The first day of the ACC Kickoff is complete and on tap for today was the Coastal division. Justin Fuente, along with QB Josh Jackson and DT Ricky Walker represented the Hokies. For UVA, Bronco Mendenhall, WR Olamide Zaccheaus and LB Chris Peace appeared at the podium. We breakdown the highlights from today's media day.
Virginia Tech -
DT Ricky Walker
Both Ricky Walker and Justin Fuente were asked about incoming freshman LB, Dax Hollifield. While Fuente dodged questions by suggesting that he hasn't seen Hollifield practice, Walker said, "He's a bull. He looks like a bull." It's been well noted throughout off-season workouts that Hollifield is turning heads in the weight room. He was a five star recruit and one of the most coveted players during last year's class.
When asked about UVA making beating VT a priority, Walker audibly laughed and said "I guess." This is a testament to the current culture in Blacksburg. The Hoos haven't beaten Virginia Tech since 2003, and that's their only win since 1998. We're entering a time when local recruits don't even remember the last time this was a real rivalry. While this may sound foreign to many local fans, it's unfortunately the reality.
On opening at Florida State, Ricky mentioned that they have been practicing in sweatshirts to prepare for the heat. Early September is an incredibly hot time in Tallahassee, FL and it's likely to be very humid. Not to mention, FSU's crowd is notoriously loud, making Doak-Campbell stadium one of the toughest environments in all of college football. Bud Foster is making it a point to keep his defense uncomfortable.
QB Josh Jackson
The main topic for Josh Jackson was obviously his pending academic suspension, which didn't happen. He said he never worried about it and just tried to ignore the news until it sorted itself out. Additionally, he said there are some things "he just had to handle" but never mentioned anything specific. He looked slightly uncomfortable by the questions but retained control of the room.
Head Coach Justin Fuente
One of the major concerns for the Hokies coming into this fall is bouncing back on offense. Fuente mentioned that he wants Jackson to be more efficient and he wants to see more "chunk" plays out of his offense. He wants more "explosive" plays from both the passing and rushing attack. There have been concerns recently about Fuente's gameplans being too conservative, but he seems to be taking a more aggressive approach this season.
When asked about FSU, his biggest concern is opening with the Seminoles on a Monday night and then playing again on that Saturday. Even though the game on September 8th is against William & Mary, Fuente seems doesn't like playing a physical game with the Seminoles and having to turn around on short notice. Since the game is on a Monday night, the Hokies likely don't return to Blacksburg until Tuesday afternoon, which would mean only three practices until their home opener.
Back when Fuente coached at Memphis, Willie Taggart coached at South Florida. The coaches met three times and Fuente bested, the now FSU head coach, every time. When asked about this rivalry, the Hokies coach said, "There always tough, hard-nosed football games. He's going to do a great job at FSU. I wouldn't read anything into the USF/Memphis rivalry."
UVA -
WR Olamide Zaccheaus
Everyone seems to be excited about incoming QB, Bryce Perkins. When asked about the new quarterback, Zaccheaus said, "it's just a lot of one on ones for me." Considering how fast he can be, this should be really exciting news for Hoos' fans. If coordinators can't double team Zaccheaus, it will really open up the UVA offense.
When asked about his goals, he said, “Beat Virginia Tech and win a bowl game, not just go to one.” It was clear all day that UVA is making their rivalry with Virginia Tech a high priority. Last year, the Hoos' reached the Military Bowl but were smacked by Navy, 49-7. It's obvious this team not only is hoping for more but expects more.
LB Chris Peace
Peace mentioned that he toned up throughout the off-season, and was on a strict diet. The trimming of LB's is a recent trend in college football, mostly to counter the current wave of dual-threat quarterbacks and option offenses. Peace led the team in sacks last year, but may spend more time in coverage this fall.
Yet again, Peace talked about beating Virginia Tech as the "new standard." Of the rivalries discussed through the day, none was discussed as much as UVA/Virginia Tech. Mendenhall is apparently emphasizing the importance of winning this rivalry to not only the fans, but to the locker room.
Head Coach Bronco Menenhall
Mendenhall was first asked about the overall state of the roster, and he's incredibly excited about his defense, particularly the secondary. Keep in mind, the Cavs' defense ranked 7th in the ACC last season. Losing Kizer, Brown and Blanding will certainly not help Mendenhall's hopes. However, they do return three starters in the secondary and have a respectable amount of depth.
One of the more interesting answers Bronco gave was in regards to last year's mindset. He mentioned that "after year one, there was an entire re-calibration that had to happen and we were off." That re-calibration certainly provided dividends as UVA appeared in their fist bowl since 2011.
When asked about new QB, Bryce Perkins, he mentioned that he has "year 3 expectations but with a first year quarterback." Honestly, this answer was a bit confusing but perhaps reveals that there is real pressure to turn UVA back into a competitive team. While returning to a bowl was a good start last year, they cannot become stagnant. Even with a new QB, Bronco is seeking improvement. That could mean Perkins is on a short leash, and if he doesn't live up to the hype, could find his way onto the bench quickly.
Of all the quotes from the afternoon, the best one actually concerns another Virginia program. Bronco was asked about their home game with Liberty and said "I love the idea of intriguing and regional. Liberty is on a brand new path. It makes complete sense. There are a lot of options in our state. It fits exactly in the scheduling philosophy at this time." This should be really exciting for both Liberty and UVA fans as this could lay the groundwork for a brand new in-state rivalry.
