The Hokies head coach is going reinforce a message to his team ahead of their opener at Vanderbilt Saturday.
Week 0 featured only a few games, but they provided many teams with valuable lessons. Virginia Tech was one such team, and head coach Brent Pry has a straightforward message for his players:
Preseason expectations are irrelevant once the real season starts.
Virginia Tech, which has been in the spotlight as a potential dark horse this season, has garnered significant attention due to its strong returning roster and key transfers. This has made the Hokies a favorite among analysts and writers as the season begins.
In contrast, other ACC teams like Florida State and SMU, also considered dark horses or potential conference favorites, experienced surprising results in Week 0. Florida State was unexpectedly defeated by Georgia Tech on a last-second field goal in Ireland, casting doubt on their ACC title and College Football Playoff prospects. SMU, a heavy favorite against Nevada, had to rally with 16 points in the final 8:01 to secure a narrow 29-24 victory.
Despite Virginia Tech being a significant favorite against Vanderbilt, which is currently rebuilding, Pry remains cautious. At his Tuesday press conference, he emphasized that preseason hype means nothing and that games are determined on the field. This is a message he will likely repeat frequently as they prepare for Saturday’s game in Nashville.