COLLEGIATETIMES
june 11, 2009
what’s inside News.............2 Features ........6 0pinions........5 Sports ...........9 Classifieds ...11 Sudoku........11 106th year issue 61 blacksburg, va.
Virginia’s De-Creigh: Deeds the nominee 2009 Virginia Democratic primary election results by county
Moran
McAuliffe
Deeds
SARA MITCHELL/COLLEGIATE TIMES
PHILLIP MURILLAS & ZACH CRIZER
ct news staff Creigh Deeds, Virginia senator from the 25th district, secured the Democratic gubernatorial candidacy for Virginia with 50 percent of the votes. Opponents Terry McAuliffe and Brian Moran split the remaining votes with 26 percent and 23 percent respectively. “We’re one step closer to moving Virginia forward, one step closer to providing education for all Virginians, and one step closer to having a governor who’s committed to green
energy and green jobs,” said Brooke Borkenhagen, communications director for the Deeds campaign. In addition to doing well in the rural part of Virginia always considered friendliest to the candidate, Deeds produced wins in Fairfax County, Richmond suburbs, and the Hampton Roads area. Deeds had been lagging in the polls behind McAuliffe and Moran until an endorsement by the Washington Post in late May. He surged ahead 14 points in Sunday’s Public Policy Polling report. Deeds’ staff paid attention to the polls, but stayed “entirely focused”
on primary day. “We’ve been underestimated this entire campaign,” Borkenhagen said. “We’re going to peak twice, once on June 9 and again on November 4.” Deeds will move on to face Republican nominee for governor, Bob McDonnell, who officially accepted the nomination in February. “Larry Sabato said Creigh Deeds is the nominee who makes it nearly impossible for Bob McDonnell to win,” Borkenhagen said. “He’s got a plan to beat Bob McDonnell.” In the race for lieutenant governor, Jody Wagner won with nearly 74.22 percent of the vote.
Hard hats required around campus ZACH CRIZER & ELIZABETH GUZA
ct news staff A lack of students during the summer is giving the campus a chance to reload with numerous construction projects. University spokesman Mark Owczarski said the many construction projects show growth in the university as a whole. “What that says is that Virginia Tech really is growing and growing well,” Owczarski said. “Really in the last five to ten years, as the campus
has changed, there have been a lot of alumni over the years who don’t recognize the place.” He said new projects are a sign that quality of education and quality of life on campus are being improved. “People believe in Virginia Tech,” Owczarski said. “And as a result of that it’s growing.”
Graduate Life Center Using funding from the Class of 2009 and the Class of 1959, Virginia Tech’s Graduate School is adding a new public gathering place on campus. Graduate Life Center Plaza and
Amphitheater will soon occupy the space between the GLC, Squires Student Center and the University Bookstore. Graduate School Dean Karen DePauw said the project is meant to make the GLC a center for campus activities. “It is a space for people to interact, be part of the community,” DePauw said. “Everyone will be able to use the area. Graduate Life Center just identifies the area. It’s for everybody.” DePauw herself came up with the idea for the project. She “envisioned a
Primary fails to make splash in lives of most Virginia citizens SARA MITCHELL
editor-in-chief There was a crowd Tuesday outside the Gilbert Linkous Elementary School library, the polling location for precinct G2. “What’s going on in there?” asked a blonde girl in the crowd of grade-schoolers peering into their library. Not very much, on this Democratic primary election day. The number of voters at any given time rarely outnumbered the election officers present at any Blacksburg precinct. With donuts and magazines within reach, election officers sat back for a day of historically low turnouts. “It’s unfortunate how low it is,” said Drusilla Gotow, the chief election officer at precinct F2 at Blacksburg Middle School. In 2005, during a dual primary for the gubernatorial candidates, there was a 2.22 percent turnout across Montgomery County for the Democratic election and barely higher for the Republican. This year, however, the total
see CONSTRUCTION, page three
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Montgomery County turnout was 5 percent. These numbers, though increased, are still one-tenth of what comes to the booths in November. “We, as election officials, have always encouraged the parties to have conventions,” said Randy Wertz of the Montgomery County registrar. With historically low primary turnouts, the June elections end up being very expensive. “When you consider the amount of money that’s going to be spent to put things on, it’s going to end up about $3,000 per vote,” Wertz said. “It’s wasting tax dollar money.” This year, the Virginian Republican Party nominated Bob McDonnell, who officially accepted the nomination May 30. Tim Murtaugh of the Republican Party of Virginia said that the RPV did not encourage anyone to vote in the primary because “it goes against our view.” Nominating a candidate
see TURNOUT, page three
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collegiatetimes.com june 11, 2009
NEWS
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News in Brief Morva appeals death penalty to Virginia courts An appeal for William Morva was made to the Virginia Supreme Court on Thursday, June 4. Morva’s attorney claimed that the trial judge was wrong in refusing the testimony of an expert witness on
the subject of Morva’s threat level if he was sent to prison, reported the Associated Press. Morva is on death row for killing a Montgomery Regional Hospital guard and a deupty sheriff in August 2006. The latter was shot on the Huckleberry trail.
Tech and IBM partner for research facility A new research facility being developed by Virginia Tech, IBM and Arlington County will focus on managing catastrophic events and advising government officials. The Center for Community Security and Resilience will be located in the
Ballston section of Arlington, in a new facility that is under construction. It could be up and running by fall 2009, but the facility will not be fully ready by that time. The facility, located at the corner of North Glebe Road and Wilson Boulevard, is to be completed in January 2011.
Virginia 4-H Congress to convene on Tech campus The 89th annual 4-H State Congress will bring over 600 visitors to Virginia Tech from June 15-18. A university press release said the group’s mission is to teach important life lessons to youth between the age of 5 and 19.
from page one
different use of that space” and felt that it was previously not well used. Students, faculty, and others who would like to put their name on the new amphitheater may purchase pavers. These stones will be engraved with a message and made a part of the amphitheater itself. Lynn Eichhorn, executive director of University Planning, Design and Construction, said the project would begin in August. Construction costs are estimated at $300,000. The grand opening of the space is scheduled for October.
Shultz Hall Shultz Hall is already surrounded by construction crews. Eichhorn said the project is not the beginning of the arts center, but improvements to infrastructure. She said the work at Shultz involves replacement of the main sewer line. The work has been coordinated with the plans for the Center for the Arts, but is independent of that project. The project is scheduled for completion in early August.
Henderson Hall Patty Raun, theatre department head, said the building would be showcased to the community in late October. “The grand opening is going to be around the last weekend in October,” Raun said. “We’re going to have a big
alumni celebration, and university and community open house.” Eichhorn said the Henderson Hall renovation will be complete in midJuly and the Theatre Department will be completely moved in by July 20th. The department will have full use of the building to begin the fall semester. Raun said the new location offers the department a chance to interact with Blacksburg and improve the quality of productions. “We also look forward to having that location right on the seam of downtown, the bridge, in a way, between the university and the community so that when we do our theatre research we have perhaps a more physical, more welcoming front door for our explorations,” Raun said. She also said the building is more versatile than its current home. “It’s a more usable space than we have had in the Performing Arts Building,” Raun said. “Our research will be more possible to accomplish.”
COURTESY OF GRADUATE SCHOOL
Plans for the soon to be constructed Graduate Life Center Plaza include an amphitheatre and small cafe.
New Hall West Virginia Tech’s newest residence hall will be completed in late July. New Hall West, located on West Campus Drive, near the Career Services Building and Harper Hall, will be turned over to users on July 27. While the building was begun prior to Tech developing plans for LEED certification, the new hall will have environmental upgrades over other dorms.
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Construction: Multiple projects take shape
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Eichhorn said the building uses low flow plumbing throughout the building and high quality windows and insulation. However, no luxury is lost. Eichhorn said it is distinguished from other residence halls by several factors. Each resident will have their own bathroom, and each student room will have individual heating and air condi-
tioning controls. Eichhorn said high quality accent materials such as granite countertops are also a new feature of New Hall West. Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs personnel will occupy the first floor of the hall. Occupancy will be 263, with a full student kitchen on the third floor and laundry in the basement.
Washington Street One of Tech’s major roads is also undergoing renovation this summer. Washington Street will be closed periodically to demolish and remove outdated steam piping and replace it with larger diameter pipes. The renovations are aimed at providing increased capacity to the life sciences portion of campus.
Turnout: Parties hold different view on use of primary elections from page one
decide, not the party. “There may be more costs, but it’s true to the principle,” Moore said. Moore is a DJ with WUVT-FM 90.7, which is part of the Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech, which owns the Collegiate Times. Joyce Bowling, a Blacksburg resident who voted at Luther Memorial Church on Price’s Fork Road, said that she couldn’t think of a fairer way to give everyone the chance to vote, but suggested that maybe the state could run primaries in a cheaper fashion. Hugh Van Landingham, chief election officer at Gilbert Linkous, said that the Democratic Party should be responsible for some of the costs. For Murtaugh, the Republican convention builds party unity. With the 8,000 delegates who voted McDonnell in the convention, “everybody moves forward and everyone is singing from the same sheet of music.” He pointed to the November election as the time where the people will have the opportunity to elect the best candidate, but the party’s candidate should be a decision made by the party.
collegiatetimes.com june 11, 2009
through a convention “saves the candidates from spending valuable resources on advertising and campaign efforts,” Murtaugh said. McDonnell stepped down as Virginia attorney general in February and has since concentrated on his campaign. The Democratic Party of Virginia sees value in a primary election. “It makes them battle-tested,” said DPV Communications Director Jared Leopold. Leopold said that Deeds, McAuliffe, and Moran used the primary campaign as a chance to speak and evolve as candidates, as the three candidates took part in a series of debates together around the state. Despite the low turnouts, Leopold said the DPV sees value in the primary’s ability to give the people the opportunity to choose their candidate. “It’s the proper democratic thing to do,” he said. Alan Moore, the assistant precinct chief at Blacksburg Middle School, said that the Democrats were using the democratic model of having the people
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NEWS
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Medical school meets preliminary standards SARA MITCHELL
editor-in-chief The Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine received its preliminary accreditation June 3. VTC met the standards of the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the accrediting body for all medical schools in the U.S. and Canada. The school, currently under construction in Roanoke, can now begin to accept applications for the 42 open slots for the first class, set for fall 2010. Virginia Tech and Carilion announced the joint project to create a four-year medical School in 2007. VTC is both a medical school and a research institute. Preliminar y accreditation “is a direct result of the vision by leadership at Virginia Tech and Carilion Clinic to capitalize JOHNSON on core strengths at each of these institutions,” said Cynda Johnson, founding dean and president of VTC in a release from the university. According to Dan Hunt, secretary and senior director of Accreditation
Services for the LCME, potential medical programs generally prepare for about three years to receive the preliminary accreditation. The LCME lists 130 standards under five areas that are evaluated for new programs, including its institutional setting, education program, medical students, faculty, and education resources. The program must present detailed plans for its budgets, curriculum, admissions process, and administrative and staff hires for the first year especially, but also looking ahead for the entirety of the first class.
Med School Timeline Jan 2007 June 2009 Aug 2010
Carilion and Tech publicly announce plans for VTC VTC receives preliminary accreditation VTC opens doors with charter class
ON THE WEB Check collegiatetimes.com for a copy of the accreditation standards for new programs by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. There are five medical schools at the preliminary accreditation level, according to the LCME Web site. “This is a relatively new phenomenon,” Hunt said. He said there was about a 20-year gap where no new programs were initiated, but now there is a “flurry of them” as the
2012 Spring 2014
Provisional accreditation takes place Full accreditation takes place
call for physicians increases. Many current programs have expanded to accept more students. Tech also recently approved a Masters in Public Health program, a 42-hour credit program in which VTC medical students can also participate, as well as undergradu-
THANDIWE OGBONNA/COLLEGIATE TIMES
ate students from Tech and students from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. “We have many areas of collaboration with the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine,” said VMRCVM Dean, Gerhardt Schurig, in a release
from the university. Tech will receive a provisional accreditation in the second year of the charter class. The final full accreditation will occur in the spring semester of the charter class’ final year.
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EDITORIAL
The Collegiate Times is an independent student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903
365 Squires Student Center Blacksburg, Va. 24061 Fax: (540) 231-9151 opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com Letters must include name and daytime phone number. Letters must not exceed 300 words, and should be in MS Word (.doc) format if possible. Letters, commentaries and editorial cartoons do not reflect the views of the Collegiate Times. We reserve the right to edit for any reason. Anonymous letters will not be printed. To order a reprint of a photograph printed in the Collegiate Times, e-mail spps@vt.edu. Collegiate Times Phone Numbers News/Features 231-9865 Sports/Opinions 231-9870 Editor-in-Chief 231-9867 College Media Solutions Phone Number Advertising 961-9860
Primaries needed, but cost doesn’t equal turnout In case you missed it, there was a gubernatorial election on Tuesday. No need to panic. It was only the Democratic primary. Primary elections are noble efforts to some. But, in practice, the state that was the home of notable democratic pioneers like Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and George Washington doesn’t seem to care much about selecting candidates to represent a party. In the 2005 primaries, about four percent of registered Montgomery County voters came out to vote, split almost evenly between the two parties. Statewide, a total of 6.6 percent of Virginians voted in gubernatorial primary elections. And yet, despite the fact that more people pack Burruss Hall to see Third Eye Blind than vote in a Montgomery County primary, the county spends around $3,000 per voter to hold primary elections. It seems like a disproportionate amount of spending, to
put it kindly. Whether or not you believe primaries are worth your time, we should all make sure that tax money is being spent efficiently. It is unfortunate that primary turnout is so low, but running more poll machines is not going to solve that problem. For that, you would need a major shift in local and American political culture. The major issue lies in the fact that just about as many resources go into a primary election as a general election. There were as many precinct locations open to voters on June 9 as there were last November, when hundreds of people stood in line for several hours. The distance between Gilbert Linkous Elementary and Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, two Blacksburg polling locations, is 0.2 miles. It takes seven-tenths of a minute to drive from one to the other — going the speed limit.
It is certainly a Virginian’s right to have a say in who represents his or her party. About 8,000 Republicans were involved in the nomination of Bob McDonnell as the GOP candidate. By contrast, over 175,000 voters came out for the Republican primary in 2005. Even with low turnouts, primaries get more people involved in the democratic process. They are also a great way to learn more information about the candidates running for office, providing more opportunity for a broader range of potential candidates. Consider Creigh Deeds, who was relatively unknown before landing his Washington Post endorsement and is now the Democratic candidate for governor. Elections bring up stances on issues, candidate records, and, one would hope, rational debates, which are all important in the democratic process. It isn’t a matter of whether primaries
are a waste of our resources. They don’t have to be. The State Board of Elections should make a judgment call on how many resources to put into each election in any given year. Some years will be bigger than others. In time, a larger primary election budget may become necessary. As media coverage and current events cause more people to take an interest in politics, more people seem to have something to say about politicians running for office, which we assume leads to voters exercising their right to actually have their say. After all, Montgomery County doubled its Democratic primary voter turnout this year. There may be hope for democracy yet.
OPINIONS
Voice your opinion. Readers are encouraged to send letters and comments to the Collegiate Times.
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The editorial board consists of Sara Mitchell, Phillip Murillas, Thandiwe Ogbonna, Daniel Lin, and Geri Roberts.
Political amnesia clouds past and future America SCOTT MASSELLI regular columnist
image of itself while arousing disdain toward the incumbent president, the Democratic Party took control of the White House and both houses of Congress, including a 59-41 margin in the Senate. The nation has faced and is facing troubling times, and the previous administration, which was decidedly conservative compared with the openly liberal stance of the new one, yielded more and more to liberal policies in its final
The nation needs to maintain a level head and approach all policies with a prudent distrust, or else risk falling victim to political amnesia and losing many of the agendas it supported at the polls last November. months. So when was that, 1933 or 2009? Furthermore, consider a more specific application of this comparison: The clamor was vociferous and provocative; letters-to-the-editor, syndicated columns, even bumper stickers made up the plethora of formal and informal responses to the administration’s handling of several issues, most notably the Iraq War. As the nation slowly recovered from the 9/11 tragedy and the troubling years that followed, people questioned the prudence of the invasion up to the 2008 election, which evidenced the exacerbated frustrations with President Bush. It was on this wave of upheaval that Barack Obama—touting his voting against the invasion as a senator and campaigning to end the war—rode to victory in the presidential election.
However, now that Obama has taken over as commander-in-chief, his promise to end the occupation seems to have become nothing more than giving the nation an opportunity to clear its conscience by renaming the war on terror the “Overseas Contingency Operation” and setting a date for the withdrawal — August 2012. And that’s assuming the date doesn’t get pushed back in the three years in between now and then. Why then, did we bury the strong sentiment that plagued the Bush Administration on Jan. 20? The president, who based so much of his personal appeal on his dedication to policy over politics, conveniently set the deadline for ending the war for just three months before the 2012 election, in which he will be seeking his reelection. Coincidence? Ha. He is indeed a politician, after all. The nation needs to maintain a level head and approach all policies with a prudent distrust, or else risk falling victim to political amnesia and losing many of the agendas it supported at the polls last November. There are those who will say this is simply stirring the pot and undercutting the president without enough time or actions to judge him on; there always are. And indeed, stirring the pot is exactly the intent of this commentary — it has been shown that this is necessary for a desired public policy to be enacted. In regard to the latter accusation, this historical context does not imply that we have gone 0-3 in our perceptions; it is still early in the young president’s tenure. However, political columns in protest of a government action always fall into two categories: warnings and petitions. Unfortunately, for those who advocate waiting to pressure the President on issues, choosing the latter is to be choosing too late.
collegiatetimes.com june 11, 2009
Hoovervilles. Economic ruins. Laissez-faire. The Great Depression. The national public has the tendency to lop these ideas and events onto the damaged legacy of President Herbert Hoover. A republican who ran in place of incumbent republican President Calvin Coolidge, Hoover’s one term is often characterized by loose regulation and a firm commitment to the free market, a staple of the party since it won the 1920 election, advocating a “return to normalcy.” However, many forget Hoover’s response to the inconceivable challenges that befell him so quickly after his inauguration. After two years of keeping to his traditional ideas, Hoover morphed into a politician normally associated with liberalism. Catalyzed by the persistence of the Great Depression, Hoover yielded to pressure for federal relief funds and public works along with signing the Norris-La Guardia Act, which provided support for organized labor. Still, Hoover took loads of criticism from opponent Franklin Roosevelt in the 1932 election for failure to act to help the nation recover. Roosevelt complemented this attack with ambiguous optimistic rhetoric, with a rare account of the details of his plan. Despite Hoover’s prudent warning that Roosevelt would pervade the nation’s longstanding economic sense, Roosevelt would go on to win the election and continue to expand Hoover’s projects. The difference, though, lay in the fact that Hoover considered relief to be temporary emergency measures, whereas Roosevelt intended for them to be permanent — and succeeded in doing so.
Over the next seven years, Roosevelt would implement his New Deal, recklessly augmenting government spending and putting more people on government payrolls. Unfortunately, the nation’s historical perception has duped itself here, as well. Though unemployment never fell below 14 percent, Roosevelt is credited with fixing the Depression. However, a second look shows that the nation’s economy began showing permanent and significant improvement around 1939 to 1941. What changed? World War II. In preparing to counter Adolf Hitler, whose invasion of Poland on Sept. 1, 1939 officially started the second Great War, the Allied Powers required more products and lacked the labor force (with men joining the military) to produce those goods. As with World War I, the United States met the increase in demand and firms employed more workers in order to achieve the higher equilibrium production level, thus restoring the nation’s economy. Still, we adore FDR in spite of bucking economic logic, attempting to usurp the Supreme Court with additional justices, and putting Japanese citizens in internment camps, and violating habeas corpus a la W. Bush (turns out even the consummate liberal can be tempted). In Roosevelt’s subsequent election bids, he continually warned against favoring the Republican ticket, inciting the memory of the Hoover Administration and the beginning of the Depression. Unfortunately, he did nothing differently, and the nation continued to suffer until external factors — sadly in the shape of a global war — created new markets and expanded existing ones. So how does this compare to the present day? Employing an optimistic and energetic
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FEATURES
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Wondering what's going on around the 'burg? Check out the events of the upcoming week.
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Thurs, June 11
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Fri, June 12
What: Taste of the ‘Burgs (Check the calendar at http://www.montgomerycc.org/montgomery.htm for more information Where: Various Restaurants
What: Joel Venditti Music Performance Where: Ceritano’s’ When: 6 p.m. Cost: Price of Food
What: Friday Night Out Presents Crossties Where: Drillfield When: 6 p.m. Cost: Free
What: Music on the New Where: Glencoe Museum When: 6 p.m. Cost: Free
What: Savor the Flavor Where: The Inn at Virginia Tech When: 7 p.m. Cost: $35
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Sat, June 13
What: NASCAR Wheelen All-American Series Where: Motor Mile Speedway When: 2 p.m. Cost: Free for students with ID What: “Singin’’ In the Rain” Where: The Lyric When: 3 p.m. Cost: Free
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Sun, June 14
What: Red Carpet Gala Where: Hahn Horticulture Garden When: 5:30 p.m. Cost: $50
What: Appalachian Clogging Lessons Where: Graduate Life Center When: 7 p.m. Cost: Free
What: Chris Duarte Performance Where: Sunken Garden Amphitheatre When: 5 p.m. Cost: $10-15
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Mon, June15
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Tue, June 16
Wed, June 17 collegiatetimes.com june 11, 2009
What: Wine Festival at Virginia Tech Where: The Holtzman Alumni Center Terrace When: Noon Cost: $20 advance, $25 at the door
What: “Columbine: A True Crime Story” book signing by author Jeff Kass Where: Barnes & Noble Christiansburg When: 7 p.m.
What: Salem Red Sox Where: Lewis-Gale Medical Center Field When: 7 p.m. Cost: $7-11
What: “Singin’’ In the Rain” Where: The Lyric When: 3 p.m. Cost: Free
What: Cooking Class: Grilling Where: The Gourmet Pantry When: 6 p.m. Cost: $55
What: Virginia Folk Jazz Trio Where: The Cellar When: 9:30 p.m. Cost: Free admission
The Cellar: Blacksburg’s blues and jazz basement MATTHEW ARTZ
features editor The Cellar is located at 302 North Main St. between Sharkey’s and Hokie House. In the summer, it is open every day from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., the same hours as during the year. The design of The Cellar is unique in the fact that the bar is located in the basement underneath the restaurant on the ground floor. This gives the downstairs a more somber mood, with very little in the way of lighting. The Cellar is a top spot for beer drinkers who like to try new beers. Its extensive list of domestic and imported beers both on tap and bottled is one of the largest lists of beers on Main Street. Its imported beer list is especially large. If you are a beer connoisseur looking for a new type of beer, there is something on its list that you probably haven’t tried. The only drawback to imported beer is its high price, which will turn away people on a budget. The Cellar does offer discounted rates for draft beers during happy hour from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. every afternoon. The atmosphere downstairs seems
very reminiscent of a lounge or jazz club. The musical performances are usually jazz or blues, which is great for a calm, quiet night. “We offer the same regular shows as far as live music goes,” said owner Kevin Long. These shows are every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Additionally, there are occasional shows on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays during summer months, so call The Cellar in advance to find out who’s playing and when. This coming Wednesday, June 17, the Virginia Folk/Jazz Trio is playing at The Cellar at 9 p.m. This is a great opportunity to go out in the middle of the week and see what The Cellar is really all about. If you miss out, the band will be returning throughout the summer on two more dates, one in July and another in August. The restaurant above the bar serves an assortment of entrees, but primarily Italian food. Subs, pasta, pizza, and calzones dominate the menu. Don’t expect to go to The Cellar for a cheeseburger because you won’t find it on the menu. “We’ve added a few, newer summer dishes as specials,” said Long. These new items are available everyday in
the summer, so stop by to check them out. Of all the locations in downtown Blacksburg, The Cellar offers a refined and relaxed place for a night downtown.
THE CELLAR Location: 302 N. Main St. between Hokie House and Sharkey’s Events: Live music every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Select shows Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Drink Specials: Happy hour every day from 4-7 p.m. Food Specials: New Summer additions to main menu Contact: (540)953-0651 Visit: www.the-cellar.com/ The extensive beer list, as well as a sizeable wine list, caters to a relaxed drinking environment — as opposed to the crazy, standing-room-only crowds found at Sharkey’s or Top of the Stairs. Add to this the usual folk/jazz entertainment and The Cellar can almost be considered the closest thing to a lounge bar that Blacksburg has to offer.
7 FEATURES
THE CT TAKES A LOOK AT BARS IN THE ‘BURG
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DANIEL LIN/SPPS
The Cellar is known for Italian food and various jazz and blues concerts. It’s definitely a place for people trying to escape the typical college bar full of loud club music. This is a bar people will either love or hate, depending on their mood or personality. Some people find a relaxed social environment to be more enjoyable than a jam-packed, obnoxiously loud bar. Others will be bored by the lounging environment. In the end, it all comes
down to a matter of preference as to whether a night at The Cellar is for you, but check it out — it can’t hurt to try something different. The Cellar’s menu is posted on its Web site minus the new summer additions. Sign up for its e-mail notifications to receive a coupon of your choice. The offers range from savings off table checks to discounts on individual food items.
Movies at The Lyric ‘Anvil’
‘Singin’ in the Rain’
Starting this weekend at The Lyric is the movie “Anvil”. It’s a documentary about one of the earliest metal bands of the same name and their career in recent years. The band was one of the first and most inspirational metal bands but they were not as successful as the bands they influenced like Metallica. The movie has a mixture of comedy and emotional points as the band member struggle to make ends meet as they attempt to tour Europe. The film was shown at Sundance in 2008 and was fairly well received. If you like metal music this is definitely worth checking out.
This Saturday at The Lyric is a special showing of the 1952 classic musical “Singin’ in the Rain”. The film is about silent film actors making the transition to movies with sound. The actors and actresses struggle with their speaking parts and some don’t quite make the transition easy. The majority of the Tech population was too young to see it in theatres so it is a great opportunity for anyone who loves the movie to see it on the big screen. It’s also a great way for anyone who hasn’t seen it to enjoy the film.The movie is free as it is a part of the Summer Movie Classics program the Lyric is running right now.
Showtimes
Showtimes June 13 & 17: 3:00 PM
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June 12, 13,17 & 18: 7:00, 9:15 PM June 14: 3:00, 7:00, 9:15 PM June 15: 10 AM, 7:00 PM, 9:15 PM
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FEATURES
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‘The Hangover’ is the first Weekend Movies A look at movies coming to theatres this weekend one that’s a fun experience ‘The Taking of MATTHEW ARTZ
features editor
MATT ARTZ features editor
This past weekend, three new films opened and “The Hangover” became king of the box office. It was the only new movie to break 20 million dollars. It beat out both new releases, “My Life in Ruins” and Will Ferrell’s “Land of
collegiatetimes.com june 11, 2009
the Lost.” Neither of those new films could contend with the rave reviews and mass appeal of “Up” from the previous week. It’s truly rare for a rated-R movie, especially a comedy, to beat out contenders who can appeal to a broader audience like “Land of the Lost,” but the movie deserves its place. The opening weekend champion “The Hangover” stars Bradley Cooper (“Wedding Crashers”), Ed Helms (“The Daily Show”), Zach Galifiankis (“Out Cold”, “Reno 911!”), and Justin Bartha (“National Treasure”). Directed by Todd Phillips, the same mind behind the “Skarsky & Hutch” and
“Old School” movies, the movie is about the ultimate bachelor party that all men wish they could have. The four friends travel to Las Vegas to have the party of a lifetime, but like all good trips to Vegas, things go horribly wrong. They wake up the next morning with no memories of the wild night and only the ramifications of MOVIE REVIEW what appears to be the most insane, hotel wrecking party they’ve ever seen. The groom has disappeared and they need to get him back in time for his wedding, so the guys drive around Vegas following clues to what they did the night before. This provides the overall basis for hilarious situations throughout the movie. They meet a wide cast of characters during their misadventures including those played by Rob Riggle (“The Daily Show”), Ken Cheong (“Role Models”, “Pineapple Express”) and even Mike Tyson stars as himself in the film. With all comedies how much you like this movie will all depend on what you find funny. If you like refined
‘Imagine That’
Warner Bros. Pictures
comedy, this is not your movie and you probably already know that. All the characters suit their roles perfectly as they seem to have been type casted from their previous works. Justin Bartha is the responsible groom who takes caution not to upset anyone. Bradley Cooper is cast as the loveable jerk of the group. Ed Helms plays the whipped boyfriend and Zach Galifiankis plays the bride’s not-quiteright-in-the-head brother. Galifiankis’ performance is probably the best of the group as it provides most of the absurdity of the movie. The movie felt a little predictable and formulaic but it’s effective. If you loved “Old School” or “Superbad” than this is just another movie you need to add to the list.
The newest Eddie Murphy movie hopes to revitalize his career after failures in recent years in theatres. He stars as a financial executive so overly occupied with his job he often forgets to spend time with his young daughter. His daughter, however, has an amazing ability to predict what will happen to the companies he is involved with. Her imagination seems to tell her what companies will perform well and which won’t and this draws him to spend time with his daughter in order to save his career. She uses her father’s new found interest in order spend time with her father and uses her new found upperhand to her advantage. This is a cute family film that has little risk involved with the story line. It will definitely sit well with families of young children who already saw “Up” but that’s about the only audience it will grab.
Movie Facts Director: Karey Kirkpatrick Cast: Eddie Murphy, Thomas Haden Church, Yara Shahidi, Martin Sheen Friday Showtimes: 11:15 a.m., 1:50, 4:30, 7:10, 9:50 p.m. at Regal New River Valley Stadium 14
Pelham 123’ “The Taking of Pelham 123” stars Denzel Washington as transit controller Walter Garber working in New York City. One of the trains he oversees is hijacked by Ryder (John Travolta) who stops the train and holds its travelers hostage. Walter finds himself in a very compromised position as he must relay the demands of the hijacker to city officials and later becomes entangled in the hostage situation. “Pelham 123” is actually a remake of a movie done in 1974 that follows the same premise. This movie doesn’t seem like a huge jump from movies Denzel Washington has done lately like “Deja Vu.” That said, I’ve never been disappointed by any of his recent films. The movie is sure to be very story driven with plenty of surprises for viewers. This is sure to be a hit with older movie goers this weekend.
Movie Facts Director: Tony Scott Cast: Denzel Washington, John Travolta, Luis Guzman, Victor Gojcaj, John Turturro, James Gandolfini Friday Showtimes: 11:40 a.m., 1:20, 2:20, 4:00, 5:00, 6:40, 7:40, 9:20, 10:20 p.m. at Regal New River Valley Stadium 14
JOSH PARCELL
sports editor
HABAZIN
The US Track and Field Association Monday named sophomore hammer thrower Dorotea Habazin the Southeast Region Women’s Field Athlete of
the Year. Habazin recently captured first place at the NCAA Regional with a 207-11 toss. She also won the ACC title in April. Her 216-06 toss at the Georgia Tech invite earlier this year was a school record. Habazin is one of nine Hokies set to compete at the NCAA nationals this weekend in Fayeteville Ark. Monday also brought the announcement that senior golfer Drew Weaver had been named to the PING AllAmerica third team, as selected by the Golf Coaches Association of America. Weaver was already named first team All-ACC as a senior this year., and is
most remembered for his British Amater Open title in 2007. He finished in the top five in four tournaments with the Hokies this D. WEAVER year, and came in the top 20 in nine of the team’s 11 tournaments. He wrapped up his career at Tech with the second-best career scoring average in program history. Weaver is the fifth All-American the Tech golf team has produced, and it marks the second straight year the Hokies have had a player named to the team, following Jurrian van der Vaart in 2008. Drew Weaver wasn’t the only Hokie of that surname to reap in honors this week. Athletics Director Jim Weaver is the 2009 recipient of the John L. Toner Award, presented annually by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. The award is presented to one athletic director across the country each year that has shown great dedication to college athletics, football in particular, and
has demonstrated advanced administrative abilities. “To accept this award is very pleasing because it is accepted on behalf of the entire J. WEAVER athletic department here, and we have always believed everything good that happens is a team effort,” Weaver said. This is Weavers’ 12th year as the director of athletics at Tech. He will be presented the award at the NFF Annual Awards Dinner on December 8, 2009 in New York City. That dinner will also honor the 2009 FBS College Football Hall of Fame class of 2009. That class includes legendary figures in college football such as coach John Robinson, and former Heisman Trophy winners Tim Brown and Gino Torretta. “It is very humbling to be honored at the same time as them, because I have been in college football for 42 years, as player and coach at Penn State. To have the opportunity to share the day with people of that magnitude is just very humbling,” Weaver said.
Kerri Gardin In the season opener at home against the Washington Mystics June 6, Gardin started and played 17 minutes, only scoring a single point and grabbing one rebound. The Sun fell to the Mystics despite a spirited third-quarter rally by a score of 82-70. The following day the Sun traveled to New York to face the Liberty. Gardin started and again played 17 minutes, this time scoring 4 points to go with 3 rebounds in a 66-57 win.
Patrick Nyarko
Nyarko and the Fire suffered their second straight loss after opening the season on an 11-game unbeaten streak, falling to the Houston Dynamo 1-0. Nyarko fired three shots, a team-high.
Jenna Rhodes
In her first appearance as a professional softball player, former All-American Jenna Rhodes stole two bases and scored a run in the Rockford Thunder’s 3-0 win over Akron on June 3. Kelsey Hoffman, the former Tech catcher, got her first
career start for Akron on Thursday, June 2 in the Racers 4-0 win over Rhodes and the Thunder.
9 SPORTS
Several Hokies recipients of Hokies in the various awards this week pro leagues
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Joe Saunders
After pitching six innings and giving up four runs on seven hits and striking out five, Saunders earned a no decision in the Angels 9-6 loss to the Tigers. He also walked five batters. Saunders record remains 6-4 on the season, and his ERA is 3.94
Hokies in pro action this week Joe Saunders vs. San Diego 6/13 Kerri Gardin vs. Atl., @ Chicago 6/14, 6/16 Patrick Nyarko @ DC United 6/13 THANDIWE OGBONNA/COLLEGIATE TIMES
Football nabs big H.S. commitment JOSH PARCELL
sports editor
collegiatetimes.com june 11, 2009
The Virginia Tech football program has grabbed yet another of the top high school players in the state of Virginia for the class of 2010. The team added its ninth verbal commitment from the class of 2010 over the weekend from Zack McCray, a 6’4’’, 236-pound defensive end from Lynchburg, Va. McCray is listed as a four-star prospect on Rivals.com, the nation’s leading Internet recruiting service. He recently attended the Hokies senior invite camp, where he made the commitment. McCray will follow his cousin and former high school teammate, Logan Thomas, to Blacksburg. Thomas was a prized recruit in the class of 2009 for the Hokies as a tight end. McCray picked the Hokies over Alabama, North Carolina and LSU. He was also offered scholarships from West Virginia, Nebraska, and Virginia. He is the fourth defensive line to commit to the Hokies in this class,
and the second four-star of the group, including tackle Nick Acree, who committed over a year ago. Eight of the nine Hokies committed at this point have at least a three-star rating. Six of the commits so far hail from Virginia. The Hokies have dominated recruiting the state of Virginia in recent memory, a tribute to their consistent success on the field and continuity within the coaching staff. Hopefully more commitments will be on the way for the program, as they host one more camp for rising seniors later this summer. Tech has an early focus on the both the offensive and defensive line, and at quarterback, where two players have committed so far. Defensive line coach Charley Wiles, who has produced NFL linemen such as Chris Ellis and Darryl Tapp, will coach both McCray and Acree at Tech. With such high acclaim nationwide and an entire season left before they enter college, those players look to continue the steep tradition at the position for the Hokies.
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SPORTS
10
Weiss sucessor still unknown JOSH PARCELL
sports editor A week following the announcement of Virginia Tech head men’s soccer coach Oliver Weiss’ resignation, no more information has been released on the reason for his departure. When asked if there was any more word on why Weiss departed beyond “personal reasons,” Athletic Director Jim Weaver said, “not to my knowledge.” When asked if there were any investigations forthcoming or ongoing surrounding the men’s soccer program at Tech, the NCAA compliance offices could not verify or deny any information on the subject. There is no word on Weiss’ successor.
National weekly sports in brief June 3 Josh Beckett flirted with a no-hitter as the Red Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 10-5 in the second game of a three-game series in Detroit. The first hit Beckett allowed came on a Curtis Granderson single with two outs in the seventh inning. JD Drew and Jason Varitek had 2 RBI apiece for Boston, which improved to 31-22 on the season with the win.
June 4 The NBA Finals opened with a very anticlimactic affair in Los Angeles. Kobe Bryant scored 40 points as the Lakers blew out the Orlando Magic 100-75 in game one. Dwight Howard was held to just 12 points, making only one shot from the field and not having a single dunk for the first time during the entire playoffs. The Lakers used an explosive third quarter to extend a 10-point halftime lead to 24. Jameer Nelson returned
from injury to play in his first game in four months for Orlando. He was effective in the second quarter, but did not score in the second half and may have disrupted the chemistry of the rest of the Magic’s team.
June 6 The Red Wings crushed the Pittsburgh Penguins at home in Detroit to take a 3-2 series lead in the Stanley Cup Finals. Detroit won 5-0, using four goals in the second period to pull away and end all hope for the Penguins. Henrik Zetterburg scored and assisted on one goal to lead the Red Wings. In the women’s French Open final, Svetlana Kuznetsova won in straight sets over top-seeded Dinara Safina, 6-4 6-2, to win her second grand slam title. The first came in 2004 at the US Open.
June 7
and 10 rebounds were enough to keep the Lakers in the game and eventually pull out the win, which came much tougher than the game one laugher. Rashard Lewis carried Orlando with 34 points and 11 rebounds. Orlando shot 41% from the field as a team and turned it over 20 times, to which head coach Stan Van Gundy said they must improve on if they want to come back and win the series.
June 8 Tennessee head football coach Lane Kiffin may have committed his sixth minor recruiting violation in six months at the helm of the Volunteers, according to ESPN. The Tennessee athletic department self-reported a violation of allowing ESPN to film Kiffing hosting recruits during a segment for the television channel’s “Outside the Lines” show last month.
June 9
Robin Soderling’s upset bid ended, and Roger Federer’s long awaited bid for a French Open title came to fruition Sunday, as Federer won the final match in straight sets, 6-1 7-6 (7-1) 6-4. Federer completed the career grand slam, and his 14th grand slam win matches Pete Sampras for most all-time. The Lakers avoided a last-second scare in regulation to defeat the Magic for a game two NBA Finals win in Los Angeles, 101-96. Pau Gasol’s 24 points
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady fell out of a boat in the Charles River, according to the Boston Herald. He was kayaking with his wife Gisele Bundchen, and had to be rescued, but did not sustain any injuries. Dwight Howard went for 21 points and 14 rebounds, while Orlando had five players score double digit points to escape with a 108-104 victory in game three of the NBA Finals. The Magic shot 75% from the field in
Tincher to try out for national team JOSH PARCELL
collegiatetimes.com june 11, 2009
sports editor On Sunday, June 7, former Virginia Tech All-American softball pitcher Angela Tincher returned to the United States for a tryout with the national team in Chula Vista, Calif. Tincher has spent the last few months in Japan playing for Leopalace 21 of the Japanese Pro League. They are currently 7-4 and in a tie for fifth place in the league, but only trail first place by two games. In a recent blog post, Tincher said “I think the experience in Japan has been priceless and definitely prepared me for tough competition. I won’t have much time to rest before tryouts begin, but I feel ready. I’m looking forward to getting back to the States and seeing all of the players at the tryout”. Among Tincher’s most memorable accomplishments is her no-hitter against the national team while she was still at Tech. The Hokies took on the Americans on their pre-olympic
tour in March of 2008. Tincher was the first person to shut out the Olympic team in 3 years, and it was team USA’s first loss in non-international play in 185 games. 41 players in all were selected to attend the tryouts, taking place June 812. On June 15, two teams will be created from the pool of players to compete this summer: the USA Softball Women’s National Team, and the USA Softball Women’s Elite Team. The USA Softball Women’s National team will represent the U.S. at the Canada Cup July 4-12 and the World Cup July 16-20. The rosters for the Japan Cup on July 31- Aug. 2, and the Pan American Qualifier July 31- Aug. 9 will be a combination of athletes from the Women’s National team and the Elite team. The list of players trying out includes superstars such as former University of Tennessee legend Monica Abbott, Jennie Finch, and Vicky Golindo. Tincher is one of two Virginians competing for a spot on the team, along with Courtney Bures of Haymarket.
the first half, an NBA Finals record. Kobe Bryant led Los Angeles with 31 points, but he missed five free throws, including several key ones late in the game. It was the first NBA Finals game victory in the history of the Magic’s franchise, who were swept by the Rockets in their only other NBA Finals appearance in 1995. Game four is Thursday night in Orlando at 9:00 p.m. In game six of the Stanley Cup Finals, Jordan Staal and Tyler Kennedy each notched a goal for the Penguins as they avoided elimination against the Red Wings and forced game seven Friday night. Pittsburgh goalie Marc Andre-Fleury had 25 saves, including key late stops to keep the Penguins ahead during a furious third-period attack from the Red Wings. Kris Draper added the only goal of the game for the Red Wings. Game seven will be in Detroit, where the Red Wings have not lost in this series. The Washington Nationals selected Steven Strasburg, a pitcher from San Diego State, with the first pick in the MLB draft. Strasburg is touted as one of the best prospects in the history of the 45-year draft history. Washington may face trouble signing him, however, because Strasburg is represented by Scott Boras, an agent with a reputation for squeezing every last penny out of a team’s wallet to sign his clients.
Greenberg hires assistant JOSH PARCELL
sports editor Bill Courtney’s stay at VCU as assistant men’s basketball coach did not last very long. On Tuesday it was reported that Courtney is leaving his post with the Rams to fill the vacant assistant coaching position at Virginia Tech. The move comes after Courtney spent just two months after incoming VCU head coach Shaka Smart hired Courtney to work on his staff. An official announcement is expected to be made Friday. Courtney will replace Stacey Palmore, who resigned in early May to take the same position on Mark Fox’s staff at the University of Georgia. Courtney spent the last three seasons at Virginia under Dave Leitao, who resigned in March. Before coming to Virginia, Courtney worked for Jim Larranaga at George Mason, where he recruited a large portion of the Patriot team that made their miracle run to the Final Four in 2006.
page 11
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SPORTS
12
Big recruiting weekend should spark interest This is their year. It has to be. The annual winter trek from Blacksburg to Jacksonville (or Tampa), then to Miami is getting old. The 2009 Virginia Tech JOSH football team PARCELL needs a new challenge. sports The recent commitment of Zach McCray fired me up for this year for some reason. It really gives the feel that Saturdays at Lane Stadium are not that far away. No more Orange Bowl, this team could very well be playing for the BCS national championship come January, and here’s why. This is now Tyrod Taylor’s team. After two seasons of “will-he-or-won’the redshirt?” talk to begin the year, everyone in the country knows Taylor will line up under center from the very beginning and won’t have to look back. Taylor spent most of last season throwing to an extremely inexperienced group of wide receivers, which led to just two touchdowns and seven interceptions for the season. This year that group of wide receivers will have much higher expectations, and Taylor should have much more confidence throwing to them.
The team returns a wealth of depth at runing back, led by Darren Evans and redshirt freshman Ryan Williams. Looking back on the program’s most successful seasons under Frank Beamer, the offense featured a versatile 1-2 punch at running back. In 1999 it was Shyrone Stith and Andre Kendrick, paving the way to an 11-0 season and national title appearance. In 2002, Lee Suggs and Kevin Jones each topped 1,000 yards on the ground as the Hokies blasted opponents including LSU, Marshall and Texas A & M. In 2004, the Hokies won the ACC Championship with Cedric Humes and Mike Imoh carrying the ground game. This year’s edition, Evans and Williams, could prove to be the best of the bunch. Evans ran for 1,265 yards a year ago, and that was only starting after Kenny Lewis was lost to injury midway through the season. Evans was out of his element last season, having to run both between the tackles and outside on the corner. Evans is much more suited for the inside power running game. This year his carries should come predominantly in that area, while the redshirt freshman Williams will use his lightning speed to take care of the outside rushing for the Hokies. Williams has the potential to be the
most explosive player the program has seen since a man named Michael Vick donned the orange and maroon. This spring, Williams was the highlight of every scrimmage in the spring, including an 80-yard run and 66-yard catch in separate scrimmages that went for scores. With an offensive line that has a player with starting experience at every position, the running game at Tech could be one of the best in the country. Go ahead and pencil in the Tech defense to lead the ACC in most categories also, if not the nation. All-Americans in the secondary and defensive line should dominate most opponents. Kam Chancellor will line up at safety, where his rare combination of speed and strength will make him a multimillionaire come the 2010 NFL Draft. He will pair up with cornerback Stephan Virgil, the next in line of great cornerbacks in the program. The long history of top NFL picks from that position, including DeAngelo Hall, Jimmy Williams, Brandon Flowers, and Victor “Macho” Harris, should continue with Virgil. Sophomore Jake Johnson will start in the middle of the linebacking corps, where he could be the surprise player of the year. With a fierce mentality that perfectly suits his mentor Bud Foster’s style, Johnson has the potential to be
a memorable player by the time his career in Blacksburg is over. It is less than 90 days away from kickoff in Atlanta, when perhaps the most important game of the Tech season will take place against the Crimson Tide of Alabama. The Hokies defense will get to tee off on newcomer Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy. This is bad news for Crimson Tide fans. Bud Foster’s onslaught of complicated blitz schemes can make even future pro stars look average (see: Matt Ryan). The Crimson Tide could find points hard to come by in the Georgia Dome. If Tech gets past the epic openingweek matchup, they still must face Miami and Nebraska in Lane Stadium in September. With the momentum of a win over the Tide, and the electric atmosphere Lane Stadium provides, it is unlikely that either the Hurricanes or Cornhuskers can steal a win in Blacksburg. The toughest road test comes against Georgia Tech, and All-American running back Jonathan Dwyer. Yellow Jackets head coach Paul Johnson’s wishbone offense is a difficult one to prepare for, but the Hokies shut it down early last season in their first game against such an offense in years. Beamer’s bunch narrowly escaped in that game, but this year should be a different story. If the defense clamps
down on that Yellow Jacket running game once again, the Hokies offense should be much more potent this time around, and could win that game running away. The other road trips are to Duke, Maryland, and East Carolina. Despite falling to ECU in 2008, the Pirates should not be quite as dangerous this year. Revenge will be on the minds of Tech, and at that point in the season, they could be going for a 9-0 record and holding on to a shot at a national championship. Winning ACC crowns has already almost grown old in just five years in the league. When the conference expanded to include Miami, Boston College, and the Hokies in 2004, its intent was to create a dominant “superconference” in football that would boast some of the nation’s best teams every season. It has not exactly unfolded that way. With three championships and another championship game appearance, it has turned into Virginia Tech and the 11 dwarves. What the Hokies should work for this season is the next step, which is the national title game in Pasadena, CA on January 7, 2010. With the parody in college football knocking most teams out of the ranks of the unbeatens by the end of each year, should the Hokies make it through the schedule unscathed, they should find themselves right there.