Given the way that Virginia Tech flatlined in the second half of a humiliating loss last week, the Hokies might want to consider shifting their signature pregame hype song “Enter Sandman” to halftime.
Playlists aside, the Hokies (0-2) will look to play a complete game on Saturday when they host Old Dominion (1-1) in Blacksburg, Va.
In its two losses to Southeastern Conference programs, Virginia Tech has been outscored by a combined 48-3 in the second half.
In their season opener on Aug. 31, the Hokies surrendered two touchdowns in the fourth quarter of a 24-11 loss to South Carolina.
One week later, Virginia Tech saw a 10-point halftime lead go by the boards after surrendering 34 straight points.
The Commodores dominated the Hokies at the line of scrimmage, evidenced by a 321-21 advantage in yardage in the second half.
“I didn’t question effort,” Virginia Tech coach Brent Pry said on Tuesday. “I did question if the guys were tired.”
With a 16-23 record in his four seasons, pressure is ramping up on Pry, who now faces an Old Dominion opponent that handed him a humbling defeat in his first game as Virginia Tech’s head coach.
In the 20-17 road loss in 2022, the Hokies committed five turnovers and 15 penalties totaling 121 yards.
Pry expects a similar test on Saturday from the Monarchs and quarterback Colton Joseph.
Last week in a 54-6 romp over FCS North Carolina Central, Joseph threw for 257 yards and three touchdowns. In Old Dominion’s opener, Joseph rushed for 179 yards and two scores as the Monarchs kept it close against then-No. 20 Indiana in a 27-14 loss.
“He’s a competitor. He’s a quality runner,” Pry said. “They’re challenging.”
Virginia Tech aims to answer with its own dual-threat quarterback Kyron Drones. He threw for one touchdown and ran for another score to stake the Hokies to their lead versus Vanderbilt before he was swarmed by the Commodores defense in the second half.
On Monday, Old Dominion coach Ricky Rahne was asked about facing a “desperate” Hokies squad.
“I think it’s more about their talent,” Rahne said. “You just don’t want to lose. It doesn’t matter what your record is.”
Virginia Tech hasn’t opened a season 0-3 since 1992.
Old Dominion announced this week that linebacker Jason Henderson, who led the nation in average tackles per game in 2022 and 2023, is stepping away from football after sustaining a devastating knee injury last year.
