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hokiesports - the notebook
Our intent is to provide our readers with more behind-the-scenes news and notes that otherwise may not make the front page of hokiesports.com.
Tech is the preseason ACC favorite and is ranked 16th in the NFCA poll. The USA Softball poll is released Tuesday.
The Hokies return a pair of pitchers, including two-time All-American Angela Tincher. Joining Tincher and Heather Lowry in the circle are freshman Kenzie Roark and senior transfer Elly Gosby.
The only starter Tech lost was designated player Callie Rhodes, who could be replaced by her sister, Jenna.
January 2008 Archives
Freshman Tommy Spellman was recently named the Virginia Tech Athlete of the Week and the ACC Wrestler of the Week after helping the Hokies record an upset win over rival Virginia on Jan. 27th by score of 18-16. At 184 pounds, the Newton, N.J., native beat 10th-ranked Rocco Caponi 5-2 to lead the Hokies effort. Caponi entered the match with a 30-1 record. Spellman also picked up a 3-1 sudden-victory win over UNC's Nick Tenpenny the day before. Here is a brief Q&A with Spellman:
• What were your thoughts going into the match against the No. 10-ranked Rocco Caponi?
“I was just excited to have the opportunity to wrestle a guy that was ranked that high in the nation. Going into the match, my game plan was to slow him down and keep it close until the end. I felt as though he got tired late in the match and I scored a late takedown to win.”
• Was there a turning point during the match when you thought you could pull off the upset? What did it feel like afterwards?
“I believe the turning point was in the second period. I was able to ride him for over a minute and pick up a riding-time point, which I knew would be important. Then when I could feel him getting tired, I got a boost of energy. I felt great afterward that I could contribute to the team’s huge upset.”
• How big of a win was this for the team as a whole? Was there a bout that shifted the momentum to where you guys were confident you could win?
“This was a big win for the team. To have a team as young as we are beat a team like UVA, it proved that we can compete with the best in the ACC. There were many huge bouts that we were not supposed to win on paper, but that we did, such as Kevin O'Connor beating 15th-ranked Brent Jones at 197 and Chris Diaz coming back from an eight-point deficit to pick up a crucial pin. The entire team wrestled very well.”
• What are your thoughts on being named the ACC Wrestler of the Week?
“It is a great honor to be named ACC Wrestler of the Week and I am very thankful, but there is still a lot of season left so it is certainly nothing to dwell on.”
• What were your thoughts going into the match against the No. 10-ranked Rocco Caponi?
“I was just excited to have the opportunity to wrestle a guy that was ranked that high in the nation. Going into the match, my game plan was to slow him down and keep it close until the end. I felt as though he got tired late in the match and I scored a late takedown to win.”
• Was there a turning point during the match when you thought you could pull off the upset? What did it feel like afterwards?
“I believe the turning point was in the second period. I was able to ride him for over a minute and pick up a riding-time point, which I knew would be important. Then when I could feel him getting tired, I got a boost of energy. I felt great afterward that I could contribute to the team’s huge upset.”
• How big of a win was this for the team as a whole? Was there a bout that shifted the momentum to where you guys were confident you could win?
“This was a big win for the team. To have a team as young as we are beat a team like UVA, it proved that we can compete with the best in the ACC. There were many huge bouts that we were not supposed to win on paper, but that we did, such as Kevin O'Connor beating 15th-ranked Brent Jones at 197 and Chris Diaz coming back from an eight-point deficit to pick up a crucial pin. The entire team wrestled very well.”
• What are your thoughts on being named the ACC Wrestler of the Week?
“It is a great honor to be named ACC Wrestler of the Week and I am very thankful, but there is still a lot of season left so it is certainly nothing to dwell on.”
The All-American Football League, a brand-new organization made up of six teams (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Michigan, Tennessee and Texas) that will begin play in April, recently held its first-ever draft, and four former Virginia Tech Hokies were selected.
Quarterback Bryan Randall was chosen second overall by Tennessee, where he will be joined by defensive tackle Tim Sandidge, who was taken in the second round. Defensive end Derrius Monroe was picked in the fourth round, also by Tennessee, and tight end Keith Willis was selected in the 45th round by Alabama.
The AAFL is unique in that it will employ only those players who have both completed their college football eligibility and earned a four-year degree. Visit the league’s web site, www.allamericanfootballleague.com, for more information.
Full draft results are available here in PDF form.
Quarterback Bryan Randall was chosen second overall by Tennessee, where he will be joined by defensive tackle Tim Sandidge, who was taken in the second round. Defensive end Derrius Monroe was picked in the fourth round, also by Tennessee, and tight end Keith Willis was selected in the 45th round by Alabama.
The AAFL is unique in that it will employ only those players who have both completed their college football eligibility and earned a four-year degree. Visit the league’s web site, www.allamericanfootballleague.com, for more information.
Full draft results are available here in PDF form.
Tech is the preseason ACC favorite and is ranked 16th in the NFCA poll. The USA Softball poll is released Tuesday.
The Hokies return a pair of pitchers, including two-time All-American Angela Tincher. Joining Tincher and Heather Lowry in the circle are freshman Kenzie Roark and senior transfer Elly Gosby.
The only starter Tech lost was designated player Callie Rhodes, who could be replaced by her sister, Jenna.
Kelsey Hoffman returns behind the plate, and will get help
from Misty Hall, Amber Walker and Morgan Harris in handling the staff.
Stephanie Savre (1B) and Erin Ota (2B) also return. Charisse
Mariconda, who split time at third base and shortstop last year, moves back to
her natural position at third due to the arrival of freshman Jess Hodge and Hall,
a transfer, at shortstop. Hall will also catch some when not at shortstop. Beth
Walker and Dori Nunley will also look to break into the rotation at the outer
infield spots.
In the outfield, all three starters return. Senior Caroline
Stolle (LF) led the team in hitting and home runs last year and Jessica
Everhart (CF) has started every game her first two seasons. Walk-on Whitney Davis
is back in right field. Anna Zitt and Rhodes will also look for playing time in
the outfield.
Additionally, work is well under way on the construction
project. Both roofs on the dugouts have been removed and are in the process of
being lowered. The steel for the stands is being put together behind the
current stands while the foundation is being formed.
Tech will open its season on Feb. 8 at the FIU Invite in
A trio of Virginia Tech stars - wide receiver Eddie Royal, linebacker Xavier Adibi and defensive lineman Chris Ellis - are among the 100 top senior NFL draft prospects participating in the 2008 Under Armour Senior Bowl this week in Mobile, Alabama.
The Virginia Tech trio reported to Mobile this past weekend and had their first practice session on Monday afternoon. They will play on the North squad, which is being coached by Oakland Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin and his staff.
The players will have one practice per day during Senior Bowl Week, capped off by the 59th annual game on Saturday, January 26. Kickoff is set for 4:00 p.m. EST in Mobile’s Ladd-Peebles Stadium and the contest will be nationally-televised by the NFL Network.
Fans will also be able to follow the players’ progress through the NFL Network’s extensive coverage of this year’s Senior Bowl practices, as over 21 hours of Senior Bowl content will air during the week and on game day. NFL Network telecasts will air on Monday through Thursday of the week, including live practice coverage and nightly recap shows in primetime.
For more information, visit the bowl’s website at www.seniorbowl.com.
The Virginia Tech trio reported to Mobile this past weekend and had their first practice session on Monday afternoon. They will play on the North squad, which is being coached by Oakland Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin and his staff.
The players will have one practice per day during Senior Bowl Week, capped off by the 59th annual game on Saturday, January 26. Kickoff is set for 4:00 p.m. EST in Mobile’s Ladd-Peebles Stadium and the contest will be nationally-televised by the NFL Network.
Fans will also be able to follow the players’ progress through the NFL Network’s extensive coverage of this year’s Senior Bowl practices, as over 21 hours of Senior Bowl content will air during the week and on game day. NFL Network telecasts will air on Monday through Thursday of the week, including live practice coverage and nightly recap shows in primetime.
For more information, visit the bowl’s website at www.seniorbowl.com.
Former Tech midfielder Ben Nason was the eighth pick in the fourth round (50th overall) of Friday's Major League Soccer SuperDraft.
The Stafford, Va., native was selected by FC Dallas, who earned a playoff spot in the Western Conference with a 13-12-5 record. FC Dallas begins its season on Sunday, March 30 at 3 p.m., against Chivas USA.
In addition to serving as a co-captain of Tech's first-ever College Cup team this season, Nason appeared in a school-record 85 matches and ranks second in Tech history with 28 assists to go along with 19 career goals. Nason joins Chase Harrison and Patrick Nyarko as the only Tech players taken in MLS drafts.
For a complete review of this year's draft, visit http://web.mlsnet.com/mls/events/superdraft/2008/.
For those who already miss college football, check out the 83rd annual East-West Shrine Bowl on Sat., Jan. 19 at 7 p.m. EST on ESPN2. Four Hokies will be on the East squad, including tackle Duane Brown, linebacker Vince Hall, wide receiver Justin Harper and free safety D.J. Parker. Visit www.shrinegame.net for more information.
Battle the cold and snow by getting to Cassell Coliseum early on Thursday evening for the Hokies’ 7 p.m. contest with Clemson, and get rewarded by receiving a free pair of VT gloves. The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive the promotion, which can be viewed by clicking on the link at this page.
Ground was recently broken on a couple of improvements that are being made to English Field, home of the Hokie baseball team. Click here for more info.
Women’s track and field star Kristi Castlin was recently named the Virginia Lottery Athlete of the Week for her efforts in the Virginia Tech Invitational over the weekend. She ran the third leg of Tech's 4x200-meter relay (with Patrice Potts, Britni Spruill and Queen Harrison) that completed the race in 1:36.43 to break the previous collegiate record of 1:36.5, which was established by Tennessee State in 1979.
Castlin also established a Rector Field House record in the 55-meter hurdles with a personal record of 7.59, which was just .01 short of automatically qualifying for the NCAA Championships. Nonetheless, Castlin provisionally qualified for the national meet and improved on her own previous facility record time from last season by .02. The Douglasville, Ga., sophomore originally set the facility record almost exactly one year ago with a first-place effort of 7.61. Here is a brief Q&A with Kristi:
• How soon after the 4x200 did you realize you guys had broken the collegiate record? How does it feel to know that no one in the history of the NCAA has done it faster?
“We realized that we had broken the record actually about three minutes after the race was over! Our coach checked the stats on the computer at the meet. It feels GREAT to know that no one in the history of the NCAA has done it faster. I, along with my teammates, just focused in on the race and that moment and executed what we work on everyday in practice.”
• You obviously excel in the 55m hurdles, having broken your personal best many times. What is your favorite or easiest event (indoor or outdoor) to compete in? How about the toughest?
“There is no EASIEST event in track and field! But I must say my favorite is the 100m hurdles. The race is a little longer than the 55 or 60 and it takes a little more work and focus, but the payoff is great in the end. The toughest event, I must say, is the 400 hurdles. It takes an abundance of endurance and strength, and I ran that race a couple of times last year. I’m attempting to excel in the 200m and some open races this year, but it’s still not out of my resume!”
• Can you tell mid-race whether you are on a record pace? Or does it all happen too quickly to know until it’s over?
“During a race, especially a short one, you have no idea about the speed or pace. You’re just going all out and hopefully your body remembers the previous week of practice. When I get to the meet, all my thinking and analyzing goes out the window and I just RUN!!”
Castlin also established a Rector Field House record in the 55-meter hurdles with a personal record of 7.59, which was just .01 short of automatically qualifying for the NCAA Championships. Nonetheless, Castlin provisionally qualified for the national meet and improved on her own previous facility record time from last season by .02. The Douglasville, Ga., sophomore originally set the facility record almost exactly one year ago with a first-place effort of 7.61. Here is a brief Q&A with Kristi:
• How soon after the 4x200 did you realize you guys had broken the collegiate record? How does it feel to know that no one in the history of the NCAA has done it faster?
“We realized that we had broken the record actually about three minutes after the race was over! Our coach checked the stats on the computer at the meet. It feels GREAT to know that no one in the history of the NCAA has done it faster. I, along with my teammates, just focused in on the race and that moment and executed what we work on everyday in practice.”
• You obviously excel in the 55m hurdles, having broken your personal best many times. What is your favorite or easiest event (indoor or outdoor) to compete in? How about the toughest?
“There is no EASIEST event in track and field! But I must say my favorite is the 100m hurdles. The race is a little longer than the 55 or 60 and it takes a little more work and focus, but the payoff is great in the end. The toughest event, I must say, is the 400 hurdles. It takes an abundance of endurance and strength, and I ran that race a couple of times last year. I’m attempting to excel in the 200m and some open races this year, but it’s still not out of my resume!”
• Can you tell mid-race whether you are on a record pace? Or does it all happen too quickly to know until it’s over?
“During a race, especially a short one, you have no idea about the speed or pace. You’re just going all out and hopefully your body remembers the previous week of practice. When I get to the meet, all my thinking and analyzing goes out the window and I just RUN!!”
Several Hokie seniors will be competing in various all-star football games in the coming weeks. First up is the Hula Bowl, which is being played at 6 p.m. on Sat., Jan 12 in Honolulu’s Aloha Stadium. Playing for the East roster will be wide receiver Josh Morgan and defensive tackle Carlton Powell. The game will be telecast live on the Versus (VS.) network.
On Tuesday, Jan. 8, both Nekos Brown (R Knee) and Ryan Shuman (L Knee) of the Hokie football team underwent post season arthroscopic surgery at Montgomery Regional Hospital by team physician Dr. Marc Siegel.
According to head athletic trainer Mike Goforth, both had minor procedures and are expected to make a full return. Brown will be available for Spring Football while Shuman will take the spring to complete his rehabilitation.
According to head athletic trainer Mike Goforth, both had minor procedures and are expected to make a full return. Brown will be available for Spring Football while Shuman will take the spring to complete his rehabilitation.
For Hokie fans in the Houston area, or really big Hokie fans who want to take a trip to Houston, tickets are available to the 22nd Annual Paul “Bear” Bryant College Football Coaching Awards, which is run by the American Heart Association and is one of its major annual fundraisers.
As was announced earlier on hokiesports.com, Tech head coach Frank Beamer is a finalist for the award, an honor that he won back in 1999. Other finalists include Sylvester Croom of Mississippi State, June Jones of Hawaii, Mark Mangino of Kansas, Les Miles of LSU, Gary Pinkel of Missouri and Ron Zook of Illinois.
The AHA is trying to get the word out to Hokie supporters who may want to purchase tickets or a table in support of Beamer’s nomination. All finalists get a chance to address the audience, and it would be great to see some of the Hokie Nation in attendance.
Click here to go to the AHA’s website for more information on the event and to buy tickets or make a donation to the fight against heart disease and stroke.
Also available below are PDF files of the electronic invite, with response information on general tickets and tables, and information on how to host Coach Beamer at a fan’s table. All tickets include a steak & sea bass seated dinner and an open bar.
0708 BB Combo Invite.pdf
2008 Bryant Awards Coaches Tables.pdf
As was announced earlier on hokiesports.com, Tech head coach Frank Beamer is a finalist for the award, an honor that he won back in 1999. Other finalists include Sylvester Croom of Mississippi State, June Jones of Hawaii, Mark Mangino of Kansas, Les Miles of LSU, Gary Pinkel of Missouri and Ron Zook of Illinois.
The AHA is trying to get the word out to Hokie supporters who may want to purchase tickets or a table in support of Beamer’s nomination. All finalists get a chance to address the audience, and it would be great to see some of the Hokie Nation in attendance.
Click here to go to the AHA’s website for more information on the event and to buy tickets or make a donation to the fight against heart disease and stroke.
Also available below are PDF files of the electronic invite, with response information on general tickets and tables, and information on how to host Coach Beamer at a fan’s table. All tickets include a steak & sea bass seated dinner and an open bar.
0708 BB Combo Invite.pdf
2008 Bryant Awards Coaches Tables.pdf
Seven former Virginia Tech players will be chasing the dream
of winning the Super Bowl, starting today as the NFL Playoffs begin. Below is a
list of the eight (seven active) Tech players in the playoffs and the teams
they are on:
NFC
Tampa
AFC
