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 see the show in person at Awful Arthur’s in Blacksburg, and you can also watch the archive on hokietv.com.
Hokie Hotline Notes, sponsored by Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech
The
Pete Dye River Course golf shop and driving range are open daily, and an
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Jim Weaver
- Virginia Tech kept communications open with several MAC teams, especially
those without a 1-AA game like Miami of Ohio. If Miami of Ohio could find a
1-AA school to play, they would drop Western Kentucky, freeing them up for
the Hokies. Virginia Tech did not want to play two 1-AA teams. - Weaver had conversations with dozens of schools to try and fill the open
date. When you agree to schedule someone, it means you want to play them,
and they want to play you. Weaver has had a difficult time finding teams who
want to come to Lane Stadium. 
Weaver
talked to Central Florida, but they opted to play Boston College instead of
Virginia Tech. George O’Leary has a summer home near Coach Beamer, and they
really don’t like playing each other.- Weaver talked to UTEP, Utah, Louisiana Tech and Rutgers. Rutgers still
needs a game, but they didn’t want to come to Blacksburg. - Terry Holland brought up the idea of playing one game in the Tech-ECU
series in Charlotte. Weaver was for it for a number of reasons. He would
rather play four games in Blacksburg, three in Greenville and one in
Charlotte than four in Blacksburg and four in Greenville. - Playing the game in Charlotte also helps recruiting purposes. Tech and
East Carolina will share the expenses and share the revenue. They try to
have seven home games every year. This year they only have six, but this
gave them to opportunity to have 6.5 home games. That will help the budget
situation. - The ticket price for the ECU game will be $55.
- The Yankees made a site visit to Blacksburg on Friday. The game will be at
3pm on March 18. 3,000 seats will be available to students by lottery. 1,000
seats will be available to faculty and staff by lottery. They are working on
television throughout the Commonwealth. - They are creating seating terraces down the left field line. There will be
2,200 temporary seats down the first base line. Capacity will be a little
over 5,000 people for the game.
Seth Greenberg
- Greenberg was concerned with two things heading into the Miami game: Jack
McClinton and rebounding. At times, Miami physically overpowered Tech. Deron
did a good job on McClinton, but he just made some very tough three-pointers
in the face of great defense in the second half. - Tech helped off Ed Rios, and he made them pay. His three-pointers were
much more shocking than McClinton’s, obviously. - Tech didn’t have a consistent sense of urgency to get stops they way they
need to. They had a few empty offensive possessions as well. - It’s not Greenberg’s place to evaluate the officiating. However, there are
always a few plays you want back. He’s more concerned with what he can
control. That said, there are some officials in this league who sometimes
think they are bigger than the game. You just have to deal with it. - Deron still isn’t completely over his illness. He was really struggling
with it on Sunday, but Monday was a little better. He had to take an IV
before the game on Saturday. He did a nice job defensively, but it’s tough
for him offensively right now. - Victor Davila is going to be able to contribute next year. He’s got great
hands, and he’s got great lower body strength. He’s got a pretty good low
post package. 
Greenberg
should have gone with Lewis Witcher against NC State. He played great
against UVA, but Cheick was a bit down on his playing time, so his gut told
him to start Diakite. He probably should have empowered Witcher a bit more
early in that game.- Tyler Hansbrough is a beast. He plays harder than everybody else. His
steal at half court against Clemson shows what he’s all about. He’s very
strong, and he’s relentless. Tech must match his intensity and toughness. - Greenberg looks at Clemson like he looked at Tech’s team last year. They
have three very important seniors. They have experience. - The Dean Dome is a tough place to play, and it’s not just the UNC players.
You are playing all those banners and trophies. It can be intimidating. - Everyone has an off week, and this week is Tech’s off week. The off week
would be great if Greenberg could pick their next opponent. It’s a good time
to get some rest. Monday was an off day for the players, except for weight
lifting. - Greenberg spent Monday coming up with a three week master plan about how
they are going to approach the last three weeks of the season. They are
going to look at how to guard not only UNC, but also Maryland, Georgia Tech,
etc. They are going to work on their press offense quite a bit. Tuesday and
Wednesday will be big picture stuff. - Tech is going to try to get a little more committed to their principles.
They are over-rotating a bit too much at times. They have to get Jeff Allen
to defend the post a little more consistently. - Offensively, they will work on changing from transition to half court
offense. They also need to be more committed to setting screens and staying
with them longer. There is a three week plan, and they put it in their
calendar today. - J.T. Thompson is playing at a very high level. He’s aggressive and he’s
got bounce. They need to get Dorenzo Hudson going. In fact, that is
Greenberg’s mini-project for the week, to empower Hudson. They will meet
each day this week. - To make the NCAA tournament would take nine ACC wins and a win in the ACC
tournament. That is Seth’s gut feeling. - Greenberg is very pleased with the students. They have been magnificent.
It’s been exciting to create the Cassell atmosphere over the last four
years. - Seth is concerned about Senior Night. It is over Spring Break, when the
students won’t be in town. Everybody really needs to show up to support
Deron and Marcus Travis. - Three things are important against Carolina: defensive transition,
rebounding, and defending Hansbrough. He’s not a great passer out of double
teams. The Hokies will have to make him work.
Monday was Day 1,171 of Virginia Tech’s continuous possession of the
Commonwealth Cup.
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