College football analyst Josh Pate offers Virginia Tech fans hope following a stunning overtime loss to Vanderbilt on Saturday.
The Virginia Tech football team didn’t begin the 2024 season as they had wished, suffering a surprising 34-27 defeat against Vanderbilt. This loss sent shockwaves through Hokie Nation and the broader college football community. While it might feel like a disaster in Blacksburg, one national college analyst is urging fans to remain optimistic.
On a recent episode of his show, Josh Pate provided some encouragement for Virginia Tech supporters, reminding them they still have 11 games ahead, including their home opener this Saturday against Marshall.
“Does this signal doom for Virginia Tech? Not at all. It simply means the hype has deflated, and it’s time to put in the effort. As far as I see it, you’re still unbeaten in conference play at 0-0. You have Marshall this Saturday, followed by Old Dominion and Rutgers, and you won’t start conference play until September 27. The upside is that you have some time to regroup, but the downside is that your first conference matchup is against Miami on a Friday night.”
So no, things aren’t as dire as they seem, but after an offseason where fans embraced the culture being developed and saw success in recruiting, losing to Vanderbilt in Week 1 is, frankly, unacceptable. On Monday, four-star athlete Matthew Outten switched his commitment from Virginia Tech to Penn State. Is this just a coincidence? We may never find out, but if you think losing to Vandy was painful, how do you feel about one of your top recruits changing his mind just two days later to join Brent Pry’s former boss?
It wouldn’t be shocking if the Hokies bounce back and decisively beat the Thundering Herd on Saturday, nor would it be surprising if the game turns out to be close. What’s concerning is that Tech is favored by double digits again, and we all remember how the last similar situation played out.
Josh Pate is offering Virginia Tech fans a glimmer of hope, and for now, they should embrace it wholeheartedly.
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