Who would have ever guessed that a road game against UMass would be the cure for what ails the Hokies? The football team, maybe, but the basketball team?

It happened yesterday, though. Tech jumped on the Minutemen and slapped them silly in Sunday's televised game, eventually running away for a 63-47 victory. Sure, UMass ain't what they used to be, but it's a good win, nonetheless. Check out a mini-report and the game stats on my Hokie Basketball page.

The Roanoke Times ran an article about Tech football assistant coaches Bud Foster and Ricky Bustle, and their candidacies for the Murray State head coach and Clemson offensive coordinator jobs, respectively. The article didn't reveal anything new beyond what you've already read here or may have heard on TV, if you live in the area.

The Roanoke Times had no quotes from either coach, because they were not able to contact them by phone. Kind of makes me wonder why I even mentioned it. Next!

Since I last reported on recruiting, the Hokies received two more verbals in football. Click on the names below to read about the individual players:

Dan Wilkinson: 6-2, 225 pound DL from Palm Beach Lakes HS in Palm Beach
Rodney Wells: 6-2, 205 pound LB from Dr. Phillips HS in Orlando

Wells sounds like the more outstanding player, but what I got a kick out of when I was reading the article about Wilkinson was a quote from Wilkinson's coach, Bill Bolinder. Get this:

"I'm not from Florida, and I like to get our kids away from Florida -- or at least South Florida," Bolinder said. "I feel they can get a better education outside the state."

No doubt that quote will not endear Bolinder to the locals, and it sounds like the Hokies have made a friend. Wilkinson had a visit to Miami set up, but Bolinder told him to commit to the Hokies.

Wow! I'll take any friends we can make in South Florida!

Lastly, draft expert Mel Kiper rated his top 60 collegiate players. Notable by his absence is Cornell Brown, but Kiper likes Jim Druckenmiller and Torrian Gray, rating them #23 and #25, respectively.

Among senior QB's, Kiper rates Druck the highest. Tennessee junior QB Peyton Manning is Kiper's highest-rated QB overall at #2. I don't know yet if Manning has announced whether or not he's going pro.

For the complete run-down on Kiper's thoughts, click on Kiper: Scouting the Top 60 College Players.

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