I will continue to monitor this situation as it develops and I remain committed to addressing the affordability of higher education.”

CBS 6 is committed to sharing community voices on this important topic. Email your thoughts to the CBS 6 Newsroom.

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Veteran environmental legislator David Bulova selected as Virginia’s next resources secretary

Published

1 day ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

Veteran environmental legislator David Bulova selected as Virginia’s next resources secretary

Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger moved Thursday to elevate one of the General Assembly’s most seasoned environmental lawmakers, selecting Del. David Bulova, D-Fairfax, to lead Virginia’s natural and historic resources portfolio when she takes office next month.Spanberger said Bulova’s decades in environmental planning and his legislative work on water quality, Chesapeake Bay cleanup and conservation policy make him well suited to steer the administration’s efforts on climate resilience, preservation and land stewardship. In announcing the choice, she framed the appointment as central to her agenda.

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