Contents Media Information ............................ 2, 3 Bowl Practice Schedule ....................... 2 Bowl Headquarters/Directory ............... 3 2003 Season Overview .......................................... 4, 5 Bowl Notes ....................................... 6, 7 All-Star Hokies ................................... 10 Game-by-Game Review ............... 55-66 Season Superlatives .......................... 67 Final Statistics .............................. 68, 69 Quick Facts BIG EAST Conference Standings and Honors ....................... 70 Location: Blacksburg, Virginia Statistics and Rankings ................ 71, 72 Enrollment: 28,000 President: Charles W. Steger Football Staff Director of Athletics: Jim Weaver Coach Frank Beamer .................... 34-37 Head Football Coach: Frank Beamer (Virginia Tech, ’69) Assistant Coaches ........................ 40-52 Hokies’ 2003 Football Record: 8-4 overall; 4-3 BIG EAST Associate AD John Ballein ................. 53 Beamer’s Overall Record: 167-96-4 (23+ years) Support Personnel ............................. 54 Beamer’s Record at Tech: 125-73-2 (17+ years) The Players Faculty Chairman of Athletics: Dr. Larry Killough Conference: The BIG EAST Conference Roster, Pronunciation Guide ................ 8 Nicknames: Hokies, Fighting Gobblers Two-Deep Lineups, Rosters ................. 9 Colors: Chicago maroon and burnt orange Profile Updates ............................. 11-33 Sports Information Director: Dave Smith (540) 231-6726 Records and History Sports Information Fax: (540) 231-6984 BeamerBall .................................. 38, 39 Tech Athletics on the Internet: www.hokiesports.com Tech’s Bowl History ...................... 73, 74 Individual Bowl Superlatives .............. 75 2003 Insight Bowl Guide Credits Team Bowl Marks ............................... 76 Tech’s Career Leaders ....................... 77 Editor .................................... Dave Smith Most of the images in this guide were Longest Plays/Last Time .................... 78 Design ....... Anne Panella, Dave Knachel taken by Assistant SID David Knachel. Contributors .................. Bryan Johnston, Covers were designed by Knachel. The University Larry Hincker, Lee Coleman and Woody Veasey also This Is Virginia Tech ........................... 79 Brandi Bonkowski, Kimberly Folkes contributed images. President Charles Steger ................... 79 Printed by University Printing Services; Publication No.: VT/0825/1203/1.2M/241509 AD Jim Weaver, Administrators.......... 80 Virginia Tech 2003 Insight Bowl Guide 1 MEDIA INFORMATION Virginia Tech Insight Bowl Practice Procedures Coach Frank Beamer will be available to the media at the beginning of practice at the practice site. Once dressed, Tech players will be available for an interview period prior to each practice except the practice on Dec. 25. Media members are encouraged to arrive at the practice field early as the schedule may fluctuate. The first three periods of practice (approximately 30 minutes) will be open to the media, including still photographers and videographers. Media members must remain on the sidelines once practice begins. Following the first three periods, practice will be closed. Members of the Tech team will not be available for interviews at the team hotel. Practice Schedule (Desert Mountain High School*) Virginia Tech Monday, December 22 Travel Plans Team arrives 12:10 p.m. The Virginia Tech football Player interviews team and official travel party approximately 12:45 p.m. will travel by charter jet and will Practice begins 1 p.m. arrive in Phoenix at approximately 12:45 (MST), on Tuesday, December 23 Sunday, Dec. 21. While in Team arrives 12:10 p.m. Phoenix, the Hokies will be Player interviews headquartered at the Hilton approximately 12:30 p.m. Scottsdale Resort & Villas, and Practice begins 12:45 p.m. will practice at Desert Mountain High School. The team will Wednesday, December 24 return home Dec. 27. Team arrives 12:10 p.m. Virginia Tech Sports Player interviews Information staff in attendance approximately 12:30 p.m. will be Dave Smith, sports Practice begins 12:45 p.m. information director, Anne Panella, associate sports Thursday, December 25 information director, Bryan Team arrives 4:45 p.m. Johnston, assistant sports Practice begins 5 p.m. information director and David No interviews at this practice. Knachel, assistant sports information director. * Alternate practice site For information regarding for inclement weather is Coach Frank Beamer, contact to be determined. Check Smith. Requests involving with the Virginia Tech players should be directed to SID for updates. Johnston. To have images from the bowl week or the past season emailed, contact Coach Frank Beamer Knachel in Phoenix or email addresses the media. him at [email protected]. Virginia Tech Sports Information Staff Dave Smith Anne Panella Bryan Johnston Dave Knachel Bill Dyer Torye Hurst Donna Smith Sports Information Associate SID Assistant SID Assistant SID Assistant SID Assistant SID Secretary Director 2 Virginia Tech 2003 Insight Bowl Guide MEDIA INFORMATION 2003 Insight Bowl Directory Bowl Headquarters Virginia Tech Headquarters Hilton Scottsdale Resort & Villas 6333 North Scottsdale Rd.; Scottsdale, AZ 85250 Phone: (480) 948-7750 Fax: (480) 948-2232 Cal Headquarters Doubletree Paradise Valley 5401 North Scottsdale Rd.; Scottsdale, AZ 85250 Phone: (480) 947-5400 Fax: (480) 946-1524 Media Headquarters Camelback Inn Marriott Resort The 2003 Insight Bowl will be played under the bright lights and open roof 5402 East Lincoln Dr.; Scottsdale, AZ 85253 of Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix. This outstanding Major League Baseball Phone: (480) 948-1700 venue is home to the Arizona Diamondbacks and is converted to a 42,915- Fax: (480) 951-8469 seat football facility solely for this one bowl game each year. Virginia Tech Practice Site Desert Mountain High School 12575 East Via Linda; Scottsdale, AZ 85251 Phone: (480) 484-7000 Steve Harris, Athletic Director Phone: (480) 484-7061 Cal Practice Site Indian School Park 300 E. Indian School Rd.; Phoenix, AZ 85012 Phone: (602) 495-0739 Key Phone Numbers Gina Chappin Bowl Media Opportunities Director of Media Relations, Insight Bowl PR Office: (480) 350-0909 Direct: (480) 517-6290 The Insight Bowl will hold three press conferences. Fax: (480) 736-4184 Cellular: (602) 390-6997 Press Conference Schedule Home: (480) 539-1034 for Virginia Tech Virginia Tech SID Dave Smith (Times may be subject to change) and the Tech Sports Information Staff Hilton Scottsdale Resort & Villas Dec. 21 — Time TBA • Sky Harbor Airport (480) 948-7750 • Fax: (480) 948-2232 Coach Frank Beamer will be available to the media Virginia Tech SID Office (Blacksburg) Dec. 23 — 9 a.m. • Camelback Inn Marriott Resort (media hotel) 460 Jamerson Center; Blacksburg, VA 24061 Three offensive players (Grove, Jones and Randall) and Phone: (540) 231-6726 three defensive players (Adibi, Crawford and Robinson) Fax: (540) 231-6984 Web: www.hokiesports.com Dec. 24 — 9 a.m. • Camelback Inn Marriott Resort (media hotel) Coach Frank Beamer will be available to the media. Cal SID Bob Rose and the Cal Sports Information Staff Insight Bowl Team Events* Doubletree Paradise Valley Bowl Bash (480) 947-5400 Jillian’s Desert Ridge Tuesday, Dec. 23 Cal SID Office (Berkeley, CA) 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. 210 Memorial; Berkeley, CA 94720 Phone: (510) 643-5363 * Contact Gina Chappin of the Insight Bowl for information Fax: (510) 643-7778 about covering this event Web: www.calbears.com Virginia Tech 2003 Insight Bowl Guide 3 SEASON IN REVIEW Hokies Cap 8-4 Season With First Visit To Insight Bowl Virginia Tech entered the prestigious Dave Rimington increased playing 2003 football season with high Trophy as the nation’s best time due to the expectations, and although the center, while Jones was one of injury to Jones, Hokies fell short of several of three finalists for the Doak scored three their goals, they still produced Walker Award for the nation’s touchdowns on eight wins in their 12 regular- top running back. The success the way to Tech’s season games and extended a of Jones and Grove was a 43-0 win over the bowl streak that makes them microcosm of the offensive Dukes. one of only seven Division I-A unit, which accounted for more After a week teams to have gone to a bowl than 4,600 total offensive yards off, Jones and the each of the last 11 seasons. on the backs of quarterbacks Hokies were back Tech had several gaps to fill Bryan Randall and Marcus at home for a following a victory in last year’s Vick. Thursday night Diamond Walnut San Francisco The defensive unit contest versus the Bowl. None was bigger than contributed six touchdowns and visiting Aggies of NCAA record-breaking tailback finished second in the Texas A&M. Lee Suggs. But where Suggs conference in total defense. Hurricane Isabel left a hole, in stepped junior Special teams remained a was not enough to phenom Kevin Jones. Likewise, force, notching the first kick dissuade Hokie a new face stepped in at each return for a touchdown in 12 fans, as the team of the other five starting spots years and a record-setting played in front of a that were vacated, as the 2003 performance by DeAngelo Hall, sell-out crowd and version of the Hokies proved who returned two punts for a national ESPN that reloading, not rebuilding, touchdowns in a single game. audience. Jones was their plan for the season. The Hokies opened the ran for 188 yards The Hokies started the season on Aug. 31 with a home on 30 carries and season winning