Michael Cole won’t play this week; Tech-UVa kickoff to be announced after this week’s games
Safety Michael Cole is not expected to play against Boston College this week after suffering a scary neck injury in Virginia Tech’s 28-22 loss to Florida State last Thursday.
His situation going forward remains unclear. Team trainers and doctors will meet with Cole and his family this afternoon to go over his test results, a team spokesman said.
Cole, a Cave Spring grad, stayed down at the end of a play in the third quarter against the Seminoles, lying motionless on the field. As the Lane Stadium crowd came to a hush, he was immobilized on a spine board and taken to the hospital as a precaution after experiencing numbness in his upper extremities. He maintained consciousness throughout.
A CT scan did not show a fracture but he was diagnosed with a cervical neck sprain. The hospital discharged him that night. He had full feeling in all of his extremities, although he was advised to wear a cervical collar for support.
Head coach Frank Beamer said Cole stopped by the office Friday and was “in good spirits.” The situation Thursday was difficult to go through as a coach, though.
“Very concerning,” Beamer said. “No matter what team it is, whether it’s your team or somebody else’s, you really don’t want to see that. And for it to be one of your own, and a kid that football means this much to, really cares about Virginia Tech and really cares about performing, your heart goes out for him.”
It’s unclear how the Hokies will adjust their nickel coverage with Cole out. Freshman Desmond Frye, who has had extremely limited playing time this year, took his place against FSU. Beamer said he “is a kid with a lot of ability.” He also said cornerback Donovan Riley, another freshman who notched his first career interception against the Seminoles, could be in the mix as well.
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Here are a few more notes and quotes from Beamer’s Monday teleconference …
- Beamer said the staff will sit and talk about what they’ll do with the whip linebacker position. Senior Alonzo Tweedy started there last week in place of redshirt freshman Ronny Vandyke and had an active night, with six tackles and one and a half tackles for a loss. ”He flies around there and is very athletic, very good when he’s stunting,” Beamer said.
- Michael Holmes had an undisclosed injury that he was dealing with last week, Beamer said. That’s why he didn’t get in the game. Beamer thinks the redshirt freshman will be good to play against Boston College but added that he thought J.C. Coleman (16 carries, 41 yards) and Tony Gregory (8 carries, 19 yards) ran hard when they were in the game, despite meager stats against FSU’s stout rushing defense.
- Regarding Tech’s two-minute defense before the half and at the end of the game, when the Seminoles scored two crucial touchdowns, Beamer again said it comes down to execution. “We’ve just got to play the coverage and play it well, play it better,” he said. “That’s pretty much it. We got there and are trying to play coverage, trying to pressure them a little bit, and just end up not executing what we needed to do.”
- Redshirt freshman receiver Demitri Knowles is going to get in the game “more and more,” Beamer said. “I think he’s a threat,” Beamer added. “I think he’s getting better each and every week. I think even though he hasn’t played a lot of football, he does things very naturally, catching the ball. So we’re going to work on getting him in there quite a bit these next couple weeks.” Knowles had two catches for 43 yards against FSU.
- Beamer said Tech will revisit its kickoff situation too. Since freshman Brooks Abbott took over for Michael Branthover, the Hokies have struggled with their coverage. UNC’s Sean Tapley returned a kick for a touchdown. Miami’s Duke Johnson had an 81-yard return. FSU’s Lamarcus Joyner had a 42-yarder. “We need hang time and we need distance,” Beamer said. “And one or the other for sure. We’re getting in between right now.”
- With Branthover doing kickoffs, Tech got seven touchbacks in 14 attempts and opponents started on their own 17-yard line on average. With Abbott, the Hokies have nine touchbacks in 39 attempts, with opponents starting at their own 33-yard line on average.
ESPN exercised its option for a 6-day hold again on the Nov. 24 games, meaning the kickoff time and channel for the Virginia Tech-Virginia game at Lane Stadium won’t be announced until after this week’s slate of games, on Sunday morning at the latest.
Here are the times it did announce today:
Saturday, November 24
- Georgia Tech at Georgia, ESPN, Noon
- Florida at Florida State, ABC,ESPN or ESPN2*, 3:30 pm
- South Carolina at Clemson, ESPN or ESPN2*, 7 p.m.
- Boston College at NC State, TBA*
- Miami at Duke, TBA*
- Maryland at North Carolina, TBA*
- Virginia at Virginia Tech, TBA *
- Vanderbilt at Wake Forest, TBA*
*Game times and networks to be announced no later than by noon on Sunday, Nov. 18.
November 12, 2012 - 1:00 PM
Why did it take so long to finally make a decision about the kickoff game. Also what is there to talk about regarding the whip position. Tweedy looked better than the other candidates at the position this year. Unless the talk involves changing the responsibility of the position
Vote here.
Tech fans would rather lose to Boston College and defeat UVA if we could only win one remaining game?
YES or NO
My vote is a great big YES, even though we would not be bowl eligible.
The talk at whip probably involves whether to play a senior these last two games or throw a lot of the playing time to a redshirt freshman who will be the guy there next year.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Tweedy at Safety next year. I’ve got the same question about the KO’s. I saw how it suppose to work this weekend, U kick it high between the GL & 5 and tackle the returner between the 15 & 25. Tech’s coverage was never fast enough or competent enough to do that. I don’t think Beamer spends enough time to really evaluate whats going on with the special teams until he sees the lackluster results during the game.
Next year or next game? Tweedy’s a fifth-year senior. Won’t be here next year.
Here’s hoping Cole recovers fully, the important thing is NOT football, it’s the health of a young man. Nothing is gained by rushing back in an attempt to help ‘the team’. As for Demetri Knowles, it’s really nice that ten games into a twelve game season Frank notices that he has talent. Whatever we do, though, let’s not minimize the playing time of that warrior, Marcus Davis.
Here’s a video clip on YouTube that shows how bad Marcus Davis is on run blocking. He’s an effing joke and the worse player I have seen. http://t.co/dU4Kitc3
How he remains #1 on the depth chart absolutely mystifies me.
I have been wondering why Tweedy haven’t been on the field all year long. His speed, coverage, and overall contribution could have made some difference in some game. Oh let me think…how about in the Cincinnati game? He could have helped with containing Munchie.
Knowles may be raw, but damned if he doesn’t make it up with effort and heart. Sometime that is all they need.
http://247sports.com/Board/59457/Tony-Franklin-13769453/1
Tony Franklin rumor, Blacksburg bound?
Marcus Davis is lazy, and a candy ass. The u tube really showes how much he doesn’t care. Bench him and then say goodbye! Can’t believe Beamer is just seeing the poor kick offs. What a waste of a season.
That’s funny, Crooked….”WARRIOR” marcus davis. LMAO!!!! Perfect!
pete
Beautiful clip, Trevor! What a ‘SUPERFREAK’ knocked out solid receiver…they should:
1. Fire his position coach
2. Sit his sorry ass down and develop the younger players. Fuller has turned into the best receiver we have.(sixth round draft) And Knowles is gonna be mighty good. Next year….
Next year…..
next…
did you know davis has an 80″ vert?
p
Someone needs to teach Marcus Davis how to block. Some eyes outside of Blacksburg are taking notice. Take a peek.
http://deadspin.com/5959914?utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_twitter&utm_source=deadspin_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow
As previously posted by Dawg, Andy can you ask Coach Sherman, Stinespring and any others about the DeadSpin article? I’m willing to bet a similar clip could be made for every game. What kind of statement are we making when we allow a gifted player who doesn’t bust his tail to play such a significant role on the team? It’s like Deanglo Hall all over again.
Article: http://deadspin.com/5959914/virginia-tech-receiver-marcus-davis-doesnt-feel-like-blocking-ever
I’m with you guys. All we’ve heard is M. Davis has amazing athletic ability. It’s kind of hard to see when he’s standing around watching the guy he was supposed to block making a tackle. Playing wide receiver means a lot more than running and catching. Ask misters Boykin and Coale.