Boo! Mailbag time.
Before I get to your comments, Allan in Honolulu and Wes in Atlanta pointed out a mistake I made in upset watch. Tyler Murphy did not run for 100 yards against both USC and Clemson. Thanks for keeping me accountable!
Robert Kelley in Midlothian writes: Thank you! This is the absolute best article that I have read about the Seminoles all year. I have followed the Seminoles since 1977. Last night in bed after the game, I was reflecting on the psychology of this team ... and the reaction of the media and opposing fans to it. We have become the antagonist or Darth Vader in a very unique college football season. In many ways we are Muhammad Ali. Playing rope-a-dope and looking like we are down and then coming alive to crush our opponent into submission. Almost saying, we are just toying with you. Anyway, keep up the great work! And I will say ... the ACC Atlantic with the future of Clemson and their quarterback and how Louisville played will be the new SEC West.
Andrea Adelson writes: It is pretty remarkable how different this team is compared to last year. These Seminoles thrive on adversity. They seem to welcome it, relish it and enjoy their new role as the team everybody loves to hate.
Kenneth Whitfield in Tallahassee, Florida, writes: "This Florida State team is not the 2013 Florida State team." But then, who is? Jameis Winston struggled with the worst half of his college career. His team was down 21-0 just before halftime. In this game he threw three interceptions, overthrew receivers and made questionable throws into coverage. He only had 401 yards passing.
Adelson writes: This is what Winston does best. He shakes off his mistakes and makes the big plays when it counts most. He has an intangible to succeed under pressure many players simply do not possess.
Robert Gastinger in Clarksville writes: Read your whole column this morning and not one tip of the hat from any of the FSU players toward Louisville. All about them and how courageous they are and what character they have. Their lack of humility and grace combined with their penchant for criminality is why no likes them.
Adelson writes: That is actually not true, Robert. I focused my column on how Florida State came back, so I did not have room to get in every quote from the Florida State players. Jameis Winston was highly complimentary of the Louisville defense, reiterating many times how well the group played Thursday night. Jimbo Fisher did as well. "They're a very good team," Fisher said. "They're coached well in all phases, they got very good skill players, big guys, and they've got big D-linemen. You saw that battle out there; that was a heck of a football game."
Mike D. in Hamilton, Ontario writes: Hey Andrea, I know you're not sold on Miami's D, but I'm curious to hear your thoughts on David Hale's article.
Adelson writes: David is our resident stat guru -- he breaks down numbers like nobody's business. What they show is Miami's defense is better. I wholeheartedly agree there. But better does not translate into elite. Maybe that expectation is too high, given the talent on the unit right now. I think what gnaws at people is the performance against Nebraska and Georgia Tech. Just because everybody else struggles to stop those teams should not give Miami a free pass. The Georgia Tech game probably is the most maddening example, because not only was that a very important conference game, it was a contest Miami had every chance to win -- and needed to win. The offense definitely shares in the blame for its mistakes and inability to convert on third down. But the defense could not make critical stops, either. There still really isn't much of a pass rush, and that remains a concern -- especially with the quarterbacks the Hurricanes are facing in the next few games.
Geoff in Madison, Alabama, writes: Hi, Andrea. Count me as one Hokie who loves your commentary! So I wrote you last year, pointing out the slow and steady five-year (and arguably longer) decline of the Hokies under Coach (Frank) Beamer. Earlier this year, I was astonished to read a quote from coach Beamer on how he didn't think (Bryan) Stinespring was really a problem but decided to switch offensive coordinators to make the fans happy. When he finally pulls the trigger, he gets the offensive coordinator from one of the worst offenses in all of FBS football. A team whose offense propelled them to the national championship with virtually the same cast the year following his departure! A very troubling sign, to say the least. And it appears that our offense is nowhere Auburn's was before he departed. I watched the Auburn/Mississippi State game live with two of my college-aged kids and saw some great football. Watching my Hokies play Pitt and Miami after that. ... it's like watching a high school football team. Our team lacks discipline and attention to detail; its play calling is far behind the times. Additionally, our coaches constantly build up expectations for players that either turn out to be marginal, or play marginally for us and go on to be solid in the NFL. These would all seem to point to poor coaching. All this leads me to my questions: 1) Does Coach Beamer realize how badly behind this coaching staff is? 2) Our AD inexplicably gave him a vote of confidence earlier this year. Has he changed his mind? 3) How much longer will VT allow coach Beamer to run our football program into the ground before they make a switch? 4) With an AD who couldn't see Beamer's flaws last year, do we Hokies fans have any reasonable hope that our AD can identify and hire a good coach? Thanks!
Adelson writes: Wow, Geoff -- we have a lot to cover here! First, thanks for reading. Always a treat to hear from loyal readers. I know Virginia Tech fans are disappointed with where the program stands right now, but I think fans also understand how tough this situation will be to handle because of what Beamer not only means to the program, but to the university and Blacksburg community. When I was in town last week for the Miami game, I ran across fans that are truly torn about what athletic director Whit Babcock should do moving forward. They seem ready for a change, but how does that change come about when you have to say good bye to the best football coach in school history? As for your questions: 1) Scot Loeffler was not Beamer's first choice, and clearly he was not the best choice. Nobody can say this offense has gotten better in two years. Maybe Logan Thomas will get let off the hook a little bit for last season because not much has changed without him. Does he realize the staff is behind? If he does, he won't say anything publicly. But I do agree many of the mistakes we have seen, and the inability for offensive players in particular to make marked improvements, falls on the staff. 2) Babcock has not changed his mind -- yet. 3) I think Beamer will get 2015 as his final "prove it" season unless things go off the rails and the Hokies finish 4-8. 4) I think Babcock does see the flaws. But I don't necessarily think he would have had the backing of the entire alumni/fan/donor base if he had kicked Beamer to the curb a few months into the job. Babcock has taken the right approach. He knows people are looking to see how he will handle such a delicate situation. Babcock is not somebody who will make a rash decision, and has the right temperament to make sure this process is handled as delicately as possible. PS -- He did hire Tommy Tuberville at Cincinnati, for whatever that's worth.