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The offseason is a time for players to get bigger, faster and stronger. The change is most noticeable in the younger players on Tech's roster, especially those who are redshirting and just spent their first year in a college weight room. There are also a few players each year who need to go in the opposite direction and lose weight. A 2008 Spring Football roster was released on Thursday, and just a quick glance reveals that some players have changed their bodies quite a bit since they weighed in last August. Here is a list of the players that caught our eye.
Some of those changes are surprising, and others, not so much. We can only hope that for all the guys who added weight, it's all "good weight."
Starting backer Purnell Sturdivant made a big jump, from 217 to 234. Gaining weight was probably the right move for him. If defensive tackle play isn't up to par this year, the smallish Sturdivant could get engulfed by big linemen. The added weight will help him in that regard, but again, let's hope it's good weight. Former Tech linebacker Mikal Baaqee put on 25 pounds. between the 2002 and 2003 season, and it was all bad weight. He couldn't move nearly as well in 2003 as he did in 2002.
Cordarrow Thompson is down to 323 from 338, according to the official rosters, but word is that Thompson is actually down to less than 310. If he keeps that weight off, that would be huge news. His conditioning would improve significantly, allowing him to play more snaps at a high level. His improvement could be the key to Tech's defensive line this season. Khalil Latif checked in at 283 and playing offensive guard. He is now down to 260, or if you listen to defensive line coach Charley Wiles, 270. He is the type of person that just has trouble keeping weight on. He'll be given a shot at defensive tackle this spring.
The Virginia Tech softball team defeated the US National Team on Wednesday night by the score of 1-0. Hokie sensation Angela Tincher pitched a no-hitter, as Tech ended the U.S. Olympic team's streak of 185 games against non-Olympic competition.
Tincher struck out 10 batters and allowed just one base runner, a walk in the second inning. She was one walk away from pitching a perfect game against the best softball team in the world. TSL reader Toney Fender attended the game and sent us a great first-hand report, which we posted in TSL Blogs. Click here to read it. Virginia Tech is ranked
#24 in the nation, with a record of 23-9. They are currently tied for first
place in the ACC with North Carolina. Their game against the US National Team
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Updates From the Past Week
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The
last time the US National Team lost to a non-Olympic team was May 3, 1996. Since
that day, they have outscored exhibition opponents 1,475-24. They have won the
Gold Medal three consecutive times. This is believed to be their first loss ever
against a college team.
If
there's one thing Wednesday night's loss to Ole Miss showed, it's that you
can never have enough post players. The Hokies could have used some more
beef to combat the Rebels' big men, and 2008 signee Victor Davila will
help in that area. Listed at 6-8, 230 when he committed to Tech last
September, Davila has added an inch and ten pounds, and now goes 6-9, 240.
Centreville
High School (Clifton, VA) offensive tackle Luke Bowanko, a
first-team all-Concorde district selection this past season as a junior,
has been the most heavily recruited Wildcats rising senior according to
head coach Gerry Pannoni. The 6-6, 260-pound prospect has yet to receive a
Division 1A offer, but he has plenty of interested parties.
6-2,
235-pound linebacker Quillie Odom is still working to make the
grade academically, but he is confident he will do so and plans to arrive
at Virginia Tech in the first summer school semester later this year. Odom
has two more months left at Hargrave Military Academy, and he is currently
doing well in the classroom and in the weight room.
As
the winning point guard dribbled the last few seconds off the clock, a
cheer arose in Cassell Coliseum. When the final horn sounded, chants of
"LET'S GO HOKIES!" rang out to the rafters, and when Virginia
Tech exited the floor, it was to thunderous applause and cheers. It was
the end we envisioned to the game, with one major change to the script:
The Hokies lost, and their season is over.
Virginia
Tech's basketball season came to an end on Wednesday night with an 81-72
loss to #2 seed Ole Miss in Cassell Coliseum. The Hokies finish the season
21-14, and the game marks the end of the career of senior wing Deron
Washington, as well as reserve guard Marcus Travis. Ole Miss will move on
to the NIT semifinals in Madison Square Garden.
Spring
football practice begins this afternoon for the Hokies, and as usual,
there are some major questions that need to be answered. Some starting
positions have yet to be decided, and a lot of young players are battling
for playing time in the two-deep. It should be one of the more meaningful
springs in recent memory.
It's
a big day in Blacksburg. Not only is there a huge NIT game against Ole
Miss tonight, but the Virginia Tech football team opens up spring practice
this afternoon as well. The Hokies lost a lot of good players off the 2007
team, and a number of position battles will be going on this spring.
Ocean
Lakes (Virginia Beach, VA) star athlete Marcus Davis headed into
the 2007 season as an "athlete" recruit, a prospect who combined
excellent size (6-4, 220 pounds) and athleticism (4.5 in the 40) and who
likely projected to play wide receiver or tight end on the next level.
Come Signing Day, however, Davis would be listed on Virginia Tech's
official website as a quarterback recruit.
The
atmosphere in Cassell was rocking Monday night against UAB, and it
promises to be completely off the hook Wednesday night when Ole Miss
visits. Here's a 75-picture gallery of Monday night's NIT festivities in
the stands, on the court, and on the sidelines.
Our
last two defensive previews have shown that the Hokies lack experience and
depth at some key positions in their front seven. Today will be a lot more
positive, as we talk about a unit that is deep and loaded with talent: the
secondary.
6-7,
330-pound Meadowbrook (Richmond, VA) offensive lineman Morgan Moses
makes a lot of noise with his play on the gridiron. Trying to figure out
where he may end up playing his college football is a different story,
though, as the outstanding junior prospect is not letting on to any
potential favorite school or schools.
The
Hokies kept their streak of good play alive on Monday night by crushing
visiting UAB 75-49 in Cassell Coliseum. Tech never trailed in the game,
and they improved to 21-13 on the season. They'll face Ole' Miss on
Wednesday night at 7pm in Blacksburg in the NIT quarterfinals. That game
will be televised by ESPN2.
For
the last four years, Virginia Tech has had the luxury of having two of the
best linebackers in school history in Vince Hall and Xavier Adibi. Bud
Foster's inside linebacker unit will look much different this fall, though
there is experience, maturity and talent at the position. However, there
isn't much depth at any of the linebacker spots. The depth chart will be
filled out with walk-ons.
On
Saturday, March 15th, the Millbrook Pioneers captured the Group AA boys
basketball state championship with a 53-43 win over Brunswick. Following
the victory, head coach Scott Mankins gave all credit to his players, who
finished the year with a 29-1 record.