The guests for this week’s edition of the Hokie Hotline were Tech's offensive coordinator Rickey Bustle and head football coach Frank Beamer.

Note from Will: I missed the live broadcast, and the archive on Broadcast.com did not include the first 22 minutes of the broadcast. These notes pick up at the end of Bustle's segment, which came in the first half hour.

Roth noted that tickets are still left for BCA game against Georgia Tech. He didn't say how many. He added that all other home VT games are sold out.

Bustle said that in preparing for the season, the Hokies have to "develop some attitudes." He gave the example of working on the goal line situations and getting your "goal line attitude."

Roth mentioned that tailback Lee Suggs has put on 14 pounds, is up to 207, and can hit some people now. Bustle agreed, saying that after practice started, he went and told running backs coach Billy Hite, "Lee looks stronger."

Roth added that despite the size, Suggs is getting faster. He ran a 4.27 40, third fastest on the team. This coming after having his knee scoped last year.

Bustle said that it was surprising that Andre Kendrick came back in such good shape after missing spring football, and that he "really looks like himself. He really looks good."

On the subject of Stith leaving early, Bustle said that when somebody (Stith) steps out of your program, you've got to have some young guys who are going to step up and get it done, and Tech does.

In response to a question by Roth, Bustle said that Keith Burnell is starting to step up and meet the expectations that the coaches have of him.

Roth said that the national media says there will be dropoff in the defense, and he asked Bustle's opinion.

Bustle: "That defensive bunch gets after it. There are some awfully good football players there. Bud and his staff do a good job of getting those kids motivated. There are bodies flying around the ball as always." (both he and Beamer used this phrase to describe the defense).

In response to a Roth question about defensive end Cols Colas, Bustle said he "sure showed up the other day (in practice) a couple of times."

Roth talked about how busy Beamer was in traveling to national coach of the year awards ceremonies and such. As usual, Beamer gave the credit for all the awards to the assistant coaches and players, and then moved on to the subject at hand: this year's team.

Beamer said that the focus in practice is good, and that the decisions about which players to play (such as in the kicking game) are becoming more clear.

Center battle between Jake Grove and Steve DeMasi: Beamer said that Grove is having trouble with his back, and his practice is limited. "To challenge DeMasi, he'll have to be full speed, and right now, he's not full speed."

In the placekicking battle, Carter Warley is also having back problems. Beamer doesn't know exactly what the back problem is (Warley maintains that he just needs a few days rest), but Jon Mollerup is kicking well, and Warley isn't there right now to challenge him. Mollerup is doing well on kickoffs, field goals, all of it. "Jon came back in good shape," Beamer said, "and there's a very good chance that he could be the kicker right now."

Beamer said walk-on Ken Keister is distancing himself from the other long snappers and is the leader right now. He said Bobby Peaslee and Vinnie Burns are in a "dead heat" in the punting situation. They'll do some game-like situations in the next scrimmage to try to evaluate them.

Roth says they're bigger and faster at LB. Beamer agrees overall, they're a little bit faster. Probably not as big at defensive line, but the key word that they don't have on defense is "experience." Wonders what the young kids will be like in the "national type" games.

Beamer: "One guy we should mention is Jim Davis from Fork Union. He's a very athletic guy, and I think he could figure into the mix." Davis, a defensive lineman, has some "medical problems" right now, and needs to get more practice. Beamer would like to keep him at DE, given that he's 6-5. "We'll see where his body goes." Beamer says he is right there in the mix to get playing time this year.

Greg from Pearisburg was the first caller, and he asked if playing against the best O in the country is good for the defense.

Beamer said that any time you can play against good people in practice, it's good. Going against good people in practice and keeping sharp in practice is how a team gets better. He talked about how Tech's experienced O-line can really help the D get better.

Warren in Christiansburg was next:

1.) Whatever happened to Thomas Woodley? "He is no longer with the program," Beamer answered. "He had some difficulties and is no longer present."

2.) Could this be Houseright's breakout year? Beamer: "I think if Jake can stay healthy, he'll have a good year. He had a good late spring and good early fall." He also gave the nod to Brian Welch and said that the Hokies are set pretty well at that position. Said that Jake is "on the right track to have a great year."

Roth: Houseright, Taylor, and Sorensen are all at new positions, but they're quick learners. Beamer called out Taylor and said that he is poised to have a good year.

An audience member asked about the four-wide receiver set. Beamer said "we've used that some in the past, and we're going to use it some this year." Says it gets into a numbers game with regards to the defense not having enough quick players to guard the receivers, plus it gives the QB room to scramble, so it should be good for VT. Says the receivers have to catch the ball a little better than they have in the first few practices.

In response to a Roth question, Beamer says that he has not watched the Sugar Bowl tape yet. Then they talked about the Sugar Bowl a little bit (and I have no interest in recapping it here).

Roth asked "Wouldn't you like to have another shot at FSU?" Beamer says "We (VT) had a team that was good enough to win that game, and we didn't play well enough." Then he gave credit to FSU for taking advantage of VT's mistakes.

Recruiting: Beamer says he really feels good about it, says VT has a chance to have a great year.

Next caller was Bobby Joe: who's the most surprising freshman on the defense?

Roth said in response that defensive end Cols Colas looks like he could keep up with Andre Davis in a sprint.

Beamer: "Cols certainly can run. Another guy we should mention is Billy Hardee." Larry Austin is having a "hamstring problem." Hardee is a walk-on and is doing a great job. Garnell Wilds is a redshirt freshman who is also doing a great job.

Beamer said that true freshman defensive back Eric Green has a "very bright future."

Now to the freshmen on offense: Roth brought up true freshman long snapper Travis Conway. Beamer said that he is a good snapper, but also thinks he'll be a good player at center on the offensive line.

Beamer mentioned Ron Moody at wide receiver, and said he might end up in the playing rotation for this year. He also mentioned Harrison and Wilford, and said that he'd really like to see those two guys and Moody step up and do a great job.

Sam from Roanoke asked about Suggs. Beamer said he had a great spring, and is having a great preseason, and that he's on his way to having a very good year. Said that right now, he is #1 on the depth chart and is holding off Kendrick.

Roth talked about a "violent" collision between Suggs and Houseright that was also mentioned earlier in the broadcast. He said you could hear the pads popping 50 yards away, and implied that Suggs gave the much bigger Houseright all he could handle.

On the subject of people being inducted into the Tech Sports Hall of Fame, which included Mike Burnop, Roth said that he once talked to Dan Henning, who was the offensive coordinator at Tech when Burnop set his single-season catch record of 46 receptions in one year (which still stands). Henning said, "Yeah, he caught 46, but he dropped 56."

Despite the reputation for the mid-70's Tech teams of being high-scoring, out of the top 10 scoring teams in VT history, 9 out of 10 have come in the last 9 years.

(Note from Will: I thought that's what he said, but I looked it up in the media guide, and it's only 7 of the top 10 scoring teams in the last ten years.  The other three teams in the top 10 are the 1905, 1972, and 1983 teams.)

A caller from South Hill who watched practice (wonder who got him on the list?) commented on how hard the assistant coaches work. Roth and Beamer reiterated that many of the VT assistant coaches had offers elsewhere, all of them for more money, and every one turned them down. Beamer said that VT has the best coaching staff in the country.

Roth: what makes the staff so good? Is it the communication?

Beamer: part of that is staying together. If you've been together a long time, you don’t need to meet very long, because everyone knows what everyone else is doing. A key is to make coaching fun. "We have good chemistry in our coaching staff right now, and it gets down to the players."

Roth asked if Beamer would coach into his 70's like FSU's Bowden and Penn State's Paterno.

Beamer said, "It's a lot easier to coach when you're winning. My health is good, I feel great. I can't imagine what I would do this time of year if I wasn't coaching. I'm looking forward to this first game, and I can't imagine not playing that first game."

Roth said that Tech is 25-3 in the last 28 home games in Lane (the losses are Miami-OH in 1997, Temple and UVa in 1998), a Lane Stadium that is "becoming a brand new stadium." They went over the planned improvements to the stadium (see HC's Lane Stadium Expansion Page for more details), which Beamer said would make it one of the top stadiums in the country. "Not one of the biggest, but one of the best."

Next caller: who's stepping up in Shayne Graham's place?

Beamer: "Carter Warley was the guy who I thought was going to be that guy. Carter's having some problems, plus Jon Mollerup is really stepping up." Mollerup stayed in good shape during the summer, is kicking very well, and is a little bit ahead at this point.

Beamer said that once he picks a guy to kick or play quarterback, he'll stay with him. You've got to say, "Okay, this is the guy, and if he messes up, you don't yank him, because that's extra pressure. And besides, that's just not the way to operate (yanking players in and out like that)."

Roth talked about the year where former Tech kicker Ryan Williams got hurt at Southern Miss, and Atle Larsen stepped in and kicked the rest of the year. Beamer says that taught him to have two kickers. Said that VT travels with starting and backup kickers, punters, and snappers for every road game.

Next caller asked about the demands being made on Michael Vick for interviews and such. Beamer said that Sharon McCloskey is handing all of it. Said that he and Dave Smith set up certain times during the week that Vick will give interviews, and that's it. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to focus on the game plan, which is what he needs to do.

Plus, he wants MV's college life to be fun, and as normal as possible.

Roth says it's got to be hard for him (Vick), because "you walk into Kroger, and there are 200 Sports Illustrated's and ESPN the Magazine's with his picture on the cover." Beamer says that he hasn't changed a bit, that he's the same MV as he was at this time last year. The people around him have changed, but he hasn't changed.

Stretch in Blacksburg calls next. Beamer asked how he got the name, and Stretch says, "Everybody tells me I'm pretty tall."

Couple of questions on D: how's Cobb doing, and how's the battle at the Mike linebacker spot?

Beamer: Cobb needs to keep working in the weight room, and as he gets stronger, he'll get better. He runs well and plays hard. Said that Mike was between Houseright and Welch, and that the Hokies were set pretty well at that spot.

Next caller: how do you feel about the preseason rankings? AP Poll #11, Coaches Poll #10.

Beamer: "I think there's some good respect there, it's good for the Big East with two teams in the top 10. But it doesn't mean a lot right now. Right now, we're just trying to figure out how we can play well against GT."

Roth said next week, they'll talk about Georgia Tech more. Beamer is friends with GT's offensive coordinator Ralph Fridgeon, and head coach George O'Leary, plus Shane Beamer is a graduate assistant coach there.

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