A good evening to you, and how ya be?

Another beautiful fall day here in Blacksburg, gang. Sitting here on my couch, sweating through every pitch of this Mets game, as I’m sure many of you will be sweating with every snap of Virginia Tech’s game Saturday night at Nebraska ... especially if the tightness of the Hokies’ first three games against Division I-A teams are any indication (five-point loss and two three-point wins).

Here’s a quick injury update courtesy of trainer Mike Goforth ...

- True freshman defensive end Bruce Taylor, a converted linebacker, has dealt with a left shoulder injury since preseason camp. He will be placed under doctor’s evaluation for further testing and is questionable for Saturday.

- True freshman wide receiver Xavier Boyce is suffering pain in his left knee, which he had surgery on during high school, and is doubtful for Nebraska. He hasn’t played in the last two games.

Also, I saw junior wide receiver Brandon Dillard when I was out at practice today. As you may know, Dillard blew out his Achilles tendon over the summer and is out for the season. But he appears to be recovering well. He looked fine walking around and seemed be in good spirits.

***

Because Saturday’s game is so late, I’m going to have to file a notebook at halftime. I realize this is ridiculous. Why would anyone want to wake up Sunday morning and read something that was written before the game was even over? But that’s what we’re doing, and here are three items that could make their way into the notebook ...

1. Though Tech head coach Frank Beamer has never been to Nebraska, his boss, athletic director Jim Weaver, has. Weaver was the offensive coordinator at Iowa State in 1973, when the Cyclones traveled to Lincoln and lost 31-7. It was Tom Osborne’s first year as Nebraska’s coach. This weekend will be Weaver’s first trip to Lincoln since then.

2. Nebraska defensive ends coach John Papuchis graduated from Virginia Tech in 2001. He was briefly a walk-on but was cut. Papuchis also was an assistant coach at Blacksburg High. He came with new Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini from Louisiana State.

3. Nebraska offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Shawn Watson is close friends with Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster. Watson is from Carbondale, Ill., while Foster is from Nokomis, Ill. Foster gave Watson tips on installing a defense when Watson was Southern Illinois’ head coach, from 1994-96. Watson has been at Nebraska since 2006 and was promoted to offensive coordinator last season.

Posted by Darryl Slater in • College Sports • Virginia Tech
(0) Comments | Permalink