SPRINGFOOTBALL2001 Virginia Tech Head Coach Frank Beamer André Davis David Pugh Lee Suggs Ben Taylor Jarrett Ferguson VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY OtherHokiesToWatch… 24 Larry Austin 47 Wayne Briggs 46 Chris Buie 20 Keith Burnell 28 Lamar Cobb 99 Cols Colas CB, r-Sr. FB, r-Sr. LB, r-So. TB, r-Jr. DE, r-Jr. DE, r-So. 21 Michael Crawford 57 Anthony Davis 95 Jim Davis 61 Steve DeMasi 60 Jacob Gibson 1 Eric Green ROV, r-So. OT, Jr. DE, So. C, r-Sr. OG, r-So. CB, So. 64 Jake Grove 25 Billy Hardee 41 Jake Houseright 23 T.J. Jackson 70 Kevin Lewis 5 Kevin McCadam C, r-So. CB, r-Jr. LB, Sr. LB, r-Jr. DT, So. LB, Sr. 82 Ronald Moody 67 Anthony Nelson 11 Grant Noel 74 Luke Owens 9 Terrell Parham 89 Robert Peaslee SE, r-So. OG, r-So. QB, r-Jr. OG, r-Jr. FL, r-Jr. P, r-So. 35 Willie Pile 3 Deon Provitt 53 Channing Reed 6 Vegas Robinson 87 Bob Slowikowski 49 Carter Warley FS, r-Jr. LB, r-So. DT, Sr. LB, r-So. TE, r-Sr. PK, r-So. 34 Brian Welch 19 Ernest Wilford 54 Dan Wilkinson 86 Keith Willis 58 Matt Wincek 26 Shawn Witten LB, r-Sr. SE, r-So. DT, r-Sr. TE, r-So. OT, Sr. FL, Jr. Virginia Tech Football Media Information 2001 Schedule Date Opponent Location ITINERARY: Spring practice is scheduled to run from Sept. 1 CONNECTICUT Blacksburg, Va. March 24 through April 21. The annual Spring Game is Sept. 8 WESTERN MICHIGAN Blacksburg, Va. scheduled for Saturday, April 21, at Lane Stadium/ Sept. 15 Open Worsham Field, beginning at approximately 2 p.m. Sept. 22 at Rutgers * Brunswick, N.J. Sept. 29 UCF Blacksburg, Va. PRACTICE COVERAGE: Media representatives are Oct. 6 at West Virginia * Morgantown, W.Va. Oct. 13 BOSTON COLLEGE* (HC) Blacksburg, Va. welcome to cover Tech football practice, but they must Oct. 20 Open notify the Virginia Tech Sports Information Office in Oct. 27 SYRACUSE* (Hall of Fame) Blacksburg, Va. advance for proper clearance. All practices, except for Nov. 3 at Pittsburgh* Pittsburgh, Pa. the Spring Game, are closed to the general public. The Nov. 10 at Temple* Philadelphia, Pa. Hokies will practice at the Frank O. Moseley Practice Nov. 17 at Virginia Charlottesville, Va. Fields, or in the event of inclement weather, Rector Nov. 24 Open Field House. Scrimmages are scheduled to be held at Dec. 1 MIAMI* (ABC-TV) Blacksburg, Va. Lane Stadium/Worsham Field. Dates and times, *BIG EAST Conference game listed on this page, are subject to change. Please Times & TV to be announced. note that the schedule does not include meeting and conditioning assignments. INTERVIEWS: Interviews with coaches, players and staff are arranged through the Virginia Tech Sports Information Office (540) 231-6726. Player interviews are not allowed during practice or while players are going to the practice field. PHOTOGRAPHERS: Cameramen and photographers may shoot only from the sidelines at practice. Please refrain from edging onto the playing field to avoid any injury to players and/or photographers. 2001 SPRING FOOTBALL PRACTICE SCHEDULE SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY March 18 March 19 March 20 March 21 March 22 March 23 March 24 PRACTICE 1 1 p.m. March 25 March 26 March 27 March 28 March 29 March 30 March 31 PRACTICE 2 PRACTICE 3 PRACTICE 4 PRACTICE 5 4:15-6:15 p.m. 4:15-6:15 p.m. 4:15-6:15 p.m. 1 p.m. April 1 April 2 April 3 April 4 April 5 April 6 April 7 PRACTICE 6 PRACTICE 7 PRACTICE 8 PRACTICE 9 4:15-6:15 p.m. 4:15-6:15 p.m. 4:15-6:15 p.m. 1 p.m. SCRIMMAGE SCRIMMAGE April 8 April 9 April 10 April 11 April 12 April 13 April 14 PRACTICE 10 PRACTICE 11 PRACTICE 12 PRACTICE 13 4:15-6:15 p.m. 4:15-6:15 p.m. 4:15-6:15 p.m. 10 a.m. SCRIMMAGE SCRIMMAGE April 15 April 16 April 17 April 18 April 19 April 20 April 21 PRACTICE 14 PRACTICE 15 EASTER SUNDAY 4:15-6:15 p.m. 2 p.m. SPRING GAME VIRGINIA TECH FOOTBALL 1 2001 SPRING MEDIA GUIDE 2001 Spring Outlook Hokies Look for Answers at Quarterback, O Line The Virginia Tech football to go with Grant or Jason, or thing for us is we are going to going to get so many reps team may have lost its leading are we going to plan on an have a good team around anyway,” Beamer said. “I think man, but there is certainly a incoming freshman being our them,” he said. “Even though a large part of spring is seeing good enough cast remaining to quarterback next fall?” there are a lot of new names where a lot of your younger help the Hokies maintain a spot Beamer believes the on the offensive line, I think it is players are in relation to your in the national spotlight. Hokies have a good situation going to be a good offensive program and finding out which After helping Tech to back- for whomever line. We have good wide ones are going to step up and to-back 11-1 seasons and a steps in at receivers and tight ends. And play for you.” pair of Top 10 finishes, quarterback. when you put (tailback) Lee Beamer feels strongly that sensational sophomore “I think Suggs and (fullback) Jarrett the 2001 team will continue the quarterback Michael Vick the good Ferguson in the same string of success that has declared himself eligible for the backfield, that’s strong.” carried the Hokies to eight National Football League Draft. Another plus will be the straight bowl games. That Vick is now one of five Tech defensive unit which feeling isn’t based solely on the offensive starters from last returns nine starters team’s talent level, it goes year’s Gator Bowl from a year ago more to the heart of Tech’s championship team that Tech and figures to be lunch pail tradition. will have to replace. The one of the “I think the best thing about other four are all offensive Hokies’ this football team so far has linemen. fastest groups been its work habits,” Beamer “When you talk about to date. The said. “In early-morning this spring, there are two Hokies have workouts and during winter major areas right now four All-BIG lifting, our kids worked really where we need some EAST defensive hard. When you finish up your answers,” head coach picks back, along bowl game and go right back to Frank Beamer said. “First, with a pair of freshman work, and you’re working even we need to see how our All-Americans. harder than before, I think offensive line is going to The main emphasis that’s a pretty good sign.” stack up. I think we’ve got on defense during some quality players there, but the spring will be we need to see exactly how filling the rover and THETHE OFFENSE OFFENSE many are ready to play. whip linebacker “The other key thing is the spots. One of the The loss of quarterback quarterback situation,” Beamer few significant Michael Vick and four veteran added. “Any time you’ve got a position changes offensive lineman hasn’t taken question mark at your of the spring will all of the bite out of the Virginia quarterback position that is a find senior Kevin Tech offense. Among the six critical issue,” McCadam moving returning starters are record- During the spring all the from free safety, setting running back Lee Suggs attention at quarterback will go where he was the and big-play receivers André to the Hokies’ two returnees, No. 2 man last Davis and Emmett Johnson. redshirt junior Grant Noel and season, to the Tech’s offense also returns redshirt freshman Jason Davis. rover position Jarrett Ferguson, one of the top Noel served as Tech’s No. 3 vacated by All-BIG fullbacks in the BIG EAST, and signal-caller last fall and saw EAST selection Browning Wynn and Bob some limited playing time. Cory Bird. Slowikowski, perhaps the best Davis entered school in Some of the tight end duo in the league. January 2000, went through biggest names on The job of rebuilding the spring practice and was defense, including offensive line will be facilitated redshirted this past season. starting linebackers by the return of centers Steve “Grant and Jason are going Ben Taylor and Jake DeMasi and Jake Grove and to get a lot of snaps and a lot of Houseright, will miss all the presence of talented opportunities to lead this or portions of the spring tackles Anthony Davis and Matt football team,” Beamer said. due to injuries. That will Wincek. “This will be a new situation for leave the door open for The Hokies will be both of these players and we many of the younger handcuffed injury-wise to some want to give them every players to get added extent at the interior positions opportunity to succeed. Lee Suggs led attention. with Grove and top guard “After spring practice, we Division I-A in “Even if they weren’t hurt, prospects Luke Owens and will make a decision on how scoring last season. the veteran guys who have Jacob Gibson slowed or we’re going to go. Are we going proven themselves are only sidelined by injuries. That will VIRGINIA TECH FOOTBALL 2 2001 SPRING MEDIA GUIDE admitted.