One year later
The Virginia Tech Football team is having its best start in the past five years of program history. The secret? Hokies Athletic Director Whit Babcock and his hiring of Memphis Head Coach, Justin Fuente. In a little under a year since his arrival in Blacksburg, he and his staff have led its team to an ACC Championship berth, the first for anyone on the roster.
Blacksburg, Va., Nov. 26, 2016-- WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE: Coach Justin Fuente Grins after his team defeated UVa 52-10 and clinched the Coastal Division Championship, sending them to the ACC Championship game the following week. Photo by Brooke Leonard.
By Brooke Leonard
The last time the Virginia Tech football team made it to an ACC Championship was in 2011. They were ranked fifth in the nation and were coincidentally playing against the #21 Clemson Tigers for the chance to be the best in the Atlantic Coast Conference. With a loss to the same team earlier in the season, the Hokies were 11-1, coming in hot to Charlotte to remain champions as they had the year before. By midnight on December 3rd, 2011, the Hokies had dropped to 11-2. So began five years of getting close, almost there, trying so hard, and barely making it.
Fast-forward to November 26th, a breezy fall day in Blacksburg, Va., where the Hokies took on in-state rival University of Virginia. In true Virginia Tech fashion, they slaughtered UVa 52-10 and kept the cherished Commonwealth Cup around for one more year. But that was not the only trophy presentation that evening- less than a year after Justin Fuente was hired (3 days less to be exact), the Hokies had a Coastal Championship trophy hoisted above their heads, and a ticket punched to the ACC Championship the following week.
What exactly could Justin Fuente have brought to the table to get a barely 7-6 record team adding win after win to that statistic? Senior Augie Conte explains that Fuente brought a, "younger, newer energy" to the team which a lot of players could relate to. This is Augie's fifth year in the football program and the first time he has played in an ACC Championship.
Cornerback Greg Stroman commented on Fuente's mindset, "I think he has a very aggressive and dominant mentality. I think he has a lot of confidence and that has been instilled in us."
While winning is everything this team has strived for, the game day experience is now heightened for Virginia Tech fans. Senior Helaina Dollins has seen slim winning records of 7-6 for her college tenure. This season has been an entirely different situation. "Going to the games are a lot more fun now. People are actually staying the whole time during the games, its just a fun atmosphere."
One year later, Virginia Tech football has begun to earn its name back, with Coach Justin Fuente at its helm.
This infographic shows Virginia Tech's road to the ACC Championship and the winning percentage of the team for the past 5 years.
