By Andrew P. Napolitano
The president's men trash the Constitution to pursue antagonists
Independent voices from the TWT Communities
Coach Frank Beamer and his staff felt like they have had their class of 18 recruits wrapped up for some time, and even their worst season in 20 years followed by wholesale changes to his offensive coaching staff didn't cost the Hokies players they wanted.
A trip to Florida hasn't moved the Virginia Tech football program away from rumors that changes will be made to the coaching staff after this week's bowl game.
Frank Beamer has been the face of the Virginia Tech football program for 26 years. Not that Michael Holmes noticed.
Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas sat out about half of Saturday's football scrimmage with a tired throwing arm, but one of his top receiving targets put in his first full day of work in months.
Sometimes in football practice, junior cornerback Antone Exum just wants to ask the Virginia Tech offense to give him a minute.
J.C. Coleman didn't wait to hear from the trainers or coaches. After suffering a fracture in his right hand during practice Friday, Coleman made it clear he'd be available to participate full speed in Saturday's Virginia Tech football scrimmage at Lane Stadium.
Shane Beamer stood staring out over the field, a headset covering his ears and a football playbook spread open before him. He called plays to an assistant below on the field and his players lined up and ran them.
When Virginia defeated Texas in the 1995 Sugar Bowl, offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring remembers the jubilant mood in the locker room, punctuated by the coach's speech.
David Wilson ran up and down the field with abandon. His uniform was crisp and new with traces of burgundy and gold.
Somewhere at his house, probably stuffed in a box, Mike O’Cain has a playbook for the 1981 Murray State football team. O’Cain was 27 years old and four years removed from graduation day at Clemson when he pulled on his headsets and called plays for the first time that season.
Hokies recruiting coordinator Bryan Stinespring said Hodges will benefit greatly from having Thomas around as a mentor for a year.
"Vince Hall just had a knack of being around the football and making plays around the football. And Andrew has that same knack. The ball is snapped, all of a sudden you look up and there's Andrew. Like he's dialed in, got a GPS on the football. He plays the run well. He's a very good blitzer," Stinespring said.
