Friday, September 10, 2010 Print Edition

The Collegiate Times’ comprehensive guide to Virginia Tech football

Friday, September 10, 2010

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THE

EXTRAPOINT

Dukes a hazard?

ROBERT BOAG / THE BREEZE

DANIEL LIN / SPPS

The Hokies and Dukes had very different season opening games. Tech lost to Boise State 33-30 in front of 86,587 at FedEx Field while JMU dominated Morhead State 48-7 in front of 16,612 fans in Harrisonburg.

Beamer disregards FCS status when JMU to enter Saturday’s contest with preparing Hokies for James Madison nothing to lose, ACC revenge on mind ED LUPIEN

MICHAEL DEMSKY

sports reporter

the breeze

Just four days after the 33-30 loss at the hands of No. 3 Boise State, No. 13 Virginia Tech goes for its first win of the season Saturday against James Madison University of the Football Championship Subdivision in its home opener.

“We’ve cut back on a few periods and are willing to do what we’ve got to do,” said head coach Frank Beamer in regard to the irregularly quick turnaround. “It’s a lot to cover and a short time to do it and to get ready for a really good football team in James Madison who is No. 11 in their poll.”

In preparation for the game, Beamer is not taking into account the results of the programs’ two previous meetings, which the Hokies won by a combined score of 90-0.

“Those past results don’t indicate what is going to happen this week,” Beamer said. “This is a new game.

It’s just a fact — they’re very fast on defense and well-coached.”

Beamer’s cautious outlook on the matchup with a FCS opponent will be reflected in his players’ approach on the field.

“I try to bring the same enthusiasm and passion to every game no matter who we’re playing,” said Davon Morgan, the Hokies’ senior rover. “It can be a little harder to get jacked up for an FCS opponent but I doubt that will be the case with what coach is expecting out of us this week.”

JMU has experienced success in recent years, winning the FCS National Championship in 2004 and compil-

MICHAEL MCDERMOTT / SPPS

Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor evades a Boise State defender to make a pass. Taylor spent much of Monday night scrambling. ing six straight winning seasons. The Dukes are 3-15 against Football Bowl Subdivision teams that still compete in the division. In its most recent encounter with an FBS program, JMU dropped a heartbreaking 38-35 overtime loss at Maryland last season.

“This is one of the top programs in (the FCS),” Beamer said of JMU. “A FCS program just beat Mississippi last week. Florida State had to score in the last 35 seconds to beat a FCS program last year after they had just barely lost to Miami. When I was at Murray State, we beat Louisville one year and tied Memphis State. I don’t

get into divisions, I get in to what kind of team we’re playing and this is a good football team.”

The Dukes’ previous meeting with the Hokies resulted in a 43-0 win for Tech in 2003. Tech leads the series 6-0, which has been played entirely in Blacksburg.

Like his counterpart, JMU head coach Mickey Matthews does not expect the result of Saturday’s game to be as one-sided as it has been in the past.

“We’re going to play the game to see HOKIES / page four

This Saturday, the James Madison University football team will travel roughly 140 miles southwest to Blacksburg, Va., the home of Atlantic Coast Conference power Virginia Tech, for its second game of the season.

It will be the Dukes’ only game against a Football Bowl Subdivision team this season, but despite the vast gap in the programs’ resources, the JMU side remains optimistic that if it plays its style of football, the team can compete with the mighty Hokies.

“We’re gonna dance with the players who brought us,” said Mickey Matthews, JMU head coach. “We certainly have some different changeups for every game we play, including this one, but you got to stick with the guys who got you there.”

Coming off a disappointing 33-30 defeat at the hands of the Boise State Broncos on Monday night, Tech will surely come out with something to prove. Leading the Hokies will be quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who accounted for 186 passing yards, 73 rushing yards and two touchdowns against Boise State. Taylor, now a senior, has been a dual threat throughout his career. His career stat line boasts more than 6,000 total yards and 40 touchdowns.

“You’re not going to contain Tyrod Taylor, no one has in his career,” Matthews said. “You try to slow him down, put pressure on him, give him some different looks. Like all great quarterbacks, you want to force him

ROBERT BOAG / THE BREEZE

JMU will hope its inexperienced receiving core can find a way to get open against the Hokies’ defensive backs and secondary. into some mistakes. But he’s a great player, he’s an NFL quarterback.”

Tech also features one of the most dynamic running backs in all of college football in sophomore Ryan Williams. As a true freshman last season, Williams put together one of the best campaigns in history by a first-year runner, rushing for 1,655 yards and 21 touchdowns. The Dukes’ starting safety unit, featuring sophomore Jakarie Jackson and redshirt juniors Vidal Nelson and Jonathan Williams, will primarily be in charge of containing all facets of the Hokies’ offense.

“Our safeties are very good athletes against the run and pass,” Matthews said. “They’re going to be challenged with the great backs and receivers they have. Virginia Tech has as much firepower at those positions as they may ever have had, so those three guys are going to have their hands full.”

Unlike Tech, the Dukes will be coming off a victory following their shellacking of undermanned Morehead State, 48-7, last Saturday.

The win put the Dukes at 1-0 for see DUKES / page four

page 2

WHAT TO EXPECT

tech vs. jmu dukes

september 10, 2010

5 AP Top 25 1. Alabama (47) 2. Ohio State (4) 3. Boise State (8) 4. TCU 5. Texas (1) 6. Nebraska 7. Oregon 8. Florida 9. Iowa 10. Oklahoma 11. Wisconsin 12. Miami (FL) 13. Virginia Tech

14. Arkansas 15. Georgia Tech 16. USC 17. Florida State 18. Penn State 19. LSU 20. Utah 21. Auburn 22. Georgia 23. West Virginia 24. South Carolina 25. Stanford

The football team was unranked and independent.

Another unranked Tech squad boosts series lead to 3-0.

FOOTBALL TO-DO LIST: tailgate watch game

SS/#6 Vidal Nelson 27 solo tackles, 30 assisted tackles and one interception in 2009

DT/#49 Nick Emmons Transferred from Army. 2010 will be first year of eligibility but coach views as a top DT.

offense

James Madison

128.0

Rushing

294.0

186.0

Passing

189.0

314.0

Total

483.0

Scoring (ypg)

48.0

30.0

Conf 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 Conf 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0

Overall 1-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 Overall 1-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 0-1 0-1

168.0

Rushing

67.0

215.0

Passing

85.0

Total

383.0

Scoring

33.0

152.0 7.0

special teams

+1

41-12

DT/#93 Ronnell Brown 15 solo tackles, 11 assisted tackles, 3.5 sacks and one interception in 2009

defense

the last five JMU-Tech game results 1988 1991 1992 27-6

OT/#76 Theo Sherman Entering his fourth year as a starter.

Named 3rd-team Colonial Athletic Association in ’09

Virginia Tech

ACC Standings Atlantic Boston College Clemson Florida State Maryland North Carolina State Wake Forest Coastal Duke Georgia Tech Miami Virginia North Carolina Virginia Tech

to Fear

TB /#17 Griff Yancey Averaged 3.2 yards per carry in 2009, splitting time with Jamal Sullivan

49-20

The victory represented half of the season win total.

33.8

Net Punting

0.0 21.6

Punt Returns Kickoff Returns Turnover Margin

1999 47-0

Michael Vick’s first game. Tech lost in BCS champ. game.

48.0 6.5 14.0 +1

2003 43-0

Hokies hold JMU scoreless for 9th straight quarter.

september 10, 2010

page 3

Drafted Hokies embark on NFL careers Despite recent FCS

upsets, JMU shouldn’t pose problem for Tech If “

COURTNEY LOFGREN sports reporter Five standout Hokies from the 2009 roster were selected in the most recent NFL Draft. All five have made the initial active 53-man roster for their respective teams.

With the NFL season set to get underway Thursday night, in a rematch of last year’s NFC Championship game between the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints, it is time to revisit those players and see how each individual will play a role on their new team.

JASON WORILDS (20TH PICK IN THE SECOND ROUND, PITTSBURGH STEELERS) After deciding to leave Tech a year early, Worilds became the one of the program’s highest drafted players but will compete for playing time in a talented Pittsburgh Steelers defense. After playing defensive end throughout his career at Tech, the Steelers have moved Worilds to outside linebacker in their 3-4 defensive scheme.

Worilds signed a four-year contract which could be worth as much as $3.7 million ($1.9 million guaranteed) just before training camp began in July.

Worilds has had limited action this summer because of a hamstring injury that has lingered through the majority of the preseason.

The Steelers coaching staff is expecting Worilds to make an immediate impact on the team, as he is projected to be the team’s third outside linebacker.

KAM CHANCELLOR (SECOND PICK IN THE FIFTH ROUND, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS) After competing all preseason for the starting strong safety position, Chancellor will be in a backup role once the regular season begins.

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll

BRIAN CLAY / SPPS

Former Hokie defensive end Jason Worilds chases NC State quarterback Russell Wilson in a 2009 game. cut safety Jordan Babineaux, paving the way for Chancellor to make the roster.

Chancellor made his presence felt in the team’s first preseason game, by intercepting a pass in his first NFL contest.

Chancellor’s playing time may increase as the season progresses because of the age of the starting safeties on the Seahawks roster — Lawyer Milloy is 36 years old and Chancellor is 22. Given his size and youth, Chancellor will most certainly contribute to the defense at some point during the season.

ED WANG (NINTH PICK IN THE FIFTH ROUND, BUFFALO BILLS) After holding down a spot on Tech’s offensive line for four years, Wang became the first Chinese-American drafted when the Bills called his name on the second day of the draft.

Wang will play left tackle and be responsible for protecting the quarterback’s blind side.

After enduring numerous injuries throughout training camp, including a high ankle sprain and a thumb injury, Wang is anxious to get back on the field and prove his value to the Buffalo Bills.

Wang is currently listed third on the depth chart for the Bills.

BRENT BOWDEN (THIRD PICK IN THE SIXTH ROUND, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS) The Tampa Bay coaching staff showed its confidence in Bowden several times this preseason. By drafting the punter in the sixth round, Bowden was all but guaranteed a job. The only thing that was standing in the way was a contract, which was signed in June for four years.

However, after serving as the team’s primary punter for most of the preseason, Bowden was relegated to the practice squad as the Buccaneers signed another punter.

CODY GRIMM (THIRD PICK IN THE SEVENTH ROUND, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS) Grimm was arguably Tech’s best defensive player in the 2009 season. He signed a four-year contract worth $1.85 million in July.

Grimm will face a position change as he played several variations of linebacker for Tech but will now play safety for the Buccaneers.

In his first season however, Grimm will receive most of his playing time as a member of the special teams unit, a role in which he excelled during his first few seasons at Tech.

ACC has big games in store for upcoming weekend MICHAEL BEALEY sports editor In the first weekend of college football the ACC posted an impressive 102 overall record against their respective opponents. However, this weekend will be a much tougher task, as three ACC schools square off against ranked opponents. Here is a breakdown of each game and a prediction of how each team will fare.

NOON DUKE AT WAKE FOREST, ESPN3.

COM The first Atlantic Coast Conference matchup this season pits two teams each trying to find an offensive identity after losing senior quarterbacks to graduation.

Wake Forest’s Riley Skinner and Duke’s Thaddeus Lewis were both four-year starters for their respective teams, so both Wake and Duke will look for others on the offense to fill the void.

Given Duke’s defensive woes — last week they gave up 27 points and 406 yards of offense to a Football Championship Subdivision school Elon — they will almost undoubtedly have trouble against Wake’s powerful rushing attack.

Prediction: Wake Forest 38 Duke 21 NOON NO. 15 GEORGIA TECH AT KA NSAS It’s been just three years since Kansas earned an Orange Bowl victory over Virginia Tech, however there has been nothing but turmoil in Lawrence since.

Former head coach Mark Mangino resigned last season amid a humiliating seven-game losing streak and allegations he had mistreated players.

If that wasn’t enough, the Jayhawks extended that losing streak to eight games with a 6-3 loss to FCS squad North Dakota State last Saturday.

While George Tech has had to deal

with the loss of its leading rusher Jonathan Dwyer, leading receiver Demaryius Thomas, pass-rush specialist Derrick Morgan and ball-hawking safety Morgan Burnett, the Yellow Jackets will wear down Kansas with their potent option-attack.

Prediction: Georgia Tech 34 Kansas 13 1:30 P.M. JAMES MADISON AT NO. 13 VIRGINIA TECH, ESPN3.COM The Hokies have beaten the Dukes by a combined score of 90-0 in their previous two meetings.

While Tech had only a four-day turnaround to prepare for JMU, there is simply too much offensive firepower on the Hokies’ roster. Even though Tech’s 33-30 heartbreaker to Boise State will likely stay with the team throughout the season, Beamer’s track record speaks for itself.

Prediction: Virginia Tech 45 James Madison 10 3:30 P.M. PRESBYTERIAN AT CLEMSON, ESPN3.COM Replacing unanimous first-team AllAmerican running back C.J. Spiller is not going to be an easy task for Clemson this season, but it seems as though the Tigers have found a nice pair of backs in Andre Ellington and Jamie Harper to at least try.

Ellington and Harper combined for 224 yards and three touchdowns against North Texas last week. When that is coupled with Presbyterian’s 415 rushing yards allowed against Wake Forest in their opening contest, there shouldn’t be any problems moving the ball for Clemson.

Prediction: Clemson 52 Presbyterian 3 3:30 P.M. KENT STATE AT BOSTON COLLEGE, ESPNU Boston College quarterback Dave Shinskie had a rough go of it last Saturday against Weber State, completing just 50 percent of his passes and

tossing two interceptions.

Kent State, on the other hand, hung 41 on Murray State last weekend, showing the potential for a big offensive day.

Yet, Boston College should handle their business, albeit closer than the Vegas line may predict.

Prediction: Boston College 31 Kent State 17 3:30 P.M. NO. 17 FLORIDA STATE AT NO. 10 OKLAHOMA, ABC The first of two huge non-conference battles for ACC schools kicks off as Florida State travels to Norman to square off against Oklahoma.

This is a critical matchup for Seminoles quarterback Christian Ponder, whose Heisman campaign could hinge on his performance Saturday.

The Sooners had a potential scare against Utah State in their opener and barely escaped 31-24. Consequently, Florida State is going to come out swinging and take down Oklahoma on the road, giving head coach Jimbo Fisher his first signature win.

Prediction: Florida State 34 Oklahoma 28 3:40 P.M. NO. 12 MIAMI (FL) AT NO. 2 OHIO STATE, ESPN In the second huge ACC non-conference battle, Miami will meet Ohio State for the first time since the BCS National Championship game in 2003.

Ohio State pulled out a victory in the game on a controversial pass interference call, and Miami’s running back Willis McGahee suffered an excruciating knee injury contributing to Miami’s defeat.

Fast-forward seven years and two of the better quarterbacks in the country, Ohio State’s Terrelle Pryor and Miami’s Jacory Harris, will do battle.

While any Miami fan will wholeheartedly tell you “The U” is truly back, Ohio State’s defense is going to

give the interception-prone Harris fits.

Prediction: Ohio State 28 Miami 17 6 P.M. MORGAN STATE AT MARYLAND ESPN3.COM Like Virginia Tech, Maryland has a short turnaround after their last-second victory over Navy on Monday.

The Terps were abysmal last season and head coach Ralph Friedgen was nearly out the door. However, Maryland has a strong corps of running backs which should give Morgan State fits.

Prediction: Maryland 41 Morgan State 13 7:30 P.M. NORTH CAROLINA STATE AT CENTRAL FLORIDA UCF squares off against NC State in what should be a high scoring affair.

The Knights feature one of the game’s better receivers in A.J. Guyton and the Wolfpack are led by quarterback Russell Wilson, who threw for 31 touchdowns last season.

With UCF making the trek to NC State and Wilson already off to a strong start, the Wolfpack will notch their second victory of the season.

Prediction: NC State 34 UCF 21 10:30 P.M. VIRGINIA AT NO. 16 USC With the nightcap on Saturday, UVa will take a cross-country trip to USC as two new coaches face off.

UVa’s Mike London and USC’s Lane Kiffin are both in rebuilding mode.

London has already made his mark in recruiting, pulling in nine of the top 25 players in Virginia according to Rivals.com.

Meanwhile, Kiffin inherits a program on the heels of NCAA sanctions and will try to establish something he hasn’t been accustomed to in his career — stability.

USC still has a dearth of talent from former head coach Pete Carroll and will hand London his first loss as the Cavs’ new coach.

Prediction: USC 41 UVa 28

one were to look at what happened last week when major conference teams played Football Championship Subdivision schools, it would seem that Saturday’s game against James Madison University could be a trap for Virginia Tech.

With Jacksonville State upsetting Ole Miss and North Dakota State ruining Turner Gill’s coaching debut in Kansas, FCS schools are starting to gain some respect with the bigger programs that once thought of them as “Cupcake State.”

These schools have been looked at differently for several years, starting in 2007, when Appalachian State beat the then-No. 5 Michigan Wolverines 34-32 in Michigan’s stadium.

That victory was the first time an FCS school had taken down a nationally ranked opponent since the Division I subdivisions were made in 1978.

The Atlantic Coast Conference knows about this recent success better than most, considering Duke and Virginia both lost season openers to FCS opponents last season and the Maryland Terrapins needed overtime to beat last year’s JMU squad.

All that said, the Hokies faithful shouldn’t worry about what will transpire when Tech takes the field in Lane Stadium for the first time this year.

As all of college football knows, the Hokies are coming off of a devastating loss to Boise State on Monday night, and although it is a short week, don’t think that Tech won’t be ready.

In fact, expect the contrary.

The Hokies will be looking for a punching bag to take out their collective anger after losing a game that many think Tech gave away.

Enter JMU. Right now, USA Today has Saturday’s spread set at 29, up from its starting point of 25.5. People believe the Hokies will not only win, but stomp the Dukes into oblivion.

Think that college football fans are getting ahead of themselves?

A look through history shows that the 29 points spread might be, if anything, somewhat modest.

Tech and JMU have squared off twice in the past 11 years and the result has been a combined score of 90-0.

If you want to see the last time the Dukes scored on the Hokies, you would have to go all the way back to the third quarter of a 42-20 Tech victory on Sept. 5, 1992.

People believe the Hokies will not only win, but stomp the Dukes into oblivion.

When that game took place, Hokies running back Ryan Williams was just two years old and Michael Vick — the man who would lead Tech to its only championship game in 1999 — was a sixth-grader at Huntington Middle School in Newport News, Va. The biggest reason that this game could turn from a comfortable victory into a blowout is what the Hokies consider to be their strength. Despite a mediocre performance against Boise State, running backs Williams and Darren Evans are still predicted to lead the offense with a tremendous rushing attack.

This poses a potential problem because when teams get ahead early in games, what do they do?

They run.

The idea behind this is obviously that running keeps the clock ticking and it gets the game over with.

However, what happens when the rushing attack is so potent that it keeps getting first downs to stop the clock and scoring points?

The same idea put into effect to prevent an embarrassing score, such as Oregon’s 72-0 massacre of New Mexico last weekend, actually ends up contributing to it.

Tech is not without faults; fans watching on Monday saw that the special teams units need work and the defense has many holes to fill. Those problems will indeed be tested this year, but not this week.

This is the week that the Hokies boost their confidence by beating up on a team with inferior talent.

Week two of college football features some of the best games of the season. Penn State and Alabama play a huge game, and the ACC has two huge matchups when Miami takes on Ohio State and Florida State faces Oklahoma.

However, in a week that should be filled with great games, don’t count on the Hokies’ game to be one of them.

NICK CAFFERKY -sports reporter -sophomore -communication major

september 10, 2010

page 4

Dukes: 2009 OT loss to Maryland instilled new confidence from page one

the first time in four seasons, but the Tech game is where they will truly get a gauge of where the team stands.

“This will be a great test to see where we are as a team,” said Mike Allen, cornerback. “The first game (against Morehead State), wasn’t really as much, but this will be a great game for us.”

Despite the impressive point total against Morehead, the team still struggled to click on the offensive end.

The team finished with nine penalties, costing it 75 yards, and committed three turnovers. The team will need to play more efficiently if it expects to stick with Tech.

“We have to eliminate the bad plays,” said Drew Dudzik, quarterback. “Last week, we had some penalties that put us in third and long, and we converted, but against Virginia Tech, they’re going to make us pay for the little mistakes.”

Despite the miscues, the Dukes still managed to get great performances out ROBERT BOAG / THE BREEZE of their top players against Morehead.

Redshirt junior wide receiver Kerby Quarterback Justin Thorpe, 2009 Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Year, throws in practice.

Long was the star of the game, catching three passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns.

In addition, redshirt senior tailbacks Griff Yancey and Jamal Sullivan accounted for a combined 131 rushing yards and a touchdown. They will be joined in the backfield by redshirt junior Scott Noble, who will be returning from a one-game suspension because of an undisclosed rules violation.

“We have so many great skill players we need to get the ball to,” Dudzik said. “At running back we have three guys who can really get the job done, and at wide receiver we have six or seven guys who can make plays for us.

We need to do a good job of spreading the ball around and controlling the ball.”

The Dukes were impressive in their sole game against an FBS opponent a year ago, falling to Maryland, 38-35 in overtime, in last season’s opener.

Dudzik believes if the team manages to scratch and claw like they did in College Park last year, it can keep the game close.

“

Last week, we had some penalties that put us in third and long, and we converted, but against Virginia Tech, they’re going to make us pay for the little mistakes.

MIKE ALLEN CORNERBACK

“We can’t pack it in, we’ll fight to the end,” Dudzik said. “Last year against Maryland we hung around the whole game and the next thing you know we took them to overtime.”

With another year of maturation and experience, the Dukes might have the talent to give the Hokies a run. But for Dudzik, it’s about taking the game in stride and looking forward to the rest of the season.

“I think you just have to look at the game as a great opportunity,” Dudzik said. “We really have nothing to lose.

They’re one of the top FBS teams in the nation.”

Hokies: Team to be fully focused on getting first win of 2010 from page one

win,” Matthews said. “We’re going to do everything humanly possible in terms of preparation. We feel like we have some ACC players.”

The Dukes (1-0) handily defeated Morehead State 48-7 last Saturday in their home opener. Their offense posted 294 yards on the ground with three different running backs gaining 60 or more yards.

Redshirt senior quarterback Drew Dudzik threw for 189 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 18 yards and an additional pair of touchdowns.

Both of Dudzik’s scores through the air were to junior wide receiver Kerby Long who also had a career-high 112 receiving yards.

Leading the Dukes with six tackles was Peter Rose, a redshirt freshman defensive back who originally signed on to play at Tech for the 2009 season but had his scholarship revoked after he was arrested on drug charges in May 2008.

“He’s a good kid,” Beamer said of Rose. “It’s a shame what happened but he’s got a good home at James Madison with his brother (Jon Rose). Thankfully it all worked out for him.”

Matthews is aware that he can only

DANIEL LIN / SPPS

The offensive line will be relied on to create more running paths against JMU than in the Boise St. opener. prepare his players so much for a team like Tech and holds nothing but admiration for his opponent on both sides of the ball.

“They’re not going to change on

defense,” Matthews said. “They’ve been so dominant on defense these past few years that they’re going to come out and do the same things that they’ve been doing. They’re like us — if they’re

having trouble getting pressure on the quarterback, they’re going to bring added pressure on the quarterback, and if they can get good pressure on the quarterback, they’re not going to

blitz a lot.”

He also recognizes the powerful skill players, such as running back Ryan Williams and quarterback Tyrod Taylor, returning to Tech’s offense.

“They’re also big and strong up front on offense,” Matthews said. “I think (running back Ryan Williams) is a heck of a football player. He’d definitely get my vote for the Heisman Trophy.

He blocks, competes and runs with the ball very well. All of their receivers are back and can make big catches.

With Tyrod, the more you watch, the more you’re impressed with his throwing ability.”

Despite having faced the Hokies twice during his tenure at JMU, Matthews said there was little on which he could draw from the past experiences in terms of preparation for his opponent’s style of play on offense.

“What was surprising for us was how little they used a fullback last season,” Matthews said. “I think in their top four formations last season, they didn’t even usually line up with a true fullback.

They had that No. 8 (Greg Boone), who was a tight end but also a fullback when they ran all of their isolation plays. It’ll be interesting to see if they do that this year with another player.”

With 140 miles separating the two programs, the relationship between the coaching staffs is very strong. Matthews noted that in past offseasons he has sent his players to Tech to watch and learn from the ways the Hokies practice, and that he is close friends with much of the opposition’s staff, especially Tech offensive line coach Curt Newsome and offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring, who both coached at JMU prior to joining the Tech staff.

The announcement of the game was followed by a little joshing from both sides because of the close ties.

“We run the same defense as them, so we usually compare notes. Not this year though,” Matthews said. “When the game was announced last spring, our defensive run game coordinator J.C. Price (who was a starting defensive end for Tech from 1992-1995) said to me, ‘Coach, I know all their signals on defense.’ I told (Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster) that we weren’t going to steal them but I don’t think he believed me.”

The game is to be streamed exclusively on ESPN3.com with kickoff slated for 1:30 pm at Lane Stadium.

Friday, September 10, 2010

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COLLEGIATETIMES check collegiatetimes.com/bestof to vote and enter to win an 8 GB iPod Touch 107th year, issue 84 News, page 2

People & Clubs, page 5

Opinions, page 3

Cuccinelli issues controversial abortion opinion CLAIRE SANDERSON news reporter A legal opinion issued by Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli could subject Virginia abortion clinics to stricter regulations.

His opinion, issued Aug. 20, states that “the Commonwealth has the authority to promulgate regulations for facilities in which first-trimester abortions are performed, as well as for providers of first-trimester abortions.”

The opinion says it is legal for Virginia to regulate clinics, but it does not specify what regulations might be imposed, nor does it constitute a law.

In past years, anti-abortion Republicans in the General Assembly have attempted to pass laws that would give the state the authority to impose hospital-level standards on first-trimester abortion clinics.

These pieces of legislation had been blocked by abortion rights advocates who argued that imposing such standards would force many clinics to shut down because they would be unable to afford the stricter requirements for equipment and space.

“Our concern is that Cuccinelli is using that authority to pursue a political agenda that singles out a medical procedure that restricts access to women,” said David Nova, vice president of Planned Parenthood Health Systems.

Alexandria Rusnack, president of the College Republicans of Virginia Tech, said some closures are not necessarily a negative thing.

“Any regulation has the potential to do harm, but you also have to look at the benefits,” Rusnack said.

“It might not be such a bad thing if some abortion clinics close, but that’s just my personal opinion. It’s definitely something that will be based on ideology.”

Currently, abortion clinics are classified by the state as “physician’s offices,” which include offices for oral surgery, plastic surgery and eye surgery. While

hospitals are regulated by the board of health, all other health care providers are regulated by the board of medicine.

“The attorney general is saying that the authority the board of health has over hospitals can also extend to abortion clinics,” Nova said. “Hopefully, the board of health will make a reasonable decision, not one motivated by a political agenda but one that will promote the general health and welfare of our citizens.”

If it does attempt to enact new laws, the laws must pass a review process that could take up to two years and would involve public forums.

“Most of the members of the board of health are appointed by (former Gov. Tim Kaine), and not likely to follow such an extreme plan. But in a few years, it may have more of (Gov. Bob McDonnell’s) appointees,” Nova said.

As attorney general, Cuccinelli is required to respond to requests for legal opinions, which can be made by any member of the General Assembly or any state agency.

Cuccinelli’s opinion was issued in response to a request by Del. Bob Marshall (R-Prince William).

“Cuccinelli introduced legislation to require abortion providers to operate as outpatient hospitals in 2005, and Marshall has done it every year since the 1990s,” Nova said. “Now, it appears as though they are trying to bypass the legislative process.”

Current abortion laws require any abortions after the first trimester must be performed in a hospital.

“After the first trimester, women in Blacksburg have these choices: Either to go to Richmond, which has the only hospital in the state that can perform those abortions, or go out of state,” Nova said.

While the implications of the opinion may be several years off, Rusnack said the topic is “always a hot topic, especially within our age group.”

“It’s definitely a polarizing issue,” she said.

Justice speaks for focus on teaching

Sports, page A1

Classifieds, page 4

Sudoku, page 4

Julia Stiles shares all

MAZIAR FAHANDEZH / SPPS

Julia Stiles sat down for a Q and A with Tech professor Bob McGrath in front of Theatre Arts majors in Squires Monday, Sept. 6.

FAMOUS ACTRESS JULIA STILES VISITED VIRGINIA TECH TO DISCUSS HER CAREER, LIFE AND MORE MAJONI HARNAL features reporter In her jeans and flip-flops, it would have been easy to mistake Julia Stiles for just another college student on campus.

However, Stiles was here for a question and answer session with professor Bob McGrath, someone she has known professionally since she was a child. The session offered cinema and theatre majors the opportunity to pick the awardwinning actress’ brain about all aspects of the acting industry.

Stiles met McGrath when she was only 10 years old. The actress sent McGrath, a founder of the Ridge Theater Company in New York City, a letter asking for a part in an upcoming production.

McGrath said he remembers the young Stiles was determined to get a part, any part to kickstart her involvement in acting. So he had the writer add a part of a 10-yearold girl in the 1990 production of “The Manson Family.”

Stiles still works with the theatre company that gave her a foothold in the acting community, punctuated with the Hollywood hits she has come to perform in since then.

The interview was modeled like “Inside the Actors Studio,” but with students asking Stiles questions.

McGrath also organized the showing of scenes from Stiles’ famous movies, such as “10 Things I Hate About You,” and “Hamlet.” The students’ questions probed topics ranging from her

acting techniques to her preparation routines.

About crying on command, Stiles said, with a laugh, “It’s getting easier and easier to cry, and I don’t know what that means about my life.”

Stiles maintained good humor throughout the Q and A session, and she was given respect in return, with the students minimally prying into her personal life.

In fact, the most personal question asked was what Stiles enjoys doing in her free time — hiking and being outdoors.

McGrath began the session somewhat chronologically, screening a scene from an early film.

One of Stiles’ most memorable early roles is her lead part in “10 Things I Hate About You,” a modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew.” Stiles covers her eyes while the clip of her monologue from the end is shown, saying that it makes her “physically uncomfortable to watch myself.”

Starring opposite Heath Ledger, this film is not Stiles’ only adaptation of a Shakespearian work.

Stiles portrayed Desi in the film “O,” or the equivalent Desdemona from “Othello” and Ophelia in a modern version of “Hamlet.”

The clip screened from the movie “Hamlet,” shows a crazed Ophelia after the death of her father, strewing Polaroids standing in for flowers from the original play.

Stiles said the filming at the Guggenheim was under time constraints from the management

and the lines were Shakespeare’s but not in iambic pentameter, making for a subpar combination in her opinion.

Stiles continued to pepper the session with anecdotes from the films in which she has taken part.

For example, she recounted fainting during one of the “Hamlet” scenes while filming a sequence in a pool during a frigid November in New York.

While there are many tests to an actor’s skill and endurance, Stiles

“

It’s getting easier and easier to cry, and I don’t know what that means about my life.

JULIA STILES ACTRESS

cited her most challenging and memorable role to date as that of Carol in the play “Oleanna.” Stiles portrays a student accusing her professor of sexual harassment, ruining his life and his chance for tenure.

One of the main challenges of this play was that it is carried by two actors, Stiles and Bill Pullman, who played the role of the professor. However, Stiles said it was also exciting because Pullman would perform differently at every showing, forcing her to react authentically and flexibly. It was also her favorite part because she played a villainous character and did not have to create a persona that the audience should like.

She said this gave her a certain sense of freedom.

As for roles on stage, Stiles was set to perform in the show in the

show “Persephone” here at Tech but had a scheduling conflict.

She will take over, however, when the show moves to the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Instead of performing at Tech, she will appear in an upcoming episode-arc on the television show “Dexter,” as the titular character’s love interest.

While discussing “Dexter,” Stiles expounded on the differences between working on television and film or on stage. Not only is the series more fast-paced than a film, but by filming more pages of the script per day, Stiles is also being kept in the dark as to where the show is heading.

With a laugh, she says she is convinced the writers will shock her with a “Surprise! You’re dying” twist at the end.

With theatre, film and television already under her belt, Stiles has also forayed into writing and directing with her film “Raving” starring Zooey Deschanel.

Funded by Elle magazine about a “dress that changed a life,” Stiles made the film darker than the magazine had originally imagined.

She also made it about a dress that changed a man’s life, deeming a story about a dress that changed a girl’s life too obvious.

Stiles’ inspiration for the movie came from her childhood in New York City, where she recalls seeing Tai Chi being practiced in the park or trash bags being carried on either end of a stick through an alley in Chinatown.

Currently, Stiles lives in Los Angeles, as most of her work keeps her in Hollywood.

Job market may see long-term damage ALANA SEMUELS mcclatchy newspapers MCT CAMPUS

Scalia spoke to several hundred at Marquette University Wednesday

SUPREME COURT JUSTICE ANTONIN SCALIA TALKS ON NEED FOR STUDENTS TO DIVERSIFY STUDIES. BEN POSTON mcclatchy newspapers MILWAUKEE — U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia offered frank advice Wednesday to the hundreds of faculty and students who turned out for the dedication of Ray and Kay Eckstein Hall, Marquette University Law School’s new $85 million building.

He implored the faculty to focus more energy on instruction and less on getting research published in law journals.

“The reality is that the part of your academic career that will have the most lasting impact and that will be remembered after you are long gone is those hours you spent producing a living intellectual legacy in the classroom,” Scalia said. “I hope Marquette will always be a teaching law school.”

He urged students to take a broad range of courses to better prepare them for the practice of law after graduation.

Scalia, who gave the keynote address, said he stuck mainly to core courses while at Harvard Law School.

“Even so, I could not take all the courses I wanted to, and I feel deeply the exis-

tence of some gaps in my education as a lawyer, gaps that I will never be able to fill,” he said. “It is only in this place, in a law school, that you will be able to study an entire body of law, not haphazardly or episodically, but systematically.”

Scalia, who clerked at Foley & Lardner in Milwaukee between his second and third years at Harvard Law School, joked that Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson had named him an “honorary cheesehead.”

Scalia said he was honored to speak at the dedication of Eckstein Hall, the high-tech brick-and-glass building that overlooks the Marquette Interchange.

“I have great delight in the flourishing of this institution,” he said. “I look forward to its growth and prosperity.”

Abrahamson also gave remarks, and Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York blessed the building.

Eckstein Hall was made possible by a $51 million gift from the Ecksteins, an alumni couple from Cassville. The late Joseph Zilber, a Milwaukee builder and philanthropist and a Marquette alumnus, donated $30 million to the law school in August 2007, of which $5 million went to the building.

LOS ANGELES _ The U.S. economy will eventually rebound from the Great Recession. Millions of American workers will not.

What some economists now project _ and policymakers are loath to admit _ is that the U.S. unemployment rate, which stood at 9.6 percent in August, could remain elevated for years to come.

The nation’s job deficit is so deep that even a powerful recovery would leave large numbers of Americans out of work for years, experts say.

And with growth now weakening, analysts are doubtful that companies will boost payrolls significantly any time soon. Unemployment, long considered a temporary, transitional condition in the United States, appears to be settling in for a lengthy run.

“This is the new reality,” said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics. “In the past decade we’ve gone from the best labor market in our economic history to arguably one of the worst. It’s going to take years, if not decades, to completely recover from the fallout.”

Major employers including automakers and building contractors were at the core of the meltdown this time around. Even when the economy picks up, these sectors won’t quickly rehire all the workers they shed during the downturn.

Many small businesses, squeezed by tight credit and slow sales, similarly aren’t in a hurry to add employees.

Some big corporations are enjoying record profits precisely because they’ve kept a tight lid on hiring.

And state and local governments are looking to ax more teachers, police officers and social workers to balance their budgets. Meanwhile, U.S. legislators have shown little appetite for a new round of stimulus spending.

It all points to a long slog for the nation’s unemployed. In May, a record 46 percent of all jobless Americans had been out of work for more than six months. That’s the highest level since the government started keeping track in 1948, and it’s about double the percentage of longterm unemployed seen during the brutal recession of the early 1980s.

Jobless Americans such as Mignon Veasley-Fields of Los Angeles don’t need government data to tell them that something has changed. A former administrative assistant at a Chatsworth charter school, she has searched fruitlessly for employment for more than two years. She’s losing hope of ever working again.

“If I were 18, I’d say, ‘I can bounce back.’ But I’m 61,” said Veasley-Fields, a dignified woman with graying, close-cropped hair. “It’s really scary.

It’s like someone just put a pillow over your head and smothered you.”

Laid off in June 2008 from her $45,000-a-year post, Veasley-Fields at first wasn’t overly concerned. A college graduate, she had always

enjoyed steady employment, including a long stint as a research manager at consulting firm McKinsey & Co. She crafted a crisp resume, networked through job clubs and navigated online employment sites like the seasoned researcher that she is.

But weeks stretched into months, with hundreds of unanswered job applications. California’s jobless rate in July stood at 12.3 percent, the third-highest in the nation, behind Nevada and Michigan. VeasleyFields’ unemployment benefits have run out, her credit cards are maxed.

She fears losing the tidy mid-Wilshire District bungalow where she and her 77-year-old husband are raising two granddaughters. Above all, she’s stunned that a middle-class life that took decades to build could unravel so quickly. She recently visited a food bank to secure enough staples to feed the girls.

“I’m just hanging on a thread,” she said.

Veasley-Fields suspects her age isn’t doing her any favors. Indeed, 50.9 percent of unemployed workers 55 to 64 have been out of work at least 27 weeks. That’s the highest percentage of long-term employment for any age group.

But young workers are suffering too. In August, the unemployment rate for workers 16 to 24 was 18.1 percent.

Research has shown that economic downturns can stunt the prospects of these new entrants to the job market for a decade or longer. Some col-

lege graduates unable to find jobs in their chosen fields must trade down to lower-skilled, often temporary work that translates into puny wages, missed opportunities and a slower climb up the career ladder.

For the U.S. labor market to regain all the jobs it had when the recession started in December 2007, employers would need to boost their payrolls by 7.6 million positions. That figure doesn’t include the roughly 125,000 jobs a month the country must create just to keep up with new entrants into the labor force.

To get the U.S. jobless rate back to 5 percent, where it was before the downturn, would require the economy to generate about 17 million jobs _ or about 285,000 a month for five straight years _ according to Heidi Shierholz, a labor economist at the Economic Policy Institute in Washington.

To appreciate the scope of that employment hole, consider that U.S. employers have shed 283,000 jobs since May. Ask economists to project which industries might spark robust job creation and the news isn’t encouraging for America’s 14.9 million unemployed workers.

Sectors that traditionally have led the nation out of recession _ including home building and financial services _ are laboring amid a housing glut and a credit freeze. The U.S. auto industry, long under assault by forsee JOBS / page two

2 news

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No leads in death of Colorado woman

Four escape US run prison in Iraq

More than a month after three fishermen discovered a woman’s lifeless body floating in the Rapidan River, the circumstances surrounding her death remain shrouded in mystery. Authorities released the name of the woman, Alana Nicole Sammons, 25, of Westminster, Colo., a few days after the Aug. 1 discovery of her body.

But they say they still don’t know what caused her death or why her body turned up in a remote area at the boundary of Madison and Greene counties, about a mile east of U.S. 29.

After confirming her identity, authorities contacted her parents in Colorado, who reportedly said she was supposed to be attending school in another area of the country. “They were shocked to learn she was in this area,” Madison County Sheriff’s Investigator Greg Garrett told The Eagle Sept. 7. “She was supposed to be somewhere in school.”

The Eagle made several attempts to contact her parents, but was unsuccessful.

In the days preceding the discovery of Sammons’ body, she was reportedly seen panhandling in the area of U.S. 29 and U.S. 33 in Ruckersville. Witnesses said she had a sign asking for food.

Sammons was buried in the Manassas area by her parents, Garrett said. shashank bengali, mcclatchy newspapers

BAGHDAD — Four prisoners escaped a maximum-security U.S. military facility housing al-Qaida in Iraq suspects and former members of Saddam Hussein’s regime, officials said Thursday, in an embarrassing development for American forces as they hand over security operations in Iraq.

The four prisoners, still at large, were among some 200 guarded

by American troops at the Karkh prison, formerly known as Camp Cropper, just outside Baghdad.

They include many convicted or suspected terrorists and eight former regime officials, five of whom have been sentenced to death.

U.S. military officials didn’t identify the prisoners and offered few details on how the escape happened, saying only that they were hunting the men.

“We’re working in concert with the Iraqi security forces to continue to search for them,” said Brig.

Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan, a U.S. military spokesman. “Obviously, it’s regrettable.”

The U.S. military said that prison guards late Wednesday caught two detainees trying to escape from Compound 5, a separate facility where American troops are guarding reportedly the most dangerous prisoners at Karkh. When U.S. forces conducted a thorough search, they found that four prisoners were missing.

Buchanan said that American soldiers were responsible for guarding the prisoners, but that he didn’t know whether Iraqi troops also served as guards there. He stressed that responsibility for the escape rested with U.S. forces.

“Frankly, this has nothing to do with the Iraqi security forces,” Buchanan said. “These four detainees escaped (from) an area that was under U.S. control.”

CORRECTION In “Blind driver team moves forward” (CT, Sept. 9), several corrections have been made to the online version of this article. Please visit www.collegiatetimes.com to check it out. the collegiate times regrets these errors

JUSTIN GRAVES -Contact our public editor at publiceditor@ collegiatetimes.com if you see anything that needs to be corrected.

PAUL KURLAK/SPPS

The Four Tops perform in Burruss Hall Thursday night. The group, famous for their song “Baby I Need Your Loving,” gave a joint concert with fellow Motown legends The Temptations.

Jobs: Safety nets see sharp decline from page one

eign manufacturers, just completed a brutal downsizing. Outsourcing of call centers and other service jobs to places such as India is growing too.

Meanwhile, U.S. productivity grew steadily through 2009 and into the first quarter of this year, in part because many employers replaced people with technology and are working their existing staffs harder.

“It’s going to take a long time to get back,” economist Shierholz said.

The nation is looking at “eight or nine years of elevated unemployment, and we just haven’t seen anything like that.”

The U.S. safety net wasn’t designed to withstand such a strain. The duration of unemployment benefits varies by state; 26 weeks is typical.

Federal extensions have increased that to 99 weeks in hard-hit states.

Still, an estimated 3.5 million Americans will have run out of ben-

efits by year’s end.

There are few other places to turn. Applications for federal food stamps and state programs that provide assistance are up sharply.

But because asset limits for applicants are so strict, many don’t qualify.

Veasley-Fields, the unemployed secretary, is now considering applying for Social Security when she turns 62. That will mean reduced benefits in her later years. But with the job market so poor and retraining opportunities limited for someone her age, she said she may have no choice. Others are coming to the same conclusion.

A record 2.74 million seniors applied for Social Security in 2009; more than 70 percent sought early benefits.

Desperation is growing, said Ofer Sharone, an assistant professor at MIT’s Sloan School of Management who has spent the last year interviewing dozens of long-term jobless

workers.

“The U.S. is clearly not equipped to deal with this high level of unemployment,” Sharone said. “People are running out of benefits, health insurance, retirement and pensions.”

Bernie Doyle, 54, just wants to get back on a building site.

Before he was laid off in 2009 he made nearly $90,000 a year as a construction supervisor on highend apartment projects in San Diego. He bought a 26-foot boat that he and his wife, Suz’Ette, took out nearly every weekend. He had a sense of pride each time he finished a job on schedule.

“They’ll slap me on a job and it’s nothing but bare dirt. By the time I leave, the thing is built,” said Doyle, his accent revealing his New England roots. “I love it. I live it. I like the pressure. I like dealing with people. I like getting the job done on time.”

But the hangover from the nation’s

building binge is likely to last years.

There are just too many empty dwellings and too few buyers.

Doyle figures he has applied for more than 100 jobs, including an apartment building handyman and a Home Depot salesman.

“I’ve had two interviews,” he said.

“I didn’t get either one.”

With depression mounting, he shut off his telephone for three days, stopped checking his e-mail and isolated himself from friends. He’s since turned the phone back on but remains discouraged. He now smokes two packs of cigarettes a day.

The boat he and his wife used to cruise every weekend is now up for sale. He can no longer afford the payments.

“I never thought I’d be in a spot like I am now, not in a million years,” Doyle said. “I guess a lot of other people feel like that too.”

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editors: scott masselli, gabi seltzer opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865 COLLEGIATETIMES

september 10, 2010

The Collegiate Times is an independent student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903

Nike uniforms not excessive spending Oh

great — another pointless dumping of money onto some corporate sponsor. Give me a break.

I shared those sentiments exactly as I pondered the newest uniforms added to Virginia Tech’s football closet — the Nike Pro Combat 2010 uniforms.

“Awesome! Nike is making even more money off us.”

After uttering that statement, two $45 tickets to the Boise State game at FedEx Field arrived in the mail via overnight delivery with (who else?)

FedEx. I promptly bought two “Blackout” shirts from the Volume Two Bookstore.

And then I thought about it — I just spent more than $100 on a single football game.

Number crunching ensued.

FexEx Field in Landover, Md., can hold 91,704 fans. I assume that 30,000 seats were reserved per school, leaving 31,704 available for Redskins season ticket holders and the general public. With these 30,000 tickets that Hokie Athletics advertised last February, probably 15,000 fans purchased the $50 tickets, 10,000 bought the $60 tickets, and the remaining 5,000 purchased the $85.

Obviously, these numbers are assumptions.

The ticket revenue from Tech fans, based on this scenario, equals $1.775 million.

I also purchased two “Blackout” shirts. Let’s say onethird of the Tech fans whose seats were reserved in the original 30,000 purchased these $6 shirts. That’s another $60,000 Tech made off the T-shirts. So far, we have $1.835 million in revenue.

Don’t forget that Allstate is sponsoring the matchup — “Virginia Tech vs. Boise State, Presented by Allstate” is printed on my tickets. Even if Tech does not see a dime from that sponsorship (highly unlikely), plus the $2.35 million from the Washington Redsksins, who hosted the game, it leaves us with $4.185 million to pay back Nike for the new gameday jerseys and helmets. And most likely, those uniforms did not cost the athletics department more than $250,000.

Obviously, these figures are not completely real. Only the ticket prices, stadium capacity and Tshirt price figures are real. But think critically about this: Do you really think Tech is paying full price on those jerseys?

Nike is marketing the hell out of their Pro Combat line, leading me to believe that Tech director of athletics Jim Weaver is not going to cut Nike a check that large for the new threads.

(Also, who do you think made

all of the other uniforms for the other varsity sports teams?

Nike, Adidas, Reebok, etc.)

Think of all the fans who are going to buy them. We’re not dumping money on Nike.

Let’s estimate the price tag of the Pro Combat uniforms by looking at the current construction and renovation projects on campus.

According to the Virginia general assembly’s Legislation Information System, $30 million of state money had been budgeted for the Perry Street parking facility, a staggering $65 million to renovate Ambler-Johnston and a mere $6 million for McComas Hall.

They did a fantastic job with the new McComas gym. But $6 million? More money was probably spent than that, but it still looks fantastic. Now, imagine how much cash it would take to make new uniforms from Nike. We as students should not get caught up in how money at Tech is earmarked. All we seem to notice is whatever percent the Virginia general assembly is cutting in funding, plus the seemingly annual rise in tuition.

But get over it. Tuition is going to rise every year. As demand rises and supply falls, prices typically rise. The state government is not the only source of income for this institution. The Virginia Tech Foundation’s Campaign for Virginia Tech is nearing its goal of $1 billion, currently at a mighty $946.3 million. That total is just about $10 million short of Tech’s yearly operating budget.

Other donation programs keep Tech’s research running smoothly. When it comes down to it, there’s no real reason to get all upset about this perceived frivolous spending. Tech is not going broke.

Tuition is rising because of market inflation and state funding decreased because of lowered budgeting because of tax revenue forecasted lower than actuality.

If you think the Pro Combat uniforms are an abuse of rare dollars, then do some research.

If you’re concerned about rising tuition costs, then write your state representative. But personally, I still don’t think the Pro Combat uniforms are all that attractive, anyway.

BEN WOODY -regular columnist -senior -English major

Your Views [letter to the editor]

Virginia Tech fans show poor sportsmanship

I

have been planning and escorting Boise State football fans to away games for over 20 years.

In those years I have traveled to some pretty hostile environments, but never in those 20 years have I experienced the rude, vulgar, unsportsmanlike, drunk behavior that was displayed before, during and after the game Monday.

My 20-year-old daughter escorted a bus of more than 50 fans to a back parking facility.

C

While she waited for us to meet her, she was called unspeakable names.

I was flipped off, harrassed and taunted.

We had beer bottles thrown at our buses, and my husband had to physically remove a fan from our bus area after the game.

Boise State fans have traveled to Georgia, UCLA, Washington, Oregon and conference games throughout the years, and if Tech’s students are a reflection of the ACC, then you can have it.

Boise State fans rock.

MCT CAMPUS

Graduate community working to bridge diversity Tech’s gaps I

am a doctoral student in family therapy with research interests in community capacity building and civic engagement.

My past three years at Virginia Tech have introduced me to a vibrant community and a special program called Transformative Graduate Education, and have also continuously inspired my commitment to service. As an engaged citizen scholar, Tech continues to nurture and engage me in personal and professional capacities.

All of us involved in higher education, both students and administration, are facing challenges, some of which are beyond the scope of our current resources.

However, I believe as citizens of this land-grant institution, we can harness our relations, better connect our resources and mutually affirm our strengths as a community to solve the challenges of 21st century higher education.

As our university continues the global expansion of higher education, the graduate community will usher in a new era of learning through interdisciplinary education.

Interdisciplinary education provides the graduate school a competitive edge in bringing brighter students and better funding opportunities.

Graduate school dean Karen DePauw, in collaboration with students and faculty from across the university, leads the effort to increase Tech’s capacity for interdisciplinary education.

This attitude of collaborative learning reinvents pedagogy and affirms our identity as a 21st century university, one that must achieve a flexible system of adaptive learning to invent the future in a competitive global market.

This advancement in graduate education is another testament to our commitment to deliver quality education.

As the leaders of this university, we look forward to your active support and guidance to achieve these goals.

As we grow globally, our populations within the state continue to grow in diversity. For example, we have

more full-time graduate students in our National Capital Region this year than ever before.

Our graduate population welcomes several non-traditional graduate students — returning professionals, students with family — increasing the diversity of life experience, student relationships and age.

To better serve the needs of our constituency, graduate students continue to work on child care issues and graduate living options. Such amenities increase our chances of recruiting competitive talent into our colleges and also increase the chances of retaining the students that enroll.Graduate students are increasingly concerned about the rate of change in the capital fee they pay every semester.

While the comprehensive fee from the university has remained more or less the same, with an increase of only $8, the capital fees from the state have increased to $284 from $85 in 2008.

With a freeze on salaries and a rise in out-of-pocket expenses, it would be effective if the fee can be prevented from increasing any further.

Graduate students have been proactive in their efforts to understand the fees and have conducted education sessions to help the constituency better understand the fee structure.

We also hope to organize stronger graduate representation this year for Hokie Day in our efforts to educate the legislature about the importance of graduate students in the university and the state of Virginia. DePauw and university President Charles Steger have been in the loop on these conversations and hope to work together as we have in the past to better understand this issue.

Shane McCarty, the undergraduate representative to the Board of Visitors, and I are working together on promoting “Engagement and Inclusion” through creating a shift in understanding, experiencing and embracing the concept of diversity.

Our initiatives to engage the student communities strategically align themselves with the current Diversity Strategic Plan.

Specifically, within the Dimensions of Inclusive Excellence at Virginia Tech, we aspire to influence campus climate and inter-group relations as well as institutional infrastructure.

Along with student governments (both graduate and undergraduate) and student organizations, several offices including the Office of Diversity and Inclusion will support this student movement.

When a community comes together to cross traditional boundaries and understand each other, we weaken our walls of resistance, helping us become inclusive at an experiential level.

This culture of actively caring for people not only helps with recruitment, but also addresses the important issue of retention.

Being part of an inclusive community that lives the “Principles of Community” imparts members with skill sets that last a lifetime.

The ability of a community to dignify others will make Tech a leader in inclusive excellence.

In conclusion, I want to leave you with a story. In spring 2010, DePauw held several luncheons with minority groups to understand how the graduate community can continue to advance in inclusive excellence. In the course of the conversation, she would always ask one question: “If you were to return to Virginia Tech campus in 10 years, what would you notice that would indicate that we are an inclusive community?” In one of the groups, a student raised her hand and said, “I would know we are an inclusive community when there are no more diversity committees on campus.”

As we continue to strategize and plan, I hope over time our plans and strategies become obsolete and all of us can experience the benefits of today’s investments.

DEEPU GEORGE -guest columnist -graduate representative to Virginia Tech Board of Visitors

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september 10, 2010

5

Comedian troupe will hype up the humor tonight on stage ALEX BEARD: I decided to start the group because I saw there was a void. There wasn’t an improv comedy group here and there hasn’t been since I was a freshman.

I saw this as the perfect outlet to perform.

Newly formed Virginia Tech comedy group Lolopolis will take the stage tonight aiming to wow audiences with highbrow humor.

The 12-member co-ed group will perform for free in the Theatre 101 Black Box Theatre at 7:30 p.m.

Created at the start of this semester, Lolopolis, which is a registered student organization, is quickly spreading its name across campus. The first show was just a few weeks ago at Gobblerfest, with this being the group’s second show. A third show is tentatively scheduled for Dec. 3.

Alex Beard, Lolopolis founder and junior theatre arts major, met with the Collegiate Times to discuss the group and the upcoming show, which has a “dating and relationships” theme.

CT: Do you each do your own performances? Or do you do perform as a group?

BEARD: Basically, we perform as a whole. We decided our formula is to do sketches in between our long improvisation.

We will get a suggestion from the audience, which is normally something that happened to an audience member recently. We will then take that suggestion and stay as far away from it as possible, but take bits and pieces of it to create a story.

What we do is create a miniature play. We have two long-form sets of improv and three sketches that we have bookended. They will still be improvised but we have already figured out where we want the sketch

COLLEGIATE TIMES: Why did you decide to form the group?

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really worked on for awhile. Usually a sketch comes from improv that we do from rehearsals. We will get an idea or stumble on something and say, “Let’s go more into that.”

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Members of the Loloplis Comedy Group perform an improv exercise. to go.

CT: What is the difference between an improv and a sketch?

BEARD: An improv set would be something that is 100 percent made

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up on the spot; there are no predetermined values to the piece itself.

For a sketch, we will write out the set ahead of time, and normally it will go through some kind of editing process. It is something we have

CT: Where does the group draw inspiration for its jokes?

BEARD: Inspiration for the group, and for me particularly, comes from Andy Kaufman from Man on the Moon. I also look a lot at more obscure humor, like Bob Odenkirk and David Cross. I am a huge fan of Donald Glover, who is on the NBC show Community.

I look toward more obscure, but more highbrow comedy. I am not a fan of lowbrow. Poop humor is the best way to describe it. What we are going for is a highbrow level of comedy, like something that an educated college student would understand, but it isn’t a slap in the face.

CT: What made you become involved with comedy?

BEARD: Ultimately this is what I

want to do when I graduate. I started doing improv comedy, which I was doing in short form in high school, and I really enjoyed it. There is something about creating something in the moment that sticks with me a lot more than a worked piece.

CT: What can the audience expect from your show on Friday?

BEARD: An extremely good time.

People are really going to get the bang for their buck because it’s free.

Moreover, I think they’ll really enjoy themselves.

Everyone will kind of be there and in the moment. The audience will be on a tightrope if you will. By experiencing that, I think they will get a lot more out of what we are doing, and what we are striving for, in terms of comedy and even theatre.

I think if it is something you haven’t experienced before, live improv comedy, then there is a huge difference between seeing “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” on TV and seeing it live, and I think everyone should experience that.

september 10, 2010

page 6

She said: Nothing matches he maroon and orange spirit she A

fter glancing at the cows to my right and staring in awe at Lane Stadium on my left, I knew I had found home the first time I drove on the Virginia Tech campus. But little did I know, once I received my acceptance letter to Tech, I was about to enter a completely different world.

I’ll do my best, but words cannot describe the feeling in the air on game days in Blacksburg. As a freshman, I knew that Hokie football was a big deal, but I was overwhelmed to realize that I had become part of a cult.

After attending Hokie Camp, I felt prepared for the first home game against Marshall. I was ready to jump for “Enter Sandman,” shake my keys and scream along with the Marching Virginians. I knew about Skipper and I had already bought my Hokie bird tattoo stickers weeks in advance.

Once Sept. 12 rolled around, I put on my Beamerball bracelet, my whiteout shirt and my tattoos. As I stepped outside, white was literally everywhere and the fans ranged from babies to grandparents. I was speechless at the chants of “Let’s go ... Hokies,” which continuously echoed throughout Blacksburg hours before the game.

There may be a visitor section, but you can never tell where it is in Lane Stadium — Hokies are everywhere.

Today, Lane is still considered one of the country’s loudest and most difficult stadiums to play in.

We even have two bands. But what else did you expect? We’re Hokies.

Whether you know someone or not, they become a part of your family on game days. You cheer, you tailgate and you even take pictures with the orange-bearded Viking or the Transformer-like robot guy.

I quickly learned how Hokies come together when a random girl, who might have been a little too intoxicated, fell down the stairs of the student section last season. Instead of everyone pointing and laughing, Hokies jumped into action to help her straighten up before the cop noticed anything. She ended up breaking a flip-flop and bruising her dignity — but hey, she didn’t end up in handcuffs, right?

By the end of that first game, all of my skepticism about Tech had disappeared. As cheers continued, students raced to get out of the stadium and beat the never-ending DXpress line.

It became routine to stock up on food and sleep the rest of the afternoon in order to prepare for Saturday’s second round of festivities.

As this season approached, I faced tough decisions. It’s a fact, as a student, that your world revolves around Hokie football. Do I ditch my classes and put aside my paper that needs to be written? Or do I stay behind? But what can professors expect when ESPN’s college GameDay crew announced our opening matchup with Boise State as one of the top five games of the year?

I violently shook my keys and ended up losing my voice in the student sec-

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tion Monday night, which led to an outcome that was far from favorable.

Our first quarter almost put me into cardiac arrest, yet we fought our way back. We may not have won, but it was one of the best games that I have ever seen.

Can anyone say deja vu? Last season we started off with a loss and look where we ended up. We were ranked tenth at the start of this season thanks to our wins against teams like Miami and Nebraska.

I know you’re disappointed, and maybe a little heartbroken too, but we’re only just beginning. This year we not only have Ryan Williams, but also returning 2008 star Darren Evans. With a match like that, I’d be a little concerned if I was JMU. And we all know that Tyrod Taylor’s play on Monday should strike fear into any opponent.

We are one of three schools that can say we’ve attended 17 straight bowl games. With consistency from coach Frank Beamer, who has the second most wins among active coaches, we’re on the road to another one.

CHELSEA GUNTER -features staff writer -junior -communication major

He said: Hokie football prevails after loss T

here’s no way to beat around the bush: This has not been the most fun week to be a Hokie.

Our old friend soul-crushing disappointment returned, as if on cue, to mock our football national title aspirations. After previously appearing in the guises of Matt Ryan and Mark Ingram, the malevolent spirit took the form of a Cro-Magnon Justin Bieber for its latest performance.

This one may have been the most galling yet. With minutes left on the clock, I was convinced my pre-comeback pledge of victory streaking would soon become a cold, pleasantly embarrassing reality. Alas, the only shrinkage this night would be that of Hokie Nation’s collective ego.

It was a brutal night, the kind that leads you to question deeply-held religious beliefs and make rash Facebook pronouncements about the coaching staff’s employment.

That implacable pain will remain with us all season as ESPN slobbers

on the Idahoans and their dominance over glorified Division II competition.

The trauma will be deeper for our friends who made the pilgrimage to FedEx Field, tailgating in party buses and RVs to prepare for jubilation that never occurred.

Yet life, as always, will go on. The campus-wide hangover will eventually dissipate, most likely with the arrival of our rambunctious friends from James Madison University. The state of Idaho will once again fade into irrelevance.

And our Hokies, whom the national sports media will delight in writing off so early in the season, will remind us why we stay so loyal in the face of perpetual disappointment.

It’s not easy bleeding maroon and orange. The widely circulated YouTube clip “Virginia Tech Hokie Football Video” makes it clear that for every euphoric high there is an equally devastating low. For every ACC championship there is another gut-wrenching loss to a top-five team.

For every Michael Vick, there is a Marcus.

Consider the alternative, though: UVa fans will never have to worry about a loss sparking campus-wide depression because their football program doesn’t matter. Our JMU friends will be nonchalant after Saturday’s “game” because they don’t expect to compete against the best.

The student body was heartbroken Monday night because excellence is the standard at Tech. We are emotionally invested in the rollercoaster ride that comes with being a BCS contender every year. Per the old adage, the higher a Hokie bird flies, the harder it falls.

And when it does, we feel the full brunt of the impact.

It’s what we signed up for when we chose to attend this university. Every school has its selling point, whether it is history, location or some ballyhooed Wahoo notion of academic superiority. With all due respect to the bustling metropolis that is Blacksburg, location is probably not why any of us are here.

What brings students from all around the country here for four years is a spirit of community, intangible and indefinable but clearly visible for all to see on autumn Saturdays. It doesn’t matter if coach Frank Beamer leaves without ever filling that hallowed trophy case, because he has already helped provide a precious gift: an identity.

We came to this institution because being a Hokie means something.

One look around Lane Stadium on game day says more about this university than a thousand commercials ever could. The maroon and orange masses are gathered for more than a football game; it is a celebration of the indefatigable Hokie spirit we all share.

Hokies aren’t given respect; they earn it. Hokies bring the same passion to an East Carolina game that they do for a conference rival. Hokies wake up drunken freshmen passed out on the grass near Lane Stadium before cops see them. Hokies never rush the field (miracles excluded) because they are no longer in high school and because Hokies are the classiest fans in the nation.

Most importantly, Hokies keep their chins up when times are toughest.

Earlier this week, I met up with a fraternity brother who had gone to the game and was predictably despondent. We rued the outcome for a while, gnashing teeth over the blocked punt and absurd late hit call on linebacker Bruce Taylor.

At one point I asked him if he would’ve driven up to FedEx again knowing how the night would play out. After a minute he let out a wistful, “yeaaaahh” and began excitedly recounting stories of massive tailgates and high-fiving the players as they ran out to “Enter Sandman.”

I knew then the Hokie spirit wasn’t snuffed out on Monday, only momentarily dampened. We licked our wounds and are ready to move on.

Come Saturdays this fall there will be no talk of potato boycotts or lost opportunities.

There will only be Lane Stadium rocking to the energy of 66,000 overjoyed Hokies ready to give all for their family.

Maroon and orange on an all-natural green field. That’s real American football.

ANDREW REILLY -features staff writer -junior -communication major