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Lets ease into this here column with a mailbag. It's been a while since I've written something so I don't want to jump right in and sprain my brain or something.

I gets letters-

A Mr. L. McClung writes about the 68 Liberty Bowl-

For the Liberty Bowl game vs Mississippi, the game was televised and I did not have a tv in my Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan barracks, so I was driving over to married housing to see the game with a friend. An ice and snow storm had hit that morning, leaving roads on base rather hazardous. I wasn't going to let that stop me. While trying to navigate around a sharp curve, my MG went straight, bounced off of a Lt Col's stationwagon, and into the chain link fence of the sewerage treatment plant. The MG shaped dent in the fence is still there. I was grounded from driving on base for awhile but did get to the friend's house before kickoff. Tech lead early 17-0 on strength of trick kickoff return, Longerbeam returns KO up right side, stops and passes 25 yards backward (lateral) to someone who scampered up left sideline for long return, good field positon, and eventual score. Later, reality of Archie Manning set in and our "D" could not stop him.

And this about our coverage during the 93 I-Bowl in Michigan-

We were living in Lansing Michigan at the time. The Lansing State Journal sports section, on the day after big Tech win, featured a picture of Marcus McClung's open field tackle of an IU ball carrier with Marcus appearing to be 'airborne' and his name MCCLUNG clearly visible on the back of his jersey. Altho not related to Marcus, my name is also MCCLUNG, and being in the SPORTS NEWS relating to VT sporting event was a big thrill. It's not often that McClungs get any sporting press, for good reason. I was curious of why the picture would be featured because VT was rarely covered in the Michigan news print. I called a friend at the State Journal who knew the Sports Editor. He found out that since only a couple games were played that day and no other Big Ten team was in action, and Lansing being a Big Ten town, the Lansing State Journal found this picture to be the most interesting picture available of a Big Ten sporting event.

Neat stuff.

A W. Seaberg has an interesting request. Can anyone help? Email me and I will pass the info along.

I am trying to collect mini-helmet replica's of all the VT Bowl opponents for a display in my home and have the 1986 (NC State) and 1990s (Indiana, Tenn., Texas, Neb, UNC, Alabama) but wanted to collect the others (Cincinnati '46, Miami '66, Mississippi '68, Miami '80, and AFA '84) - but I wanted to get ones that replicated what they looked like then.  Do you know if the helmets for Cinc, Miami ('66 & '80), and Mississippi are any different from the ones they wear today?  I know VT's helmets has changed several times so I guess some of the others may have (even Indiana our 1993 opponent has changed helmets since we played them).  Also, do you know the style helmet VT wore in each bowl game?

I have some of the info but not all. Tech's helmets were similar for all the bowls since 1986. Minor differences in the amount of orange and striping (1998). 1980 and 1983 had the white 'TV' emblem with a white T inside a white V with no stripes on a maroon helmet. 1966 and 1968 were both maroon helmets with the 'TV'symbol but the T was orange and the V was white and there were stripes along the top of the helmet, orange with white on both sides. I have no clue about the Sun Bowl. Any corrections?

Let the Hodgepodge Begin

Football

I started thinking about the team and the players after the trouncing of Alabama had been completed. I realized that I had seen some of my personal favorite players play their last game in a Tech uniform. So I started to think about why I (and maybe some of you) will miss them.

Al- Al is one of my all time favorite Hokies. Why? His heart and determination. Some people would like to focus on the negatives (injuries and such). I don't. Al took a beating for two years and did all he could do to will Tech to win. I will forever remember his pass in the Miami game to Hall (the Catch II?) and his run to start the scoring against Alabama. I don't think Al ever cared what his stats where. He cared what the final score was. I think his biggest problem was that he wasn't Druck or Michael Vick. Remember Al for who he was. A man with a strong will and good character who did everything he could to win. Though his number will not retired, I will remember #5 with #10 (Loria) and #20 (Ace).

Derek- A big man who took some shots from the WV media and didn't seem to care. He overcame some personal problems and put up good numbers. He only gave up one sack this season. Whoever gets the left tackle spot next year (or right tackle if a left handed qb wins the job) will have large shoes to fill.

Dwight- A soft spoken and eloquent man. To me he came across as gentle off the field but on the field he was the total opposite, if you were the opposition. He always handled himself with class.

Lamont- He was not at Tech for very long and we did not get to see him long enough to really get to know him well. I will remember how he dealt with the whole 'Clemson week' stuff. The interview requests and all that goes with it. Another class individual. I will also remember how big his thighs looked and how could a man that short and stocky run that fast.

Angelo- Two plays will be forever etched in my mind when I think of Angelo. Both in the same game from 1995. Angelo blocked two punts at Pittsburgh (then Pitt) to help Tech come from behind and beat the Panthers and keep the ball rolling that year.

Ryan- I'll remember Ryan coming out of nowhere to make a sack. He was a legacy who transferred to Tech because he wanted to be a Hokie. That goes a long way in my book.

Keion- Blocked kicks, the interception against Miami, the spectacular int against Pitt, did I mention blocked kicks? Keion was a big play player. He had a knack for doing things bigger than others.

Pierson- The quiet but steady one of the db's. Pierson made the plays and never seemed to make mistakes. He was a player. Not just a player but a players' player.

Loren- Loren made plays and also made some mistakes here and there. He bounced back and recovered from a sub par junior year to have a great senior season. I will always remember him as a freshman in 1995 in the Miami game when he broke up a pass near the end of the game to preserve the win. I will also never forget the character and leadership he showed on and off the field. Nor will I forget his arm waving to get the fans into the game.

Jason, Tyron, and Jason- I had to do a bit more research on these three. They didn't play much but from what I read they still contributed. The maroon book uses the following phrases- 'Is always ready to help the team' and 'Rates as a solid performer in whichever role he's asked to fill'. To me those are complements. Not everyone can be a star or a starter and be remembered for plays in games. Some fill roles and fill them well.

Still with me? Not teary eyed thinking about who will not be wearing the Maroon and Orange next year? Don't fret Tech will have plenty of newcomers for new memories. Trust me.

Women's Basketball

A few weeks ago I ventured out away from my house and the noise of my wife and son to venture to the quiet of the Smith Center. Or so I thought. The Tech women were in town to play G-dub. You'd have thought the game was in Blacksburg except there is no way G-dub brings a tenth of the fans that were theirs to a road game. Loud Loud Loud. I even got to sit next to former Hokie player Dana Walvius (now married). Her opinion....this team is very good.

I won't give you a play by play. But I will mention one real pathetic thing that happened. G-dub had taped cheers for when the G-dub fans had something to cheer about (which wasn't that often as the game wore on). Pathetic. I hope Tech never resorts to that. It sounded horrible and made them look like poor sports in my eyes.

After the game I went to the post game 'celebration' thing. I met all the players and talked with Coach Bonnie for a minute. Folks, be proud of these women. They carry themselves with class and dignity. They are approachable and enjoyable to talk to.

Here are some tidbits I gleaned from their conversations-

Chrystal Starling (or Cstar) will play next year. (She was delightful to talk to...well....they all were but she came up to me so she is now one of my favorites).

Katie O'Connor's shoulders are alright, not great but alright.

Maria Albertsonn's father keeps up with the team through...HokieCentral! If you are reading this Mr. Albertsonn, you daughter is a doll. She made sure I got everyone's autograph!

Lisa Witherspoon believes in Bonnie's system. She also said that Bonnie has made her a much better player.

Coach Bonnie says that they have to take it one game at a time. (I know typical coachspeak but she is so convincing when she speaks). She can whistle like there is no tomorrow.

Michelle Houseright and I discussed baby stuff and I asked her about her younger brother in law Jeremy. She told me that he was a lot better (she was also surprised I knew about it) and had just broken his finger playing basketball. She said that he might get to play football next year.

Whether they win or lose we should be proud of this group.

Men's Basketball

As I write this the men's team has won it's first A-10 game of the year. Congratulations! A win at Dayton is not an easy thing. Hard work, perseverance, and mental toughness combined with a dose of 'let's have fun' can go a long way.

That's it for this time. What's up next? What will I do next? I'm not sure. I might just let 'Network' Hokie advise me on a future column since he's not as wild as he used to be (a newborn does that to ya). Maybe I'll write a Randy King like column and reference every message board poster I can remember. Maybe I'll get will to put my ugly mug at the top of my columns too. Who knows. I sure don't.

GobbleGobbleGobble

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