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News With Commentary by TSL Staff Friday, March 8, 2002 Football Notes This week is Spring Break on the Tech campus, and when the football team gets back next week, they'll start their dreaded 6 a.m. winter workouts, in preparation for Spring Football. Spring Football starts on March 23rd. Under NCAA rules, teams can have 15 spring practice sessions, including scrimmages and a spring game. The Hokies will practice on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday for a three-week stretch, and then will have a light week in week four, practicing on Wednesday before holding their Spring Game on Saturday, April 20th in Lane Stadium. At this point in time, it is unknown when scrimmages will be held, but here's how the schedule shakes out:
Typically, the team holds about one scrimmage a week, and the scrimmages are mostly situational scrimmages: goal line situations, short-yardage situations, etc. Player Losses Since Season's End LB T.J. Jackson -- transferred Note: Jackson and Franklin already have their Tech degrees, and Selmon is expected to earn his this summer. Selmon never quite fully recovered from a knee injury. Player Movement Since Season's End Josh Spence, who has bounced back and forth between tailback, linebacker, and fullback, has been permanently placed at fullback. Spence has excelled in winter workouts, earning the coveted Elite Athlete honor. He is up to 232 pounds and runs a 4.51 forty, easily fastest among Tech's fullbacks, and third-fastest among all running backs (behind Kevin Jones at 4.38 and Cedric Humes at 4.43 -- note that Lee Suggs was not timed this winter). Physically, Spence appears to be preparing himself well for the fullback position. In a well-publicized move, Keith Burnell will be moving from tailback to Rover (the strong safety in Tech's defensive scheme). Burnell ran a Tech record 4.21 forty in winter testing. He will be a redshirt senior next year and is expected to get his degree this May. Burnell has embraced the position change with open arms and has pledged to do whatever it takes to help the team win. Injury Update As of mid-February, this was the status of Tech's various injured and sick players: Full speed for Spring Football: DT Kevin Hilton (foot), OL Luke Owens (elbow), DE Jim Davis (torn pec), DT Andrew Fleck. Limited for Spring Football: TE Mike Jackson (knee), LB Deon Provitt (knee). Status uncertain: RB Lee Suggs (knee). Lee is doing very well and will be evaluated on an ongoing basis. Recovering: LB Chad Cooper (illness). Schedule Finalized And of course, with the addition of the 13th game against Arkansas State, here's how Tech's 2002 football schedule shapes up (the Spring Game is included for convenience).
Hokie fans, spend an evening with Coach Frank Beamer, the Tech coaching staff, and friends of Virginia Tech, along with NFL greats Carroll Dale, Robert Brown and Ray Crittenden. Here are the details of the event: Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2002 Casual attire, cash bar. The gathering will feature a special presentation announcing a special golf and hospitality membership opportunity to join Friends of Virginia Tech with the Northern Virginia Corporate Community. For more information, or to pre-register to attend the event, email [email protected] or call 800-441-8068.
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