This afternoon in Lane Stadium, Bryan Randall will touch the Hokie Stone and emerge from the tunnel for the last time, leading his Hokies against the Virginia Cavaliers (1 PM, ABC regional/XM 181) with a share of the ACC championship on the line. Two years ago he was a streaky, occasionally overmatched proto-star; last year he had to fight for his job in a stardom-obsessed locker room and fan base; this year he’s become an unquestioned leader and one of the most-loved players in Hokie history. How that happened is worth a look back on this day.
When Bryan Randall entered Virginia Tech in the fall of 2001, Hokie fans weren’t just looking for a quarterback — after the untimely departure of Michael Vick to NFL riches as just a sophomore, they wanted a savior, and they were already sure junior QB Grant Noel wasn’t it. Two incoming players, they thought, just might fit that bill: national #1 recruit RB Kevin Jones from Pennsylvania, and the first state #1 in over a decade to sign with the Hokies, the QB (and point guard) from Bruton High in Williamsburg. The only dissonant note came from South Bend, where Notre Dame’s highly-regarded offensive coordinator and QB coach Kevin Rogers, previously the architect of Donovan McNabb’s reign at Syracuse, had recruited Randall… as a safety, reportedly because of concern over his arm strength.
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27 November 2004
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/ Tags: football
Settling into the new digs and new job, that’s all. It’s taking a bit of time, but that’s expected. I’m definitely liking Reston, and being able to shop at Best Buy without guilt is… well… a little weird.
Quick takes:
- VT-UVa: I like us by about 7 — it’ll be hard-fought, but I think the crowd is worth about 3 points, and our team is geared up for a tough game. Conversely, UVa’s performances against Miami and FSU do not speak well of their chances under pressure, especially on the road.
- Bowl tripping: sure, the chances that we go there are very slim, but if we do lose the next two and fall all the way to the MPC Computers Bowl, I’m planning to go. After all, what other good reason will I ever have to go to Boise, Idaho? The only bowl I won’t go to is the Tangerine (the more likely possibility if we lose the next two) — bowl games before Christmas are a total joke. Sugar or Peach, of course, would be entirely acceptable.
- I’m already learning how to drive up here. First key point: turn signals are a sign of weakness, inviting other drivers to thwart your plans. Second key point: those dashed white lines in rows on the roadway? They’re painted there for two NoVA-native motorsport events: the Straddle and the Slalom.
- The Nationals: they’re gonna suck, but they’re my team now in the NL. I’m halfway considering getting a mini-season ticket package. And if the DC Council screws it up and forces them to Dulles in 3 years… so much the better.
More fun soon, including BTN Selling Out.
25 November 2004
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/ Tags: football, nova, life