A few more thoughts in the aftermath of Tech's media day (despite the fact that BCE stole my thunder on the message board by saying the exact same thing I'm about to say)....

Let's play connect-the-dots with the incoming freshmen:

• Frank Beamer said that the new class has five or six "difference makers."

• He has also said that a tailback, a wide receiver, a linebacker, and a defensive back have the best shots at playing this year, as true freshman.

• At different points in time, the early returns from freshman practices have coaches, the media, and message board posters praising Lee Suggs (tailback), Emmett Johnson (wide receiver), and Jake Houseright (linebacker).

Hmmm....assume we've got five "difference-makers."  One of those is Vick, and he is a 99% probability to redshirt.  That leaves four.  Assume that Suggs, Johnson, and Houseright are three more, because those players, their positions, and Beamer's comments all match up.

That leaves one more "difference maker," the last one coming at the defensive back position.  Since signing day in February, the coaches have repeatedly praised Ronyell Whitaker, but I've also heard it through the grapevine that stud DB T.J. Jackson out of Florida also has a good shot at playing this year.  So the last "difference-making," total-stud, might-play-as-a-true-freshman player is either Whitaker or Jackson.

I should add the comment that Suggs will probably redshirt.  He was on TV Thursday night and said as much, mentioning that there were a lot of great players in front of him.   As excited as I am about seeing Lee play, I think a redshirt year is probably best for him, because if he doesn't redshirt this year, he won't see much playing time behind Pegues and Stith, and it will be, as they say, a "wasted year."

Waiting a year before we can see Lee Suggs on the field will be tough, but just think, after that, we get him for four years, not just three.  Greg Roberts said on Channel 10 Thursday night, "Mark my words, Lee Suggs will get a shot at playing in the NFL."

Also on Thursday night, Greg Roberts showed some interior video shots of the Merryman Center, and man! - was I blown away!

For one, Frank Beamer's dedication to his alma mater has resulted in him finally receiving a Taj Mahal of an office, with a view of Lane Stadium that I would kill for.

The new medical facilities look tip-top, as does the new football team meeting room.

But what really blew me away was the weight room.  40,000 square feet, with something like $400,000 worth of equipment in it (Greg was throwing a lot of numbers around, so I may have missed that one, but I'm pretty sure that's what he said).  The neatest thing about the weight room were the steel York plates - they are maroon, with orange VT's and the word "Hokies" printed on them!  Gimme some of those weights!

I called the Tech football office, and they said that the Merryman Center is open to the public, so if you're local, you can go down and have a look.  I know I'm going to - this weekend.

• Scrimmage news from the VT Sports Information Director, Dave Smith:  the first scrimmage in Lane Stadium will be Saturday, Aug 22, at 3:15.  The "East Carolina scrimmage" will be Aug. 27 at 7 p.m. This will be the last major scrimmage. The team will hold a script scrimmage on Aug. 29, but that is more special situations and special teams than a real live scrimmage.  According to Coach Beamer, the scrimmages will only be open to Hokie Club members.

• There was a special "Welcome back students" insert in The Roanoke Times today, and one of the articles in it mentioned Tech's "Merriman" Center (it's spelled Merryman, folks), and called the $10.7 million building a "$5 million project."  Yikes.

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