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January 21, 2020
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Women are essential in fighting climate change
T
Often overlooked by policymakers, women could hold the key to making major climate reformations.
hough some remain skeptical of rising ocean levels and dramatic changes in temperatures, it is an undeniable truth that our climate as we know it is drastically changing. Climate change is an overarching problem that must be addressed now if we wish to continue even debating other issues. Though multifaceted in nature, with many knots to untie if ever to be solved, one area that should have no contention is the education of our female population. The heart of the matter is that women around the world serve as an untapped resource in taking up the fight against climate change. Increasing their education and autonomy is a major priority backed by the likes of former President Jimmy Carter in a Time magazine publication. The time to act against this encroaching menace is running out, and promoting new ways of combating this issue should be readily looked into. Women are especially vulnerable in underdeveloped countries, where there is a higher dependence on natural resource extraction and use. They face greater burdens from climate change impacts, along with their unequal participation in decision processes, which furthers the gap of inequality within the market. Water and sanitation are a key area that is impacted by climate change, with women facing greater health risks and having to take increased domestic and care work as these vital resources run out. One does not have to look so far to find many articles on how women travel tens of miles to collect water in any container they can find. Increased droughts and soil erosion disenfranchise women farmers, “who are the majority of the agricultural workforce in Africa.” This combined with
a lack of reliable energy sources forces families into further poverty, with women having to leave school and take up more economic responsibility at home. Having women around is not enough to tap into their contributions as much as full integration into the policy and know-how of climate change could be. Women power the homes and educational facilities of many countries, and increasing their involvement among less developed countries can help spread knowledge of climate change to others. Women also aid in initiatives by reducing household carbon footprints and advocating in environmental groups. Their key role within communities gives them a local’s perspective on how to manage resources sustainably, with increased political participation allowing greater responsiveness to citizen’s needs, policies, and projects. A champion of the female environmental movement can be found in Greta Thunberg, a vocal young girl whose determination has inspired protests and calls for reform. It is surprising to see that with all the aid that women can provide, only “0.2% of all philanthropic giving is provided to women-led environmental programs.” We must correct this error and promote women into positions of leadership, like the Carter Foundation, if we wish to fully integrate meaningful reform. Currently, a bill has been introduced in the Senate which could rapidly increase women’s participation against climate change. The Women and Climate Change Act of 2019 recognizes the increased strain that women take on in their lives because of climate change, and that these efforts would be of better use in “policy, program, and community decision-making processes with respect to
Voice your opinion. Send letters to the Collegiate Times. All letters must include a name and phone number. Students 365 Squires Student Center must include year and major. Faculty and staff must include Blacksburg, VA, 24061 position and department. Other submissions must include opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com city of residence and relationship to Virginia Tech (i.e., alumni, parent, etc.). We reserve the right to edit for any reason. Anonymous letters will not be printed. Letters, commentaries and editorial cartoons do not reflect the views of the Collegiate Times. Editorials are written by the Collegiate Times editorial board, which is composed of the opinions editors, editor in chief and managing editors.
CARLA ARANEDA / COLLEGIATE TIMES Climate change protestors march across campus, Sept. 20, 2019.
climate change.” Even the United Nations has said that there can be no comprehensive solution without the full participation of the global population. Women continue to suffer the brunt of climate change while not enjoying a voice in policies addressing it. Ensuring that women become more socially and economically dependent could lead to higher female parliamentary representation, and utilization of resources in
more sustainable ways. The fight against this danger does not have to be so undermanned, as it will take a diverse cast of people to wrestle with the task at hand.
ADAM JAAFAR • freshman • mechanical engineering
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January 21, 2020 PAGE 3
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Nuclear engineering minor opens for students The minor has several cross-listed engineering courses, but all undergradutes graduating in 2020 or after can pick it up. ALLEN MURFEE news staff writer
Virginia Tech announced Oct. 31 a new nuclear engineering minor will be available to students graduating in 2020 or later. The minor is part of the mechanical engineering department and is 18 credit hours. Students are required to take four required courses and two electives. According to Mark Pierson, associate professor of practice in mechanical engineering and coordinator of the nuclear engineering minor, Virginia Tech had been thinking about adding this minor for
know, under that category. If they have a minor in nuclear engineering, that’d be very attractive to a utility company that has nuclear power plants, such as Dominion Energy or Duke Energy or Southern Company.” Only seven minors are available in the College of Engineering, but with the establishment of the nuclear engineering minor, additional students are likely to enroll because of course overlap between engineering minors. “A couple of our nuclear engineering classes count toward the green engineering
“If (students) have a minor in nuclear
engineering, that’d be very attractive to a utility company that has nuclear power plants, such as Dominion Energy or Duke Energy or Southern Company.
”
DAVID HONG / COLLEGIATE TIMES The Rolls-Royce engine on the second floor of Goodwin Hall, Nov. 8, 2018.
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Mark Pierson Nuclear engineering minor coordinator
quite some time. “We’ve been thinking about it for a while, but we’ve sort of postponed it while we worked on trying to emphasize our graduate program in nuclear engineering,” Pierson said. “We do offer a master’s and Ph.D. in nuclear engineering within the mechanical engineering department.” Additionally, Pierson said the department is looking to recruit undergraduate students in the minor to apply for their nuclear engineering graduate program. The minor is also available to all undergraduate students, not just engineering majors. If participants decide not to pursue a graduate program in nuclear engineering, Pierson says their completion of the new minor would make them much more attractive to potential employers. “It would allow them to go into any nuclear engineering-related kind of job,” Pierson said. “If their major is mechanical engineering or electrical engineering or material science, they’d be hired, you
minor, so we get a lot of people already in the green engineering minor in our classes,” Pierson said. “Then, the material science and engineering department –– they have a nuclear concentration which is only open to their department, and they have to take our nuclear classes as well. So, a lot of these people are excited that they can shift over.” Pierson said initial interest is high and one student enrolled in the minor in August although the program was not officially announced. The minor application period opened Dec. 9 for fall 2019, and Pierson said the department is expecting a lot of students to enroll. For more information, contact Pierson or view the minor checklist.
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lifestyles
PAGE 4 January 21, 2020
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Roaring ‘20s: Big plans for the Virginia Tech campus and Hokie population With a growing student body, more academic buildings and hopes to double the university by 2047, we know how Virginia Tech plans to invent the future. CAREY OAKES
lifestyles staff writer
As the 2010s have officially come to a close, a new door has opened on the ‘20s and Virginia Tech has big plans for the future of its campus, or rather campuses. Here is what you can expect to see during the ‘20s and beyond. Construction this past fall semester has been a staple and common sight on Tech’s campus. Holden Hall, for example, the Virginia Tech building built in 1940, that housed the Mining and Materials Engineering Program, was demolished before the onlookers outside of Turner during the fall of 2019. This old structure stood as the pinnacle of collegiate architecture with its ivy-covered Hokie Stone, professors’ offices that had the air of old paperbacks and antiquated laboratory interiors. It is now closed for renovation. Despite the minor irritants that surround the renovation, it will create more classroom space on campus in the new wing with its Center for Autonomous Mining and Robotics, new labs pertinent to future innovation and research. After remodeling, there will be a new fourstory wing, an east wing and another threestory
wing. Much like Holden Hall, Virginia Tech’s other current construction project is that of the Creativity and Innovation District located near the residential side of campus across from Squires and the Graduate Life Center. The innovation District will house 600 new students, a Living and Learning Community and more space with social and academic settings. Many students are annoyed at just how cumbersome construction is, despite how it yields a beneficial outcome. “I don’t mind the construction because I know that Tech is changing the school for bigger and better things that we can benefit from, but it does get distracting and difficult when roads are blocked off due to construction. They’re trying to build the school for our future, but currently it is kind of in the way,” said Amanda Meccia, a sophomore majoring in psychology. Although challenging to think so far ahead, such construction will become commonplace throughout the ‘20s, ‘30s and ‘40s. With plans to double in size as a university by 2047, Virginia Tech’s main campus plans to make West Campus Drive the center of campus in which buildings will erect around the Duck Pond to reflect the layout surrounding that of the Drillfield. A growing Hokie population is set to accompany campus growth in the coming decade. The over enrollment for the class of 2023 can be anticipated during the coming decade as well as Virginia Tech seeks to increase in size. “I think it’s good that VT will finally have enough space to hold the students they accept,” said Sarah Kate Simmons, a sophomore majoring in animal and poultry sciences. “I’m
all for becoming a bigger school and accepting more Hokies, but we should make sure there’s enough space for them.” Beyond the campus in Blacksburg, classrooms, spaces for new startups/ research, offices and areas for alumni events are to be constructed. Virginia Tech’s Innovation Campus in Alexandria is set to develop as a new hotspot for technology startups. As the campus is developing in tandem with Amazon’s new headquarters, students at Virginia Tech serve as possible employees to enter Amazon’s workforce. The massive size of the current freshman class is often attributed to the presence of Amazon near the Innovation Campus; this being frequently known as the Amazon effect. Despite the larger campus, the
university seeks to decrease 1990 emissions levels by 80% before 2050. The university hopes to make use of natural gas for 80% of its fuel source, a plan possibly stimulated by protests on campus during the fall of 2019. A growing campus comes with its aches and pains; dealing with frequent loud bangs and the sound of machinery at all hours of the day is just going to be the price that Tech students pay. The ‘20s will continue to see construction, immense expansion and more and more Hokies. After all, who’s to say having more Hokies is a bad thing?
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ETHAN CANDELARIO / COLLEGIATE TIMES Construction on campus, July 25, 2019.
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January 21, 2020 PAGE 5
‘Penny P’s Backyard’: A new TV show shot in the New River Valley Producer Chris Valluzzo set his vision in motion by creating the first TV show produced with 100% renewable energy. KYLE BASSETT
lifestyles staff writer
When it comes to thinking green and living sustainably, there are a variety of ways to go about practicing a lifestyle that is beneficial to the conservation of the environment. For producer and filmmaker Chris Valluzzo, it’s a practice worth investing effort into. With plans already underway, Valluzzo is working to film a show in the New River Valley region that aspires to be the first TV show ever
produced with 100% renewable energy. In partnership with Solar Connexion, a Blacksburg-based renewable energy contractor that installs renewable energy systems in the mid-Atlantic region, Valluzzo and his family have put together “Penny P’s Backyard,” a family show focused on a girl named Penny P and her friends as they learn about nature and science, all while discovering the ties the two topics have to that of Appalachian folk art. “The example I use most is when a
COURTESY OF ANDREW MCELVERY “Penny P’s Backyard” was shot in the New River Valley including Virginia Tech’s campus.
geologist talks about how the Appalachian Mountains were formed, terms like heat and pressure and the bending and folding of the earth would be used to explain the forces and end result of plate tectonics,” Valluzzo said in reference to the ties between Appalachian folk art and other themes of the show. “A folk artist who would use near-identical terms would be a blacksmith or potter who uses heat and pressure to bend and fold their creations.” As the show strives to be a “local effort” within the New River Valley region, parts of the show were filmed on the Virginia Tech campus. “Ultimately we aim to shoot the show in the NRV and hopefully on Tech campus,” Valluzzo said. Through the crowdsourcing website Indiegogo, the project has raised over $11,000 from donors, with the money going toward offsetting production-related expenses such as establishing a proof of concept and paying for those involved in filming the show. Between May and June of 2020, the production team seeks to submit its first season outline to various
filming studios in order to secure a production deal that would allow them to move forward with getting the show out to a wide range of viewers. While there is still work ahead to be done before viewers can experience what all is to be seen from the show, “Penny P’s Backyard” looks to be a unique take on a family-friendly educational program. For those seeking to be informed as to the progress of the show’s production, visit its Facebook page or follow its Indiegogo page’s updates.
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A student working out in McComas Gym, Feb. 14, 2019.
ETHAN CANDELARIO / COLLEGIATE TIMES
New year, new me: Tackling the year with an improved mentality Start 2020 off with a healthy lifestyle, increased involvement and better mental health. ASHLEY BRINKLEY lifestyles staff writer
The start of a new year brings new resolutions that people create to motivate themselves and get them pumped for the year ahead and the endless possibilities it brings. This is especially true this year as we move on to a new decade. The 10 years from 2010 through 2019 brought us two extremely different presidents, the unimaginable change from a sweet and innocent Hannah Montana to a wildly insane Miley Cyrus (whom many adore), the rise of new technology and social media apps, and new and healthy food trends making their way all across the country. The new, and hopefully improved, “Roaring Twenties” lie ahead. When thinking about the limitless possibilities this new year and decade will bring, it is both inspiring and interesting to hear what resolutions and goals people have adopted, especially those of college students.
Resolution 1: Be healthier
Per usual, the most common resolution from college students for the 2020 year is to be healthier. Whether it is going to the gym to work out more or running in the neighborhood, doing any physical activity that helps build muscle and shed that fat from the past is always a great resolution. Try to also replace the junk food filled
with sugar and salt with fruits and vegetables. Also, remember to always eat at reasonable hours during the day, like 9 a.m., noon and 6 p.m. Eating late at night is an additional reason for weight gain, and processing food late at night takes a longer time to digest, keeps you awake and sometimes even causes a stomach ache. Being in college, students find late-night snacks very tempting, but try to stay away at all costs. “For some reason, I can’t help but have a late-night snack at college, and it now seems to be a daily occurrence. My new year’s resolution is to not have any food past 8 p.m. because it’s not healthy and my stomach always hurts if I eat later,” said Samantha Hartman, a sophomore at Virginia Tech.
Resolution 2: Improve on schoolwork and involvement
Another popular goal for the new year concerns school, whether it involves academics, involvement in clubs and activities, or working and thinking ahead in regard to the future. Many students’ goals are to make good grades in the A and B range, get a good GPA, make the Dean’s List and even just learn about new things they never knew before. “The first semester of college was a little rocky for me, but I am going to put 110% effort into my studies this semester and hopefully make the Dean’s List,” said
Bobby Alamo, a freshman at Virginia Tech. Some students’ goals are to become more involved on campus by joining different organizations that they are interested in and putting themselves out there for the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends. Finally, some students use their new year’s goal as an opportunity to find internships and jobs that would look good on a resume for employment in their field of study.
Resolution 3: Improve mental state and explore new opportunities
Some college students’ new year’s resolutions revolve more around their mentalities. A few just wish to work on themselves, whether it be loving themselves, being more positive or being more mindful and less stressed. “My resolution for 2020, that will also hopefully carry on to future years, is to keep a positive mindset even when it feels like there is no hope,” said Sabrina Orsi, a senior at Virginia Tech. Others wish to appreciate and celebrate things like nature, life, friends, family and more. Some wish to just survive another year. College students have also talked about some random goals for this new year, such as using their Juul less or going completely cold turkey, or drinking less alcohol. In
addition, some intend to do less partying, stay in to relax more, binge a new Netflix show every month or go out to travel more of the world. “My 2020 goal is to explore more of the world and travel all over the USA seeing things I have never seen before,” said Wright Mercer, a junior at Virginia Tech. There are many different resolutions and goals that college students set, but whether they’re big or small, they all matter the same. Fulfilling a resolution or goal, whatever it may be, is a success and deserves a celebration. Remember the reason that you made this resolution or goal for this year in the first place, whether it is for you or someone else, and keep on fighting and push through when you’re tempted to give up. In the end, it will all be worth it and more rewarding. Virginia Tech students are known for being strong fighters and sticking things through. So Hokies, let’s keep up with those resolutions and make the start of this new year and decade one for books.
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January 21, 2020 PAGE 7
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Women’s hoops completes comeback over UVA Dara Mabrey’s 3-point shooting in the second half leads to in-state rivalry victory on the road against the Cavaliers. DAVIS CARBAUGH sports editor
The Virginia Tech women’s basketball team improved to 13-4 (3-3) with a 69-61 victory over the Virginia Cavaliers in
Charlottesville. Despite being outscored 29-18 at halftime, the Hokies fought back in the second half and outscored the Cavaliers 51-31. Head coach Kenny Brooks’ squad
ALEX NAGELI / COLLEGIATE TIMES Virginia Tech’s Taylor Geiman (35) drives the hoop, Dec. 5, 2019.
distributed the scoring effort evenly as all five starters scored in double digits. Despite a slow start to the game, sophomore guard Dara Mabrey led the Hokies with 15 points. It was Mabrey’s 3-pointer at the 5:45 mark of the fourth quarter that turned the tide for Tech. Her clutch shot put the Hokies up 55-53 and they never trailed for the remainder of the game. Mabrey scored 12 of her 15 points in the second half and shot 4-5 from long range. Coming into this matchup with Virginia, the Hokies had not won a game at John Paul Jones arena since 2016. In the first half, it appeared that this trend might continue as Tech shot just 7-25 from the field in the first half and 2-12 from 3-point range. The Hokies responded with a 26-15 third quarter that saw both teams tied at 44 heading into the fourth quarter. Despite a back-and-forth final quarter, Tech’s big shots and consistent free throw shooting
outlasted the Cavaliers. As a team, Tech shot 18-22 from the free throw line. Lydia Rivers went 5-6 from the line and made several big shots in the second half; she finished the game with 13 points and 8 rebounds. Elizabeth Kitley recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. The Hokies totaled 41 rebounds to Virginia’s 30. Next up for Tech, the Hokies return home Jan. 23 to face off against Boston College. The Eagles are currently 10-8 on the season and 3-4 in the ACC.
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Hokies beat Demon Deacons, win 3rd straight Tyrece Radford recorded a career high in points and rebounds as Tech pulled away in the second half in its road victory. DAVIS CARBAUGH sports editor
The Virginia Tech men’s basketball team defeated Wake Forest 80-70 to improve to 13-4 (4-2) on the season. Both teams went back and forth in the first half, but the Hokies pulled away in the second half to secure a road victory in WinstonSalem, North Carolina. Freshman Landers Nolley was Tech’s primary scorer again, totaling 21 points, while Tyrece Radford put together his best performance of the season with a career-high in points (21) and rebounds (13). The Hokies jumped out to an early 8-3 lead to start the game thanks to a hot start from P.J. Horne, but the Demon Deacons evened the game 10-10 at the 15-minute mark of the first half. Tech defended effectively early and led the game 15-10
through the first 10 minutes of action. The Hokies held Wake Forest scoreless for over seven minutes in the first half; Tech went on a 10-0 scoring run in that pivotal stretch and created an early 20-10 lead. The first half was a game of runs and cold streaks as Wake Forest responded with a 18-3 run midway through the first to take a 31-25 lead with just over three minutes left in the half. Following this scoring drought, Tech ended the half on an 8-0 run to head into halftime leading 33-31. Nolley led the Hokies in scoring in the first half with 14 points, while Jalen Cone added six points off the bench. Tech attacked the basket efficiently to start the second half, jumping out to a 45-37 lead with just under 15 minutes left in the regulation. Ten of Tech’s first 12 points to start the half came from layups
or dunks. The Hokies extended their lead to 51-40 at the 12:30 mark of the second half thanks to Cone’s fourth 3-pointer of the night. Cone finished the night with 15 points off 4-6 shooting from beyond the arc. With just under 10 minutes remaining in the game, Radford finished a poster-dunk against a Wake Forest defender that proved to be a major momentum boost for the Hokies. Tech extended its lead to 63-46 at the eight-minute mark of the second half. A 3-point basket with 6:32 remaining in regulation extended Nolley’s point total to over 20 for the night; This put Tech up 66-46 for its largest lead of the game. Wake Forest cut the lead to 13 at the final media timeout, but the comeback attempt fell short as Virginia Tech finished with an 80-70 victory. The Hokies shot outstanding from the
field in the second half and finished the game 27 for 55 (49.1%) as a team. This was a major factor in Young’s squad running away with a 10-point lead to win the game. Nolley, Cone and Radford were the most effective scorers for the Hokies as all three finished in double figures. Additionally, Radford recorded 13 total rebounds and Wabissa Bede had nine assists. The core of this season’s team is starting to come together as every player has his own integral role in Young’s system. Up next, the Hokies return to Cassell Coliseum on Saturday for a rematch with the Syracuse Orange. Tech won its first matchup of the season at the Carrier Dome by a score of 67-63. Tip-off is set for noon on ACC Network.
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Grading the Hokies: Belk Bowl versus Kentucky Virginia Tech’s offense performs admirably in Belk Bowl while defense struggles to slow down the Wildcats in Charlotte. JAMES GILMORE sports staff writer
Offense
Quarterbacks: B Hendon Hooker’s last game of 2019 was not a bad performance. Going up against a stout SEC defense in Kentucky did not phase him. Hooker ended the game with only 110 yards passing and completed 54% of those passes, but his receivers did not help him much. He threw two touchdowns in the first half which got the Hokies out to a 10-point lead at one point. At one point in the game, he completed nine consecutive passes, but in the second half he relied on his legs a lot more; he ended the game with 50 yards on the ground. With the success of the run game in the second half, throwing the ball was not a popular option for head coach Justin Fuente. They were not very balanced in the second half which ended up hurting Hooker’s performance. Running Backs: A
Deshawn McClease had his best performance of the season against Kentucky on Tuesday. He ran for 126 yards and a touchdown. McClease broke off one of his longest runs of the season for 42 yards on his touchdown. It seemed to be a momentum-changing play after Kentucky had just tied the game. Every time he touched the ball he was making plays and gashing the Kentucky defense. He averaged 11.5 yards per carry in the game. Keshawn King chipped in some nice runs as well, his development is coming along nicely and he will have a bigger part in the offense next year along with graduate transfer Khalil Herbert. Wide Receivers/Tight Ends: BIt was a tough day for the wide receivers with only one touchdown in the first quarter by Damon Hazelton. When the game was on the line, the receivers did not answer the call. A couple of drops by Tré Turner and Hazelton could have converted first downs and extended some key drives in the fourth quarter. The tight ends played
well and have been the most consistent performers throughout the 2019 season. James Mitchell lead the team in receptions against Kentucky with three and Dalton Keene had also contributed a touchdown in the first half. Also the blocks by these two players greatly helped the run game. Both players should be returning to the team for their senior season and will be key to the team’s success in 2020. Offensive Line: AThe offensive line turned in an almost perfect performance against the Wildcats, only allowing one sack on Hooker. They gave him a clean pocket which resulted in Hooker’s nine consecutive completions at one point in the game. This was their toughest task of the season and they answered the call against SEC pass rushers. In the run game, they imposed their will on blocks which gave McClease a lot of space to run the ball. The line has a lot of potential that can only get better for next season with the likes of Bryan Hudson, Doug Nester, Austin Cannon,
and Christian Darrisaw.
Defense
Defensive line: C Bud Foster’s defense faced its most difficult opponent all season, and Kentucky quarterback Lynn Bowden was most of it. The only bright spot all day for the defensive line was Jarrod Hewitt, who had six tackles and couple tackles for loss; he also had a forced fumble. Kentucky’s offensive line is one of the biggest in the country which made it very difficult for the line to get any push all game. They gave their best effort in trying to contain Bowden, but with a big offensive line and a shifty guy like him, it’s really hard to do it for 60 minutes.
Linebackers: C+ The story is about the same for the linebackers as the defensive line. Bowden ran all over the field, and they were chasing him from sideline to sideline. Rayshard Ashby and Alan Tisdale both led the team in total tackles with 14 each, but it wasn’t enough to slow down Bowden. Ashby had a few nice plays in the backfield, but there were not a lot of positives to take away from the game defensively. Containing Bowden was just too difficult.
Defensive Backs: C There was not a lot of action in the air for the defensive backs against Kentucky, but when it mattered most, they fell asleep and allowed Bowden to complete the final touchdown of the game through the air. Safeties Divine Deablo and Reggie Floyd were all over the field when big runs would break from Bowden, but he eventually got past them and broke more than a few big runs. Brion Murray did have one interception in second half, but it did not phase Bowden. It was to Tech’s advantage if Bowden threw the ball, but in the end, Kentucky’s final crushing blow was through the air. The secondary only loses Floyd for next year so they should improve for the 2020 season.
ETHAN CANDELARIO / COLLEGIATE TIMES Deshawn McClease (33) successfully evades Kentucky’s defense, scoring a touchdown for the Hokies, Dec. 31, 2019.
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