Virginia Tech fans boo, call for head coach Justin Fuente to be fired

Virginia Tech started off the season on a strong note, taking down North Carolina who was ranked No. 10 at the time. Through four games, the Hokies sat at 3-1 and there was some optimism moving forward. Virginia Tech closely lost 32-29 to Notre Dame to fall to 3-2, but things have spiraled from there, leaving head coach Justin Fuente potentially on the hot seat.

The Hokies have now lost three games in a row following Saturday’s 41-36 loss to Syracuse. Virginia Tech now sits at 3-4 overall and 1-2 against ACC opponents.

Syracuse scored a long 45-yard touchdown with 19 seconds remaining to take down Virginia Tech. Shortly thereafter, Virginia Tech fans began chanting “Fire Fuente!” One fan even added that Fuente has built a “Culture of losing,” via The Roanoke Times’ Aaron McFarling.

Virginia Tech had a nine point lead after finding the end zone with 5:36 remaining in the game. But Syracuse came back with relative ease. The Orange immediately drove 45 yards across seven plays, scoring a touchdown to cut the Hokies’ lead to 36-34. But Virginia Tech stalled out on the next possession, failing to drain down the clock.

Syracuse got the ball back, leading to the quick touchdown drive to take the late lead.

Fuente is focusing on controlling what he can control for Virginia Tech

Fuente was asked after the loss about whether or not he feels like he is running out of time for Virginia Tech to show it is making process. He responded by simply saying he is focused on trying to win football games.

“I’m worried about giving these guys a chance to win, OK? We ain’t going down that road. Everybody up and down that hallway is selling out to give these kids a chance to win,” Fuente said to reporters after the game. “So, I’m not worried about any of that, OK? Can’t be focused on things we can’t control. What we can control is our attitude and effort. And our kids have been incredible with all of that. And our job now is to get them to do the same exact thing for next week.”

Fuente was the first head coach hired at Virginia Tech following the end of longtime coach Frank Beamer’s tenure from 1987 to 2015. Virginia Tech went 10-4 in Fuente’s first year and won the Belk Bowl in 2016. The Hokies went 9-4, 6-7, and 8-5 over the next three seasons with three bowl losses. Last season, Virginia Tech was 5-6.

Next up for Virginia Tech is a road trip to Georgia Tech next week.