collegiatetimes.com
Friday, September 4, 2015
THE
EXTRAPOINT
Virginia Tech vs. Ohio State
COLLEGIATETIMES
THE REMATCH After defeating the Buckeyes 35-21 in The Horseshoe, OSU comes to Lane Stadium looking for revenge.
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2,500 passing yards and 500 rushing yards while throwing 23 touchdowns to just 5 interceptions. Being a Friday night in Lane Stadium, this will be one of the most anticipated games for the Hokies this season. Score: Virginia Tech 17, NC State 10
LaBlue: Last season’s upset over Duke on the road ended up being essential for the Hokies to qualify for a bowl game. Quarterback Anthony Boone graduated, but the Blue Devils have Shaq Powell in the backfield, who is great at making plays. Unfortunately for Duke, they just don’t have the talent that Virginia Tech has. The Hokies should pick on whoever ends up starting at quarterback, and the offense will put up enough points to win.
Week Seven: at Miami, Oct. 17 Score: Virginia Tech 24, Duke 13 LaBlue’s Score: Virginia Tech 38, Miami 34
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Hasnany: The Thursday night game against Miami last year was a low point for Virginia Tech, who got run all over for 364 rushing yards – the most against a Frank Beamer-coached team – in a 30-6 loss. This season Miami’s backfield will be without Duke Johnson, however, so don’t expect another blowout of such fashion. Hasnany’s Score: Virginia Tech 27, Miami 21 Week Eight: vs. Duke, Oct. 24
Hasnany: The last two times these teams have matched up, the games have been decided by a total of four points in a very hard-nosed style of play. In last year’s 17-16 victory, the Hokies ran the ball 49 times with just 24 pass attempts. It’s reasonable to expect another physical game this year. Score: Virginia Tech 17, Duke 13 Week Nine: at Boston College, Oct. 31 LaBlue: Boston College always seems to be a thorn in the side of Virginia Tech. The Eagles have won the last two matchups,
both being close games that come down to the wire. Starting quarterback Darius Wade is a dual threat, just the kind that give the Hokies fits. Tech’s defense is better and healthier than it was last year, however, and should be able to bottle him up in another close game.
performed well against the Hokies before. But as with other scrambling quarterbacks, Virginia Tech shouldn’t be hurt this time. This game will be close with the Hokies’ defense making a stop late to seal the win.
Score: Virginia Tech 28, Boston College 27
Hasnany: UNC struggled last season defensively to say the least. They finished last in yards per game allowed and points per game allowed in the ACC, giving up nearly 500 yards and 40 points per game. Last year the Hokies won in Chapel Hill 34-17.
Hasnany’s Score: Virginia Tech 30, Boston College 24 Week 10: Bye Week 11: at Georgia Tech, Nov. 12 LaBlue: Yellow Jacket quarterback Justin Thomas torched Virginia Tech in the air and on the ground last season and led a game-winning drive to down the Hokies. Thomas is missing his big weapon from last season though in DeAndre Smelter. The Virginia Tech defense is healthier and better than last season, and they should steal this tough game on the road against one of their rivals. Score: Virginia Tech 24, Georgia Tech 20
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and a touchdown. This game could have serious implications on who wins the ACC coastal division. September 4, 2015
Score: Virginia Tech 31, UNC 7 Week 13: at U.Va., Nov. 28 LaBlue: How many years has it been now? U.Va. has had good shots to take down Virginia Tech these last few years but hasn’t been able to finish them off, and it doesn’t look like the Cavaliers will be beating their in-state rivals any time soon. The quarterback situation is a mess, and the only real bright spot is safety Quin Blanding, who should be playing on Sundays in the near future. LaBlue’s Virginia Tech 24, U.Va. 13
Hasnany: The Yellow Jackets will be led by junior quarterback Justin Thomas, who threw for 18 touchdowns while adding another eight on the ground and leading the team in rushing yards with 1,086. In Virginia Tech’s 27-24 loss to Georgia Tech last season, Thomas rushed for 165 yards
Even if Tech loses to Ohio State, they still have a chance to win a pretty weak ACC Coastal Division.”
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Score: Virginia Tech 31, UNC 24
Score: Georgia Tech 24, Virginia Tech 14 Week 12: vs. UNC, Nov. 21 LaBlue: I don’t see this game being an issue on paper, but the Hokies always play teams close when they shouldn’t. Tar Heel quarterback Marquise Williams is another dual-threat quarterback who has
Hasnany’s Score: Virginia Tech 24, U.Va. 10 Summary LaBlue: This is a big opportunity for the Hokies to make the College Football Playoff. It all starts with beating the Buckeyes on Labor Day. Even if Tech loses to Ohio State, they still have a chance to win a pretty weak ACC Coastal division. I have the Hokies going 11-1 and 7-1 in the ACC, winning the Coastal division and playing in the ACC Championship Game. If Tech wins that game, the Hokies might find themselves playing on New Year’s Eve. Hasnany: The Hokies should have a good chance to win 10 games this season. The defense should continue to play at its standard this season, and with it being Brewer’s second year in the system along with healthy running backs and more experienced receivers, the offense should see plenty of improvement. Tech will compete for a Coastal division crown and make a good bowl game.
@CollegiateTimes
Hokies should not take advantage of football lottery
If
you didn’t receive an Ohio State lottery ticket this year, then don’t worry, you’re not
could and should take action against those posting on Facebook pages about selling lottery tickets. I wish this not because I want to see practical, business-minded Hokies castigated – I would never wish bad unto another Hokie for no good reason, and honestly as a business major myself, I do like the way they think – but I would like to see the noble principle behind Tech’s lottery system preserved. See, the whole premise behind the lottery system is that Virginia Tech students should be given the chance to support their football team at home games for free. I love that our athletics department provides this opportunity to its students. This is partly why Lane Stadium is such an intimidating stadium for our opponents. However, when some Hokies enter the lottery just to turn around and sell their tickets, they are first and foremost taking tickets from their fellow Hokies who desperately want to attend the games and profiting off of their fandom. I understand the argument that the most dedicated fans will pay whatever it takes to attend those games, but some of these
loyal fans may not want or may not be able to afford an inflated lottery ticket. There’s a reason we didn’t buy season tickets after all, and now a few Hokies are ruining the lottery system for the rest of us, making hundreds of dedicated Hokie football fans very, very sad. Virginia Tech athletics, I suggest that you first change your method in awarding lottery tickets to groups with this new system. Wayward Hokies, I know it’s an unlikely request, but I implore you to stop selling your lottery tickets so that everyone can enjoy the games the way they were meant to be enjoyed – without the animosity and solely as one Hokie Nation cheering on its team. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, to anyone with a ticket to spare: feel free to send one the way of this lottery loser. Let’s go, Hokies! Hopefully I’ll see you in Lane.
MELISSA FAIRFAX
• copy editor • junior/management & Spanish
collegiatetimes.com September 4, 2015 PAGE 11
alone. Unless the rest of the people in your lottery group got one and you didn’t, in which case you are kind of alone, aren’t you? This season, Virginia Tech athletics introduced a new lottery seating system. In past seasons, students entered the lottery and once they won tickets, they gathered their friends’ winning lottery receipts to redeem group seating tickets from Cassell. Now students create a group in advance and simply print their group of tickets before the game to redeem at the gate. This system seems much simpler since no one has to make the trek to Cassell, but it is a little misleading. One would think that, because of this new group system, lottery tickets would be awarded by group. It makes sense – if these are the people you want to attend the game with, then what fun would it be if only some of you won? If you all won tickets, you could all go to the game together as planned. If you all lost, then at least you could have a viewing party together as consolation. However, that is not the case, and if you find yourself now alone in a group split between lottery winners and losers – well, like I said, you are not alone in being a loser. I, too, am a loser. Last week my roommates and I created a lottery group, and with our fingers crossed, we left it up to the lottery to decide our fate for our OSU game attendance. After the incredible upset our team pulled off last season, everyone knew it would be difficult to secure tickets for this year’s rematch – despite the very real possibility that last year was a fluke and that this year we get our tailfeathers handed to us. But hey, I’m a dedicated Hokie football fan too, so armed with my hopeful Hokie spirit and my then-winning lottery streak, I took the lottery leap of faith. Thursday afternoon, one of my roommates texted to say she wasn’t a lottery winner. Holding my breath, I checked. Not a lottery winner. I assumed all three of us were just a group of losers, but then my third roommate texted our group message: she had won a lottery ticket, leaving my other roommate and me scrambling to find tickets so we could join her in the stands. This really should not be the case.
Tech athletics should award lottery tickets by group so that friends don’t find themselves caught deciding between being left out or paying ridiculous sums of money for a ticket that won’t even guarantee them a seat near their luckier lottery friends. I suppose my roommate could give up her ticket and stay at home with us, but why should she have to do that when she is one of the chosen ones? Besides, even if she did give hers up, she would be one of the few genuine Hokies giving their tickets away among the swarm of vultures making absurd profits by selling the lottery tickets they received for free. That leads me to my second grievance: Hokies should not be selling lottery tickets for ridiculous sums of money. Notice that I said lottery tickets: If you’re selling your season ticket, that’s your prerogative. You paid for it. Lottery winners did not, and that’s the whole point of the lottery – that Hokies should be able to support their football team for free. This game and the ticket scarcity has not only sent students without tickets into a frenzy looking for them, but it has also sparked a debate on the ethics of selling lottery tickets. Hordes of students are posting on the Free and For Sale and Buying/Selling Tickets Facebook pages, ticketless students begging for tickets and ticketholders seeking the best offers. One student on the Free and For Sale Facebook page offered to give her ticket away in a guessing game garnering over a thousand guesses. Another brave soul called out the Hokies selling lottery tickets, citing the exploitation of Hokie pride, and received over a thousand likes. Someone should hand that Hokie a ticket. I get why some people are selling their tickets: Supply and demand rules the market. We’re college kids, we’re all looking to make money, and there are a lot of people willing to throw money your way for a ticket. If you don’t care about attending the game and you’re one of the lucky few to be picked, I get the temptation of making such a hefty sum. However, just because I understand why you’re doing it doesn’t mean I like that you’re doing it. I don’t even care that selling your lottery ticket is against the Student Ticket Policy and that you could be blacklisted from buying season tickets or entering the lottery. I realize that rule isn’t realistically very enforceable. But it should be. Virginia Tech athletics reasonably
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September 4, 2015
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TIMES NEWSROOM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231-9865 Editor in Chief: Ricky LaBlue (editor@ collegiatetimes.com) Managing Editors: Samantha Hill, Gautam Rao Design Editors: Andrea Pappas, Jina Ro Copy Editors: Melissa Fairfax, Erin Fischer Multimedia Editor: Becky Shumar News Editors: Lewis Millholland, Richard Chumney Lifestyles Editors: Payton Knobeloch, Megan Vazquez Sports Editors: Faizan Hasnany, Sierra Huckfeldt Opinions Editors: Nicholas Work, Taylor Lewis Photo Editor: Zack Wajsgras Assistant Photo Editor: Catie Carreras Have a news tip? newstips@collegiatetimes.com BUSINESS STAFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231-9860 Business Manager: De’Lis Marshall (business@ collegemedia.com)
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TREVOR WHITE / COLLEGIATE TIMES
Virginia Tech fullback Sam Rogers (45) runs out with the American flag against division rival Georgia Tech.
Previewing the Hokies’ 2015 season Virginia Tech returns a lot of starters on both offense and defense. With premier talent on the defensive line and in the secondary, will the offense be able to put up enough points for the Hokies to win games? RICKY LABLUE & FAIZAN HASNANY editor in chief & sports editor
It’s safe to say that expectations for the Virginia Tech football team are higher than last year. The defense returns several stars, including defensive end Dadi Nicolas and cornerback Kendall Fuller. The offense also returns several weapons, and the running backs look pretty healthy. Also, quarterback Michael Brewer is in his second year of the offense and has looked pretty good this offseason.
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The schedule is also somewhat favorable for the Hokies. Tech avoided Florida State, Clemson and Louisville in ACC play, which is very lucky. Their toughest in-conference opponent will likely be Georgia Tech, who is ranked 16th in the nation. That being said, all ACC games have given the Hokies troubles in recent seasons. Football beat writers Ricky LaBlue and Faizan Hasnany take a look at the Hokies’ schedule, game-by-game, to predict where Virginia Tech will be by the end of the season. Week One: vs. No. 1 Ohio State, Sept. 7 LaBlue: This rematch has been talked about and studied from just about every angle. Ohio State has two good quarterbacks and is a pretty good all-around team. A few starters are suspended, however, including standout defensive end Joey Bosa. Tech’s defensive coordinator
BEN WEIDLICH / COLLEGIATE TIMES
Tech quarterback Michael Brewer (12) celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass to tight end Bucky Hodges (7). Bud Foster schemed the Buckeyes very well last season, and I’m expecting to see it again. The Hokies will pull off the biggest win in school history and knock off the defending champions. LaBlue’s Score: Virginia Tech 27, Ohio State 21 Hasnany’s Score: Virginia Tech 24, Ohio State 20
Furman 7 Hasnany: The game against Furman should be an easy one for the Hokies, who last matched up with them in 2008, winning 24-7. Look for the margin of victory to potentially be even wider against the Paladins this season, who have struggled recently, ending last season with a 3-9 record. Score: Virginia Tech 38, Furman 3
Week Two: vs. Furman, Sept. 12 Week Three: at Purdue, Sep. 19 LaBlue’s Score: Virginia Tech 34,
win this game pretty easily as well, as they just have too much talent. LaBlue’s Score: Virginia Tech 31,
Purdue 13 Hasnany’s Score: Virginia Tech 27, Purdue 10 Week Four: at East Carolina, Sept. 26 LaBlue’s Score: Virginia Tech 24, East Carolina 20
the same again. Tech has lost five out of their last six against the Panthers, and the struggles will continue. LaBlue’s Score: Pittsburgh 27, Virginia Tech 20 Hasnany’s Score: Pittsburgh 24, Virginia Tech 20 Week Six: vs. NC State, Oct. 9
Hasnany: East Carolina has given Virginia Tech issues the past three times they have matched up, including last season when the Hokies allowed 427 passing yards in a 28-21 loss. The Pirates have lost their quarterback Shane Carden who was a senior last season, so don’t expect Tech’s secondary to struggle as much as it did the last time these two teams played. Score: Virginia Tech 21, East Carolina 13 Week Five: vs. Pittsburgh, Oct. 3
Score: Virginia Tech 31, NC State 21 Hasnany: Senior Jacoby Brissett will be the player to watch in this matchup. In his first year as a starting quarterback at NC State last year, Brissett was extremely efficient, picking up over see SEASON PREVIEW / page 10
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ZACK WAJSGRAS / COLLEGIATE TIMES
Sophomore running back Marshawn Williams celebrates with members of the offense during last year’s game against Boston College.
LaBlue: Virginia Tech’s performance against Pittsburgh last season was not good, to put things lightly. Running back James Conner had a great day against the Hokies’ defense, and I think he’ll do
LaBlue: Virginia Tech hasn’t played the Wolfpack since 2010, even though both are in the ACC. NC State will try to run the ball this season, but I’m not expecting them to have any success against the Hokies’ defense. The defensive line is going to be an issue for them this season, meaning the Hokies’ running backs, as long as they are healthy, should have a field day.
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LaBlue: Purdue won just three games last season, with those wins coming against Western Michigan, Southern Illinois and Illinois. Virginia Tech should
September 4, 2015 PAGE 3
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Rematch has national implications The Hokies are looking to upset Ohio State for the second year in a row in one of the biggest games in the program’s history. MIGUEL PINEDA sports staff writer
As the clock counts down to the night when the Ohio State Buckeyes come to Blacksburg, there is only one question facing Virginia Tech’s football program: “Can we do it again?” Despite the fact that Tech is 8-46 against top-10 opponents, the Hokies beat Ohio State 35-21 last year at the Horseshoe. The enormity and surprise of last year’s upset was arguably one of the best wins for the Virginia Tech football program. Not only did they ruin a perfect season for a top opponent, the eventual national championship winner, but they also made a statement that their program is working back to national prominence. Last year’s game had everything that a college football fan could love: an underdog, a seemingly unbeatable opponent, hard-nosed defense, thrilling offense, young players and experienced coaches. However, this year’s game is on track to be even better than last year’s. All across the nation, Hokie fans are
talking about repeating the events of last season and beating Ohio State with the classic lunch pail defense, led by Defensive Coordinator Bud Foster. Last year the Hokies had a total of seven sacks on the Buckeyes, the most given up in one game for the Buckeyes last season. Virginia Tech has also gotten a boost for its offense. A well-rounded running game, coupled with a good receiving core, will make Tech’s offense a little more explosive against Ohio State. Even with a young a offensive line added to the mix, this team is looking to put more points on the board despite only having 186 total points last year. Also, College Game day is coming to Blacksburg, and ESPN will be covering the season opener for both teams. Last season when ESPN came to Tech, Miami blew them out on a Thursday night 30-6, and the last time College GameDay came to Tech was in 2007. Ohio State, on the other hand, is no stranger to College GameDay, having hosted it 13 times in its history. However, Buckeyes fans are not used to losing the season opener, which before Virginia Tech had not happened in 36 years.
Fans have been waiting for big games like these to come along so they can prove that their team can hang around with big college programs. Additionally, as Frank Beamer enters his 29th year as coach, he feels confident that Virginia Tech can give Ohio State a run for their money. However, he also understands the seriousness of the opponent that they are facing. “This team we have coming in here this week to Lane Stadium is talented, wellcoached, No. 1, ran the table last year and got a lot of guys back,” Beamer said. “We understand the challenge, we understand that games like this don’t come along very often, but at the same time it’s the opening ball game.” It is well understood by now that this game has huge implications for the future of Virginia Tech football. The Hokies have been trying to regain national spotlight for years now, and last year’s 7-6 record was disappointing to a very dedicated fan base. However, there are aspects of Tech’s game that will stick. “You gotta keep it what it is, and that’s what we gotta do is treat it like any other opening ball game and go play it. Find out where we
are as a football team and then go improve from there,” Beamer said. “That’s the formula we’ve used for years around here, and that’s going to be the formula used this year. Let’s go play and find out where we are.” Despite these two teams meeting for the first time ever last year, there is already a new tension arising from both teams. Virginia Tech is eager to prove themselves, whereas for Ohio State this is a revenge game. The Buckeyes are even blaring Enter Sandman during their practices to get the full effect of being at Lane Stadium. Win or lose, this game is immensely important for Virginia Tech. Even in the event of a loss, it will give the Hokies a new standard to work toward –a standard that perhaps will lead them back to the team’s greatest moments playing FSU for a national championship in 2000. If Virginia Tech does in fact secure a win then, this will only be boost to a program trying to be the next big college football powerhouse and will give them the experience they need to achieve that goal. @Miggyp123
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Tech football wears ribbons in honor of fallen journalists Alison Parker, a 2012 graduate of James Madison University and Adam Ward, a 2011 graduate of Virginia Tech were fatally shot during a live broadcast. LAUREN PAK news staff writer
Virginia Tech athletics will honor two television journalists killed last Wednesday, August 26, with special helmet stickers during the football season opener on Labor Day versus Ohio State. “It’s extremely important that the families and loved ones of Alison Parker, Adam Ward and WDBJ-TV know that we stand united with them through this painful time,” said Virginia Tech head football coach Frank Beamer in an interview with Roanoke CBS affiliate WDBJ7. “My heart is absolutely broken for the Parker and Ward families, and my prayer is that they gain strength and peace through the support and love of this community.” Alison Parker, a 2012 graduate of James Madison University, and Adam Ward, a 2011 graduate of Virginia Tech, were shot during a live broadcast for WDBJ7 at Smith Mountain Lake. The memorial stickers were announced Sunday and feature the number seven, representing the station, and teal and maroon ribbons symbolizing Parker’s favorite color and Ward as a Virginia Tech graduate. Athletic
events this past weekend also paid tribute, with teal and maroon ribbons distributed before the start of each event and a moment of silence during volleyball and men’s and women’s soccer. The first helmet sticker honoring Alison &
Adam from @WDBJ7 has been applied by @ VTEquipment #StrongTogether pic.twitter. com/BdBJEutrGt — VT Football (@VT_Football) August 31, 2015 “It just breaks your heart to hear these
things. We want them to know how much we’re thinking about them,” Beamer said. “They’re not going to be forgotten.” Scholarships have been founded in both victims’ names. The Alison B. Parker Memorial Fund is established through James Madison University. Parker is also a 2009 graduate of Patrick Henry Community College, which has established the Alison Bailey Parker Memorial Scholarship with the PHCC Foundation. “Alison was a great example of what dedication and motivation can do in someone’s life,” said PHCC executive director Chris Parker (no relation). “As a product of PHCC and Martinsville, she made us all proud of her achievements and the way she carried herself through that success in life.” The Salem Educational Foundation and Alumni Association announced a scholarship in memory of Ward, a 2007 graduate of Salem High School, will benefit a Salem graduate who plans to pursue a career in journalism or photojournalism at Virginia Tech.
TREVOR WHITE / COLLEGIATE TIMES
This is the design for the helmets that the Hokies will wear to kick off the season against the Ohio State to honor Alison Parker and Adam Ward.
@laurenpak
DC Bud Foster leaked the outrageous fining system Virginia Tech was planning to use, including $50 for a dirty locker and $10 for missing a meal. SIERRA HUCKFELDT sports editor
In recent weeks, Virginia Tech’s athletic department has been in the spotlight of many major news and television programs. Defensive coordinator Bud Foster’s talk of a fining system that would take away cost of attendance money for disciplinary actions was addressed by athletic director Whit Babcock and immediately shut down. Babcock’s decision was necessary and really a no-brainer.
@CollegiateTimes
September 4, 2015 PAGE 7
For absolutely no reason should Virginia Tech coaches have access to the scholarship money an athlete has received. They have influence over the athletes in many aspects and are supposedly there to ensure that they succeed on the field or court. Sure, it is unreasonable to assume that they have no control over what the athletes do outside of practice and games, but coaches are not professors or parents to the athletes. These athletes are not getting a paycheck for playing sports at this university and have earned the opportunity to attend and play here. Getting a scholarship for either high academic achievement or stellar athletic performance comes from hard work. They are already under a high amount of pressure to get good grades and keep up with the demanding workload of such an intense institution, and holding this dark cloud over their heads would be too much. The picture taken of the monitor detailing the fines shows that players are being disciplined for petty things. Some of the particularly ridiculous ones were
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“
The culture of discipline has changed over the years and become much softer. Back in the day punishment was always physical: sitting the bench, an extra set of push-ups or cleaning up the equipment at the end of the practice.”
“miss breakfast … $10” and “dirty room/ locker … $50.” Who cares if someone’s room is dirty? What right do coaches have to take $50 from a player because he has dirty clothes on the floor? If the coaches want to fairly implement their system, maybe they should be fined for running stupid plays and keeping players one minute late after practice. While some of these offenses should require punishment, such as missing tutoring, being unsportsmanlike or missing class, there are many ways to go about it without taking away money. The culture of discipline has changed over the years and become much softer. Back in the day punishment was always physical: sitting the bench, an extra set of push-ups or cleaning up the equipment at the end of the practice. Coach Boone didn’t fine Petey Jones every time he dropped a ball in “Remember the Titans” – he made him run a mile. Money is not something to take lightly as many of these offenses should. No coach knows exactly what kind of life these athletes are coming from. This scholarship money could be the reason they are able to attend Virginia Tech, and taking it away could have serious implications for them. Another question that raises a red flag is where this money would be going. Into the pockets of the coaches who already easily making six figures or back into the hands of a university that already charges thousands of dollars just to attend? This fining system also wouldn’t help Virginia Tech’s chances in recruiting topnotch athletes. Being that this isn’t an NCAA rule, Tech would easily lose many athletes to other competitive schools that won’t threaten to take away money they need for their rent, clothes or books. The bottom line is that Virginia Tech is way out of line for even bringing up the idea of taking away hard-earned scholarship money for disciplinary reasons. This is a petty scare tactic that is doing nothing but making the athletic department think they have more power than they actually do.
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Fining athletes is not the proper way to discipline
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Fining college athletes from their cost of attendance stipends shouldn’t be off the table when taking disciplinary action. RICKY LABLUE editor in chief
Defensive coordinator Bud Foster’s comments regarding fining players from their cost of attendance stipend caused lot of blowback from the college football community, including Virginia Tech Director of Athletics Whit Babcock. Richmond Times-Dispatch Virginia Tech beat writer Mike Barber took a photo of a monitor in one of the Hokies’ practice facilities that outlined some of the fines being considered. Some of those fines include a $10 fine for missing a tutor appointment, $10 for missing a team breakfast and $15 for not having the equipment needed for study hall. Some of the fines listed are way overboard and ridiculous. Having a dirty dorm is not worth a $50 fine. That being said, the practice of fining players should be explored. College athletes, or student athletes, as we often hear them called, not only represent themselves but also the university when out in public, just like any other student. There are some things that athletes do, such as getting arrested, that represent both themselves and the university poorly. Something like this needs to be addressed, and fines shouldn’t be off the table. Regular students also get arrested and can paint a bad picture of the university as well, but regular students pay to attend the University. Not the other way around. Upon further review of the list, a $15
fine for being disruptive in class seems reasonable. Players, or any students for that matter, shouldn’t be disrupting class. But again, students aren’t paid by the University. Sure, a cost of attendance stipend doesn’t constitute a salary, but it serves the same sort of purpose. It’s a payment to the players. Down the road, college athletes might actually start receiving salaries here soon, with the way public opinion is headed. A warning system would make much more sense. For instance, if a player misses class, they get a warning before being fined. The structure needs some work, but fining players could serve as a solution, and that’s what Foster is trying to say. This type of system would never be popular. Athletes would spurn schools in the recruiting process because of it, and taking money away from players in this climate simply won’t fly. Yes, athletes are being wronged by the NCAA and their licensing issues, but that shouldn’t exclude these types of fines. These are reasonable ways to discipline athletes off the field. College athletic programs across the country preach that coaches need to grow their athletes as people, not just as athletes. If they’re really serious about setting a standard for excellence off the field, all options should be on the table. @RickyLaBlue
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Disciplinary fines can actually work
MIKE BARBER / RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH
This list displays some of the fines considered for players for misconduct.
#4
J.C. COLEMAN
#89
LAIRD GARDNER
#27
A.J. HUGHES
DONOVAN RILEY
#81
KEVIN ASANTE
#21
MICHAEL BRAINARD
#12
MICHAEL BREWER
#77
WADE HANSEN
#80
DEMITRI KNOWLES
#92
LUTHER MADDY
#90
DADI LHOMME NICOLAS
COREY MARSHALL
#88
RYAN MALLECK
#96
#52
DARIUS REDMAN
#37
RONNY VANDYKE
September 4, 2015 PAGE 9
#2
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Virginia Tech Seniors
DEON CLARKE
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#40