Rooting for their team clearly represents one of the big passions in the life of our TechSideline.com community members. This site greatly enhances this never-ending passion through information, analysis and most importantly through communal dialog and networking.

Our advertising approach is different in that we make it abundantly clear in a direct and honest way that your company's commitment of sponsorship dollars is what enables the site to continue existing and improving into the future.

To learn more about advertising on TechSideline.com, please visit our advertising info page:
http://www.techsideline.com/advertising

TechSideline.com is a vital part of a unique collegiate sports network that reaches nearly 2 million individuals per month. Like TechSideline.com, each site in the SportsWar network is an organically grown community and the emotional home for its fans.

To learn more about SportsWar network sponsorship opportunities, please contact [email protected] or visit our online media guide- http://www.sportswar.com. 

Wide Receivers and Defensive Tackles Are Key in 2008
by Chris Coleman, TechSideline.com

Virginia Tech is very young and inexperienced at a couple of key positions this year.  The Hokies lost four seniors at wide receiver, and three seniors at defensive tackle.  They have had big turnover and played a lot of youth at those positions in the past, and the results have been mixed.

Tech lost five senior defensive tackles from the 2001 team.  They were David Pugh, Chad Beasley, Derrius Monroe, Dan Wilkinson and Channing Reed.  Those players combined for 210 tackles, 24 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks during the 2001 season.  Virginia Tech's defense up the middle was the heart and soul of that 2001 team, and those defensive tackles played a critical role

The same can be said for the 2007 defensive tackles.  Barry Booker, Carlton Powell and Kory Robertson played a huge role in Tech's 2007 ACC Championship.  They dominated all ACC foes, and Booker was a 2nd Team All-ACC Player.  They combined for 94 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks.

Just like the 2002 season, the 2008 season will feature a very young and inexperienced group of defensive tackles.  That 2002 group played pretty well to begin the season, even against LSU, but they lacked depth.  With a couple of key injuries, they faded down the stretch.

However, the 2002 group of defensive tackles had some serious question marks, even when they were healthy.  Junior walk-on Mark Costen started the first game of the season at defensive tackle.  He only played one more game the rest of the season.  Jason Lallis was an undersized r-sophomore who was listed at just 250 pounds.  Tim Sandidge was a r-freshman.  Jonathan Lewis was a true freshman.  There was little experience.

Still, even though they lacked experience at defensive tackle, as well as healthy players by the end of the season, the 2002 Hokies finished #29 in the nation against the run.  That's not bad, considering Tech was starting two freshman defensive tackles by the end of the season.

This season, the Hokies return John Graves and Cordarrow Thompson, who have some experience, but not a lot.  They also return former linebacker/defensive end Demetrius Taylor, who is being tried at defensive tackle.  Taylor is undersized (6-0, 254), but he's in the 2-deep right now.

Overall, it sounds a lot like the 2002 unit in terms of size, experience and depth.  Let's hope they can stay healthy, because if they can't, it could be a long year defensively.  Even with a defensive coordinator like Bud Foster.

Following the 2003 season, the Hokies lost their top two wide receivers.  Ernest Wilford departed for the NFL, and Justin Hamilton moved to running back. The third leading receiver, fullback Doug Easlick, was also gone.  Kevin Jones was fourth, and he left for the NFL. Chris Shreve was sixth, and he graduated.  There were no proven receivers to throw the ball to in 2004.

Those players had combined for 119 receptions for 1,687 yards and seven touchdowns.  That was a lot of production to replace, including the leading receiver in Virginia Tech history in Ernest Wilford.

The Hokies had a very young group of wide receivers in 2004.  True freshmen Eddie Royal, Josh Morgan and Justin Harper were joined by r-freshman Josh Hyman and true sophomore David Clowney.  It was a slow start to the year, but by the end of the season this group proved they would be a force to contend with in the future.

Those five players combined for 95 catches for 1,654 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2004.  They stepped up, and by the end of the season Royal and Hyman were in the starting lineup as freshmen.

This year, Virginia Tech loses their top five pass catchers from last season.  Josh Morgan, Justin Harper, Eddie Royal, Josh Hyman and Branden Ore combined for 166 receptions, 2,175 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns.  That's as productive a group as you'll see at Virginia Tech.

Not only did the Hokies lose their top five receivers, but their sixth leading receiver was Sam Wheeler, who is still recovering from a serious knee injury suffered against Georgia Tech last season.  Right now in spring practice, Virginia Tech's most proven receiving threat is tight end Greg Boone (11 catches for 167 yards).

Even if those two positions improve this spring, there will still be plenty of question marks at wide receiver and defensive tackle this fall for the Hokies.  The Hokies will need to get some production from both units to have a chance to successfully defend their ACC Championship.

2008 Spring Game Tailgate Plans

The annual TechSideline.com Spring Game Tailgate returns for another year, packed with more food, fun and excitement than ever!

This year's tailgate will be co-hosted by The Colosseum of Blacksburg, A Luxury Sports Condominium and Hotel, and proud sponsor of TechSideline.com and Virginia Tech athletics.

We'll have our usual pulled pork barbecue and massive pot luck tailgate, and thanks to The Colosseum, we'll have a few new wrinkles: a morning omelet bar, a hot dog bar, and even a special guest: Virginia Tech radio color analyst and "Buffet Buddy" Mike Burnop will be making an appearance.

The festivities will get underway at 9:00 a.m. -- an hour earlier than past years, thanks to The Colosseum's omelet bar -- under a huge Colosseum tent near the entrance to Lot 4. For complete details, including a location map, click the link below: