Deep-fried turkeys

Earlier this week, Miami coach Al Golden called Virginia Tech "a beacon of consistency" and you wondered if he'd watched film of this year's Hokies ... or even last year's Hokies.

The reeling program absorbed a 30-12 blowout defeat at Miami last night, and what used to be unheard of is now staggeringly routine: Dating to the Orange Bowl at the end of the 2010 season, the Hokies’ losses have been by 28 (Clemson), 28 (Stanford), 21 (Clemson), 20 (Clemson), 18 (Miami), 18 (Pittsburgh), 14 (North Carolina), 3 (Michigan) and 3 (Cincinnati).

Two weeks ago, Virginia Tech racked up 406 yards (199 rushing) but lost 38-17 at Clemson.

Last night, Virginia Tech had 421 yards (222 rushing) and lost by 18.

Doesn't matter how many yards you get when your quarterback is regularly -- pardon the golf term -- vomiting all over himself.

Logan Thomas threw two picks at Clemson, including one Jonathan Meeks took 76 yards for a touchdown. Add in a special-teams gaffe that gave the Tigers the ball deep in Hokies territory, and the final score starts to make more sense.

Last night, Thomas threw a pick in the red zone on the Hokies' first possession. Then, on the first drive of the second half, he mishandled a snap inside the Hurricanes' 5 and Miami recovered. Add in a long kickoff return given up and a blocked punt, and you begin to understand how Virginia Tech had 24 first downs, was 9 of 20 on third down, and had the ball for 34 minutes and scored 12 points.

Earlier this week, Beamer and Co. took issue with Todd McShay's comments about Thomas and the Hokies' offensive philosophy.

Asked about Logan Thomas' draft stock on a teleconference before the Clemson game, the ESPN analyst was highly critical of the quarterback's throwing accuracy while nonetheless praising his potential.

But, unprompted, he harangued about the Hokies' offensive scheme, calling it "outdated by 10, 15 years" and saying Virginia Tech's offensive players aren't mentally ready when they make the leap to the NFL.

Normally reserved Hokies coach Frank Beamer bristled at the comments.

"Do you know what he based that on?" he asked a reporter Tuesday. "Me neither. I think those guys stay on the air by being controversial. We're doing a lot of things that you see ... on the TV, a lot of stuff.

"And then I think he made some reference about Logan and I think he was one that had Logan up there pretty high as far as an NFL quarterback. He wasn't talking about our offense when he had Logan up there pretty high as an NFL quarterback. I don't know quite where he's coming from, but ... guys have got to stay in the business."

Coaches have to stay in business too, and at this rate some guys on the Hokies' staff might be looking for work soon. When you're 4-5 and a long shot to win a pathetic division after all those 10-win seasons and all those ACC titles, status quo probably isn't going to be accepted.

This Roanoke columnist says Beamer faces some tough decisions.

The rabbit will stay in the hat this year. No miracle runs are coming, no how-did-that-happen winning streaks are going to get this Virginia Tech team an ACC title game berth that it doesn't deserve.

Long term, that might be a good thing for the Hokies. But only if they're willing to abandon the excuses, face the problems head-on and make the appropriate changes.

Tech's 30-12 loss to Miami on Thursday night did much more than destroy the Hokies' Coastal Division chances and officially end the streak of 10-win seasons. It also reframed the rest of 2012. The last three games (or four, if Tech makes a bowl) are all about clear-eyed introspection and evaluation, and Frank Beamer can't be afraid to make bold moves when the campaign ends.

The idea that Tech is a play or two away is false. Cracks have formed in the foundation. Things Tech used to do so well -- power running game, sure tackling, great special teams -- have been maddeningly inconsistent this year, as Thursday's game underscored once again.

LW