Cody Grimm and Ryan Williams enjoyed fabulous seasons and both were rewarded by being named All-Americans.
The Associated Press named Grimm, a redshirt senior from Fairfax, Va., a third-team All-American. Grimm led the team in tackles (106) and tackles for a loss (12.5) and he led the nation with seven forced fumbles. The five nationally recognized All-America squads are the AP, Walter Camp, Sporting News, Football Writers Association of America, and the American Football Coaches Association.
Grimm also won the Dudley Award in December, which goes annually to the state’s top Division I player. He became the ninth Tech player to win the award.
Sporting News named Williams a third-team All-American. Williams, a redshirt freshman from Manassas, Va., became the third Tech running back ever to be named an All-American (Kevin Jones, Lee Suggs). He set a school record by rushing for 1,655 yards this past season and he set the ACC record for total touchdowns (22) and rushing touchdowns (21).
Five earn Super Iron honors in scout-team testing
Walk-ons Jim Brown and Josh Call, along with scholarship players Antone Exum and Andrew Miller, headlined recent strength and conditioning testing conducted among the Hokies’ 2009 scout team in late November. The scout team, which includes walk-ons, third- and fourth-teamers and those who are redshirting, spends its fall mimicking the opposing team’s offense and defense during practice.
Brown, Call, Joey Phillips, Tim Richardson and Jeff Wardach all earned Super Iron Hokie honors for their work in the strength and conditioning program. Exum and Miller earned Iron honors, along with Ben Barber, Lorenzo Williams, Wiley Brown and Mark Carter. Exum, a 5-foot-11, 210-pound freshman from Glen Allen, Va., benched 280 pounds and had a front squat of 360, while also recording a 34.5-inch vertical jump. Miller, a 6-4, 281-pound freshman from Bassett, Va., led the scout team in the power clean (346) and push jerk (360), while also benching 390.
Dungy speech at FCA breakfast a bowl highlight
Players and staffs from both teams, along with a throng of more than 1,500 people, got to listen to Tony Dungy, the former head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, give the keynote address at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes breakfast held Dec. 29 at the Marriott Marquis in downtown Atlanta.
Dungy, who won a Super Bowl as both a player (Pittsburgh, 1977) and coach (Indianapolis, 2007), works as a television analyst and also is involved in several prison ministries. He’s written two best-selling books as well.
He spoke highly of Tech head coach Frank Beamer, who has a close relationship with Colts general manager Bill Polian. He also has coached some former Tech players, including David Pugh and Shyrone Stith.
Dungy gave a scripture-based message, focusing on passages from 1 Corinthians and Matthew, and telling the players to remain focused on winning in life. He said he gave that same message to former Tech quarterback Michael Vick, whom he mentored during Vick’s prison sentence.
“I asked Michael where he wanted to go from here,” Dungy said. “He told me that he wanted to be a good parent, and he wanted to tell other kids not to throw a lot away with dumb decisions.
“Then I told Michael that I had one question for him – where was God in his life? Michael told me that he had been raised the right way and that he had gone to church, but that he had prayed to God to help him make it to the NFL. When God answered his prayers, Michael didn’t think he needed God anymore.
“Michael was running the wrong race. He won a game, but he was not winning in life. He was not a winner.”
Dungy is happy with the way Vick is turning his life around, though, and thinks Vick has a bright future – both in the NFL and in life.
