Inside HOKIE SPORTS | Vol. 12 No. 1 | August 2019

10 Inside Hokie Sports At many times in my life, I have heard about a new technology or product and thought, “That is going to be huge. I should invest in that.” And for whatever reason, I never have—usually because I lacked what you call capital. Even still, more often than not, I have been right. And more often than not, I have regretted not being willing or able to make even a token investment. We all knew that the iPhone was going revolutionize life as we knew it, right? But most of us refused to run out and buy Apple stock in 2006. My grandma bought it. She always knew how to spot a trend, or better said, she knew how to act on it when she spotted a trend. I wish I was more like her. I knew a fraternity brother in college whose parents bought him Microsoft stock as a high school graduation present—a small investment by most measures. This was 1996, though. By the time he graduated from college, the stock had split multiple times, and he became a millionaire. My parents got me a watch. It was a very nice watch, and I loved it, but a few shares of Google wouldn’t have hurt. I’m just sayin’. I’m only joking mom and dad. Sort of. The point is it always helps to be in early on things. To get in on the front end of something is not only rewarding financially, but one also derives a certain level of pleasure by being right. And being loud about it. It’s easier said than done because there is risk in being wrong. And being loud about it. Like I said, there have been countless times that felt very confident that something was the next big thing, only to sit idly by and watch the opportunity pass me by. So, I get it, but … . This column serves to encourage you not to do the same in the coming weeks. Standing atop Lane Stadium and describing the scene as the Hokies take the field to “Enter Sandman” remains a drug for me. Not in the negative connotation of the word ‘drug,’ but in the feeling of excitement and anticipation I get in those moments. Negotiating contracts, transporting equipment and all the thousand other little things that I do in my everyday job simply serve as a means to getting to those moments. And even in this role, they are rare. Seven times in a good year, six in most. I love this program, I love that scene, and I love the responsibility given to me to represent it. Therefore, I go into every season excited. Even the seasons when, on paper, it doesn’t look as though the Hokies will be contending on a national level. I went into last season excited, even though the defense was obviously extremely young. All of which is to say that I always am going to be optimistic when it comes to Tech and its fall fortunes. There was the disclaimer. Here comes the pitch. with Jon Laaser Laaser’s Stock Tips Hezekiah Grimsley is one of many skill players returning who should make the Hokies a high- powered offense this fall.