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   Welcome to TSLMail #83 - Friday, June 13, 2003    
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   Tech Sports News

Some Misconceptions About Kilgore's Involvement
by Will Stewart, TechSideline.com

On Thursday, it was reported that Virginia Attorney General Jerry Kilgore "added his name" to the lawsuit filed by the "Big East 5" -- VT, UConn, WVU, Pitt, and Rutgers -- against Miami, BC, and the ACC.

The lawsuit had previously been signed by two assistant attorneys general, and Kilgore's involvement was widely reported as a new occurrence, which isn't entirely accurate. Information obtained by TechSideline.com clarifies that it is common practice for subordinate attorneys' names to appear on initial filings, with the attorney general's name appearing later.

TSL was told that Kilgore actually "signed off" on the lawsuit two weeks ago, so the addition of his name to the lawsuit at this point does not indicate new or additional involvement on his part, and no political pressure over and above what existed before.

Razzano Not Headed to VT

2003 football recruiting signee Joey Razzano, the only true fullback VT has recruited in the last three recruiting classes, won't be coming to VT.

Although Razzano's family says he was qualified according to the NCAA for freshman eligibility, Razzano didn't have a science credit necessary to gain admission to VT. That information didn't come to light until it was too late for Joey to make the class up in high school.

Sources tell TSL that VT requested Razzano's transcript in mid-2002, in plenty of time to discover the problem, but Joey's father Rick, a former Hokie football great, was quoted in the Richmond Times-Dispatch as saying that VT didn't request the transcript until January, 2003.

For whatever reason, the transcript was delivered fairly late, and Razzano apparently didn't have any options for making the credit up at home, or he wasn't willing to make the credit up at home. He was offered the opportunity to take a class this summer at New River Community College in Dublin, VA, about a half-hour drive from Blacksburg. This approach is often taken by prospective football players, but the Razzanos declined the option.

Razzano was not offered enrollment for January 2004. The two parties -- VT and the Razzanos -- have agreed to go their separate ways, and it is TSL's understanding that Joey Razzano has been released from his letter of intent and is free to attend another Division 1-A school. It is highly unlikely that he will attend VT at any point.

Stadium Expansion Update

As reported on June 3rd in the Roanoke Times, the Hokie Club received $1.9 million in donations two weeks ago that will help pay for planning of VT's west side Lane Stadium expansion. When the ACC expansion mess started really hitting the fan about a month ago, VT temporarily tabled expansion plans, but now they're back on.

That sequence of events is well known, but a couple of other facts came out at the time that deserve emphasis. Number one, the VT Board of Visitors won't decide until August exactly when construction is going to begin. The earliest it could start is the end of the 2003 season, which would mean that the expansion would be ready in time for the 2005 season

Number two, the design is still not finalized. The BOV endorsed a design in August 2002 that includes 800 indoor club seats, stadium clubs, 15-18 luxury boxes, and an expanded/renovated press box. The cost of that project is $48 million.

But the BOV is reportedly leaning towards a $53 million design that would add 23 luxury boxes, more than 2,000 club seats, a two-story memorabilia display and a new or renovated press-box tower.

For more details, see the Roanoke Times article and TSL's Lane Stadium Expansion Page.

This Week in Recruiting
by Chris Horne

Several more prospects announced their intentions to visit the Virginia Tech football camp this summer. Westfield (Chantilly, VA) wide receiver Eddie Royal, Pearce (Richardson, TX) quarterback Daniel Meager, and Osbourn Park (Manassas, VA) offensive lineman Zac Stair will take the trip to Blacksburg this July.

Royal, who is the fastest and possibly most explosive player in the state of Virginia, will camp at Virginia Tech and Virginia. He has received one official scholarship offer from Marshall. Royal earned camp MVP during last month's Nike Camp in Blacksburg. His teammate, quarterback Sean Glennon, may visit the Virginia Tech camp. He already has an offer from the Hokies, so he may not make the trip. Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, and Akron have also officially offered Glennon. He definitely plans on camping at Notre Dame, Ohio State, and UVA.

Daniel Meager is receiving interest from coast to coast – literally. BYU, California, Virginia Tech, Purdue, and SMU are teams who have expressed serious interest. The Hokies wanted to see Meager in person, and he has decided to make the trip. Meager plans on making a cross-country trip, visiting all of the schools who are interested in him. An excellent athlete (4.5 40), he is the consummate dual threat quarterback.

Gar-field (Woodbridge, VA) defensive end Clint Sintim is one of the hottest names in the state of Virginia. He has received official offers from Virginia Tech, Virginia, Tennessee, Syracuse, Maryland, West Virginia, and Marshall. At 6-4, 250 pounds, he runs a 4.8 in the 40 and bench presses 350 pounds. Gar-field head coach Jim Poythress says "anybody who has watched film on him has offered." He promises to be one of the most highly recruited players in the state this year.

For more information on all of these prospects, see the TSL Pass recruiting updates from the last week.

On the basketball front, Virginia Tech appears to be one of the favorites for Nansemond River point guard Marquie Cooke. UVA will likely drop out due to a recent commitment from heralded point guard Sean Singletary. Cooke listed the Hokies as one of his favorites during the Southern Invitational in Charlottesville last month. Florida State and NC State are also high on his list. As a junior, Cooke averaged 22 points per game. He is 6-3, 175 pounds, and plays very strong.

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-- Will Stewart

   TechSideline.com Updates From the Past Week


Hey, ACC, Are You Having Trouble Hitting the Target?
by Will Stewart, TechSideline.com, 6/11/03, 11:20 pm
If I wasn't so exhausted from following this ACC expansion mess for almost two months now, I would think that the ACC's failure to pull the trigger on expansion for the second day in a row was funny. Instead, it just makes me want to look up to the heavens and howl, "Sweet mother! Just get it over with already!"
in TSL Pass

The Final Blow: Big Changes in Store for TSL
Humor, by Greg Zesinger, 6/11/03, 10:50 am
Radford, VA - Already woozy from the possibility of a broken-up Big East, Virginia Tech fans received another glancing blow to the head when Will Stewart, general manager of popular Hokie fan site TechSideline.com (TSL), announced that he and his website would be joining the ACC, effective August 2005. Adding insult to injury, TSL will be renamed "Wahoo Central", merging with infamous University of Virginia page The Sabre.
in Voice of the Fan

Lawyers, Guns, and Money
by Jim Alderson, 6/9/03, 9:45 pm
My opinion of lawyers has generally mirrored that of Shakespeare. I would make an exception for my buddy the Hoo lawyer; although his practice would benefit from a strong upturn in business were he the last lawyer left alive, it might require a bit more effort on his part other than lounging around his office listening to Jeff Foxworthy tapes.
in TSL Pass

 
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