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Vol. 5 No. 11, June 2013 • $4
ATHLETES OF
THE YEAR
Erick Green led the nation in
scoring and Alexander Ziegler
won an ACC and a national
championship. For their efforts,
they are Inside Hokie Sports’
2012-13 athletes of the year.
WHAT’S INSIDE:
Two longtime Hokie
Club staff members
have decided to retire
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contents
June 2013 • Vol. 5, No. 11
www.inside.hokiesports.com Hokie Club News | 4
Don't have a
Jimmy Robertson
News & Notes | 8
Tech adds women’s golf starting in 2015 subscription?
Editor
Marc Mullen From the Editor’s Desk | 11
Editorial Assistant Tech athletics with arguably best year ever
Simply cut out this section and mail
with a check for the appropriate amount
Bill Roth Kroger Roth Report | 12 or call (540) 231-3908 to charge your
Columnist New president to have a big role in athletics subscription to your VISA or MasterCard.
Makes a great gift for every Hokie!
Tim East
Executive Editor IHS Extra - Cassell Coliseum Reseating | 14
Reseating to take place in August 1 Print options
Dave Knachel
Photographer 1-year: $37.95 2-year: $69.95
NCAA Baseball Regionals | 16
Stacey Wells Tech ends season with loss to Oklahoma Please make checks payable to: Treasurer, Virginia Tech
Designer
NCAA Track & Field Championships | 18 online options
Contributors 2
Brian Thornburg - Hokie Club Tomas Kruzliak wins national title
Kyle Winchester - IMG 1-year: $25.00
NCAA Softball Regionals | 19
* To advertise with Virginia Tech Please designate a username and password:
athletics or Inside Hokie Sports, contact Kyle Hokies fall to Kentucky in title game
Winchester at IMG Sports 540-961-7604 Username:
IHS Extra - Hokie Club Staffers to Retire | 20
Password:
John Moody and Sharon Linkous to retire
Published by the Virginia Tech Athletics Department
Email:
Inside Hokie Sports (ISSN 8750-9148, periodical postage
paid at Blacksburg Va. 24060 and additional mailing offices) Tech’s Top 10 2012-2013 | 24
covers Virginia Tech athletics and is published 11 times annually You will receive an email confirmation once your
Men’s indoor track team claims ACC title
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Athletes of the Year | 26 Access the on-line version by entering your user-
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all subscription inquiries, renewals, address changes, written
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HOKIES END GOOD SEASON AT NCAAS
The Virginia Tech softball team made its second
straight trip and sixth overall to the NCAA regionals
and advanced to the championship game of the
Lexington, Ky., regional. The Hokies fell 1-0 to
Kentucky and saw their season come to an end.
They finished with a 38-21 record for their third
straight winning season.
Supporting Tech Athletics Since 1949
The Student-Athlete Experience
“Going into my senior year, I can honestly say “The memories I have collected the past
my time at Virginia Tech has been the most few years at Virginia Tech couldn’t never be
rewarding of my life. Thank you for giving me the replaced. I am so proud to be at such
best four years I could have asked for!” an inspirational school.”
courtney liddle kylie mcgoldrick
Senior | Softball Sophomore | Softball
Supporting Tech Athletics Since 1949
The Donor File
C. Taylor quicke
Hokie Club Level: Hokie club
hokie club member since: 2011
CURRENTLY RESIDES: blackstone, va
WHAT YEAR DID YOU GRADUATE? 2011
FAMILY:
Brittany Thomas (Fiance) and Henry
(Golden Retriever)
Q&A
Q: Being a member of the Hokie Club Q: Do you have a specific moment continue the tailgate after the game too.
and supporting Virginia Tech athletics when you realized that you were a fan
is important to me and my family of Virginia Tech athletics and knew Q: When you head into town for a
because … without a doubt that you were a Hokie? game, are there any “must-do” things
A: I believe it provides so many benefits A: I’ve been regularly attending football for you and your family?
for the entire university. I know that in games since I was probably 3 years old. A: A trip to Blacksburg isn’t complete
a small way each member helps build I would say I knew I was a true Hokie in without a trip to TOTS (Top of the Stairs)
state-of-the-art facilities and gives the mid-90s when my brother, Morgan in downtown Blacksburg. I also enjoy
scholarships to very worthy student- ’09, and I would go down to the locker going back to the GERMAN Club Manor,
athletes. For reasons like this, I’m very room after every game. As little boys, which is where I spent a good amount of
proud to be a member of the Hokie Club. we’d stand outside and wait for players time when I was a student in Blacksburg.
and coaches to come out. We’d have
Q: You are a recent graduate of Virginia our sharpies ready, and we’d collect Q: Virginia Tech has had a lot of
Tech. What propelled you to join the autographs on our game programs. Jim successful teams and wins over the
Hokie Club? Pyne, Lee Suggs, and Bud Foster are just years. Do you have a favorite team/
A: Joining the Hokie Club was a given a few of our favorites. season or game that stands out the
for me when I graduated from Tech. I’ve most?
learned from both my grandparents Q: Do you have any game day or A: There are many memorable seasons
(Bob ’53 & Anne Quicke) and my tailgating traditions or superstitions? If and games, but one that I will never
parents (Dunc ’81 & Myra Quicke ’81) so, what are they? forget is the season opener in 2007.
how important it is to give back to our A: Game Day in Blacksburg always starts It was the first time that many Hokies
great school. Supporting the Hokie Club at least three hours before kickoff. My were back in Blacksburg after the
is one of many ways to support our grandmother’s tailgate spread always tragic events of April 16. The day
alma mater. I know that donations of all draws a huge crowd. Whether we’re started with “GameDay” broadcasting
size are very beneficial to the success of tailgating at the GERMAN Club Manor from Blacksburg, and the entire day
the Hokie Club. or in Lot 1, it’s always great to catch up demonstrated how great being a part of
with so many friends. Win or lose, we the Hokie community is.
6 Hokie Club
letter from Lu Lane Stadium on May 17.
We said, “Good-
the uni ver sity con clu ded with graduation in ma ke their mark in the
The 142nd year of who will set out to
to a num ber of out sta nding student-athletes to the community.
bye and good luck” the university and
l for all of the ir con trib utions to their sports, to
world. We are gratefu ds and courts this past
year.
iting moments on the fiel
They brought us many exc ord-
but will trail last year’s rec
for the fisc al yea r end ing in June will be good, e hig h of $46.3
Our fundraising results reached an all-tim
pro ud to rep ort tha t the VTAF Endowment has rsh ip bill , and
breaking results. We are year’s schola
imately 19 percent of this
. Ear nin gs fro m this endowment paid approx $11 .2 mil lion tuition bill for 2012-13
. We
lion
mil
m our An nua l Fun d, we were able to meet the An nua l Fun d at
coupled with money fro l is to try to keep the
and boa rd wil l inc rea se in the fall, and our goa g new Ho kie s and
know that tuition, room dent-athletes. You can hel
p us by invitin
e to me et the risi ng costs of educating our stu
pac
Club.
friends to join the Hokie d
ted 16 cities and reache
n Tou r wa s suc ces sfu l, as staff and coaches visi o bid
The 2013 Orange and Ma
roo those of you wh
t the events, especially
. We tha nk all of you who came out to suppor Rep s, whose work make the
golf
four sta tes kie presidents and Hokie
item s. Tha nks to our Ho
generously on the auction
nts , rec ept ion s and dinners so enjoyable.
tourname
took place between late
ll sea t and par kin g selection process that t
We are very pleased wit
h the foo tba istance, and we feel tha
hap py to aid tho se me mbers who requested ass offi ce
r staff was and has saved our
April and early June. Ou simple and easy to use
nt sm oot hly . The Bal lena software product is
the process we rk.
ntless hours of manual wo
and the ticket office cou receive
women’s basketball will
wh o are sea son tick et holders for men’s and a res ult of the
Hokie Club memb ers led for late summer. As
ing the res eat ing of Cassell Coliseum schedu e 24 to allo w time for
information regard ved forward to Jun
dea dlin e for ord erin g season tickets was mo d “ho w-t o” gui de will
reseating process, the the reseating. A detaile
ues ts and pre par e for
the ticket office staff to
process the req s will recognize the
the reseating. Hokie fan
to ass ist tho se fan s wh o plan to participate in throug h the selection
be mailed in July find navigating
kag e use d in the foo tball reseating and should
Ballena software pac ing football seating.
at they did when select
process very similar to wh ody and
summer when John Mo
l los e two val ued and long-term employees this l ret ire July
The Hokie Club office wil vice, while Sharon wil
n wil l ste p aw ay Jun e 28 after 40 years of ser for $10 per year
Sharon Linkous retire. Joh the Hokie Club grow fro
m the days of asking
vic e. Bo th hav e see n rly and our gift
31 after 43 years of ser ff raises tens of millions
of dollars yea
record ing gift s ma nua lly to now where our sta me nt and dedication to Virgin
ia Tech
and gifts online. Their com mit
tho usa nds of ann ual tha t I hav e lea rned
accounting staff enters ers served. I know
asu red in yea rs of ser vice or Hokie Club memb and can now enj oy
athletics cannot be me ortunity to retire
m and wil l mis s the m. They have earned this opp as the y beg in a
much from both of the lth and Godspeed
urd ay afte rno ons . We wish them both good hea
being a Hokie fan on Sat
new journey.
ising team as an associate
ann oun ce tha t Ben Hill has joined our fundra his B.A. in
The Hokie Club is please
d to Tech graduate, earning
inte rco lleg iate ath leti cs. Ben is a 1994 Virginia n act ive in
director of development
for nce field and has bee
has enj oye d a suc ces sful career in the insura ks for ward to
urban affairs and planni
ng. He this summer and loo
. He wil l be relo cat ing his family to Blacksburg
nity
the Williamsburg commu ers.
sta rte d and me etin g with Hokie Club memb
getting
gust 31st.
see you in Atlanta on Au
ryo ne has an enj oya ble summer and we will
I hope eve
Go Hokies,
it
Lu Merrt e Athletics
nio r Direc tor of Deve lopment for Intercollegiat
Se
news & notes by Jimmy Robertson
Tech adds women’s golf Six Hokies selected in MLB Draft
On May 14, Tech AD Jim Weaver “Our men’s golf program has proven that golf Shortstop Chad Pinder headlined a contingent of six
announced that the athletics department at Virginia Tech can be highly successful.” Tech players who were selected by Major League Baseball
will begin a women’s golf program, which The women’s golf program will share teams in the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft held June
makes it the 22nd intercollegiate sports the Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech 6-8. The six players drafted marked the second-most ever
program at Tech. and the included Virginia Tech Golf Team drafted from Tech. In 2010, eight Hokie players went in
The squad will begin competition in the Complex with the men’s team. The practice the draft.
fall of 2015. Weaver hopes to name a head facility already includes a women’s golf Pinder went to the Oakland A’s in the “Competitive
coach by July 1 of this year and plans on locker room, and it features indoor hitting Balance Round B” of the draft. This round came after the
giving the coach a year to recruit student- facilities, outdoor covered and heated conclusion of the second round.
athletes and build the program. Recruited tee areas and a full practice range. The Pinder, ranked by many as one of the top 100 draft-
student-athletes will start in the fall of 2014. facility also includes state-of-the-art video eligible prospects, was the 71st overall selection. The
The Hokies will commence team play in equipment and other modern instructional junior from Poquoson, Va., became Tech’s highest draft
the fall of 2015 and become eligible for the modes. choice since 2002 when pitcher Joe Saunders went to
Atlantic Coast Conference championship Women’s golf will be the first new sport the Anaheim Angels of Los Angeles with the 12th overall
that spring. added by the Hokies since the school joined selection.
“We have been working toward this day the ACC in the 2004-05 academic year and Pinder, a first-team All-ACC choice, started all 60
since joining the ACC, but wanted to make the first new sport at Tech since softball was games and batted .321 this past season. He hit eight home
sure that everything was in place for this added in the 1995-96 academic year. Tech runs and drove in 50 runs. He recorded a .483 slugging
program to succeed before starting this will become the 11th ACC school to compete percentage and a .404 on-base percentage.
process publicly,” Weaver said in a release. in women’s golf. Outfielder Tyler Horan, pitcher Jake Joyce, pitcher
Eddie Campbell, pitcher Joe Mantiply and pitcher Colin
ACC announces football rotating crossover opponents O’Keefe also were drafted by MLB teams.
On the second day of the draft, the San Francisco Giants
Each year, the Tech football team the Hokies through 2024: selected Horan in the eighth round, and the Washington
plays every team in the Coastal Division
Year Opponent Nationals took Joyce in the ninth round. Horan led Tech
(six games) and also Boston College with a .342 batting average, and he also hit 11 homers and
2014 at Wake Forest
from the Atlantic Division. BC serves as drove in 50 runs. Joyce went 7-1 in 30 appearances, with a
2015 NC State
Tech’s primary crossover opponent. 4.16 ERA. He struck out 56 in 62.2 innings.
On June 4, the ACC announced each 2016 at Syracuse
Campbell, Mantiply and O’Keefe went on the final day
team’s rotating crossover opponents for 2017 Clemson
of the draft. The Seattle Mariners drafted Campbell in the
the next 12 years. This opponent is the 2018 at Florida State 15th round, while the Detroit Tigers selected Mantiply in
one ACC team that changes every year on 2019 Wake Forest the 27th round. Campbell went 2-5 this season, with a 5.40
each team’s schedule. Each ACC school 2020 at Louisville ERA, but pitched well in his final two starts. Mantiply,
will play all of its rotating crossover Tech’s ace, went 6-1 this season, with a 2.85 ERA. He
2021 Syracuse
opponents twice during the 12-year struck out 50 in 75.2 innings and walked just 25.
rotation, once at home and once on the 2022 at NC State
The Los Angeles Angels selected O’Keefe in the 33rd
road, but not in consecutive years. Here 2023 Florida State
round. He pitched in just five games this season, going
are the rotating crossover opponents for 2024 at Clemson 0-2 with a 15.88 ERA.
8 Inside Hokie Sports
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inside.hokiesports.com 9
editor’s desk | by Jimmy Robertson
The 2012-13 athletics
year ranks as one of
the best ever for Tech
The NCAA Outdoor Track and Field second in five others (golf, baseball, men’s
Championships marked the end of the 2012-13 swimming and diving, women’s swimming and
sports year for Virginia Tech athletics, and it diving and men’s outdoor track).
rounded out arguably the greatest athletics year Six Olympic sports qualified for NCAA
in the history of the university. postseason play – women’s soccer, men’s cross
That may seem like a bold statement to make. country, golf, men’s tennis, softball and baseball.
In fact, in pitching this theory to a friend recently, The latter three all won at least one match/game.
he argued otherwise, stating the Tech football In certain Olympic sports, such as track and
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rank a successful year on how well the football individuals qualify for the NCAA Championships. Phone (804) 353-1447
team performs. The Tech wrestling team and men’s swimming
Fax (804) 353-2530
Fair point, to be sure. Tech fans love their and diving squad sent 10 individuals to the
football, and the disappointment of the 2012 NCAAs. The men’s indoor track team sent seven, WWW.CAPITALINT-CONTRACTORS.COM
season still lingers. while the outdoor team sent eight. The women’s
That said, let your editor morph into attorney
mode here and state his case for this past year’s
swimming and diving squad qualified eight for
nationals as well.
Light Gauge Metal
successes. The men’s indoor team finished in a tie for Framing
Fr & Trusses
First of all, yes, the football program had a ninth place in the team standings and the outdoor
7-6 record, but the Hokies won their final three team finished 19th. The wrestling team came in Drywall
games, including their bowl game. Whether the
bowl win comes against Michigan or Rutgers, it
10th, the men’s swimming and diving team 20th
and the women’s swimming and diving team 24th. Plaster / Stucco / EIFS
counts the same. Winning a bowl game should
not be dismissed. Only 18 teams finish a season
Thanks to all that NCAA success, the Hokies
should finish in the top 20 of the Learfield Sports
Insulation
having won a bowl game and/or the national Directors’ Cup standings for the first time ever. Metal & Acoustical Ceilings
championship. Tech was one of them. The Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup awards points
Second, the men’s basketball program brought based on how a school fares in NCAA sponsored Rough & Finish Carpentry
some thrills despite its struggles this past season. competition. Tech’s previous best finish was last
Watching Erick Green chase the nation’s scoring year when it came in 35th.
title and then win it, becoming the first Tech One may say to look back on this past year SWaM Certiied Thru The Department
player to do so, was a treat. Watching him become and enjoy it, an insinuation that this year was
of Minori
Minority Business Enterprise
the first to be named the ACC Player of the Year an aberration. But don’t expect the Hokies to be
added to it. one-year wonders in many of these sports. These ("DMBE")
Finally, Tech’s Olympic sports were just rosters feature a lot of great young talent.
phenomenal this past year. Remember when Kruzliak and Chris Uhle (men’s track),
everyone said that the Hokies’ Olympic sports Kylie McGoldrick and Kelly Heinz (softball), Serving the Entire
were going to struggle immensely in the ACC? Devin Carter, Chris Moon and Nick Brascetta Commonwealth of Virginia
Remember when certain media members (wrestling), Scott Vincent and Maclain Huge
basically said the gravedigger was going to be (golf), Amerigo Contini and Andreas Bjerrehus
busy burying Tech’s Olympic sports. (men’s tennis), Ashley Meier (women’s soccer)
Well, the school added two more national and Martina Schultze and Annjulie Vester
championships in track and field when Alexander (women’s track) all have at least two years of
Ziegler won the weight throw during the indoor eligibility remaining.
season and Tomas Kruzliak won the hammer There are a lot of reasons to be positive about
throw during the outdoor season. Tech has won the future. Just like there are a lot of reasons to
14 individual national championships – all since be positive about this past year. All of the above-
joining the ACC. mentioned arguments may be off base to you all,
This year, the school won three ACC the fans. After all, at the end of the day, you all Proud Partner of
championships (men’s cross country, men’s hold the gavel. You’re the judge – and the jury.
indoor track and wrestling) to bring its total to 16 As this athletics season comes to an end, we
Virginia Tech Athletics
since joining the league, and the school finished ask this – how do you rule?
inside.hokiesports.com 11kroger roth report | by Bill Roth
New president to play critical role
in the future of Tech athletics
For the first time in 14 years, Virginia Tech
is searching for a new president, and while that Retiring university
person will continue to build on the university’s president Dr. Charles
Steger has helped
national and international presence in terms of Tech in so many areas,
academics, outreach, research, and economic particularly in athletics,
stability, he or she also will shape the future of and his replacement will
play a big role in the
Hokie athletics. future of the athletics
On May 14, Tech president Charles W. Steger programs.
announced he would step down after 14 years once
his replacement is found – presumably within
the next 12 months. Under Steger’s leadership,
the university increased its research portfolio
by more than 300 percent, grew enrollment to
31,000-plus, increased graduate enrollment by
12 percent, raised more than $1 billion in private
donations, created more than 2.5 million square
feet of new buildings, formed the remarkable
school of biomedical engineering and created a
school of medicine.
From an athletics standpoint, Steger’s tenure
has been very impressive. He negotiated Tech’s Quillen has appointed a search committee to shaping the future of Hokie sports. This includes
entrance into the Atlantic Coast Conference assist the board in finding the university’s next hiring administrators and coaches, approving
and served as chairman of the BCS Presidential president. That committee, which has chosen an facilities, and perhaps most importantly, setting
Oversight Committee, which formed the new outside consulting firm to assist in the search, will the tone of athletics’ importance both within the
college football playoff that goes into effect be supported and staffed by Minnis Ridenour, university and externally among its constituents.
following the 2014 season. He also oversaw several Tech’s executive vice president and chief operating A president’s job is much more than just
expansions to Lane Stadium, the construction officer emeritus. overseeing athletics, of course. Virginia Tech’s
of the Hahn Hurst Basketball Facility, and other While the new president will inherit the charge budget for next year is a whopping $1.28 billion.
major capital projects within Tech’s athletics of continuing to build a major land grant university To put that in perspective, Tech’s athletics
complex. that has become a renowned international research budget this past year was roughly $67 million.
Virginia Tech Board of Visitors Rector Mike institution, he or she also will play a vital role in So in reality, while Tech’s athletics revenues are
12 Inside Hokie Sportskroger roth report | by Bill Roth
impressive – ranking among the top-35 schools three years dealing with an array of NCAA and
nationally per a recent USA Today report – the academic issues related to athletics, which have
athletics department’s spending is only about five landed the Tar Heels on probation. Thorp, a UNC
percent of the university’s overall budget. alum, will become the new provost at Washington
Still, athletics is extremely important at Virginia University in St. Louis. During a campus forum
Tech. The new president will be challenged in April, Thorp said he “certainly didn’t know
to navigate those waters and understand the enough to run college sports” when he was first
importance of sports on this campus and to its hired at his alma mater in 2008. Yet during the
constituents throughout the commonwealth and NCAA investigation in Chapel Hill that began in
nationally. 2010, Thorp claimed his “daily duties became all
Presidents, not athletics directors, have athletics, all the time.”
assumed the controls of intercollegiate athletics In an April article by The Associated Press,
and that academic flavor goes all the way to the Thorpe told attendees at the forum, “Either
top, where former UConn and LSU president, we put the AD’s back in charge and hold them
Mark Emmert, is now in charge of the NCAA. accountable if things don’t work or let’s be honest
However, there have been casualties among and tell everyone when we select (presidents)
several brilliant academic executives at high to run institutions that run big-time sports that
profile and prestigious universities in recent athletics is the most important part of their job.”
months. Listen, Thorp – like Spanier and Gee – is a
At Penn State University, former president brilliant guy. These people are all incredibly
Graham Spanier is facing charges of concealing intelligent, proficient fundraisers and dedicated,
child sex abuse allegations and perjury involving experienced academicians. They were all well-
former Nittany Lions football assistant coach qualified, highly vetted and paid incredibly high
Jerry Sandusky. That scandal, one of the biggest salaries to run major national universities with
in NCAA history, ended the long tenure of college billion dollar budgets. And by all accounts, were
football’s winningest coach, Joe Paterno, and popular, successful, terrific presidents.
led to unprecedented sanctions from the NCAA, Robert Barchi is a brilliant neuroscientist
including a $60 million fine. The Governor of whose main goal is to merge two medical schools.
Pennsylvania tried suing the NCAA, but the Yet he’s been embroiled in a political controversy
lawsuit was thrown out. between state senator Barbara Buono, who wants
At Rutgers, new president Robert Barchi him gone, and Christie, who has Barchi’s back.
and the school have faced heavy criticism Buono is running for Christie’s job, and the two
of the university’s handling of former men’s are headed for a November election showdown in
basketball coach Mike Rice, who was shown in a New Jersey. It’s almost mind-boggling that Barchi
video throwing balls at his players and verbally – and Rutgers – are in the middle of this gigantic
abusing them in practice. Rice was eventually political scandal because of … (pause for effect) …
fired and former athletics director Tim Pernetti what happened during basketball practice.
also resigned. But controversy over the hiring of As Hokies, we’ve been lucky. The Charles
Pernetti’s replacement, Louisville associate AD Steger-Jim Weaver-Frank Beamer triumvirate at
Julie Hermann, and the inaccuracy in the released Virginia Tech has been a remarkable success. To
academic record of the school’s new basketball have the same president, AD and head football
coach led to a former New Jersey Governor calling coach for 14 years is unusual. These three men
for Barchi’s resignation. Current Governor Chris share common goals, ideals and a mutual trust
Christie has backed Barchi in what has become that has helped Tech not only grow, but perhaps
both an academic and political issue. more importantly, avoid many of the pitfalls that
At Ohio State, president Gordon Gee announced have afflicted many of Tech’s conference and
he was retiring last week after he made statements regional brethren.
mocking: a.) The University of Notre Dame, b.) Is Thorp right? Should new presidents be told
Notre Dame’s president, c.) Roman Catholics, athletics are “the most important part of their
d.) the academic integrity of the University of job?”
Louisville and e.) the Southeastern Conference. That’s hyperbole, of course.
Back in 2011, Gee joked that football coach Jim But the tenor of Thorp’s message is valid. A keen
Tressel, who had admitted to breaking NCAA understanding of athletics and the consequences
rules, would have the power to fire him. Tressel of a single misstep in this arena are more critical
was eventually let go, Ohio State was placed on than ever for any new president.
probation, and Gee has now stepped down. Especially for the person who is about to move
At North Carolina, Chancellor Holden Thorp into the big office at Burruss Hall … whomever
will resign at the end of June after spending that may be.
inside.hokiesports.com 13IHS extra | cassell coliseum reseating
Cassell Coliseum reseating set to get underway
by Jimmy Robertson
After going through the reseating process for the reseating of Lane Stadium. This system certain number of seats. Also, corporate sponsors
Lane Stadium, Tech fans shouldn’t have any allows customers to see available seating options to Tech athletics often receive tickets to both
reservations about going through the process for beforehand and then choose from among the football and basketball games as part of their
Cassell Coliseum. available options during their appointment times. contracts.
After all, the process is practically the same. The appointment times will be in August. Plus, the athletics department sets aside a
Season ticket applications for the upcoming Smith said that he expects to ship season tickets block of seats for athletics department personnel,
2013-14 men’s and women’s basketball seasons in October well in advance of both teams’ season and also, the band and the students get certain
have been mailed to all season ticket holders, openers in early November. portions of the coliseum.
including those not in the Hokie Club, and to “We feel like the process is straightforward,” There are a couple of things to be aware of
all Hokie Club members. Those orders need said Sandy Smith, Tech’s assistant AD for as the reseating process for Cassell gets ready
to be returned by the June 24 deadline. Once ticketing services. “We want to give the customer to begin. For starters, there will be separate
the athletics department officials receive those the flexibility to decide where he or she wants to selection processes for both men’s and women’s
orders, they plan on beginning the process for sit. Everyone has the same opportunity to see basketball. The ticket office plans on conducting
reseating Cassell Coliseum. what’s available beforehand and then choose the process for purchasers of men’s basketball
“I’m hoping that people will say, ‘Gosh, during the appointment time.” season tickets first, and then conducting the
Syracuse is coming in (to the ACC), Pitt’s coming The order of selection again will be determined process for purchasers of women’s basketball
in, Notre Dame is going to be here, and next year, based on where a customer ranks on the reseating season tickets shortly thereafter. There is simply
Louisville is going to be here, so let’s go ahead “ladder.” This ladder recognizes a combination of not a good way to combine the two for those who
and get our good seats now,’” said Lu Merritt, the both giving and continuous years of purchasing purchase season tickets of both sports.
senior director of development for intercollegiate season tickets. In fact, those who have been a Also, customers should be aware that they will
athletics and the one who oversees the Hokie Club. continuous season ticket purchaser since 1966 not be selecting their parking spots for men’s and
“This is going to be the best league in the country, take the top spot on the ladder and get to retain women’s basketball. The ticket office assigns lots
and there’s a great opportunity to see some of the their current seat location, if they so choose. Next based on where customers rank on the Hokie
best college basketball you’ll ever see.” comes contributors who rank as Benefactors, Club’s point priority system. Once in a particular
The June 24 deadline for basketball season Century Champions, Golden Champions, lot, the customer may park in any available space,
ticket orders is much earlier than in years Diamond and Platinum Hokies. Then, those as there will not be assigned spaces.
past. Usually, the order form gets sent out in who have purchased season tickets continuously “We’ll start with Lot 1 based on a customer’s
September. But the ticket office needs the extra between 42 and 45 years get to choose, followed point priority, and then move to Lot 4 (next to the
time to coordinate the reseating process, as it did by Golden Hokies and so forth. softball field and outdoor track) and Lot 8 (the
last year for the Lane Stadium reseating process. Not all seats in Cassell Coliseum will be Litton-Reaves lot),” Smith said.
Those who order basketball season tickets available for selection. Customers noticed this The athletics department encourages all
will receive a letter in July that gives them an exact same thing in the Lane Stadium reseating those with questions about the Cassell Coliseum
appointment time, and they also will receive process, and some questioned it. The athletics reseating process to visit a website dedicated for
a “how-to” guide to reference when using the department sets aside blocks of seats to meet this purpose – www.CassellColiseumreseating.
Ballena Technologies online system – the same certain demands as required by contract. com. The “how-to” guide can be downloaded
system that the athletics department used in For example, the visiting team receives a from this site as well.
14 Inside Hokie SportsUseful in ways you might not expect. Auto insurance.
AAA. Use it for all it’s worth. AAA.com
AAA is a proud partner of Virginia Tech.
inside.hokiesports.com 15
©2012 AAA Mid-AtlanticIHS extra | NCAA baseball regional
Devin Burke’s complete-game victory
against Connecticut was a highlight
for the Hokies, who played host to
their first NCAA regional.
Hokies home for NCAA regional, see
season end with loss to Oklahoma
by Marc Mullen
It was easily the best 14-game stretch played support their team. The Hokies played in front record and then earned his sixth win of the
by the Virginia Tech baseball team since the of the largest crowd ever to watch a collegiate season in the Hokies’ 10-1 victory over Virginia
school joined the ACC for the 2004-05 season. baseball game in Blacksburg, as 3,566 attended in the ACC Baseball Championship’s pool play.
The Hokies won 13 of 14 games before falling in Tech’s opening game against Connecticut. The With that victory, Mantiply became the first
the conference’s championship game to North largest crowd ever was the 5,311 that saw the starting pitcher to post a 6-0 record since 2002
Carolina on May 26, and with that run, they 2008 Tech squad take on the New York Yankees when Joe Saunders did it. However, in the
earned a regional host site for the 2013 NCAA on March 18 in an exhibition that honored those team’s 5-2 loss to UConn in an NCAA regional
Baseball Championship. who passed away and/or were injured in the game on May 31, Mantiply suffered his first and
The Blacksburg regional produced quality previous year’s April 16 shootings. only loss on the season.
baseball over six games played from May 31 The total attendance for the six games of the Of note, Brian Fitzgerald was the last Hokie
through June 2, and despite the Hokies not weekend was also a three-day weekend record of starter to end a season with an unblemished
advancing to a super regional, being the host site 9,275, surpassing the 8,515 (approximated) fans record, as he was 5-0 in 1993, while Rick Knapp
for a regional brought national attention to the that came out to see No. 1 North Carolina and was the last to be perfect with more than five
Tech baseball program – something not missed Tech face each other earlier this season. wins, finishing 10-0 in 1982.
by Tech head coach Pete Hughes. Those fans also pushed the season total home With his 4.2 frames thrown in the game,
“I thought our guys did a great job for the attendance to a record of 40,030 fans, or an Mantiply moved into the top five in career
entire tournament,” Hughes said in a postgame average of 1,334 per game – almost 400 more innings pitched at Tech with 299.2 innings,
press conference after the Hokies’ 10-4 loss to fans per game than the previous season’s high. passing Mike Williams (1988-90) by one inning.
Oklahoma that ended their season. “The next According to a report released weekly by Division
goal is to sustain this success and keep hosting I baseball, those numbers were 47th (total) and Burke almost makes Tech history
regionals and advance to the supers. There are 49th (average) nationally for the season. In his final start of the 2013 season and his
a ton of victories that happened this weekend Hokie career, Devin Burke held Coastal Carolina
that you don’t see on the baseball field. We got Mantiply suffers only loss in NCAA scoreless through 8.1 frames before CCU
a chance to expose our venue and community game outfielder Jacob May hit a solo home run in the
nationally, and that is priceless.” Senior left-handed hurler Joe Mantiply swept ninth. But Burke still picked up the win in a 9-1
The community certainly showed up to through the regular season with a perfect 5-0 elimination game victory on June 1.
16 Inside Hokie SportsIHS extra | NCAA baseball regional
With the win, Burke earned his 11th victory
of the year, tying for the second-most ever in
a single season at the school. He won his sixth Andrew Rash hit a home run in
his final collegiate game and
straight decision. Jason Bush was the last finished his career with 42, the
pitcher to win 11 games in a season (1999). sixth-most in a career at Tech.
Burke almost made history with his near
complete-game shutout, which would have
been a first for Tech in an NCAA postseason
game. Tech had never shut out an opponent in
its 29 NCAA tournament games– let alone got
a complete-game shutout effort. The one run
allowed did match the lowest output by a Tech
opponent in an NCAA game, tying the 1954 team
that beat Clemson 7-1 on May 24.
Horan etches name in record book
Redshirt junior Tyler Horan was 2-for-5
with a double against Oklahoma in the Hokies’
final game of the year, and with those numbers,
pushed his season totals into the Tech record
book.
Horan finished the 2013 season with 257
at-bats, moving past Tim Buheller into the top
spot for most at-bats in a single season. Buheller
registered 254 at-bats during the 1985 season.
With the double, Horan ended the year with
26 doubles, good for second all-time in a single
season at the school. He sits one ahead of Casey
Waller, who had 25 during the 1989 season, and Two Hokies reach career record list, as Kiser saved 13 in his career at Tech (1976).
one behind Steve Domecus, who set the school mark Andrew Rash hit an RBI double in the victory,
record with 27 in 2010. In the victory over Connecticut on June 2, two giving him 56 doubles in his career. That mark
Finally, Horan’s two hits in the final game Tech players who first stepped foot on campus tied him with Sean O’Brien (2004-08) for the
increased his team-high total to 88 hits, moving in 2008 moved into the top five in one career fifth-most in a single season at the school. Rash
him into a tie for fifth place in a single season.category at the school. also homered twice in the tournament, pushing
He tied Jim Stewart, who actually set the school Clark Labitan threw the final 3.1 innings in the his career total to 42, just one shy of the top five
record back in 1982, but has since been passed, 3-1 victory to earn his 11th save of the season and at the school. Mike Conte (1986-89) was the last
and Chad Foutz (1997). Buheller, Domecus and the 14th of his career. Labitan passed Orvin Kiser man to hit at least 40 homers in a career at the
Shaun Sullivan (1985) hold the record with 92 hits.
for the fifth spot on the school’s all-time saves school before Rash.
Hokie sports AD1_Layout 1 7/29/11 10:10 AM Page 1
Great Progra
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inside.hokiesports.com 17IHS extra | NCAA track championships
Kruzliak wins national championship
Behind Tomas Kruzliak’s win in the hammer throw, the
Tech men’s track and field team finished in 19th place at the
NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
by Jimmy Robertson
Tech’s national dominance in the throwing coach. “That’s just what we do. It’s an event we
events continued at the recent NCAA Outdoor can excel at, and we’ve really shown that. We’ll
Track and Championships in Eugene, Ore., as just continue to build on that from here.”
freshman Tomas Kruzliak won the national title
in the hammer throw, giving the Hokies their THROWING AROUND THE COMPETITION
seventh title in the event in the past nine years. (Tech’s national titles in throwing events)
Behind Kruzliak and Jeff Artis-Gray’s fifth-
Year Competitor Event
place finish in the long jump, the Tech men’s team 2005 Spyridon Jullien Weight throw
finished 19th nationally with 14 points. It marked 2005 Spyridon Jullien Hammer throw
the program’s sixth straight top-20 finish. 2006 Spyridon Jullien Weight throw
“It’s nice to be in that top-20 group,” said Dave Tomas Kruzliak’s
2006 Spyridon Jullien Hammer throw
national title in
Cianelli, Tech’s director of track and field and 2009 Marcel Lomnicky Hammer throw the hammer throw
cross country. “We’ve been top 10, and we’ve been 2011 Alexander Ziegler Hammer throw marked Tech’s 14
top five, but to be in the top 20 in the country is 2011 Dorotea Habazin Hammer throw individual national
championship in
still a really good accomplishment, and it keeps 2012 Marcel Lomnicky Weight throw
track and field.
our men’s team in the mix of being one of the 2012 Alexander Ziegler Hammer throw
top 10-20 programs nationally. We’ll continue to 2013 Alexander Ziegler Weight throw
come here with the goal of being in the top 10, 2013 Tomas Kruzliak Hammer throw
and hopefully next year when we come back here,
we’ll move up back into that top-10 group.” Competing in his last collegiate event, Artis-
Kruzliak, from Nitra, Slovakia, garnered the Gray finished fifth in the long jump, earning
most attention among the Tech contingent and first-team All-America honors. The Chesapeake,
deservedly so. He joined former Hokie and fellow Va., native’s jump of 25 feet, 6.25 inches (7.78
countryman Marcel Lomnicky as the only Hokies meters) got him into the finals. Then in the finals,
to win a national championship during their first he moved up to fifth place with a mark of 25 feet,
year on campus. 9.25 inches (7.85 meters).
Kruzliak recorded a throw of 226 feet, 1 inch Four men’s track and field athletes earned
(68.92 meters) on his first attempt and then second-team All-America honors – Ronnie Black, On the women’s side, Martina Schultze finished
increased that mark to 227 feet, 3 inches (69.26 Chris Uhle, Matthias Treff and Denis Mahmic. in eighth place in the pole vault to earn first-
meters) on his second attempt. His second Black, a senior from Newport News, Va., came team All-America honors. The sophomore from
throw turned out to be the winner, as no other in 11th in the high jump. His best jump was 7 feet, Uhingen, Germany, cleared her first two heights
competitor threw the hammer more than 69 2.5 inches (2.20 meters) of 13 feet, 3.5 inches (4.05 meters) and 13 feet,
meters. Uhle, a sophomore from Powell, Ohio, finished 7.25 inches (4.15 meters), and then she advanced
“I felt pretty good physically throughout 15th in the pole vault. In his first attempt, he after clearing 13 feet, 11.25 inches (4.25 meters).
the whole competition,” Kruzliak said. “I was cleared 16 feet, 8.5 inches (5.1 meters), and then She moved on to 14 feet, 1.25 inches, but failed
confident, not nervous, but I still believe that I he set a personal record with a vault of 17 feet, to clear the bar on three attempts and finished in
could have thrown farther.” 2.75 inches (5.25 meters) in his second attempt. eighth – five spots higher than her finish a year
Kruzliak claimed Tech’s 14th individual Treff, a redshirt senior from Burgthann, ago.
national championship. Of those 14, 11 have come Germany, finished 15th in the javelin throw. His Annjulie Vester earned All-America honors
in throwing events. Tech has won the national best throw was 217 feet, 6 inches (66.29 meters), after finishing 13th in the hammer throw. The
championship in the hammer throw in four of the but that wasn’t quite good enough to get him in sophomore from Homburg, Germany, posted a
past five years, including three straight. The past the finals. throw of 201 feet, 5 inches (61.41 meters) on her
two years, Alexander Ziegler won the national Mahmic, a senior from Zagreb, Croatia, came first throw, which turned out to be her best throw.
championship in the hammer throw. in 17th in the hammer throw. His best throw was She earned second-team All-America honors in
“It feels good,” said Greg Jack, Tech’s throws 202 feet, 11 inches. her first appearance at the national meet.
18 Inside Hokie SportsIHS extra | NCAA softball regional
Tech softball team wins three in regional,
falls to Kentucky to end season
by Jimmy Robertson
For softball fanatics – and Virginia Tech fans Coming off a 13-inning win the previous She broke the school record for innings pitched in
– the action and the play at the NCAA Lexington evening against Marshall, the Hokies needed a game, snapping the mark of 12.2 set by Angela
Regional was hard to beat. to beat Kentucky twice to advance to the super Tincher in Tech’s 3-2 win over the Seminoles in
Unfortunately, the Hokies came up a run short regional. In the first game, freshman Kelly Heinz that 14-inning game. Her 13 strikeouts mark a
of advancing to the super regional round. pitched near-perfect ball, giving up just three hits new career high as well. She had struck out 12 in a
Despite getting great pitching from senior in a 2-0 shutout of the Wildcats. game on two occasions, with the most recent time
Jasmin Harrell, the Hokies couldn’t get a run In the second game, Kentucky got an RBI single coming in the season opener against Southern
across the plate and fell to Kentucky 1-0 in the from Lauren Cumbess in the fifth inning that Illinois in February.
championship game on May 19 in Lexington, scored Sylver Samuel and made it stand. Harrell
Ky. Tech had beaten the Wildcats 2-0 earlier in gave up eight hits for the Hokies, but only the McGoldrick, Liddle named All-ACC
the day to force a second game in the double- unearned run, as Samuel had reached on an error McGoldrick and Courtney Liddle both received
elimination format. by Kylie McGoldrick. All-ACC recognition for their play this past season.
With the loss, the Hokies’ season ended with a McGoldrick, a sophomore from Stratford, N.J.,
38-21 record. Harrell sets record earned a spot on the first team after leading the
“We did what we needed to do to compete and Tech staved off elimination on the second day Hokies with 11 home runs. She started 50 games at
try to move on, and obviously I thought, coming of the regional when it used great pitching from second base and hit .344, with 33 RBIs and 28 runs.
into this regional, we matched up well with Harrell and a timely hit by Bkaye Smith to beat Liddle, a senior from Haymarket, Va., made the
Kentucky,” Tech head coach Scot Thomas said in Marshall 3-2 in 13 innings. The game marked the second team and became Tech’s third three-time
a release by the Tech athletics communications second-longest game in school history (a 2005 all-conference player. She started all 59 games
staff. “I think we proved that today (May 19). Hats Tech-Florida State game went 14 innings). and led Tech with a .347 average. She hit seven
off to them, and hats off to my team for battling all In the bottom of the 13th inning, Smith’s two- homers and drove in a team-leading 37.
last night (a 13-inning game against Marshall) and out single scored Amanda Ake with the winning Liddle finished her career ranked first in school
battling all day today (on May 19). I am proud of run. history in career on-base percentage (.467), career
our bunch for sure.” Harrell went all 13 innings and struck out 13. walks (146) and career hit by pitch (26).
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inside.hokiesports.com 19IHS extra | hokie club staff members to retire
Longtime Hokie Club staff members to retire
John Moody and Sharon Linkous have dedicated more
than 80 years combined to helping Tech athletics
by Jimmy Robertson
Usually as the spring months quickly fade into “To have them both walk out the door within
summer, Tech’s coaches take inventory of their a month of each other is a big, big loss,” said
rosters. And in many cases, they lament the loss of Merritt, officially known as the senior director of
veteran upperclassmen to the working world. development for intercollegiate athletics.
The same process can apply to other areas Moody and Linkous actually started their
of athletics, and this summer, Lu Merritt, the careers in the profession by working for what
“coach” of the Virginia Tech Athletic Fund (better was then called the Virginia Tech Student Aid
known by Tech fans as the “Hokie Club”), is seeing Association, an organization founded in the late
a couple of experienced hands leave his team and 1940s to raise money for athletics scholarships. It
call it a career. morphed into the Virginia Tech Athletic Fund in
John Moody, an associate director within the 1989.
Hokie Club, and Sharon Linkous, an accountant Starting in 1951, Mac McEver served as a
within the club, both plan to retire after more than part-time director of the club (he also coached)
40 years of helping raise money for Tech athletics. before becoming the full-time director in 1960. In
Moody will retire at the end of June; Linkous at 1970, McEver hired Linkous from the education
the end of July. These two institutions will take 84 department at Tech, where she had been working
years of fundraising experience with them. after graduating from high school in 1969, to
20 Inside Hokie SportsIHS extra | hokie club staff members to retire
oversee the recordkeeping. That same year, he Moody decided to stay on in a part-time role. group hopped on the course right after the last
hired an assistant director named Jack Prater, a Moody, a Richmond native, has played group among Tech’s golfers teed off.
name familiar to most Tech fans. Prater played a prominent role in getting many of the One of the golfers later said, ‘If we’re Hokies,
football at Tech and later coached at Tech. organization’s programs implemented. you all must be ‘Hackin’ Hokies.’ Thus, the
Prater ended up leaving, moving into an When he first started with the Virginia Tech “Hackin’ Hokies” were formed, and the group
administrative role under then football coach Student Aid Association, he wasn’t sure how to continues its annual trip with the golf team today.
Charlie Coffey. So in 1972, McEver cornered approach fundraising. So he decided to write a The excursion gives the Hokie Club a chance to
Moody on Tech’s football practice field one letter to alumni and other fans of the athletics solidified relationships with its donors.
day and offered him the job. Moody, who was programs, asking for a $ 1 0 Later on, in the late 1980s, Mike Carroll, who
working for Jostens ring company at the time donation. He received served as the director of development for athletic
and visiting the area, decided to accept. 393 responses programs at that time, saw a need to take a group
“When I started out after college, I made and raised of donors to the Homestead in Hot Springs,
$3,600 to teach and then got an extra $300 $6,420.50. Va., and let them play golf with some of
to coach football and $300 to coach track at Even today, the coaches, again as a way to enhance
Norview High School (in Norfolk),” Moody he keeps the relationship between Tech and the
said. “So I made $4,200. My wife was pregnant those now donors. So Moody organized it. The group
with our first child. We just couldn’t make it yellowing looked for a name, and someone said,
financially. So I went into the business world. I responses “Well, we’re Hackin’ Hokies, too.” So that
didn’t really like it. I was with Jostens, selling in a drawer group became Hackin’ Hokies, Too, as a
rings, and I was one of their top sellers. But I in his desk, a sort of play on words.
didn’t like it.
“I came up here and was watching a football
practice. McEver asked me if I’d like to have a
job. I was doing well financially, but I just wasn’t
happy. I visited with my wife. Her parents lived
here in Blacksburg, so we made the decision
to come back – and it was one of the better
decisions in my life.”
Getting these two to talk about their
accomplishments over the years was a more
difficult chore than the one Tech’s football team
faces on Aug. 31. This publicity-shy tandem
prefers to quietly slip off into the sunset and let
others judge their career work.
For sure, they’ve enjoyed wonderful careers –
those of the blue-ribbon variety. When Linkous
started working in 1970, the club had 1,800
members. Today, the list is more than 10,000.
She has stayed in the background, inputting
records and keeping them in tidy shape and
printing reports at a moment’s notice. She arrives Sharon Linkous and John Moody (top of photo) are
at 7 every morning and has been known to take retiring after spending more than 40 years each
helping build the Hokie Club into what it is today.
work home frequently. In sports vernacular, she
serves as Merritt’s “quarterback.”
“I worked 24 years in the banking industry and
20 here, and her work ethic is the best I’ve seen,” reminder to his humble roots. That trip continues today and serves as a
Merritt said. “She does so many things outside Over the years, he took a lot of ideas from fundraiser for various projects. The group has
her job description, and I’ve been meeting with others and implemented them and made them raised money for the clubhouse at the River
her just to try to get my arms around everything even better. For example, he, Bill Matthews, Course, the baseball scoreboard, the scoreboard
she does. She does a lot of little things that just Shannon Hardwick – the father of Tech golf at the swimming facility, and the flag plaza at
add to the office in addition to her knowledge coach Jay Hardwick – and others took some Lane Stadium, which is named after Moody.
and experience.” donors to the Metro Conference baseball Carroll also wanted the club to come up with a
Moody put Linkous’ impact a little more tournament in Tallahassee, Fla., one year, and volunteer program in which contributors would
succinctly. on the way down, they played golf at several sign up others who expressed an interest in Tech
“They can fill my seat easily,” he said. “Hers is different courses. Hardwick later suggested athletics and the Hokie Club. At the time, NC
going to be a little more difficult.” taking the donors on a trip with the Tech golf State and Clemson used similar programs, and
Filling Moody’s seat will not be an easy task team. So Moody got a group together to go to Moody researched those, thus playing a large
either. Actually, Merritt tried to do that a few Pine Needles, N.C., with the golf team, which role in establishing what is now the Hokie Rep
years ago when Moody retired. Fortunately, plays in a tournament there every year. The program.
inside.hokiesports.com 21You can also read
