Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com NOV. 21, 2016 41 SUCCESSFUL SUCCESSION Replacing a coaching legend such as Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer with his 29-year reign (1987-2015) can be a thankless task at any school. The Hokie alumnus Beamer stepped down at the end of last season with 23 consecutive winning seasons and 23 straight bowl appearances, the longest current NCAA-recognized streak. He engineered eight straight seasons from 2004-11 with at least 10 victories. How ev er, th e "positiv e" for 40-year-old successor Justin Fuente is that in the last four seasons under Beamer the program had slipped to 7-6, 8-5, 7-6 (although one of the wins came at national champ Ohio State) and 7-6 again. Fuente arrived at a time when his arrival has meant revival. It's compa- rable slightly to Jimbo Fisher replacing Bobby Bowden at Florida State when there was a feeling of "this regime has run its course" after Bowden's last five teams finished 8-5, 7-6, 7-6, 9-4 and 7-6. Fuente thrived at Memphis, lead- ing the Tigers in 2014 to their first 10-win season since 1938 and fol- lowing with a 9-3 mark in 2015. He brought offensive coordinator Brad Cornelson with him from Memphis while retaining Bud Foster — who had been with Beamer from the start in 1987 — as defensive coordinator. The offense especially is loaded with playmakers, led by dual-threat quarterback Jerod Evans, who tossed 21 touchdowns compared to two in- terceptions during Tech's 7-2 start, possibly the best pass-catching tan- dem the Irish will have faced this season in All-ACC performers Isa- iah Ford and 6-7 Bucky Hodges, and running back Travon McMillian, a 1,000-yard rusher in 2015. The Virginia Tech defense has less star power, but on paper this still could be head coach Brian Kelly's most challenging Senior Day games in his seven seasons at Notre Dame, eclipsing the hard earned 23-13 win versus BYU in 2013 or even the 31-28 loss to Louisville in 2014. It is the first time Kelly and Co., might face a ranked team on Senior Day, which is always an emotion- laden afternoon. A victory on this day against a quality opponent would provide some salve, and salvaging, to what has been a trying campaign. ✦ GAME PREVIEW: VIRGINIA TECH The Hokies are loaded with offensive playmakers, including 6-7, 245-pound pass catcher Bucky Hodges. PHOTO COURTESY VIRGINIA TECH Predictions Corey Bodden: Virginia Tech 38, Notre Dame 30 Jerod Evans is having a very good year as a dual-threat quarterback and has two big-time targets to throw to in wide receiver Isaiah Ford and 6-7 Bucky Hodges. Notre Dame's defense has been better, but shutting down Ford and Hodges in the passing game could be too much to handle. Bryan Driskell: Virginia Tech 31, Notre Dame 27 Notre Dame will compete with the Hokies, but as has been the case almost all season the Irish will come up short in the end of a close one. Matt Jones: Notre Dame 35, Virginia Tech 24 The Irish play their best game of the season and beat the Hokies on Senior Day behind a good effort by quarterback DeShone Kizer. David McKinney: Virginia Tech 30, Notre Dame 21 Notre Dame will be looking to close out the home schedule with a win and take some momentum into the last game of the year in Los Angeles. That won't happen against Virginia Tech. Lou Somogyi: Notre Dame 31, Virginia Tech 23 Whatever I choose this year, take the opposite. Just a gut feeling the Irish will be up for this home finale and have their faithful muttering, "This is what they should have been like all year."