NEWS
UNCERTAINTY LOOMS AMONG HOKIES AND AMERICANS BEFORE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Virginia Tech students face personal dilemmas ahead of the Tuesday, Nov. 5 election and their choice to vote.
“I think we’re living in an extremely contentious time in the history of our generation, and I think whatever decision is to come a week from a couple days ago (Tuesday), will be a big turning point how U.S. politics progress, for the future of healthcare, our climate and immigration,” said Madelyn Nogiec, a senior majoring in European and transatlantic studies.
According to a poll by the American Psychological Association, at least 69% respondents noted that “the 2024 presidential election was a significant source of stress in their personal lives.”
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Virginia voting polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5.
According to the poll, categorized stressors from the study included:
- U.S. politics
- Health care
- Violence and crimes
- The environment
- Global tension/conflict
- Gun laws and regulations
- Housing costs
- Mass shootings
- The spread of false news
- Social divisiveness in the nation
Although some did not express a similar anxiety shared by many polled by the APA.
“I need to figure out who to vote for and I don’t think I’m nervous. I know it’s in God’s hands and whatever happens is gonna
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go well in the end,” said Zack Bowman, a senior majoring in chemical engineering.
Voting polls in the 2024 presidential election will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Virginia. Voters must present an acceptable form of identification when casting a ballot in person.
For more information on voting for Virginia Tech students, visit the Voting at Virginia Tech VT Engage: The Center for Leadership & Service Learning Virginia Tech website or Virginia Department of Elections website.
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NEW RIVER VALLEY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY TO BUILD MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN BLACKSBURG
Max Painchaud | news writer
Habitat for Humanity built affordable housing for low-income families within walking distance to Blacksburg schools.
On Oct. 30, the New River Valley Habitat for Humanity broke ground at 1200 Airport Road for affordable housing in Blacksburg. As WFXR Roanoke reports, housing in Blacksburg has become less available and more expensive.
“Affordable housing is one of the biggest issues Blacksburg is facing right now,” said James Drader, the Executive Director of the Habitat for Humanity project. In the past, Habitat for Humanity has organized and completed multiple projects of this type to combat the housing issue. According to Drader, this project is their second project of its kind in four years.
Habitat for Humanity plans to build 11 multi-family houses with this project. As WFXR Roanoke explains, these houses are designed to be affordable for low-income families so that no more than one-third of their paycheck goes toward housing expenses.
In Drader’s opening speech during the groundbreaking, he stated, “Today, we break ground on 11 new townhomes, each designed carefully: three bedrooms, two bathrooms, built to sustainable EarthCraft standards, and solar powered.”
“EarthCraft serves as a blueprint for energy, water and resource efficient buildings throughout the Southeast,” according to the EarthCraft website. EarthCraft homes include:
- “Built-in ventilation systems that provide fresh air and reduce moisture and the potential of mold”
- “Lower operating and maintenance costs” for lower utility bills
- A design “to maximize indoor air quality and minimize exposure to airborne toxic and pollutants.”
The housing units will be built within walkable
distance from Virginia Tech, as well as schools and workplaces for Blacksburg community members.
On Tuesday, Oct. 30, Habitat for Humanity started their 18-month campaign to raise $90,000 per unit for the development, this cost helping to ensure housing continues to be affordable through this program, as Drader’s speech explained.
In the past, and for this upcoming housing project, members of both the Blacksburg and Virginia Tech community played vital roles in making these projects achievable.
“The Corps [of] Cadets, sororities, fraternities and really, and mix of VT students and Blacksburg community members have assisted these projects in the past. We plan to see these same groups of students, and even more help with this housing project, it’s tremendously helpful,” Drader stated.
While the project is just starting, Drader explained that this project may take some time to complete.
According to Drader, In the future, Habitat for Humanity plans to continue facilitating projects that make Blacksburg prosper and beneficial to community members.
Blacksburg community members and Virginia Tech students who want to help with this housing project — financially or through volunteering — can contact Drader at 540-381-1144, or New River Valley Habitat for Humanity at habitatnrv. org. @COLLEGIATETIMES
OPINIONS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GENDER IDENTITY AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION: LGB AND TQ+
Jenna Mason | opinions editor
Changing needs in a changing society necessitate new distinctions among LGBTQ+ communities.
Same-gender attractions have been around for centuries. The development of the LGBTQ+ community has been going on since the early 1900s. As time went on, more and more were slowly attached to the ongoing spectrum, changing the original group from being based on sexual preferences to sexual and queer identities; however, it may be time for the LGB to split from the TQ+.
The acronym began with including lesbianism, which was associated with the works of Sappho from the 6th century B.C., after that both homosexuality and bisexuality became more popular in the 19th century. When the 1960s rolled around, the term “gay” was reclaimed from being a slur and transformed into being a way of saying your sexual preference. It wasn’t until the 1990s that the
“T” was added to the community-claimed acronym, LGB. This began the shift of having a group of different sexual preferences to including minoritized personal gender identities. Some might even think that both sexual orientation and gender identity go hand in hand, but in reality, the two are not the same and should not be grouped together.
According to GenderGP, sexual orientation, or sexuality, involves love and attraction towards another person. This love could be with a different gender, the same, all or none; meanwhile, gender identity is the way one defines themselves via sex assigned at birth or not. The difference between the two proves the essential need for two groups. When it comes to the “queer” community, it’s most commonly used as an umbrella term
for those who are a part of the LGBTQ+ group. Although, what does being queer actually mean? Vanderbilt Student Affairs relays that the definition of queer is “a multi-faceted word that is used in different ways and means different things to different people.” This can include but is not limited to the following: the physical or emotional attraction to people of many genders, those who don’t conform to societal and cultural norms about gender and sexual orientation and a general term to be used when referring to any non-heterosexual person. The many definitions of queer brings up one imminent question: do people associate their sexuality with their personal gender identity?
A study conducted by the National Library of Medicine (NLH) gives insight into whether
or not people generally tend to associate their sexual preferences with their gender identity. The study consisted of both boys and girls, ages 13 to 18-years-old, and a variety of races and ethnicities to have an appropriate representation for youths among the population. The NLH found that there was very little agreement between the participants’ sexual orientation and personal identity. Since there was found to be a lack of congruence between the two, why shouldn’t there be two separate groups? Having two groups would give people who don’t believe that their sexuality is a part of their personal identity a chance to fully be themselves in a group that is solely based on their sexual orientation, gender
continued on page 4
identity or a part of both.
Although some may believe that having two different groups could be harmful due to discriminatory laws or separations within the left wing, I believe that it would acknowledge what the LGBTQ+ community has been fighting for the whole time: we are different and that’s okay. The formation of two groups would solidify this idea of “it’s okay to be different” within the community as a whole. Anyone from both groups would be able to look at the other and acknowledge the fact that this is what we fought for and
now it’s time to go our own way. Those who do believe that sexuality and gender identity go hand in hand would still have a place and be welcomed in both the LBG and TQ+ communities.
If another group was recognized by the public, people like me who don’t believe their sexuality falls in line with their personal identity wouldn’t be expected to conform to the idea that the two are linked. Creating two groups wouldn’t hinder anyone; it would make it more accepting for queer people who feel like they don’t need their sexuality
to be a part of their personal identity. When it comes to the relationship between sexual preferences and gender identity, there are clear differences between the two. The LGBTQ+ community started out as a group that was fighting for the rights and acceptance of same-sex love, attraction and relationships. It slowly began to add on to accept and fight for people whose identities went against social expectations. I’m not saying that the community isn’t beneficial as it is now, but it isolates people who don’t associate their sexuality with their identity.
As new generations continue to flourish in the world, so does the change of values and ideals for everything around us. Having one group was great for gaining the rights of queer people as a whole; however, it’s time for a change. If we, as a society, created two separate groups, it would allow for everyone to have a place without feeling the pressure to conform to your sexuality being your identity. @COLLEGIATETIMES
TRADING 9 HOLES FOR 11 QUADS
Karl Chamberlain | opinions contributor
The need for more student living spaces has become inevitable for Virginia Tech.
The impending demolition of the Virginia Tech golf course is yet another example of open green space being discolored by construction. In November of 2018, the concept of the Student Life Village was introduced in the larger presentation of the campus master plan and in April of 2022, was augmented in a comprehensive document devoted solely to the village. The location of this project, to the disappointment of many, will be the Virginia Tech golf course. This ambitious project aspires to develop 11 new quads that will contain 5,000 beds — nearly half the number of beds currently present on campus — two dining halls and a recreational facility. Although the start date of construction is undetermined, the resources and strategizing invested into the 103-page planning report, which contains dozens of architectural renderings and exhaustive descriptions of every detail suggest that the realization of the Student Life Village is inevitable.
It’s easy to criticize such a zealous industrial development that will completely decimate a beloved campus landmark. It destroys a popular recreational venue and replaces it with what can be reductively described as a more economically beneficial use of the land; the university will earn significantly more from housing and dining than it will from tee time reservations. However, there are greater implications of this project that can have a profound effect on many lives. While this project may appear to just be a capitalist maneuver, it, more importantly, acts as a progressive adaptation to the state of college admissions.
According to Forbes, there has been a 32% increase in college applications since 2020. This has been propelled by the convenience of the Common App,
the widespread abandonment of standardized testing and new affirmative action legislation, which have all made college more accessible to a wider demographic. The number of underrepresented minority applicants increased by 10% last year, representing a substantially greater increase proportional to non-URM applicants. This suggests that the new legislation will be successful in providing higher education to a more diverse group of students, ultimately leading to a significant increase in the number of college applicants. This is obviously a promising societal shift; however, many universities are struggling to respond to the increasing volume of applicants. Top schools are becoming more exclusive and the admissions process is becoming more arduous to further distinguish the quality of each applicant. Qualified applicants who would have been accepted in previous years are being turned down since universities simply don’t have the capacity for them. A greater number of students are fighting for the same number of spots, which is naturally leading to an increase in rejections.
While Virginia Tech attempts to remain equitable, its generosity in the 2019 admissions cycle left 500 students living in hotels. This miscalculation demonstrates an increasing yield rate that complements the already increasing applicant pool, leaving the university with no choice but to lower its acceptance rate. Recent construction, such as the new Creative and Innovative District (CID) building, has allowed the university to reach its six-year enrollment goal of 30,000 undergraduate students in just two years; however, the acceptance rate continues to drop. Virginia Tech’s acceptance rate dropped from 70% to 57% last admission cycle and in a 2024 interview with WDBJ, President Timothy Sands cited
insufficient housing as the primary reason.
The Student Life Village would serve as a significant contribution to Virginia Tech’s already applaudable efforts to keep its education accessible. The Student Life Village will result in a net increase of 3,200 beds, which accounts for the planned demolition of Slusher Hall and the Oak Lane community. While not the Student Life Village’s explicit goal, this does facilitate higher enrollment, and, in conjunction with President Sands’s statement, suggests an intent to welcome more students. While the potential increase in enrollment from expansion is offset by the university’s desire to house a higher proportion of students on campus, there is still room for substantial growth.
Local developers and leasing companies are concerned that the increased availability of on-campus housing will displace a large quantity of students currently living off campus. While Virginia Tech has expressed that they want more students living on campus, it seems unlikely that this will substantially impact the market for off-campus housing. Most students choose to live off campus after their first year. On-campus housing not being guaranteed beyond a student’s first year certainly influences this choice; however, there is a variety of other relevant factors.
While the issue of certainty surrounding on-campus housing would be partially resolved by the Student Life Village, many students still prefer to have their own bedrooms and bathrooms and enjoy the independence of off-campus housing. While the appealing new option is designed to and will certainly attract some students who would’ve otherwise sought off-campus housing, most of these new beds will be occupied by an augmented first-year class who will seek off-campus
housing in the following years, ultimately causing an increase in demand. In a 2022 interview with Cardinal News, Joann Craig, CFO of CMG Leasing Inc., was concerned that Virginia Tech’s growth in students wouldn’t match what he seemingly understood to be a 5,000 bed expansion, which with demolition is actually closer to 3,000. The competition is understandably a concern for developers, but given the continued growth of interest in Virginia Tech, a record of 52,000 applications and an 11% increase from 2023, the university should be able to matriculate enough students to fill every bed, on and off campus.
Even if the Student Life Village isn’t developed, the golf course’s days are numbered. According to the planning report, the course has “long been identified as a land bank.” A capacious and unobstructed area of university-owned land in a convenient location is a prime target for development. Sooner or later, the golf course will be replaced, so why not replace it with something beneficial to the entire community? On a macro level, the Student Life Village improves Virginia Tech’s accessibility and allows it to welcome a caliber of students consistent with previous decades, but the larger impacts occur at the micro level. It’s easy to look at statistics and forget that each of those numbers represent individual lives. The real impact is on the student whose life is changed by that decision letter — whose aspirations are now realistic through this opportunity. To that student, the difference between acceptance and rejection is pivotal. That difference matters and that difference shouldn’t be dictated by a number of beds.
LIFESTYLES HOKIE HOW-TO: GETTING INTO BASKETBALL
Aidan Mason | lifestyles staff writer
Current Virginia Tech sports fans share how newer Hokies can enter the basketball scene
Basketball season is in full swing and soon there will be Hokies filling up Cassell Coliseum’s seats. However, many students will also be staying home paying no attention to basketball at all. Some will do it because they aren’t into sports or exclusively into football.
For others, the reluctance may not be due to lack of interest, but rather a lack of knowledge. For freshmen and transfer students, coming to a new school is already a lot to deal with and learning about how to get into a new sport adds more worry to an already impressive pile of problems. Others might even wonder what’s special about basketball in the first place.
Older students can help with this. Established basketball fans can provide useful advice to newcomers and make the transition from casual interest to fandom much easier.
How they got into basketball
James Hughes, a junior majoring in marketing and management, works as the vice president of marketing for the
Cassell Guard, which is another name for the student section. He described Cassell as a second home, noting the number of times the organization attends during the basketball season. Getting into basketball for him, however, didn’t start until he was older.
“When I got to high school is when I started to get more interested in college basketball, doing March Madness pools, anything to just watch games on the week (or) weekend with friends,” Hughes said.
For Ali Merdach, a junior majoring in neuroscience, interest in basketball started at a young age when he would see his friends play, as well as when they would watch the NBA. As for why he got into it, he noted the unique properties of the sport as compared to football or soccer.
“Basketball stands out from other sports by including a good sense of teamwork and has an exciting and fast pace,” Merdach said.
This teamwork has inspired other players to get more involved in basketball.
“When I got into college, I started
going to the games here and got into it from there,” said Jonathan Amorino, a junior studying operations supply chain management and a member of Cassell Guard.
He also pointed out that basketball had its own unique atmosphere, particularly in Cassell and that being in the band had enhanced his experience.
How to get into basketball
Starting out is always the hardest and the biggest challenge for many.
“I feel like a lot of people on this campus don’t realize that women’s basketball tickets are free for students,” Hughes said. He also pointed out Cassell Guard and the work they do during the games as a good start for new students.
Amorino believes that having interest heavily relates to attendance.
“I think people who don’t have a prior interest should at least go to one game, one exciting game, maybe the Virginia Tech and UVA game, and let them go from there,” Amorino said.
Meanwhile, Merdach highlighted the importance of finding a favorite player, noting that it was what had helped him get into the sport. He specifically notes the talent and play style as aspects that intrigued him in his journey.
What could Virginia Tech do?
Of course, while Virginia Tech always strives to do its best to support its teams, fans can understandably wish there was more. So, what do student fans want out from the university?
“(Virginia Tech) could sponsor/hype up our games a bit more by promotional videos on the Instagram or maybe do what they do for football and have cadets run around with the ‘game ball’,” Merdach said.
Hughes stated that there should be an increased usage of social media, noting that there was a lack of social media posts on basketball related accounts during the summer as opposed to football related accounts. Consistency, in his view, would help keep fans interested throughout the
year.
“I do think that basketball should be more focused on in some regards because it is a big money maker sport for college and I feel like we don’t do enough as we could to promote basketball,” Hughes said.
Amorino, however, stated that he felt there wasn’t much else Virginia Tech needed to do. He pointed out that while the university could market to the general public, student tickets usually sell out quickly and the seats are often filled.
Clearing up misconceptions
Knowledge is key in many things and sport fandom is no different. The public can sometimes be misinformed on the rules of a sport or hold stereotypes that are untrue.
Merdach, for his part, focused on the perceived passiveness of the game, admitting that while referees do call foul on harsh physical contact, the defensive portions of basketball show its true competitive and exciting nature.
Hughes specifically noted that many students seem to be reluctant to go to a women’s basketball game due to bias against women’s sports. He stated that they are just as exciting as a men’s game but aren’t given a lot of attention.
Advice for newcomers
“You’ll quickly fit in, a lot of it is the same as football,” Amorino said.
“For people who are starting to get into basketball I would say just watch more and more games or highlights; either college or NBA, just to get another understanding and perspective of the game,” Merdach said.
“Even if you don’t really like basketball, it’s something to do, and you might find out that you actually do like basketball,” Hughes said.
Virginia Tech women’s basketball’s next game will be on Nov. 4 at 5:00p.m., with the men’s at 8:00 p.m. on the same day.
MADDY DJURIC / COLLEGIATE TIMES
The Cassell Guard cheers after Baylor picked up a foul for traveling, March 24, 2024.
WHAT’S THE BEST PART OF BASKETBALL SEASON AT VIRGINIA TECH?
Collegiate Times lifestyles staff
The lifestyles section talks all things Hokies basketball!
While Lane Stadium holds most Hokies’ attention during August, September and October, Cassell Coliseum begins calling Virginia Tech’s name in November. The 2024-25 men’s and women’s collegiate basketball season has begun, and the lifestyles section has come together to share their favorite aspects of Virginia Tech basketball.
John Garlow, lifestyles contributor:
In my humble opinion, basketball is second to football, but there isn’t any experience like the Hokie student section in Cassell! The way you can hear a pin drop during a free throw, only for it to
erupt a few moments later after the basket sinks is unreal. Since the seating is indoors and we’re much closer together, the student section in Cassell feels more spirited compared to that in Lane.
Emy Delaporte, lifestyles editor:
While I am new to basketball, this semester I have joined the Hokie Pep Band — an ensemble that plays for men’s games and some select women’s games. We’re super excited to get the crowd going in Cassell this season!
Riley Thompson, lifestyles staff writer: The energy and the electricity that permeates
the air of Cassell is what gets me coming back for more every time. Fans aren’t spread out across an entire football stadium like at Lane; instead, everyone’s a lot closer together, making the energy that much more infectious and exciting.
Emma Duncan, lifestyles editor: Basketball is far down the list of my favorite sports, but Cassell Coliseum is my favorite place to watch a basketball game! With fewer seats, everyone has a better chance of getting on the jumbotron, and the Hokie Bird walks through the stands interacting with students instead of being on the court. The atmosphere is what keeps me
coming to Cassell.
Benjamin Gozzi, lifestyles staff writer: I’ve always enjoyed watching how both the men’s and women’s basketball teams develop throughout the season. I can only imagine how rewarding it is to work for an entire offseason and finally see your efforts come to life. As someone who grew up watching and playing basketball, it was always my favorite feeling — I couldn’t imagine what the same feeling would be like with an entire arena chanting your name!
@COLLEGIATETIMES
SPORTS SCHLEE’S SURGE SHORT OF ENOUGH IN HOKIES’ SINKING AT SYRACUSE
Thomas Hughes | sports staff writer
The hobbled Hokies dropped a Kyron Drones-less heartbreaker at the JMA Wireless Dome.
A few minutes before kickoff, Kyron Drones was ruled out. Drones fully participating in warmups was a facade as was the Hokies’ performance through roughly 40 minutes of game time.
Virginia Tech (5–4, 3–2 ACC) fell to Syracuse (6–2, 3–2 ACC) in an overtime bout 38–31 — a game where they led by 18 points in the second half. Without Drones and running back Bhayshul Tuten — who didn’t register a carry because of an ankle injury — quarterback Collin Schlee was the offensive headliner.
After throwing just one pass all season, the UCLA transfer didn’t take long to find the endzone. After both teams traded three-and-outs, Schlee connected with Stephen Gosnell for 45 yards before Jaylin Lane scored from seven yards out on a reverse.
Gosnell had a big first half and productive day overall. He finished the game with five catches for 118 yards and a touchdown, setting season highs in receptions and receiving yards.
Schlee’s second drive after the initial threeand-out was more of the same. Da’Quan Felton — who hauled in Schlee’s first pass of the day — caught
the first pass of this drive and moved the chains. Again, Gosnell found himself open downfield for a 44-yard gain.
Schlee snuck it in from a yard out two plays later and the Hokies led 14-0.
Virginia Tech dominated the first half. Jeremiah Coney and the rest of the offense combined for 117 rushing yards through two quarters.
Coney had 76 of those, including a 47-yard run as the clock expired.
The Hokies’ offense was firing on all cylinders considering the fact they were missing their two leading rushers and starting quarterback in Tuten and Drones.
Their opening drive of the second half was a gut punch. Malachi Thomas had a few chunk runs and Schlee capped off the drive with a perfectly placed pass over the middle to Ali Jennings. The 12-yard touchdown was the Richmond native’s second of the year and the first since their season-opening loss to Vanderbilt.
Virginia Tech led 21–3 and Schlee’s play through three quarters had squeezed the juice out of the Orange crowd.
Syracuse needed a big play. The Hokies made it for them.
Facing a fresh set of downs around midfield, Kyle McCord connected with Justus Ross-Simmons for what should have been a relatively short gain.
Ross-Simmons broke Mansoor Delane’s tackle and outran the Hokies’ secondary en route to a 55-yard touchdown.
To make matters worse, the Hokies immediately went three-and-out and gave the ball back to McCord at the Syracuse 44-yard line.
This time, it was Trebor Pena that gashed the Hokies secondary. Pena caught a bubble screen pass and followed a convoy of blockers to the five-yard line. Running back LeQuint Allen literally flew into the endzone a few players later.
After a successful two-point try, the score sat at 21–18.
To make matters worse (again), The Hokies offense wasn’t on the field long on the ensuing drive.
Coney lost a fumble on the fourth play of the drive and any momentum the Hokies felt they had on the road was nullified.
Syracuse scored 15 points in a wild third quarter
and had a chance to tack on more points at the start of the final period.
On the second play of the fourth quarter, McCord connected with Ross-Simmons again. The Colorado State transfer didn’t have to break any tackles this time.
Two Hokies ran into each other and RossSimmons took the slant to the house from 28 yards out.
Hokies’ fans couldn’t have been pleased with the fact he had his best game in orange against them. Ross-Simmons didn’t have a catch entering the game because of a nagging hamstring injury.
Syracuse led 24–21, their first of the day, after Antwaun Powell-Ryland blocked the extra point attempt.
Schlee and company got back to their breadand-butter on their first drive of the fourth quarter.
Schlee kicked off the drive with an 18-yard run and the Hokies rushed for 56 yards on their fourth touchdown drive of the day.
Thomas had a few chunk running plays, including a 15-yard touchdown run when Schlee briefly
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continued from page 6 exited the game. The redshirt junior posted season highs in rushing yards (73) and attempts (14) in Tuten’s absence.
The Hokies’ defense followed up with a timely stop, highlighted by a crucial third-down sack from Powell-Ryland. Syracuse’s offense sputtered for the first time in the second half.
Taking over at the Syracuse 37-yard line after a punt interference penalty, the Hokies looked primed to capitalize on good field position.
Unfortunately for the Hokies, a series of miscues derailed the drive: starting with a false start, followed by minimal yardage on two runs by Thomas, and culminating in a conservative third-down scramble by Schlee that yielded five yards.
Stranded at the Syracuse 9-yard line, Virginia Tech turned to kicker John Love. Love against them. Ross-Simmons didn’t have a catch entering the game because of a nagging hamstring injury.
Syracuse led 24–21, their first of the day, after Antwaun Powell-Ryland blocked the extra point
attempt.
Schlee and company got back to their breadand-butter on their first drive of the fourth quarter. Schlee kicked off the drive with an 18-yard run and the Hokies rushed for 56 yards on their fourth touchdown drive of the day.
Thomas had a few chunk running plays, including a 15-yard touchdown run when Schlee briefly exited the game. The redshirt junior posted season highs in rushing yards (73) and attempts (14) in Tuten’s absence.
The Hokies’ defense followed up with a timely stop, highlighted by a crucial third-down sack from Powell-Ryland. Syracuse’s offense sputtered for the first time in the second half.
Taking over at the Syracuse 37-yard line after a punt interference penalty, the Hokies looked primed to capitalize on good field position.
Unfortunately for the Hokies, a series of miscues derailed the drive: starting with a false start, followed by minimal yardage on two runs by Thomas, and culminating in a conservative third-down scramble by Schlee that yielded five
yards.
Stranded at the Syracuse 9-yard line, Virginia Tech turned to kicker John Love. Love nailed a 27-yard field goal with 5:16 left on the clock, extending the Hokies’ lead to seven.
They came away with three points, but the field goal left the door open for Syracuse.
The Orange delivered again. This time, it was a 75-yard drive headlined by Allen. The All-ACC running back carried the ball six times in their final offensive drive of regulation.
A 28-yard completion from McCord to Pena put Syracuse on Virginia Tech’s 1-yard line with under a minute to play. Allen powered into the end zone on the next play, tying the game 31–31 with just 29 seconds left.
The Hokies opted to play for overtime with two timeouts remaining, a decision Brent Pry tied to momentum.
“Hostile environment, backup (quarterback),they got momentum,” Pry said. “I didn’t want to put the ball in jeopardy.”
In overtime, Syracuse struck first with another
Allen touchdown, putting the pressure squarely on Virginia Tech to respond.
However, on the Hokies’ second play, Schlee was hit by linebacker Marlowe Wax, who forced a fumble. Defensive lineman Fadil Diggs recovered, securing Syracuse’s win and sending their sideline into celebration.
Offensively, the Hokies were as good as fans could expect considering they were without players of Drones and Tuten’s caliber. However, the loss marks another missed opportunity for Virginia Tech, who fell to 5–4 (3–2 ACC) and 1-11 in one-score games under Coach Pry.
“We got to get over the hump and find ways to win games,” Pry said after their fourth one-score loss of the season.
Virginia Tech hopes to have Drones and Tuten back next weekend for a Lane Stadium showdown with No. 11 Clemson.
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GRADING THE HOKIES: VIRGINIA TECH AT SYRACUSE
Thomas Hughes | sports staff writer Virginia Tech couldn’t pick up the win despite some decent offensive grades.
In a pivotal back-and-forth road overtime game, a Kyron Drones-less Virginia Tech (5–4, 3–2 ACC) fell to the Syracuse Orange (6–2, 3–2 ACC), 31–38, ending the Hokies’ three-game win streak and likely eliminating them from ACC title contention. Here’s how the Hokies fared against their orange counterparts.
Offense:
Quarterbacks: B+
With starting quarterback Drones out with an injury, backup Collin Schlee stepped in for a hobbled Hokies offense. After a shaky first drive, Schlee had an impressive first half, passing for 144 yards and rushing for a touchdown — though he was also sacked three times.
The second half was more erratic, as he threw for under 50 yards before getting injured in the fourth quarter. It originally appeared the Hokies might need third-string quarterback William “Pop” Watson, but Schlee returned to lead two scoring drives before Syracuse won. Schlee played admirably, completing 16 passes for 206 yards.
Running Backs: A-
With star running back Bhayshul Tuten sidelined, the running game took a hit, but the other backs stepped up. Redshirt freshman Jeremiah Coney gave the Hokies a boost, notably with a 45-yard run to end the first half. However, he gave up a crucial fumble late in the third quarter which allowed Syracuse to take a 24–21 lead.
Coney provided a much-needed spark, while Malachi Thomas also looked impressive, as he added 73 rushing yards of his own and a rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter.
The running backs performed well without Tuten, but they will need him for the games ahead.
Wide Receivers: B+
The receivers had a strong performance against Syracuse, with Jaylin Lane scoring the Hokies’ first points and Stephen Gosnell amassing 99 receiving yards in the first half.
Despite getting banged up late in the second quarter, Gosnell looked healthy, and the Hokies will need him at full strength for next week’s game against No. 11 Clemson.
Ali Jennings, who has been in and out of the rotation this season, made a crucial catch in the third quarter, scoring a touchdown to give the Hokies a 21–3 lead.
While the Hokies’ receivers didn’t outpace Syracuse’s, they carried their end of the offensive firepower.
Offensive Line: C
The big boys were hard to pin down this week. While they were able to block quite well for Coney, allowing him 96 rushing yards, they couldn’t protect Schlee in the pocket.The quarterback lost 32 rushing yards, three sacks and a lost fumble.
Overall, it was a mixed bag, leaving questions about whether the unit can accurately defend either Drones or Schlee next week against Clemson.
Defense:
Defensive Line: B
Although Antwaun Powell-Ryland’s stats weren’t standout, he played a crucial role in the Hokies’ defensive line. Powell-Ryland recorded a key sack on Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord and blocked an extra point attempt by kicker Jackson Kennedy in the fourth quarter, keeping the game within reach for Tech.
However, the defensive line struggled to apply consistent pressure on McCord, who completed 35 passes for 280 yards.
While they weren’t the main reason for Tech’s loss, the defensive unit has performed better in past games and will need to elevate their game to take down Clemson.
Linebackers: C+
The Hokies linebackers were effective in the first half, preventing Syracuse from hitting paydirt in the first 30 minutes.The unit’s run defense faltered in the second half, however, particularly against Orange running back LeQuint Allen, who rushed for 121 yards and three touchdowns, and delivered the final blow with a quick two-play drive to begin overtime.
While the Hokies limited Syracuse to 3.9 yards per carry compared to their own 5.2, the fact that the Orange converted on every trip to the end zone raised concerns for the linebackers moving forward.
Defensive Backs: C-
The defensive backs fared well to begin the game, preventing Syracuse’s receivers from scoring in the first two quarters. The group struggled in the second half, as Syracuse’s receivers outgained them, 280–206.
Mansoor Delane stood out for the Hokies, intercepting a pass from McCord and logging six tackles. Jaden Keller also contributed significantly with nine tackles, seven of which were unassisted. Both players were involved in a crucial fumble by Syracuse receiver Darrell Gill Jr., as Delane forced the fumble and Keller recovered it.
While the group made key plays, their second half struggles highlighted a need for consistency that will be key for the games to come.
Overall: C+
Tech’s preseason expectations of an ACC title game are now dashed, as the defense shifted from the team’s biggest strength in the first half to its biggest disappointment in the second.
Tech has experienced extreme highs — including an unexpected shot at No. 5 Miami — and lows over the course of the season that have left fans reflecting on what could have been. Though the season is by no means over, the hopes for something more this season have gone unrealized. Virginia Tech will come back home to face No. 11 Clemson at Lane Stadium on Nov. 9.
