Hangin' with the Hokies
By Dean Farmer, 11/4/99

My wife, Kelly, and I arrived at the Cassell Coliseum parking lot just after 11:00 am on Friday eager to begin our exciting journey. The sidewalk adjacent to the Merryman Center was abuzz with activity as preparations for trip were well underway. Four motor coaches with engines running were ready to whisk the Tech travel party away to Roanoke to catch a charter plane bound for Pittsburgh. We were met by Assistant Athletic director for Marketing and Promotions, Tim East, who had arranged the trip for us. He introduced us to one of the football managers who immediately provided us with a detailed trip itinerary including a bus and plane seating chart.

The Tech contingent was made up of approximately 125 folks including seventy players, fifteen coaches, assorted support staff, administrators, cheerleaders and guests. Bus number one was reserved for the offense, number two defense, number three special teams and our bus, number four made up the remainder of the group.

Just as the itinerary stated at exactly 11:40 am we departed the Tech campus for Roanoke. For the next forty eight hours we would be on a strict schedule. No doubt, Coach Beamer is the Commander and Chief of this regiment, but Administrative Coach John Ballein is the Officer of the Day. Coach Ballein orchestrates the minute details of the trip with meticulous military-like precision.

Upon arriving at the Roanoke Airport, we immediately began boarding our Miami Air chartered jet. A huge container of cold drinks were made available at the bottom of the stairway to the aircraft entrance . A bag of what the football players referred to as "snacks" were in each seat. Most people I know would refer to the contents of the bag as a meal - two big sandwiches, chips, fruit and a Snickers bar. I would soon learn food is second only to the game itself in terms of importance to the players.

The forty five minute flight to Pittsburgh was uneventful. It was an incredibly beautiful day. Calm winds, bright rays of sunshine coupled with immaculate fall foliage made for a spectacular day for a plane ride. Other than a bit of chatter at takeoff and landing the players were quiet throughout the flight. I was pleased I had brought along the most recent issue of The Sporting News to read on the trip. I was thrilled the feature college football article highlighted Tech quarterback Michael Vick and the rise of Hokie football into national gridiron prominence.

Once we arrived at the Pittsburgh airport, it took our chartered buses fifteen or so minutes to reach our plane. Coach Beamer was a bit antsy and Coach Ballein appeared slightly perturbed, but all was fine once the buses arrived. We deplaned and again boarded bus number four and set off for Pitt Stadium and the afternoon pre-game workout. Police escorts led the way to ensure we kept our schedule. As you might expect traffic congestion in downtown Pittsburgh was heavy. Without police escorts the trip would have taken more than an hour. With the escorts it was maybe thirty five minutes.

The players went straight into the visitor’s locker room and changed into workout shorts and T-shirts. Coaches remained in their travel attire - dress shirts and ties. A few minutes later the players were milling around on the artificial turf of the venerable seventy -five year old stadium. Most began stretching and doing light exercises. Interestingly, the offensive line group has a unique Friday workout ritual. They do pass drills - no, not blocking schemes, but actually run pass routes with Coach Bryan Stinespring, necktie, shades and all, firing tight spirals to 300 pound wannabe wide receivers. Actually, the big guys had excellent quickness and surprisingly good hands.

The players break up into groups by position and began more traditional football practice drills. The entire time position coaches were barking cadence and instructions. Defensive line Coach Charley Wiles says to his charges "They like to go on two guys, be ready, hut, hut," and a foursome of ends and tackles scamper off sideways in a ten yard agility drill.

The majority of the workout was dedicated to what else - special teams play, with who else but Coach Beamer in complete control. He blows his whistle, "OK, punt protect. Let’s go! Let’s go!" Players run on and off the field simulating game substitution situations.

Every imaginable special team scenario is covered - punts, punt returns, punt blocks, field goals, kickoffs including on-sides and squib kicks. I was amazed at how quickly Coach Beamer was able to dedicate quality time to so many different formations and game situations. The entire time never missing an opportunity for individual attention and coaching. Case in point, during a field goal block drill a Tech player picked up the loose ball and headed for the end zone with another player leading the way. Beamer scolded the lead blocker " Don’t get in front of him, stay behind him and look for somebody to block!" On to the next drill.

After a one hour workout, the players showered and we loaded the buses and headed for the team headquarters hotel, The Hilton Pittsburgh and Towers at Gateway Center located in the heart of downtown. Of course, prior to boarding the buses, more snacks were to be had. The managers and trainers do an excellent job of making sure the players do not go long without ample food and beverages. Our police escorts led the way and we arrived downtown at precisely 4:45 pm just as Coach Ballein planned.

The early evening schedule consisted of special teams meetings and the all important evening meal followed by more team meetings. Following the meetings, players return to the room to watch movies and relax. The coaches head off for more pre-game preparation. Lights out at 11:00 pm, but not before one more snack.

Although it is a 7:00 pm kickoff, game day begins early for the coaches and staff. An optional continental breakfast is available for those early risers like Coach Hite, who doesn’t consider it morning until after he’s consumed at least one pot of coffee. Most players opt to sleep in rather than get up for juice and cereal. They would rather wait for the real food which is served at 10:00 am. Offensive tackle Josh Redding does join us old folks for a quick bite. Josh is a mammoth of a man. He is a very friendly sort and I enjoyed chatting with him.

Following the "real" breakfast it’s time for chapel and about a forty-five minute walk-through practice conducted in the hotel ballroom. Afterwards, coaches leave for more meetings and the guys go back to their rooms to relax and watch some college football. The weather was absolutely perfect - an incredible Indian summer day in western Pennsylvania. A few players took advantage of the nice weather and strolled about downtown.

At 2:45 pm it was time for more special teams meetings -the infamous "Pride and Joy" - punt block team to be specific. The meeting would pay big dividends for the Hokies later that evening when Andre Davis would record Tech’s first punt block of the season. Everything you have ever heard about Tech’s emphasis on special team’s play is true. It is a vital component of our game plan and it shows.

3:00 pm arrives. It’s time to eat again - imagine that. But this is the pre-game meal. The fuel for the Hokie football machine - proteins and carbos and lots of it. It really doesn’t take long to feed a football team. Buffet lines flow freely as the food service staff continually brings out more and more chow. By 3:30 the players are fed and back to their rooms to kick back for just a short while before heading off to battle.

At 4:30 PM they gather for more meetings. At 4:45 pm buses are loaded and its back to stadium. This time for the real deal. Our police escorts take a different route than our Friday trip from the stadium. In ten minutes the Hokies arrive. Pitt Stadium is an imposing structure. It’s as if a massive concrete monument fell out of the sky and plopped down right in the middle of an urban metropolis. The stadium’s historic significance is well documented - home to the nine time national champion Pittsburgh Panthers. It is an awe inspiring place - very fan friendly from a game viewing standpoint, but the restrooms and other facilities are terribly dilapidated.

At precisely 6:01 pm the special team players hit the field for warm up drills. They are joined fifteen minutes later by everyone else. The pre game schedule is planned down to the exact minute - pass skeleton @ 6:33 pm - perfect plays @ 6:40 pm. The coin toss is at 7:02, take the field at 7:04. BEAT PITTSBURGH at 7:06 pm.

By now you have seen the game and read numerous newspaper and internet articles. I will not bore you with my game analysis. # 7 proves to be our toughest challenge to date, but the Hokies prevail.

About forty minutes after the game, showers are taken and media interviews are complete. A tired but victorious and happy Hokie team heads back to the hotel. Normally, the team would leave the game and go directly to the airport and immediately fly back to Roanoke. But repair work currently underway at the Roanoke airport prohibits Saturday night charter arrivals. The Hokie team will spend one more night in Pittsburgh. The coaches, however, board the university plane and take off to Blacksburg for film breakdown and begin game # 8 preparations.

At the hotel players mingle with families, friends and fans. Of course, the post game meal is being served. Most players grab a quick bite and go their own way. Some head downtown to celebrate the victory. Late curfew tonight 1:00 AM - a reward for a job well done. The end of daylight savings time meant one more hour of revelry or perhaps one more hour of sleep. I opted for sleep.

More players showed up for the Sunday continental breakfast than on Saturday. No "real" breakfast would be served today. I noticed Michael Vick sitting at a table talking with teammates. I thought this would be a good opportunity to ask him to autograph my Sporting News. There’s a great photograph of Vick leading the Hokie attack against Virginia. I am not an autograph hound, but this was a special occasion. He readily complied with my request, said he had not seen the article and ask if he could read it. WOW! Michael Vick read my Sporting News. A forty year old man should not be so giddy, but that event would be the highlight of my trip. He politely returned the magazine to a smiling and adoring fan.

Corey Moore was seated at the table next to me. He and Nathaniel Williams’ were discussing Pittsburgh quarterback, David Priestley’s awesome performance against the vaunted Tech defense. Corey remarked, "He’s accurate, damn accurate, but Bulger (WVU QB) can be more accurate. We have got to be ready." # 7 was barely in the books but Corey and company were already getting ready for # 8 and a journey to the hostile environs of Morgantown and Mountaineer Field. You have got to love Moore’s leadership and focus.

9:00 am - it’s back to the Pittsburgh airport for a 10:00am departure to Roanoke. Snacks were in place. More player chatter on the return trip - probably a combination of winning and no coaches on board. Just prior to landing, Coach Ballein gets on the intercom and announces,

"Treatment, meetings, and voluntary weights will be on the regular schedule today." His comments were met with player moans and groans. To which Ballein replied, "I love you guys, each and every one of ya."

My sentiments exactly. I love those guys, too. Go win # 8.

-- Dean Farmer

Dean Farmer is a 1981 Virginia Tech graduate and a proud Hokie Representative. When he is not frenetically following Hokie football, he serves as Director of Marketing for Sonny Merryman, Inc.

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