Virginia
Virginia Tech vs Minnesota: Final Score Predictions For The Duke’s Mayo Bowl
The Hokies are in their second bowl game in the second consecutive year, and this one is a huge test for Brent Pry. The Hokies are missing plenty of transfer portal entries, NFL declarees, and more. The Hokies opponent is tough too. Minnesota is in a great spot and P.J. Fleck is one of the best Bowl coaches in the country. He is undefeated in Bowl games as Minnesota’s head coach. The only two years during his tenure where he did not make a bowl game was the COVID year, and his first year as a head coach where the Golden Gophers finished just one game shy of six wins.
The Hokies path will be tough. Freshman quarterback William “Pop” Watson will likely get the start and the Hokies’ defensive staff will look much different, as Bud Foster will put on the headset. Although Pry said Foster will remain with the program, he will not be the Hokies’ defensive coordinator in 2025. Shawn Quinn will lead Virginia Tech’s defense for the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
Virginia Tech will likely be without twelve starters from the 2024 lineup, with the biggest losses being Aeneas Peebles and Antwaun Powell-Ryland on the defensive line. The Hokies will have to rotate plenty of defensive lineman in, even though Virginia Tech is short at that position. Honestly, there are some freshmen who will get significant time in this Bowl, even players who didn’t touch the field at all this season.
It’s not impossible, but it’ll be tough. The Hokies offense without Bhayshul Tuten has just struggled, he’s the indenture of the 2024 Virginia Tech’s defense offense. It’s not just Tuten that isn’t playing either. With the loss of multiple top wide receivers to the draft, Virginia Tech will again be playing backups at the wide receiver position, something that the Hokies did not do much of in 2024. Most of Virginia Tech’s pass production ran through their top receivers. There’s just so many missing pieces for Virginia Tech on both ends. Not having Dorian Strong, Mansoor Delane, Antwaun Powell-Ryland, and Aeneas Peebles all in one game means the defense will look much different. Missing almost the entirety of their starting lineup offensively will mean the Hokies’ offense will also look much different.
If the Hokies pull it off, it will be nothing like what we’ve seen throughout the season. Expect the Hokies to pass the ball more offensively, take more risks defensively, and just look like a completely different team. This game could go extremely well for Virginia Tech, or it could do the opposite. So much is uncertain about this game and it’s incredibly hard to predict.
Here’s how we think Virginia Tech’s bowl matchup against Minnesota will go.
Jackson Caudell (Publisher and Lead Editor), 8-4 record this year: Minnesota 28-17
Connor Mardian (Writer), 7-5 record this year: Virginia Tech 26-20
Phoebe Winters (Writer), 2-0 record this year: Virginia Tech 34-28
Kahlil McCuller (Writer), 7-5 record this year: Virginia Tech 31-28
RJ Schafer (Writer), 9-3 record this year: Minnesota 31-24
Dukes Mayo Bowl Predictions: SP+ Predicts Virginia Tech To Defeat Minnesota
Dukes Mayo Bowl Predictions: Oddsmakers Favor Minnesota, but ESPN’s FPI Likes the Hokies
Virginia Tech Football: Top 2026 target sets commitment date
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.
-
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.
Follow
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.
-
Illinois5 minutes agoHillsboro grad, Springfield golfer Alex Eickhoff 2nd at state amateur
-
Indiana11 minutes ago
Where to watch Seattle Storm vs Indiana Fever on July 17: TV channel, start time and streaming
-
Iowa17 minutes agoUS House Speaker campaigning in Iowa responds to President’s election fraud claims
-
Kentucky29 minutes agoJune unemployment rate shows slight increase in Kentucky Center for Statistics latest report
-
Louisiana35 minutes agoHow Louisiana football’s Lunch Winfield has embraced his QB1 role
-
Maryland47 minutes agoGreat nature trails for hiking, beachcombing on Maryland’s Lower Shore
-
Michigan53 minutes agoMichigan’s upcoming Aug. 4 primary: What’s on my ballot?
-
Massachusetts59 minutes agoNoah Kahan Backs Massachusetts Bill Limiting Ticket Resale Prices
