Associated PressBLACKSBURG, Va. ó The Virginia Tech team that Marshall coach Mark Snyder talks about getting ready to play and the Hokies Frank Beamer is preparing to take the field sound like two different squads.
Beamer found fault with all three units of his team in their 34-24 loss to No. 4 Alabama last week, and cautioned those worried about the offense that the whole team has work to do.
“What’s important for us right now is that we get Virginia Tech right in all areas,” a beleagured-looking Beamer said this week. “I think our football teams needs to improve.”
No. 14 Virginia Tech gained only 155 yards against Alabama, turned the ball over twice on kick returns and allowed nearly 500 yards of offense as the defense clearly got tired late.
Snyder expects a different Hokies team today, especially with No. 22 Nebraska and then No. 20 Miami following the Thundering Herd (0-1) into Lane Stadium.
“They’re going to be jacked up,” Snyder said. “We are excited to go play, and our kids will come ready to play. I know coach Beamer won’t let them look past us to Nebraska or Miami,” he said.
Hokies tailback Ryan Williams, their star of the opener with 113 of those yards (71 rushing, 42 receiving and two touchdowns) said there’s no chance they won’t be ready.
“Right now we’re not really dwelling on the loss any more. We’re more focused on this saturday,” he said. “We still have a lot of high expectations. They’re not going to drop.”
Those expectations include challenging for the national championship, and wide receiver Dyrell Roberts said a key might be leaving those lofty goals in the locker room.
“If we just go out there and just play, who knows what can happen?” he said. “So this week, we’re just really thinking about not thinking as much.”