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24 • August 21, 2009 • Technique SPORTS 2009 ACC Football By Nishant Prasadh • Sports Editor

Virginia Tech North Carolina

Head Coach: (23rd) : Paul Johnson (2nd) Head Coach: (3rd) 2008 Record: 10-4 (5-3) – ACC Champion 2008 Record: 9-4 (5-3) – T-1st in Coastal 2008 Record: 8-5 (4-4) – T-3rd in Coastal

The defending ACC champs have 15 return- With all 11 starters returning on offense, the The Tar Heels are emerging as a legitimate ing starters and all the tools necessary to Jackets’ option attack should improve in contender in the Coastal Division and a re- defend their conference title. Dual-threat year two under Paul Johnson. ACC Offensive cruiting power under Head Coach Butch must improve as a Player of the Year Jonathan Dwyer heads a Davis. They will need to replace four de- passer and top rusher Darren Evans will miss deep and talented backfield, and Johnson parted receivers and two offensive linemen, the season with a torn ACL, but Taylor and plans to incorporate more pass plays this but they have talent at both positions and the other running backs should provide a season. The big concern on defense is the are set at quarterback and . A formidable rushing attack. The defense has loss of three starting linemen, but there is deep and experienced defensive line will few significant weaknesses and more than talent at every level of the defense, and the be the strength of a defense that specializes enough talent to fill vacated positions in shift to a 4-2-5 scheme will take advantage in causing turnovers, but the Tar Heels must the linebacking corps and the secondary. of Tech’s strong secondary. improve their pass coverage to contend. ]

Virginia Duke

Head Coach: (9th) Head Coach: (3rd) Head Coach: (2nd) 2008 Record: 5-7 (3-5) – 5th in Coastal 2008 Record: 7-6 (4-4) – T-3rd in Coastal 2008 Record: 4-8 (1-7) – 6th in Coastal

Virginia will turn to a spread offense in The 2009 Hurricanes are all about potential. The Blue Devils are rebuilding and could 2009. There are a variety of options at quar- Miami’s running backs are strong and expe- be contenders in a few years, but the short- terback, but departed running back Cedric rienced, and quarterback and term outlook is dim. This season, the largely Peerman and left tackle Eugene Monroe top receiver Aldarius Johnson are raw play- inexperienced offense will rally behind a leave big holes to fill. The team’s 3-4 de- ers with very high ceilings. The front seven pair of seniors in quarterback Thaddeus fensive front will likely struggle after losing on defense has a massive amount of talent Lewis and running back Re’Quan Boyette. three , but the secondary should and could be among the best in the confer- Defensive tackle Vince Oghobaase will be be a strength even if corner Vic Hall shifts to ence. Matt Bosher displayed both power a strong run defender, but only three other offense permanently. Still, Virginia is not ex- and accuracy while handling kicking and defensive starters return and the Blue Dev-

Coastal Division Division Coastal pected to be a major ACC contender. punting duties last season. ils have little depth. [ [

The economy sucks. Free pizza rations on Tuesdays.

7 p.m., Flag 137, Technique SPORTS Technique • August 21, 2009 • 25 Season Preview [ By Nishant Prasadh • Sports Editor Atlantic Division

Boston College Clemson State

Head Coach: Frank Spaziani (1st) Head Coach: (2nd) Head Coach: (34th) 2008 Record: 9-5 (5-3) – Atlantic Div. Title 2008 Record: 7-6 (4-4) – T-3rd in Coastal 2008 Record: 9-4 (5-3) – T-1st in Coastal

The going will be tough for the Eagles as Newly christened starting quarterback Kyle Off the field, the Seminoles’ offseason has they attempt to repeat as Atlantic Division Parker has no prior game experience and been marred by arrests, suspensions and champs. New coach Frank Spaziani must could struggle. However, the ground game allegations of major academic violations. find a starting quarterback, BC’s third in will be the focal point of the offense thanks On the field, mobile quarterback Christian three years, and hope that the defense to the return of explosive running back C.J. Ponder and a stellar offensive line should holds up despite losing three stars—de- Spiller and four starting offensive linemen. power a potent offense. Only five starters fensive tackles B.J. Raji and Ron Brace, who Defensively, Clemson’s front seven should return on defense and All-American kicker/ moved on to the NFL, and Mark be among the best in the conference, and punter Graham Gano is gone, but the Semi- Herzlich, the 2008 ACC Defensive Player of the unit as a whole should make great noles are loaded with talent at practically the Year who was diagnosed with cancer in strides under new every position and will contend for the ACC

May and will miss the season. . title in 2009. ]

Wake Forest NC State Maryland

Head Coach: (9th) Head Coach: Tom O’Brien (3rd) Head Coach: (9th) 2008 Record: 8-5 (4-4) – T-3rd in Coastal 2008 Record: 6-7 (4-4) – T-3rd in Coastal 2008 Record: 8-5 (4-4) – T-3rd in Coastal

Ten starters return on offense for the Demon Versatile quarterback Russell Wilson, who The Terrapins have a star running back in ju- Deacons, led by reliable senior quarterback earned first team All-ACC honors as a fresh- nior Da’Rel Scott and a steady hand at quar- Riley Skinner, but the team’s offensive line man in 2008, is expected to make the Wolf- terback in senior Chris Turner, but the team must improve greatly from last season for pack contenders in the Atlantic Division has to replace most of its offensive line and the offense to remain strong. The defense this season. Wilson has plenty of weapons inexperience could be a problem for the of- faces plenty of challenges: Between the around him, but the offensive line must fense. Only four starters return on defense, linebackers and secondary, corner Brandon protect him better. The defensive line will but the hope is that new coordinator Don Ghee is the only returning starter, and re- be a strength, but the linebacking corps Brown’s blitz-heavy approach will allow the placing top NFL draft picks Aaron Curry and will miss injured star Nate Irving and the unit to remain strong in 2009 despite losses Alphonso Smith will not be an easy task. secondary will need to step up. throughout the unit.

follow us on twitter @ the_nique 26 • August 21, 2009 • Technique SPORTS

Football from page 28 son and is on the early watch lists for two prestigious awards. He is in the running for the Jim Thorpe of legendary NFL coach Vince Award, the positional award for Coaching changes on four teams Lombardi, the award goes to the defensive backs and an honor no best player in the nation among Tech player has ever received. Last bring new names to Tech sports offensive linemen, defensive line- season Burnett led the team with By Nishant Prasadh men, and linebackers. 93 tackles, seven interceptions, Sports Editor mansky’s Jackets teams won 20 or side, Charlton Young left Head Morgan was the lone non- and eight passes defensed. His more games six times from 2002- Coach Paul Hewitt’s staff for the senior starter on Tech’s defensive performance in 2008 and poten- As the 2009-10 academic year 08, and over his first two seasons head coaching position at Georgia line last season, and he emerged tial for 2009 earned him spot on begins, several of Tech’s sports Tech won a total of 67 games. Southern University. Young began as a strong pass rusher opposite the watch list for a higher honor: teams have witnessed changes on More recently, the swimming his coaching career at Tennessee- the departed Michael Johnson. the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, their coaching staffs and must ad- and diving team elected to pro- Chattanooga before joining the He finished the 2008 season with given to the nation’s best defensive just to new leadership in the com- mote from within and selected Jackets as an assistant. He stayed seven sacks and 9.5 tackles for player. He will face a tough road ing year. Two varsity squads—the Courtney Hart, who has served as with the team for four seasons, loss. With Johnson and defensive to winning the trophy, though, volleyball team and the swim- an assistant coach and recruiting earning a reputation as a strong tackles Vance Walker and Darryl against a 62-player field that in- ming and diving team—brought coordinator with the Jackets, to recruiter. Young now returns to Richard gone, Morgan will have to cludes Florida linebacker Brandon in new head coaches, while the take over the head job. This will his alma mater, a school where take over as the leader of a young Spikes, Tennessee safety Eric Ber- men’s and women’s basketball be Hart’s first head coaching po- he starred as a player in the early and relatively inexperienced de- ry, and Nebraska defensive tackle teams both saw assistant coaches sition after spending three years 1990’s, earning a spot in the GSU fensive line. If he can match or Ndamukong Suh. depart to take up head coaching as an assistant coach, one with Sports Hall of Fame. improve his performance from Three Jackets also earned no- positions at other schools. North Florida and the past two Young was not the only mem- last season, then he could easily table preseason ACC honors. A big story last winter was the with the Jackets. Hart built up an ber of Tech’s coaching staff to de- thrust himself into serious conten- Dwyer was named the 2009 Pre- volleyball team’s hiring of Tonya extensive resume during her ath- part for Georgia Southern. tion for the Lombardi Award. season Player of the Year, and he, Johnson, who has spent the last letic career, earning a number of He took with him Chris Kre- Another junior, rover Morgan Burnett and junior six years with the highly success- accolades at the collegiate and in- ider, who was an administrative Burnett, emerged as one of the na- Demaryius Thomas earned spots ful Texas Longhorns. Johnson, ternational levels. While a student assistant for the Jackets last sea- tion’s best defensive backs last sea- on the preseason All-ACC team. who began her career as an as- at the University of Georgia, she son. Kreider has risen quickly sistant at LSU and coached there was on both varsity volleyball and through the college coaching from 1998-2002, played a key role swimming for the Lady Bulldogs ranks after serving as a volun- in facilitating the growth of the and became a leading star in both teer assistant at the University of Longhorns’ volleyball program sports in the SEC. Hart earned a South Carolina-Aiken in 2006-07 into a national power. While pair of gold medals at the 2000 and at Tech in 2007-08, and he an assistant from 2003-07, she Sydney Olympics in two 400-me- now will be a full-time assistant helped to lead Texas to the NCAA ter relay events. coach on Young’s staff with the Tournament four years in a row She will take over for Stu Wil- Eagles. Not all of Hewitt’s staff is and to the Elite Eight in 2006 and son, who joined the team as an as- gone, though, as assistants John 2007, and in 2008 she was pro- sistant coach in 2002 and became O’Connor and Peter Zaharis re- moted to associate head coach for Head Coach in 2005. Wilson main with the team. the team’s run to the Final Four. oversaw great growth in the pro- The women’s basketball coach- After joining the Jackets, John- gram over that span, and in his ing staff found itself in a similar son hired a pair of assistants with final season the Jackets broke two situation, as one of Head Coach whom she had close ties. One of dozen team records and won sev- MaChelle Joseph’s assistants, Sy- them, Craig Bere, was an assistant eral ACC accolades. tia Messer, departed for a head job at LSU under Fran Flory, who was While Wilson was a successful elsewhere. Like Young, Messer also the head coach during John- college swimmer, his talent as a was a star player in college, finish- son’s time at the school; the other, coach drew more from his eleven ing her career at the University of Ed Tolentino, met Johnson while years of experience with local club Arkansas ranked in the school’s she was on the recruiting trail at Swim ; as a result, Hart’s top ten in several career statistical Texas and has experience at both approach may be different, as she categories. She later spent a total the club and collegiate levels. has made her biggest mark in the of four years as an assistant at Ar- Johnson replaces Bond Shy- pool. kansas State and Memphis before mansky, who had a successful The men’s and women’s bas- coming to the Jackets, where in seven-year career with the Jackets Photo by Blake Israel / Student Publications ketball teams retained their head five years she had plenty of success before resigning to take over the coaches, but both had assistant as the team’s recruiting coordina- Josh Nesbitt looks for an open receiver against . Nes- head coaching job at Marquette coaches leave for higher posi- tor. Messer leaves the Jackets for bitt is on the preseason watch list for the Davey O’Brien Award. University in Wisconsin. Shy- tions elsewhere. On the men’s Tennessee Tech.

sliver www.nique.net sliver I am bored. Can’t wait for school to start. homeless Being really drunk and watching a GT cop fall off his segway is the best way to start this semester. I’m a p plowing maniac.game on this semester!!! registration starts....aaaaaaand oscar takes a massive poo oscar is more backed up than the toilets after the 5 million fresh- man had their pizza party outside skiles TA training seems absolutely hilarious to undergrads. Grad stu- dents are clueless :P Why doesn’t Tech anticipate 1000’s of people logging on to Oscar and prevent a clusterf*** online oscar needs to be put out of its misery Oh, Tech, how I missed thee? Ah roomie, i hate u allready ;) how can the anime club be all big and famous and have only like 10 attendees? blehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Darn good RAT! Oh, and Bee T. Dubs, RAT stands for Recruit at Tech. Don’t let anyone else tell you differently! GT Band! Hi fresh meat! Oh where oh did my summer go why do the hot ones always have d-bag boyfriends it should have had lettuce I miss NYC let’s get drunk. WHY!?! Why would you ask why much less act like there is something better to do you’re on my radar... not literally I am running out of things to say about my life to the small little box your sliver could be here... BUT I SAID NO SPORTS Technique • August 21, 2009 • 27

Tennis from page 28 Haller, five teammates win academic honors having the most athletes selected more took an early lead in the fi- to the team, which requires that nal set. Domijan fought back to student-athletes maintain a mini- force a tiebreak, but King held on mum GPA of 3.0 for the most re- for the win. cent semester and for their careers. For King, who was the No. 19 Seniors Jen Yee and Blair Shi- seed in the tournament, the win mandle, junior Christy Jones, and was his highest ever over a ranked sophmores Shannon Bear and opponent and his first against a Kelsi Weseman all join Haller No. 1 seed. He faced Domijan in on the All-ACC Academic team. the same round last year but fell Both Haller and Shimandle have in two sets 2-6, 2-6. Domijan, been four-time selections. who stands 6-foot-7, was handed Other awards and honorable the 16th loss of his junior career mentions that Haller obtained this and his fourth in 2009. King, the year include being named a final- highest ranked American recruit ist for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS to ever play at Tech, posted an Award this year, named a first- even 17-17 overall record in singles team All-Senior All-American by matches while playing primarily Lowe’s, a third-team Easton All- at the No. 2 position on the team American and a first-team NFCA behind junior Guillermo Gomez. All-Southeast Region. The Jackets have had six mem- bers on the All-ACC Academic Team for two years in a row. All eight ACC softball teams were represented on the 30-member Photo by Michael James / Student Publications team. Tech and Florida State both Whitney Haller awaits a pitch at Mewborn Field. Haller concluded her career by being named the had six selections, Virginia con- ACC Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year and graduates as Tech softball’s leading home run hitter. tributed five players, North Caro- By Steven Cappetta lina gave four, Assistant Sports Editor lier this year, as well as victories 35 runs scored, 10 doubles, 12 placed three, and Maryland, NC in both the ACC regular season home runs, 117 total bases, a .646 State and Virginia Tech each had First baseman Whitney Haller and tournament title. She holds slugging percentage and a .449 two apiece. was named the 2009 ACC Soft- the all-time Tech and ACC re- on-base percentage. Her 55 RBI Haller and ten other members ball Scholar-Athlete of the Year cords for both home runs and RBI were the highest both on the Jack- of the All-ACC Academic Soft- on August 6. The honor comes at and was tabbed earlier this year a ets and in the ACC. ball team were also placed in the the end of Haller’s distinguished first-team ESPN The Magazine/ The strong senior campaign All-ACC in 2009. Four of those four-year career with the Jackets, CoSIDA Academic All-American. concludes a career in which Haller individuals have made multiple during which the Marietta, Ga. She also ranks in the top five for had 61 home runs and 280 hits All-ACC teams, 13 have earned native held up a 3.94 GPA as an both Tech and the ACC in several and finished with a career OPS of All-ACC Academic accolades for Industrial Engineering major other career categories including 1.089 and a fielding percentage of the second consecutive season, while setting several team records batting average, slugging percent- .990 at first base. and six for the third consecutive on the field. age, runs scored, hits, doubles and In addition to Haller, five season, but Haller and Shimandle Photo by John Nakano / Student Publications As a senior, Haller helped the fielding percentage. other Jackets were selected to the are the only ones in the conference Kevin King makes a low return No. 13 Jackets to their first-ever Last season Haller had a .381 All-ACC Academic Softball team. to earn the honors four years in a Super Regional appearance ear- batting average this year, 69 hits, Tech and Florida State are tied for row. at the Bill Moore Tennis Center. [email protected] Surveying the field Technique Sports Editor: Nishant Prasadh With football season approaching, 28 take a look at how every ACC team’s Friday, Assistant Sports Editor: chances are shaping up for 2009424 August 21, 2009 Sports Steven Cappetta All eyes on Tech football stars in ‘09 sports shorts Dwyer among four Jackets on FBS award watch lists Backup QB Shaw breaks collarbone, out 6-8 weeks Sophomore quarterback Jaybo Shaw, who was slated to be the main backup to junior Josh Nesbitt, broke his col- larbone last Saturday during a scrimmage. Shaw could be ready to return in six to eight weeks, which would have him back on the field in October. With Shaw out, redshirt freshman Tevin Washington takes over as the second-string quarterback. There has been talk that Shaw may be red- shirted because of Washing- ton’s strong play in practice, but Head Coach Paul Johnson claimed it is too early to specu- late on how the Jackets will ul- timately handle the situation. Shaw played in seven games last season and had 321 pass- ing yards, 200 rushing yards, and five total touchdowns. He Photo by Blake Israel / Student Publications is the only quarterback on the Jonathan Dwyer outruns the Jacksonville State defense during last season’s opening game at Stadium. The preseason team aside from Nesbitt who ACC Player of the Year, Dwyer is on watch lists for two national awards and is considered to be a dark-horse candidate. has any game experience. By Nishant Prasadh Sports Editor for 1,395 yards and 12 touch- Camp Football Foundation 2009 However, he did also rush for 693 downs on just 200 carries, result- Player of the Year, which is given yards and seven touchdowns, and Basketball recruit Following last year’s surprising ing in an average of just under to the player voted the best in the as a first-year starter he improved 9-4 season that led to a share of seven yards per carry. His combi- country according to a panel of throughout the season at mak- will miss season the ACC Coastal Division title nation of power and speed in the head coaches and Sports Informa- ing reads on option plays. He has and a berth in the Chick-Fil-A ground game and his ability to tion Directors. This year’s watch several obstacles in his way for the after tearing ACL Bowl, several players on Tech’s perform at his best against Tech’s list includes the 2008 Camp award, though. All three of last Men’s basketball freshman football team are earning recogni- toughest opponents have earned Award winner, Texas quarterback season’s Heisman Trophy final- Kammeon Holsey had surgery tion as the 2009 season approach- him spots on national watch lists Colt McCoy, who elected to re- ists—Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford, last week on his torn right ACL es. Four Tech players—two on for two prominent awards. For the turn for his senior season. Texas’s McCoy, and Florida’s Tim and will miss the 2009-10 sea- offense and two on defense—have second straight year, Dwyer is one Junior quarterback Josh Nes- Tebow—are and son. He tore the ligament while been named to preseason watch of 30 players on the watch list for bitt is also in the running for his will return in 2009. Tebow and playing basketball in a local lists for a variety of national col- the Doak Walker Award, which is own position’s highest honor. He Bradford won the award in 2007 summer league at the start of lege football awards for their re- awarded to the best running back was named to the 33-player Davey and 2008, respectively. the month. spective positions. in the nation. While he should be O’Brien Award watch list for the On the other side of the ball, Holsey, a 6-foot-8 power Leading the way is the 2008 a contender for the award, he will nation’s best quarterback. Operat- Tech’s lone returning starter on forward, was named the Geor- ACC Offensive Player of the Year, face stiff competition from Cali- ing the Jackets’ run-heavy offense the defensive line, junior end Der- gia Class A Player of the Year junior B-back Jonathan Dwyer. fornia’s Jahvid Best, Oklahoma last season, Nesbitt did not put rick Morgan, is one of 153 candi- after leading Hancock Central The Marietta, Ga. native took State’s Kendall Hunter and Clem- up the passing numbers of many dates for the Rotary Club’s Lom- High to the state champion- home the conference’s top postsea- son’s C.J. Spiller, among others. of the other players on the list, bardi Award. Created in honor ship in 2009. He was expected son individual honor for offensive Dwyer has also been highlight- completing 54 of 123 passes for to see time as a reserve forward players last season after rushing ed for a higher honor: the Walter 808 yards and two touchdowns. See Football, page 26 for the Jackets this season. Falconi, King earn notable individual tennis victories By Steven Cappetta Assistant Sports Editor long tournament with a monetary 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 win over then-No. 1 prize and world rankings at stake. Maria Mosolova of Northwestern. Sophomore Irina Falconi With Falconi’s win, she accepted Winning nine out of the last 12 played a series of tournaments a check for $1,568 and runner-up matches on the season helped earn over the summer that ended with Whoriskey took home $980. her a national ranking as high as titles in both singles and doubles Falconi finished the summer No. 5 at one point and helped play at the $10,000 Heartland with a 13-1 singles record, includ- the Jackets to their fifth straight Clinic USTA Women’s Classic at ing the winning of 10 straight NCAA Round of 16 appearance. the Noyes Tennis Center in St. Jo- pro matches in a row. Two weeks On the men’s side, sophomore seph, Mo. On August 1, Falconi prior to her win in St. Joseph, Fal- Kevin King has also seen success and Ashley Weinhold took the coni swept through the Norman this summer. The left-handed doubles title with a 6-4, 7-6 (6) Wikerson Tennis Experience at rising sophomore defeated the win over recent Oklahoma gradu- the Sugar Creek Tennis Center in nation’s top overall junior ten- ate Chelsea Orr and Tennessee Atlanta. Her accomplishments in nis player, Alexander Domijan, rising senior Caitlin Whoriskey. A these two USTA Pro Circuit tour- 6-7 (0), 6-4, 7-6 (2) in the fourth day later, Falconi took her second naments have led Sports Illustrat- round of the USTA National straight USTA Pro Circuit singles ed to mention her in its upcoming Championships on August 12 in title with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over August 24 issue. Kalamazoo, Mich. Whoriskey. Falconi saw immediate success King came back after losing a The Heartland Clinic Wom- in her rookie season at Tech, post- first-set tiebreak to Domijan, and en’s Classic features a very diverse ing 30 singles wins and earning he managed to pull off a 6-4 win Photo by Joey Cerone / Student Publications collection of players, with some 2009 All-American and All-ACC in the second set. The Tech sopho- 100 players from numerous coun- honors. She finished 18-11 against Irina Falconi lines up for a return at the Bill Moore Tennis Center. tries coming together for a week- ranked opponents with a notable See Tennis, page 27 Falconi won two tourneys in the USTA Pro Circuit this summer.