Blogosphere

Hey. How are you guys doing? I hope well. It's only 45 more days until kickoff, and I wanted to check in, because you all have been here which is awesome. So if your spirits aren't up, or being thrown down, don't worry because whatever is going wrong, it really won't matter by kickoff. Anyways, I wanted to say, if you're reading this, thank you. Now it's on to Hokie Tracks.

Normally I like to say something, but this time, let's just lead with the quote.

Another difference from Manuel: Thomas has no established tailbacks behind him.

Excuse me? Has Rivals been misinformed? David Wilson eats Chick-fil-A on Sundays, and for that matter, whatever damn day he wants. Rivals doesn't know that? OK... Well... I think DW is going to rip it up in '11, and I bet you do too, but, he's not established. Sorry. Now if you kick a ball in his direction you better believe he has a fair chance of housing it, but established... he isn't. Now, do I think he's going to establish himself? Yes, yes I do.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution broke this news at 9:22 AM this morning.

The NCAA will announce the results of an investigation into alleged violations committed by Georgia Tech's football program at 3 p.m. today.

The alleged violations occurred within the past several years. The NCAA considers the violations, which included improper benefits, minor. However, Tech allegedly didn't cooperate with the investigators as enthusiastically as the NCAA would have liked. A phone conference is scheduled with Dennis Thomas, the chair of the NCAA's infractions committee, at 3 p.m. Georgia Tech President Dr. G.P. "Bud" Peterson and Athletic Director Dan Radakovich will hold a press conference at 4:30 p.m.

And now according to CBSSports.com's Brett McMurphy the Wreck will vacate the 2009 ACC Championship.

Georgia Tech will vacate its 2009 ACC Championship, a source has told CBSSports.com.
The school and NCAA will announce the Yellow Jackets' NCAA penalties and infractions later this afternoon.

Georgia Tech will also vacate other wins, besides the ACC title game, during the 2009 season, a source said.

For your viewing pleasure, Hokiesports.com has posted the 2011 media guide. Depth charts, thoughts about the upcoming season and lots of dialog about the players from the coaches are included. Here are some of the things that caught my attention as I was thumbing through.

Coale is listed as the number one punter (and flanker) #coale4punter. "If the competition continues to be inconsistent, is likely to get the starting nod."

The coaches seem really encouraged by how Lil' Wang played this spring. "With starting left guard Greg Nosal sidelined for the spring following shoulder surgery, redshirt sophomore David Wang stepped in and wowed the coaches with his physical play. Wang got better in every phase of the game and showed he’s ready to play."

Ju-Ju Clayton is the backup quarterback and Leal is the emergency, for now... It seems like if Leal can learn more of the offense he's got a chance to make a run at the backup job.

The Whip battle between GW and Tweedy seems to have picked up right where it left off in spring, last August, etc...

Apparently, there's a lot of news to catch up on and discuss. I didn't think spending the last week in June unplugged from Interwebs would put me behind the eight-ball. I was wrong.

The Hokies' future schedules got a lot sexier. Some foreplay, the University of Maryland has moved its 2014 game with Tech to M&T Bank Stadium, the home of Baltimore Ravens. I traveled to Byrd in 2009 and enjoyed the trip. I Metro'd there and back, appreciated the character of the stadium, as well as its cheeseburgers and tailgating, even though that just involved a pole and a 24-rack. It's a total speculation, but the ACC could use it as its Labor Day Weekend television obligation for ESPN. Either way based solely on location it will be a higher profile game, which bodes well for attracting elite recruits from Maryland. I know Hokie Nation will fill up M&T, but do consider this, from my experience in '09 Byrd's atmosphere wasn't anything threatening, in fact lifeless would be an accurate description. Even though the game will be played at a neutral site, it may turn out to be a tougher venue, because the buzz and hype will do a better job to attract those Terps who normally spend Saturday on the couch. All things considered, I think it's a positive move for Tech.

Rivals.com rates Bruce Taylor number 72 in their 2011 top 100 players countdown.

THE BUZZ: Taylor capitalized on the opportunity presented when a preseason injury sidelined Barquell Rivers. He recorded a team-high 84 tackles -- 15.5 for loss --- to earn second-team All-ACC honors. Taylor already has earned a reputation as a big-play performer. HIs pass deflection resulted in a pick-six in the ACC title game victory over Florida State, and he recorded two sacks each in wins over Boston College and Georgia Tech.

I will note that Bruce is a massive and imposing human that looks capable of butting up a rhinoceros when you see him up close and in person. However, he is compassionate and doesn't take the opportunity to form-tackle an out-of-shape groom who has a couple of drinks in him just because he "wants to see what it feels like."

Pat yourselves on the back, you helped sellout season tickets in Lane for the 12th consecutive season.

We are deep in the middle of college football's Dead Zone. For players it's offseason workouts and healing their bodies before the 2011 season starts in three months. For the coaches, it's about cherry picking as much top talent for the 2012 recruiting class. That means summer camps, hosting for visits, reviewing tape and making calls. After a disappointing finish to the 2011 class, Frank Beamer went out of character and made some staff changes, all in the name of better recruiting. It's been a little over three months but the changes look like they have worked. The Hokies have 12 verbals already, with defensive backs on the east coast racing to the phones to pledge their verbal to Frank and his staff. Recruiting is hot in Blacksburg and it's not luck either. Beamer noticed UNC and UVA encroaching on "his" territories and he made hard changes to better position his program. For the last few years the yeoman's work of recruiting fell on Bryan Stinespring, Curt Newsome, Torrian Gray and Jim Cavanaugh, so less than half the staff bringing in 90% of the recruits. By moving Coach Cav to a recruiting coordinator spot and bringing in Shane Beamer and Cornell Brown, the staff now has five big time recruiters, three of them under 40 years of age. Not to be overlooked is Cav overseeing the staff's effort. He is an excellent talent evaluator who has very good rapport with high school coaches in the Commonwealth and region. Enough about what you already know, let's take a look at the current verbals and some of the major targets known to be on the Hokies board.

Is David Wilson ready to be the Hokies' featured running back?

"I think I perform well when pressure is put on me," says Wilson, who gained 619 yards on 113 carries while splitting time with Evans and Williams last season. "When I have to do something, that's when I feel like I perform better."
...

"It's my time," Wilson says. "I'm the No. 1 running back going into the season. I have to work hard and make sure I lock that down and keep moving forward. I can't be complacent. I have to be consistent."

It would seem so. However, I think it would be unreasonable for anyone to expect Blacksburg's very own sunny blend of Superman and Evel Knievel to make up for Evans' and Williams' production last season. While Wilson banged out 619 yards on his own, the 100 Proof Backfield combined for 1,331 yards. I think it would be a major success if he could carry his own production forward and account for 75% of the losses. That would be 1,617 yards.

In other news, bowling balls are disregarding gravity and taking to the air. Wilson finished 6th at the NCAA Track Championships. He leaped a personal best 53-1.75 in the triple jump and earned All-American honors.

As inspired by EDSBS.

In Game of Burning Thrones, Khal Holgo melts down Bill Stewart's prize whittling knives and pours them over his head.

June 7, 2011

Melting of whittling knives not pictures, but rest assured it happened.

Holgorsen may be sitting atop the couch alone pretty soon.

H/T @dmiller1856 for the title.

In the absence of important Hokie football news, and anything compelling to watch on television, let's take a couple of minutes to review the soap opera being broadcast out of Morgantown.

After 3:00 AM on May 18 offensive coordinator and head coach in waiting Dana Holgorsen was asked to leave the Mardi Gras Casino & Resort .

Police records indicate Metro 911 received a call from the casino at 3:13 a.m. that night. A "white male" was said to be "refusing to cooperate with the casino's management." Casino supervisors had the male detained at the time.

...

Nitro Police spokesman Patrolman Raymond Blake said Holgorsen cooperated with law enforcement when they arrived at the scene and did not appear to be in violation of any laws.

"We got up there and spoke to the male and said, 'Hey, they want you to leave,'" Blake said. "He complied, walked out, sat out on a bench, waited for the taxi, and when the taxi arrived he got in and left.

Holgorsen could have hit on one too many slots, pulled a chip off a table, smoked in a non-smoking area, drank too much, cursed at a table, done anything really. It doesn't really matter. He didn't get arrested or commit a crime. Still, it's damning to anyone's image to have the fuzz called on them in the early morning.

David Wilson. David Wilson. David Wilson.

Andrew Jones writes that Wilson is ready to be the main man carrying the rock.

"It's a lot of pressure because I am expected to be the man," Wilson said. "A lot of hard work comes with it. I'm ready to take it on and get ready for the season."

...

Down to 201 pounds after losing seven during track season, Wilson believes the lost weight will help him get more breakaway runs from scrimmage. His first few steps off the snap have been incredibly explosive, but Wilson thinks the fourth, fifth and sixth, the ones that usually enable a back to break free into the secondary and beyond, will be improved.

If anything I would have thought Wilson would have tried to maintain or increase his weight so he could better take a season full of pops.

David Wilson being awesome at what looks to be Macado's. (via)

Bill Roth also caught up with Wilson.

BR: Favorite song?

DW: Hustle Hard, Ace Hood

DW and Roth also talk extensively about Hokie football. If you're into that sort of thing.