Congratulations, Erick Green!

Courtesy Dennis Grundman/NV Daily

Mark Giannotto covers the Hokies (among other teams) for the Washington Post. He recently posted excellent back-to-back articles on Seth Greenberg and Erick Green, respectively. I will be talking about Seth Greenberg in a subsequent post, but this one is all about the fine young man named Erick Green--who also happens to be an exceptional basketball-playing student athlete at Virginia Tech.

I've been around a while, and Erick Green is about as close as you can come to a modern-day gladiator, and you will not find one more honorable. His numbers for the current basketball season (which is not quite over for the Hokies) are as follows:

• He played an average of almost 36.5 minutes a (40-minute) game
• He had a 3-point shooting percentage of over 39%
• He made 81.5% of his free throws (and this percentage trended down over the course of the season as his battered body and stamina wore down)
• He shot over 48% for his average of 17 shots per game
• He scored a career-high game total of 35 points twice during this season
• He achieved a new VT single-season men's basketball scoring record of 786 points (and still counting)
• He had a season game average of 25.4 points per game, with an average of 4 assists per game
• He capped off the regular season by receiving the coveted ACC Player of the Year award.

Erick's receiving the ACC Player of the Year award was somewhat unexpected and special. It was unexpected because, rightly or wrongly, VT has been perennially disrespected in the NCAA and ACC. We can perhaps argue about why this has happened, and whether the reasons for this are valid (or not), but there is more than a little degree of truth to this (subjective) assertion.

It was special because when you view the shooting numbers above and when you observe Erick's unselfish play in all of the games, it becomes very clear that his scoring records are not the result of him simply being a "ball hog".  Anyone who has watched the Hokies this (disappointing) season will recognize that Green was always trying to create scoring opportunities for his teammates.  In fact, his assist numbers would have been vastly higher had his teammates been able to capitalize on these plays. It was only late in games, when hope was nearly lost, that Coach James Johnson told Erick to take over the offense and carry the rest of the team on his more-than-capable shoulders. 

Erick became a strong leader under extremely adverse conditions this season. The Hokies' in-conference record speaks to this adversity. Never did I observe Erick complaining or disrespecting his teammates before, during, or after games; and I guarantee lesser men would have done so, especially when you consider that he was double- and even triple-teamed in many/most games, primarily because his teammates posed little threat to opposing defenses. His scoring numbers are all-the-more impressive because of this, and it was nice that the ACC Player of the Year voters recognized this.

Even though he was the most productive player on the team, he was typically the first guy in the practice facility every day, working on his shots. He focused on strength and conditioning with Coach David Jackson, and the hard work paid off. Actions speak louder than words, and Erick definitely "walked the walk". I expect the example that he set to pay off for the Hokies next season, even though he is graduating; this should especially be the case for younger players like Marshall Wood, C.J. Barksdale, and Joey Van Zegeren; who saw first-hand the kind of sacrifice required to achieve excellence.

Finally, it is quite rare that someone like Erick becomes such a honorable human being and a game-time warrior without strong, positive, parental influences. I had the opportunity to briefly meet his mother, Tami (a former basketball player at Howard University), after one of the Hokies' away games against UMD two years ago. One could tell from her self-assured demeanor and how proud she was of Erick that the acorn didn't fall very far from the tree. We, as Hokies and fans of Erick Green, owe at least some of our accolades to her and Erick's father (also named Erick, and a former running back at Howard University) as well.

Go Hokies!!

Coach Cav Update - 2013

Okay; so Hokie Football Director of Recruiting Jim Cavanaugh expressly prohibited all in attendance from posting any comments from his current "Recruiting Recap" tour online, but I didn't sign the contract--and the current readership of this blog consists of, well, me; so I'm not worried about betraying any confidences.

It's been a while since my last post.  During that period, there have been many ups and downs.  The football season-ending bowl game against Rutgers was pretty-much a disaster.  However, the way that the defense enabled the Hokies to prevail and to ultimately win was positive. The play on offense was sufficiently disjointed enough to remove any doubt that the coaching "brain trust" on that side of the ball needed to be carpet-bombed.  And so we have a new offensive coordinator, a new offensive line coach, and a new wide receivers coach.  

The former beloved Hokie football offensive coordinator has been "demoted" to a position that only warrants a salary of $300K/year. Only in NCAA and professional sports can a big demotion garner that kind of money.

Coach Cavanaugh began the night by only briefly commenting about the coaching changes.  He and Billy Hite are now in "special" positions, so their positions are at-risk because the NCAA has rules regarding which positions, and how many, that schools are allowed to staff in their athletic organizations. 

Cav said that new offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler will place a renewed emphasis on running the ball, and that he will find someone capable of running the ball consistently, one way or another.  Expect to see Trey Edmunds and Chris Mangus compete in the running back stable.

There was also a local 2014 recruit in attendance, which NCAA rules prevented Coach Cav from introducing. Judging from his size and racial profile, he is either a punter or a kicker... (smile)

Some random comments regarding each recruit are provided below. If no comments are listed below for a particular player, it only means that I didn't find the comments that were made to be noteworthy. All of the recruits are highly regarded by the staff. Any comments in parentheses are my observations, not Cav's. The video's that Cav displayed and commented on appear to be the same video's as those found on HokieSports.com in the "2013 Recruiting Class" section.

Offensive line was a point of emphasis and need for 2013, and Kyle Chung (OL) is regarded as key acquisition for the program. Speaking of O-linemen, Cav said the the new O-line coach, Jeff Grimes, "is a real sonuvabitch" and should bring a whole new attitude to that group--and the running game in particular.

Charles Clark (FS) has some very impressive kick-off returns and punt-returns in his video portfolio.  Recruited for the secondary, he could provide a few David Wilson/Jayron Hosley moments in the return game.

Brandon Facyson (DB): His name is pronounced "Fay-sun".

Holland Fisher (FS): "You can't coach speed and you can't stretch players" after you bring them on board, so height and speed is always highly regarded. Fisher was a good acquisition and could end up at outside LB.

Kendall Fuller (CB): Coach commented the Fuller parents need to crank out some more babies to keep their progeny in the VT recruiting pipeline. Clearly, Foster owns Kendall on defense, but new wide receiver coach Aaron Moorhead saw his ball-handling and catching skills and commented that "He needs to play some offense."  Cav's response: "Moorehead is a little wet behind the ears. He is going to get schooled about how things work around here over the course of the season."

Bucky Hodges (QB): Looks like another Logan Thomas, but Cav commented that he was a little "quicker" when running the ball.

Cequan Jefferson (CB): "Great football instincts."

Jonathan McLaughlin (OL): "Big", and "a good guy on-and-off the field".

Jamieon Moss (LB): No noteworthy comments.

Andrew Motuapuaka (LB): Cav asked Andrew's mom if it was okay if he just referred to him as "Andrew M". (He reminds me of Troy Palamalu in his heyday--just a wild man creating havoc all over the field. Personally, I think that this kid is going to be a rock star for VT, like Macho Harris but in a different capacity.) In one video clip, one of Andrew's defensive teammates in the secondary snagged an interception for a long (~85 yds) "pick six". During the return for touchdown, Motuapuaka made 4 separate blocks to either seal off the returner or put would-be tacklers on their back-sides. 

Deon Newsome (ATH): He will play as either a corner, safety, or wide receiver, depending on what they end up needing the most.

Parker Osterloh (OL): Another highly-thought-of offensive lineman. He's 300 lbs now, but Cav expects him to ultimately play at 350 lbs. He commented that, at 6'8", "with arms like that, he should be wearing long sleeves; but Coach Gentry will take care of that..."  In the film, there is one clip that shows him catching a pass as an eligible receiver. Cav said "He should save that video, because it was last time he will be thrown a pass in a football game."

Carlis Parker (QB): A lefty QB, with an uncanny ability to avoid tackles and make plays. Even if there could never be another Michael Vick, this kid will remind people of him. (It's a year too early, but let the comparative hype begin!)

Braxton Pfaff (OL): The last of the O-linemen recruits. This kid looks ready to rock; and he squashes opponents. Cav commented that he is incredibly nimble and he "finishes plays". They are targeting to get him up from his current weight of 285 lbs to ~300 lbs; but they don't want to get him so big that his speed and agility are compromised.

David Prince (ATH): No noteworthy comments, but obviously when you recruit somebody as an "athlete", it means that they are talented and versatile enough to play multiple positions. 

D.J. Reid (RB): Cav compared him somewhat to Ryan Williams, but without Ryan's strength. (Speaking of RMFW, let's pray that his third year in the NFL is the charm. Two straight years of early season-ending injuries must be discouraging for him.)

Anthony Shegog (FS): Currently listed at 200 lbs, Cav said that they will get him up to 220 lbs. Cav described him as a "safety who will knock your lights out!"

Wyatt Teller (DE): This kid looks strong and fast in the video's.  Cav described him as "flat-out mean!"

So there you have it. Another thoroughly-entertaining evening, courtesy of Coach Jim Cavanaugh.

Go Hokies!!  

Enough!

As a long-time fan of the VT football Hokies, I have seen fortunes come and go.  The program has always been a generally decent and honorable one, and one that most Hokie football fans can be proud of (okay, maybe if we exclude the end of the Marcus Vick period and the embarrassment that he continues to bestow on our institution).  During the up years (and winning game performances), the college football pundits point to the long tenures of many of the coaches, and conclude that "stability" is the key to Virginia Tech's success. During the down years (and poor game performances), the experts--and the fans--point to the unimaginative coaching, particularly on offense, and say that contemporary football program offenses have simply passed the Hokies offensive brain trust by.  We are still trying to to run a 20th century offense in the 21st century, and it is now well outside its shelf life. Todd McShay of ESPN most-recently made this particular assertion.

Although I also value stability in an organization, it is a simple truism that if people in strategic positions are unable to adapt, then changes must be made.  And when changes are necessary, one also has to consider the question, "If I release this person, can I find someone better to replace him/her?".  It's always a little bit of a chicken-and-egg situation.  For example, VT's A.D., Jim Weaver, released VT basketball coach Seth Greenberg on somewhat of a whim--allegedly because Seth's organization did not adequately reflect the "family relationships" evident within other VT sports teams.  The fact that the Hokies were unable to make the NCAA Tournament under Seth's watch no doubt factored into the decision, along with a few other things (such as it was rumored that he had clandestinely been interviewing with other organizations for a job).  Regardless, he was fired so late in the post-season that all of the previously-available "high-caliber" potential replacement coaches had already been nailed down by other teams. The default choice became former assistant coach, James Johnson.  The early results (before ACC play) look promising; but if this move works out, it will be due purely to dumb luck (which, respectfully-speaking, appears to be the key to our A.D.'s success over the years--from our admission to the ACC as well as VT's improbable invitation last season to the BCS Sugar Bowl).  But I digress...

The Hokies are not always going to have a Michael Vick, Tyrod Taylor, Ryan Williams, or David Wilson on the team--at least not until we have more consistent team performance year-in and year-out, which leads to better recruiting.  So, during those "non-star" years, the offense still needs to produce, adjusting to the various talents of those currently on the team.  The present VT offensive coaching staff seems unable to manifest success under less-than-perfect circumstances, so the organization needs to diligently find someone with these skills and then "make room" for them in the organization. Offensive game plans, play-calling, offensive line coaching, quarterback coaching, and special teams coaching are all areas that need attention.

November 23, 2012 - Source: Geoff Burke/Getty Images North America

Specifically, the fuzzy delineation and reassignment of offensive coaching roles between Bryan Stinespring and Michael O'Cain has simply not been productive. Furthermore, under O'Cain's quarterback coaching tutelage, Logan Thomas' passing accuracy has actually regressed.  The kid is a real gamer and will do whatever it takes to win.  The coaching staff pushed him into the QB position, initially against his desire, so they owe it to him to make him successful there.  He certainly has the physical tools and mental toughness to excel in the position, both at the college and professional level.

We know that coaching changes make huge differences in team performance. Clemson had been a perennial doormat of the Hokies for some time.  Then, they hire a new coach and an innovative offensive coordinator, and in the three most-recent games with the Tigers, the Hokies have been so over-matched that they don't look like they belong on the same field with them.

I am certainly not alone in these sentiments.  In fact, I am a relatively late-comer to those calling for change.  My patience with the staff ran out after the team's season-end loss in the Sugar Bowl against Michigan.  The defense effectively shut down the Michigan offense, but the panicked offensive play-calling at critical times during the game sabotaged Bud Foster & Company's masterful defensive effort.  

Regarding other specific changes, I think that I generally agree with the proposals reflected in a recent blog post from GobblerCountry, which I encourage you to read. 

Will any coaching changes actually occur during the coming off-season?  Frank Beamer's unyielding sacrifice to the god of loyalty would appear to make this unlikely.  It will take extraordinary pressure from big-dollar donors and athletic sponsors for this to have any chance of happening.  We'll have to wait (and pray) and see.  Until then, I hope for a successful performance in our upcoming bowl game.

Go Hokies!!

"These are times that try men's souls..."

Okay, maybe Thomas Paine had something more serious in mind when he uttered this altruism; but, nevertheless, this was a tough weekend for Hokie and Redskin fans.

First, the Hokies got absolutely manhandled and beat up-and-down the field by the Pitt Panthers; then the Redskins got smacked in the mouth (and many other places) by the St. Louis Rams.  I think that both of my teams are looking forward to some "home cookin'" next weekend.

A week in China, and I arrived back in the States on Saturday evening looking forward to watching a recording of the earlier-in-the-day Hokies-Panthers game (having religiously maintained radio and internet silence since landing that evening).  I was expecting to watch a convincing, if not easy, Hokie win, especially since Pitt had just dropped 2 games in a row to open their season.

Instead, I found myself watching the Redskin Hogs of the 70's-80's on the Pitt side of the ball.  Total domination up front.  The defense was supposed to be the Hokies' strong suit this season -- but after giving up 537 yards to Pitt --  I don't think so.

Then on Sunday afternoon, I got ready for the Redskins-Rams game by watching a replay of the Redskins-Saints game from last weekend (as I missed watching that game as well while I was in the People's Republic).  So when the Redskins-Rams game came on at 4 pm, I was looking for a beat-down of the Rams to open the season at 2-0.  The reality was something different, however.  In fact, thought I was watching a replay of the Hokies game, albeit with a little more offense from the good guys.  But seriously, 452 yards given up by the Redskins' defense, after giving up 358 yards to the Saints last week?  "Houston, we have a problem."

Former Hokie Josh -- I mean, "Joshua" -- Morgan did not acquit himself well at the end of game either with his 15-yard "loss of composure" penalty, although there was plenty of blame to go around, including Aldrick Robinson's drop of a bomb thrown by RG III in the closing drive.  

Speaking of Hokies in the NFL, although Arizona did knock off Tom Brady and the Patriots, Ryan Williams (aka, "RMFW") did not do his team any favors by fumbling at the end of the game deep in Arizona territory and setting up what should have been a game-winning field goal by the Patriots.  (At least the football gods got that one right.)

And if I ever hear the phrase "Another first-down (or touchdown) completion to Danny Amendola" again in my lifetime, it will be too soon...

Go Hokies!! Go Redskins!!

Their Blood Still Cries Out for Justice - Update

This is an update from a previous blog on this subject.

Just when despair had become the guest who would not leave, some progress has been made and renewed attention is being focused on the Morgan Harrington murder case.  The FBI and VA State Police are partnering in a campaign to find and arrest the man who killed VT student Morgan Harrington in 2009, and who also raped a woman in 2005.

A composite sketch has been put together, shown here.  The FBI also has a dedicated web page located here.

The suspect is described as a black male, who was described as 25-35 at the time of the rape in 2005. At that time, he was also described as 5'9" - 6'0" tall, weighing 180-220 lbs, with a beard and mustache.

Jefferson Area Crime Stoppers are offering a $100,000 reward and Metallica is offering an additional $50,000.

May God comfort the Harrington family and help the authorities to remove (by any means necessary) this lowlife from society.

Chuck Brown - R.I.P.

Courtesy Washington City Paper

Chuck Brown was a local DC legend, a.k.a. "The Godfather of Go-Go". Maybe not a national artist, but one who was revered in DC, and he was a point of pride for black Washingtonians. According to the Washington Post, local radio personality Donnie Simpson described him as "like the Washington Monument. He was like Ben's Chili Bowl. He was the big chair. He was all of that. Chuck Brown was Washington DC."


Brown lived in Brandywine, MD, in the suburbs of DC. He died on Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at Baltimore's Johns Hopkins Hospital of multiple organ failure including heart failure or heart problems. He was 75 years old. Several weeks prior to his death, he had postponed and canceled shows due to hospitalization for pneumonia.  He had energy, style, and flair; and he will be missed.

Nekos Brown
Courtesy Chicago Rush/AFL

So what is the Hokie connection, and why am I talking about him in this blog? Well, there are actually two connections: his sons, Nekos and Wiley Brown. He is also survived by his wife and the boys' mother, Jocelyn Brown. Nekos played defensive end and linebacker for the Hokies from 2006-2009, starting in the 2009 Orange Bowl against Cincinnati. He now plays Arena Football for the Chicago Rush. 

Wiley Brown
Courtesy HokieSports.com

His brother Wiley currently plays outside linebacker for the Hokies, with emphasis on special teams.  He played 10 games for Duquesne in 2008. He then transferred to VT and sat out the 2009 season, per NCAA transfer rules.  He played in all Hokie football games in 2010 and 2011, and will be finishing up his career with the Hokies this year, 2012. Coming from a fan who usually ends up watching games from the end zone, I can say that Wiley is a tireless package of energy during special teams play, especially kick-offs. He fires his team up, and he fires the fans up.


Chuck Brown scheduled concerts and other appearances around the Hokies' home football schedule to ensure that he would never miss one of his sons' games, and he became a fixture at Lane Stadium. Following the Virginia Tech massacre, Brown stated in an interview that he was "absolutely devastated" by the tragedy, and cried every day for two weeks. In shows that followed, Brown would pause for a moment in prayer for the victims and their families before beginning his performance, and dedicated several shows to their memory.


As a father and as a Hokie, I couldn't be prouder of being associated with such a man, even if only in a peripheral way.  So here's to you, Chuck Brown!  May God hold you ever-so-close to him in your new life in eternity, as you serenade Him and the rest of the saints in Heaven.

Chuck Brown - Courtesy todaysthv.com

"Go-Go" Hokies. Go-Go.

Their Blood Still Cries Out for Justice

The Roanoke Times | File 2009

A disconcerting blog title for a disturbing and haunting subject: the still-unsolved murders of Heidi Childs, 18, of Forest VA; David Metzler, 19, of Lynchburg VA; and Morgan Harrington, 20, of Roanoke VA. 


The young student-couple, Heidi Childs and David Metzler, were murdered on the evening of August 26, 2009, in the parking lot of the Caldwell Fields campground in the Jefferson National Forest on Craig Creek Road in Montgomery County. My mind has never wandered far from this tragedy, especially when the perpetrator(s) of this crime still walk(s) freely on this earth.

Credit: Facebook Photo

Although occurring in Charlottesville VA, the murder of Morgan Harrington on or around October 17, 2009 remains unsolved and deeply-unsettling as well. Justice has also been delayed in the case of this heinous crime.  But we serve a just God, and we can live our lives with the assurance that retribution for this evil will ultimately be meted out. But for Harrington family and friends living in the here and now, it doesn't make their memories any less painful.

Regrettably, these are but three of several senseless murders committed on or around the VT campus in recent years. As an alumni, father of three other VT alumni, and avid follower of Virginia Tech and its academic and athletic programs, it is viscerally painful to dredge these base events back to the surface. The wounds never heal, especially for the families involved.  A surface scab is formed, but it is ripped off time and time again. These incidents haunt the soul, and serve as cruel reminders of the fallen world in which we live. 

• August 20, 2006: William Morva, while in jail awaiting trial for attempted armed robbery, and facing a maximum 38 years sentence, was taken to Montgomery Regional Hospital for a sprained ankle and wrist. After using a hospital bathroom, he assaults and knocks deputy Russell Quesenberry unconscious, breaking his nose and smashing his face using a metal toilet-paper container. He then seizes the deputy's gun and shoots Derrick McFarland, a hospital security guard who was running to the deputy's aid. McFarland subsequently dies from his wounds. This initiates a manhunt for Morva, who on the morning of August 21, 2006 shoots and kills Montgomery County sheriff's deputy, Cpl. Eric Sutphin, on the Huckleberry Trail near the Virginia Tech Campus. He is later apprehended hiding in a briar patch on an off-campus trail about 150 yards from where Cpl. Sutphin was shot. He is currently on death row awaiting execution. His execution has already been stayed multiple times. Quit screwing around and finish it.
• April 16, 2007: The Virginia Tech Massacre occurs, in which 32 students and faculty members are killed and 25 others are injured. The perpetrator of this horror then turned one of his guns on himself. Godspeed to hell, Mr. Cho.
• January 21, 2009: Chinese male grad student Haiyang Zhu, 25, decapitates female grad student Xin Yang, 22, with a kitchen knife in the Au Bon Pain in the Donaldson-Brown building on the VT campus. On April 19, 2010, Zhu was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.
• August 26, 2009:  David Metzler and Heidi Childs are shot in Jefferson National Forest. Their killer(s) still at large.
• October 17, 2009: Virginia Tech student Morgan Dana Harrington, 20, of Roanoke VA, vanishes during a Metallica concert in Charlottesville. On Jan. 26, 2010, her remains were found on an Albemarle County farm. Police are still searching for her killer.
• December 7, 2011: Ross Ashley, a part-time Radford student from Partlow VA, steals a car at gunpoint from a Radford rental office, ends up on campus at Virginia Tech the following day and shoots a campus police officer without provocation.  He then proceeds to change clothes in a greenhouse, runs to a parking lot, and fatally shoots himself after being spotted there by another police officer.  Justice served.

My two youngest sons attended the university during the period when many of these events occurred.  I can never know their pain.


The Childs-Metzler murders were thrust back into the news on March 30, 2012, when  Montgomery County Sheriff Tommy Whitt held a news conference reinvigorating the ongoing investigation with the news that DNA evidence has been recovered. 


The night of the murders, many people were traveling to and from Wednesday night church services on Craig Creek Road, which connects to the Caldwell Fields day-use parking lot where the students' bodies were found the next morning. Whitt said investigators have identified a number of vehicles that were on the road that evening, and are still attempting to locate a few of them. Whitt stressed that the owners of the vehicles may not be suspects, but possibly could have information that might help with the case. With the DNA evidence, the federal and state task force now has something to vet possible suspects with.


Unfortunately, the unsolved case of Morgan Harrington continues to drag on as well. In October of last year (2011), Investigation Discovery created a dramatization of the events surrounding her disappearance; thus helping to keep this unsolved case in the forefront of both the public, and more importantly, the task force assigned to solve the case.  Then, on January 26, 2012, State police spokesman Corinne Geller asserted that the investigation remains active and ongoing. They had previously publicly announced at least one break in the case, but it has not led to an arrest. In July 2010, they said the same man who abducted and killed Harrington may have sexually assaulted a woman in Fairfax City in 2005, based on DNA evidence.


A number of Facebook pages have been formed by those who loved and cherished these victims. One for David Metzler and Heidi Childs can be found here.  One for Morgan Harrington can be found here.


We owe it to these three innocents and their families to keep the search for their killers alive. I pray that God will comfort their families and give them strength. And I pray that God will provide the investigative teams wisdom and the fortitude to persevere in their pursuit of justice.


James 5:16 provides us the promise that the prayers of the righteous are "powerful and effective". We must hold fast to this promise.