Alot of us HOKIE fans have had personal interaction with the players. Here's your chance to relate some of your most memorable, funny, surprising and non-incriminating encounters with some of our HOKIE football players.
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I once got a high five if that counts
It must not have been from Sam Rogers. You still wouldn't be able to type!
(yes- BOTH hands would hurt)
I've told this story here before, but it's all I've got, so I'm telling it again..
I was at a rugby party and Kevin Jones shows up. The rugby guys convinced him to tackle me (I was in crutches) and I flipped a judo move and ended up on top of him. When he and his roommate left, they took me with them and we drove around talking, looking for the Gumbys delivery car. KJ hopped out and said, "do you know who I am?"
Pizza guy was like, "shit, yes!"
KJ was like, "so what's up with those Pokey Sticks?"
Pizza guy, "Man, they're yours!"
So we ate Pokey Sticks and Demetrius and KJ tried talking me into joining Kappas.
It was the greatest Hokie night of my life.
Realize it was BS drunk talk but still
wouldn't that be awesome- having KJ vouching for you!?
Totally. I actually went to one of their rush events. Was like the only white guy and KJ and Demetrius were still cool if a little more subdued.
Other people were really nice, too. But there was definitely a little awkwardness in the room, lol.
Picturing the scene from 'Road Trip' -8)
Botched upvote attempt
Got your back.
The wife met Darryl Tapp (and his girlfriend) in an elevator in Squires. All she could manage was, "Me and my mom love you."
I fixed Darryl Tapp's watch once at work. Nicest guy you'll ever meet. All smiles. Even when he came back in because I didn't fix it right the first time.
In your defense, hooves might be the worst tool on the planet to try and fix a watch with.
I actually went to Blacksburg Baptist with tapp and James Anderson. Two of the nicest guys I've ever met. It was when I was in high school and the youth group had an "all nighter" basically movie, laser tag, then bowling. And they actually went on it with the youth group, so we go to adventure world in christiansburg and we start talking to Daryl and he says that we should " party boy" (from jackass, basically jumping up and down awkwardly dancing right up on someone) James, so me and a group of about 6 other guys surround Anderson and party boy him, he totally freaks out and tapp is laying on a bench laughing his Ass off. Later in the night I broke my ankle in three places and those two carried me out to one of the benches so the paramedics could get to me
I got dunked on by Deron Washington at War gym during one of the summer sessions back in the day. It wasn't a shaming like Greg Paulus took. He showed me some mercy, so it was an honor.
Denise (Deron's mom) was the coolest. She came into my store a few times, talked about being a teacher and being relocated from N.O. She's a sweetie.
Denise volunteered with Special Olympics for a couple of years when I was living in Blacksburg and also volunteering with Special Olympics. She is an awesome person - always made the athletes smile.
Cool story and u now have a thousand legs
So did my buddy Jeff, it was bad. Coleman Collins dunked on me there. And as a 5'8" guy I just looked at him and was like man was that necessary
I missed out on this, but it made my family into big Cody Grimm fans.
5 years ago, when my sister was touring Tech, she
and my parents sat at a random table in D2. It turns out, Cody Grimm and a couple of other football players were already sitting at the table, but they didn't mind having my family sit there. They were incredibly nice, and even included my sister - telling her she should come to Tech, asking what major she liked, all of it. Really classy.
Then, one of them asked if she was going to see the latest Harry Potter movie. Another responded with, "I dunno guys, it looks pretty dark..." and then they all just ripped on him for it... "What are you, afraid of the dark...??" Nothing nasty, just good clean fun that had my family laughing.
Now that's a classy group of Hokies right there.
No actual stories, just a lot of seeing them around. Had a psych recitation with David Wilson, who is a very classy fellow.
Saw Sean Glennon at west end once. Didn't realize how huge football players really are till I stood next to him.
There was one night that Ryan Williams showed up at like every party I went to. I know he doesn't drink, but he was just hanging out with some friends, and every time I left a party to go to another, Ryan Williams would show up a few minutes later.
A couple years ago I saw Tyrod and Kam Chancellor in sharkies right after Kam got elected to the Pro bowl.
Seeing Erick Green walking around campus, and being the only person you're talking to who even knows who he is, is weird.
Earlier this semester I ate lunch with my old roommate. Walked into West end and saw Trey Edmunds and Donovan Riley eating in the fighting Gobbler. I commented that they are both solid young players. Kept walking and saw Bud Foster and Kendall Fuller. I freaked out quietly to myself while my roommate walked by oblivious.
I always thought the same thing about football players, but I saw MV7 in West End - whatever the sports bar part was called - and he really wasn't all that big. I was expecting a much bigger person. I saw Marcus up at the NRV Mall once, again, not a real big guy. Pretty thick, but he didn't strike me as big.
Conversely I would say it's the coaches that are bigger than I'd expect, not the players. Bud, Wiles, Moorhead, Grimes, and Loeffler are all giants. Other than the linemen, most of the players just seem average size. I see Kyshoen walking through Cassell everyday and I'm pretty sure I'm taller than him and I'm only 5'10.
Saw Grimes at church the other day. I said excuse me as I passed. He said how are you.
I visualize that exchange being somewhat similar to Grimes hugging/congratulating Kristensen after his last kick against UVA.
Grimes - one of those perfect fit kinda names for football
GO HOKIES!
I've got a few, but my most memorable have to be becoming pals with a random chick I knew at work, who just happened to be Cedric Humes' girl. She knew I was a gigantic Hokie fan and surprised me for my birthday by giving me her cell phone and saying talk.
Ced wished me a happy birthday and gave me his "super iron Hokie" tshirt.
I still wear it to this day for every home game.
That and my sister dated (and got close to making me a part of Hokie royalty) Greg Burnop.
I used to work at bed bath and beyond with Logan Thomas' girlfriend...never managed to meet any of the players through that.
Found out one of the girls in my graduate program is roommates with Alexander Ziegler. She's graduating next week so I doubt I'll be able to parlay that into anything.
It's taken me 4 years, but I've seen Frank Beamer walking around campus 3 times this year and geeked out every time. I saw JVZ around Turner (the new dining hall) a lot last year when I had a meal plan. And I saw James Gayle at Macado's a couple weeks ago. Number of words said?
I actually do remember a story now I had, my family was driving around the campus and we drove into the bookstore parking lot, when we got in the lot my dad saw Logan Thomas sitting in a car and he yells "HEY RY IT'S LOGAN THOMAS" and I guess his windows were open and he kind of gave us a funny look
Dadi Nicholas lives near me and we frequently catch the same bus to campus. One time we were running late and we both had to run to catch it. Much as been said on here about his speed and athleticism, but I totally beat him to the bus.
I think you need to prove it to us, with 40yd dash challenge against him.
You may have beat him to the bus, but I doubt you knocked it over when you arrived like he probably did.
Well this is true, but from my angle and the way the front of the bus twisted, it looked like he brought it down by grabbing the bike rack. Surprised it didn't draw a flag.
That wasn't actually a bus...it was Sam Rogers.
Agreed. And at the end of the 40 is Stephen Morris.
Knock him as hard as Dadi does, and you win.
I have only had a few passing encounters with players and coaches. I walked past LT on my way from the Litton-Reaves lot one time and was struck by just how huge the guy is. Despite ESPN's constant reminders, I had never truly appreciated just how built he is. I swear he produced a shock wave just by walking at a normal pace.
The one and only time I ran into Frank Beamer was similarly brief, but really cool. He walks down around the Duck Pond each day, and being a biochem major and living in Engel, I would occasionally see him while in my car, on the bus, etc. One day, he was walking right at me and we exchanged just a few words, small talk without breaking stride, but he lived up to his billing as a genuinely nice guy. He had no idea who I was, but took a few moments to chat.
Michael Crawford dated one of my coworkers when I lived down there, Vanessa Cruz, and they ended up getting married. Met him a few times and he seemed like a nice enough guy. Wasn't as warm and friendly as Tapp was, but that's a tall order.
At FedEx last year during halftime at the Cincy Game, ran into The Fuller's father - I gave him a hug and said Thank You
Also during our ISE Senior Crawl in 2005 Cedric Humes came out with us, since he dated a member of my senior design team.
Had Intro to Chem with Kendall Fuller this year (when he went) and one day in class there was a cameraman in class videotaping him wherever he went. Bucky Hodges was in the class too, knocked all the books off my desk and said "My B" but then he stopped going completely not sure what happened.
Went to the gym and saw this fat 5'11" guy getting ready to play. Looked at my friend and we were both just thinking "This guy can't possibly be very good. Is he even gonna be able to make it up the court?". Well that fat short guy dunked, his name is Derrick Hopkins. Played with and against him a few times since then, really nice guy and he's actually a great basketball player.
First time I went to TOTS was for a celebration with my roomate for our 21st birthdays. While we were there (and extremely intoxicated) i noticed a guy that looked like Jarrett Boykin talking to some girl. As we were drunk, we were also loud and were trying to distinguish whether it was Jarrett or not. He could clearly hear us and would ask us if he was. We debated this for at least 15 to 20 minutes at which point the girl he was talking to walked over to us and told us it was him and asked us if we'd like a picture. We flipped out in excitement. Even when I can't see straight, i can recognize Hokie football players
A friend of a friend, let's call her Stacy, was having a bunch of friends in town for her birthday, right after the orange bowl in '08. So Stacy is in a bar, and catches the eye of a guy at the other end of the room. When she leaves, she runs into him outside. She asks the guy his name. He looks somewhat confused, probably just because he doesn't get asked that a whole lot. "Tyrod," he says. They exchange numbers and he tells her she should join him at a party later on that night. So they go their separate ways, and the girl spends the rest of the night leading Tyrod on, telling him maybe she'll meet up with him later, she's just gonna say goodbye to some friends real quick, etc. etc. etc. Eventually, she just tells him she's going to bed and never talks to him again.
SO, the next morning, she's telling this story to my friend, who immediately tells her he'll buy her pancakes for Tyrod's phone number. She agrees.
SO, a couple years later, my friend is telling me this story. I immediately offer to buy him some pie in return for Tyrod's phone number.
TL;DR: I got Tyrod's phone number for a piece of pie.
Nice stories. But, hah, I saw someone who knew someone who had a relative who once lived next door to someone who went to a game and almost got on TV as the camera panned the stadium. Imagine my disappointment to realize I didn't have a pen handy.
Hey man, even greatness once removed is greatness.
Even if he never called it, I'd bet it's been flashed more than once. I know I did when I had a couple of boys on the WVU dream team.
Hooked up with a girl who blew David Wilson. Hooked up with another girl who slept with Boykin. For the record, I was first and these girls weren't (that) slutty.
Probably the best story I got was told to me by my ex's brother. Apparently they were having a party and one of his roommates was hooking up with this girl in his bedroom. Apparently they were friends with bennys so they had some sort of prior relationship. Anyways, he hears a knock at the door and Ryan Williams walks in with a girl on each arm and asks if that room was open. The dude pauses for a second and reluctantly says yes. As he goes to leave with his girl, the girl stops and says "I think I'm gonna stay." Oh to be a football player...
This wasn't the foul, evil woman that gave David mono after the Georgia Tech game in 2010 was it? Because if it is we need her name and address.
I was invited by a friend of the Marshall University President to watch the VT game Sep 24th, 2011 @ Marshall from the sidelines. I got a chance to meet most of our players during the game. My favorite memory, during a time out late in the game, I literally stuck my head into one of Bud's discussion with his DB's and Jayron grabbed me and allowed me to get an impromptu picture with him. I was all decked out in full hokie garb, so Bud allowed the picture but did give me one of his steely eye, what the heck are you doing looks. After the game, we won 30-10, Bud came up and gave me a high five as everyone was leaving the field. A once in a lifetime event for sure.
my then girlfriend now wife ran into mike vick at the movie theater in christiansburg. she says she turned around and he was right there and she was all star struck. he just said 'sup' and turned back around with his group.
we were reverse tailgating after the 09 unc game that we lost after ryan williams fumbled it late in the 4th. anyways it was like midnight and we're pretty intoxicated when this dude walked by with some girl and a vt jumpsuit on. my buddy and i simultaneously said 'that's ryan williams' and someone else from our group grabbed a beer and went after him and was like 'hey man, your name ryan?' now anyone who watched that game knew how dejected rmfw was after the turnover and he was still clearly pretty upset about it, but he talked my friend. he told him he was ryan and my inebriated friend was all 'dont worry about it man, we'll get those fuckers next year.' ryan was just sort of looking at his shoes but was being polite. my buddy offered him a beer and he said, 'no thanks man i dont drink' and he disappeared into the darkness.
my wife and i also saw jimmy graham at a restaurant in va beach but he's a filthy hurricane so we were unimpressed.
One football story - At the beginning of Spring Break, I hitched a ride in B'burg with a van carrying Tech QB Don Strock and his girlfriend to Ft. Lauderdale. He was a pretty cool guy, very humble.
One non-football story - A few of us were taking a look at the art exhibits at the Student Union, when in comes Vincent Price, the horror movie actor. We went up and introduced ourselves, and when he turned around, he said "Yessss?" just like he used to do in his movies! Great guy!
This is a great thread. I have a few encounters.
My parents stayed in the hotel Roanoke before a game in 2010(?) and the night before the game they rode the elevator with Roc Carmichael. They had a decent conversation with him and to this day, whenever they see him play in the pros they get excited and say how nice he was.
Caught Paul Debnam's sweaty headband that he threw in to the stands his last home game. I wore it the rest of that night
My favorite encounter was spring game weekend this year at sharkeys. I spot Erick Green and Paul making their way towards the door to leave and I hype myself up enough to dap em up and ask for a picture. He was awesome and agreed and when I look at the picture on my phone I see Dorenzo jumped in there too. It's my favorite pic of all time and is currently Dorenzo's twitter avatar so I got that going for me.
I did the floor sweeping for basketball games my sophomore year and got a picture of Zo before he was inbounding the ball. Tagged him on Facebook and he used the picture for the majority of his senior season.
Zo and Debnam are always lurking on the top floor of Hokie House and always seem to have fun with people that want pictures and stuff. Pretty much the two easiest spots to find athletes out on the town are there and TOTS.
during my freshman year, my hallmates and I left a party after the keg was tapped and were wandering around Terrace View looking for another. we follow our ears to a party and walk in the door. dyrell roberts is sitting by the front door and says "players and friends only." as my roommate and i start to turn and leave (neither of us would ever be mistaken for a football player), my other hallmate pipes up with "i'm the backup punter!" he's probably 6'1" and skinny but had shoulder length blonde hair. dyrell says "oh shit brent (as in brent bowden), you're not the backup! give yourself more credit" and lets us in. and then we drank a lot of beer and shots with the '07 hokies.
I was at the Thursday night loss to UNC in Blacksburg. My roommate from Pharmacy school at UNC and one of his undergrad buddies had come, both were diehard UNC fans. We got there around 12pm that day, drank beers with my cousin who was currently at VT and my aunt and uncle. After that we hit up every bar prior to tailgating. After the game, my buddies were down waving at the UNC team (I took it in stride even though I was disappointed and let them enjoy the moment because they weren't being typical UNC dicks about the win).
So we finally find our way back to the bars after the game and later on in the night go in to a rather nice one that's pretty crowded. A big circular table right in front cleared out just as we showed IDs to the bouncer. So I as sit there in a chair right near the bouncer half turned to the door, wearing the white #25 Beamer throwback jersey, a guy comes up to me from behind grabs my shoulder, kind of massages them, and is like what's up man! As I turn around and make eye contact, it's Deangelo Hall. I get that look, oh I thought you were someone else, he gives me the five/handshake shoulder pat/hug, says have a good one and moves along to the bar with his boys.
My UNC friends were like how do you know D-Hall? I bull-shitted them for a couple more rounds before I fessed up and said I think he thought I was someone else. But for awhile I also noticed other people in our area of the bar giving me the who the f**k is this guy look.
Not a player, but I was walking up Spring Street towards Washington and was crossing from the Cassel side to the parking lot side. A car stopped and honked while I in the crosswalk, I look up, and HOLY SHIT IT WAS FRANK BEAMER DRIVING A CADILLAC. Sadly, he was honking at (I'm assuming) a football player walking past me.
As a student: Told this one b4, but Mrs. Chachi took a First Aid/CPR class back in the day with Bruce Smith and was his partner for the Heimlich maneuver. She failed to get her arms around his chest cuz he was a beast.
As an alumni: While flying endless boring circles over Bburg in a government aircraft for unspecified purposes, my copilot and I got creative and used his smartphone to look up HCFB's address, we then switched to MapQuest, found the house there and then located it on the ground. Got a great view from 3000 feet above ground level of the Beamer headquarters and an unknown family member arriving home. Anything to pass the time...
Also, used to see Sean Glennon DT at Hokie House a lot. He always wore warm-ups. Thought it was strange he kept wearing sweat pants at a bar.
Drove past Michael Vick at a gas station when he came back for Spring Game my senior year (2010).
One of my sorority sisters married Andrew Lanier.
Another friend was BFFs with Sergio Render.
I was at a birthday party for Sergio Render one year and he walked in a sprayed everyone with champagne. That was pretty bad ass.
Yeah I was at that party, it was at TKE?
Played TONS of pick up basketball with Sergio. Also managed to get a lift home from a party from him. Super nice guy.
A true country boy as well.
I have a few as well. Ran into Chris Ellis in TOTS after he graduated. I was hammered and obviously not thinking right, but long story short I go up to my buddy a few minutes later and say "hey, I just called Brandon Frye, Chris Ellis and had an entire conversation without him correcting me." Felt like an ass, but he was nice about it.
Met Eddie Royal at a DZ date party during the NCAA tournament. After my date for the event finally told me to stop being a pussy, I went up and shot the shit with him about the tournament.
Saw Frank Beamer in the parking lot at Food Lion once. I had a case of Bud Light with me and just said Hey Coach! he said how's it going. My buddy was waiting in his car. I came back and said "Man I'm pissed". He said "Why?" I said "I just saw Frank Beamer and I didn't get him to sign my case of Bud Light."
Krogers is going to be pissed!
Thinking back it was the Kroger on Main Street! Back when the liquor store was still in the parking lot.
sheeewwwww....that was close!
I yelled "Hey Rogers, discount double check" one time on campus to Sam Rogers. He kind of smiled back at me. Granted, this was the second time I've yelled this at him when I know he's heard me. The first time I yelled it at him was one of the best nights of my life, but would take too long to type out right now (I have an online final I'm working on right now due tomorrow at noon and a 7:45am exam when I wake up, assuming I have time to sleep).
Sam Rogers' "discount double check " is no discount, it is free.
FTFY
Also I had Ben Emelogu as a member of one of my bio lab group this semester. It was weird because I found myself being a leader to the captain of our basketball team at points. The other two other members of my group, who were both attractive ladies, couldn't figure out why I wasn't giving more attention to them. Although to be fair I couldn't figure out why those ladies talked to me at all as I am a mildly overweight dude with a neckbeard right next to a total baller.
At my sis' bachelorette party was Duane Brown just after he had been drafted in the 1st round. He bought a round for my sis and her crew and took pics. Screw her.
My first star struck experience was during the '94 Gator Bowl. Somehow my dad lucked into front row tickets and as Antonio Freeman was walking off of the field he threw his mouthpiece right into my lap. That has and always will be my favorite piece of memorabilia.
Also I ended up getting close to the Semones family. Brandon Semones was the defensive MVP of the '95 Sugar Bowl. He and his brother (Mitch) are elders at my church and Brandon and I have prayed over things on more than one occassion. I also painted their parents (CFB'S sister and brother in law) house a year ago in Christiansburg. Their basement has a Hokie shrine of unimaginable proportions.
Is Brandon still an insurance agent in town?
did I understand correctly that Brandon's mom is Frank's sister?
Yes, He is a State Farm agent on South Main Street across from Bank of America.
I'll always remember him for the interception against Miami in 1995. Fortunately that was before instant replay.....
Yea Brandons moms is on fact Beamers sister. Brandons dad played football at Tech with Beamer back in the day. Thats how he met his future wife. Brandon and each of his brothers were all Glenvar high schools athlete of the year at some point.
Some friends and I were wearing our superman Tyrod shirts (the one with the 5 as the s) and walking out of lane after the game had ended a few years ago. A woman stops us and asks where we go our shirts. We commented that she could buy them at the bookstore on campus. She then asked if they did custimizations because she needed to put "Tyrod's Mom" on the back. Great lady
I have a friend who sold the Beamers some bedroom furniture. He asked if I would like to go with him to deliver. Heck Yea ! It was Thur. when we play UNC a couple of years ago. Frank had spent the nite in Roanoke with team but Mrs. Beamer was super sweet. It was her birthday but she took the time to show us around Franks memorabilia room and allow us to take pics. It is where they entertain recruits and their families. Also gave us a $100 tip! She told us Frank would be glad to meet us after game and sign any thing we wanted signed! So yes I've been in Franks bedroom with his wife while he was out of town. Beat that.
"Beat that...."
Thats what she said...
That reminds me, my grandfather (dad's dad) bought a truck from Bruce Smith's dad.
That truck maybe a part of history:
As the story goes, there was a load of firewood promised as a perk for the Smith's and it brought up some question on its legality or something (I'm remembering from a Hokie book)
And the quote was that "it might not be the load of firewood but the truck that brought it" in to how we landed 78.
I love Bruce.
Went into 7-11 the night before the B.C. game in 2007. While waiting in line drunk I start chatting with this guy asking if he is ready for the game tomorrow. He assures me that he is and keeps kinda quiet. I keep it up asking him if he thinks we can win, he says he does and we go back and forth talking trash about Matt Ryan (in hindsight a bit premature). We kept at it a few minutes, laughing, and at the end get the fist pound as we buy our late night snacks and leave. When leaving he hops into a tricked out Chrysler 300 with a license plate: 4 Royal. Cool dude, shorter than I thought.
Prior to college, I was invited to the VT Football camp in 2000 as a rising sophomore. My defensive group was with defensive backs, in which Deangelo Hall was in as well (he was a rising senior and had already committed). Turns out Deangelo was also my neighbor in Lee Hall, where we had to stay for the week. My roommate had brought a PS2 down to play the whole week, and Deangleo and Chris Clifton were hung out the entire week playing NCAA Football 2001. He and I stayed after camp one afternoon and got to hang out with MV1 for a little bit. MV1 took us around the Merryman, threw some catch, and shot the shit for a little bit. Cool and unique experience for a 15 year old in high school.
Hung out with Chris clifton a ton, played a lot of ball with him and karaoke at champs many times, cool Ass dude
Also, forgot that Seth Greenberg once gave me a ride from the Cassell lot to Hokie Grill when it was pouring rain and I was walking to work. I said no 2-3 times since I didn't want to get his car nasty (and since it's rarely a good idea to get into a car with a middle aged bald man). Eventually I relented and we had a nice 2 minute ride down the road.
i feel like bud is ra's al ghul in this scenario.
Meeting Mr. Bud Foster and Getting him to sign my apparel
I've told this story before, but I am 95% sure I met Danny Coale's parents at the 2011 UVA/VT game in Charlottesville (38-0, yo!).
I was returning to my seat from a bathroom run and I run into an older couple in the tunnel. I am wearing my #19 VT jersey and the gentleman says to me, "Alright, go D.Coale!" I instinctively say something like, "HELL YEAH!" and I look up and notice that the woman is wearing a homemade t-shirt with the #19 on it. I realize that these are probably Danny's parents and I go to give her a high-five. She counters with a fist bump. It ended up looking a lot like this:
Thankfully, we never got this far:
Used to drink with *************** at ************ when they were supposed to be ************.
Also used to drink with *************** in the basement of our fraternity house.
And in Ocean City, used to hang out with ************** and hit several bars with him.
That's all I can say about that. Let's just say you wouldn't be surprised.
I LOVE MAD LIBS!
Used to drink with Bryan Stinespring at Hokie House when they were supposed to be game-planning.
Also used to drink with Bud Foster's doppleganger in the basement of our fraternity house.
And in Ocean City, used to hang out with The Horse on a Treadmill and hit several bars with him.
That's all I can say about that. Let's just say you wouldn't be surprised.
Well done! Yeah, we'll just call it mad libs...
I'm sure the statute is up on the instances referenced since most of them are nearly 20 years old, but we'll keep it hush hush on a public site just to be safe.
I was standing in the beer aisle of Food Lion with a friend who didn't follow football. Sean Glennon walked up and asked if we knew where to find the Mad Dog. My friend, not realizing who it was turned to him and said "Mad Dog?! Are you serious?" He then got really sheepish and muttered something about how somebody asked him to pick it up for him. I told him to check the wine aisle and he shuffled off, while I tried to contain my laughter.
Also, my roommates were in New Orleans for the 2005 Sugar Bowl. After the game they were pretty drunk, getting in the elevator to their hotel room, and Bryan Randall followed them in. He said something like "what's up?" and the best they could reply with was "cheeeillin'" followed by a long, awkward elevator ride.
sean glennon drinks mad dog. that explains so much.
I was at the Maryland game this year with my wife and kids and the parade was about to start so we were standing near Cassell. My wife took a picture of a couple of older ladies with one of their I-phones and a few minutes later the woman's husband comes over to my family. He asks me if he can give my son some receivers gloves and i said absolutely. He told my son that they had been worn during the Miami game the week before. My son was stoked! When he was turning to walk away I said "Thank you Mr. Worsham!!"
My son and I were in Blacksburg for the Spring Game that got rained out. After they officially called it off, we went to the empty stadium to take a few pics. LT, Luther Maddy, and Andrew Miller come strolling across the field, and they happily obliged for a photo with my son.
When I was snapping the pic, I said, "Everybody smile and say, "Crystal Football"". During the pic, Maddy said, "What?" to LT, and LT said, "C'mon man...National Championship!"
Unfortunately I haven't met any football players or coaches before. But I did meet Jarell Eddie at the spring game two yrs ago. He autographed my hat and another player did as well but I didn't recognize him and I can't read his signature.
Ran into Jim Druckenmiller and one of our stud LB's in 95 after the Orange Bowl at the Cleavlander in South Beach. Had a few drinks and hung out. Nothing special other than they were huge!
I was in the same public speaking class as Jeff King. He was very humble, kept talking about how he could use his degree if the NFL didn't work out. Every time, I would think c'mon dude, you don't have to worry about that.
Senior year (fall 05), when we were going to Boston Beanery for a HT senior staff meeting, the waitress kept whispering to us as she took us to our table that Bryan Randall was sitting around the corner.
Alot, eh?
I saw Sean Glennon at PK's one night a couple years ago. On our way out I walked up to him asked if he was Sean Glennon and then shook his hand, thanking him for everything he did for us. I still think he got a raw deal. Would have bought him a beer if I wasn't heading out the door.
U now have 2 turkey legs
My girlfriend (now wife) at the time arranged to have a brief meeting with Frank Beamer for my birthday in 2011. On the way to Merryman, Logan Thomas was standing near the entrance holding a brick raised in one hand while yelling at some nearby people. As we passed he almost ran into wife!
I've seen Beamer walking around the drill field at least twice this semester. Got a chance to meet Loeffler at TTL earlier this year at Bull and Bones. Also saw the entire D - line in Bull and Bones Thursday night before the Miami game. After the Pitt game (I think, could've been UNC) I saw a car with Gayle on the license plate (an Ohio State vanity plate on a 300M, must've been his dad's) and James Gayle was driving. I gave him a thumbs up and he gave me a huge smile and a thumbs up back. Went to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Breakfast before the spring game this year, and got to meet and shake hands with LT3 and Tyrod. Both those guys were super nice and TT let me take a picture, but he still hadn't gotten his super bowl ring yet.
Oh yeah I almost forgot, my girlfriend and her sister met LT3's grandmother at ECU in 2011. They asked her for a light!
I saw that car once, and was wondering why Gayle would have all the OSU paraphernalia. His dad went there?
Hate to tell ya but that guy on the Left isn't LT3.
I thought he looked a little short
Used to work at a restaurant when I was in college, Cam and Orion Martin used to frequent, as well as Deron Washington. All very cordial and classy individuals. Cam is coaching his H.S. football team now.
I don't have a story that equals any of these. I did however win tickets to the Temple game in 2000 while watching the old Hokie Hotline show. Beamer handed me the tickets himself. Keep in mind, this was year 2000 Beamer and I was just an 18 year old kid. Pretty cool moment.
I don't have a story that equals any of these. I did however win tickets to the Temple game in 2000 while watching the old Hokie Hotline show. Beamer handed me the tickets himself. Keep in mind, this was year 2000 Beamer and I was just an 18 year old kid. Pretty cool moment.
A few years ago when I was working at ABP in Squires, I was a cashier and rang up Sean Glennon. I prided myself on the fact that I knew it was him before I even swiped his hokie passport. I'll be honest, I was not too impressed.
Many years ago (7 to be exact) when I was a freshman moving in to my dorm on campus, I was walking around campus with my parents. We were near the bookstore about to go across the crosswalk towards the drillfield and Frank Beamer walks by and says hi to me and my parents. After he passed us, I turned around, looked at him again, and said to my parents, " I think that was Frank Beamer". Flashforward to this past August, I'm back in B'burg for grad school and I'm in my car on the street headed towards to drillfield and I had to stop to let Frank Beamer cross in that same crosswalk.
A few years ago I also took a the VSAP driver improvement course and big Wang was in my class. He was a pretty chill and sort of quiet guy.
I also had a very nice conversation once (in 2010) with either JR Collin's mother or Antoine Hopkin's mother. Whosever mother it was had parked in a lot just off-campus to go to a football game and I was one of the people managing the lot at the time and all I remember is she asked me if I knew _____ and that he was her son and she was so excited to see him play. I then had to give her directions to the stadium.
Word of advice, if you run into either one of those guys, don't say "Your mom says hi!"
I've got a few stories...
Bryan Randall was selling bracelets near Owens for a fundraiser (similar to the Livestrong bracelets) in 2004. I bought one from him and talked to him for a few minutes...absolutely one of the nicest and most humble guys I've met.
I was walking into D2 and a guy with a VT jacket held the door open for me, turns out is was Frank Beamer. I was caught off guard, he was real nice and made conversation with me while we went up the escalator, then he went to the right where the team was eating and I went left. Real nice guy and real funny, although I can't remember what he said.
Lastly, not a player or coach but when ESPN College Gameday was in bburg for the 2005 Miami game, their morning show (i think it was called "Cold Pizza") was there too. We were hanging out behind the set and Woody Paige and Desmond Howard came up and talked to us, they were pretty cool dudes just joking around. I think they were shooting a commercial so they were wearing a shirt, tie, and jacket on top but shorts & flip-flops on the bottom. Man I'm jealous of their jobs.
I remember that commercial pretty funny- no clue it was in bburg
wait a sec...D2 USED TO HAVE AN ESCALATOR???
It was called Dietrick up until the remodel in 2004. and yes - it had an escalator.
All the times I got to the top of D2 gasping for air (I was an out of shape college student leave me alone!) And now I come to find out there used to be an escalator. This is bs...
the food used to be so bad that the escalator was there more
to keep students from changing their minds and turning around.
GO HOKIES Beat UCLA!
This is true.
Co-signed on all fronts.
back in the mid-90s, ran into CFB at the Food Lion near Foxridge, he was standing in line next to me with his handheld basket. We exchanged bro nods very casually, which looking back was pretty cool for some reason.
This was early in the bowl run, has anybody seen him stopping for a loaf of bread on the way home from the office recently? Or doe he have assistants for that sort of thing now? :)
I saw CFB out - he always shopped at Kroger on South Main Street (when I lived in the burg from 07-12). I also went to the same church as CFB during that same time.
I used to work at Owens back in the day. Kevin Jones came in. I made him grilled ham and cheese sammich. Nods were exchanged, sammiches were eaten. Today was a good day.
Eddie Royal was a regular at my frat's parties. Not very exciting though.
Best night was probably in 06, joe had graduated and I was in my super duper senior year. He was down visiting my slummy ass for the Ga Tech game. Had a pretty awesome party at my crib, it died around 230ish, so we decided to go to 711 on south main . Ran into Hokie football alum Will Gowin and became instant bros. We went back to a frat bro's apt, where Will starts owning the place and drops the best insult/taunt ever: "Hey, wanna fight? Go outside and practice falling down, I'll be out in a few minutes."
He continued to regail us with stories about being awesome, and how Michael Irvin was a trememdous shit-talker at Miami. Somehow we all stagger over to, what I think, was some kind of Latin Dance club party or something. We were denied entry until Will shows up, makes it rain, and we all get the VIP treatment. I seem to remember *someone* upper decking a toilet there.
I'm not that good at details or at writing non-technical things. joe could add more and/or correct me, should the spirit move him.
Erick Green held a door open for me at Hokie Grill one day. Super nice guy.
I had summer school class with Tony Kennedy and JC Price...the class? Juvenile Delinquency. (No lie, it was a social studies elective)
Lots of great stories here, mine don't compare but anyways:
On move-in day, my brothers, myself, and all the other participants of Team Hokie joined with the Football Team to get the incoming freshmen settled into their dorms. I'll always remember how the players would laugh it up with the wide-eyed and nervous freshmen, and get them excited for their time at Tech. Bud Foster took on the role as foreman.
I took one of Professor Harvill's courses as an elective in Fall 2007, and there were several football players and I think one of the student managers (maybe a trainer). That first class after the LSU game, Harvill told them they weren't allowed to dwell on that loss, and that they'd win the ACC. Our class just erupted. Fall 2007 was truly a memorable season. I highly recommend undergrads take at least one of Harvill's courses.
As mentioned above, Sergio Render is a friendly dude, and he'll pretty much always like anything pertaining to the Hokies on your Facebook stream.
At a Halloween party I went to, Sean Glennon went as Borat.
I went to summer camp with former Offensive Linemen Richard Graham, and we always called him "Little Richard" there. Of course, he's never been small in any way. http://www.hokiesports.com/football/players/graham_richard.html
Marcus Vick's Escalade once gave my good buddy a jump start at the N. Main Food Lion, but Vick wasn't in the SUV.
I lived next door to Frank Beamer as a kid. We took care of his dog, this old beagle named Jock. Eventually he moved to a bigger more impressive house but every now and then he'd come out on the front porch and just survey the street with his arms crossed. He'd always wave and say hi if you got his attention.
My mom also saw Michael Vick at Food Lion when he was a freshman. When she told me that I said, "What did he do?" She said, "He just got in his car and drove off." I remember going "Wow" like it was the most impressive thing anyone's ever done.
I also seem to remember Lamar Cobb and Jacob Gibson student teaching classes I had in grade school. I have no idea why they would have though.
B4 social media (bsm) there was a semi popular email about Frank Beamers house... I cant recall the exact joke but basically it was praising him by his house being on top of a mountain.. and u lived next door!
i lived with a bunch of football players my freshman year so i met all kinds of people over the course of the year. met kendall on a trip up, met dadi nicholas before he was a manimal, heard all the guys rave about maddy before he really saw the field. It was really awesome hearing all of this and then watching the guys develop and pan out into superstars.
I witnessed Tyrod Taylor almost get hit by a car on the drill field...I was with a couple guys and a girl and all the guys were freaking out cuz TT almost got hit by a car..the girl didn't think it was a big deal...she wasn't much of a football fan
what school's logos were on the car in question?
YOU!VA
Freshman year, I met Bryan Randall (through a friend who went to HS with him), Mike Imoh, and David Clowney.
Later on during my Tech stay, I met Darryl Tapp, James Anderson, Ernest Wilford, Keith Willis, and Billy Hardee (the younger).
Senior year, I met Eddie Royal at West End. I already knew his older sister.
Oh, and I gave a head-nod to Xavier Adibi in the Kroger Parking lot. Also, in the same parking lot (different day), I was backing out and Kevin Jones was coming through in his SUV. And blowing his horn like a Northerner. smh
Also met quite a few players who didn't see the field.
Funny, the Vicks and I are from the same city and I've never met them. I think my mom has met their mother, though.
Had class with Tapp. Very serious individual.
Also had class with Marcus Vick. Incredible prick.
This just reminded me that I've met James Anderson...Get this, he used to come watch my flag football team play. Of course that was because his roommate was on our team, but how many people get to say an NFL player went to see their flag football team play!
I saw Ju-Ju Clayton at the McDonald's drive thru once on Halloween. The car in front of me yelled out "Ey yo Ju-Ju!" and he went up and talked to them. Then the car behind me yells out "Ey yo Ju-Ju!" and he went up and talked to them. Then I yelled out "Ey yo Ju-Ju, rep Hermitage!" (his high school), so he comes up to me and says "Where you from?" I replied "Patrick Henry." He said "Oh yeah we beat yall."
Then Duan Perez-Means comes up (also from Hermitage), Ju-Ju tells him I went to Patrick Henry. Duan says "Oh yeah we beat yall." Then they leave to talk to another car of kids. And that was my 5 seconds of Ju-Ju fame.
Also in my first ever college class, I sat right in front of Jack Tyler, and had no idea who he was because he still wasn't on scholarship.
This thread is incredible. I just had to register to share my many encounters and conversations with coaches and players at the 2008 and 2013 Ladies Football Clinics at VT. About 500 ladies of all ages attend. When you register, the coaches are actually sitting at the tables to check you in. We had free access to them and the players all day for questions, autographs and pictures. There is so much to relate that it will take many posts. The first thing of the day is an opportunity to have your picture taken with Beamer. He then autographs them at the end of the day.
First I will related some events from the 2013 clinic, but the conversations from 2008 are the best. I actually had a one-on-one conversation with Beamer and asked him some questions.
I asked Grimes if he knew when he signed with VT that he got two immediate bonuses, Blacksburg was recently rated the number one quality of living place in the country and VT was frequently rated with the best college food. He said that he didn't know at the time, but it didn't take him long to find out as they use both of them heavily in recruiting. Kyle and Kendall Fuller and James Gayle were standing together in the hall. I approached them and had my picture taken with them. All three are such quality young men. At the time, I did not know who Kendall was, as it was June and we had not seen many pictures of him. He reminded me a lot of Tyrod with his size, etc. He looked so young and not like a football player. When I got autographs, I had them write their number since you could not read the name. I later matched the number 11, which had not yet been published, to Kendall to identify him. I had a conversation with Loeffer when we walked back from the football field to Cassell Coliseum together, which I will talk about in my next post.
Welcome VTMOM!! Always glad to see another woman on TKP. I had a co-worker who always went to
the Womens clinic. Unfortunately she passed away a few yrs ago. But at that time they were not
doing the womens clinic. So I'm assuming they have brought it back. Awesome. I can't wait to
attend the next one!
At the 2010 ACC Championship Game viewing event for the Manhattan Hokies at the Village Pourhouse, I got to meet Macho Harris and DeAngelo Hall, both of whom were in town when the Skins played the Giants that same weekend. I had a nice conversation with Macho about his time at VT, trying to make it in the pros, etc., but only briefly met D-Hall. I gotta say, Macho was one of the nicest pros I've had the pleasure of meeting: humble, down-to-earth, and very open to talking (at some length) with individual fans and making them feel like he was genuinely having a great time meeting/conversing with some rather star-struck fans. On a side note, I also got to meet Darryl Strawberry, a few of the NY Rangers (and Boston Bruins- they stayed at a hotel by my old apartment), Yankees, Mets, and Ernie Hudson around the surrounding neighborhoods of this bar. Pretty cool place to hang out and people watch. Each year, the Manhattan Hokies have someone associated with the program come in for a game (I believe Bud spoke at an event for the group a few years ago- couldn't go because of school work).
Also, when I was at Tech and living off campus at Pheasant Run, the 2006 offensive line showed up to one of our parties (I played HS football with one of the backups, so he came by our place a few times). Marshman was one of the chillest guys I met as was Sergio. I remember being kind of surprised that they (the starters) offered to pay at the door, although most weren't drinking. Needless to say, we did not charge them.
Also I had a lot of cool experiences as a senior in 2012 because I had the chance to film the Austin Peay and UVA games on the field.
The best part was being able to go to the press conferences and player interviews after practices and the games. I got to be right in front of players like Detrick Bonner, Dyrell, Jack Tyler, HUGHES, and Bruce, but the best may have been being right by Bud Foster during the famous "That kid played his nuts off, and you can quote me on that shit" rant. The most awkward interview you could ever imagine, Mike Barber is forever scarred.
Here are a few pics from the 2012 UVA game I snagged
This thread is so great I had to register for the site so I could comment. I only really have one funny story, but here goes:
1) Back when I lived in Lee Hall, it was easy to go to b-ball games--both men and women. The men's team was not so good and the women's team was fun to watch (Lisa Witherspoon at point made it happen). One time as it was nearing half time at a women's game, I turned to my buddy and said, "Hey look! The women's team is gonna score more in one half than the men's team scores in an entire game!" Well, I didn't notice members of the men's team sitting 3-4 rows in front of us and Rolan Roberts gets up and says "WHAT???". Fighting the urge to point to my roommate as the source of the comment, I instead bravely pretened I had no idea who said it until he turned back around.
2) Met Glennon at one of Cav's recruiting talks. He was a pretty nice guy. Asked him why his brother was going to NC state if he wasn't going to get to play but one year due to Russel Wilson (we know now he got two years). He showed me pics of his dog and Eddie Royal's dog (they both have/had puggles) and I tried to convince him to bring his dog to me for vet care. Glennon got a bad rap by the fanbase...after all, who else can say they beat GA Tech wearing a GA Tech jersey (other than maybe Reggie Ball, ba dum bum) Chatted with Cav after the talk too, and without getting into too much detail per his request at those recruiting talks--he had me and some other guys lines up as D-lineman and he was the O-line. I was getting coached by Cav, even if it was for 20 seconds!
3) I was a mediocre basketball player, but my roommate in vet school could run and dribble, but just not at the same time. So when playing pickup at Merryman, and he hits a near half court shot that he took for no apparent reason, it caused Crystal Starling and a few other gals who were yukking it up on the sideline watching our pathetic display of skill, to jump up and start cheering.
4) Lastly, and why am I even mentioning this? Mike Vick borrowed my future wife's vacuum cleaner to clean his apartment.
the vacuum!?,- really??!- AWESOME!
you still have it right? !!!!!
Naw we don't need it, we just have Sam Rogers intimidate the dirt out of our house
You will fit in perfectly here.
in that case ... can i borrow your Sam Rogers?
Part II of my encounters and conversations at the Ladies Football Clinic, June 2013.
The agenda for the day was talks and presentations by Bud Foster, Scot Loeffler, Mike Gentry, Lester Karlin and Mike Goforth in Cassell Coliseum in the morning. This was followed by lunch and remarks and introductions by Frank Beamer. We then broke up into small groups for a tour of the facilities. The last spot on the tour was Lane. We got to enter through the football players entrance. The players and coaches were standing around near the entrance in casual groups. The players were mostly together in the same area. I said to them that the coaches were having a hard day trying to wrangle all the women and get them to go where they want and when they want. I think they would prefer conducting a practice with the players where they had something to hold over the players head and had the authority over them. They really laughed and agreed that, that was probably true.
I had noticed in the morning that Logan was not there. I was told Logan was coming in at 12:30. I thought that meant that he would be staying and be on the field at 3:00. He did show up and was part of a presentation in the early afternoon, but he was not on the field.
When I was leaving the field, I was confused about how to get back to the starting point. I saw someone walking around and asked him for directions. It turned out to be Scot Loeffler. He was so nice and gracious. He said that he had to go back too and that he would escort me. I asked him why Logan was being a slacker and did not come in until 12:30. I also added that I was disappointed that Logan was not on the field and available for autographs. He said that Logan was not being a slacker and that he had been very busy. He had given Logan things he had to do earlier in the morning and then he had to leave to do more things in the afternoon. We talked about recruiting and a few other things. I remember thinking what a quality person he was and that if he were half the coach as he was a person, that he would be a great coach. Both he and Bud had their faces in their phone much of the day, as the next day was a big day with recruits coming in.
December of 2006 I was travelling to Blacksburg on a Friday for some orientation-type thing for people who had been accepted after an early-decision application. Mom and I stopped at the Burger King on US 15 near C-Ville, same place we often stop. The next person to walk in the door is Tyrod Taylor, who's heading to Blacksburg for another football visit.
He recognized me from high school, and we talked for a bit. When he went to the restroom after ordering, mom asked me who it was and I told her. When he came back out, she started talking to him, and they talked for a good 10 minutes or so. Mom didn't stop talking about that moment for weeks, and still brings it up frequently.
My first (and so far only) trip down to Blacksburg was for the 2011 Miami game. Yes that is the one and only game I have attended at Lane, I picked a good one. I was born and raised and currently reside in the great state of Michigan so attending games comes at a premium. Anyways the experience surrounding that game will stay with me the rest of my life. Driving down that friday I set my GPS to take me directly to the stadium. After countless hours in the car we pull up and the first thing I see is David Wilson being filmed for an espn bit with his car out front. So my wife and I park, get out and as we are walking over Coach Beamer walks right past us. AMAZING first two minutes of my Virginia Tech experience. The morning after was gameday and we hit up the bookstore before the game. Tyrod was signing autographs and I got to say hi and shake his hand before he got set up. I really can't believe how lucky I was to have attended that game and to have seen those guys on that trip. BOOM! First post!
Welcome to TKP! Here's a leg. You should really come to more games...if you're superstitious...
Thanks for the leg! Have loved reading this site for almost a year or so now. Some very solid stuff, everyone should be really proud of the conversations and info here. Hoping to make the shorter drive down to the 'Shoe next fall for OSU game. We'll see then if i've got any magic.
So this guy was at Miami 2011...and "maybe" was at anOSU in 14.
WHY ARE WE NOT FUNDING HIS TICKETS AND TRAVEL?!?!
Part III of Ladies Football Clinic June 2013
During the facilities tour we got to go into the coaches' offices. Beamers new office was beautiful. Unlike Buds office, Beamers was in perfect order with no stray papers or anything that was not decorative being visible. John Ballein was in Beamers office at the time, and I remarked about the condition of the office and that there were no papers on the desk, etc. His reply said everything about his relationship with Beamer. He said yes and that he was so proud of him for cleaning up his office all by himself without having been told to do so. It sounded like a father talking about his son. Apparently Beamer really respects him and does whatever Lester tells him to do.
Bud was in his office at the time. Like most of the day, he was occupied with his phone because of the next day was a big recruiting day. I was admiring his Frank Broyles Award from 2006 and took a picture. I congratulated him for receiving it. He got up from his chair and came over and talked about it. You could tell how happy and proud he was to have received it.
Bud was super all day, as everywhere he went there was a line for pictures and autographs. He was gracious, was constantly smiling and granted everyones request.
This is the end of 2013 and I will soon start 2008, which is much better with more information and many excellent pictures. I am going to try to post the three pictures from Buds office. Note that he is wearing his glasses, a rare sight.
Help, I am challenged and can't figure out how to attach the pictures of Bud's office and his award.
First reply at this link may be helpful in your quest for image-embeddedment dominance:
http://www.thekeyplay.com/content/2013/october/6/help-embedding-pics-etc
Sorry about this complete repost. I am trying to get the hang of all this and am not doing too well. I thought I was just changing the name of the person in Bud's office from Karlin to John Ballein, but it came up with a whole new post repeat. It does make a big difference of the person who was in Beamer's office though. I was up too late that night I originally posted. Also, even though someone was kind enough to post instructions to post pictures, I am not able to do that, at least at the present time. It will take a lot of time to try to figure it out for someone like me, and I just don't have the time at this time of the year.
I don't have too many stories but here's a couple.
I saw Beamer in Owens earlier this year ordering guess what...a sandwich from Frank's Deli. I wonder how that conversation goes..."Can I have my sandwich?" - Beamer
I went to high school with Erick Green. He was a senior when I was a freshman. Never really met him but got to see him tear it up on the hard court before arriving at Tech.
I've lost count of the number of times I've seen football and basketball players in West End. The funniest thing to me is how Kyle and some of the other seniors mooch off of Kendall's meal plan.
Finally, this isn't really an encounter, but one of the best Christmas gifts I've ever received
All (most?) of the freshman athletes live in Cochrane Hall, which is the residential building attached to West End.
Which I suppose could lead to another story of mine. Cochrane Hall, the athletic dorm, is named after one of my dad's frat brothers. He has about the 5th best parking spot for football games, and every year he throws a big tailgate where he throws a whole pig on his grill trailer and drives in from Richmond. Best tailgate I've ever been to (no offense to Joe for the one he put on this year).
The signed footballs I have are a few of the best gifts I've received and are on display on my FanCave. One football signed by Exum, Gayle and Logan that my sister gave me and another from my Mother-In-Law from last year's bowl game signed by Coach Flood and Khaseem Greene of Rutgers as well as Logan and Frank that she won in an auction down in Orlando. Also on display are a helmet, 1 panoramic from inside Lane Stadium, a handmade lunchpail, an MV shako, 2 pieces of Hokie Stone, and one painted print of Lane Stadium signed by all of our coaches from the 2012 season.
Caleb Ferris and I had a class together this semester, and have fist bumped upon entering said class on several different occasions. You guys, I've made it.
Part I Ladies Football Clinic 2008
Correction to Part III Ladies Football Clinic 2013, I said the person in Beamers office who made the comments was Lester Karlin. It was John Ballein and not Lester Karlin, as I mistakenly said.
Keep in mind this was the summer of 2008. We were the 2007 ACC Champions and lost the bowl game to Kansas. The defense was number 1 and the offense was 100. It was Tyrods first year and we used both Taylor and Glennon that season. The fans were upset and complaining about the ranking of the offense and losing the bowl game.
I decided to pick on Torrian for one of the hard questions since he is so nice, young and on the defensive side. At a slow time at the check-in table, I asked him if they had any plans or goals to improve upon the 100th ranked offense. He was embarrassed and looked around quickly to see if anyone had heard the question. He then quickly said dont say anything about that around the football office and smiled. That said volumes about the attitude and how that was viewed and handled.
The big highlight of the morning presentations was Tyrod, Glennon and Chancellor modeling the new uniforms for the 2008 season. We were the first ones to see these uniforms. This was followed by their giving John Ballein, who was wearing shorts and was introduced as Chicken Legs, the jerseys. The three then took off each piece of the uniform and threw it up into the crowd. The ladies were going wild yelling and holding their hands up to catch what was thrown. The players were having a great time doing this. It is a good thing there are many layers to those uniforms. When the players were reduced to their shorts, the crowd kept yelling, More, More. The players were then embarrassed and did not know what to do. Glennons face was actually beet red, as he resorted to taking off his socks with Tyrod looking on in amazement. I have great, detailed pictures of all of the above taken by the photographers at the clinic and then posted on the free part of Beamerball. I could send them to someone who would be willing to post them for me.
I know I'm late on this one, and I have to apologize in advance. But I thought I was share the following:
I went to the VT Basketball camp in 95, right after they won the 95 NIT against Marquette (irony). My favorite player on the team is/was Shawn Smith. This was a team that had Ace, the Jackson twins, Damon Watlington and Shawn Good. What an amazing team they were. I got to meet them all Coach Foster's camp. I was a terrible basketball player, but I showed enough promised to be named Most Improved Camper.
A couple of months later, I went to the Portsmouth Invitational and sat with Shawn Smith and other players and watched the game.
Went to the Rutgers-VT game the first year of MV5, saw him throw a pick and mope on the sideline while Beamer stewed. However I did get to meet Vegas Robinson after the game. That man was a beast.
Shawn Good is now the coach at Christiansburg High School for basketball if I am not mistaken.
Yes I believe you are right, he was a great guy too.
Remember that one time Spring Football was only a day away!????
In spring of 1989, was living in Foxridge and was walking along one of the trails there when I saw Beamer walking toward me. I kept looking at him because I wasn't sure who he was - basketball was a lot bigger than football back then, and we had just finished 2-9 and 3-8 the last 2 years. Anyway, Beamer kept giving me this look like he was ready for fight or flight. Guess he thought I might start cussing him out about his coaching skills or something. Anyway, as he finally got close I just kind of nodded at him, and he nodded back. I swear he looked relieved.
Then in 1987, I almost got beat up by Chris Kinzer for stepping on his foot at a party, before I eventually got tossed out - they thought I was crashing the party.
I used to work with a girl whose sister was dating Quinton Nottingham. My wife and I were big basketball fans, and so my wife named our cat after Quinton. He got word, and apparently was pretty amused by it. Quinton roomed with Bimbo Coles at the time, and after games, he allegedly would say things like "Yeah, Coles, you scored more points, but which of us has a cat named after them?" Bimbo also allegedly used to tell Quinton he needed to be more confident and just take more shots.
Not VT related, but my wife and I also once won a cruise. Flying out of Roanoke to catch the ship in Miami, but were fogged in. Tickets were non-refundable, and there were a bunch of us there that had tickets just for the cruise - we had all won them in some way or another. A lot of people just gave up, some people drove to Charlotte to catch the connecting flight. Three couples decided to stick it out while the airlines worked it out for us. The other 2 couples that won worked for Mitchener auto sales in Narrows. One of them was Mitchener's son, the other was Steve Newberry, who was an All-American safety for WVU in the early/mid 1980s.
The fog lifted just in time, and we made our flight, but there was only one connecting flight in Atlanta that would get us to the ship on time - and we would barely have time - if we ran, to make that connection, and we had to go from gate D to gate A. They told us not to check our luggage because it wouldn't make the connection, and we'd be cruising without it. So the plane lands, on time, fortunately, but there is traffic to the gate, delaying us. We finally get off the flight, and take off running flat out, the men also hauling the luggage. The women can't keep up and they fall behind. Mitchener eventually drops back also, because he basically started drinking with the onset of the fog and has continued through the flight. That leaves me and Newberry. Newberry is flat sprinting through the airport, running broken field dodging kids, old people, luggage carts. Looked every bit a football player. I'm trying my level best to keep up, and it's made a little easier because I'm carrying less luggage than he is. But he's still got a lead of a good 50 feet on me. We dash up to the gate, and the gate attendant is juuuust closing the gate, but Newberry leaps onto the walkway and stops in the doorway. She looks at him, annoyed, and he manages to gasp out, "5 more behind me." She tries to tell him that they have to close the gate so the flight can leave on time, but by that time I'm there also, and she's not about to shut 2 of us out. So she gets on the phone and snippily tells them to open the door. We wait for a couple of minutes while the others catch up, and Newberry says to me "There was no way I was going to let them shut that door after going through all that. I was going to lie down in the doorway and refuse to move until everyone got here."
Are you sure it was Chris Kinzer and not Earl "The Snake" White? I remember one of my friends stepped on his sneakers and poured Morton's salt all over 'em. It didn't end well.
The Monday night following our Decade of Dominance win, I ran into Andrew Miller and David Wang at Rivermill, with (drinking from) the Commonwealth Cup. I approached them just intending to say thanks and wish Miller luck, but before I could get out anymore than a "Hey guys," and Miller said "Hey man, you want a drink out of this?" Their drink of choice that night had been Woodchuck with a shot of Fireball, so I had one myself. Took a long time to drink because it was tough to do more than sip without it dribbling down my face, while talking with them. I like Miller's attitude, emphasized that the cup wasn't just his, or the football teams, but all of Virginia Tech's. I asked them how they divvy up time with the cup, and he said they just pass it around amongst the players, and "it's not gonna have a dry night with me... hell, it's not going to have a dry hour."
And then I had to call my roommate to drive me home.
This was also roughly 24 hours before whatever incident Miller was involved with outside TOTS this past Fall.
In my 6 years at Tech, drinking booze from the Commonwealth Cup was one of my proudest accomplishments.