What was the talk at the beginning of the 2002 football season? There was a smattering of chitchat about the 2002 team, but most conceded the fact that this would be a rebuilding year (except, of course, for BigDave). Most Hokie fans were instead crowing about the 2003 Hokies, imagining what Bud Foster would do with the talented youngsters he had in the fold this year. As Will Stewart said in the San Francisco Bowl analysis, "Next year, things look bright for VT."

Though fans can't wait for the next eight months to roll around, they grimace when thinking about next year�s schedule. Glum talk centers around the possibility of the Hokies running the table with another perfect season, and being left out of the title game due to a lineup that includes Div. 1-AA JMU, UConn, Central Florida, and Big East cellar dwellers Temple and Rutgers. With the reorganization of BCS rules, emphasizing strength of schedule, that could happen. Of course, an undefeated season is a tough enough feat to accomplish, but lets just take a look at that possibility and ask, what if?

The 2003 schedule, which looked horrendous at the outset of 2002, is now looking like one tough cookie. First, something that has worked against the Hokies in the past will work for them next year -- the conference schedule.

I've personally blasted the Big East's weak image in the past, but next year looks to be the year of the Beast of the East. Just look at how these Big East teams performed this year:

Miami: 12-1, #2 in AP and Coaches' polls, and a feeling they got jobbed in the title game. They will be inspired in the off-season to work harder and should hit the turf next season as a National title favorite with Florida transfer Brock Berlin at the helm.

West Virginia: 9-4, and after two years to learn Rich Rodriguez's system, they are positioned to step up into the Big East's upper echelon. Though they lose the Big East's all-time rushing leader (Avon Coburne), the team returns next year fully confident in their abilities, which is the one thing they lacked in the two previous years.

Pittsburgh: 9-4, bowl winners over Oregon State. This team scares the beejeezus out of me. I think Walt Harris is sticking around just to give Hokies nightmares and shave years off Frank Beamer's life. Harris has become the Hokies' nemesis in the past five years, and next season WR Larry Fitzgerald returns, a certainty as favorite for the Biletnikoff award. Add to that the return of QB Rod Rutherford and RB Brandon Miree. Yikes! Think ahead: Invest in TUMs now.

Boston College: 9-4, finishing their season with a dominating win over Toledo in the "Holy-Cow-Detroit-is-cold-in-December" Bowl. Okay, so it was Toledo, but it still gives Coach Tom O'Brien something to work with. Consider this, every player who scored part of the 51 points in that bowl game is returning next season. The best thing about the Eagles is that, just like the Hokies, they took care of business out of conference, winning all four of their OOC games. That includes match-ups against Stanford and Notre Dame. When the media makes predictions for BC's upcoming season, you can be sure every one of them will mention that win over Notre Dame...again, and again, and again.

As for the remaining three, expect Syracuse and Rutgers to be much improved. Last year marks the first losing season ever for the Orange under Coach Pasqualoni. He should be able to regroup with a talented recruiting class. After a shaky start and raucous jelly-thumping by RU2000 (jelly-thumping is the nerd equivalent of chest-thumping), Rutgers football appears to have turned the corner. At the very least, they are improving. If coach Greg Schiano ever gets them to a bowl game, they could become a force in the conference. They�ve got history, a fertile recruiting area, and facilities. All they need to get them going are a few solid wins, and Schiano is the man to get that for them.

As for Temple, honestly, this year was their last gasp. They had a senior-laden class led by All-Big East tackle Dan Klecko. As the Big East gives them the bum's rush (2004 is their last season in the league), don't expect much from them other than a few rants as they stumble out the door. Recruits can see what's on Temple�s horizon, so any prospect hoping for a future in football will head elsewhere. The only bad thing about dropping Temple is that it was such an easy drive for Hokie fans to make for an away game.

As for the worries about next year�s OOC schedule, things are not as bleak as you might think. Central Florida's recent inclusion in the MAC assures them of a winning record. They are poised to take over as the MAC�s dominant team, and they will give the Hokies yet another chance to beat a conference champion in an OOC game.

UConn is another team that is getting better. The Huskies won their final four games this season, including a win over Seneca Wallace-led Iowa State, to finish with a 6-6 record. They can play tough football, as evidenced by their 8-point loss to BC.

Additionally, playing Texas A&M and Virginia will add weight to the Hokies' schedule. As enjoyable as it is to thump UVa for four straight years, it is even more fun to beat them when they actually field a decent team. In the early to mid 90�s, both teams were strong and the games were fantastic. They were important events on a national scale, and they brought both programs plenty of attention outside the state. Now, UVa looks to be a contender for the ACC title, and, as much as it rankles some Hokies, it is a good thing for the rivalry. Beating a solid UVa team at the end of the year makes a great springboard into the bowl season. If the Hokies are poised for MNC contention, playing a late season game against a strong opponent is a medicine the team will absolutely need.

Next year, if the Hokies take care of business on the field, the schedule should not hold them back. Running the table will be difficult, but with a QB competition between Bryan Randall and Marcus Vick, the emergence of Ernest Wilford, and the return of almost everyone on D, Hokies everywhere are sharing the same dream � one that features a new crystal trophy inside the Merryman Center.

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