Gobbler Country

Virginia Tech, ACC Marriage Will Soon Be Sour

2012-05-21T13:15:48Z

One century and 20 years ago, three forward-thinking businessmen joined together in east Texas hoping to find riches that even their wildest dreams could not understand.

George O'Brien, George Carroll and Patillo Higgins formed the Gladys City Oil, Gas and Manufacturing company with the purpose of making exploratory drilling in the depths of the Spindletop, Texas earth. It was a three-way partnership that seemed destined to change the oil drilling industry forever.

Seven years later, Pattillo was unhappy with the lack of progress the Gladys Co. drilling had made. Not wanting to be left out of the impending Oil Boom, he found Anthony Lucas, a prosperous salt dome formation expert, and the two joined forces in an effort to strike gold...er...oil.

In 1901, what became known as the Lucas Geyser blew oil over 150 feet into the Spindletop air and began producing 100,000 barrels of oil per day. It was the drilling that burst open the floodgates and gave birth to the Boom.

Today, college football is on the precipice of a boom of its own. The ever-growing popularity of the sport has forced the system to radically alter its infrastructure as an attempt to secure every last dime it can. Virginia Tech was part of the very earliest changes to the system, jumping to the ACC seven or eight years before the realignment/playoff fracas began in earnest. The Hokies are a Pattillo, of sorts.

The Hokies' partnership with the ACC has been vastly different than what anyone expected. In the eight years since joining the league, Virginia Tech has won four ACC football championships and played for two more. Yet Florida State and Miami remain the crown jewels of the league, despite a combined one conference title in the same time frame.

The conference recently renegotiated its contract with ESPN, which will run through 2027, to pay its 14 members (Syracuse/Pittsburgh included) an average of $17.1 million per year. You may have heard Florida State took issue with the deal.

Once the Big 12 and SEC are through renegotiating their respective TV deals, the average revenue produced by the ACC's contract will lag behind that of the four major conferences.

Just last week, the Big 12 and SEC agreed to pit their champions in an annual bowl game should those teams fail to qualify for the four-team national championship playoff. If either or both champions are in the playoff, the bowl bids would go to the next best available teams from the leagues. Presumably, the bowl will feature a top-10 matchup on a yearly basis.

Oh, right...the playoff. Here's what we know: it will be a four-team affair likely starting in 2014. We also know that the "Automatic Qualifier" concept is history. Every team will have an equal opportunity — from a logistical if not realistic standpoint — to qualify for the playoffs. We don't know where the games will be played or, more importantly, how the teams will be selected. The main hang-up in the process involves whether to only include conference champions or allow teams to qualify as an at-large (see: Alabama in 2012).

What the SEC and Big 12 have done is essentially lock up the marquee postseason game, along with the Rose Bowl, outside of the playoff.

The power brokers of college football have ostracized the ACC from their ranks. Florida State doesn't want to be left at the kiddie table with paper plates while the SEC, Big 12, Pac-12 and Big Ten gather around the main table to grow ever fat and happy.

No matter what the school says publicly, it's a smoky situation. We all know what comes along with smoke.

If Florida State does in fact join the Big 12, or the SEC, or the AFC East for that matter, it will leave Virginia Tech in a precarious situation. Suddenly, the only ACC program to be even remotely competitive nationally (and even that is up for debate) since the league expanded will be in danger of being relegated to mid-major status — and that's exactly what it would be.

Before I go any further, let's make it clear that if 2011 taught us anything, it's that nothing is done until it's done in conference expansion and reports are just that. I can still vividly remember watching Joe Schad (among others) reporting live on national TV that Texas joining the soon-to-be Pac-16 was "imminent." No one can be trusted, and I don't mean the reporters. The element of secrecy, doublespeak and deception with the media during conference realignment would make the FBI blush.

However, if Florida State does indeed opt to join the Big 12 in the coming months, Virginia Tech will have a potentially volatile, but unmistakably clear decision to make. It must get out of the ACC. No, it must get the hell out of the ACC.

Charles Steger, like any other school president, will talk about the academic prowess of the ACC (which is far stronger than the Big 12). Jim Weaver, like most other athletic directors, will talk about loyalty to the conference that welcomed them into their tight-knit club just eight years ago.

I may have just graduated college a few weeks ago, but even I remember how the ACC never wanted the Hokies in the first place. Money and politics (what's the difference?) trump loyalty. There is not a more baseless word in big-time college athletics than loyalty. Programs go where the money is. It's why Texas is still in the Big 12. It's why Notre Dame has remained independent all these years. It's why Notre Dame may finally join a conference as they become a significantly more profitable option than independence.

At Virginia Tech, it could be argued that football is a priority above all else. After all, this is the school that is currently locked in a battle to build a $20 million indoor practice facility in the rarest forest on the east coast instead of erecting it in just a minute's walking distance away, on top of a few tennis courts.

Football is king in Blacksburg. Academics are more important to the school, and (hopefully) no one will argue that. However, as Bear Bryant once said, you won't ever pack 80,000 around to watch a chemistry experiment.

The amount of money that is poised to befall college football is unfathomable. This is only the beginning of such radical changes to the sport, but it's clear that the top conferences are going to take the lion's share of the wealth. It's ironic, given that much of the theatrics in college football over the last decade has been about how unfair the less powerful conferences were treated.

If Virginia Tech wants to continue to foster its prominence as a football program — and quite honestly break even on all of its departmental expansions (locker room, luxury suites, indoor practice facility) — it needs to seek out a conference that takes football as seriously as it does.

It doesn't quite matter which league it is at this point, be it the SEC or Big 12. Logistically, the SEC makes too much sense. The Hokies fit geographically, competitively and culturally. The Big 12 wouldn't be quite as taxing on the win-loss column during football season, but otherwise it makes for a more awkward fit than the SEC.

Now, if the doomsday theorists are right and "superconferences" are the next big thing, it's hard to imagine Virginia Tech getting left out in the cold. If Florida State (and even Clemson) leave the ACC, the Hokies instantly become the third most prominent football program up for bidding east of the Mississippi River; Notre Dame and Miami would still rank higher on that scale. the SEC already has the Florida market cornered, though, so adding Virginia Tech might be higher on their priority list. But before we start to spin the speculation wheel again, let's remember the point, which is that Virginia Tech will soon no longer belong in the ACC.

It's not that Tech doesn't appreciate what the league has done for the program. Athletics across the board have significantly improved as a byproduct of joining the conference. If Virginia Tech was playing in the Final Four every few years, then the ACC would be a fitting home for the Hokies. The ACC always has been, and always will be a basketball league. Adding Syracuse and Pittsburgh signified a commitment to basketball supremacy going forward. That's all well and good, but it also means that the league is no place for a school that places such a heavy emphasis on football, not basketball.

Ol' Pattillo Higgins thought he was making the deal of the century when he saddled up with Gladys Co. back in 1892. The decision he made to leave the group was undoubtedly a difficult one, but a savvy one nonetheless. It paid off for Higgins. It's almost time for Virginia Tech to follow suit.

Poll

What conference makes the most sense for Virginia Tech?

Virginia Tech Kicker Cody Journell To Plead Guilty To Misdemeanor

2012-05-19T01:57:42Z

Virginia Tech Kicker Cody Journell To Plead Guilty To Misdemeanor

Suspended Virginia Tech kicker Cody Journell has come to an agreement with the Commonwealth Attorney to plead guilty to a lesser charge than the felony breaking and entering he has been charged with. It appears he will plead guilty to a trespassing misdemeanor instead. The terms appear to involve no jail time or fine, but will require 100 hours of community service.

Journell tweeted Friday night, "First good news I’ve heard in 6 months…I’m so determined to make a mike vick comeback, man I love #VT." His status with the football team is still up in the air, but as Andy Bitter said of the deal in his post, "potentially opening up the possibility for him to return to the Hokies."

More on this story as it develops. Stay glued to Gobbler Country.

UPDATE: According to our own Josh Parcell, Journell also posted to Facebook "…sounds like ill be back playing ball with my boys in less than a week, man I love VT for all their support." So it looks like he's coming back.

Allan Chaney Cleared By Doctor To Play Basketball Again

2012-05-18T21:36:40Z

BREAKING NEWS: Gobbler Country is proud to be the VERY FIRST publication on the internet to report that Virginia Tech basketball player Allan Chaney has been cleared by a doctor to play collegiate basketball again. More on this developing story after the jump.

Per Chaney's personal Twitter account, he announced today with this tweet that he has been cleared to play basketball again by Philadelphia, PA cardiologist Dr. Francis E. Marchlinkski. It has not been confirmed by any Virginia Tech officials yet and is not clear if Chaney intends to play at Virginia Tech.

According to his Hokiesports profile, Allan "Will not be cleared medically to play for the Hokies." This Washington Post article also tells the story of Chaney's struggles to be medically cleared. According to the article, "Virginia Tech's medicine department announced it would NEVER allow Chaney to practice or compete with the school's basketball team." It is yet to be announced or confirmed if that decision will change.

Additionally, this FoxSports article suggests that Chaney was unhappy with the timing (approximately one week before the start of the Fall 2011 semester) of the Virginia Tech medical staff's decision to deny him medical clearance to play basketball. Chaney felt that he would have been able to be cleared elsewhere and could have found a team if he had been notified earlier. It is unclear if he is still upset over the situation as this article is nearly a year old.

In this Washington Post article from 2011, Chaney said that Seth Greenberg had become "like a father figure to me." Now with Greenberg's dismissal, it appears unclear if he has any ties to the university or the basketball program that would warrant his staying with the team should he be cleared by Tech doctors. He was close with Malcolm Delaney as the two were childhood basketball teammates and friends, but Delaney graduated in 2011 and is now playing professionally in Europe.

Chaney, a former four-star recruit, left Florida in 2009 after a spat in his freshman year with coach Billy Donovan and his subsequent suspension/sprained foot injury caused him to miss the last couple of games or so of the Gators season. It is unclear when the suspension officially started as he was receiving sporadic minutes later in the year and what role the injury played in his missing the games as opposed to the suspension. Chaney transferred to Virginia Tech at the end of the season. He redshirted while sitting out his mandated transfer year, although he was unable to practice after injuring his shoulder. He averaged 3 ppg. and 2.1 rpg. in just under 10 minutes per game his freshman year for Florida.

Virginia Tech first learned of his ailment on April 21, 2010, when during a team practice, Chaney collapsed and had to be revived by a team trainer. After initially suspecting that Chaney was out of shape or perhaps dehydrated, several cardiac tests issued the next day discovered he had Viral Myocarditis, an infection of the heart that causes inflammation. Chaney underwent surgery in 2010 for the ailment and has since received both a pacemaker and a backup pacemaker should the first one fail.

If Chaney should decide to return to the Hokies (and if the Virginia Tech doctors will allow it) he would immediately be the Hokies' most highly-touted player. It would be expected that he has suffered some decline in respect to his game after not having been on the court competitively for several years, but he is an ideal candidate to apply for extra years of eligibility, so it is not certain that he would have only one year remaining although as of last year he was scheduled to graduate in 2013. The Hokies would also be the ideal fit for Chaney who would be able to get significant minutes and likely start as the team's power forward in 2012 as the Hokies currently only have eight scholarship players (pending their lone signee sticking to his re-commitment) and only three other post players.

I definitely recommend reading the Washington Post articles about him. He is an inspiration with his perseverance and his dedication to his craft. I wish him good luck no matter where he ends up and hopefully to stay healthy for the rest of his life.

Virginia Tech Basketball Recruiting: The Class Of 2012

2012-05-17T13:00:51Z

At first I started this post as a moratorium to the class of 2012, as according to Tech Hoops, today is the last day a player for the class of 2012 can sign a national Letter Of Intent. However, I found out later in the thread that just because today is the last day a player can sign a LOI doesn't mean he can't still end up playing for a school on scholarship.

So while the cycle of the 2012 recruiting class has pretty much played itself out, new coach James Johnson is insistent he still wants to bring in some players. As Josh Parcell told us earlier in his post, the Hokies landed a transfer today. We'll dive more into this player and what his commitment means as well as look at some of the options for the Hokies as they try to add some bodies and close the class out in style. More after the jump.

First off, I found probably the most topical and thorough analysis of the Seth Greenberg firing a few days after the fact, but I didn't really have anything to include it in. So you're getting it now, just because I feel it's important to read really well-written articles and well thought-out arguments. The article happens to come from college basketball's most famous bracketologist, Joe Lunardi (though I regularly beat him at projecting the field from 2007-09...just saying). Here's Joe Lunardi's take on Seth's firing.

Additionally, in the wake of Seth's firing, several disillusioned members of the Virginia Tech blog persuasion have spoken out (seemingly out of turn given their grasp/comprehension of college basketball) on the Twitterverse as if there are no negatives to the Seth Greenberg firing. They also criticized Gobbler Country and our coverage of college basketball. I can honestly say I am proud of the product we put out on Gobbler Country, that we DO know what we're talking about and that we are among the best if not THE BEST blog out there at providing Virginia Tech basketball (and all Tech sports really, but especially basketball) coverage, and we're going to get even better. We all miss Furrer4heisman, the site's founder, but we are not going ANYWHERE and we are far from dead in the water.

As for those bloggers, I'm not going to start a holy war over whose opinion is right, but what I will say is that there are instances of incontrovertible proof that Seth's firing has had a negative impact on recruiting and recruits deciding to ask out of their LOI's. To discount this evidence or its significance by trying to play it off as inconsequential to further a personal agenda is to truly show one's ignorance towards the institution of college basketball and how it operates. Those are my two cents; love me or hate me for it, but I won't tolerate the reputation of this site being bullied by other blogs that spend half of their time tweeting nonsense and have previously asked our writers to contribute on the basketball side of their blogs.

The proof I am speaking entails recruits that have come out on the record to say that the Hokies may no longer be in consideration for them. The first of which is an obvious in Montrezl Harrell, Tech's top rated signee in their original two-man class before he asked out of his LOI. Make no mistake about it (as some bloggers already have), his potential loss is far from trivial. His loss would be devastating. There's a reason the University of Kentucky wants this kid and it's not because he's not good.

There are different reports on whether Harrell is free and clear in that department as he may still be waiting for Tech to process that request. One report I saw while writing this article (and it's certainly new to me) suggests the Hokies will NOT be granting Harrell's release. UPDATE: That report was inaccurate as today Harrell has been released from his LOI with no conditions. Whatever the timeline or circumstances, it appears Harrell will be attempting to play college basketball elsewhere. Unlike for Dorian Finney-Smith, something that you will not find anywhere on the internet is a report of Harrell having second thoughts until after Seth Greenberg's firing.

If Tech could manage to wrap Harrell back up it would be a HUGE win in restoring legitimacy to the program and in the hope of fielding a competitive basketball team in 2012-13. As of now the Hokies have eight scholarship players eligible to play next year IF our current lone recruit Marshall Wood sticks to his re-commitment and passes NCAA Clearinghouse requirements.

Another player who has cooled on the Hokies is 2013 point guard Anthony Barber. Barber is ranked among the top players in the nation for the class of 2013, but while he has received many offers from big name schools, the Hokies were firmly entrenched as a possibility for him...when Seth Greenberg was coaching. Here's his stance now. While he may not have eliminated the Hokies, he did say that they were falling to the bottom of the totem pole. He cited the familiarity with Greenberg and how hard he was being recruited as the reasons he was so high on Tech, but hinted that he's yet to hear from the current staff. That's understandable because of how quick the coaches have had to get their ducks in a row, so I don't blame them. But I am staring lasers through your head Mr. Weaver for your timing or lack thereof.

Now to today's transfer: Adam Smith. Josh did a terrific job analyzing his stats earlier, and the stats don't change if I write them up as opposed to Josh doing it, so I'll show you what Josh said:

Smith started 29 of 31 games for the Seahawks, who are a part of the Colonial Athletic Association — probably the second best mid-major league in the country last season (behind the Mountain West). He averaged 13.7 points per game, which was the 11th highest mark in the league.

In the first game of his career, Smith dropped 22 points on Maryland, including a 5-of-9 effort from three-point range. In mid-December, Smith scored 33 points against Wake Forest. He shot 7-of-12 from long range in that game. He finished the season as a 33 percent shooter from beyond the arc. In games that he attempted at least six three's, he shot better 38 percent from that range.

He's not much of a distributor, though, with only 1.6 assists per game and an assist-to-turnover ratio of almost exactly 1-to-1.

The first paragraph is heartening considering he scored as a freshman in one of the nation's best mid-major conferences. But until now, Tech hasn't really been in the market for undersized mid-major guys who shoot under 40%. While Smith is certainly a step down, he is not devoid of talent. He was in fact rated a three-star player by two other recruiting services. While this move excites many people, please remember that per NCAA rules, Adam will not be able to play until the 2013-14 season. Josh continues his analysis...

He's not much of a distributor, though, with only 1.6 assists per game and an assist-to-turnover ratio of almost exactly 1-to-1.

There remains work to be done defensively as well. Smith managed just 0.5 steals per game, a number far below expectations for a lead guard playing 30 minutes per game, no matter the level of competition.

He was a two-star recruit by ESPN.com, which scouted him as a "catch and shoot guy with range out to 22 feet...showed the ability to come off screens and knock down shots, as well as making three's in transition."

It's pretty evident that Smith is a shooting guard in a point guard's body, but his ability to score from the perimeter will certainly add value to the Hokies' bench in a few years. Think Hank Thorns, except a tad bigger but less efficient.

I think that Josh's comparison of Smith to Thorns is spot on, except I'd like to add, a better shooter than Thorns was from deep, at least initially. It's true that he won't wow us right away on the court, but maybe he'll be a productive practice player who can give us some value down the road as a combo guard like Markus Sailes did early in Greenberg's tenure. Want to see for yourself? Well here are Adam Smith's highlights, his Rivals profile and his Scout profile.

So now that we know all about Smith, here is some form of list compiling recruits potentially remaining on Tech's radar, strewn together based on my knowledge of Seth's recruiting strategy prior to his dismissal, the gaps we have in our program (both by numbers and positional depth) and the remaining players out there. One such player is Jerron Wilbut, who is listed as a three-star guard by Rivals, Scout, and ESPN. Wilbut is the player I may have mentioned before in a previous post that may not qualify. Players of his talent level usually are not available this late in the recruiting process, but there is some legitimate concern as to why he is still out there. Many schools are interested should he qualify, and some have offered him scholarships if he should qualify. But after the Greenberg firing and the addition of Smith, another guard, I don't know if the Hokies will continue to be a player for him.

Another wing (guard/forward) prospect the Hokies were high on is three-star Anton Wilson. Seth Greenberg was reportedly about to offer him at one point, but I do not know if that ever happened or if the meeting they set up ever took place. What I do know is according to Rivals he is still considering us, according to Scout he has eliminated us and ESPN doesn't know who in the world he is. So as you can see there is much debate between the major recruiting sites. I'd like to think that based on location alone (he's a North Carolinian) that we'd have a chance with him considering how hard we have recruited that state and our proximity, but with a brand new coach and staff it's a whole new ballgame and anyone's guess.

There was also a long recruiting affair with high three-star prospect (and now four-star depending on who you ask) Demetrius Henry, but he is off the market at least for the time being. Henry was dissatisfied with the interest he was receiving and decided in an attempt to build interest and potentially get better offers he would re-designate as class of 2013 and potentially prep. I believe I read somewhere that Tech was the first to offer him, but he apparently wasn't thrilled with either his offers or the level of interest they were showing him. As far as I know, Greenberg was still recruiting him but it seems like his plan worked as other schools have joined in the race for him and Tech had fallen on his list. Here are his Rivals, Scout and ESPN profiles. Here's hoping James Johnson can mend the frays in the fabric and land him in next year's class.

There is still a possibility we could land another transfer or two, but really that's of no benefit right now since without a wavier from the NCAA they would not be able to play in '12-'13. Furthermore, transfers are usually not looking to transfer to a school with MORE instability than the school they are leaving, and generally, we don't currently meet that criteria. We also don't want to be dipping our standards for the sake of FUTURE bodies if we can get them as freshmen in a year's time. Lastly, most of the good JUCO's and transfers have already been picked up. Greenberg was also hitting up transfers pretty hard. I heard rumors of him looking into the Michigan kids and also found this article in the Washington Post on how he was pursuing former blue-chip UConn transfer Alex Oriakhi. Oriakhi will be a senior, but he is being granted a waiver by the NCAA I believe because of UConn's postseason ban. Upon arriving at Tech (which as the article says, was a long shot considering his offers), Oriakhi would be the Hokies best player. Greenberg also said that he was planning on still bringing in a combo-guard and a big at the time, expanding the 2012 class to four.

I'm sorry I don't have anything more for you, but there just hasn't been that much divulged since Johnson was awarded the job and Greenberg was treading quietly (intentionally or unintentionally) before being fired. Who knows, Seth might have just been pounding the pavement and the 2012 class might have been locked up no matter what.

The realist knows that recruiting will be difficult for a while as recruits will need to get to know our new staff, the staff will likewise need to get to know the recruits and the areas they are recruiting. We will also need to re-affirm our presence as many discounted us because of the disastrous handling and timing of events. Speaking of the coaching staff, I will be doing an analysis of the new basketball staff within the week and then it's all football and football recruiting for the foreseeable future. So make sure to check back often to see what we have on tap for you here at Gobbler Country.

What the Hokies are getting in Adam Smith

2012-05-16T21:33:02Z

Hey, look! The words "transfer" and "Virginia Tech basketball" are in the same sentence and it's NOT about a player leaving Blacksburg!

As first reported by CBS' Jeff Goodman earlier Wednesday, Virginia Tech has added UNC-Wilmington transfer Adam Smith to its basketball program. Smith is a 6-1, 160 pound point guard from Jonesboro, Ga. and just finished his freshman season with the Seahawks.

While Smith won't be able to play until the 2013-14 season, he will have three years of eligibility remaining at that time. His arrival means there are seven players in the program who are schedule to be on scholarship in the season after next. Despite losing Dorian Finney-Smith and (reportedly) Montrezl Harrell, new head coach James Johnson is still working to bring more talent into Blacksburg.

Let's take a look at the type of player the Hokies' are getting in Smith.

Smith started 29 of 31 games for the Seahawks, who are a part of the Colonial Athletic Association — probably the second best mid-major league in the country last season (behind the Mountain West). He averaged 13.7 points per game, which was the 11th highest mark in the league.

In the first game of his career, Smith dropped 22 points on Maryland, including a 5-of-9 effort from three-point range. In mid-December, Smith scored 33 points against Wake Forest. He shot 7-of-12 from long range in that game. He finished the season as a 33 percent shooter from beyond the arc. In games that he attempted at least six three's, he shot better 38 percent from that range.

He's not much of a distributor, though, with only 1.6 assists per game and an assist-to-turnover ratio of almost exactly 1-to-1.

There remains work to be done defensively as well. Smith managed just 0.5 steals per game, a number far below expectations for a lead guard playing 30 minutes per game, no matter the level of competition.

He was a two-star recruit by ESPN.com, which scouted him as a "catch and shoot guy with range out to 22 feet...showed the ability to come off screens and knock down shots, as well as making three's in transition."

It's pretty evident that Smith is a shooting guard in a point guard's body, but his ability to score from the perimeter will certainly add value to the Hokies' bench in a few years. Think Hank Thorns, except a tad bigger but less efficient.

Poll

What grade would you give James Johnson's first 2 weeks on the job?

SB Nation Recruiting Interview with Gobbler Country's Chris Hatcher

2012-05-15T14:03:35Z

SB Nation Recruiting Interview with Gobbler Country's Chris Hatcher

Check out the interview on Virginia Tech's 2013 recruiting class, their previous recruiting classes, a look at their coaching staff and other odds & ends with SB Nation Recruiting's Bud Elliott.

Hokie Softball back in NCAA Tournament field

2012-05-14T02:42:31Z

For the first time since 2008, the Virginia Tech softball team is in the NCAA Tournament. The Hokies made the field Sunday night with an at-large bid after finishing the season 40-19 (12-8 in the ACC). After earning the fourth seed in the ACC Tournament, they made a surprising run to the conference championship game before falling to Georgia Tech, 9-1.

Head coach Scot Thomas' girls will play as the third seed in the Knoxville regional, where they will face UAB in the opening game Friday night. On the opposite side of the regional bracket is Tennessee and Miami (Ohio). The Lady Volunteers are the seventh seed overall as regional hosts.

The Hokies did not start a single senior on this year's club — three of the team's best four best hitters are freshmen. Lauren Gaskill, Kylie McGoldrick and Kelsey Mericka all made the All-ACC Tournament team this weekend, alongside ace pitcher Jasmin Harrell.

Gaskill enters the NCAA Tournament batting .307 with six home runs and 34 RBI. She scored the Hokies' only run in Saturday's loss to the Yellow Jackets.

Harrell leads the ACC in innings pitched with 261 1/3. She faced all but three batters in the Hokies' three ACC Tournament games.

UAB enters the NCAAs with a 37-20 record, 17-7 in Conference USA. The Blazers fell to Marshall in the conference semifinals in extra innings, 3-2.

The Blazers placed six players on either first or second-team all-conference, led by senior catcher Mandy Lowman. Lowman was the lone Blazer on the first team after finishing the season with 11 home runs, 36 RBI and a .350 batting average.

Perhaps there is a little bit of good karma coming the Hokies' way. In 2008, they also made the short trek to Knoxville for the regional tournament, where they stunned the Lady Volunteers en route to the Hokies' first ever College World Series appearance.

Ashton Ward, who is now a graduate assistant on Thomas' staff, was the ace pitcher for that Tennessee team.

Congratulations to a young Hokie club that far exceeded expectations this season. The future is bright in Blacksburg and we'll have more coverage as the tournament approaches next weekend.

Here's a few Twitter accounts from the program you can follow as the Hokies make their way to Knoxville.

@VT_Softball

@VTSBCoach(Head Coach Scot Thomas)

@BaileyLiddle

@CourtneyLiddle

@AshtonWard

@Kittyvtsb4 (Outfielder Kat Banks)

Top Virginia Tech Basketball Recruit Asks For Release From His Letter Of Intent

2012-05-10T20:47:13Z

Top Virginia Tech Basketball Recruit Asks For Release From His Letter Of Intent

Another big hit for the Hokies men's basketball team today as Montrezl Harrell, the Hokies' highest-ranked 2012 signee, has asked to be released from his letter of intent. He becomes the second current or soon-to-be player to defect from the Hokies after the firing of Seth Greenberg, and the second in the last three days.

This latest request leaves the Hokies with seven scholarship basketball players (including now the lone 2012 signee Marshall Wood) on the roster. For more as this situation develops, stay tuned to Gobbler Country.