As all of Hokie Nation knows by now, Cassell Coliseum served as the setting for ESPN College GameDay on Feb. 26 before the Hokies’ game with No. 1 Duke that evening. Nearly 3,200 students and fans showed up for GameDay, which made its first basketball appearance in Blacksburg, and the impact of those 3,200 was felt by Rece Davis, who serves as the host of the studio crew (a group that includes Hubert Davis, Digger Phelps, Bobby Knight and Jay Bilas).
Davis was impressed with the passion shown by those in attendance.
“There’s a great deal of passion for the entire university,” Davis said. “We’ve seen that over the years through the tragic events and through the events that are worth celebrating, like the great football program that Frank’s [Beamer] put together here and the great basketball program that Seth’s [Greenberg] put together.
“This is a student body that’s very proud of their university. They love to support their teams, and they’ve created a great, great environment for our show. That was as loud and as energetic and intense as any place we’ve been in seven years on the road.”
Davis sets vertical jump mark
Virginia Tech’s football team underwent strength and conditioning testing conducted by Mike Gentry and his staff the week before spring break (March 7-11), and receiver Marcus Davis broke the all-time vertical jump mark.
Davis, a rising redshirt junior from Virginia Beach, Va., recorded a 44-inch vertical jump. That broke the 14-year record of 43.5 inches held by former rover Pierson Prioleau.
Three other players recorded top-10 marks on the all-time list in certain categories. In the power clean, offensive lineman David Wang posted a 380-pound lift, while offensive lineman Jaymes Brooks recorded a 375-pound lift. Those numbers rank seventh and ninth, respectively, on the all-time list. Also, offensive lineman Vinston Painter had a 465-pound bench press, a lift that ranks ninth all time.
Seven position records fell, including Davis’ vertical jump, which sets the standard for receivers. Josh Oglesby’s 361-pound push jerk rates as the new mark for tailbacks, snapping former tailback Ken Oxendine’s record. James Gayle’s 366-pound power clean is now the new record for a defensive end, besting Nathaniel Adibi’s old mark.
In the front squat, four position records fell. Painter’s 485-pound lift is the new standard for guards, while Derrick Hopkins’ 485-pound lift is the new mark for defensive tackles. D.J. Coles’ 450-pound lift and David Wilson’s 445-pound lift ranks as new records for receivers and tailbacks, respectively.
2011 football schedule released
The Atlantic Coast Conference released its 2011 football schedule, and defending champion Virginia Tech’s 12-game slate features six home games and two Thursday night games (one at home vs. North Carolina, one at Georgia Tech).
Tech opens the season Sept. 3 against Appalachian State at Lane Stadium, starting the first of four straight non-conference games. The Hokies open league play Oct. 1 at home against Clemson.
Six of the teams on Tech’s schedule played in bowl games a year ago.
Here is a look at the entire schedule:
| Date | Opponent | Time |
Location |
| Sept. 3 | Appalachian State | TBA | Lane Stadium |
| Sept. 10 | at East Carolina | TBA | Greenville, N.C. |
| Sept. 17 | Arkansas State | TBA | Lane Stadium |
| Sept. 24 | at Marshall | TBA | Huntington, W.Va. |
| Oct. 1 | Clemson | TBA | Lane Stadium |
| Oct. 8 | Miami | TBA | Lane Stadium |
| Oct. 15 | at Wake Forest | TBA | Winston-Salem, N.C. |
| Oct. 22 | Boston College | TBA | Lane Stadium |
| Oct. 29 | at Duke | TBA | Durham, N.C. |
| Nov. 10 | at Georgia Tech | 8 p.m. | Atlanta, Ga. |
| Nov. 17 | North Carolina | 8 p.m. | Lane Stadium |
| Nov. 26 | at Virginia | TBA | Charlottesville, Va. |
ACC names fall All-Academic teams
In February, the ACC announced its All-Academic teams for the various fall sports, and Virginia Tech placed five football players, three cross country performers, three women’s soccer players, two volleyball performers and one men’s soccer player on the team.
To be eligible for consideration, a student-athlete must have earned a 3.00 grade-point average for the previous semester and maintained a 3.00 cumulative average during the academic career.
Here is a list of those who made the All-Academic squad for his/her respective sport (major in parentheses):
Football
John Graves (psychology, sociology)
Beau Warren (psychology, sociology)
Danny Coale (finance)
Chris Drager (human nutrition, foods & exercise)
David Wilson (university studies)
Cross Country
Sammy Dow (human nutrition, foods & exercise)
Chris Walizer (finance)
Jason Cusack (industrial design)
Men’s soccer
Koen Oost (biology)
Women’s soccer
Jennifer Harvey (chemistry)
Brittany Michels (university studies)
Dayle Colpitts (biology)
Volleyball
Cara Baarendse (human development)
Jennifer Wiker (finance)
