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-7:03 p.m., Saturday, Dec 29:

I went to both practices today. Here is my impression: The Hokies are soft!

Really.

OK, they're not soft compared to people like me -- and the vast majority of the nation -- who sit around and type things for a living. I want to make it perfectly clear that Vince Hall, no matter what he does this week, could whip my ***. ( Vince wouldn't, though, because he's a gentle soul. Right Vince?).

By compared to Kansas, the Hokies are soft. Kansas bangs. Tech glides through drills. The Jayhawks stick each other for two hours. The Hokies run and listen.

It's a difference in philosophy, and as I write in my column for tomorrow, none of us really knows which way is better. But we'll find out.

Onto the tailbacks. By now, most of you know that Branden Ore will not play in the first quarter of the Orange Bowl as punishment for showing up late to practice. While I think that's a blunder by Ore, I'll give props to Tech for disclosing it. Stuff like that could easily get swept under the rug, or excused away, but the Hokies addressed it. Good for them.

Talked to Kenny Lewis Jr. today. He's the guy who will start thanks to Ore's misstep. He said he's ready for the challenge.

“Oh yeah," he said. "Last year when Branden went down before the Wake Forest game, I started against Wake Forest and UVa. I learned on the run, basically. And now that I’ve got more plays under my belt, things are slowing down for me, so I can take what I learned back then and use that as well.”

By the way, Kansas coach Mark Mangino is nothing short of an inspiration. I'll have a story on him in the paper later in the week. But I'll also have more from the Hokies. Their top offensive players will be available tomorrow morning, along with the top defensive stars from Kansas. Stay tuned...

-10:19 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 29: Aaron McFarling here from South Florida, where I'm preparing to head to Virginia Tech's first practice with Randy King. Player availability will be hit-or-miss today, and we're not expected to have much time with them before they get started. But when I return I'll have some thoughts from players and probably coach Frank Beamer as well.

One of the big topics of conversation, I'm sure, will be Branden Ore. He's suspended for the first quarter of Thursday's Orange Bowl after showing up late to a practice. Not the kind of thing the Hokies needed, but it gives Kenny Lewis Jr. a shot to perform on the big stage.

The Jim Leyritz story was obviously front-page news here this morning. If you haven't heard, the former Yankee has been charged with DUI manslaughter and DUI with property damage after a crash early Friday morning in Fort Lauderdale that killed a wife and mother of two. Very sad story, and another reminder to be as safe as possible over the holidays.

The local TV weatherman warns that a cold front is heading to town the next few days. Could dip down into the 60s. Seriously.