Inside HOKIE SPORTS | Vol. 12 No. 5 | May 2020

Continued on page 24 S earching for something to do while being quarantined at his home in Statesville, North Carolina during the COVID-19 pandemic, Brock Hoffman resorted to a rather primitive activity to provide a limited bit of entertainment. Putting on his gloves and hoisting an ax, he went into the woods behind his family’s home, searching for a tree in which to inflict some pain. Ten swings and 12 seconds later, he toppled a small tree, a victim of his power —and his boredom. “I was just bored,” Hoffman said. “I thought I might as well go chop a tree down.” Hoffman and college athletes all over the nation found themselves in similar situations, looking for ways to pass the time in hopes of getting the “all clear” signal soon to resume normal activities. His lumberjack venture was certainly unique, but not extreme, especially for a 300-pound offensive lineman. The ACC’s decision to suspend all spring activities because of the coronavirus eliminated spring football practice and thus robbed Hoffman of yet another opportunity to prove his on-field abilities to the Virginia Tech coaching staff. A transfer from Coastal Carolina, he sat out last season and dutifully made the most of his scout-team responsibilities. Yet make no mistake about it, he was ready for the spring’s middle drills and full-contact scrimmages “It sucks a lot, actually,” Hoffman said. “I didn’t participate in spring ball my last spring at Coastal, so I didn’t go to spring ball there. I didn’t play this season. I practiced, but I didn’t play in any games. Then, you know, you miss this spring ball. It’s like you can’t catch a break, you know? “But I kind of just look it as go play the cards I was dealt and make the best out of every situation I’m in. I know there’s eventually going to be a day when we go back to school and we get to play and practice football and get ready for the season. I’m just training hard and working hard for that moment. That’s the driving factor that keeps me going, knowing that there will be a day when we go back to school sometime this year.” The COVID-19 pandemic—and the subsequent decisions that it forced—marked the latest curve in a crazy journey for Hoffman. His past couple of years have featured more twists and turns than the South Yadkin River that flows near his home. Early last year, Hoffman made the decision to transfer from Coastal Carolina to Virginia Tech to be near his ailing mother, who underwent surgery for a brain tumor. The move to Blacksburg left himwith a short two-hour drive in the event he needed to return home for any reason—a contrast to the four- hour drive from Statesville to Coastal Carolina’s campus in Conway, South Carolina. However, Hoffman needed a waiver from the NCAA to be eligible to play immediately. NCAA officials looked at his case and denied his application primarily for two reasons—he wasn’t transferring to a school within 100miles of his home and that hismother’s conditionwas improving. Hoffman appealed that decision. Three days before the season opener at Boston College, NCAA officials denied his appeal. The case received national scrutiny and portrayed the NCAA in a negative light. Media members chimed in on the perceived unfairness of it all, including ESPN’s Jay Bilas. The NCAA also received criticism for the length of time that it took to make the final decision. “ As time has gone, I’ve looked past it. When it first happened, I was definitely very bitter. I was confused and angry about the whole thing, but I’ve kind of controlled that and used it as motivation. I don’t look back and get all worked up over it. That happened to me, and I just use it as motivation. Fuel to the fire. Tech offensive lineman Brock Hoffman on the NCAA’s decision last fall to deny his appeal to play immediately. inside.hokiesports.com 23 football spotlight brock hoffman