Last week was not a pleasant one for your correspondent, as a mysterious virus that the crack medical staff to which I immediately head at the first twinge of any discomfort still hasn’t figured out how to identify left me in a physically-depleted state desiring nothing more to take to my bed and consume for medicinal purposes one of the bottles of Wild Turkey I occasionally get presented (and never, ever, turn down) by fellow Hokies (such as Hokie Jay. It was greatly appreciated) at the exact same time my phone was ringing off the hook for requests for seemingly everything from problems at what passes for my day job to a contentious local election to pitching in on the Palm Beach recount. It was not the best of times.

Among the items of my regular routine that did not get attended to was my usual inspection of what used to be known as the **MB. It was not until last Sunday afternoon that the total inability of the offense of the Carolina Panthers to generate points caused me to seek diversion and head to my computer and pop the Bookmark reading ***** ******* Message Board. I expected to see discussion of the success of Tech’s running game in demonstrating to Central Florida the difference between a former power such as Alabama and the current genuine article, and some comments on the upcoming GAME that may well determine George’s continued membership in the Seven Society. You can imagine my surprise when my browser informed me that the site was not found. I reloaded, got the same message, and then hit the next Bookmark, the one marked ***** *******. Comprehension began to dawn on me when I was re-directed to something called TechSideline. The deed has been done, and ***** ******* is no more. I shall miss it.

I won’t comment on what I consider a ridiculous decision on the part of the Tech Infringement Police in changing the name of an institution that IMHO ranks second only to the efforts of Frank Beamer in raising interest in Tech football to the level it currently enjoys. Like so many other things, I was not consulted about it. It does seem that the shirt, jacket, watch and all of the other neat stuff I have accumulated over the years emblazoned with ***** ******* have now become collector’s items.  I do plan to wear with pride the heavy and stylish maroon jacket bearing the defunct ***** ******* to the Hoo game, feeling that a night game in Lane Stadium in late November will necessitate the protection against the elements it provides, although I do worry that there may be guards at stadium entrances charged with denying admission not to those attempting to sneak alcohol past them (which I have been doing successfully for decades) but to those sporting any trademark-infringing ***** ******* apparel. I will, however, take my chances.

My association with the site once known as ***** ******* was a long and fruitful one. It began several years ago when something I wrote called ‘Football96’ caught Will’s eye. It was a fictionalized season, one of the first in what has since become an annual rite of mine, and dealt with a then-hypothetical perfect Tech season (not hypothetical anymore!) and the hypothetical reaction of George to it (which, as it turned out, wasn’t too far off the mark either). Will liked it so much he posted it to ***** ******, where it seemed to enjoy a fair amount of popularity. That led to things I wrote showing up from time to time, right up until about this time last year when Will called and asked if I would care to contribute columns on a regular basis and immediately heard my response of “What’s in it for me?” The answer is while I haven’t exactly gotten rich writing these pieces, I have gotten some other rewards, chief among them the privilege of meeting some of the best people I know, and actually learning some of your real names (although Atlee will always look like an Atlee to me). Hopefully, that will continue.

Looking around the site now known as TechSideline reveals that it looks suspiciously like the one once known as ***** *******. Will’s expert reporting and commentary still abounds, as he continues to demonstrate that he has as much right as anyone to press credentials, which probably is still not going to happen given the attitude of Jameson Jimmy. I also notice that the bane of JJ’s existence, the message board, doesn’t look much different. There is still plenty of information to be digested, more than I can wade through in one sitting, and news and links galore. It remains the best independent, with an emphasis on that independence, Virginia Tech sports site around. It still looks pretty good to me.

So, TechSideline it is. I imagine, in time, that TSL will roll off the tongue and keyboard just as easily as ** once did. It is, and will continue to be, a great site. All hail TechSideline, and, ***** ******, we knew thee well. Now, let’s pound the Hoos.

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