Think Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer and his staff are elated to see Western Michigan next on the schedule or what? Tech has lost four straight games dating back to last season -- its longest losing streak during its current 11-year bowl run.

Right now, the Hokies simply need to beat somebody just to get that winning feeling back. They should have no problem breaking the Broncos, whose major goal a week from Saturday in Lane Stadium should be scoring a point. This Western Michigan team is not as talented as the last two that faced Tech, and got whipped 31-0 in Blacksburg in 2001 and 30-zip in Kalamazoo in 2002.

Isn't it funny how you hear no one complaining about Western Michigan being on Tech's schedule now? It's the free pass that comes with opening against the country's No. 1-ranked team.

After Western Michigan, Dukes comes to Blacksburg on Sept. 18. It will be a red-letter date in Tech history as it will be the Hokies' first league game as a new member of the ACC.

My biggest question about this one is not whether Tech will win, but will former Roanoke Times sports editor Bill Brill have the kahunas to show up at Lane? Brill, who never attempted to conceal his lack of passion for Tech during his four decades at the Times, would certainly rank high on the list if someone took a poll asking: "Who is the most hated man in Blacksburg?"

My suggestion to Brill, who in his golden years now chronicles Duke athletics for "Blue Devil Weekly," is he bring four spare tires and a NASCAR pit crew should he choose to drive his personal vehicle. I'm now hearing reports out of the Triangle area that Brill is currently in negotiation with a second party — a former Japanese Sumo wrestler who now hails in Raleigh, N.C. — on a deal to usher him to the contest.

Assuming Tech takes cares of business against in those two games — it figures to be a three-touchdown-plus favorite over WMU and close to that against Duke — the Hokies then will face N.C. State and West Virginia at home in a pair of "swing games" as to how their season will turn out.

Tech figures to be a small favorite over the Wolfpack. The WVU game will be close to a pick 'em affair, with the Mountaineers perhaps being a 3-point chalk or so simply based on their national ranking.

If the Hokies sweep both games, a 12th consecutive bowl trip appears very likely. A split and Tech still has a legitimate shot at playing a 13th game. But a pair of losses would leave Tech 2-3 and in a very precarious position, with only one sure victory — Florida A&M — left on the schedule.

Has any player fallen from grace in more precipitous fashion than Tech senior whip linebacker Brandon Manning?

As a sophomore in 2002, Manning started 13 of 14 games and finished as the club's third-leading tackler with 75 stops. Last season as a junior, the former walk-on started 12 games and was the team's No. 4 tackler with 104 stops.

Now, in his senior season, a Manning sighting is rare. He entered the season opener third on the depth chart at whip behind James Anderson and sophomore Chris Rouse. Manning was reduced to special-teams duty only against USC, getting 20 plays there and recording two tackles. Manning got nary a snap on defense, however, as Anderson played 41 plays and Rouse 18.

When Beamer said Monday that Manning would be the likely replacement for injured Xavier Adibi as the "personal protector" on Tech's punt team, I followed up by asking the coach: What's up with Manning this year?

"Well, Anderson and Rouse have done a good job," Beamer responded. "And Manning, he's a team guy. He'll be a captain [against Western Michigan]. game.

"We're talking about maybe getting him into a backer position some on passing situations because he can run with those guys a little bit better than some of the others. He's a valuable part of this team, and you're going to see more and more of him."

That had to be good news for No. 48.

Finally, I must throw a bone to Bryan Johnston, the Hokies' assistant sports information director who handles football.

Johnston, who is simply referred to as "B.J." by most, has done a fabulous job with "dressing up" Tech's weekly media notes package. With the use of pictures, players mug shots, printing screens, and a multitude of new type faces, Johnston has made this season's notes package much more appealing to the eye than the old package that had been mired in the same format for at least two decades.

Of course, that isn't the only major transformation job that B.J. has been a part of the past several months. Since last April's spring practice, Johnston has lost some 60 pounds. The guy was such a waif that, at first glance, I didn't even recognize him when I showed up for August drills.

Despite his new sleek physique, B.J. informs me that his love life hasn't exactly flourished. Even though the guy never has been compared to Alvaro Tor, the affable Spaniard who played hoops at Tech a few years back, it's an unfortunate situation.

So, all you ladies reading, there's this week's tip. The next move towards a B.J. is all yours.