Check out our 2012 college football preview section
Our college football preview section came out in today’s paper, with this pretty cool photo of Bruce Taylor, Kyle Fuller and James Gayle on the cover.
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You can read the entire thing online in two parts, here and here.
Some of the stories inside include:
* The first link has my main Virginia Tech story, which focuses on the defense and if it’s capable of being mentioned in the same breath as some of the great Hokies groups of the past.
* My secondary Tech story on wide receiver Marcus Davis attempting to finally tap his vast potential in his senior season.
* Aaron McFarling‘s column about if the Hokies can get their offense and defense to both be good in the same year.
* Mark Berman‘s story on the upcoming four-team playoff format and if that will suit the ACC well.
* Berman’s story on whether or not college players should receive stipends beyond their scholarships.
* National previews, Heisman picks, games to watch and Berman’s Washington & Lee/Ferrum previews.
* The second link takes you to Doug Doughty‘s UVa stuff on Perry Jones and the Cavaliers trying to prove 2011 was no fluke.
* It also has predictions, ACC team capsules, players to watch and Randy King‘s VMI preview.
August 26, 2012 - 9:32 AM
I trust everyone saw that Coale played in the Cowboy’s game last night. He did OK.
Marcus Davis’ weakness has never been his physicality, it has always been his lack of mental focus. If Marcus Davis had Cody Grimm’s or Danny Coale’s determination, he’d be a top ten NFL draft pick and a college All America star.
As it is, he’s just a workout warrior who has yet to prove anything. This is his last chance. Let’s see if he can focus on trying to excel for fourteen games in a row. I remain skeptical. It would be nice to see, but his past history points the other way. This is his chance to turn it around. His QB and his team need him to step up.
Either Doug Doughty is unaware that UNC is ineligible for the ACC CG, or he just wanted to be a contrarian. Someone might want to edit his predictions…
Marcus Davis have the potential to be the kind of a deep threat receiver, like the grab he made against Virginia on a long bomb from Thomas, but for some reason, he can’t seem to stay consistent. This season, as crooked road so eloquently put it, is his time to shine.
I think the defense could be as good as the national championship runner-up team were, but for that to happen, they will need to be very aggressive, clamping down on run defense, pass defense, and generally be sack happy team. The defensive line is deep, they have no excuse to not to make the opponent’s back field their home address, and they should be able to provide plenty of headache for offensive coordinators. What bears watching are the health of the secondary. I hope the back ups are ready to play if they are summoned.
I have a somewhat tempered excitement that the offense could finally break the stigmatization of the offense’s woe of years past.
Only one more week to go before the Hokies take on the Bumble Bees to the delight and roar of the Hokies Faithful.
Ah, Danny Coale… one of the brightest stars in Virginia Tech’s lore. I found a video tribute of him. Classy guy, hard worker, and clearly very athletic.
I noticed the thunderstorm motif throughout- while I concur that indeed God is a Hokie, I am glad I did not see any corresponding references to Lee Corso and lightning…
Man, that would have been a great game back then!
Seven days and a wake-up!! Go HOKIES!!
Thank you Roanoke Times. That cover art is now my computer desktop background. Epic!!!
I think the criticism of Marcus Davis is unfair. He’s had two guys in front of him in Coale and Boykin ever since he’s been at Tech. There’s not but so many balls to go around with those two in the lineup. Two guys who happen to be number one and number two all-time in receiving. Davis hasn’t been on the field enough to be judged as inconsistent or lacking mental effort. If this were his 3rd year starting it would be a different story. One thing is agreed upon, this is his year and I would not be surprised if single season receiving records belong to Davis come December. @gtbowyer
Marcus Davis physical attributes far exceeded those of both of the players who were in front of him in playing time. His weakness has always been his focus, those 6″ between his ears. His past three seasons, after his redshirt freshman year, have shown how inconsistent he is, even when given the opportunity. Logan Thomas clearly enjoys connecting with him, given the opportunity. All the excuses are gone now. It’s make or break, and it is all on Marcus Davis. Let’s hope he accomplishes what he didn’t his first three seasons on the field. In his senior season, he’ll essentially need to better the cumulative of his first three years at the minimum. That’s what the team needs, at the minimum.