Inside HOKIE SPORTS | Vol. 12 No. 2 | October 2019

inside.hokiesports.com 37 Hearp Financial, LLC Strategies By Tech Fans, For Tech Fans, and more Todd F. Hearp is a Registered Representative and Investment Adviser Representative of, and securities and investment advisory services offered solely by Equity Services Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC, 4401 Starkey Road, Roanoke, VA 24018, (540) 989-4600. Hearp Financial, LLC. and Eddie Hearp are independent of Equity Services, Inc. TC108373(0619)1 4401 Starkey Road, Roanoke, VA 24018 www.nfservicesinc.com • Hearp_Todd@nlvmail.com Strategies For Seeking a Safe Retirement Todd F. Hearp Class of ‘89 Eddie F. Hearp Class of ‘65 Proud to Support Virginia Tech Athletics (540) 989-4600 Our firm provides policy analysis reviews for all existing life insurance policies with any company to confirm how long death benefit will last, to ensure that policy contains all available non tobacco discounts, living benefit riders, and that your beneficiary and ownership are up-to-date. • Investment Services • Insurance Services • Retirement Planning • Estate Planning Strategies • Premium Financed Life Insurance for Estate Protection & Charitable Planning • Guaranteed Lifetime Income Strategies • IRA/401(K) Rollovers Tech’s defense held in the final seconds when it mattered most, batting away a Miami pass to preserve the victory. Ashby embraces those types of moments. He took more pride in seeing his teammates do the same. “Definitely, that’s why I said the first couple of games were my fault,” Ashby said, referring to the BC and Duke games. “Even though I know I welcomed it, I didn’t try to make the team welcome it, or the defense. I felt like I needed to step up and bring up the spirits when things like that happen. We just have to change our mindsets and our attitudes for adversity when it happens. “We faced adversity great this time in this game [against Miami], and we kept playing, and it worked out for us. Just the way we played and how we finished is what I’m really proud of.” Ashby continues to stay on pace to become the eighth player in Tech history to record at least 100 tackles in back-to-back seasons. With a senior season to play, he could become one of just two players in program history to lead the Hokies in tackles for three straight seasons, joining Rick Razzano, who led the squad in tackles all four years of his career (1974-77). Of course, Ashby doesn’t really think about things like that. He simply takes care of business each and every day, both with his football responsibilities and his academic ones. One requires him to prepare for the next game, while the other demands that he prepare for his future. He hopes his future includes football, but he plans as if it won’t, focusing on networking now and graduating down the road. Ashby owns the turf around him at Lane Stadium these days, but he eventually wants to own his own business. “I would love to get into real estate, but I’d also love to own my own barbershop and my own restaurant,” he said. How fitting. He grew up going to a barbershop that made him feel safe and brought him comfort. Now he wants to own such a place. There’s no question he’ll tackle that challenge. Hokie Nation hopes he succeeds. RAYSHARD ASHBY’S BEST PERFORMANCES Tech 42, Miami 35 (Oct. 5, 2019) – Coming off a terrible performance in their previous game, the Hokies responded in a big way, jumping out to a big lead and holding on in the final seconds. Ashby paced Tech’s defense, making 11 tackles, including two for a loss, and a sack – one of seven sacks by Tech’s defense in the win. Tech 31, Duke 14 (Sept. 29, 2018) – With starting quarterback Josh Jackson suffering a season-ending injury in the previous game, the Hokies responded on both sides of the ball. Ashby led the defense’s effort, recording 15 tackles in a key road win. Tech 41, Marshall 20 (Dec. 1, 2018) – With a bowl bid on the line, Tech rolled to the victory, and Ashby played one of his best games, finishing with 15 tackles, including nine solo ones, and one for a loss. Tech 24, Florida State 3 (Sept. 3, 2018) – Tech went to Tallahassee, Florida and dominated the Seminoles, holding them to three points in a big season-opening win. In his first career start, Ashby had seven tackles, including two for a loss, to help a Tech defense that held FSU to just 327 yards. BC 35, Tech 28 (Aug. 31, 2019) – Turnovers doomed the Hokies in this road loss, but Ashby put forth an incredible effort. He registered 13 tackles, including a career-best 3.5 for a loss, and a sack.