First, in response to reader Fred’s inaugural comment on here ...

Elan Lewis’ season-ending injury will not impact Tech’s running back position at all. He was seventh on the depth chart. He has battled an aching knee and weight problems for most of his Tech career. Rebounding from this latest blow will be tough. And that’s sad, considering all of Lewis’ potential when he came from Phoebus High in Hampton.

He was a man among boys back in high school, right down to his mustache. Remember that the guy rushed for 7,156 yards in his career—fourth most in Virginia High School League Group AAA history. And he did it against strong competition in the Peninsula District. He was ranked among the top 20 running backs in the country by the various recruiting services.

I don’t know him well—I covered the Group AA Bay Rivers District, not the Peninsula District, in my days at the Daily Press—but I do recall covering the rainy game in 2004 in which he eclipsed 2,000 yards for the second consecutive season. No other running back in the storied history of the Peninsula—and I believe this included the Bay Rivers District—had ever rushed for 2,000 yards in two straight regular seasons.

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The bigger loss for Tech is Ed Wang, who will be out six to 10 weeks after breaking his ankle on Sunday. Tech’s options at right tackle now include Blake DeChristopher, Nick Marshman and Richard Graham. DeChristopher, a true freshman from Clover Hill High, is listed as Wang’s backup, but it seems unlikely that a true freshman would start on the offensive line. Marshman was set to be the starter at left guard, but he arrived out of shape. Graham is listed as the No. 1 at left guard, but he’s versatile enough to play tackle.

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A couple random thoughts ...

1. When I heard that Nas would be playing the benefit concert at Lane Stadium on Sept. 6, I couldn’t help but guess that he probably won’t play one of his most popular songs, “Got Ur Self a Gun.“ Dedicated “Sopranos” fans will note that Nas borrowed some of the song’s lyrics from Alabama 3’s “Woke Up This Morning,“ the opening theme to the popular HBO mob drama.

2. Lots of folks were asking on today’s LIVE!!!! Web chat about the logistics for ESPN’s “GameDay” on Sept. 1. All the chatter about the season opener made me think how emotional the Hokies’ “Enter Sandman” entrance will be.

Former colleague and Noted ACC Bard David Teel once told me that if a select few things in sports don’t give you chills, then stop being a sportswriter. I remember talking to him about that after I covered my first game at Cameron Indoor Stadium. That experience tingled my spine almost as much as hearing this song.

I fully expect to get goosebumps when “Enter Sandman” starts playing on Sept. 1, and I hope that ESPN’s commentators do the moment justice by shutting their yappers and letting the sights and sounds of the moment speak for themselves. If memory serves, even self-serving shill-meister Chris Berman was able to keep his trap shut during the most important moments of Cal Ripken Jr.‘s streak-breaking game in 1995.