[Mark Umansky]
Offensive lineman Austin Clark is no longer a member of the Hokies' football program, but will continue attending classes at Virginia Tech. A Virginia Tech spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday.
Clark, a Rockbridge County product, enrolled early at Virginia Tech in January of the past year. The former 4-star prospect originally committed to South Carolina in June of 2014 before flipping to the Hokies in November 2014.
The 6-6, 308 pound tackle redshirted last season, and was expected to compete for playing time as a backup this spring.
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Hopefully he opts to return, at least he is continuing his education
I hope he returns too as he seems like a solid kid, not just in bulk. But sometimes something inside dies or you think it has died. It could be one big thing or many such as a poor relationship with a coach(es), grades, maturity level, negative influences, or just lack of self-awareness. Corey Marshall might be an example of someone who was able to step away to prioritize and then come back. There was nothing exemplary about me as a player like Austin, but a long time ago I did the same thing, turned my head, walked away, and just shrugged my shoulders as I could think of nothing to say when asked to come back. I got my degree, but not that special experience so few have an opportunity to get. It took a long time and things have turned out fine, but I now regret my decision.
I was never the best soccer player, but I did play D1 in high school and went to VT with an opportunity to try out during the summer before my freshman year. Problem was, by that time I didn't love the game like I used to and didn't put in what I needed to in order to be successful at the college level.
Who knows if I even would have succeeded had I done everything right, but I had the same reaction you did. Just sort of shrugged my shoulders, walked away from it, and moved on to what was next. I also regret not putting 1000% into it, as I think it would have put me on a very different path in life had I been able to keep my focus, but it wasn't in the cards. Just like you, everything turned out fine, but I do wish I would have had a better head on my shoulders at the time.
footage of HOAT playing soccer in his youth
I'm gone for four hours and you've earned 30 turkey legs off my youthful foibles.
Ugh, fine. *legs post
31 legs.
Now we know why he was rehabbing on a treadmill! Mystery solved!
Reminds me too much of my sex life in my old age.
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The same feeling I had watching the end of most Giants games this season
Sad that he's no longer on the football team but I think we often forget how tough it is to be a student athlete. He's still a hokie though and I wish him success in whatever he pursues!
sometimes the student athlete life isn't for everyone.. its a whole other animal for sure. Hopefully it's nothing serious.
Sucks, I thought we had him in our back pocket as a secret weapon for next year's OL. That he's still a student at VT means what, exactly? That it's too late to transfer this semester and he's waiting until summer? Or maybe his football career is over for one reason or another? I'll be curious to know why this happened, hopefully nothing dangerous to his life outside of football.
The rumor I heard, and again just a rumor, was he wasn't jiving with the new staff and didn't like the new S&C. I knew some guys would leave with a new coach, but I was hoping it wasn't on the O line
If that was the case then perhaps for the better for both parties.
His reasons are his reasons. Let's not speculate on them. I wish him the best, and will turn my focus on evaluating the guys who are part of the program.
Someone on TOS mentioned family tragedy, school, and athletics perhaps being a bit much to handle. If that's the case then I can understand. It's hard enough doing one of those, let alone three.
Good Luck Austin, Get that degree..Education is for life
Hard to say, but I know several former student athletes (none in football, and none Hokies) who came to feel like they were missing out on a lot of the college experience, sacrificing their grades, and working much harder than most students, to tear up their bodies for life, in a sport in which they were not going to be able go pro. If you can't answer the questions "why" for yourself it becomes much harder and less enjoyable to put in the time and effort to compete at the college level.
I'm just curious but why do we have two threads for this?
Speculation vs Reality?
You nailed it. When there's a breaking / major news item like this, unless I'm incapacitated I will always publish a post with accurate details (at the time) to share on the front-page of TKP, its Facebook and Twitter. The other thread had some misinformation in it (Clark was no longer enrolled) and hopefully this clears it up.
For what it's worth, I heard about this yesterday and reached out to Virginia Tech for comment, and as soon as they got back to me, I published.
Damn it feels good to be validated by, none other then, Joe!!
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Smack my ass and call me Shirley cause my day is made!
Nominee (and a leg) for Creepiest Gif Ever
Not a competition I am ready for
That bourbon will really get after ya.
So will kids under the age of 3.
He did the Hokie Pokie for 30 minutes after dinner tonight.
Raising him right.
Lucky. My son passed out on his bedroom floor after an hour-long tantrum.
Makes perfect sense then! Thanks!
Best of luck to you Austin, you will always be a Hokie!!
http://www.roanoke.com/sports/columns_and_blogs/blogs/andy_bitter_virgin...
Looks like he wanted to focus on his school work.
Let's hope we land a great OL class next year, and hopefully another JUCO or two
Can't fault him for that. If your grades aren't getting you where you want to be, gotta make a change.
I have had family members make the same choice and some regret it but others do not.
Sounds like a classy kid and family to me.
It's not my business what his reason is but glad the strength and conditioning was a rumor but I am however glad that it is stepping up quite a bit, maybe Settle will be able to play several downs at full speed and really make offensive lines hate going up against us!
All in a single sentence with two "buts" and an exclamation point...impressive!
Good for him if that's what he feels is the best for him scholastically it appears he has a good head on his shoulders. Also glad he did this early on then later when he might of been counted on to be a contributor as that at least gives his reps this spring to someone else.
I guess he didn't really like football. In that case, it's not really a bad thing that he's quitting. I don't think you can really excel in anything if you're just going through the motions.
And to think, I was excited for the eve of signing day...