BLACKSBURG, Va. – On Monday, Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry addressed the media in what was a recap and look-ahead after the program’s abrupt end to the season after the final game of the season was canceled in the wake of a tragedy.
The cancellation came a little over a week after a deadly shooting on UVA grounds that claimed the lives of Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr., and D’Sean Perry, who all played for the Virginia Cavaliers. Students Mike Hollins and Marlee Morgan were also hurt in the incident and are now recovering.
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Pry was in full support of the move, saying that Hokies were here for Hoos during the time of great heartbreak. Here’s a statement Virginia Tech posted from coach Pry on the announcement:
Virginia Tech will honor its football seniors on Sunday, Dec. 4 before the men’s basketball game with North Carolina at 3 p.m.
During Monday’s press conference, Pry shared insight regarding the joint decision between the two schools and the ACC to cancel the November 26 game. He said he was heartbroken for UVa, its seniors and the Hokies seniors that didn’t get a chance to play the game but considering the situation, it had to take a backseat.
“Yeah it was very challenging,” said Pry. “It kind of leaned like we were going to play but went the other direction that other night. Certainly tough for the UVa players and our guys to know they won’t have that last opportunity at that last game in Lane, particularly the seniors.”
When asked if there was ever talk about seeking another opponent to perhaps play on December 3, Pry said there were very brief conversations but the short amount of time and other logistics made it impossible.
A lot of time was spent Monday talking about the program and its priorities heading into the offseason after posting a 3-8 record in its first season under head coach Brent Pry. The transfer portal and recruiting are at the top of the Hokies’ list of priorities. Pry said he anticipates the transfer portal to become active in the coming days and that he hopes the coaching staff will remain intact. As for the lessons he’s learned after year one?
“It’s not just me coaching our players it’s coaching our staff and also being open-minded and receiving information as the head coach and making sure I digest that,” said Pry. “On both sides of the ball we probably just tried to do too much too soon. You try to get an idea of where your football team is just football 101--knowledge, base, fundamentals, techniques and all these things that allow you to move forward and I think I allowed both sides to be too much too soon and got the cart before the horse. Certainly, a lesson I learned.”