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Pastimes : Virginia Tech Hokies -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: gregor who wrote (98)	8/9/2001 8:37:46 AM
From: Wildstar	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 1332

Looks like Grant Noel is solid #1 at QB per this article: timesdispatch.com Newest Hokies enjoying freshmen orientation 'Mini-camp' provides major benefits BY MIKE HARRIS TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Aug 09, 2001 BLACKSBURG - Will Hunt wiped some sweat off his brow and thought for a moment about his first three days as a member of Virginia Tech's football team. It didn't take him long to come up with a description. "I knew there was going to be a lot to learn," said Hunt, a quarterback from Springdale, Ark. "It's not overwhelming. It's pretty close to it. There's a lot you have to look for on every play. It's a lot to take in over a few days." Everyone probably has seen the cartoon where the little baseball player tells his dad he had a no-hitter going until the big kids got out of school. That's kind of what's going on at Tech this week. The big kids haven't gotten to school yet. For now, it is freshmen only. It's as important a few days as they'll have. "As much as anything, it serves to get them indoctrinated," offensive coordinator Rickey Bustle said. "We're doing as much drill work as we can, trying to see where they'll best fit when the varsity gets here. "What we have to do as coaches is get a feel for what motivates a kid. I think you can learn a lot about them in four practices as far as what puts a smile on their face, what motivates them. There's time to get to know them that you don't have once everyone is here." Tech's freshmen reported Monday. That night, they ran a 40-yard dash, did a vertical jump and were tested on the bench press. Two practices and plenty of meetings were scheduled for Tuesday and yesterday. Today is devoted to academic orientation (the rest of the squad will check in). Tomorrow is media day, and Saturday the full-squad workouts begin. The Hokies open Sept. 1 at home against Connecticut. "You can't teach everything in four practices, but you can teach the basics," defensive coordinator Bud Foster said. "We get a good chance to work with them." Said Tech coach Frank Beamer, "When the varsity gets here, these guys aren't lost. And they get so much help academically. It's a great time for a freshman." It's a hectic time as well. "They're keeping us pretty busy," quarterback Chris Clifton said. Yesterday's second session included long periods with position coaches and some conditioning work with strength coach Mike Gentry. "It's good because it is just D.J. Walton and me in the secondary," defensive back DeAngelo Hall said. "We get a chance to have a lot of one on one with Coach [Lorenzo] Ward. When the varsity gets here, things will be so up-tempo they won't have time to just sit around and explain it to us." Most eyes this preseason will be on Hunt, Clifton and fellow quarterback Bryan Randall. With Michael Vick gone to the NFL, the quarterback question is the biggie. Bustle, who also is Tech's quarterbacks coach, reiterated yesterday that junior Grant Noel is solid at No.1. Not as solid at No.2 is redshirt freshman Jason Davis. "In our minds, Grant is the guy. It would have to be really something to change that," Bustle said. "He improved so much in the spring and we expect him to improve even more to lengthen the gap between those who are chasing him. I think No.2 is up in the air. That's based on how Jason comes back and what these freshmen will do - the guy who shows the most." Bustle said Hunt, Clifton and Randall haven't been put in any order yet. Within a week, some separation probably will start to occur. Chances are excellent at least one will play this season. It's been four full seasons since Tech's No.1 quarterback hasn't been forced by injury to miss at least one game. For at least the past three seasons, the No.3 quarterback has been forced into some duty. "I have about nine practices scripted out with what each of the freshmen are going to get," Bustle said. "I'm not sure where in that nine they'll separate. You're going to have to do that somewhere along the line." Without their "mini-camp," all the freshmen probably could count themselves on the wrong side of the line. "No freshman would ever play without this," Hall said.