What Will You Consider a Successful Season?

In sixty days (Yes! Only sixty more days. OK, excitement contained.) Virginia Tech will kickoff its season against Boise State in The Clash in the Capital. Some Hokies will say that it's a make or break game for the 2010 season. Others will argue that the outcomes of Georgia Tech, at North Carolina and at Miami will define the season. And some will go home happy if we just beat UVa. So let's break it down.

The Hoos, and only the Hoos matter.

These Hokies are fine with going 1-11 as long as the one win is against UVa. Other wins are just gravy poured on top of the Commonwealth Cup. Mmm Gravy. This has always been a minority opinion and now that we've beaten UVa 10 of the last 11 years it is almost non-existent. By my best guess, this thinking was popular back in day when beating UVa was really the only thing we were capable of doing.

If you subscribe to this theory, consider this, UVa is now beating UVa. Also, it never gets old.

Bowlin'

6-6, 8-4, 7-5 it really doesn't matter to these guys. Why? Because they're going on VAY-CAY-TION! There's only a few things to do in Southwest Virginia during December: drink, watch football and be cold. So why not drink, watch live football AND take in some local cuisine and attractions all while being warm. They justify the on the field performance by the logic of, "we've won at least as many as we've lost."

10 Wins

Since 2004 we've won at least ten games year, the only other team to do so is Texas. You've heard this all before, but the gist of it is overlooked. The streak exemplifies our consistent excellence at winning each season. However, it has become something of a consolation prize, like in '05 and '06 when we seemed capable of something more.

Coastal Kings

First things first, if we want to win the ACC we have to win the Coastal. It's an accomplishment to beat out Miami, Georgia Tech and UNC, especially in a year like 2010 when all three will be ranked in the top 25. But does anyone really set their sights on being the bridesmaid and coming up short in Charlotte?

ACC Champions

No they don't, no sane person does anyways. Laying claim to conference bragging rights is a big deal. Most Hokies realize this. 'Nuff said.

Win a BCS Bowl

Only four, five if you count the MNC Game, out of 120 teams win BCS Bowl games. To do so places a team among the Nation's elite for that season. Hokie Nation craves the opportunity to notch big wins against tough competition and there's no bigger stage than the BCS. Also, those old school trophies look so sexy in the case back in Blacksburg.

Raise the Crystal

We've done it all, but...

:(

My Take

I'll consider 2010 a successful season if the Hokies win a BCS Bowl. This team is far too talented to do anything short of that, but there are too many holes on defense to expect a National Championship. Optimally, we'd get there by winning the ACC, which will be a tall order. But, even if the Hokies don't win the ACC they should be able to get the conference's first at-large birth by earning ten wins.

Furthermore, if each game was considered independent of each other this is my order of most desired wins:

1. Virginia
2. Boise State
3. Georgia Tech
4. Miami
5. North Carolina
6. Boston College
7. East Carolina
8. NC State
9. Duke
10. Wake Forest
11. Central Michigan
12. James Madison

So, what will you consider a successful two-thousand-and-ten season? And once you're done making your opinion heard in the comments check out OBNUG's stance on Boise State's season (their post inspired this one).