On Oct 21, 1892 W.E. Anderson, despite playing right tackle, scored the first touchdown for Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College ever. Coached by Professor Ellison A. Smyth, the VAMC football players beat the St. Albans football team 14-10. These forefathers of Hokie football purchased their own equipment and had a hard time finding enough people to man a team to play on a wheat field carved out by plow. As hard as it was to get started, this was the beginning of something that 120 years later we sit here anticipating the tidbits of news from the first day of spring practice.

As we stand on the eve of another spring football season, I resign myself to worry about the Hokies. I worry that the linebacker depth has evaporated. I worry that all the moves in the secondary rob Peter to pay Paul. I worry about offensive line continuity and new running backs. And, I worry about finding punters, place kickers, returners, and guys who can make things happen in coverage.

But, it is the promise of expectation and potential which brings us back every year and lets us hope to dream the impossible dream. And, when I look at the Hokies roster this spring, the thought of Mark Shuman and Laurence Gibson winning jobs on the left side of the offensive line gives me something to aspire to hope for.

One week until Spring Practice starts, so let's get back into the swing of things. Cutouts are here: 1, 2.

'Arch Matness,' as it is being called this year, is wrestling's version of the big dance. 33 wrestlers will vie for All-American status and more importantly the title of National Champion from March 15-17 in St. Louis (Scottrade Center). Virginia Tech will send six wrestlers this year, a drop-off from the seven that they sent to Philadelphia last year. However that's a good number of bids despite the injuries to 157 pound senior Jesse Dong, and senior heavyweight David Marone. Both probably would have earned sports in the tournament pushing the number to eight national qualifiers. But, let's not dwell on what might have been, let's talk 2012 Arch Matness.

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