2003 Spring Football Virginia Tech Coaches Frank Beamer Billy Hite Bud Foster Bryan Stinespring Jim Cavanaugh Head Coach Associate Head Coach Defensive Coordinator Offensive Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator and and Running Backs Coach and Inside Offensive Line Coach Strong Safety and Outside Linebackers Coach Linebackers Coach Tony Ball Danny Pearman Kevin Rogers Lorenzo Ward Charley Wiles Wide Receivers Coach Tight Ends and Quarterbacks Coach Defensive Backfield Coach Defensive Line Coach Offensive Tackles Coach Football Support Staff John Ballein Diana Clark Bruce Garnes Mike Gentry Mike Goforth Jay Johnson Associate A.D. for Secretary to Administrative Assistant A.D. for Director of Assistant Director of Football Operations Coach Beamer Assistant Athletic Performance Athletic Training Strength & Conditioning Lester Karlin Dr. Gunnar Brolinson Lisa Marie J.C. Price Greg Shockley Kristie Verniel Equipment Team Football Program Graduate Graduate Football Program Manager Physician Support Technician Assistant Assistant Support Technician Publication No.: VT/825/0303/300/232246 Virginia Tech Football Media Information ITINERARY: Spring practice is scheduled to run from March 22 through April 19. The annual Spring Game is scheduled for Saturday, April 19, at Lane Stadium/Worsham Field, beginning at approximately 2 p.m. PRACTICE COVERAGE: Media representatives are welcome to cover Tech football practice, but they must notify the Virginia Tech Sports Information Office in advance for proper clearance. All practices, except for the Spring Game, are closed to the general public. The Hokies will workout at the football practice fields behind the Merryman Center, or in the event of inclement 2003 Schedule weather, in Rector Field House. Scrimmages are Day Date Opponent Location TV scheduled to be held at Lane Stadium/Worsham Sat. Aug. 30 UCF Blacksburg, Va. Field. Dates and times, listed on this page, are Sat. Sept. 6 JAMES MADISON Blacksburg, Va. subject to change. Please note that the schedule Sat. Sept. 13 OPEN does not include meeting and conditioning Thur. Sept. 18 TEXAS A&M Blacksburg, Va. ESPN assignments. Sat. Sept. 27 CONNECTICUT Blacksburg, Va. Sat. Oct. 4 at Rutgers* Piscataway, N.J. INTERVIEWS: Interviews with coaches, players Sat. Oct. 11 SYRACUSE* (Homecoming) Blacksburg, Va. and staff are arranged through the Virginia Tech Sat. Oct. 18 OPEN Sports Information Office (540) 231-6726. Player Wed. Oct. 22 at West Virginia* Morgantown, W.Va. ESPN/ESPN 2 interviews are not allowed during practice. Sat. Nov. 1 MIAMI* Blacksburg, Va. ESPN Sat. Nov. 8 at Pittsburgh* Pittsburgh, Pa. Sat. Nov. 15 at Temple* Philadelphia, Pa. PHOTOGRAPHERS: Cameramen and Sat. Nov. 22 BOSTON COLLEGE* Blacksburg, Va. photographers may shoot only from the sidelines Sat. Nov. 29 at Virginia Charlottesville, Va. at practice. Please refrain from edging onto the playing field to avoid any injury to players and/or *BIG EAST Conference game photographers. Times & TV to be announced. 2003 Spring Football Practice Schedule SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY March 16 March 17 March 18 March 19 March 20 March 21 March 22 PRACTICE 1 1 p.m.-3:15 p.m. March 23 March 24 March 25 March 26 March 27 March 28 March 29 PRACTICE 2 PRACTICE 3 PRACTICE 4 PRACTICE 5 4:15-6:30 p.m. 4:15-6:30 p.m. 4:15-6:30 p.m. 11 a.m.-1:15 p.m. SCRIMMAGE March 30 March 31 April 1 April 2 April 3 April 4 April 5 PRACTICE 6 PRACTICE 7 PRACTICE 8 PRACTICE 4:15-6:30 p.m. 4:15-6:30 p.m. 4:15-6:30 p.m. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. SCRIMMAGE SCRIMMAGE April 6 April 7 April 8 April 9 April 10 April 11 April 12 PRACTICE 10 PRACTICE 11 PRACTICE 12 PRACTICE 13 4:15-6:30 p.m. 4:15-6:30 p.m. 4:15-6:30 p.m. 1 p.m.-3 p.m. SCRIMMAGE SCRIMMAGE April 13 April 14 April 15 April 16 April 17 April 18 April 19 PRACTICE 14 PRACTICE 15 4:15-6:30 p.m. 2 p.m. SCRIMMAGE SPRING GAME Virginia Tech 2003 Spring Football Outlook 1 2003 Spring Outlook Hokies Expecting Highly Competitive Spring Virginia Tech football corps squared away and his coaches haven’t forgotten stars. Junior Kevin Jones, coach Frank Beamer determining the backups at that the defense was who has rushed for 1,828 believes in the value of the tailback and fullback susceptible to the run during yards over two seasons competition. And he expects positions. Finding receivers the second half of last despite starting just three to see plenty of it when his to help draw attention away season. regular-season games, will team opens 2003 spring from record-setting split end “As we evaluated our film, become the main man at football drills on March 22. Ernest Wilford may rank as it came back to tailback. Sophomore Jimmy With 47 lettermen, 16 Beamer’s top priority when it fundamentals,” says F. Williams, who has size, starters and both kickers comes to personnel matters. defensive coordinator Bud speed and unlimited returning from a team that It could even lead to Foster. “Guys not securing potential, is prepared to take went 10-4 and defeated Air experimenting with gifted their gap, guys getting cut off Pile’s place. Force in the San Francisco junior cornerback DeAngelo — just inconsistent play. “I feel good about how Bowl last year, the Hokies Hall on offense during the There was nothing wrong things are going right now,” will field a much more first few weeks of the spring. with the defensive scheme. says Beamer. “We have experienced team this As for Tech’s offensive “Last season, every snap some good, young talent to season. That experience line, Beamer believes it can was a learning experience for go with some older guys like should give Tech a chance be improved over last year some of our guys. We have Jake Grove and Vegas for another highly successful with a successful spring. to get beyond that and Robinson. Coach (Mike) season. But chances don’t “From top to bottom, mature as a unit.” Gentry has been very guarantee success. we’re probably more athletic One of the team’s strong encouraged by this group’s “We feel like we can be a than we have ever been in points will once again be the work habits during our good football team,” says our offensive line,” he says. defensive end positions, strength and conditioning Beamer. “But having the “And we’ve got the guy there where seniors Nathaniel workouts. And I do think we opportunity, and getting it in the middle (center Jake Adibi, Cols Colas and Jim have some momentum from done, are two different Grove) to pull the trigger.” Davis give Tech one of the our bowl win. things. Spring practice is Defensively, the Hokies best rotations in the Division “We’re going to miss guys about fundamentals. It’s a lost just two starters and I-A ranks. The Hokies will like Lee Suggs, there’s no time to become solid in your have 15 players back who also have quality depth at question about it. But we techniques. That is going to started at least three games tight end and cornerback. have a chance to really be be our main emphasis. last fall. This year’s unit has The Hokies will miss good here in the future, too. “I feel like we’re going to the makings of a traditional record-setting tailback Lee That doesn’t mean its going have good competition at Tech defense — speed, Suggs and free safety Willie to happen. We have to get it virtually every position this aggressiveness and Pile, but their departure will done.” spring. When you have good toughness. But Beamer and open the door for future Let the competition begin. competition, everyone gets better.” The Offense Beamer knows that the public’s eye will be The loss of four focused on the Hokies’ starters from last quarterback year’s offense competition between hasn’t detracted returning starter from the Bryan Randall and excitement redshirt freshman heading into Marcus Vick, the 2003 spring younger brother of practice. A core former Tech All- nucleus of American, Michael players and Vick. While that coaches return, competition may be along with intriguing, Beamer several new knows that more faces who are important issues expected to must be settled Coach Frank Beamer and provide elsewhere. cornerback Vincent Fuller additional Those issues celebrate an interception. productivity for begin with getting the Hokies. With Tech’s receiving this group 2 Virginia Tech 2003 Spring Football Outlook returning, the Tech offense system and will be looked to will use the spring as a for leadership on the line this stepping stone in preparation spring. for a big 2003 season. “Jimmy is a guy who is Among the returning very determined,” Stinespring starters are versatile says. “He gives great effort quarterback Bryan Randall, and determination at practice speedy Kevin Jones at and he’s a guy who we look tailback and the record- forward to seeing perform breaking Ernest Wilford at well during the spring.” receiver. Former walk-on Will Jake Grove and Jacob Montgomery will enter the Gibson will lead an spring as the No. 2 man at experienced line, one that the left guard spot. returns five players who saw Montgomery played in four significant action in 2002. games during the 2002 The spring will also find season, recording two two young and talented knockdown blocks. quarterbacks squaring off for Jason Murphy, who has the first time. While the spring moved to the offensive line will not determine the starter, from the defensive side of it will provide coaches a good the ball, will work behind Miller at right guard along idea of what to expect come with Carroll.