This has nothing to do with the Hokies, but for those of you who follow my twitter account, you know I am a diehard New York Rangers fan. I am sure several of you who met me at Hard Times realized that I get a little worked up (blood pressure skyrockets, dizziness, etc.) So, my girlfriend video'd my reaction to the game winning Michael Del Zotto goal that sent the Rangers to the East Finals tonight. Here is the view from my den:
Hokie fans on twitter have run amuck regarding today's news about Montrezl Harrell backing out of his letter of intent. Many seem confused and outraged as just a day earlier we learned about Dorian Finney-Smith's request to transfer. Two bigger names leaving the program can certaintly leave room for some contention. Nonetheless, shadowed by all this negativity are three other guys James Johnson has brought on as his assistants. We already know of one in Mark Byington, but recently announced are the arrival of Ramon Williams and Kurt Kanaskie.
Though some joke about UVa Lacrosse, VT has a men's club. The Hokies just won their Conference Championship in dominating fashion outscoring Fla St. 15-8 in the final. Hokies finished the year at 17-2 and will be on their way to the National Championship Tournament. VT rolled through the tournament by a combined score of 36-15 beating South Carolina and Tennessee in addition to Fla St.
Southern University WR (and Darrell Green's son) Jared Green on Mike London.
"His agenda was to play receivers from the Tidewater area because that's where he recruits," Jared explained. "I went home that summer and told my parents I wanted to transfer. My mom (Jewell) said, 'No. You've got two more semesters. Graduate from UVA.' I said, 'OK. Who knows? This coach might be an awesome guy.' He wasn't. Coaches can manipulate your mind and tell lies. They can hide behind the program and make a kid look like an outcast. I'm so thankful I learned that at UVA. I'm on a path and I had to experience some adversity. "
By: DavidWilsonsWhipon April 23, 2012, 9:51 PM | 21 comments
Editor's Note: I can't give this perspective, I wasn't a student during Seth's tenure. I appreciate all he did for Tech basketball, but I never felt that connection with him so many of you did. Sparach did, his words follow.
First, I want to state the obvious: the timing was...odd. I was of the opinion that the Athletic Department could have justified firing him at the end of this season, yet at the same time was not surprised when they pledged support. Considering the circumstances - starters being injured, the relative youth of this years squad - I felt that Seth had earned a "get-out-of-jail-free" card for last season.
Well, it was terrific to meet may @TheKeyPlay posters for the first time, and we revelled in the rapid fire announcements of commitments that hopefully have given us bookends to the offensive line and the next great Hokie quarterback, but I was very eager to see the Hokies run their new offensive philosophy. I wanted this post to go one of two ways.
Before I get into the key issues I will focus on as I attend my first Hokie spring football game this Saturday, I would like to take a moment to also welcome Brian Marcolini to @TheKeyPlay's staff. I have been very impressed with his first post and he will be an excellent addition to the team.
So, after shooting off my mouth all last week about my concerns about the lack of offensive identity in the offense made worse by adding offensive plays that require a new fundamental skill set to be learned by the offensive line, quarterbacks, and running backs, now the Hokies coaching staff has an opportunity to make me drink a big ole glass of shut the hell up this Saturday. Here are some of the key things I will be looking for in the performance this weekend.
1) Offensive Identity
I exepect that if the Hokies extensively use a pistol and spread package, they should showcase the full array of BASE plays out of each set. I have spent some quite moments this week watching YouTube videos of Nevada's pistol offense, and there are a couple of base plays that I feel the Hokies must establish in order to utilize the set in the heat of the ACC schedule.
Word just came from the Hokies 66-play scrimmage this evening that the Hokies defense got 10 sacks on 66 snaps. And, that was with both James Gayle and JR Collins sitting out of the scrimmage to do classwork. Either the defensive line will be unstoppable this year, or the offensive line may be abysmal. Let's hope it is the former.
Other notes from the beat writers:
Logan Thomas was 9-13 for 70 yards. Michael Holmes lead the running backs, and a little bird told me that Martin Scales may have passed J.C. Coleman on the running back depth chart... Coleman didn't gain a yard on 6 carries.
During spring football, hope "springs" eternal. Hope and expectations for the following football season abound, and any struggles can be dismissed as the learning curve that every college football team must endure as seniors graduate and future NFLers head to the draft.
By: HayleyVTon April 5, 2012, 12:22 PM | 2 comments
Hayley Salyer spoke with Bud Foster about his playmakers and the depth of his squad. Foster mentioned Kyle Fuller as the most versatile player on the defense.
Also, Coach Beamer shared his thoughts following yesterday's mini-scrimmage.
As the Hokies start to ramp up spring practice, we outsiders have received trickles of information that have started us down the road of starting to formulate conclusions about the makeup of the 2012 Hokie football team. What are some of mine?
Hayley Salyer gives an quick look at the Hokies' first spring practice of the season. Antone Exum speaks about the challenging schedule and his thoughts about the fall. D.J. DiNardo is under-the-radar talent for the Hokies looking to make moves to the big stage. Jack Eikenbary talks to Shane Beamer about his recruiting triumphs.
By: Hokie_Wolfon March 28, 2012, 5:29 PM | 7 comments
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.
I checked HokieSports.com during lunch to see if the 2012 spring media guide was posted, it wasn't. However, there are archived guides going back to 2000 available online. I started perusing them while I ate and noticed in every one Bud Foster stole the show. The following had to be done.
"I believe in an attacking, aggressive style of defense. We want to put speed and athleticism on the field and use that to attack and pressure opposing offenses." — Bud Foster (Every Virginia Tech media guide ever.)
'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.
As basketball season winds down, and before football season starts up, lets focus on HokieBall. The 2011 Hokie baseball team finished 30-25, 11-19 in ACC play, 5th out of 6 in the Coastal (ahead of Duke) and 9th overall in the ACC. The Hokies look to improve upon last season, and will do so behind a much more experienced pitching staff.
The 2012 squad is 7-2 with wins over Bradley (2), Kennesaw State, West Virginia, Coastal Carolina, Iowa and High Point. The 2 losses were to Kennesaw State and George Mason (c'mon guys). Through the first 9 games the pitching staff has carried the team with a 2.62 ERA. The bats and gloves need to wake up in order to improve upon last year's record. Stars Andrew Rash and Ronnie Shaban have returned, and players such as Chad Pinder and Tyler Horan look to be primed for breakout years.
By: Boxon February 25, 2012, 10:11 AM | 2 comments
Editor's Note: The basketball season has been defined by close games. Tech is 5-8 in four-or-less point games. What could have been... An accurate summary of the highs, lows and what's to follow below. For the hell of it, let's go beat Duke. -- Joe
Virginia Tech is now 5-8 in games decided by four points or less, and for the fifth time in the past six contests the Hokies saw their fate determined on the final possession.
