Thursday, November 4, 2010 Print Edition

The Collegiate Times’ comprehensive guide to Virginia Tech football

Thursday, November 4, 2010

www.collegiatetimes.com

THE

EXTRAPOINT Sting Operation

FILE / SPPS

Tech fans will need to bring the same energy that has Lane Stadium pegged as one of the toughest places to play in the ACC. The Hokies are 16-5 in ESPN Thursday night games including 2-0 versus Georgia Tech.

Hokies host Yellow Jackets Cut blocking puts pressure on defense for primetime showdown “ MICHAEL BEALEY

MATT JONES sports reporter

Virginia Tech hopes to reintroduce itself on the national stage in an ESPN-televised matchup tonight with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

While the Hokies (6-2, 4-0) have been enjoying their midseason sixgame winning streak, the Yellow Jackets have not met their preseason expectations. Ranked No. 16 in the country coming into 2010, Georgia Tech has struggled thus far, as it is currently unranked.

“I have learned in this profession that people jump on and off the bandwagon really fast,” said Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech head coach.

“You put together a couple of wins and they will be right back on. There is a lot to play for.”

The most devastating loss this year for the Yellow Jackets (5-3, 3-2) came at the hands of the Kansas Jayhawks in week two. The Jayhawks were coming off a loss to FCS program North Dakota State and defeated the Yellow Jackets in a game in which they beat themselves more than anything. They committed 91 yards worth of penalties, including a costly one in the final minutes, and gave Kansas the 28-25 win.

After bouncing back against conference foe North Carolina, the Yellow Jackets stumbled against North Carolina State, losing 45-28. Georgia Tech then reeled off three straight victories before losing last week to the Clemson Tigers, 27-13.

After that loss, Johnson is well aware of the challenge the Hokies pose to his team.

“Right now (Virginia Tech) is unquestionably the hottest team in our league,” Johnson said. “They have been beating everybody up, won six in a row, are a very talented team, and it is a tough place to play on a Thursday night.”

While the season has not gone as planned thus far for the reigning Atlantic Coast Conference champions, there have been some positives.

In the Georgia Tech triple-option attack, quarterback Joshua Nesbitt and running back Anthony Allen have carried the load for the runheavy Yellow Jackets.

Nesbitt, the 2009 first-team AllACC quarterback, was considered a Heisman Trophy candidate heading into this year. The 6-foot-1-inch, 217-pound native of Greensboro, Ga. is unlike most quarterbacks, as he is

I have learned in this profession that people jump on and off the bandwagon really fast. You put together a couple of wins and they will be right back on. There is a lot to play for.

PAUL JOHNSON HEAD COACH, GEORGIA TECH

more of a threat with his legs than his arm. In 2009, Nesbitt rushed for more than 1,000 yards, while scoring 18 times.

However, this season Nesbitt has been asked to do more with fewer weapons. Georgia Tech lost running back Jonathan Dwyer and wide receiver Demaryius Thomas to the NFL, who were both juniors with one more season of eligibility.

The loss of Thomas especially hurts, as he was Nesbitt’s one weapon through the air, often catching the defense sleeping with long touchdown catches. In 2009, Thomas accounted for 61 percent of Nesbitt’s completions and 67 percent of his yardage, while catching all but two of his touchdown passes. Thus far in 2010, the Yellow Jackets have yet to find a player to fill that void.

While Nesbitt and the passing game have been struggling (last among FBS teams), the rushing attack has been the exact opposite. Allen, who is filling the role vacated by Dwyer, leads the nation’s top rushing offense.

The Tampa, Fla. native committed to the Louisville Cardinals out of high school, and he played two seasons before transferring to Georgia Tech. Last season was Allen’s first in a white and old gold uniform, where he played A-back. This season, Allen has moved to B-back, the position formerly played by Dwyer.

“Allen is a great, physical back,” said John Graves, Tech defensive tackle.

“He’s a big back, he’s 230 pounds, and he runs downhill.”

Georgia Tech, under new defensive coordinator Al Groh, has installed a 3-4 defensive scheme. The former Virginia head coach has found a new home in Atlanta, hoping to revitalize his career on Johnson’s staff.

The 3-4 defense is something of a rarity in college, while it is more see SHOWDOWN / page four

sports editor

As the Virginia Tech football team prepares for its crucial primetime matchup against Georgia Tech, an elephant remains in the room for both teams.

Following last year’s 28-23 defeat to the Yellow Jackets in Atlanta, Hokies head coach Frank Beamer alleged Georgia Tech engaged in illegal chop blocks during the game. According to the NCAA, a chop block is defined as “a high-low or low-high combination block by any two players against an opponent (not the runner) anywhere on the field.” Penalties for chop blocks are also given in order to mitigate ankle and knee injuries on players.

Hokies defensive tackle John Graves re-aggravated an ankle injury at the end of the first quarter of last year’s contest after a questionable block by one of the Yellow Jackets’ offensive lineman.

“I remember I was engaged on a blocker and a guy just came and swiped me at the legs,” Graves said. “I probably wasn’t fine until the (Chick-filA Bowl, nearly two-and-a-half months after the Georgia Tech game), maybe until a little after the bowl game.

Additionally, former Tech starting safety Kam Chancellor told officials during the game players were coming out of his vision and blocking him at the knees, which would constitute an illegal crackback block and a 15-yard penalty.

Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson disagreed with Tech’s allegations and told reporters after a team practice last year there was nothing with their blocking that was against the rules.

“They got out-schemed. So it’s illegal to out-scheme them, I guess,” Johnson said. “We blocked them the same way we blocked them a year ago (when Tech won 20-17 in 2008) and they weren’t complaining when they won.”

Nonetheless, this season Tech’s coaches feel the Yellow Jackets appear to have fixed what they saw in last year’s game.

“I thought it wasn’t very good (referring to Georgia Tech’s blocking last year), everything that coach Beamer talked at that time was legitimate,” said Charley Wiles, defensive line coach. “I think they’ve cleaned it up a little bit, looking at them on film to be perfectly honest with you it looked like to me.

I understood coach Johnson’s point of view and I understood our point of view so it’s kind of the nature of that offense a little bit. But it was not necessarily good for the game.”

Beamer expressed concern about preparing for a different blocking style this week, as the Yellow Jackets are one of very few teams that run an optionstyle offense.

“The difficult part is you try and get your team ready to play, but the (blocking) is different from what you normally see week to week,” Beamer said.

Beamer also said there was discussion within the Atlantic Coast Conference prior to this season regarding his concerns with chop blocks during the game.

“I think within our league there was a clarification in the preseason,” Beamer said. “I think the high-low block that got John (Graves), I think that has been watched pretty closely in the league so far.”

Chop blocks aside, the defensive line will undoubt-

MCT CAMPUS

Georgia Tech quarterback Joshua Nesbitt scrambles from defenders in last year’s contest. edly have their hands full as they look to stop Georgia Tech’s high-powered rushing offense. The Yellow Jackets rank first in the nation in rushing offense with more than 317 yards per game and last season rushed for 309 yards against the Hokies.

Tech lost three of its four starters along the defensive front, including defensive end Nekos Brown, defensive tackle Cordarrow Thompson and defensive end Jason Worilds, who was drafted in the second-round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. In their places are defensive ends Chris Drager and Steven Friday, as well as defensive tackle Antoine Hopkins.

“We really have a young, inexperienced group,” Wiles said. “Steven is having a good year, Drager is getting better every time out I think he’s been very productive so it’s been fun to watch these guys. I’ve really enjoyed being around these kids and coaching these kids. They’re just trying to do exactly what you’re asking them to do giving great effort so it’s been good.

Friday said despite the inexperience along the line, just one combined start among the three newcomers coming into 2010, there has been steady improvement throughout the season.

“I think we’ve definitely grown as the season (has gone on),” Friday said. “Those guys were great guys but we can’t dwell on them, we got to make the best of what we got now so if everybody executes the game plan I think we’ll be fine.”

Thus far, the Hokies are ranked 25th in the nation with 20 sacks. Two freshmen defensive ends, James Gayle and J.R. Collins, have been integral in the defensive line rotation for Tech’s pass rush, as the players have combined for 5.5 sacks this season.

“They’re two really good prospects. I think they’re learning and getting better every day,” Wiles said.

“I think they’ve got a lot of ability this has been a real big year in terms of them they’ve gotten to play some, they’ve stayed healthy, and they play hard. The big thing that they’re missing is a bunch of time on the field but they do have ability, and I think they’re getting better every time out.”

As a redshirt senior, Friday tries to impart his knowledge and experience on the younger players. He described what he tells them in order to stay focused during the season, especially with the Hokies headed into their final four games — all of which are against ACC opponents.

“I mean definitely just play,” Friday said. “Play your hearts out, play for your brother, put it on the line in the game and that’s all you can ask for.”

Nevertheless, Wiles made a point that despite the recent success for Tech and the strides the defensive line has taken they still need to stay focused on winning.

“It’s been a good journey so far now obviously you need to keep winning,” Wiles said. “How do you spell fun? W-I-N. “

november 4, 2010

WHAT TO EXPECT

virginia tech vs. georgia tech

page 2

[projected starters]

Georgia Tech

Defense Special Teams DE – Jason Peters K – Scott Blair NT – Logan Walls P – Chandler Anderson DE – Izaan Cross LB – Steven Sylvester LB – Anthony Egbuniew LB – Brad Jefferson LB – Julian Burnett CB – Mario Butler CB – Dominique Reeves S – Mario Edwards S – Jerrard Tarrant

Offense QB – Joshua Nesbitt BB – Anthony Allen AB – Roddy Jones AB – Embry Peeples WR – Stephen Hill WR – Tyler Melton LT – Nick Claytor LG – Jay Finch C – Sean Bedford RG – Omoregie Uzzi RT – Austin Barrick

5

Virginia Tech

Offense QB – Tyrod Taylor RB – Ryan Williams FB – Kenny Younger WR – Jarrett Boykin WR- Danny Coale TE – Andre Smith LT – Andrew Lanier LG – Greg Nosal C – Beau Warren RG – Jaymes Brooks RT – Blake DeChristopher

BB/#18 Roddy Jones Leads Tech with 692 rushing yards this season. Also has 33 career rushing touchdowns.

to Fear

1. Oregon 2. Auburn 3. TCU 4. Boise State 5. Utah 6. Alabama 7. Nebraska 8. Oklahoma 9. Wisconsin 10. LSU 11. Ohio State 12. Missouri 13. Stanford

14. Michigan State 15. Arizona 16. Iowa 17. Oklahoma State 18. Arkansas 19. South Carolina 20. Mississippi State 21. Baylor 22. Virginia Tech 23. Nevada 24. Florida State 25. North Carolina St

Virginia Tech 214.8

Rushing

317.4

209.9

Passing

84.8

424.6

Total Scoring (ppg)

Hokies returned two interceptions

402.1 29.5

defense

Conf 4-1 3-1 3-1 2-3 1-4 1-4 Conf 4-0 3-2 3-2 2-2 1-3 0-4

Overall 6-2 6-2 6-2 4-4 3-5 2-6 Overall 6-2 5-3 5-3 5-3 4-4 2-6

136.0

Rushing

162.3

200.4

Passing

192.0

336.4

Total

354.3

20.0

Scoring

43.6

Net Punting

37.4

16.0 22.2

Punt Returns

6.33 20.5

+4

27-38

Georgia Tech handed Hokies their first loss of season

23.6

special teams

Kickoff Returns Turnover Margin

the last five Georgia Tech-Virginia Tech game results 2005 2006 2007 2008 51-7

LB/#34 Steven Sylvester Leads Tech with 10.5 tackles for loss and second on team in sacks with three this season.

Georgia Tech

offense

37.0

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

LB/#51 Brad Jefferson Leads Yellow Jackets in tackles with 49 and sacks with four in Al Groh’s new 3-4 defensive scheme.

QB/#9 Joshua Nesbitt Passed for 674 yards and seven touchdowns, also rushed for 651 yards and eight touchdowns.

AB/#20 Roddy Jones Most experienced starter at running back, gained 232 yards and three touchdowns.

BCS Top 25

Special Teams Defense K – Chris Hazley DE – Chris Drager DT – Antoine Hopkins P – Brian Saunders DT – John Graves DE – Steven Friday OLB – Lyndell Gibson MLB – Bruce Taylor WHIP – Jeron GouveiaWinslow BC – Rashad Carmichael FC – Jayron Hosley FS – Eddie Whitley Rover – Davon Morgan

27-3

Sean Glennon threw for 296 yards and 2tds in Hokies domination

20-17

Darren Evans rushes for 96 yards and 1 touchdown in victory

+0

2009 23-28

Yellow Jackets eliminate No. 4 Tech from national title hunt

november 4, 2010

page 3

Foster’s defense looks to combat Georgia Tech’s potent triple-option

Hokies 2011 recruiting class starting to take form MATT JONES

hen the Hokies take the field Thursday night, they will be facing a very different beast than any other they have seen this season.

Georgia Tech’s infamous tripleoption running game is unlike any of its kind and could create major issues for a Virginia Tech defense that has had to focus on defending the pass for the majority of the season.

Though it may be unnoticeable by simply watching in the stadium or on TV, the Hokies have played some very pass-happy teams this season.

Excluding the James Madison game, the Hokies defense has had to defend against the pass on 58 percent of all plays. In fact, East Carolina and Central Michigan are in the Top 10 of all FBS teams in passing attempts this season, and Duke is not far behind at No. 17.

Because defensive coordinator Bud Foster has been put up against these trigger-happy teams, the defense has primarily operated out of a nickel package over the past six weeks.

Now that the Hokies are about to play the Yellow Jackets, their defensive strategy will have to do a complete 180 and prepare exclusively for the running game.

In contrast to the style the Hokies are used to facing, the Yellow Jackets have run the ball 81 percent of the time this season.

On third-and-six, coach Paul Johnson’s team will run the ball anyway and still get the first down.

The Yellow Jackets basically tell you they are going to run the ball down your throat and they still are successful at doing so.

This has been Georgia Tech’s modus operandi since Johnson installed his triple option system in 2008 after using it at Navy for six seasons.

Even if Tech’s defense wasn’t questionable this season, the Hokies would have plenty to be concerned about.

Last season Georgia Tech rushed for 344 yards in a 28-23 upset of the Hokies.

To make matters worse, the Hokies couldn’t even respond to the thrashing because the Yellow Jackets held onto the ball for all but 7:31 of the second half.

In order to combat this history, Foster actually flew to Iowa to talk with the coaching staff that held the Georgia Tech offense to just 155 yards in the Orange Bowl in January.

Foster won’t let anything slip as to what he learned there and what his strategy will be, but there is no doubt his sleeves will be full of tricks Thursday night.

Regardless of scheme, the Hokies

sports reporter

W

MCT CAMPUS

Virginia Tech wide receiver Dyrell Roberts makes a catch in front of Georgia Tech cornerback Mario Butler in last year’s contest The No. 4 Hokies were upset by the No. 19 Yellow Jackets in Atlanta, 28-23.

“

Regardless of scheme, the Hokies will need their players to execute and the two most important players will be two that have drawn a lot of criticism this year: Jeron Gouveia-Winslow and Bruce Taylor.

will need their players to execute and the two most important players will be two that have drawn a lot of criticism this year: Jeron GouveiaWinslow and Bruce Taylor.

Because they are both key players at linebacker, they are the most important people to stop the run.

In last season’s game, the biggest impact players were Cody Grimm

and Barquell Rivers, the two players Winslow and Taylor replaced.

Grimm had eight tackles and Rivers led everyone with 16 in the game.

If they can do their jobs effectively and not miss tackles, the Hokies chances of winning will skyrocket.

Perhaps the biggest advantage for Tech is coming off a bye week. The team had 10 days to work on stopping the triple option.

Even though these teams play every year, Georgia Tech always has new wrinkles that are a daunting task to stop with just a week’s worth of preparation.

However, with more time to prepare, teams have become much more effective.

This could explain why the Yellow Jackets have lost five straight bowl games by an average margin of 17.6 points — when teams have the three weeks to prepare for bowl games, they can effectively plan and prepare for

what Georgia Tech does.

When the Yellow Jackets step onto Worsham Field Thursday night, they will face opposition from the roaring crowd and the Hokies with a strategy looking for revenge.

And they will be going against one of the hottest quarterbacks in the nation in the Hokies’ Tyrod Taylor.

The Yellow Jackets might very well be the best team Tech has played since Boise State, but they could very well be facing the perfect storm of events that can leave a team begging for the game to be over after the third quarter. Not a prediction — just a warning.

NICK CAFFERKY -sophomore -sports reporter -communication major

A young team is a double-edged sword in college football. While it develops depth on the roster and the players can mesh as a unit, it also limits the number of scholarships available for the upcoming recruiting class — a critical issue the Hokies are facing in 2011.

Virginia Tech already has a number of commitments on board for the class of 2011. A pair of elite defensive linemen in Kris Harley and Corey Marshall highlights the class.

Harley, a 4-star recruit out of Warren Central High School in Indianapolis is as good as they come. Hailing from the same high school program as current Hokie running back Darren Evans, Harley turned down offers from perennial powerhouse programs such as Oklahoma, Nebraska, Iowa and Michigan. Tech’s ability to pull Harley out of Big Ten country is a testament to the relationship Tech coaches have built at Warren Central.

Marshall, a 6-foot-2-inch, 239pound defensive end out of Dinwiddie High School in Dinwiddie, Va. is another excellent player for the Hokies in the class of 2011. Declining other offers from Georgia Tech, Michigan and West Virginia, Marshall will bring an element of speed coming off the edge, similar to that of former Hokie and current Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Jason Worilds. He will need to bulk up once he gets to Blacksburg, but the foundation for success is without a doubt there.

Tech also has commits from four talented defensive backs in the 2011 class.

James Farrow (Minnetonka, Minn.), Adeboye Aromire (Washington, D.C.), Ronny Vandyke (Lorton, Va.) and Michael Cole (Roanoke, Va.) are all 3-star prospects with plenty of room to improve.

Vandyke, the first commitment in the 2011 class, missed his entire junior season after suffering a dislocated shoulder.

Farrow, the No. 1 athlete in Minnesota according to online recruiting service Rivals.com, is coming off a huge junior season in which he received offers from Arkansas, Michigan State and Illinois.

Cole, a local product out of Cave Spring High School in Roanoke chose Tech over Penn State. What was originally a gray-shirt offer to enroll in spring 2012 is now a regular scholarship to come with the rest of the 2011 class.

Last but not least is Aromire, out of H.D. Woodson High School in Washington, D.C. Standing at 6 feet, 192 pounds, Aromire is built for speed.

Playing in a great defense was very important for Aromire, and he’ll get that playing under defensive coordinator Bud Foster and secondary coach Torrian Gray.

The class as of now is rounded out

by 3-star offensive lineman Jake Goins (Midlothian,Va.),quarterback-turnedtight end Chris Hall (Dinwiddie, Va.), 3-star tight end Christian Reeves (McDonough, Ga.) and defensive ends Justin Taylor (Hargrave Military Academy), Dewayne Alford (Suffolk, Va.) and Matt Roth (Ponte Vedra, Fla.).

Tech is still recruiting a number of talented prospects in the class of 2011.

Without a doubt, the strength of this class is in the linebackers, and Tech has targeted a couple of elite ones.

Curtis Grant, a 6-foot-3-inch, 222-pound inside linebacker out of Hermitage High School in Richmond, is the lone 5-star prospect in the state of Virginia. Holding offers from major programs such as Alabama, Florida, Ohio State, USC and Miami, Grant is extremely coveted. A top performer at the Blacksburg Nike Camp in June, Grant showed no reason he won’t be among the country’s best.

Recruiting analysts love Grant’s size at middle linebacker and believe he can make an immediate impact as a freshman. When watching him on film, what jumps out is his speed and how polished a tackler he is for someone in high school.

Grant is looking to trim down his list of schools in the coming weeks and turn his focus from recruiting back to his high school. Nonetheless, the general consensus is that Grant will leave the state, but the Hokies could still have an outside shot if he takes another visit to Blacksburg.

While Grant is No. 1 at the linebacker position, Stephone Anthony is a very close No. 2. The Wadesboro, N.C. native stands at 6-foot-3-inches, 220-pounds — truly a physical specimen. Anthony, a cousin of current Hokie linebacker Barquell Rivers, is believed to have narrowed his choices to Tech, Clemson, Florida and North Carolina.

Outside of the linebackers, several skill position recruits are still on the radar.

Quarterback prospects Marquise Williams (Charlotte, N.C.) and Lafonte Thourogood (Virginia Beach) are the main targets, as Tech is looking to build depth for the post-Tyrod Taylor era.

Manassas, Va. athlete Dominique Terrell is another player Tech coaches would love to get. The 5-foot-11-inch, 175-pound Terrell projects to play either defensive back or wide receiver at the collegiate level and would make an immediate impact at either position.

One other player Tech is currently looking at is Virginia Beach cornerback Demetrius Nicholson. The 4-star recruit is the No. 4 corner in the class of 2011 and is rumored to have narrowed down his schools to Tech, UVa and UNC. Whoever the Hokies end up with to close out this class, fans should be excited about the future of the program.

Florida State meets North Carolina for shot at redemption in ACC’s Atlantic Division his is the first week all season where each of the 12 Atlantic Coast TConference teams is playing against

before hosting Florida State and NC State to close out their season.

another conference foe.

Last week was pretty exciting, as Duke pulled a stunning 34-31 upset over Navy, and North Carolina needed a 14-point fourth quarter comeback to overcome William & Mary. At least the conference saved itself some embarrassment by not losing to another D 1-AA school.

In Coastal Division play, Virginia Tech is hosting Georgia Tech tonight. If the Hokies bolster their conference record to 5-0 this weekend, it would be hard to see them collapsing and not winning the Coastal Division title.

Surprisingly, the real race is in the Atlantic Division. After defeating thenNo. 16 Florida State last week, No. 25 North Carolina State now owns the tiebreaker in the division and is tied with the Seminoles and Maryland with one conference loss.

Maryland has the least talent of these three teams, and plays the toughest schedule, so it’s hard to see the Terps winning the division. They have road games at Miami (FL) and Virginia

GEORGIA TECH AT NO. 22 VIRGINIA TECH (7:30 P.M. TONIGHT, ESPN/ESPN3) The Hokies (6-2, 4-0) will have revenge on their minds after a 28-23 loss in Atlanta last year knocked the No. 4 team out of the national title race.

They were unable to stop Georgia Tech’s triple option running attack at any point in that game. This year, the Yellow Jackets (5-3, 3-2) are No. 1 in the nation with 317.4 rushing yards per game but No. 119 with a mere 85 passing yards per game.

With a week and a half to prepare, the Hokies defense should be able to get the job done — at least well enough for quarterback Tyrod Taylor and the offense to win the game.

PREDICTED WINNER: VIRGINIA TECH VIRGINIA AT DUKE (NOON, ESPN3) The Cavaliers (4-4, 1-3) stunned thenNo. 22 Miami last weekend to earn their first conference win since defeating Maryland on Oct. 17 last year.

They have also won back-to-back

games over FBS opponents and earned their first legitimate win of the year. So things aren’t looking too bad in Charlottesville.

But did anyone notice how the Cavaliers nearly blew a 24-0 fourth quarter lead by giving up 19 points over a seven-minute stretch. Miami starting quarterback Jacory Harris sustained a concussion early in the game, so he was out. The backup had a wrist injury and the third string got benched after throwing two picks.

So those points all came courtesy of fourth string, true freshman quarterback Stephen Morris.

Not looking good for the Cavaliers defense.

Duke (2-6, 0-4) quarterback Sean Renfree completed 28-30 passes for 314 yards in the Blue Devils’ upset of Navy last weekend. I don’t see the UVa defense stopping Duke’s offense.

PREDICTED WINNER: DUKE NO. 25 NORTH CAROLINA STATE AT CLEMSON (NOON, ACC NETWORK/ ESPN3) The Wolfpack (6-2, 3-1) had quite

the rebound from their overtime loss to East Carolina, upsetting Florida State (6-2, 4-1). NC State did exactly what was necessary to prevent the Seminoles from running away with the Atlantic Division.

Meanwhile, Clemson (4-4, 2-3) is fighting to keep the goal of bowl eligibility within reach. The Tigers have been streaky all season. After a threegame losing streak, they defeated Maryland and Georgia Tech, only to lose to Boston College. Clemson provided BC with its first conference win.

However, Clemson’s defense has been very good at home, and I think it will keep them in the game long enough to pull the upset.

PREDICTED WINNER: CLEMSON MARYLAND AT MIAMI (FL) (NOON, ESPNU) Miami (5-3, 3-2) starting quarterback Jacory Harris has not practiced this week. Fourth string quarterback Stephen Morris is in line to get the start when the Hurricanes host Maryland (6-2, 3-1) this weekend.

Despite throwing two picks last game, Morris played fairly well under late-game pressure and accounted for all three of the team’s touchdowns.

Miami still has its No. 23-ranked defense, and the game is at home.

The Hurricanes will come out playing with a sense of urgency since their season is on the line in this one.

They can’t afford another conference loss.

PREDICTED WINNER: MIAMI NORTH CAROLINA AT NO. 24 FLORIDA STATE (3:30 P.M., ABC) The Tar Heels (5-3, 2-2) must feel fortunate to have snuck by William & Mary last weekend, but they have a tough stretch coming up.

They play all three currently ranked ACC teams over the next three weeks.

I really don’t see the Heels winning any of these games.

Florida State (6-2, 4-1) knows it can’t lose another conference game since the Wolfpack hold the tiebreaker on them. The Tar Heels offense is going to struggle on the road against the Seminoles’ 15th-ranked defense.

PREDICTED STATE

WINNER:

FLORIDA

BOSTON COLLEGE AT WAKE FOREST (3:30 P.M., ESPN3) This qualifies as the meaningless game of the week.

The teams have a combined conference record of 2-8. Wake Forest (2-6, 1-4) has lost six in a row, including getting drubbed 52-21 by Virginia Tech and 62-14 by Maryland in the past two weeks.However, Boston College (3-5, 1-4) can take a step forward toward bowl eligibility by winning this one.

The Eagles finish the season against Duke, Virginia and Syracuse, so they still have some hope.

PREDICTED WINNER: BOSTON COLLEGE

GARRETT RIPA -sophomore -sports editor -mining and minerals engineering major

november 4, 2010

page 4

Showdown: Tech looks to suppress Yellow Jackets sting from page one

prominent in NFL teams such as the New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. The three refers to the number of defensive linemen, while the four is the number of linebackers.

In the past 20 years, football has been primarily a “run-first” game. Therefore, the 4-3 defense, with it’s four defensive linemen, has been the defense of choice for most coordinators. However, Groh is hoping that by utilizing four linebackers, the Yellow Jackets can key in on an inside ball carrier and “hit the gaps” quickly to offer help to the three down-linemen when defending the rush.

“The linebackers play a big key in it,” said Tyrod Taylor,

Tech quarterback. “Georgia Tech is very athletic at the linebacker position.”

Those linebackers — Steven Sylvester, Brad Jefferson, Julian Burnett and Anthony Egbuniwe — will play an integral role in attempting to stop the Hokie ground game. Ryan Williams, Darren Evans, David Wilson, as well as Taylor will try to control the ball, and keep the Georgia Tech offense off the field.

“It’s an important football game,” said Frank Beamer, Tech head coach. “I think any time you’re in your conference it’s important. Then when you’re in your own division it’s doubly important.”

The Battle of the Techs will kickoff tonight at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.

LUKE MASON / SPPS

Thursday November 4, 2010

An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903

www.collegiatetimes.com

COLLEGIATETIMES 107th year, issue 114

News, page 2

Weekend, page 6

Opinions, page 3

Sports, page A1

Classifieds, page 4

Sudoku, page 4

Classes ‘pay it forward’ Night game brings funding, headaches

MEIGHAN DOBER news staff writer

MICHELLE SUTHERLAND news staff writer

dents, who said the task was easier said than done.

“It is hard to walk up to a complete stranger on the street, give them a candy bar and share a message,” Geller said. “It is not easy for us to do that.”

Once the students gave their candy bars away, they were asked to share their story on the Actively Caring website.

The Actively Caring group tries to create an environment where courteous deeds are recognized and bullying is discouraged. It has been present on campus since 2008 and has garnered national attention as well as support from many on campus, notably SGA members.

For more information, ways to become involved with Actively Caring GHISLAIN DELPORTE / SPPS or to read students’ stories from the Top: Professor Scott Gellar explains the “pay it forward” experiment “pay it forward” experiment, visit to his class.

Bottom: An assistant distributes the candy bars.

ActivelyCaringforPeople.org.

Virginia Tech University of Virginia James Madison Longwood

Ticket sales

Student fees

activity fee per full time student VT - $257 UVa - $657 JMU - $1,114 Long. - $2,200

86 0,1 rcent ,41 $6 53 pe 02 .

10 874,2 cent r 1, $1 69 pe 79 .

17 647,3 cent 4, per $2 .66 ,672 t 82 4 rcen ,59 $6 08 pe .

90

Where not to park today

NCAA/conference distributions including all tournament revenues

2 ,24 87 ent 2,8 erc p $1 3 .16 ,07 21 73 rcent 1,8 $1 68 pe 6 .

17 65,84 ent c ,5 $1 per 5 5.2 88 nt 2,6 ce $6 6 per 0.8

Students and alumni embrace Thursday night football games for the excitement and air time, but they also bring unexpected benefits to students.

Being a part of a major football conference significantly lowers students’ activity fees.

University spokesman Larry Hincker said Thursday football, despite its inconvenience to students, is part of the “admission ticket” to a Division 1 conference and brings more benefits to students than they realize.

In the 2008-09 year, Tech raked in almost $17 million in ticket sales, $15 million in contributions and subsidies from the Atlantic Coast Conference and other sources brought in nearly $61 million.

This substantially lowers the activity fee students pay to support intercollegiate sports.

“The football team essentially pays for everything,” Hincker said.

Tech students pay only $257 this year, whereas University of Virginia students pay $657, James Madison students pay $1,114 and students at Longwood pay $2,200.

However, Thursday games can inconvenience commuters.

Professor Toni Calasanti does not expect many students to skip her sociology class this evening at 5 p.m.

However, she said she has concerns about her students’ parking situations.

Thursday will have game day parking, meaning there will be no reserved spaces for student commuters and many parking areas must be cleared by 4:10 p.m. or be subject to towing.

“I think we tend to assume that all students are white, middle class with no family obligations,” she said.

“For students who have to work fulltime, who have to commute, who have families — that inconvenience becomes much bigger. If you have a job to do, you have to figure out if you’re going to show up to work or not.”

While Lt. Debbie Morgan from Virginia Tech Police Department acknowledged the game is an inconvenience for commuters, she said most will already have parking spots by the time the football crowd arrives.

They can also take the bus.

Tech Police does not expect an increase in student drinking as a result of the game tonight.

However, Tech Police recorded 38 alcohol-related arrests or incidents during last year’s Thursday night football game against North Carolina.

“Heck no,” Morgan said. “They have classes, it’s just like any other school day.”

This is a brief breakdown of what each school pays to fund all intercollegiate sports.

0 ,90 73 ent 6,9 rc $1 .8 pe 80 27 1,6 nt e 9 c 3,7 er $1 4 p 5 .

54 20 1,3 nt ,06 rce $1 pe 6 3.8 nt 5 ,96 rce $9 4 pe 0.1

Two introductory psychology classes were able to participate in a social movement at Virginia Tech last week.

Scott Geller, psychology professor and founder of the Actively Caring group, used his two psychology classes to help spread the Actively Caring movement throughout the campus.

“It was a reverse trick-or-treat,” Geller said.

Each student in the two classes, which numbered about 1,000 people, received a candy bar that had a piece of paper attached that read “pay it forward.”

The candy bars were donated by the Hershey Company, which sent Geller and his team 2,000 PayDay bars upon request.

Geller’s students were asked to pass the candy bar on to someone they witnessed doing a good deed for another person. Geller encouraged them to share their story with the person who received their candy bar, hopefully sparking a movement where people will become aware of people’s kind acts towards one another.

This experiment fit into Geller’s lecture for his classes, which was about motivation and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

Students had various reasons for giving their candy bar away. They ranged from a friend helping someone with math homework to a boyfriend going to a specific dining hall with his girlfriend.

Francesca Rivera, one of Geller’s students, gave it away to someone holding the door for someone else.

“Actively Caring does not have to be complex and difficult. It is thanking the driver stopping at the pedestrian crosswalk,” Geller said.

This was the first time Geller involved his students in a classroom setting with Actively Caring.

Geller gathered feedback from his stu-

Source: USA Today, 2008-09 data MICHAEL MCDERMOTT / CT

Tech encourages safe drinking habits JAY SPEIDELL news staff writer

LIANA BAYNE associate news editor Although classes are not cancelled, all university offices with the exception of “faculty and staff directly supporting classroom instruction and other critical university operations” will close at 4 p.m.

Many lots must be cleared on Thursday.

If cars are not removed from these parking lots they are subject to towing.

The press release said individuals with valid Tech parking passes will not be charged $10 to park in public parking areas such as

the Prices Fork and Perry Street lots. People with valid Tech parking passes can also park in the Perry Street Garage for free.

The charge to enter the garage is $20 for the public.

Additionally, the release said “at approximately 6 p.m., on Thursday, traffic on Washington Street, Southgate Drive, and Spring Road may become one-way toward Lane Stadium. Traffic on Duck Pond Drive may also become one-way toward thestadiumfromSouthgateDrivetoWashington Street. After the game, the street directions will reverse until the traffic flow returns to normal.”

The Blacksburg Transit will operate on a normal schedule with the addition of the football shuttle, which starts running three hours before kickoff and charges $5 for people who do not hold a valid Hokie Passport. From halftime until three hours after the game ends, the fare for the football shuttle is free. The regular bus schedule will be suspended for the two hours after the game ends to help shuttle game attendees.

The press release suggested students who commute expect traffic delays and consider not driving to campus.

Virginia Tech administrators have been trying to curb the popularity of binge drinking among students.

With the recent alcohol-related death of Radford student Samuel Mason, party culture has come into the spotlight. His fraternity, Tau Kappa Epsilon, was disciplined earlier in the semester for serving alcohol to minors.

In response to the 2004 alcohol poisoning death of Tech student Thomas Hauser, the Campus Alcohol Abuse Prevention Center developed the “Say Something” program.

Each incoming freshman is given a brochure about alcohol education presentations CAAPC offers to various student organizations.

“The students have responded pretty well,” said Steven Clarke, CAAPC director.

The Virginia Tech Rescue Squad responds to three to four drinking-related calls on an average weekend, not including off-campus incidents which are dispatched from Montgomery Regional Hospital.

Clarke said a blood alcohol content of .26 or above is enough to inhibit respiration and death can occur after .30, which can be reached with “between 13 and 16 drinks.”

Contrary to popular belief, freshmen aren’t the most susceptible to alcohol poisoning.

“People with the highest tolerance are at a bigger risk,” Clarke said.

“Most people believe that tolerance means you process the alcohol faster, but there is only a 10 percent increase.”

Having 13 to 16 drinks may seem extreme, but Clarke says it happens fairly often.

“About 25 percent of people celebrating their 21st birthday are at .26 or above,” Clarke said, citing a study done at Tech from 2005 to 2007.

The “Say Something” brochure includes a wallet-sized card with information about diagnosing and responding to alcohol poisoning.

On the front of the card is a list of symptoms signaling a person requires medical assistance. The back of the card displays a diagram of the recovery position, which opens the airways and prevents the victim from suffocating if he vomits.

Clarke said the idea behind the card was to encourage people to call medical help before it’s too late.

“I’ve heard from several people that the card has been useful,” he said.

Clarke is also working on new programs to get students to take a more active role, and will be hosting focus groups in the coming weeks to determine policies.

“We need to develop a program that focuses on bystanders,” Clarke said. “A lot of these things can be prevented if bystanders stepped forward. We want to motivate them to take action in those situations.”

2 news

news editors: philipp kotlaba, liana bayne, gordon block newseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865

november 4, 2010

[

virginia headlines

COLLEGIATETIMES

Power shift s, battle lines appear [ ]

Ballistics confirm link in shootings WOODBRIDGE, Va. — The ballistics match in Tuesday’s overnight shooting at a U.S. Coast Guard recruiting office near Potomac Mills Mall, linking one gunman to five military shootings since mid-October.

After Friday’s shooting at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle -- fourth in the string of military shootings that began there Oct. 17 — the FBI said the culprit was likely a current or ex-Marine.

The military shootings began Oct. 17 at the National Museum of the Marine Corps.

Two days later, bullets from the same gun shattered windows at the Pentagon.

The next shooting came overnight Oct. 26 at a Marine Corps recruiting center in Chantilly.

The shooter struck again at the Marine Corps museum in Triangle early Friday.

Anyone with information on the three Prince William County cases is asked to call Crime Solvers at 703-670-3700. Tips leading to an arrest could earn a $1,000 cash reward.

-kari pugh, mcclatchy newspapers

CORRECTIONS In “Boucher upbeat despite defeat,” (CT - Nov. 3) Mrs. Boucher’s first name is Amy. In the online version, quotes have been corrected by Mr. Boucher and Mr. Hatcher.

Also, in “Project to map wireless Internet goes national,” (CT - Nov. 3) Mr. Fay’s last name was misspelled.

The headline has been altered to more accurately represent the nature of the project. 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.

PETER NICHOLAS & JAMES OLIPHANT mcclatchy newspapers

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama conceded Wednesday he suffered “a shellacking” in Tuesday’s election and seemed headed toward a collision with Republican leaders over the administration’s health care initiative as an uneasy realignment of political power began to solidify.

Republicans formed transition teams and released reports outlining their plans while a somber Obama held a news conference that was a mix of contrition and defiance.

Obama said he was open to compromise with Republican leaders, who picked up at least 60 seats in Tuesday’s historic election, enough to regain control of the U.S. House whenCongress opens its new session in January.

Tax cuts, changes in Washington’s culture, and elimination of pet spending projects all are issues on which the two sides might reach agreement, Obama said. But beyond a “tweak” or two, the president made plain he would not stand for repeal of a health care law that he views as the crowning achievement of his 22-month tenure.

Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, called the law a “monstrosity.” Obama, speaking to reporters in the East Room of the White House, said: “I think we’d be misreading the election if we thought that the American people want to see us for the next two years re-litigate arguments that we had over the last two years.”

The high-stakes confrontation

is looming between the president and the reconfigured House of Representatives. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., will be demoted, with Boehner poised to take her place.

“The American people spoke, and I think it’s pretty clear that the ObamaPelosi agenda is being rejected by the American people,” Boehner said.

“They want the president to change course.”

Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., who is expected to become the House’s new majority leader, said the party’s focus will be reviving the economy.

“The first order of business has got to be create jobs,” he said.

But Cantor’s office on Wednesday circulated a 22-page working blueprint for the new Congress in which he explicitly vowed to attack the health care bill on every front, describing it with the pejorative term “ObamaCare.”

“If all of ObamaCare cannot be immediately repealed, then it is my intention to begin repealing it piece by piece, blocking funding for its implementation, and blocking the issuance of the regulations necessary to implement it,” Cantor said in the document.

“In short, it is my intention to use every tool at our disposal to achieve full repeal of ObamaCare.”

As the two parties positioned themselves in the new political landscape, results from Tuesday’s elections were still coming in. Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., prevailed in a tight race against Republican Ken Buck, a tea party candidate. That means Republicans have thus far picked up a total of six Senate seats — four short

of the number needed to gain the majority.

Senate contests in Alaska and Washington remained too close to call Wednesday. The race in Alaska, which involves write-in candidate Sen. Lisa Murkowski, could take weeks to resolve.

Obama held his news conference following an election that found him on the wrong side of a piece of political history. Less than a dozen House races are still undecided. But based on the results as of Wednesday, the GOP pick-ups represent the largest midterm gain by either party since 1948.

Much as he insisted the election was not a referendum on him, Obama campaigned as if his name was on the ballot. He crisscrossed the country for his party, painting Republicans as an incompetent, obstructionist and backward-looking force in American politics. Now his agenda is where he hoped it would never be — at least partly in Republican hands.

He offered conciliatory words in his hour-long news conference, hoping to bridge differences that widened over the course of a toxic campaign.

Rather than putting forward an agenda reflecting Democratic interests, he said policy must be an amalgam of ideas embraced by both parties.

“So I think what we’re going to need to do, and what the American people want, is for us to mix and match ideas, figure out those areas where we can agree on, move forward on those, disagree without being disagreeable on those areas that we can’t agree on,” Obama said.

In the next few weeks, he said, he

plans to hold a meeting with the four leaders of the House and Senate to discuss the tax cuts that are set to expire, among other issues. Aides to the president said he wants to govern from the center. In his news conference, he made his first post-election overture along those lines. He even appeared ready for a deal on the expiring tax cuts.

Throughout the campaign season, Obama criticized Republican insistence on extending all of the Bush tax cuts, which are set to expire this year.

His plan was extend them for people who earn less than $250,000, but let them run out for those making more.

Asked Wednesday if he is willing to negotiate on that point, Obama said: “Absolutely.”

Obama also seemed optimistic that he could reach agreement with Republicans on changing the way Washington works — a major theme of his 2008 campaign. He accepted blame for slow progress on this front. And he mentioned the elimination of “earmarks” — pet spending projects approved with minimal oversight — as one potential point of compromise.

The president said: “We were in such a hurry to get things done that we didn’t change how things got done.

And I think that frustrated people.”

But it seems doubtful the elections will usher in a period of bipartisan comity. Each party hoped that the other would be the one to yield.

McConnell said he was “determined to stop the agenda Americans have rejected.”

nation & world headlines

]

Man connected to homicide of student CHICAGO — A man who notified police of a fire in a DeKalb park where badly burned human remains later were recovered has been arrested in Louisiana in connection with the homicide of Northern Illinois University freshman Antinette “Toni” Keller.

A “person of interest” was being held on charges of obstruction of justice and unlawful possession of a motor vehicle and awaiting extradition to Illinois, DeKalb police said in a written statement Thursday evening. Police Chief Bill Feithen would give no more details.

The man came to the attention of DeKalb police when he told them of a fire in the woods at Prairie Park, where Keller said she was going before she disappeared Oct. 14. Sometime after the remains were recovered Oct. 16, investigators tracked the man to Louisiana, sources said.

Items thought to belong to the 18-year-old art student from Plainfield were found near the remains, police said. Authorities did not disclose the discovery for another week while they confirmed that the remains were human.

Although the remains have not been positively identified as Keller’s, police on Tuesday classified her disappearance as a homicide investigation.

The lack of information from authorities has stirred rumors and stoked fears on the 25,000-student campus, where a gunman fatally shot five students inside a lecture hall before killing himself in 2008.

But students said Thursday they were comforted by news of the arrest.

Despite increased campus security, sophomore Emily Buckwalter said she has been more on edge walking around campus, especially in light of previous campus violence. “It’s just kind of scary how it all comes to us,” she said.

-angie leventis lourgos, mcclatchy newspapers

opınıons 3

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

november 4, 2010

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

Your Views [letter to the editor]

Rally was what America needed a political moderate, I was excited when I As heard about Jon Stewart and his Rally to Restore Sanity, which was held this past Saturday in Washington, D.C. I was unable to attend the rally, but I kept up to date by watching it online. I watched as Stephen Colbert was raised from his “fear bunker” in a similar manner to the recently rescued Chilean miners.

I listened as the former Cat Stevens, Yusuf Islam, dueled with the Prince of Darkness, Ozzy Osbourne, only to leave the stage arm-in-arm. I heard Jon Stewart’s final speech, where he implored that “these are hard times, not end times” and encouraged us to get along.

I saw the many posters constituents brought out, most humorously poking fun at the radical signs often seen at rallies today.

And how many constituents there were, as far as the eye could see. It made me glad to see so many people in the middle, the most often ignored group in the political spectrum, come out to show their support.

That’s why I was so disappointed to read the column you published written by one Matthew Hurt, saying the event “demonstrates liberal hypocrisy.” For those who have not read the column, I will direct you to read page 3 of the Nov. 2 issue of the Collegiate Times. I will counter some of the points Mr. Hurt makes with points of my own.

The first point that I wish to bring up is Mr. Hurt’s criticism of the rally signs taking shots at “nationally recognized Republicans.” It is easy to select a few signs out of thousands, as Mr. Hurt did, and use them as criticism for the entire group.

However, following the same logic, I could do the same thing and point out signs at conservative rallies that are scathing of Democrats.

Perhaps, for example, all those posters that portray President Barack Obama as Adolf Hitler.

I can already hear people yelling, “You can’t do that! That’s unfair!” And you know what?

I won’t do that. I recognize such a small selection of people does not represent the entire group.

Most of the posters were meant to be humorous. They accomplished that through pop culture references (the “newt” poster that Mr. Hurt brings up was simply a play on a line from “Monty Python and the Holy Grail”), funny pictures (a cat with a Hitler mustache) or by being just plain irrelevant (“I want more tortillas when I order fajitas at a restaurant.”).

The one criticism I do not understand is how he seems to lambast a sign in which the participant does not share political views with “Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh nor Sarah Palin.” Is he suggesting they are the representation of true Republicans?

l will leave that question out for him to answer personally, should he choose to do so.

Another point he brings up is that he is not trying to label all liberals as hypocrites.

However, if one were to only look at the title of his column and pay attention to the language he uses throughout, he would be left with an entirely different impression. I equate it to opening an ice cream shop, only to reveal once it is open that you’ll only be selling vanilla ice cream.

By misleading the reader with his title, he pretty much renders his entire argument defenseless.

After all, how can you criticize one group for being hypocritical when you yourself are also acting like a hypocrite?

This leads into the part of the article that made me do a double take.

Hurt then states we don’t tolerate such demonization at Virginia Tech. And you know what? He’s right. However, he’s wrong about the ones doing the demonizing.

It’s not the people who were holding the signs at the rally, hoping to spread the message of moderation and cooperation.

It’s people like Mr. Hurt, who are trying to attack and label anything they don’t agree with as being hypocritical. It’s not just conservatives. I have met plenty of liberals who also have engaged in such practices.

Neither side is right in this case. It’s like trying to have Yusuf Islam perform “Peace Train” at the same time as Ozzy Osbourne performs “Crazy Train” (which, strange as it sounds, actually happened at the rally).

Nothing gets accomplished if we act in such a way. Instead, we need to sit and listen to each other, see if we can reach some kind of common ground. Its articles like this that make me wonder if we will actually be able to accomplish this someday.

With so many political rallies using fear and slander in an attempt to draw in supporters, I found it a nice change in pace that there was a rally at which everyone could have fun. And that was part of the reason I feel it was necessary.

This rally served to prove there are still people in the middle, more than willing to talk and listen to what each other have to say.

I have no problem if you’re a Democrat, Republican or Libertarian, nor do I have an issue with you being a member of the Tea, Coffee, Green or Rent is Too Damn High Party.

All I care about is if you are willing to discuss problems in a civil, diplomatic manner. If you feel like you can only get your point across by yelling and screaming, I have no problem with ignoring you.

As Jon Stewart said during the closing speech: “If we amplify everything, we hear nothing.”

Christopher Zimmerman freshman, general engineering

we’re YOUR newspaper.

send a letter to the editor and express your views.

send an e-mail to opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com

with your letter or guest column attached.

MCT CAMPUS

Low voter turnout among students unacceptable group of friends and I drove over to our designated voting A location Tuesday afternoon. It was a bright, sunny day. Parking at the location was easy, and I was planning on getting Chipotle after voting.

Naturally, a smile was on my face.

I walked up to the woman at the main desk and something strange happened. She looked at me, looked at the group of colleagues I was with and looked back at me again. She tilted her head to the side, opened her eyes wide, and with hope in her voice, asked, “Is there more of you coming?”

I frowned. She was talking about students. A low student turnout rate for midterm elections is not uncommon, yet I was hopeful after seeing a good deal of students involved in the 2008 presidential election.

Unfortunately, the statistics do not lie. Information from the United States Census Bureau shows the turnout rates for voters aged 1829 in the 2002 and 2006 midterm elections was the lowest of all age groups — 22 percent and 25 percent, respectively.

The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement shows the rates of voting for young people in midterm elections in the last 40 years has not surpassed its rate of about 32 percent in 1982. Meanwhile, people aged 60 and older had a midterm election turnout rate of more than 60 percent in both 2002 and 2006.

Whenever I ask someone if they voted and they respond, “I couldn’t,” I then assume they are an illegal immigrant not authorized to vote. When their status as an American citizen has been confirmed, I am bombarded with other reasons why they did not vote.

I do understand when my peers tell me they simply do not know enough about the candidates. However, I do not think it is appropriate to

use that reasoning to justify not voting. Rather, it should be used as motivation to learn more about the candidates.

I agree with Patrick Mocete of the Syracuse University College Republicans when he says students do not need to be extremely politically active to vote. Rather, they need to just understand the gist of the current issues. There are plenty of resources and websites available that easily sum up the viewpoints of various candidates, the points in different pieces of legislation and so on.

I have also heard the “my vote is only one vote, it does not matter” line.

A concept that I am sure many environmentally-friendly students are aware of is the “tragedy of the commons.” In the long run, one person’s vote really does not matter.

However, if about 10,000 people all rationalize that their vote does not matter, then, collectively, it does matter. Those 10,000 people could have been what made a district Democratic or Republican.

It seems that, among all of these reasons, many young people feel these issues do not concern them — that they are permanently far away, almost by definition. We should, however, learn from our elders — things such as graduation from college, marriage and old age will sneak up on you.

And so will the decisions made in Congress.

For example, now that Republicans have won control of the House, they may try to reduce funding for Pell Grants — these help low-income students pay for schooling. This is just one example — there are good and bad characteristics on both sides.

Does it not sound appealing to have a voice in what happens? To have a voice in your own future? I suppose it may just be too daunting for people to deal with, and they would rather ride on the passenger side in the car that is their life.

The only excuse I can tolerate for people refusing to vote is that they simply abhor the democratic process or all the candidates, and as a result, choose to completely refrain from all forms of involvement. I fail to understand how that really does anything, though — you still live in this country and still have to play by its rules.

Decisions made in Congress will still affect you, regardless of whether you voted.

Ultimately, it seems the low voter turnout rate for young people could have influenced the Republicans taking control of the House. This is because the young are more likely to vote liberal than any other age group, according to research done at the New York Times. Ironically, however, the loss of the House to the Republicans may be in Obama’s best interest.

Obama could use Republicans, as CNN writer Julian Zelizer puts it, “as a foil to attack extremism.” As a result, Obama could move more toward middle ground and have more voters like him. However, some Democrats are already frustrated with Obama because of his lack of action in some areas and too much compromise in other areas.

Regardless of what happens, Republicans and Democrats alike should wear their “I Voted” stickers proudly.

You care about the future of our country and are willing to dedicate part of your day to having a say in the outcome of this country.

Unfortunately, you’re in the minority.

JOSH TREBACH -regular columnist -junior -biological sciences major

Paper planes at football games reflect poorly on atmosphere irginia Tech has found the cure for boredom at home football V games, paper airplanes. That’s right, the most primitive of children’s toys has once again found its place in the hearts of reminiscent Virginia Tech students.

The setting for the scene is similar every week. It is a sunny Saturday afternoon at Lane Stadium and the Hokies are in the midst of a battle on Worsham Field. It is the second quarter and the Hokies are giving their all.

Darren Evans breaks through tackles and runs into the end zone to put the Hokies up by 14. The comfortable lead quiets the cheering from the crowd, a crowd that now only raises its collective voice for big plays.

The third quarter rolls around and the east stands are getting restless. The fans believe the Hokies are on their way to a comfortable victory. Students are getting hot, sunburned and worst of all, sober. They need something to rekindle their excitement. Sadly, the preeminent way to improve the situation is to forge paper aircrafts from the student season tickets.

The initiator of the paper airplane epidemic is usually an upstanding and reasonable student at the top of the east stands. We’ll call him “Flyrod Saylor.” Flyrod takes out his ticket, folds it into a magnificent airplane and then proceeds to heave the airplane toward its wide-open receiver, Worsham Field.

The airplane soars 10 yards and more fans start to notice. Another 10 yards and people start to smile and cheer. Hopes grow and anticipation builds. At almost 30 yards, the stands start chanting in unison, “go, go, go”

The receiver is in sight and more students begin to whistle and shout.

The commotion draws attention from the rest of the stadium’s audience, who ultimately also join in on the bedlam.

The crowd roars as the airplane loses steam, attempting to lift it back into the air by raising the decibel level.

The aircraft finally dies 10 rows from the field and hits a little boy, who no longer wants to be a Hokie, in the back of the head. More than 66,000 downcast souls let out a collective sigh and then go back to watching the game, just before the true problem arises.

The copycats. Wannabe Flyrods who know if they could just make an airplane of their own, it would certainly make it all the way to the field.

They see a chance at immortality and they take it, more than 100 of them.

This would not normally be a problem, except for some reason, nearly every time the commotion reaches its climax, the play clock usually still has about seven seconds left on it. Not to mention the team is almost always facing a ridiculous situation, like 3rd and 17.

A lead of only 14 points, the game can easily turn around at any moment.

But if the game is blown at the cost of a paper airplane landing on the field, the fans still win, right?

One can only imagine what goes through Tyrod Taylor’s head when he hears the crowd erupt before he even snaps the ball. I imagine it is something like, “Okay, we have a 3rd and long, I am going to look to Danny for the long ball. Down — wait, why is the crowd screaming? Okay, we said that I’m going to throw it to Boykin

on the short pass. Set — man our crowd is loud. Why are they doing this? What was the play? Oh right, Stinespring called an option to David Wilson. Hike.”

Sack. As the crowd quiets down, Tyrod lifts his head off the ground and clears his facemask of turf. He opens his eyes and stares blankly at the enemy resting on the ground two feet from his face — an 8.5-inch by 11-inch slip of printer paper.

Way to go, Hokie fans. Not only did we lose the ball on a three and out, the other 99 paper airplanes thrown hit a nice old lady in the eye 20 rows from the field. How are we feeling now, Virginia Tech?

When the administration decided at the start of the 2009 football season to change the student season ticket material from the usual cardstock to print-at-home paper tickets, it probably did not foresee the unintended aerial consequence that would ensue.

The school likely saved a fair amount of money with this simple policy change. Unfortunately, nearly 20,000 students are now armed with paper airplanes at every home game.

An excellent trade-off.

If this epidemic spreads further, don’t be surprised if the tuba section changes its theme song from the “Hokie Pokie” to “I Believe I can Fly.”

STEVE LEWIS -regular columnist -senior -communication major

Collegiate Times Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Peter Velz Managing Editors: Zach Crizer, Michael McDermott Public Editor: Justin Graves Senior News Editor: Philipp Kotlaba Associate News Editors: Liana Bayne, Gordon Block News Reporters: Claire Sanderson, Sarah Watson News Staff Writers: Katie Noland, Jay Speidell, Michelle Sutherland Features Editors: Lindsey Brookbank, Kim Walter Features Reporters: Mika Maloney, Matthew Borysewicz, Majoni Harnal Opinions Editors: Scott Masselli, Gabi Seltzer Sports Editors: Michael Bealey, Garrett Ripa Sports Reporters: Nick Cafferky, Alex Jackson, Matt Jones, Courtney Lofgren, Josh Parcell Sports Staff Writers: Ed Lupien, George Tillerson Public Information Director: Dishu Maheshwari Training Director: Kelsey Heiter Copy Editors: Taylor Chakurda, Thandiwe Ogbonna, Nora McGann Spenser Snarr Layout Designers: Katie Biondo, Danielle Buynak, Cathleen Campbell, Maya Shah, Josh Son, Victoria Zigadlo Online Director: Jamie Chung Collegiate Times Business Staff Business Manager: David Harries Distribution Assistant: Ryan Francis Student Publications Photo Staff Director of Photography: Sara Mitchell Business Manager: Luke Mason Lab Manager: Mark Umansky College Media Solutions Ad Director: Nik Bando Asst Ad Director: Brandon Collins Account Executives: Emily Africa, Matt Freedman, David George, Melanie Knoth, Hunter Loving Inside Sales Manager: Wade Stephenson Assistant Inside Sales Manager: Diane Revalski Assistant Account Executives: Maddie Abram, Katie Berkel, Kaelynn Kurtz, Erin Shuba Creative Director: Chloé Skibba Asst Production Manager: Casey Stoneman Creative Services Staff: Katie Biondo, Colleen Hill, Jenn Le, Erin Weisiger

Voice your opinion. Readers are encouraged to send letters to the Collegiate Times.

365 Squires Student Center Blacksburg, VA, 24061 Fax: (540) 231-9151 opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com All letters to the editor must include a name and daytime phone number.

Students must include year and major.

Faculty and staff must include position and department. All other submissions must include city of residence, and if applicable, relationship to Virginia Tech (i.e., alumni, parent, etc.). All letters should be in MS Word (.doc) format, if possible.

Letters, commentaries and editorial cartoons do not reflect the views of the Collegiate Times.

Editorials are written by the Collegiate Times editorial board, which is composed of the opinions editors, editor-in-chief and the managing editors.

Letters to the editor are submissions from Collegiate Times readers. We reserve the right to edit for any reason.

Anonymous letters will not be printed.

Have a news tip?

Call or text 200-TIPS or e-mail newstips@collegiatetimes.com Student Media Phone Numbers Collegiate Times Newsroom 231-9865 Editor-in-Chief 231-9867 College Media Solutions Advertising 961-9860 The Collegiate Times, a division of the Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech, was established in 1903 by and for the students of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The Collegiate Times is published every Tuesday through Friday of the academic year except during exams and vacations.

The Collegiate Times receives no funding from the university.

The Collegiate Times can be found online at www.collegiatetimes.com.

Except where noted, all photographs were taken by the Student Publications Photo Staff. To order a reprint of a photograph printed in the Collegiate Times, e-mail spps@vt.edu.

The Collegiate Times is located in 365 Squires Student Center, Blacksburg, VA, 24061. (540) 231-9865. Fax (540) 2319151.

Subscription rates: $65 semester; $110 academic year. The first copy is free, any copy of the paper after that is 50 cents per issue. © Collegiate Times, 2010. All rights reserved.

Material published in the Collegiate Times is the property thereof, and may not be reprinted without the express written consent of the Collegiate Times.

november 4, 2010

page 4

Policies: The Collegiate Times reserves the right to reject or edit any advertisement it deems objectionable, at any time.

No refunds are available.

Place An Ad Today

CLASSIFIEDS WWW.COLLEGIATETIMES.COM 540.961.9860

Visit our business office at 618 N. Main St. 9am–5pm 9am 5pm Monday–Friday Monday Friday,, or place an ad online at collegiatetimes.com.

The advertiser assumes full responsibility for his or her advertisements and agrees to hold the Collegiate Times harmless for the content of all advertisements authorized for publication and any claims that made may be against the Collegiate Times.

Deadline: Three business days prior to publication by 3PM.

Rates:

Any questions concerning ads, please call the Better Business Bureau at 1.800.533.5501.

Rates as low as 32¢ per word, contingent on the number of days to run. Prepaid. 15 word minimum.

Cash, check, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express.

We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at 1.800.669.9777.

FREE CLASSIFIEDS FOR VT STUDENTS! students must come to 618 N Main ST to place the ad Sub-Lease Travel Rides Campus

Childcare Tickets for Sale Tickets Wanted Volunteers

Legal LEGAL TROUBLES?

Call for Free Consultation with Attorney on Alcohol, Assault, Drug, Traffic Charges, and VT Student Conduct Referral. Joel S. Jackson, PC. www.joeljacksonpc.com.

540.961.5297

Furniture for Sale BRAND NEW mattress sets: twin $89, full $99, queen $119, king $169 We can layaway/deliver 540.260.9091

Textbooks for Sale Textbooks Wanted Lost & Found Help Wanted

For Sale Events Health & Fitness Automotive

Travel

Help Wanted

GETTING COLD TIME to Plan your Spring Break 2010 Get Away! Learn how to travel to beautiful locations like Jamaica, Acapulco and the Bahamas on a party cruise. Find out what other Virginia Tech Hokies are headed to your destination.

-Adrian Email: Awhite@Studentcity.com for more information

*****BARTENDING***** MAKE UP TO $300/ DAY. No Experience Necessary.

Training Available.

1-800-965-6520 EXT210

For Rent PHEASANT RUN CROSSING Townhomes 2011-2012, 4 BR, visit www.techtowhomes. com or email techtownhomes@comcast. net

BARTENDERS NEEDED Earn $300 per shift no experience required will train FT/PT call now 877.405.1078 Marketing Internship Work with the Collegiate Times & The Extra Point Newspapers. NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED! Apply at CollegeMedia.com/join

Notices Wanted Musical Roommates

Greek Notes For Rent Personals Furniture for Sale

Personals ADOPTION

Pediatrician and hubby in northern Virginia wish to adopt newborn.

Approved by licensed child-placing agency. Med/legal expenses. Loving home! Contact us toll free 1-866581-5494 www. EdandMargaretB. freehomepage.com

Downtown Living South Main Living North Main Living Prices Fork Living

Patrick Henry Living Christiansburg Living

Find your appetite

Go online to see more New River Valley Restaurants at

www.dining.collegemedia.com

ADOPTION Pregnant? Think about adoption as an option! Warm, loving nurse wishes to adopt a baby. I promise a lifetime of love, happiness and security. Contact Susanne anytime at 1-571-882-3533 www.babyloveva.com

For Sale BUD FOSTER TSHIRTS $17.00

bFOSTER Apparel T-Shirts on Sale Now! Our designs are printed on American Apparel cotton shirts. Get yours today at: www.bfosterapparel. com

ACROSS 1 Sign up 6 “My Cousin Vinny” star Joe 11 Cooperstown shrine: Abbr.

14 First lady before Michelle 15 Revolutionary Allen 16 Tic-tac-toe loser 17 High rollers 19 Pin for hanging 20 Election losers 21 Observing 23 Musical scale unit 24 Morales of “Jericho” 26 Duped person 29 “Do as I say, not as I do” speakers 34 Deal in stocks 36 Stimpy’s partner 37 Actor Brad 38 Thinker Descartes 39 Like the house this puzzle’s subject couldn’t destroy 41 K-12 sch. years 42 On a cruise 43 “The View” network 44 Dig discovery 45 Shrill “compliment” to a pretty woman 49 “How revolting!”

50 One, to Beethoven 51 Den or parlor 53 One in a multiple birth 56 Pet lizards’ homes 60 German conjunction 61 Catch your breath, or what the subject of this puzzle (found at the start of 17-, 29- and 45Across) does 64 Swearing-in words 65 Motionless 66 Nightmare loc. of film 67 D.C. dealmaker 68 Like a catchingup letter 69 Some towed vehicles, briefly

By Betty Keller

DOWN 1 Napoleon’s exile isle 2 File target 3 Carpets 4 Director Welles 5 Carriage passenger’s warmer 6 Confined, as pigs 7 Approx. takeoff hrs.

8 Boater’s pronoun 9 Automobile 10 Crotch-to-ankle pants measure 11 Native Arizonans 12 Plow pullers 13 Verne’s circumnavigator Phineas 18 “I could __ horse!”

22 “Yahoo!”

24 Biz VIP 25 Went down like a stone 26 Like a house destroyed by this puzzle’s subject 27 “Am not!” retort 28 Group of judges 30 Idle and Clapton 31 Actress Palmer

11/4/10 Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved

(c)2010 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

32 Code of conduct 33 See 26-Down clue 35 Overwhelm with noise 39 German road 40 MLB scoring stats 44 Stock up again 46 Live __ one’s means 47 The “T” in NATO 48 Forsaken

9/27/10

52 Source of Canada’s symbolic leaf 53 Comical comment 54 Cancel 55 Fan club favorite 56 Swaps between accts.

57 Type of roast 58 In that event 59 P.M. periods 62 A, to Berlioz 63 Not many

sports 5

editors: michael bealey, garrett ripa sportseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865 COLLEGIATETIMES

november 4, 2010

Randy Moss saga grows Short leash on Skins’ McNabb after release from Vikings ASHLEY FOX

mcclatchy newspapers

MCT CAMPUS

Moss is all smiles with fans, however after just four games he was released amid off-field problems.

RECEIVER ALLEGEDLY BERATED VIKINGS CATERING STAFF IN YET ANOTHER BIZARRE EPISODE CHIP SCOGGINS mcclatchy newspapers MINNEAPOLIS — In the aftermath of Randy Moss’ sudden exit from Minnesota, his tirade at a caterer during a team lunch last week has gained national attention.

Moss screamed at the co-owner of Tinucci’s Restaurant and Catering in Woodbury and Newport in the locker room after practice because he didn’t like the way the buffet looked. “(Moss) came walking up,” Gus Tinucci said. “There were a couple of guys that were in line. I was carving some meat for a guy and all of a sudden I heard all this screaming and I was like, ‘Are you kidding me?’ I knew who it was immediately. I looked up and there he was. (Moss said), ‘I wouldn’t feed this (expletive) to my (expletive)

dog.’ I was in shock. I couldn’t believe it. It was quiet in there.”

The Vikings cater lunch for their players in the locker room every Friday after practice. Tinucci said his family’s restaurant has catered for the Vikings a handful of times in recent years in part because they became friends with former center Matt Birk.

Tinucci said his buffet included ribs, chicken, a round of beef carving station, pasta, vegetables and dessert.

“It looked good, like we always do,” he said. “I don’t know if he was starving for attention or what. But nobody laughed I can guarantee you that.”

Tinucci said he heard one player tell Moss to shut up. He wasn’t sure which player. A veteran player sent the Minneapolis Star Tribune a text message Tuesday that described Moss’ outburst as “bad.” Tinucci said two

Vikings employees approached him afterward and apologized.

“We just went about our business,” he said. “I had more compliments. The guys that were there and heard it and saw it, I think they were very appreciative of us being there. I wasn’t going to say anything because we appreciate being there. We want to come back there. What am I going to do, call him out? Go, ‘Hey, if you don’t like it, get the hell out or whatever?’ I’m in their house.”

It was not the first time Moss verbally abused someone associated with the Vikings. In 2001, he screamed at a group of corporate sponsors on a team bus in Philadelphia for occupying a seat that he wanted. The team fined him $15,000.

Tinucci seemed a little surprised by the national attention that Moss’ latest meltdown garnered.

“He just slammed us,” Tinucci said.

“It wasn’t us personally because he doesn’t know us from Adam.”

PHILADELPHIA — Now we know.

Trading Donovan McNabb wasn’t just about the Eagles’ brass wanting Kevin Kolb to get a shot at being the starting quarterback. They no longer wanted McNabb for all the reasons Mike Shanahan didn’t want him on Sunday.

Shanahan can call it “cardiovascular endurance” or blame McNabb’s loose grip on the Washington Redskins’ twominute offense. But Shanahan didn’t want McNabb as his quarterback with the game against Detroit on the line with 1 minute, 45 seconds to play because McNabb is not clutch in those situations, not anymore.

It took Andy Reid 135 games to bench McNabb. It took Shanahan eight. He has no real allegiance to McNabb. Shanahan didn’t build his career off McNabb’s cannon of an arm, didn’t ride with him through all those playoff wins and trips to the NFC championship game.

No, the only thing Shanahan had at stake were words. He had spent the off-season jabbering that the Redskins were going to win this season and that McNabb was a big reason.

So he risked a sliver of his reputation for what he truly believed — that McNabb can’t get it done in crunch time — and the move stripped McNabb bare.

Shanahan doesn’t trust him. It is that simple, and it makes the Eagles look brilliant in deciding that after 11 seasons, it was time to move on. That is why they had no problem moving McNabb within the NFC East. It had nothing to do with appeasing McNabb.

It had everything to do with sending him somewhere that would help the Eagles.

And, boy, could it really help them.

After Reid benched McNabb at halftime of the Baltimore game in 2008, McNabb came back with a vengeance.

Just four days later, on Thanksgiving, he carved up Arizona, completing 27 of 39 passes for 260 yards and four touchdowns.

With the exception of a game against Washington, McNabb played superbly the rest of that season, throwing nine touchdowns and just one interception in five games, with four wins.

In typical fashion, McNabb said all the politically correct things Sunday after his latest benching, and on Tuesday during his weekly radio show in D.C., he

MCT CAMPUS

Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb was benched on Sunday. failed to get into a war of words with his coach.

“You can ask these guys how I work and my work ethic,” McNabb said, according to Reid. “My work ethic has never been a question. My tempo has never been a question. But I think there’s a lot of digging going on right now, miscellaneous digging.”

Tempo was a question in the Super Bowl, wasn’t it? That is on tape and is not miscellaneous digging.

Peel away the layers, and McNabb has to be seething. He is a proud guy who has worked to build the confidence his teammates seem to have in him.

But the numbers don’t lie. With a passer rating of 76.0, McNabb is 25th in the NFL, three slots — it has been noted in Washington — behind former Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell, who is now in Oakland.

McNabb still has the big arm — he is tied for second with seven passes of 40 or more yards — but he has struggled

this season on the short and intermediate passes. And Sports Illustrated’s Peter King pointed out this week that with the ball in McNabb’s hands in the final two minutes of a game this season, the Redskins have managed only a field goal. And so, even though the Redskins’ offensive line couldn’t block me and the receivers are shoddy at best, Shanahan benched McNabb. Oh, and by the way, the Redskins worked out former firstround draft pick JaMarcus Russell on Tuesday. Coincidence? Doubtful.

Shanahan’s hope certainly has to be that after the bye week, McNabb will be highly motivated and sharp at home against the Eagles. Shanahan also has to hope that the locker room doesn’t rebel against him, because McNabb is popular and Rex Grossman is a turnover waiting to happen.

McNabb got 22 more starts for the Eagles after that Thanksgiving night. He is guaranteed one more in Washington — and nothing more.

6 weekend november 4, 2010

editors: lindsey brookbank, kim walter featureseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865 COLLEGIATETIMES

Wondering what’s going on around the ‘burg? Check out the events of the upcoming week.

[Saturday, November 6]

In the

What: Lolopolis Comedy Group Where: Attitudes When: 9:30 p.m.

Cost: $15, 18+

What: Music: Backwords Where: Gillie’s When: 7 p.m.

Cost: Free

What: Kentland Folklife Festival Where: Kentland Farm & Manor When: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Cost: Free

What: Music: Indigo Girls w/ Lindsay Fuller Where: The Lyric When: 8 p.m.

[Sunday, November 7] [Thursday, November 4] What: Music: Momentary Prophets Where: Gillie’s When: 7 p.m.

Cost: Free

What: Graduate School Homecoming Where: GLC When: 4:30 p.m. -6:30 p.m.

Cost: Free

What: Performance: The Good Person of Szechuan Where: Squires Studio Theatre When: 2 p.m.

Cost: $8 students, $10 general

[Tuesday, November 9] What: Music: The New Deal Where: Attitudes When: 8 p.m.

Cost: $20 advance, $23 at door, 18+

[Friday, November 5] What: Rocky Horror Picture Show 35th Anniversary Where: Squires Commonwealth When: 10 p.m.

Cost: $3 students, $6 general

What: Music: The Stereofidelics Where: Gillie’s When: 9:30 p.m.

Cost: Free

What: Movie: The Other Guys Where: Squires Colonial When: 7:30 p.m.

Cost: $2 students, $3 general

What: Music: Former Champions Where: Attitudes When: 10 p.m. 18+

What: DISIS Laptop Orchestra Fall Event Where: Squires Recital Salon When: 8 p.m.

Cost: $3 students, $5 general

What: Redskins Red Cross Blood Drive Where: 1100 Torgersen When: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Nov. 9, 10, 11 Cost: Free t-shirt to participants, raffles for Redskins vs. Eagles tickets

[Wednesday, November 10] What: Chef Series: Sushi 101 Where: Owens When: 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Cost: Free, limit 25 participants

Get it all

HERE! Don’t stretch yourself thin with hundreds of activities.

EMCVT gives you all that you need! A social life, money, experience, portfolio pieces and flexibility.

Visit collegemedia.com for more information.

Four-course dinner + murder mystery Bloody good time MIKA MALONEY features reporter Preston’s Restaurant is offering diners a chance to enjoy the notoriously gourmet food with a twist Friday.

The Inn at Virginia Tech has teamed up with the New River Stage to host a mouth-watering four-course meal served with a side of murder mystery.

“We wanted to incorporate new fun events into Preston,” said Teresa Hughes, director of sales and marketing, of the first interactive dining experience the restaurant will host.

The New River Stage was founded in 2004 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing communitybased theater productions in southwest Virginia.

The murder mysteries are designed to be very interactive, as the patrons are written into the show.

Not only are the actors walking around the tables, but they also address the patrons directly from time to time.

There will be a scene or two, then a break, during which food is served and the floor is open for questions.

While enjoying their meals, diners are encouraged to ask the actors questions to help discover the murderer and the motive. “(The actors) will get the audience involved with clues, however it will be minimal. There will be no standing or acting” Hughes said of what patrons should expect from the show.

The evening will last about two hours, as newlywed bed and breakfast owners Herbert and Audrey Fox attempt to unravel the mystery of their dead guest in suite nine.

The couple is desperate to find the killer quickly and quietly, so they employ the help of the staff and guests to discover who is guilty.

At the end of the evening, the whodunit forms are taken up and tallied.

A gift is given to the person who answers the question correctly, getting the motive right as well.

Food will be served throughout the evening as the mystery plays out.

“A handful of actors act out the script as (patrons are) being served.

It all happens simultaneously as they make entrances and exits and mystery reveals itself,” Hughes said.

check it out What: Four-course meal and murder mystery When: Friday, Nov. 5 Where: Preston’s Restaurant Menu: Hot appetizer, salad, tuna or roast tenderloin and a chocolate mousse tower Note: To make a reservation, call 540-231-0120.

While the acting promises to be both entertaining and engaging, the mouth-watering menu also boasts a selection of some of the restaurant’s finest food.

The meal will consist of a Baked Brie En’ Croute hot appetizer, a poached pear and pistachio-encrusted goat cheese salad, a choice of rare seared tuna loin or roast tenderloin beef for an entree, and trio chocolate mousse tower for dessert.

Murder with a view may be the first interactive dining event the restaurant has hosted, but according to Jennifer Morgan, Preston Restaurant’s manager, it will host more similar events in the future.

“We are developing similar theatrical performance for the holidays, such as a Charles Dickens Christmas dinner.”

Additionally, the restaurant will host a Grand Thanksgiving Buffet and a Champaign brunch each Sunday in December.

About 100 guests are currently expected for Friday’s dinner and performance, but Hughes said a limited number of seating remains.

For more information or to make reservations contact Morgan at 540231-0120.