Photos by Matt Gentry | The Roanoke Times

Paul Torgersen teaches his Theory of Organization class on the Virginia Tech campus. Torgersen, former president of the university, was diagnosed with throat cancer in the spring.

Paul Torgersen talks to students prior to the engineering class he teaches at Virginia Tech. Torgerson went through radiation and chemotherapy after being diagnosed with cancer.

BLACKSBURG -- He's back on the sidelines at Virginia Tech home football games and he's back in the classroom for his fourth decade of teaching, but Paul Torgersen isn't quite ready for the golf course.

The former Tech president and engineering dean hopes he'll regain enough energy to golf again this spring.

For now, he's just grateful to be done with chemotherapy and radiation treatment after being diagnosed with tongue and throat cancer last spring.

Sitting in his office earlier this month, Torgersen was still feeling worn down from the radiation treatment some four months after it ended.

"The radiation was murder," he said. "I had seven straight weeks of radiation all aimed at the tongue and the mouth. And boy, that took its toll."

But Torgersen was told to expect it to take six to eight months -- and maybe up to a year -- before he regains most of his energy. Still, the 77-year-old Torgersen said, it "beats the alternative."

After his diagnosis, Torgersen's daughter, Karen Torgersen, started a group on the social networking Web site Facebook called "We Support Paul Torgersen."

Within 10 days, more than 1,000 people had joined the group to show support and learn the latest about his condition. There are now more than 1,600 members.

Paul Torgersen was not able to accomplish one of his goals for the summer listed on the Facebook page -- dancing with his granddaughter at her wedding.

It was held in Washington, D.C., the day after his final day of radiation treatment at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. He and his wife, Dot Torgersen, did not have the energy to make the long trip up from Chapel Hill, N.C.

Friends sent hundreds of letters and cards of support to the Torgersens' Blacksburg home. Paul Torgersen said the support was humbling and the attention a little embarrassing, but he appreciated it.

"I think I've been in more prayers than I could even begin to list," he said. "That brings tears to your eyes."

Torgersen still sees the doctor for monthly checkups to make sure the cancer does not recur.

In early November, he took over the Theory of Organization course he's taught for several years. He said the senior-level engineering course, with more than 100 students, wipes him out, but he looks forward to teaching it from start to finish next semester.

And although he won't travel to the Orange Bowl this year, he remains an avid fan and a presence at Hokie football games and practices. Tech coach Frank Beamer publicly announced Torgersen's recovery during a football news conference in mid-September.

As for participating in sports, Torgersen said there are plenty of people who want to see him back on the golf course.

"I've got some cronies I play golf with who are just waiting for me to get out there so they can win money," he said.

"They're champing at the bit."