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  TSLMail #379- May 1, 2009    
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 Tech Sports News

Tahrick Peak Commits to Virginia Tech
by Chris Coleman, TechSideline.com

Pulaski County (Dublin, VA) linebacker Tahrick Peak became the fourth verbal commitment of Virginia Tech's 2010 recruiting class on Friday. He will join his brother, 2009 recruit Nubian Peak, in Blacksburg.

Peak is a 6-2, 205 linebacker prospect. As a junior in 2008, he recorded 127 tackles in 10 regular season games. He also posted seven tackles for loss and an interception. He was recently timed at 4.45 in the 40 yard dash.

Peak was the top player in one of the top defenses in the state of Virginia this past year. Pulaski County only allowed 10 points per game, and the Cougars went 10-0 during the regular season. They eventually lost in the playoffs after winning a regional championship.

Peak is the fourth member of Tech's 2010 recruiting class, joining previous commitments Nick Acree, Mark Shuman and Caleb Farris.

Congress Getting Involved in BCS/Playoff Issues

Playoff talk has heated up again this week, with ACC commissioner John Swofford testifying in front of the House of Representatives' Energy and Commerce Committee. Swofford is serving as this year's BCS coordinator. Naturally, he argued against a playoff system, as it would mean sharing revenue with the smaller conferences.

Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson had a different point of view. He argued that schools from the smaller conferences don�t have fair access to the BCS, and don't really have a chance to compete for the National Championship. According to an ESPN.com article, Thompson called the current money distribution system "grossly inequitable." Under the current system, each of the six BCS conferences is guaranteed $18 million per year.

Joe Barton, a House representative from Texas, has introduced a bill that would ban the NCAA from calling a game a "National Championship Game" unless it was the final game of a playoff.

Representative Bobby Rush of Illinois agrees with Barton.

"How can we justify this system?" Rush asked. "Are the big guys getting together and shutting out the little guys?"

Swofford had perhaps the best reply of the day.

"I think it is fair," Swofford said, "because it represents the marketplace." He was indicating that college football fans care far more about watching major conference teams, thus the major conferences produce more revenue. They should not have to share that revenue with the smaller schools, who can't generate much on their own.

The BCS has always been under attack from fans, but political figures are now speaking out against it as well. Utah went undefeated last season, but did not get a chance to play for the National Championship. They went on to beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, and as a result Utah Senator Orrin Hatch is getting involved, and an investigation is underway to determine whether or not the BCS violates antitrust laws.

Tech Baseball Improving

It was easy to overlook while spring football practice was going on, but the Tech baseball team has improved by leaps and bounds in the third year of the tenure of Pete Hughes. The Hokies are currently 27-17 overall, with a 10-13 mark in ACC play. That is a huge improvement over the last two seasons.

Baseball, Last 3 Years
Year Overall Conf. Road
2007 23-31 7-23 9-13
2008 23-32 6-24 6-16
2009 27-17 10-13 12-7


The Hokies have already won more games overall than they did in 2007 and 2008. With six ACC games remaining, they even have an outside shot to win as many conference games this year as they did in the last two years combined. That's quality progress. The biggest change is the success the Hokies are having away from English Field. Tech has already won twice as many road games in 2009 as they did in all of 2007.

Despite the massive improvements, Tech is still sitting in last place in the Coastal Division of the ACC. The Coastal Division is a very tough division. UNC, Georgia Tech, Miami and Virginia all have very good programs, and Duke is better than usual this year. The Hokies are the only team in the division with a sub .500 conference record.

If Tech was in the Atlantic Division, they'd have an opportunity for great success. Three teams in the Atlantic have a record of 8-16 or worse.

The Hokies will play a road series against Florida State over the weekend. The 'Noles sit atop the Atlantic Division with a 30-12 overall record, and a 15-7 mark in conference play. Tech's regular season concludes May 14-16 at English Field with a three game series against in-state rival UVA.

 

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   TechSideline.com Updates From the Past Week
Friday Q&A: May 1, 2009
May 1, 2009
Coverage of spring practice continues in today's Friday Q&A. Raleigh Hokie joins us and discusses some key positions. He talks about Ju-Ju Clayton's development, concerns on offense and defense, as well as Virginia Tech's deep wide receiver corps.
more

VT Reels in Commitment #4
May 1, 2009
Virginia Tech's recent recruiting roll continued today, when Coach Frank Beamer and company picked up a pledge from Pulaski County (Dublin, VA) star linebacker Tahrick Peak. The 6-2, 205-pound Peak becomes the fourth rising high school senior to commit to Tech's 2010 recruiting class. He is the third prospect to commit to Tech within the past two weeks.
more

Collegiate QB Setting Camp Schedule
May 1, 2009
Collegiate (Richmond, VA) quarterback/athlete Jake McGee is certainly hoping to receive his first official scholarship offer soon, but for now he is also trying to determine which Division 1A programs are heavily interested. From there, he will figure out which camps he will attend this summer. So far, he knows two definitive camp destinations.
more

Spring Practice Review: Some Questions Answered, Some Questions Remain
April 30, 2009
When spring practice began nearly a month ago, we ran an article that asked seven questions that would be need to be answered during the month of April. With the Spring Game behind us, it's time to revisit those questions. Some have been answered positively, while others will remain question marks until the season begins.
more

Drager Moving to Defensive End
April 30, 2009
Virginia Tech has announced the move of r-sophomore tight end Chris Drager to defensive end. After evaluating the defensive end and tight end positions for the entire spring, the Tech coaching staff felt that Drager is needed more on the defensive side of the ball.
more

Top LB/S Williams Enjoys Tech Visit
April 30, 2009
An athletic and speedy linebacker/safety prospect, 6-2, 195-pound Travis Williams has become one of the most highly recruited players in the state of Virginia's 2010 class. The Lake Taylor (Norfolk, VA) product boasts offers from North Carolina, N.C. State, Penn State and Virginia Tech, among others, and has received serious interest from other top programs.
more

Godfrey May Camp at VT
April 30, 2009
Ocean Lakes (Virginia Beach, VA) has a talented group of rising seniors led by all-everything wide receiver Justin Hunter. 6-0, 179-pound safety prospect Jon Godfrey has not gained the recruiting recognition to this point, but he certainly is a big part of the team's success and is starting to generate more interest from college coaches.
more

Spring Practice Review: The Defense
April 29, 2009
Despite a number of talented players returning, Bud Foster's defense still had plenty of question marks this spring. Depth at defensive end was a concern, and Foster also had to break in two new starters at inside linebacker. There was also some shakeup at cornerback thanks to the departure of Macho Harris. Some of those questions have been answered, while others are a work in progress.
more

Bishop McNamara WR on the Rise
April 29, 2009
Bishop McNamara (Forestville, MD) wide receiver Brandon Coleman seems to be gaining more and more momentum as the recruiting process goes on, now boasting 13 Division 1A offers with more perhaps on the way soon. Both Virginia Division 1A programs have offered the 6-6, 200-pound prospect. He also visited both within the past few weeks.
more

Skip Hopkins Talks Spring Game
April 29, 2009
Derrick "Skip" Hopkins' visit to Blacksburg on Saturday served two purposes. For one, the 6-0, 285-pound Highland Springs (VA) defensive tackle was able to get another close look at Virginia Tech, which is currently the only program that has officially offered a scholarship. Another benefit was to see his brother Antoine, a rising red-shirt freshman, play defensive tackle in Bud Foster's defense.
more

Spring Practice Review: The Offense
April 28, 2009
Spring practice has concluded, and Tech fans are excited. There is more talk about the offense than the defense, and for the first time in awhile, the talk is positive. The Hokies appeared to take some big leaps forward offensively this spring, and barring injury, this unit should be improved this season.
more

Dew Reflects on Hectic Day
April 28, 2009
First Colonial (Virginia Beach, VA) safety/linebacker prospect Nick Dew eventually made it down to Blacksburg on Saturday. Unfortunately for the 6-2, 200-pound junior, Saturday, a day he had anticipated for months, did not exactly go as planned.
more

Harris Selected in 2009 NFL Draft
April 27, 2009
Virginia Tech had just one player selected in 2009 NFL Draft. Cornerback Victor "Macho" Harris went to the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round, which was two to three rounds later than expected. Harris will compete for playing time in an Eagle secondary that is known for their talent and physical play.
Also: Big recruiting weekend for the Hokies, and Spring Football Awards.
more

Bodine Eyeing a Spring Decision
April 27, 2009
Fork Union Military Academy (VA) offensive lineman Russell Bodine does not plan to wait too long to make his college choice. In fact, he could select his college destination as early as next month. The 6-4, 285-pound junior currently boasts eight Division 1A scholarship offers - California, Duke, Marshall, North Carolina, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest - but may be focusing in on just four of these programs.
more

All-American WR Enjoys VT Visit
April 26, 2009
One of the top 2010 class wide receiver prospects in the country was in Blacksburg over the weekend. Ocean Lakes (Virginia Beach, VA) standout Justin Hunter, a selection to the Under Armour All-American game, made what was his first ever visit to Virginia Tech and came away pleased with the experience.
more

An In-State Battle for Davis?
April 26, 2009
Deep Run (Glen Allen, VA) offensive tackle Conner Davis attended the University of Virginia's Spring Game last week, and yesterday the 6-5, 270-pound junior was in Blacksburg for Virginia Tech's Spring Game. Davis may very well end up deciding between the two in-state programs, so these past two visits certainly were very important.
more

DeShawn Painter Makes Official Visit to VT
April 26, 2009
Virginia Tech's football program had the spotlight this weekend, but its men's basketball program had a big weekend as well. Head coach Seth Greenberg and company hosted Hargrave Military Academy power forward DeShawn Painter, a 6-9, 210-pound prospect, on an official visit.
more

H.D. Woodson QB Talks Spring Game, Recruiting
April 26, 2009
H.D. Woodson (Washington, D.C.) quarterback Ricardo Young, a top quarterback target of Virginia Tech's, was in Blacksburg yesterday for the Spring Game. The 6-1, 170-pound junior wanted to see several things, specifically Virginia Tech's offense, its quarterbacks and receivers. What was his opinion of Tech's offense following the experience?
more
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