Key Reads: From the Beat Writers

Kwamaine Battle will qualify for sixth year of eligibility

Virginia Tech defensive tackle Kwamaine Battle, sidelined this season with a knee injury, will qualify for a sixth year of eligibility, according to the school's compliance director, Tim Parker.

The 2010 defensive line is shallow, and we'll see just how devastating the loss of Battle is Saturday against BC's brutish front five. Battle being granted a medical redshirt is the silver lining. Looking ahead a couple of years the '11 and '12 defensive lines (and for that matter entire defense) should a couple of the best ever at Tech because of all the young guys getting experience now and the great incoming recruits.

Loudoun linebacker update

Beamer said Tuesday he's been impressed with Williams's play on the scout team the past couple weeks -- "He has some natural instincts," the coach said -- and that the team would be "giving him a look" in practice this week in hopes of being ready to play at some point in the near future.

On Monday's Tech Talk Live both Beamer and Foster seemed excited about the prospect of Williams seeing the field this year. My gut tells me he's going to be another in a long line of "average" Hokie recruits who's just going to cause mayhem and havoc on Saturdays. I'll bet he gets some playing time sooner rather than later.

Boston College Week, Vol. 4: Does the road to another ACC title begin Saturday?

Even if the Hokies lose a game – or two, maybe even three – between now and then, they're not necessarily out of the hunt. Why? Because the ACC is all about tradition, and its football tradition (since expanding in 2004) has been mediocrity.

Every ACC champion in the past six seasons has lost at least one conference game and at least two total regular-season games. Twice, a team that lost three league games and four total regular-season games won the ACC.

I think we're about five years removed from pundits claiming the ACC is on par with the SEC. On paper expansion was supposed to make that claim plausible and not laughable. Yet in reality the conference is struggling to stay more relevant than the Big East. The ACC will never be the SEC. The entire SEC is more financially committed to football, while the ACC is worried about its basketball heritage. Let's stop analyzing about where we stand nationally and appreciate the product, because I do enjoy the rivalries, traditions, settings and games.

With that said, a huge benefit to playing in a weak conference is it affords weak teams at the start of the season a chance to grow and win said conference. If we win the ACC this year, this, for a lack of a better word, flexibility will be a reason why.