2007 College Football Preview

Sam Dean | The Roanoke Times

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The Beamer File, 1987-2007

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Virginia Tech

• Seniors eye longtime goal
• Helping heal thy brother
• Bud fosters defense's thump
• Virginia Tech's schedule

Special section: Hokies at home

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BLACKSBURG — The wick to Virginia Tech’s burning desire to win a national football crown this fall was lit four years ago in the steamy, non-air-conditioned confines of Cochrane Hall.

While Tech’s 2003 squad, a club featuring soon-to-be first-round NFL Draft picks DeAngelo Hall and Kevin Jones, started out hot and finished in an 8-5 flameout, a group of hot-shot redshirt freshmen housed in the sweaty athletic dorm was busy gathering its own kindling.

“That’s when this fire you see right here all started,” linebacker Vince Hall said. “When we first came in, we were all talking about how we were going to be the future for the team. We were like 'we know we’re going to be good ... and if we all stay here, come our senior year we’ve got to be a powerhouse team.’ ”

With the exception of wide receiver David Clowney, who played as a freshman in 2003, and three other players no longer in the program, the close-knit group remains virtually intact. Besides Hall, the list includes nine other fifth-year seniors who are projected starters, including such stalwarts as linebacker Xavier Adibi, defensive tackle Barry Booker, tackle Duane Brown, defensive end Chris Ellis, wide receiver Josh Hyman, defensive tackle Carlton Powell, and fullback Carlton Weatherford.

Other members of the group include whip linebacker Corey Gordon, a likely first-year starter, defensive tackle Kory Robertson (Magna Vista High), a backup who figures to play a lot, and top specialists — place-kicker Jud Dunlevy and deep snapper Bart McMillin.

“That’s a lot of key contributors when you think about it,” Adibi said. “This is the year we’ve been waiting on and that’s why we’re here right now. We all know we’ve got a chance to do something real special.”

How special? How about winning the program’s first national title?

The Hokies, who return eight starters on each side of the ball from last season’s 10-3 team, contend they have all the weapons to get to — and win — the BCS national championship game, which will be held Jan. 7 in New Orleans.

“I think we’re a legitimate national contender,” Brown said. “We have that in our sights.”

Even the normally reserved Adibi is jacked about the endless possibilities this season presents.

“Oh, yeah, I know we can win it all,” he said. “But nobody is going to give us anything. We’ve still go to work hard, keep getting better and go earn it.”

Tech’s ace in the hole remains Bud Foster’s tenacious defense. The Hokies have led the nation in total defense the past two seasons and will attempt to join Oklahoma (1985-87) and Toledo (1969-71) as the only schools to top the country in the category for three consecutive years.

“We’ve had great defense the past two years, but I can’t wait to see this one,” junior cornerback Macho Harris said. “We have a lot at stake here. We just have to live up to the hype and do what we’ve got to do.”

Foster, whose unit led the nation in scoring defense last season (11 points per game) after finished second in the category the two previous seasons, said this bunch has all the tools to get it done again.

“These kids have high expectations,” he said. “But we’ve got a demanding schedule this year and we’re going to have to play like we’ve played the last couple of years to be the type of team we want to be.”

Tech’s biggest questions reside on the other side of the ball. Tech coach Frank Beamer is hoping a unit that ranked 99th in the nation in total offense last season will be improved. The last time the Hokies’ offense was on public display was the team’s 31-24 loss to Georgia in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, in which quarterback Sean Glennon turned the ball over four times in the fourth quarter against a pressuring Bulldogs’ defense that made Tech’s O-line resemble a row of turnstiles.

“We’re going to be a better offense,” Beamer promised. “Our offensive line is going to be better, and that’s going to make Sean better. If our line is better, the thing you want Sean to do is manage the game and make good decisions. I think he will because he’s a year older and he’s a smart kid.”

If the line can get some people blocked, Tech has some playmakers. Junior tailback Branden Ore was first-team All-ACC last season, running for 1,137 yards and 16 touchdowns in 12 games. Plus, the Hokies have four experienced senior wideouts just begging for more action downfield.

In the wake of the bowl fiasco, Glennon has worked harder than ever to solidify his spot and show his teammates that he can do the job.

“I want to go back out there and prove to everyone that that was just a bad game ... that’s not what to expect of me,” the junior said. “That’s motivated me since and now I’m just focused on that first game and coming out and playing great.”

Brandon Flowers said he’s seen a big difference in Glennon since the bowl game.

“Sean’s game has improved 10 times from last year,” Flowers said.

“Sean won 10 games last year and it’s hard for any quarterback to do that. I think people have been bashing him just because our defense gets a lot of accolades. Our defense gets a lot of praise, so everybody thinks Sean should just do some outstanding weird kind of stuff. Our whole team is behind him 100 percent. We know Sean can get definitely get it done this year.”

The loss of ultra-accurate place-kicker Brandon Pace and punter Nic Schmitt has opened the doors for new names. Dunlevy and redshirt sophomore Brent Bowden have handled chores to Beamer’s satisfaction in preseason camp.

The Hokies, who are overwhelming picks to capture their second ACC title in four years in the league, will enter the season ranked in the nation’s top 10 of virtually every preseason poll. Their biggest test of the season comes the second Saturday of September, when they travel to Baton Rouge to face an loaded LSU club that’s ranked No. 2 in most preseason polls.

It presents an early opportunity for Tech to show the nation that it’s a national title contender. Win that one, and the Hokies almost assuredly will be favored to win each of their final 10 regular-season games.

“That LSU game will tell a big story about our season,” said Brown, when asked about the Hokies’ national title aspirations. “We do well that game and handle business inside the conference, I think we have a very, very legitimate chance.”

Powell said that’s all he and the rest of the boys back in Cochrane in 2003 ever wanted.

“This is definitely going to be the season for us right here,” Powell said.

“This is our last year and we’ve definitely got to go out there and play our best football ever. I can definitely tell you, man, there’s not one person on our team who is not ready to get in there and mix it up with anybody. We’ve got all the right ingredients.”

The mixer starts spinning in six days when Tech opens the season against East Carolina in Lane Stadium.

“It’s right here now,” a grinning Vince Hall said.

“The entree is right there. And all we’ve got to do is eat it.”