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Lewis and Bell prove Tech more than one-man show at tailback
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Roth Report
Roth Report
November 19, 2006
By Bill Roth And you thought Virginia Tech didn't have much depth at tailback, eh? When star Branden Ore, the ACC's leading rusher going into the game, went down with an ankle sprain early during Tech's game at Wake Forest this past Saturday, Tech coaches and fans alike held their collective breaths. The one player who couldn't get hurt, was down. The team's only consistent offensive performer was writhing in pain. Ore was done for the night, and that was a problem. Um, no, that was a disaster, right? Through 10 games, Ore had compiled 92 percent of Tech's rushing yards. And if truth be told, he had compiled 100 percent of Tech's carries of note for the season. Without Ore, the Hokies turned to one player who had spent the past couple of years trying to hit curve balls in minor league baseball and a second who had recently been counseled to retire. And don't you know, it turned out just fine. Kenny Lewis, in his first year back playing football after a minor league baseball career, had 74 yards on 17 carries, and George Bell, whose surgically repaired knee has been gimpy throughout his days in Blacksburg, had 10 bruising carries for 28 yards. That's 102 yards out of Lewis and Bell, which is impressive. But that's just part of the story. They picked up blitzing linebackers, allowing quarterback Sean Glennon time to throw. As a result, Glennon had his best game of the season, throwing for 252 yards and two touchdowns. There were no motion penalties or fumbles or big-game jitters out of either Lewis or Bell. In essence, they played like veterans, not two kids who had basically seen garbage time during their tenures in Blacksburg. Clearly, these two have been through an awful lot. Lewis has spent hundreds of hours riding on minor league buses, eating bush-league burgers and dressing in damp, dingy clubhouses. Bell's spent more time reading MRI printouts and icing his knees than any other player in Tech history. But the two had a desire to play football for Tech, and now, because of the Ore injury, they have their chance. When Lewis scampered for a key 26-yard run against Wake Forest, he showed a real burst. A guy who impressed the Cincinnati Reds with his ability to get from first-to-third in 10 strides impressed his Hokie teammates with his toughness and speed. Bell was told that if he wanted to be able to walk when he was 30, he should quit playing football now before it was too late. Bell would hear nothing of it. His dream was to play football and he wasn't going to quit. Lewis, of course, has a similar dream: to follow in his father's footsteps and be a star at Tech. So both kids battled and persevered and were outstanding last week in the Hokies' 27-6 win at Wake Forest. And with Ore hobbled with his ankle injury again this week, Lewis and Bell will be key performers for the Hokies in Saturday's regular-season finale against Virginia. Depth at tailback? Evidently, the Hokies had it all along. The Voice's Mailbag
Bill,
I look forward to reading the Roth Report each week! You do a great job!! I have a question about the football schedule for next year. According to hokiesports.com, the ECU game is in Blacksburg in 2007 and in Charlotte in 2008. I thought the game next year was scheduled for Charlotte. Did it change? I was really looking forward to having the Hokies play in my backyard. Go Hokies and thanks for the fantastic job you do!! Jason, Charlotte, N.C. Jason,
You're correct. The Hokies' 2007 schedule was changed earlier this fall when Tech AD Jim Weaver, East Carolina's Terry Holland, and the folks at Raycom Sports agreed to flip-flop the locations for the first two games of the upcoming Tech-ECU series. The 2007 game will be played at Lane Stadium. The 2008 game will be played in Charlotte. Tech will face the Pirates in Blacksburg to open their season before playing at LSU next fall. Thanks for listening and for writing.
I know that I'm a bit prejudiced having coached him in high school, but wouldn't you agree that Vince Hall ranks right at the top as far as middle/inside LB's Tech has had since Bud Foster has run the defense? Coach Lew Johnston, Chesapeake. Lew,
Absolutely. Tech's had no finer linebacker over the past 20 years than Vince Hall. As you pointed out to us when Vince was in high school, he has tremendous instincts and always seems to be in the right place to make play after play. Plus, his fundamentals and athletic ability are top-notch as well. No. 9 is as good as we've had at Tech. For those who don't know, Coach Johnston just completed his 22nd and final season as head coach of the Western Branch football team. The Bruins shared the Southeastern District title this season.
I just have a statement to make. After listening to the Hokie Hotline last night, I just couldn't help but remember something Bryan Stinespring said a year or two ago. He jokingly said something to the effect of "I call a play down to the field and then I look over to the other coaches in the booth with me and say, 'Watch this, this play isn't going to work.'" It never surprises me when I hear all of the people who know more than the coaches. The coaches work unbelievable hours and the guy in the stands has all the answers. I've been there and done that. I coached 20 years and did my share of head coaching during that time. It's hard but it's rewarding. Aaron Rouse was one of my boys. To see him go on and succeed is very rewarding to me. All coaches feel that way about their kids. Coach Beamer and his group of coaches are top-notch. If (fans) think (they) have all the answers, then give it a shot. You'll be surprised what these men know and what you don't. Bill, thank you and keep up the great work that you do. Sam Scarborough, '85, Virginia Beach. Sam,
Thanks for your note. It's good to see Rouse playing like you (and everyone else) knows he can play. For those who don't know, Coach Scarborough is the former head coach of First Colonial High School in Virginia Beach, where he coached Aaron and other terrific players.
This a response to Keith from Annandale's letter about not being able to sync up the TV and Tech radio due to Congress. I listen to the Tech game via the Internet, which puts the audio behind the video. I'm then able to use my DVR and back up the video and sync it up to the audio. It's been REALLY enjoyable to listen to you and Mike call the game and watch it at the same time this year. Dave, Columbia, Md. Dave,
Thanks for the tip. Getting the video synced-up each week can be a challenge. Last week, our radio crew watched some of the BC-Maryland game at a restaurant in Winston-Salem. One TV in the restaurant had the ESPN-HD feed, the other just a normal ESPN feed. The result? The HD feed was about eight seconds ahead of the other. So two televisions in the same restaurant showing the same game at the same time had an eight-second difference.
I (and Kirk & Chris) noticed that our corners don't seem to play up on the receiver, giving them a cushion of 8-10 yards. This allows the quick pass to a guy like Calvin Johnson or any other fast receiver who then can use the space for a run after the catch. While this seemed to work against Clemson since Proctor was a little flustered by the rush, why don't we bump at times against the opposing receivers? Brian, Bald Head Island, N.C. Brian,
"We like to change up our defense," responds Tech coordinator Bud Foster. "You have to give teams different looks. At times, we'll get up there tight, and at others, we drop off. The key is to not allow the big play." Virginia Tech leads the nation in pass defense this season. The Hokies have allowed just five touchdown passes this season (fewest in the country), and since 2000, Tech has more interceptions than any other team in college football.
With the great success that Rutgers has had this season, it reminded me of a classic game between Va. Tech and Rutgers several years ago when just about everything happened in that game. As I recall, I believe there was a blocked punt or field goal, an interception return for touchdown, and a number of crazy plays. I know you were at the game, so can you refresh my memory? I know it was in the rain and I know it was a high-scoring affair. Kindly, Marshall, Mitchellville, Md. Marshall,
You're probably thinking of the 1995 game at Rutgers. That was the day Tech offensive coordinator Rickey Bustle was taken to a hospital trying to pass a kidney stone. Assistant Billy Hite called the plays during the 45-17 Hokie win in a game played in the rain on a muddy field at Rutgers. Linebacker Hank Coleman scored on a fumble return, and Myron Newsome scored on a 71-yard interception return for the final points.
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By Bill Roth And you thought Virginia Tech didn't have much depth at tailback, eh? When star Branden Ore, the ACC's leading rusher going into the game, went down with an ankle sprain early during Tech's game at Wake Forest this past Saturday, Tech coaches and fans alike held their collective breaths. The one player who couldn't get hurt, was down. The team's only consistent offensive performer was writhing in pain. Ore was done for the night, and that was a problem. Um, no, that was a disaster, right? Through 10 games, Ore had compiled 92 percent of Tech's rushing yards. And if truth be told, he had compiled 100 percent of Tech's carries of note for the season. Without Ore, the Hokies turned to one player who had spent the past couple of years trying to hit curve balls in minor league baseball and a second who had recently been counseled to retire. And don't you know, it turned out just fine. Kenny Lewis, in his first year back playing football after a minor league baseball career, had 74 yards on 17 carries, and George Bell, whose surgically repaired knee has been gimpy throughout his days in Blacksburg, had 10 bruising carries for 28 yards. That's 102 yards out of Lewis and Bell, which is impressive. But that's just part of the story. They picked up blitzing linebackers, allowing quarterback Sean Glennon time to throw. As a result, Glennon had his best game of the season, throwing for 252 yards and two touchdowns. There were no motion penalties or fumbles or big-game jitters out of either Lewis or Bell. In essence, they played like veterans, not two kids who had basically seen garbage time during their tenures in Blacksburg. Clearly, these two have been through an awful lot. Lewis has spent hundreds of hours riding on minor league buses, eating bush-league burgers and dressing in damp, dingy clubhouses. Bell's spent more time reading MRI printouts and icing his knees than any other player in Tech history. But the two had a desire to play football for Tech, and now, because of the Ore injury, they have their chance. When Lewis scampered for a key 26-yard run against Wake Forest, he showed a real burst. A guy who impressed the Cincinnati Reds with his ability to get from first-to-third in 10 strides impressed his Hokie teammates with his toughness and speed. Bell was told that if he wanted to be able to walk when he was 30, he should quit playing football now before it was too late. Bell would hear nothing of it. His dream was to play football and he wasn't going to quit. Lewis, of course, has a similar dream: to follow in his father's footsteps and be a star at Tech. So both kids battled and persevered and were outstanding last week in the Hokies' 27-6 win at Wake Forest. And with Ore hobbled with his ankle injury again this week, Lewis and Bell will be key performers for the Hokies in Saturday's regular-season finale against Virginia. Depth at tailback? Evidently, the Hokies had it all along. The Voice's Mailbag
Bill,
I look forward to reading the Roth Report each week! You do a great job!! I have a question about the football schedule for next year. According to hokiesports.com, the ECU game is in Blacksburg in 2007 and in Charlotte in 2008. I thought the game next year was scheduled for Charlotte. Did it change? I was really looking forward to having the Hokies play in my backyard. Go Hokies and thanks for the fantastic job you do!! Jason, Charlotte, N.C. Jason,
You're correct. The Hokies' 2007 schedule was changed earlier this fall when Tech AD Jim Weaver, East Carolina's Terry Holland, and the folks at Raycom Sports agreed to flip-flop the locations for the first two games of the upcoming Tech-ECU series. The 2007 game will be played at Lane Stadium. The 2008 game will be played in Charlotte. Tech will face the Pirates in Blacksburg to open their season before playing at LSU next fall. Thanks for listening and for writing.
I know that I'm a bit prejudiced having coached him in high school, but wouldn't you agree that Vince Hall ranks right at the top as far as middle/inside LB's Tech has had since Bud Foster has run the defense? Coach Lew Johnston, Chesapeake. Lew,
Absolutely. Tech's had no finer linebacker over the past 20 years than Vince Hall. As you pointed out to us when Vince was in high school, he has tremendous instincts and always seems to be in the right place to make play after play. Plus, his fundamentals and athletic ability are top-notch as well. No. 9 is as good as we've had at Tech. For those who don't know, Coach Johnston just completed his 22nd and final season as head coach of the Western Branch football team. The Bruins shared the Southeastern District title this season.
I just have a statement to make. After listening to the Hokie Hotline last night, I just couldn't help but remember something Bryan Stinespring said a year or two ago. He jokingly said something to the effect of "I call a play down to the field and then I look over to the other coaches in the booth with me and say, 'Watch this, this play isn't going to work.'" It never surprises me when I hear all of the people who know more than the coaches. The coaches work unbelievable hours and the guy in the stands has all the answers. I've been there and done that. I coached 20 years and did my share of head coaching during that time. It's hard but it's rewarding. Aaron Rouse was one of my boys. To see him go on and succeed is very rewarding to me. All coaches feel that way about their kids. Coach Beamer and his group of coaches are top-notch. If (fans) think (they) have all the answers, then give it a shot. You'll be surprised what these men know and what you don't. Bill, thank you and keep up the great work that you do. Sam Scarborough, '85, Virginia Beach. Sam,
Thanks for your note. It's good to see Rouse playing like you (and everyone else) knows he can play. For those who don't know, Coach Scarborough is the former head coach of First Colonial High School in Virginia Beach, where he coached Aaron and other terrific players.
This a response to Keith from Annandale's letter about not being able to sync up the TV and Tech radio due to Congress. I listen to the Tech game via the Internet, which puts the audio behind the video. I'm then able to use my DVR and back up the video and sync it up to the audio. It's been REALLY enjoyable to listen to you and Mike call the game and watch it at the same time this year. Dave, Columbia, Md. Dave,
Thanks for the tip. Getting the video synced-up each week can be a challenge. Last week, our radio crew watched some of the BC-Maryland game at a restaurant in Winston-Salem. One TV in the restaurant had the ESPN-HD feed, the other just a normal ESPN feed. The result? The HD feed was about eight seconds ahead of the other. So two televisions in the same restaurant showing the same game at the same time had an eight-second difference.
I (and Kirk & Chris) noticed that our corners don't seem to play up on the receiver, giving them a cushion of 8-10 yards. This allows the quick pass to a guy like Calvin Johnson or any other fast receiver who then can use the space for a run after the catch. While this seemed to work against Clemson since Proctor was a little flustered by the rush, why don't we bump at times against the opposing receivers? Brian, Bald Head Island, N.C. Brian,
"We like to change up our defense," responds Tech coordinator Bud Foster. "You have to give teams different looks. At times, we'll get up there tight, and at others, we drop off. The key is to not allow the big play." Virginia Tech leads the nation in pass defense this season. The Hokies have allowed just five touchdown passes this season (fewest in the country), and since 2000, Tech has more interceptions than any other team in college football.
With the great success that Rutgers has had this season, it reminded me of a classic game between Va. Tech and Rutgers several years ago when just about everything happened in that game. As I recall, I believe there was a blocked punt or field goal, an interception return for touchdown, and a number of crazy plays. I know you were at the game, so can you refresh my memory? I know it was in the rain and I know it was a high-scoring affair. Kindly, Marshall, Mitchellville, Md. Marshall,
You're probably thinking of the 1995 game at Rutgers. That was the day Tech offensive coordinator Rickey Bustle was taken to a hospital trying to pass a kidney stone. Assistant Billy Hite called the plays during the 45-17 Hokie win in a game played in the rain on a muddy field at Rutgers. Linebacker Hank Coleman scored on a fumble return, and Myron Newsome scored on a 71-yard interception return for the final points.
