BLACKSBURG -- Bud Foster's lunch pail, the longtime symbol of Virginia Tech's blue-collar, working man's defense, heads into this season carrying a little more weight than in past years.

Along with the traditional list of preseason goals and pacts signed by members of the defense vowing to retain togetherness, the black metal pail includes a laminated card carrying the names of the 32 victims from the April 16 on-campus shooting tragedy and 32 ribbons.

"Coach Foster [defensive coordinator] put the names in there during the defense's first meeting of camp," senior linebacker Vince Hall said Tuesday.

"So the lunch pail means a lot more now. It's like an extra goal and we've got to bring it back. We're playing for somebody else, not only ourselves. We're playing for the Hokies in general, the families [of the victims], the friends of everybody, we're playing for all them right now."

Hall, the current guardian of the pail, said he doesn't feel any extra load or duty.

"We can always take a burden on the back of our shoulders and throw it to the side, but we're going to keep this right here in front of us. Kind of the like the ['S'] on Superman's chest. It's just one of those logos that's going to be here for a while."

Senior linebacker Xavier Adibi said the list of victims' names inside the treasured lunch pail only adds more fuel to what will be a season full of emotion.

"It's a sign of respect for all 32 victims," Adibi said. "It's about pride and about going out to play for them, too."

Hall swears the pail also carries some type of mysterious power.

"When you've got the pail on your side, it's just something ... words can't really explain it," he said. "It's like an extra step, an extra edge you've got ... and you get it from the pail."

Freshmen report

The Hokies are scheduled to dress six freshmen for Saturday's opener against East Carolina in Lane Stadium.

The list includes offensive tackle Blake DeChristopher, free safety Davon Morgan, quarterback Tyrod Taylor, tight end Chris Drager, cornerback Cris Hill and deep snapper Collin Carroll.

Beamer said Tuesday that current plans call for DeChristopher, Morgan and Drager all getting some playing time.

Morgan, currently listed as the backup to senior D.J. Parker at free safety, has shined on special teams in preseason camp, blocking a punt and returning another blocked punt for a touchdown. Beamer compared the Richmond native to rover Kam Chancellor, who was a huge producer on Tech's special teams last season as a freshman.

"Morgan is the second free safety and he continues to get better," Beamer said Monday. "I was talking about Chancellor last year at this time looking natural as far as blocking kicks and being on the punt-return team. Well, I think Morgan does some of the same things."

Drager, who is listed fourth on the depth chart at tight end, figures to get most of his time on special teams. Meanwhile, the 6-foot-5, 303-pound DeChristopher, who has been the quickest developer among the O-line newcomers, needs to get some experience so he can provide some insurance to Curt Newsome's depth-shy offensive front.

Mop-up duties

When asked who would spell starting QB Sean Glennon should the favored Hokies stockpile a huge second-half lead, Beamer remained noncommital. Will it be the No. 2 guy Taylor, or No. 3 Cory Holt? Beamer would only confirm it would be one of the two.

"We haven't decided that yet," Beamer said. "We're going to work this week and see what happens."

Problem for Pirates

East Carolina suspended quarterback Rob Kass for Saturday's game, three days after he was charged with DWI.

Coach Skip Holtz said the sophomore was suspended for violating team policy.

"There is an expectation of conduct associated with being a member of this football program," Holtz said in a statement issued by the university. "I regret anytime we are put in a position to take disciplinary action, but we take the responsibility of representing East Carolina University seriously."

The Tech game would have marked the first career start for Kass, who played in five games last year as the backup to James Pinkney and completed 14-of-30 passes for 184 yards.

Police said Kass, 20, was pulled over during a weekend DWI checkpoint. He was arrested early Saturday east of campus, said Maj. Kevin Smeltzer of the Greenville Police Department. Kass had a blood-alcohol content of .19 -- more than twice the legal limit for driving, Smeltzer said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report