Virginia
Predictions, Insider Picks, Analysis as Clemson Tigers Travel to Virginia Tech
The Clemson Tigers are in desperation mode when they face the Virginia Tech Hokies on Saturday in their next-to-last ACC game of 2024.
Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. eastern at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Va., with the game to be broadcast on ESPN.
The No. 19 Tigers (6-2, 5-1 in ACC) are now a game back of both Miami and SMU in the ACC standings. And, if you’re paying attention to ACC tiebreakers, you know they do not favor Clemson at all.
The Tigers must win their remaining two ACC games and then either Miami or SMU must lose two of their remaining three league games. The three teams don’t play each other and the Tigers lose in the common opponents tiebreaker.
Virginia Tech (5-4, 3-2) is one win away from bowl eligibility, but the Hokies are basically out of the conference championship game. Watch the status of quarterback Kyron Drones. He’s questionable leading up to kickoff.
So who wins? Here is the All Clemson staff’s predictions for the game.
Clemson 28, Virginia Tech 24
It’s not going to be an easy game for the Tigers. Frankly, it’s not going to be easy the rest of the way. They not only have to win these last two ACC games, but the Tigers really need to win the remaining four games to finish 10-2 and enhance their credentials as much as possible to entice the College Football Playoff committee to take them as an at-large. Frankly, I think their chances to reach the ACC title game are toast. Yes, there is math that gets the Tigers there. But I just don’t see both Miami and SMU losing two league games, which is what the Tigers need. As for the game, I don’t see Clemson laying two eggs in a row on offense. But watch that Clemson run defense. It struggled against Louisville and the Hokies can absolutely exploit that weakness if it’s not shored up.
Clemson 27, Virginia Tech 24
The Tigers bounced back nicely after their loss in the season opener against the Georgia Bulldogs. I expect them to do the same this Saturday at Lane Stadium. After falling to Louisville, the team is no longer in the driver’s seat when controlling their spot in either the ACC title game or the College Football Playoff. The Tigers will undoubtedly need some help ahead, but that won’t matter in the slightest unless they keep winning. Cade Klubnik, who showed signs of regression last week, should also have a bounce-back game against the Hokies. Much like Memorial Stadium, Clemson is heading into a challenging atmosphere. It will be close, but ultimately, the Tigers will keep their postseason hopes alive.
Clemson 31, Virginia Tech 24
The Tigers got a taste of their own blood again last week and will be looking to bounce back with a solid week against the Hokies. Unfortunately for them, this is a gritty Virginia Tech team that can run the ball well and could spell some troubles for Clemson. While it won’t be easy, the Tigers should still be able to pull out the victory.
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — West Virginia has plenty of state symbols, be it the black bear as the state animal, the cardinal as the state bird or the rhododendron as the state flower, but did you know that the Mountain State also has its own official gun?
The Hall Flintlock Model 1819 was first manufactured in Harpers Ferry by John H. Hall in 1811 and was adopted by the United States Army in 1819, making it the first breech-loading rifle ever adopted by a country’s military.
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Model 1819 Hall Breechloading Rifle presented by Congress to Gustavous A. Bird for his participation in the Battle of Plattsburgh 9/11/1814 by John C. Bird via the Smithsonian Institution -
Model 1819 Hall Breechloading Rifle presented by Congress to Gustavous A. Bird for his participation in the Battle of Plattsburgh 9/11/1814 by John C. Bird via the Smithsonian Institution
All of this information is listed in Senate Concurrent Resolution 7, which was introduced and passed during the 2013 West Virginia Legislative session, and officially recognizes the Model 1819 as the official firearm of the State of West Virginia.
On top of being created in West Virginia, the resolution also points out that the rifle saw use during the Civil War, an event that directly led to West Virginia’s statehood.
While having an officially recognized state firearm may seem far-fetched, West Virginia is not the only state that has one. As a matter of fact, a fifth of the states in the country have officially designated a state firearm, including West Virginia’s neighbors in Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In this world of college football, with the transfer portal and recruiting battles, bad blood is present more than ever before between head coaches.
That’s not the case between the Virginia Tech head coach and Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, however. In fact, Franklin revealed at ACC Kickoff on Thursday that the two are actually close friends, dating back to their time at the Nike trip that various coaches take over the summer.
“Dabo’s my guy,” Franklin said on Thursday. “We go way back. We’ve been on the Nike trip for a long time. His wife and my wife are friends.”
The long-time Penn State head coach is making the move to the ACC after being fired from the Nittany Lions in October. 12 seasons of being with the program had Franklin hold a 44-21 record against top 10 opponents, an impressive record for a new conference foe of Swinney’s.
But when that trip comes around, there’s a camaraderie between Swinney and Franklin and both of their wives. In fact, the two hang out with each other instead of the other coaches at times. It simply comes to an “edgy” time in college athletics that raises tempers.
“I’m going to be honest, I wouldn’t say we’re necessarily like the type of people that love a lot of other coaches and a lot of other programs,” Franklin said. “It’s hard when you just compete year-round.”
On Swinney’s end, there are a few who could immediately come to mind among Clemson fans. Perhaps the most recent would be Ole Miss coach Pete Golding, who played the most significant role in the tampering of former linebacker Luke Ferrelli.
It’s a select list of coaches who make the good side of the Tigers’ head coach, and Franklin is certainly on that list. On the other hand, Hokies’ head coach has Swinney on his own shortlist.
“Obviously, tremendous respect for what he has built at Clemson and what he’s done at Clemson, and what he’s done for the ACC,” he said.
The two will see that close relationship face off at Memorial Stadium this upcoming season. Clemson will host the Hokies on Oct. 24 in what could be a potential title-eliminator for the ACC Championship.
Of course, the last game that we’ve seen the Tigers play in was against Franklin’s former team in Penn State at the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl. That game ended in a 22-10 contest that saw a foundation of Franklin players end Clemson’s season in disappointment.
Swinney will see many of those players once again in October, including starting quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, in that contest. The anticipated Hokie starter recorded 260 yards and two passing touchdowns on the Tigers in the Bronx that day.
Although friends become foes, another ACC coach has given Swinney his flowers for what he’s been able to do for the conference. In the upcoming moments, Franklin will look to prepare his team to prove itself on one of the biggest stages in the ACC, while Swinney looks to put his team back at the top of a conference he’s dominated for over 15 years.
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MARTINSVILLE, Va. (WSET) — Extreme drought conditions in parts of Virginia have prompted an emergency drought warning for a wide swath of the region, including Bedford, Campbell, Charlotte, Franklin, Halifax, Henry, Mecklenburg, Patrick, Pittsylvania and Roanoke counties, along with the cities of Danville, Roanoke, Salem and Martinsville.
The governor has warned that if conditions worsen, she will activate mandatory nonessential water-use restrictions.
In Martinsville, city leaders have issued a voluntary water conservation notice and are urging residents and businesses to cut back where they can. The request comes as local businesses that rely heavily on water say the drought is already affecting day-to-day operations.
SEE ALSO: Botetourt County residents adjust daily routines as voluntary water restriction continues
John Hughes, owner of John’s Car Wash, said the dry conditions have hit his business hard in recent weeks. “For the last 3 weeks, it’s been hitting pretty hard. We done three yesterday and haven’t done anything today with the drought and hot weather. Yeah, I’m really concerned about it,” Hughes said.
Restaurants are also feeling the strain. David Kitzmiller, an owner of Be Wiched, said water is essential for routine tasks such as washing dishes and preparing some menu items.
“We use a lot of water for washing dishes and some of our recipes if they limit us in anyway defiently can’t produce and its a scary aspect,” Kitzmiller said.
Kitzmiller added that cutting back is not always realistic for businesses that must meet sanitation needs. “Not really feasible for a business that depends solely relies on water to wash their dishes, so that can’t definitely be an impact there,” he said.
City leaders emphasized that the conservation request is voluntary for now, but they are encouraging everyone to do their part by taking shorter showers, turning off the faucet when it is not in use, washing only full loads of laundry, and limiting outdoor watering whenever possible.
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