2006-07 Hokie Hotline Notes for 12/28/06

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.

• Glennon thinks he tried to make too many big plays earlier in the year. As he got more experience, he learned to take what the defense gave him, and that big plays would come.
• Georgia’s defense is very good. They run similar schemes to Tech’s defense. It’s beneficial scrimmaging the #1 defense in the nation in practice.
• The offense has to capitalize on opportunities against Georgia. If the defense or special teams gives them field position, they have to put points on the board.
• For the most part, the Hokies will be using the same plays they have used all year against Georgia. There may be a wrinkle or two, but nothing crazy.
• Georgia is very experienced up front. Their defensive backs try to create turnovers. So they are very similar to Tech’s defense. They thrive on turnovers and are aggressive. Tech has to be effective in the running game.
• Third down plays will be critical. The Hokies can’t have a lot of three and outs. They need to win the field position game, and also keep Georgia’s defense on the field to try to wear them down.

• The Gator Bowl was big for Flowers after Jimmy Williams got ejected. It gave him a lot of confidence heading into 2006.
• Sometimes he wonders why opponents keep throwing it his way, but you just have to go out and make plays when they do. You have to be physical in Tech’s defense.
• Torrian Gray has been great. It’s fun playing for him. He taught a lot of new techniques that he learned with the Bears, and that’s why the Hokies are #1 in the nation in pass defense.
• Flowers is looking forward to matching up with Georgia wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi.
• It’s going to be fun playing in the Georgia Dome where so many former Tech players currently play. It’s going to be great with all the Tech fans.

• Flowers drove from Delray Beach, Florida to see his son Brandon play every game. It’s a 12 hour drive.
• Willie played defensive back at junior college and at Florida State. Willie knew Brandon could play, and he knew that sending him to Hargrave would give him the right exposure. Willie paid over $20,000 so that Flowers could get the best opportunity to perform.
• Brandon works very hard. Willie always served as his toughest critic, and taught him work ethic. He loves to watch him play.
• Willie is glad Brandon ended up in Blacksburg. Minnesota recruited him, and Willie’s first thought was, “I’ve got to drive all the way to Minnesota!”

• Clowney said he is loving the Hokie Nation in Atlanta. It feels good to feel that kind of support on the road.
• He isn’t sure how he didn’t score a touchdown during the season, but he hopes to atone for it in the bowl game.
• There are plenty of catches to go around. Clowney said he is happy to help the team win by just throwing blocks. The wide receivers aren’t selfish, and they are a very tight group.
• Time has flown by. But the time has come to move on. He graduated a semester early, and hopes he can play on Sundays.
• Playing in a bowl game is fun because the players are always together. They can’t always be together in Blacksburg because of class and things, but they are all together in Atlanta.
• The Hokies need to just play Virginia Tech football to win the Chick-fil-A Bowl. And he needs to score a touchdown or two.

• It’s amazing to be mentioned among all the top defenses in the country. A lot of hard work in the offseason and the season made it all happen.
• Bud Foster and the coaches do a great job, and the defense loves playing football together and going to the football.
• The team realizes how great the defense can be next year. They have almost everybody coming back. But right now they are worried about Georgia.
• Georgia has a lot of good skill position players, but so do the Hokies. Adibi and the defense are ready to go out and put on a show.
• It will be loud on Saturday night, but that won’t change how the defense plays. They are used to loud crowds. After the games in Blacksburg, the defensive players talk about how loud the crowd was, not the game.
• Matthew Stafford, the Georgia quarterback, is playing well right now. But he’s still a freshman, and they need to make him play like a freshman.
• It’s fun playing next to Vince Hall. He’s a character on and off the field. Brenden Hill had an excellent year. He was really the missing link on the defense, and he stepped up.
• It’s great having his brother Nathaniel around. Nathaniel always has something to say to Xavier when he comes off the field.

Thursday was Day 761 of Virginia Tech’s continuous possession of the Commonwealth Cup.