• What: The 2004 spring game
• When: Saturday, April 24, 2:00 p.m.
• Cost: Free!
• Other Info: The VT Athletic Department will provide 7,000 roster cards listing player names and numbers.
• Weather Info (Click here for details): Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers in the morning. Partly cloudy in the afternoon. Highs around 70. Northeast winds around 10 mph.

This Saturday, during Virginia Tech's spring game, players will be filing into and out of the game by the dozens, QB's will wear yellow jerseys and be whistled dead when defenders get close enough to say "boo", and a plethora of new young players will have those fans lucky enough to get a roster card grabbing for it.

The spring game is a circus, usually dominated by defense because rotating players in and out of an offense ruins continuity and makes picking up yardage difficult. With a young receiving corps and largely untested running backs and fullbacks, this year's spring game figures to be even harder on the offenses.

With the unfamiliar numbers and quick rotations of players in and out of the game, it can be hard to take away anything from the game as a fan, but we thought we would put together a list of players to watch out for. Here they are:

#34 George Bell, #20 Mike Imoh (tailbacks): Imoh hasn't gotten much of a chance to show his stuff as a tailback. His "stuff" includes a good burst and very good open field vision. As for Bell, practice observers report a good burst through the hole, and he is a load to bring down. Bell may entertain you by knocking a few defensive backs on their butts. Unfortunately, Bell is listed as questionable for the game with a possible tear of the lateral meniscus in his left knee.

#43 John Kinzer (fullback): He's wearing Doug Easlick's old number, but don't be fooled. This is the heir to Easlick's throne, not Easlick himself. Watch him closely to see how he does.

#19 Josh Hyman, #16 Chris Clifton, #81 Justin Harper, #17 Josh Morgan (wide receivers): Clifton, a non-factor his first three years in the program, has stepped up his play. Hyman, Harper, and Morgan are all supposed to be great young talents, but raw.

#49 Chris Ellis, #95 Jim Davis (defensive ends): Noland Burchette and Darryl Tapp are getting most of the press this spring, but it's good to have Big Jim back, and Ellis, while behind the others at this point, should be someone to watch.

#11 Xavier Adibi and #9 Vince Hall (linebackers): The most eagerly awaited linebacking debut since Jake Houseright.

#42 James Anderson (whip linebacker): Space aliens beamed up the inept middle linebacker James Anderson from the 2002 football season and replaced him with an exact duplicate who plays the whip linebacker position with authority. Or so we're told. Watch and make up your own mind.

#2 Jimmy Williams, #15 Roland Minor (cornerbacks): Williams is trying out a new position, and Minor is a guy who is going to be counted on to back him up and get playing time this fall.

#28 Corey Gordon (free safety): Unless injuries start occurring in the defensive backfield, Gordon might not be much of a factor this fall, but with Vince Fuller and Mike Daniels graduating after the 2004 season, Gordon will be it at the free safety spot.

#22 James Griffin (rover): All JUCOs struggle their first year. Griffin did, in 2003. Many JUCOs step up their second year. Griffin reportedly has. Rover is a key position, so watch Griffin to see if you think he's the next Cory Bird/Kevin McCadam.

#46 Brandon Pace, #23 Nic Schmitt (kickers): Watch these two guys, and every other non-punter you see, because the kicking jobs are up in the air.

The game will have two ten-minute quarters and two eight-minute quarters. For other game details, see the free side of BeamerBall.com.

The 2004 Edition of the TSL Spring Game Tailgate Party, hosted by message board posters F4EHokie and Bay Island Hokie and sponsored by a growing list of Hokie fans, is locked and loaded and ready to go.

Here's what will be provided:

• BBQ Pork…yes another pig pickin'!
• Plates, napkins, cups, and utensils
• Buns and condiments
• Ice
• Grills

Here's what you need to bring:

• Your favorite beverage, adult or otherwise
• Hamburger, sausages, hot dogs, or anything else you want to grill
• Chips, salsa, veggie trays, chicken, side dishes, etc., basically
• Whatever else you want to eat (But plan on sharing!)
• Anything else you think fellow Hokies might enjoy.

We have ordered two 90 – 100# pigs and it will be first come, first serve.

Tailgating begins at 10:00 AM. Look for a white Hokie tailgating tent adorned with orange and maroon balloons in lot 2 (NOT lot 5, as in the past, but LOT 2), pretty much centered on the SEZ, near the bus row (Map below)

We're looking forward to it, and hope you are as well!

Click here for sponsor info

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