The News and Advance from Lynchburg, Virginia • 30

2 The News Advance Lynchburg Va Thursday August 24 2000 LJ 11 this season but the schedule is tougher is man of many positions Sorenson Big East Teams At A Glance ing positions Last year some ques tioned whether he was fast enough to play free safety but Sorensen LB Morgan is expected to handle both snapping chores just no substitute for Beamer said just a fact that the percentages get you a little bit when you go into hostile places and got young 1 Tech made an improbable climb in the rank dis The most coach is back and will count on a tal ented offense to get the Mountaineers back over the hump Brad Lewis who saw significant time in five games last year replaces Bulger at quarterback with Ivy (53 catches) and Brown (50) providing two exceptional targets our starters on the offen sive line return to block for Cobourne who as a sophomore last year led the conference in rushing (1139) Plenty of holes must be filled on defense' where only three full time starters return The chief problem will be reloading the entire sec SYRACUSE 1 I 1 I He had played defensive back at George Marshall High School in Vienna and said he felt comfortable at safety Sorensen never proved to be a big play maker but finished fourth on the team in tackles (70) last season including a career best 1 1 stops against West Virginia At outside linebacker he should be even more effective think improved our speed by moving said defen sive coordinator Bud oster Nick has more experience from a coverage standpoint And that will help iis out all around with people trying to spread us out he had some learn 1 ing to do but a winning kid and do whatever it takes for us to be That includes using some of his quarterback experience to be a leader on young defense With Corey Moore and seven other gone from last unit i Sorensen said more than will ing to be more of a field general He and strong safety Cory Bird are the only seniors scheduled to start on defense people working hard' like we do here at Virginia Tech then definitely let them know Sorensen said get to the Sugar Bowl just by chance It vias a lot of sweat involved young guys want to look up to somebody been through this stuff played in the big games been through big losses a couple of years ago when it came down to the end So we know what like to' go through the highs and And like Sorensen what like to play more than one position oster said he mind hav ing his most versatile player back for another season might make him an he said BLACKSBURG Virginia Tech has had some tough acts to follow but nothing compared to what it faces this season Kind of like following Sinatra on stage After recording their first 1 1 0 regular season punctuated by a berth in the national champi onship game the Hokies will be forced to come up with their best encore yet Tech coach rank Beamer for one doesn't want to talk too much about it told our team not going to hear me use the words he said not going to talk about that I mean Tm proud of last year But this is a new year it's a new team a lot of new people playing the people playing against are dif ferent arid where playing them is differ ent" So tlie 2000 season will be different But the aroma of last magical run lingers Season ticket sales at Tech are at an all time high The Hokies will be a mainstay on national television And quarterback Michael Vick is the favorite for the Heisman Trophy With all that Beamer said one of his primary concerns is keeping this team from being blinded by the glare of last year's season you're not careful the natural response is it happened last year so it should happen this Beamer said got to make it happen this To do so the Hokies must replace eight starters from last defense and completely retool their prize kicking game Of course those concerns could be lessened by what should be a juggernaut of an offense Led by Vick the most efficient passer last season the Hokies return eight starters from a unit that led the nation in scoring (414 ppg) and held its own in a 46 29 loss to lorida State in the Sugar Bowl That game put the Hokies in the national spotlight Thanks to Vick they start this season in the same glow the spotlight we want to be in" Vick said want people to notice us The only thing we have to do is go out there and continue to win football games think one of the elite programs in the country now on top We're just trying to stay that Defense and special teams will determine if Tech does so Last year the Hokies had depth and experience on defense and it carried them early in games like a 31 11 win over Clemson that was closer than the score 7 Tech led the nation in scoring defense last season (lUb ppg) but this year is scheduled to start a freshman and three sophomores on defense Strong safety Cory Bird and linebacker Ben Taylor both veter ans are all star can didates along with defensive tackle David Pugh (Amherst) everything I read and all the questions I've been asked the key to our success in essence is how the defense plays this said up front Rutgers has switched from a 4 3 to a 3 4 scheme a set up that will place an added burden on the linebackers and secondary two unjtsythat were further weakened by injuries last year A home game with Notre Dame highlights the Schedule in what shapes up as another long year for the Scarlet Knights Predicted finish: Eighth BOSTON COLLEGE Tom (4th year 16 18) Last season: 8 4 (4 3 conference) lost to Colorado 62 28 Insightcom Bowl Key fosses: DT Chris Hovan Pedro Cirmo LB rank Chamberlain John Matich Key returning players: RB Cedric Washington QB Tim Hasselbeck WR Dedrick Outlook: After qualifying for its first bowl since 1994 and notching its best record since 1993 BC should be solid again with an offense mat returns seven starters Hasselbeck was third in the league in total offense last year (1944 ypg) and has a pair of capable receivers in DeWalt (38 catches 604 yards) and Jamal Burke (11 250) Washington (1122 yards) was second in the league in rush ing but could be pushed by talented sophomore William Green Defensively the Eagles must replace four of their front seven including Hovan an AI American and first round draft pick Junior tack Jle Antonio Garay an NCAA All American wrestler could be a standout while cornerback Jonathan Ordway is the leading returning tack ler (75) Ordway could be key for a defense that was the league's second worst in pass defense last year (2424 ypg) 1 The Eagles also need to replace their punter and kicker but another bowl berth is within reach Their opener at West Virginia will be pivotal as will a midseason home date with Syracuse Predicted finish: ifth i MIAMI I Coach: Butch Davis (6th year 40 19) Last season: 94 (6 1 conference) beat 1 Georgia Tech 28 13 Gator Bowl I Key losses: QB Kenny Kelly LB Nate Webster TE Daniel ranks Key returning players: WR Santana Moss Dan RB Al offense (2643 ypg) that was shut out in four games Scott who led Temple's stun ning upset of Tech two years ago is back after ranking fourth in the league in total offense last year Johnson the Owls' top receiver in 1999 left the team in spring leaving Muckerson (41 catches 413 yards) as the team's go to guy Temple won't run much com ing off a season in which it averaged a league worst 597 yards on the ground The Owls who scored an upset of bowl par ticipant Boston College last year features the conference's top two returning tacklers in Talley (131) and linebacker Taylor Suman (129) Overall seven starters return on defense but only one in the secondary Even so the Owls lack experience and speed as evidenced in their two season ending losses to Tech (62 7) and Miami (550) or the first time in 15 seasons Temple plays six home games but it will take more to lift them out of the lower half of the conference Predicted fMth: Seventh VIRGINIA TECH Coach: rank Beamer (14th year 88 60 2) Last season: 11 1 (7 0 conference) lost to lorida State 46 29 Sugar Bowl Key losses: DE Corey Moore DE John Engelberger RB Shyrone Stith Shayne Graham WR Ricky Hall Key returning players: QB Michael Vick WR Andre Davis LB Ben Taylor SS Cory Bird Outlook: Led by Vick Tech returns the key components from an offense that led the nation in scor ing (414 PPg) As a freshman last year Vick led Ute nation in passing effi ciency was named Big East offensive player of the year and finished third in the Heisman Trophy votingDavis emerged as Vick's favorite target aver aging 275 yards per catch our starters return on the offensive line Stith left early for the NL but Andre Kendrick (645 yards) and Lee Suggs should form a potent tailback tandem Defense and special teams are biggest questions Eight starters must be replaced on defense including All American ends Moore and Engelberger David Pugh and Chad Beasley are experienced tackles while Taylor should be a standout as he moves back to inside linebacker Bird and outside line backer Nick Sorensen are the only seniors scheduled to start on defense Graham a four year starter left as the con all time leading scorer leaving red shirt freshman Carter Warley as the heir appar ent at kicker Redshirt freshman Robert Peaslee is expected to replace four year starter Jimmy Kibble at punter The schedule is not as kind as last year with road games to Syracuse Boston College and Miami Predicted finish: Second WEST VIRGINIA Coach: Don Nehlen (21st year 195 123 8) Last season: 4 7 (34 conference) Key losses: QB Marc Bulger Jay Taylor Barrett Green Key returning players: RB Avon Cobourrie WR Khori Ivy WR Antonio Brown Outlook: Last year marked WVU's second losing season since 1990 but some of the team's rabid fans still called for missal league's ill I'm proud of last year But this is a new year a new team a lot of new people rank Beamer SYRACUSE Coach: Pad Pasquatoni (10th year 75 31 1) Last season: 7 5 (34 conference) beat Kentucky 20 13 Music Crty Bowl Key tosses: LB Keith Bulluck Nate Trout WR Quinton Spotwood Key returning players: RB Dee Brown QB Troy Nunes WR Maurice Jackson Outlook: The Orangemen tost four of their last five games a year ago starting with a 62 0 flogging by Virginia Tech on Oct 16 Syracuse looks to get its once domi nant offense back on track after finishing last in the league In passing (1714 ypg) behind the quarterback tandem of Nunes and Made! Williams Brown who also saw time at quarter back last season return as the team's leading rusher (751 yards) at tailback Jackson who missed last season due to academic deficien cies is the team's fastest player and a big play threat Defense should be a strength for the Orangemen who return seven starters from last year's unit that ranked second only to Tech in the conference Bulluck the top tack ler is a big loss but linebackers Morion Greenwood and Clifton Smith have both proven to be aggressive defenders Up front three of four starters are back while free safety Quintin Harris is Ute leader of an experienced sec ondary Trout the league's second leading scorer last year must be replaced as Syracuse looks to improve over last fourth place finish The Orangemen have their two toughest confer ence games against Miami and Virginia Tech at home Predicted finish: Third TEMPLE Coach: Bobby Wallace (3rd year 4 18) Last season: 2 9 (2 5 conference) Key tosses: CB Kevin Harvey WR Carlos Johnson Key returning players: QB Devin Scott Jason McKie WR Greg Muckerson LB Lavar Talley Outlook: The Owls spent most of last sea son making the transition from an option attack to a pass onent ed offense The result was the least defensive coordinator Bud oster a tremendous challenge for our The same could be said for the kicking game which lost all five specialists from last year Included were kicker Shayne Graham the ings last year going from 13th to No 2 to reach school and Big the national title game The Hokies start out No East' all time leading scorer Besides a trip to East Carolina on Sept 7 and Jimmy Tech faces three rugged road games in the con 1 Kibble a four ference: at Boston College (Sept 30) at I year starter at Syracuse (Oct 21) and at Miami (Nov 4) punter The Hurricanes ranked fifth in preseason are This Broun the Bis East favorites will be manned by mostly first year players rather try to get to the top instead of Carter Warley is slated to be the kicker and being on top and having people gunning to Robert Peaslee the punter Both are walk on red knock us Vick said motivates us a shirt freshmen Redshirt sophomore Ken Keister football Jackson Blades Outlook: With a full com plement of scholarships for the first time since Miami is set to regain its stature as theleague's top team Davis continues to recruit and the Hurricanes should be able to over come the premature losses of Kelly (to pro baseball) and ranks and Webster (to the NL) Ken Dorsey a sophomore who appeared in six 'game's last year will start at quarterback though his backup is a concern Dorsey passedfor 807 yards and 10 touchdowns as a truefreshman Jackson (782 yards) leads a stable of tal ented running backs that includes Clinton ortts (873 yards) Jarrett Payton and Najeh Dfevenport Moss (54 catches 899 yards) is oae of the top receivers who is equal dangerous as a punt returner Reggie Wayne0 catches 486 yards) also returns Defensively Morgan is on pace to become the school's all time leading tackier while Blades leads a secondary that returns all four starters Kicker Andy Crosland must be replaced but Miami should be ready to tackle a schedule ttfert includes five teams that appeared in 1999 bewls The Hurricanes visit Washington and best lorida State Neither will be as big as a date versus Virginia Tech on Nov 4 Predicted finish: irst PITTSBURGH 1 Coach: Walt Harris (4th year 13 21) Last season: 5 6 (2 5 conference) Key losses: CB Hank Poteat Greg DeBolt Key return ing players: WR JLatef Grim RB Kevan Barlow QB John Turman Ramon Walker Outlook: The Panthers wl field a dangerous offense with eight return lip starters that include a premier receiving tcfidem in Grim (75 catches 1106 yards) and Antonio Bryant Bryant a sophomore had 215 ohis 844 yards receiving against Virginia Tech Turman and David Priestly have gone back and as the starting quarterback and both helped Pittsburgh lead the league in pass offense last year (2404 ypg) Barlow (630 yards) was a second team all conference pick On defense Poteat must be replaced but thfe Panthers have a rising star in Walker a Thorpe Award candidate Last year Walker became the first defensive back in league his tory to be named first team as a freshman fin ishing with a team best 131 tackles In front of him the linebacking corps returns intact led by Ryan Gonsales (67 tackles) The defensive line must be rebuilt our of six losses last year cme by two touchdowns or less including 30 17 to Tech The Panttiers play their home games at Three Rivers Stadium this year before moving into a new on campus facility for 2001 Predicted finish: ourth RUTGERS Coach: Terry Shea (5th year 8 36) Last season: 1 10 (1 6 conference) Key losses: RB Jack! Crooks DE Wayne Hampton OG Shaun O'Hara Key returning players: QB Mike McMahon wj? Walter King WR Errol Johnson Outlook: Shea saved his job when Rutgers ujjset Syracuse last year but is back on the hot seat a team that again appears out manried The Scarlet offense ranked 102nd out of 114 Division A teams last year and starts this season with a question at quar terback When McMahon went down witfi a sea stvending shoulder injury in the fifth game freshman Chad Schwenk stepped in and threw fo( 845 yards and three touchdowns Rutgers rejurps its top two receivers in Johnson (35 catches 507 yards) and King (29 453) Defensively the Scarlet Knights were not mucti better finishing last in the conference in prints allowed (388) and total defense (4336 ypfcjHh four games they surrendered more thfenOO points To help mask its inexperience ondary which last season yielded 2184 pass ing yards per game WVU was no better against the run allowing an average of 192 yards but Antwan Lake should be a force at tackle while linebackers Chris Edmonds and Kyle Kayden are the most experienced defenders The Mountaineers play seven home games including non conference matchups with Notre Dame and East Carolina Predicted finish: Sixth By Gary Crockett The News Advance BLACKSBURG If only Nick Sorensen had another year of eligi bility after this season the specula tion could begin now What position would he play in 2001? Being a fifth year senior Sorensen will never know but he can look back on an eventful career seen him play three different positions in as many years Recruited by Virginia Tech as a quarterback Sorensen played behind Al Clark in 1997 and again in when Clark and backup Dave Meyer were injured With the emer gence of Michael Vick last year Sorensen moved to defense for good and started every game at free safety This season on the move again taking over as the starter at outside linebacker So if he had another year to play where would he like to line up? guard" Sorensen said before cracking himself up this is it I imagine playing another ror now Sorensen said he get ting accustomed to the more physi cal play demanded at outside line backer At 6 foot 3 207 pounds Sorensen still looks like a quarter back but his move from free safety promises to give Tech a faster if less experienced defense At outside linebacker or whip as called in scheme Sorensen replaces Ben Taylor who moves to inside linebacker The shift of course puts Sorensen closer to the line and closer to 300 pound linemen get banged up a lot more and those linemen hold so Sorensen said was some thing I prepared for just how much linemen hold So I defi nitely had to get stronger over the By Gary Crockett The News Advance Hokies will find it hard to top last remarkable season Staff photo tty Mark Thompson Virginia Tech senior Nick Sorenson will play outside linebacker his third different position In three years Sorenson also has played quarterback and free safety summer Not worry so much about Sorensen said he was told after my weight just my overall strength the Sugar Bowl he would be chang Kight now rm still tfunking and not really reacting that much just a little different than free safe ty in that a lot more physical said his reaction time and overall and things happen quicker up game knowledge offset any lack of foot speed ile photo Wide receiver Andre Davis averaged nearly 28 yards a catch as he helped the Hokies lead the nation by scoring more than 41 points a game sis JI I 1 12 luaHrW 4 A a a a 4 Big East Teams At A Glance.