Fire still burns for Hokies
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
roanoke.com
Virginia Tech returns 14 starters from the overachieving squad that won the ACC title.
By Randy King
981-3126
The Roanoke Times
So much for those who thought Virginia Tech was heading south on the national college football scene's measuring stick.
After proving this season that last summer's reports of the impending demise of the its program have were greatly exaggerated, Tech finds itself destined to head into this fall's 2005 campaign as one of the country's elite players.
"A lot of people thought Virginia Tech was about to fall off the map," Hokies cornerback Eric Green said. "Well, we've got news for those folks: Virginia Tech isn't going anywhere. Virginia Tech is here to stay."
The rejuvenated Hokies hammered that point home this past season. Picked to finish sixth in its inaugural season in the ACC, Tech proceeded to rip off eight straight wins and capture the league title. The Hokies' 16-13 loss to unbeaten No. 3 Auburn in the Sugar Bowl eight days ago was not the finish they envisioned, but a 10-3 season and final No. 10 ranking in the both of the polls provided overwhelming evidence that Frank Beamer's program is still cooking.
In fact, the oven is so hot in Blacksburg that Tech is a virtual lock to be ranked in the country's top 10 when it opens the season Sept. 3, on the road against a yet-to-be-determined ACC foe. Not bad for a program that only five months ago was forecast as a mere middle-of-the-pack runner in its own league.
"Tech is on the rise," said senior quarterback Bryan Randall, whose play and leadership were paramount in Tech's surprising 2004 run. "A lot of people were counting us out for the long run after the last couple of seasons, thinking it was going to be a down time for Tech. But you look at these young guys and you look at what we did this year and I think we're still on the rise."
Although it loses such key performers as Randall and defensive tackle Jim Davis - the leaders on their respective sides of the ball this past season - Tech will return 14 starters.
If junior cornerback Jimmy Williams decides to go pro early - the first-team All-ACC performer has until Friday to declare for April's NFL Draft - the biggest hit will be in the defensive secondary where the Hokies also will lose Green, free safety Vincent Fuller and rover James Griffin to graduation.
While he has some young talent such as corners Roland Minor and D.J. Parker to help fill those holes, defensive coordinator Bud Foster will undoubtedly be taking a hard look at his defensive backfield in spring drills. The Hokies already have decided to move No. 3 tailback Justin Hamilton to free safety. If anybody can pull off such a move so quickly, it's Hamilton, long known as one of the smartest, football-savvy guys in the locker room.
Tech's fast defense returns five of its front seven, a group that will will be led by star defensive end Darryl Tapp.
Offensively, the biggest worry is replacing the straw that stirred the drink. Randall, a starter in the Hokies' past 38 games, leaves Tech as the holder of school records for career passing yards (6,489), career total yards (8,034) and touchdown passes (48).
Randall is hopeful that Marcus Vick, who will be returning to Tech after being suspended from school last semester for off-the-field violations, will pick up the well-lit torch he left behind and run with it.
"I definitely want to see Marcus come back and be successful here in whatever he does and stay out of trouble," said Randall, who said he corresponded several times this season with Vick through e-mails.
"I think he's had a good time to get himself together. I think he realizes how much he misses it when you're away from it. So when he comes back, I think he's going to do well. I know the type of person he is and I know how much he misses it because he's such a competitor. It will make for a nice story to see Marcus come back, do things the right way and have a lot of success here."
Vick will have plenty of talent around him. Tech returns a deep tailback stable led by Mike Imoh and Cedric Humes, plus has a deep well of young receivers such as Eddie Royal, Josh Hyman, Josh Morgan, David Clowney and second-team All-ACC tight end Jeff King coming back.
On special teams, first-team All-ACC place-kicker Brandon Pace returns, while former Salem High School standout Nic Schmitt figures be to be the leading candidate to succeed Vinnie Burns, a four-year starter at punter.
"There's a lot of talent coming back," Randall said. "I think this program has shown it's capable of coming with anybody."
With guys such as Randall and Davis out the door, who will take over as leaders in the locker room? If anything, the 2004 Tech club proved that team chemistry means more than sheer talent when it comes to having a successful season.
"This team was special, no doubt about it," Tapp said. "It's sad to see those [19] seniors go.
"Now, somebody else to pick up the ball and go with it. Will it carry over? I hope so. We'll find out in the spring and we'll find out next fall."
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What a great year for the Hokies! |
