Chaney Not Cleared by Tech

Allan Chaney will not be cleared to play basketball at Virginia Tech, the
school announced on Wednesday. That decision has been expected for months, and
unfortunately for Chaney, his career as a Hokie is now over before he ever set
foot on the court.

A 6-9, 235 transfer from Florida, Chaney was eligible for the 2010-11 season
and was expected to start at power forward. However, he collapsed on the court
in April of 2010 and was diagnosed with mycarditis, which is a viral
inflammation of the heart wall. After months of consultations, Virginia Tech
denied him clearance to play on Wednesday.

“Allan Chaney has been through a great deal in the last year and a half,” head coach Seth Greenberg said in a prepared statement. “Everyone involved in our basketball program feels for him. Unfortunately, this rare condition will prevent him from continuing his career here at Virginia Tech. We will do everything in our power to assist Allan as he goes through his next procedure and support him in every way possible.”

If another school clears Chaney to play, it is expected that Virginia Tech
will provide him with an unconditional release from his scholarship.

Virginia Tech true freshman tailback Michael Holmes has been cleared to play
by the NCAA. Holmes began practicing on Tuesday and will try to compete for the
#3 tailback spot on Virginia Tech’s depth chart.

Holmes was a prolific runner for Harrisonburg High School, putting up 2,877
rushing yards and 41 touchdowns as a senior. As a junior, he ran for over 2,700
yards. Listed at 5-11, 212, he has the size to contribute immediately.

With r-freshman tailback Dominique Patterson out with a sprained ankle,
Holmes might get the opportunity to play right away.

Virginia Tech fans will get their first opportunity to see the Hokies in
action this Saturday. Tech will hold an open scrimmage in Lane Stadium at 4pm.
Another scrimmage will be held the next Saturday, August 20, at 2pm.

Saturday’s scrimmage will begin to solidify Tech’s depth chart for the
upcoming season, and it will also be used as a gauge to determine which true
freshmen will be capable of contributing this season.

Some of the true freshmen competing for playing time are defensive tackle
Luther Maddy, defensive end Corey Marshall, rover Boye Aromire, free safety
Ronny Vandyke, rover Michael Cole, and others.

It’s also a very important scrimmage for other players competing for a spot
on the depth chart. Those players include defensive tackles Isaiah Hamlette and
Dwight Tucker, and defensive ends Zack McCray and Duan Perez-Means.