Monday: Talkin’ Hokies with Chris Colston
AS PROMISED FRIDAY, we’ll get to some of the highlights of my conversation with author and publisher Chris Colston in a minute. First, though, if you haven’t seen the College Football Preview section, you can read the first part here and the second part here.
I’ve got two columns in there — one on how I propose we judge the Hokies’ progress this year and one on UVa cornerback Demetrious Nicholson, the leader of a young secondary and an impressive example of perseverance through childhood challenges that easily have derailed a less optimistic and hard-working young man.
I also had a column Sunday on backup Tech QB Mark Leal here.
I picked Georgia Tech to win the Coastal. That’s my O-line nerdom talking.
Now, onto Colston. I’m sure many of you are familiar with his work. He’s a 1976 Cave Spring grad and 1980 Tech grad who has written four books on the Hokies and is the former editor of the Hokie Huddler. He’s also the publisher of the tremendous Hokie Football Annual, which is an incredible resource/collectable for Tech fans. Hard copies are $9.99 and can be purchased at area Stop-In Stores, the Barnes & Noble at Tanglewood Mall and several other locations. You also can order one at Chris’ site, which also has a digital-only version available for $7.99. Trust me, it’s great.
Leaf through that publication and it becomes obvious: Colston has spent the past 12 months thinking about the Hokies, talking to the Hokies and analyzing the Hokies. So as we approach the season opener a week from today, let’s get a few thoughts from him on…well, the subject he knows best.
ON ANYTHING THAT STOOD OUT ABOUT FRANK BEAMER WHILE WRITING A LENGTHY STORY IN THE ANNUAL ON HIM:
“You’ve got to remember I worked with him on his autobiography in 2000. So we covered everything. That book was really the first time anybody had really asked him about his burns and all that. Now it’s common. That was the first time that he really discussed it. I was a little hesitant to ask him about that back in 2000, but he was very open about it.
“We had two long sessions again with this. The one thing that has really, really been hammered across to me is just his deep love he has for Cheryl, the relationship there. It’s really just kind of a sweet thing to see. Football coaches are not home a lot, and the fact that Shane is there with him and just the fact that he can be with his son on a regular basis and just the love that he has with his family.
“And it’s not an act; that’s the biggest thing. Everybody on his staff just adores him. They adore him…. You can’t fake that, especially for 25 years. It’s genuine. He’s just a genuine guy. I kind of feel he’s almost like an uncle to me; he’s always been really good to me all these years.”
ON THE SENSE HE GOT FROM THE COACHES ON WHAT KIND OF SEASON THIS WILL BE:
“Frank always feels like if he’s got a quarterback, he’s got a chance. Bud [Foster] and Charley [Wiles] feel very good about what they have up front. And I know Torrian [Gray] is very happy with the defensive secondary if they stay healthy… “When I was putting the book together in the spring, they’re just always the same. They kind of had the same even-keel sort of approach they had the previous two years I went down and compiled. You just really can’t tell the difference. And I guess they get that from Frank too. It’s just really even-keel, just another year, we’re going to go out there and do the best we can.
“Now, I personally, I don’t know if I picked it up from them or just on my own, but I feel very good about the team this year – better than the last two years – because they have the quarterback and they have the defense. That’s just the impression I got from talking to the players, the feedback that the coaches did give me, the fact that the offensive line is a little more solid and athletic, and the fact that they’re going to up-tempo the offensive attack I think is very encouraging.”
“I think the fact that Shane Beamer and Stiney go to Texas and pick the brains of those guys, that’s just good coaching. That’s a good, smart approach. Because everybody knows that the offense has been inconsistent in past years. It was very good last year. I don’t know how any Tech fan could really complain. Play-calling had always been an issue; play-calling was great.
“Just the fact that they’ve got all those defensive guys returning and the fact that you’ve got Logan Thomas at quarterback. I mean, that guy is rare. Tyrod was great, but Tech has had really good 6-foot quarterbacks before – Bryan Randall, Mark Leal’s pretty good. You don’t get these 6-6, 260-pounders very often. I think he alone gives everybody great optimism.”
ON HIM AND HIS TWO ROUND TABLE PANELISTS (DAVID TEEL AND JIMMY ROBERTSON) ALL PICKING TECH TO BEAT FLORIDA STATE: “Florida State for years was a team that Frank could not beat. But then he beat them at Lane Stadium that regular-season game, and then that ACC title game was one of the best games Virginia Tech has ever played, I thought, where they just put it all together. So now I think he feels pretty confident going against them. And I think playing in Lane Stadium, I feel pretty good about that. I think it’s going to be a very difficult game, but they’ll have a good shot if they’re healthy. That’s later in the year; they’ll probably have the running backs sorted out by then and the third and fourth wide receivers sorted out by then. The Clemson game is the one we all picked to lose, right?”
RIGHT, YOU GUYS DID (ALL THREE PICKED TECH TO GO 11-1 WITH CLEMSON THE LONE LOSS). WHY?
“Clemson just dominated both games last year on a neutral field and at Lane Stadium. You just would have to be an incredible optimist to think that Tech can go to Death Valley and win. And it’s just so hard to go undefeated. Tech can win it, but I don’t expect ‘em to.”
ON HIS BREAKOUT CANDIDATES:
“There’s a couple. This is no revelation, but Michael Holmes, the tailback, I think is going to be very, very solid. Marcus Davis at split end, he’s shown flashes, but he’s really, because of D.J. Coles’ injuries and ongoing problems, he can really step up. I’m hoping Vinston Painter really comes on. It’s hard to tell — unless Logan gets sacked or if there’s huge holes — what an offensive lineman is doing, but that’s a guy the reports have been that he’s finally reaching his massive potential.
“On defense, everybody’s talking about Luther Maddy, the defensive tackle. He’s poised for a terrific year. Jack Tyler is a guy that’s kind of been under the radar that could really shine. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him have 10 tackles against Georgia Tech. And Ronny Vandyke at the whip position has just looked tremendous. There might just be too many people ahead of him with Tweedy and Gouveia-Winslow, but he’s a guy for sure next year is going to be a force, no doubt about that.”
ON WHAT STANDS OUT ABOUT BROADCASTER BILL ROTH (FEATURED PROMINENTLY IN THE ANNUAL):
“I know Bill extremely well. He’s one of my best friends. In the annual, what I thought was really interesting was the kind of respect that Bill gets from types like [Mike] Tirico and [Sean] McDonough. These are national guys, and I used to talk to national media all the time when I was at USA Today, but now that I’m doing something very regional, it’s sometimes difficult to get those people to talk to an annual magazine like that. “Sean McDonough just talked my ear off for a half an hour about Bill. You can just tell the affection that he had for him and the respect for what he’s done down here.
“A guy like him, he could have gone on and taken a lot of other opportunities. We’re very lucky to have Bill. People don’t realize just how ingrained Virginia Tech is into his psyche. He’s a Syracuse grad who just absolutely bleeds orange and maroon. That’s not easy. I don’t know that I could go to Syracuse and do that, being a Virginia Tech graduate myself. “But here’s the other thing about him: He’s completely immersed and committed to this. He’s not the voice of the Hokies because it’s cool or it’s a good job or it pays well. The guy is just absolutely consumed with Virginia Tech and sports. That is his life.
“The other thing about him is he’s a super intelligent guy. He could have gone in and been successful in a lot of different jobs. I love arguing with him. He’ll take a stance and he’ll try to defend it to the bitter end, and he’ll have stats to back it up, but he takes a stand on it. He’s just a really fun guy to argue with over a beer. He’s just so well-versed about not just Tech but all of college football. I guess that’s what I should have said: He’s just totally immersed in what is going on in college sports. He knows everything.”
ON WHETHER HE’S CONCERNED AT ALL ABOUT THE OPENER: “Yes. I am always concerned when Virginia Tech plays Georgia Tech. Paul Johnson – that’s a very effective offense, but I guess the only knock is that when people have a lot of time to prepare for it they kind of figure it out. But they always play Virginia Tech tough. Even last year, that game, until the personal foul…until that play, that game was in serious jeopardy. Obviously we picked Virginia Tech to win, just playing at home, having time to prepare. You’ve really got to have good defensive ends and tackles, and that’s Tech’s strength. I would expect Virginia Tech to win that game…Let’s just hope there’s no lightning.”
AND FINALLY: DANNY COALE. CATCH OR NO CATCH? [Laughs]
“Of course it was a catch. What else am I gonna say?”
Thanks to Chris for his insights. More in the paper this week. Also, if you’re into fiction, check out his e-book, a novel available at amazon.com entitled “I Am the Wolf Man.”
MONDAY HEADLINES: Notre Dame suspends starting running back Cierre Wood for two games…Seahawks cut T.O….Nick Watney wins The Barclays…Ravens cut Pro Bowl kicker Cundiff…Lydia Ko, 15, becomes youngest winner on LPGA Tour…Japan beats Tennessee for Little League World Series title…Vin Scully will return next year for his 64th season as the voice of the Dodgers.
IDENTIFY THE MOVIE
“Go ahead, make your jokes, Mr. Jokey… Joke-maker. But let me hit you with some knowledge. Quit now. Save yourself the embarrassment of losing with these losers in Las Vegas, La Fleur.”
“Alliteration aside, I’ll take my chances in the tournament.”
“Yeah, you will take your chances.”
“I know. I just said that.”
“I know you just said that.”
“Okay, I’m not sure where you’re going with this.”
“Well, I’m not sure where *you’re* going with this.”
“That’s what I said.”
“That’s what I’m saying to *you*.”
“All right.”
“Touché.”
NAME THAT TUNE
A man was bothering me today
And I wanted to tell him to go away
But I stood and listened to him anyway, okay
He said he didn’t want to shoot that man
And it was his thing and I wouldn’t understand
And he had done all that he can, okay…
August 26, 2012 - 9:57 PM
Lots of hype, number 16 ranking, on the fringe of a National Championship…yada…yada…yada…where is the beef (proof)? Tech has lost great players like Wilson, Boykin, Hosely and especially Danny Coale. Where are the great players that are taking their places and what kind of depth is really there when they face a really good team? (No, not Austin Peay, Duke or Virginia) I for one, cannot see where these Hokie fans have so much to assume with this team. Let’s see how they fare against the Yellow Jackets before we put them in these championship games. Now am I a genius or what?
The movie is Dodgeball (OK, I believe it’s officially “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story”). Conversation is between Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn.
Isn’t this 25 years that Roth and Burnop have shared the mike?
AMc’s ‘stat’ about the combined rankings of the offense and defense got me to thinking about how the MNC teams fared in that regard. I think it’s a good stat. Especially shocking is how well we did in 2006-8 despite having a pathetic offense. You can thank Bud Foster for that.
Movie–Dodgeball?
Nice piece early on a Monday
Can’t tell if my response went in–so, a chance to be wrong twice…Dodgeball for the movie on ESPN Ocho?
AM, what’s up with your boy Doughty picking UNC to win the Coastal and then lose in the ACC Championship game? I like his optimism but last time I checked we aren’t elligible for the ACC Championship game this year.
Also, was I the only one that noticed the annual checkup of local players in professional baseball was dominated by players from UVA? All of those players at the next level is a real testament to how big that program has gotten.
The song is from the Great Zac Brown Band. Title: It is not OK
Nice piece on Chris Colston. I’ve been reading his stuff since I was in high school in the early ’80s. The Hokie Huddler was a popular read at our house.
O.G. is right, UVA baseball is becoming a big deal. I even cheer for Mark Reynolds now that he’s an O. The briefing must have been too early to note that the O’s picked up VT’s Joe Saunders. That’s an Oriole-Hokie connection this blog should enjoy. Let’s hope it helps them get to the playoffs.
Barry, from the sound of your post, “genius” is definitely not a word I’d use to describe you.
Barry, Barry, Barry. You just don’t get it about Hokies. We’re always optimistic at the beginning of the season. What kind of fans would we be otherwise? We have Frank, Bud and great assistant coaches as well as large talent on the field. I’m not naive enough to think we’ll win the MNC, but I think we’ll be very pleased with these 2012 Hokies.
Lane Stadium still rocks!!
Dodgeball and Zac Brown Band it is. Good job, Blog Crowd.
The 49ers-Broncos preseason game was a good one. It doesn’t look like Peyton’s neck is an issue. He is as precise as a surgeon and it is clear the offense is going to be dynamic this year. The division they are in should be a good one. I also watched the Panthers-Jets game a bit last night. I wasn’t too impressed with the Panthers’ running block, but it was simply a preseason game.
While I think Holmes is going to be good, I also think Gregory and Coleman are going to be beasts. I have to agree Jack Tyler could become a very good linebacker, probably in the same mold as Cody Grimm, speedy, athletic, and smart.
I asbolutely can’t wait for the opener for the Hokies. It will be a “Put Up or Shut Up” night.
UVA baseball has really grew. Expecting another good season in 2013 and maybe a really great one in 2014. Very hard to predict though because so many players leave early for pro careers. That is one of the challenges of being a top level program in any college sport though. I expect Liberty to come on really strong in College Baseball soon. Don’t know if anyone has noticed but they are building a new $10,000,000 baseball stadium. As for the Hokies I would be really worried about losing so many skill guys and having such a young line. I think they will do well but lose a few games this year and possibly a bowl loss.
Triangle Hokie brings up a great point in that closing statment. Lane Stadium does rock. Personally I think Kenan Stadium rocks too. And that’s what it’s really all about. Sure we want our teams to win and we would love to win championships but College Football is supposed to be fun. It’s supposed to be a great time on a Saturday afternoon. The hope that your team is going to be great adds to the excitment of the start of the season.
I’ve seen several national commentators that think too much pressure may be being placed on Logan Thomas, given all of the guys that are no longer on the team this year. #16 seems like a very fair ranking, given all of this.
I’d be thrilled with a top 10 finish. I’m personally expecting a finish somewhere around #15-20 (i.e., winning the division & losing in the ACC championship game). I would call it a “bad” season if they lose the division, especially if it’s lost to UVA.
Trevor….that is what I have been saying. You must be the genius in your family also. Simple as this….the jury is out on VT, let’s wait until the results of the opening game. I will then eat crow if I am on the wrong predicting end.
Where’s the Fearless Forecasters?
I was never the genius of the family, just the weird one. That said, I still think Virginia Tech have more than a fighting chance of beating Georgia Tech. It will be the strength of the Bumble Bees (offensive line) versus the strength of the Turkeys (defensive line). It as simple as that. The key, IMO, is time of possession, something that Virginia Tech is really good at (and probably was what helped beat Georgia Tech, even with the aid of the dumb penalty by Achoo). Georgia Tech is also good at managing the clock (that’s what their offense is geared to do, anyway). It’s their defense that isn’t exactly stellar, and that’s probably because they have grandpa Al Groh, somebody that UVa fans detested for a long time, and I think that Thomas is as good as advertised.
I think Virginia Tech win by a touchdown. It should be an entertaining and nerve wracking game.
So AM does Doughty have an answer for me on the UNC question for me?
O.G. — Doug tweeted that he forgot about the ineligibility thing. He’s getting a raft of you-know-what about it.
rpotts12 — I’m told the FF list will be up later today.
Barry, you’re the only one going on and on about a national championship. Nobody else here is saying that more than you.
I think VT is going to have lots of close games this year. The defense will be really good and the offense will be ok. I predict there will be at least 5 or 6 games decided by less than a touchdown and several games 3 points or closer. How they do in these real tight games will decide their fate this year. The bad thing is they won’t have to stumble maybe even just once and they won’t be in the ACC title game. It’s hard to walk on the razor’s edge all year sooner or later you fall off.
OG, don’t feel bad about the Doughty question. I asked it Sunday at 10:50 am on Andy Bitter’s blog and got no answer. At least your question a day later finally got a response.
Have to say, I’m going to miss the RK/DD banter on their weekly podcast that won’t ever appear again this fall.
CR — Doug does have his own blog (and an e-mail address and phone number) if your question about something he does/says/writes is urgent. I wouldn’t expect Andy to speak for him.
Doughty has his own blog? Yeah, sure, if you want to call it that. The title being UVA Insider kind of kills all importance, though!
However, I am severely stung by the lack of left-turn coverage we have seen today. The race at Bristol was one of the best in a very long time, and what did we get out of it here? Nuthin.’ Zip. Zilch. Zero.
Not only did Denny Hamlin pull off what he called his greatest win, but local boy Darian Grubb was on the pit box.
There was some good, old fashioned, helmet chuckin’ by Tony Stewart, and even that good looking Danica got into some finger pointing.
A couple more races like that, and NASCAR might just get it mojo back.
The NASCAR races have been better of late ever since that spectacular finish on the road course. They definitely improved Bristol but still not quite as good as the original in my opinion.
I’ll agree with Rick H… I went to Bristol both last August and this August, but I consider Saturday’s race my ‘first’ Bristol race. I’ll definitely be going back for more after that one…good times.
AMc, trust me, I understand your intent with the ‘urgent’ message, and I never post on RT.com expecting an urgent response. I learned better than that a long time ago.
I merely sought to placate OG who had posted expecting an answer, evidently. Your response to him was relatively prompt in comparison, and that was the point I was making. I take it you didn’t view that as a compliment, but that’s the way it goes.
I thought it more humorous than anything that Doughty paid so little attention in his forecasting that he forgot UNC would be shackled by restrictions. Much as you admitted your coworkers did find the same humor which resulted in the jabbing at him.
Was Justin Morrill really responsible for the creation of Va Tech? Interesting.
I hear you, CR. Just helping folks interact with the 30-year vet directly, that’s all. I’m sure you understand why Andy and I wouldn’t want to put words in his mouth.
As for NASCAR, I’m bummed that I missed that race. Sounds like the changes were just what that place needed.
I’m just happy you took the time to respond to OG’s request. Since your post I referenced was to indeed explain for the 30 yr vet, I thought I was allowed to mention my similar comment. I’ll know my place better next time, and try to restrict my clicks and comments in the meantime.
Keep the NASCAR and Lance Armstrong boring stuff off of this message board. It is ALL about football now, no one care about the other stuff. Tune in to Greg Roberts Live if you want that outdated, boring information. What I want to know is “how about dem’ Yellow Jackets?” Will they stingGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG the Hokies????
Aaron,
Shouldn’t fearless forcaster picks be up by now?
Bob — Editor told me he was going to put them up today, but he might have meant tonight…Not sure what shift he had today.
Shaun I’m glad to hear you think the Hokies may “possibly” win a bowl game that gives me hope because I would be sooooo very happy if they ever “actually” won a bowl game. It is good to read posts from a honey bees fan, that means Aaron has almost as many GT fans following his blog as show up for their home games. Don’t know if it is true or not but a friend who claims to be a GT fan said they are selling season tickets for $90.
@Steve 78 Not a GT fan but just my opinion the difference between VT winning 8 games or 10 games may be a total of 6 or 7 points. Just don’t see the offense dominating even though the defense might. I think some of the games are going to be tight and one bad play could cost Tech a game but we will see.