Here it is, 1998, and it's starting to look eerily like 1997:

• The Hokies have started out on a high note, putting together some impressive wins and raising the expectations of Hokie fans everywhere.  Tech is undefeated and moving up in the rankings, much like they were in 1997.

• The Hokies have survived their first tough test of the Big East season.  Last year, it was Syracuse at home, and this year, it was Miami on the road.

• Al Clark is once again out with an injury, and the coaches and team physician are telling us that he's only going to miss one game.  In 1997, although Al only "missed" one game, he was injured for the entire season.

• A long-term injury has occurred to another key player on offense.  Last year, it was Shawn Scales at receiver.  This year, it's Cullen Hawkins at fullback.

So, where do we go from here?  Will it be another season of the coaches telling us that our star quarterback is "85-90%" as he limps for weeks on end, and will a strong Hokie team fold down the stretch?  Or will this team rally, focus, and stay strong?

It's hard to say, but my money tends towards the "rally, focus, and stay strong" part.  There are a number of differences between this year's team and last year's that I think will keep us from folding up like a cheap tent, as we did in 1997.  I'll get to that in a second.

First of all, for the record, Al's injury has been described as a sprained ligament in his foot, a sprained arch, or a sprained foot - take your pick, but the important thing is, he's on crutches.  The coaches will start Dave Meyer at quarterback against Pittsburgh this weekend, with Denny Randolph backing him up.  Nick Sorensen, who has been moved back over to QB temporarily, will be the emergency QB.

At this point, team physicians are hopeful that Al will be able to play against Boston College on October 8th, two weeks from today.  The thing is, none of us can speculate, because none of us know the extent of Al's injury.  Maybe he'll be back, maybe he won't.

But, for the record, Cullen Hawkins won't be back for Boston College.  He's gone for a long time, and he may be done for the year.

So with the quarterback and fullback out, how does this Tech team keep from falling apart like last year's team?

1.)  Focus and maintain intensity.  Frank Beamer talked during media day this week about how last year's team didn't respond well to the injuries, and that this year's team has been challenged to stay focused and play harder to make up for the lost personnel.  Meyer is excited to be playing, and he knows that a lot hinges on him, and backup fullback Jarrett Ferguson, a former walk-on, is pumped and ready to carry the load.  The defense is no doubt ready to turn it up another notch, if that's possible, to help the offense out.

2.)  Speaking of defense, this year's defense, barring unforeseen injuries, can carry the team and can at least keep the games against quality opponents close.  This defense may even be able to score some points itself, much like the 1995 defense did (in bunches).  When last year's offense started floundering, the defense was unable to pick up the slack, and I don't see that happening this year, primarily because of the improved play of the defensive line.

3.)  This team is climbing the mountain, versus trying not to be knocked off of it.  There's a big difference between striving to be king of the hill (the 1998 Hokies), as opposed to already being there and trying not to fall off (the 1997 Hokies).   There is an intensity and a one-game-at-a-time approach to this team that was missing from last year's team.  This team takes nothing for granted and plays all-out, all the time.

Regarding point #3, I don't know about you, but I personally have an unusual one-at-a-time focus as a fan that I've never had before.  It's natural for fans to play "what if" as the season progresses, but I've been totally focused this year, and not playing the game of "if we win this game, then we can ... " like we all did last year.

It's bizarre - I have been so intent on the next game so far this year, that I'm not sure I could recite Tech's schedule to you without checking the one I carry around in my pocket.  That's a good sign, because if I'm thinking that way as a fan, I know the team is.

Who knows what's going to happen from here on out?  I don't, and to some extent, I don't really care, because I think the rest of this year's ride will be as fun as the first three games have been, win or lose.  These are exciting times for Hokie football, and they'll stay that way.  I'm having a ball watching Hokie defense dominate again, and I'm looking forward to seeing what Dave Meyer can do against Pitt this weekend.  Heck, I'm just glad we've got a home game this weekend!

I think we should redshirt Michael Vick and Grant Noel, no matter what happens with Al.   If Al takes longer than one game to recover, I'm in favor of letting Dave Meyer (or maybe even Nick Sorensen - who knows?) start however many games it takes for Al to get healthy.

My reasons are selfish.  I think Michael Vick is a special quarterback, and I want to have the pleasure of watching him play four years to his best capabilities (or, if Grant Noel is good enough to beat him out, then we can watch Grant for four years - but let's restrict this commentary to Vick and assume that it applies to Noel, as well).   If we throw him out there now, we won't get his best football for that first year, and that would be a shame.

If this sounds contrary to my "Play Houseright now!" speech of two weeks ago, it's not, really.  The difference in my mind is that I think Jake can contribute to the defense right now, and can learn gradually without harming the team's performance, whereas if we play Vick or Noel, he won't be ready, and in fact, his lack of knowledge of the offense will drag the whole offensive team down.

We can break in Jake, a linebacker, a little at a time until he's a good player by the end of the year, and it won't compromise the entire defense to do so.  If you throw Vick out there, then he's out there every play, and since he doesn't have a grasp of the offense yet, he'll drag down the performance of every single offensive player with him.   Vick could make some great plays here or there, much like Jake probably will, but overall, having a true freshman at quarterback will hurt the team, I think.

On another note, a message board poster voiced a thought that I have been thinking:   if Dave Meyer has a pretty good game against Pitt this weekend, and Al is taking a while to heal, perhaps Dave should start the game at BC, as well.  Then Dave could start the next two games, which should be winnable contests (against Temple and UAB - had to take out my schedule there), and Al could have a full six weeks to heal in preparation for the WVU game on October 31st.

Of course, that's not how a coach will look at it.  The coaches play to win one game at a time, and Frank Beamer and staff are going to put their best quarterback on the field for the BC game, whether it's Meyer or Clark.  There will be no thoughts of "saving" Clark for the "tough" WVU game while playing Meyer in two "winnable" contests against Temple and UAB.

Coaches don't think that way, because if they do, they wind up losing ball games and getting fired.  So don't look for that strategy to get employed.  Clark will return when he's ready, and not one game later than that.

I just happened to notice something that I wrote last week in my Miami game preview, and I wanted to repeat it here:

"On offense ... the Hokies can also connect with the passing game by getting open against Miami's inconsistent defensive backs, who have not earned high marks from their fans so far this year. Ricky Hall could spring open and score a TD for the third time in three games."

Wow, whattaya know ... I was right.  Somebody check Charlottesville - I think it just froze over.

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