2006-07 Hokie Hotline Notes for 10/23/06

The Hokie Hotline (football and basketball season)

When: Every Monday from 7:00-9:00 during football season, 7:00-8:00 during basketball season.

Where: Click here for a list of radio stations, and to find the link for listening to the show on the Internet (look to the right on the hokiesports.com page that loads when you click the link). You can also watch the archive on hokietv.com.

• Karlin said VT has come a long way since he’s been there. They used to
  take equipment to road games in the back of a pickup truck and a station
  wagon. Now they have a 25 foot Penske truck loaded to the max.
• The head set communication system that the coaches wear is worth about
  $80,000.
• The rumors that the team would be wearing all maroon on Thursday are
  false. They will be wearing traditional maroon jerseys and white pants.
• The famous all orange uniforms from 1994 are gone. The pants were sold to
  Virginia State University, and some of the Tech players from that time got
  the jerseys.
• Karlin could tell the Hokies would win against Southern Miss on Saturday
  night because of the way they acted before the game.
• Football helmets can cost as much as $200, depending on the type of
  facemask.
• Players have two different options for what type of helmet they want to
  wear. Riddell Revolution helmets, the streamlined ones with air vents on the
  top, help prevent concussions.
• Full equipment for an offensive lineman costs between $800 and $1,000.
  That doesn’t include their knee braces, which are ordered by Mike Goforth.
• The Hokies won’t be wearing any throwback uniforms, orange-sleeved
  jerseys, or orange jerseys this year.

• The new Nike deal means there will likely be a lot more availability of
  products specific to each sport. Right now Weaver can’t talk too much
  about it per the contract. It is a very lucrative deal that frees up money
  that used to be equipment money. Now sports can use that money in other
  ways, like recruiting budgets and travel budgets.
• Right now Hokies Respect will stay exactly the same until the end of the
  season. At that point they will evaluate it and determine if any changes
  need to be made.
• It’s difficult to get men’s and women’s basketball games at home on
  the same weekend for ACC play. The league sets the schedules for both
  sports.
• Roth asked Weaver his opinions on how the Miami-FIU brawl was handled.
  Weaver said, “I’m obviously smart enough not to be critical of a sister
  institution in our conference.”
• Weaver went on to applaud how FIU handed the situation. It’s very easy
  to sit in judgment when you aren’t in the middle of the issue. If any Tech
  players are ever involved in a brawl, then they are sitting for a minimum of
  five games.
• John Swofford will have some kind of a proposal for the ADs to look at in
  Jacksonville in early December. Weaver would prefer that each school be
  under the same regulation when it comes to fights and brawls.
• Schools and coaches can talk about future coaching jobs right now through
  agents and attorneys.
• Television dictates when opposing teams run out on the field. Sometimes
  coaches ignore the TV guys and take their team out whenever they feel like
  it.
• Assistant coaches’ contracts are very different. Some are multi year,
  some are single year. Some run through June, others through January. VT’s
  assistants’ contracts go through June, and raises take effect on January 1.

• The Hokies played well on Saturday. The kicking game was great, the
  running game was cranked up and the defense played well. The execution was
  good in each phase of the game.
• Beamer thought Carlton Powell’s sack should have been a safety. But
  overall, that officiating crew did a great job, particularly in pacing the
  game, which Beamer joked was “too quick” a couple of times. They
  were from the Big Ten.
• Branden Ore is doing a really nice job. He is being a leader. The rest of
  the team really respects him and knows that he’ll always run hard.
• Beamer said he thinks Clemson is the best team that the Hokies have played
  since Auburn in the Sugar Bowl. C.J. Spiller is like Reggie Bush,
  unfortunately for the Hokies.
• Will Proctor is doing a good job. He’s an accurate thrower. They are
  really good up front and they have good, experienced kickers.
• Clemson reminds Beamer of USC with LenDale White and Reggie Bush. The
  offensive line has been together for a long time.
• To stop Clemson, the Hokies have to be very disciplined in protecting
  their gaps. Clemson runs the zone running play quite a bit, and James Davis
  and Spiller know how to find the holes in the defense.
• Cary Wade played well against Southern Miss. Aaron Rouse played well also
  and will start this week, but Wade will continue to get playing time.
• The Hokies haven’t decided how they are going to use Ike Whitaker on
  Thursday. He can do some things, but the coaching staff has to make sure
  they use him correctly.
• It is an advantage to play at home during a short week. Its tough to
  prepare on such short notice, but Clemson has to travel as well.
• The first thing the Hokies have to worry about on Thursday is stopping the
  running game. They need to try and get pressure on the quarterback as well.
• Ryan Shuman played a great football game on Saturday. He was the offensive
  player of the game. He really elevated his game and took steps towards
  getting better.
• Xavier Adibi and Vince Hall both practiced on Monday. They look like they
  will be ready to roll on Thursday. Justin Harper was limited in practice,
  and he is questionable for Thursday.
• Right now the Hokies aren’t concerned about trick plays. They are
  concerned about getting the offense ready fundamentally. Then they’ll
  worry about putting some trick plays in the game. They do have the personnel
  for trick plays. They could potentially put Greg Boone and Cory Holt on the
  field together, and both are former quarterbacks.
• Sean Glennon got rid of the ball quicker against Southern Miss. He also
  did a good job running with the ball when no one was open. He’s done a lot
  of good things.
• The staff has thought about using Greg Boone as a running back during
  short yardage situations. But right now they don’t want to fill his mind
  with too much stuff. They’d like to get him going a little better at tight
  end before thinking about running back.

Monday was Day 695 of Virginia Tech’s continuous possession of the Commonwealth Cup.