Playing on Bermuda grass in the frigid climate 2200 feet above sea level in Blacksburg Virginia is not the only thing to change for Hokie football in the year 2002.
11,000 new seats will add to the deafening roar of fanatic football fans in already 'loud' Lane Stadium.
Last year saw a top 15 team starting out and going 6 and 0 before losing two straight to Syracuse and Pitt., rebounding to beat Temple and Virginia and then losing a heartbreaker to Miami 26 to 24 and finishing out the season with a respectable loss of 30 to 17 against a problem beset FSU team.
This year, Tech has been ommitted from some top 25 polls and it remains to be seen if we can crack an ESPN or AP top 20 when the polls come out in the first week of August.
Is it any wonder when an unprecedented amount of controversy is given to the QB position. Who will be the signal caller. Grant Noel, Bryan Randall, Will Hunt or the new recruit from Newport News, brother of the All American from Tech, QB for the Atlanta team the Falcons, yea ! Mike Vicks brother Marcus Vick. Who IS the best QB? Will Marcus Vick be redshirted? Will it waste a year to not redshirt him? Is Bryan Randall far more talented than Grant Noel?
Cobb and Adibi will shore up the outside of the 'D' at DE but how will the middle of the 'D' hold up. One player you will not have to worry about is Cols Colas at DE. Cols had a superior spring game and for a play or two I thought Cory Moore had returned. Cols is a potential AM in 2003.One thing is certain, someone on 'D' will have to step up play, who will it be?
There are not too many names you will recognize at line backer or defensive tackle but there are three frames you will not and cannot miss at OT, 6 foot 5 324 pound Reggie Butler, 6-7 324 lb. Jon Dunn and Anthony Davis , all 6-4 320 pounds.. at OT . The cornors are solid with loud flamboyant Ronyell Whitaker, Eric Green, DeAngelo Hall, and Garnell Wilds. Free safety Willie Pile is a probable All American this year.
A recruit Fred Lee, junior college transfer will help some wide outs with droppppitis!
An offensive line that is maturing will be making holes for the best backfield 'duo' in the nation...Jones and Suggs but how will they do against a certain 8 in the box every game if Noel is the starting QB...
More questions than answers this year .. your comments and suggestions more than welcome this year....!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
