TechSideline.com: News and Notes

As I said on Monday, for the last two weeks or so, I've been taking votes over in the Members Only area from the HokieCentral members. The question: "Who is your favorite Tech athlete of all time?"

I also allowed the members to select "Other" and list a different athlete. The results are surprising in some ways, not so surprising in others.

Speaking of the results, there were a total of about 123 votes cast. Some voters listed a tie, and in this case, I gave a vote to each athlete named. I did not, however, give points for honorable mention, so many of you who included "honorable mentions" will not see that athlete listed here as received votes.

And if I seem to have missed someone that you voted for ... sorry. It was a big job (HokieCentral members are about to find out just how big in a few minutes)

Your Favorite Hokie Athlete of All Time (as voted by the HokieCentral members)
Jim Druckenmiller	33
Bruce Smith	27
Dell Curry	16
Frank Loria	10
Bob Schweickert	7
Don Strock	6
Brandon Semones*	3
Allan Bristow	2
Bimbo Coles	2
Ken Oxendine*	2
Perry Young*	2
Others receiving one vote: Jim Pyne, Jimmy Carruth, Steve Casey, Ki Luzak, Sam Foggin, Hank Coleman, Rick Razzano, Carroll Dale, George Del Ricco, Mickey Fitzgerald, Bill Conaty, Wayne Robinson, and Bryan Still.
Preloaded choices receiving no votes: Chris Kinzer, Dale Solomon, Ace Custis, Franklin Stubbs.
* - denotes write-in candidate.

It's no surprise that Druck won, and it's no surprise that the honorable and decorated Bruce Smith finished second (had the results between those two been flip-flopped, that also would not have been surprising).

What is surprising is the third-place finish posted by the quiet and classy Dell Curry. I loved watching Dell play, but I had no idea that so many people had such fond feelings for him, especially when you consider that two other great Tech basketball players, Bimbo Coles and Ace Custis, only received two votes between the two of them to Dell's 16.

It's a testament to the greatness of Frank Loria, Bob Schweickert, and Don Strock that they occupy the next three spots, even though none of them have played a down for Tech for over 25 years, and in the case of Loria (31 years) and Schweikert (34 years), it's been much longer than that.

Brandon Semones received more votes than any other write-in candidate, deservedly so, and after his 3-vote finish, there are a large number of players receiving one or two votes.

For 1998 HokieCentral members who have access to the Members Only area, I have a special treat. Over in the Member's Forum, there is a huge article that talks about each of the candidates and includes commentary from some of the members as to why they made the choices they did. If you're a 1998 member and have access to the Members Only area, be sure not to miss the article, but bring a cup of coffee, or two, or three - the article is a monster.

Now, since it took so long to write the article, and there's no new Hokie news right now, I'm signing off. Everyone have a great weekend, and we'll see you back here next week.