collegiatetimes.com
November 19, 2019
An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903
TAYO OLADELE / COLLEGIATE TIMES
ETHAN CANDELARIO / COLLEGIATE TIMES
ALEX NAGELI / COLLEGIATE TIMES
ETHAN CANDELARIO / COLLEGIATE TIMES
PAGE 2 November 19, 2019
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Being vegan in Blacksburg is hard, but possible
TAHREEM ALAM / COLLEGIATE TIMES
Students eating dinner at Turner Place, Sept. 26, 2018.
V
As vegan diets become more popular, it’s time to ditch the stigma and develop more accomodations instead.
irginia Tech never misses an opportunity to boast its ranking as number one among colleges for food on campus, but sometimes chicken parmesan doesn’t do the trick for everyone. As veganism becomes more popular due to environmental awareness, protest of animal cruelty and more, it is important for our university and its community to become more sensitive to different dietary restrictions, both functionally and socially. Ryan Singman is a sophomore majoring in computer engineering. After doing a test run for two months in the fall of last year, Singman has been vegan since August now. Like many other students with a stricter diet, Singman must be mindful of what he can eat and get through the obstacles that come with eating on campus. “I don’t think there’s a whole lot of vegan options on campus. I typically get the same thing to eat every day, just from Qdoba,” Singman said. “It seems like there’s a lot of vegetarian options but not a whole lot of thought going into vegan stuff. Almost everything in Grab-n-Go has some sort of milk product in it at Turner. It seems like that’s the case for a lot of stuff. Stuff that could be vegan isn’t and a lot of times that stuff is hidden on there. A lot of stuff is not clearly labelled. It makes it more difficult. It doesn’t seem like the university is particularly proactive in aiding people that are wanting to do this.”
However, fair accommodation for vegans is attainable, as exemplified by the town of Blacksburg itself, though there’s always room for improvement. “For vegan stuff, you either have to go to an Indian or a Thai restaurant,” Singman said. “Otherwise, there’s not really going to be anything. I mean, sometimes Chinese stuff too. There’s a decent amount of those kind of things around Blacksburg and in the area. It’s probably not a world center for vegans or anything, but it’s doable.” Yet, not every restaurant accommodates a vegan diet, leaving patrons like Singman scanning the menu for even a side salad that they could eat or giving up all together. “Sometimes I don’t end up going out to eat with my friends because they’re going to a place that doesn’t offer anything that I can eat other than a garden salad. So, I do miss out on some opportunities like that, but it’s never purposeful exclusion,” Singman said. “They want to go to a place, and I don’t because of the choice I made.” Though these challenges are some that must be faced daily for those who decide to go vegan, it isn’t impossible. “It’s not really that different. When I do tell people that I am, it’s always like, ‘That’s so crazy! How could you do that?’ Which it’s not, really. It seems like people are putting it on a pedestal of being too difficult to do when really it’s not that much different than a normal diet,” Singman said.
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It becomes especially easy to live a vegan lifestyle when you keep your motivating factors in mind. “The biggest reasons for me switching were the morality and environmental aspects of it. Before I switched, I never really thought about it or I wouldn’t say I didn’t care. I just never really considered it. To go from not considering it to considering it, but rectifying it is not really a difference,” Singman said. While veganism may seem daunting, maintaining a diet without meat and animal products is achievable, though it is time for dining establishments to be aware of what they can do to help, As dietary trends change, people need more options and accessibility of foods they can eat as they take on a busy day of learning, teaching or researching. The same goes for leisure, as people should still
be able to spend a night out without having to worry about what they will be able to eat. Choosing a lifestyle without meat or animal-based products doesn’t have to be stigmatized as impossible. As long as people and dining establishments make efforts to account for individuals’ different dietary needs, one’s personal choice to become vegan can be normalized and eased.
DONYA MOMENIAN • junior • economics science
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November 19, 2019 PAGE 3
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Tech medical school expands cancer research The Fralin Biomedical Research Institute is seeking to create a comprehensive cancer center, according to Friedlander. BEN WALLS news staff writer
Virginia Tech has developed a university-wide effort to further the importance of quickly diagnosing, treating and curing cancer, known as oncology. The effort, announced October 16, aims to push the university’s research opportunities at Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion (VTC), Virginia Tech’s medical school. “Virginia Tech has dozens of dedicated, smart people working in research labs developing innovations for patients and families in their struggles with this disease, but we usually talk about their work on an individual level,” said Dr. Michael Friedlander, Virginia Tech’s vice president of health sciences and technology, to VT News. “By looking at the totality of Virginia Tech’s efforts, the optics reveal a broad, diverse landscape of faculty members and expertise across colleges, centers and institutes being applied to solve the health issues and social problems caused by cancer.” The purpose of these new initiatives is to further experiential learning and to create a “comprehensive cancer center,” Friedlander said. Graduate and undergraduate students will have opportunities to conduct research and collaborate with other researchers across cities from Blacksburg to the Health Sciences and Technology building in Roanoke and National Children’s Hospital in Washington, D.C. “Virginia Tech and Children’s National have a long history of collaboration, including joint NIH (National Institutes of Health) research grants, shared intellectual property and shared scientific advisory efforts,” Friedlander said. “We fully expect to become more engaged in the rich innovation ecosystem in the Washington, D.C. area as we move forward.” In its 10-year history, Virginia Tech’s medical school has received 22 combined NIH and National Cancer Institute (NCI) awards totaling between $4.5 and $5
million annually. Furthermore, VTC has implemented the Beyond Boundaries initiative to continue these research efforts.
a linear accelerator, a form of radiation therapy to identify and remove cancer cells, to contribute to the college’s main research program in neuro-oncology.
“With Carilion’s expansive plans for
in Southwest Virginia. “The college continues to do great work,” said Freidlander. “A part of this initiative will have more treatments in cancer treatments in pets in a program that collaborates and grows.”
growth to improve health care in the region ... Virginia Tech expects additional opportunities for collaboration and partnerships ...
”
Michael Friedlander Director of Fralin Biomedical Research Institute
According to Friedlander, VTC wants to provide students opportunities to collaborate, while other initiatives will contribute to studying large-scale genetic scans and interacting with policy, pharmacy and biology issues. As of now, however, laboratories at Virginia Tech studying the effect of human cancers are in their interphase periods. “With Carilion’s expansive plans for growth to improve health care in the region, along with the recent announcement regarding a new Carilion children’s facility for specialty services, Virginia Tech expects additional opportunities for collaborations and partnerships in children’s health will increase, including cancer research and care,” Friedlander said. Outside of human cancer research, the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine will pursue research efforts of their own, broken into four categories: basic research for understanding fundamentals, clinical research for testing drugs and medical devices, population-based research to explore the causes of cancer, and translational research to collaborate laboratory research and practices in the clinic. Virginia Tech announced the latest advancement for the college in October 2017 after unveiling the plans for the Comparative Oncology Research Center (CORC) in Roanoke. The complex, which the university hopes to open in spring 2020, has invested $3.28 million to offer
Neuro-oncology involves sensing and identifying brain tumors in animals. Linear accelerators at CORC will be the only healing method of its kind available
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Corps members support Stop the Bleed initiative The Stop the Bleed program at Tech involves regular training sessions on how to care for bleeding and wounds.
She didn’t stop there, however, and wanted to find a way for the layman to be able to provide life-saving interventions Members of the Corps of Cadets are should they find themselves in a similar participating in the White House Stop the situation. Bleed initiative, which is a program that This led Bersch to reach out to Virginia teaches people safe practices for bleed Tech’s Office of Emergency Management control and wound care. (VTEM) to help advocate for the teaching “If more people are trained in bleeding of the Stop the Bleed (STB) program control, then more people can be ready for throughout the university. the unexpected, especially with the high Stop the Bleed is an initiative that was prevalence in mass shootings in the U.S.,” launched in 2015 by the White House said Darian Bersch, a junior majoring in to teach the general public about lifebiological sciences. saving interventions concerning bleeding The Poway synagogue and the Gilroy control, which includes tourniquet use Garlic Festival shootings were two of the and other forms of wound care. Properly 359 mass shootings of 2019in the U.S., trained bystanders will be able to save leaving 4 and 21 victims injured or killed lives by controlling life-threatening respectively. Having seen these tragedies bleeding before the arrival of emergency first-hand, Bersch pursued her EMT certi- medical services. fication so that she could provide care if Bersch is working toward training she happened to come across events like every member of the Corps of Cadets, these again. hoping to eventually make the course
AREEJ KHAN
news staff writer
a graduation requirement. She plans to expand the project by recruiting more people to become instructors and even hoping to train the entirety of the next freshman class in the Corps next year. VTEM and the Corps of Cadets have worked toward scheduling a Stop the Bleed class every evening at 7 p.m. from Monday to Thursday for the rest of the semester for the Army branch of the Corps. In addition, Bersch attributes the success of this initiative to help from medical officer, Michaela Stevens, medic staff members, Liam Jones, Jaclyn Guevara, faculty advisor Jason Oberoi and VTEM emergency coordinator Chris Bolling. “I also would like to see us work alongside VTEM more, and promote the STB classes throughout the university,” Bersch said. “We worked with them for Gobblerfest and other events to promote
(the classes).” Furthermore, the incentive to promote this program is simple, she stated. “This small piece of knowledge can help save lives,” Bersch said. “If 1,200 people here gain the knowledge on bleeding control, when they go home or go on vacation, they will be helpful wherever they are.” Anyone in the Virginia Tech campus community can register for this free training by visiting the Virginia Tech Emergency Managementregistration site to see available dates and times.
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‘Fair Pay to Play’ Act yet to be discussed at Tech The “Fair Pay to Play” Act gives student-athletes the right to earn compensation from universities’ use of their “likeness.” MACKENZIE WILLIAMS news reporter
California State Legislature signed the “Fair Pay to Play” Act on Sept. 30, allowing student-athlete monetary compensation from the use of their name, image or likeness. “Earning compensation from the use of a student’s name, image, or likeness shall not affect the student’s scholarship eligibility,” states Senate Bill No. 206, also titled the “Fair Pay to Play” Act. The legislation is the first of its kind to reward student-athletes on the basis of their “likeness.” With California’s support, students who play at any California university, both public and private, are permitted to sign sponsorship contracts or other advertising deals to further bolster a student’s clout. Studentathletes are given certain restrictions under the new law. One major provision includes prohibiting student-athletes to sign a contract that conflicts with the athlete’s team prestanding contract. Other states like Pennsylvania and Illinois are in the process of creating bills similar to California’s. The growing attention over student-athlete pay raises
ETHAN CANDELARIO / COLLEGIATE TIMES The Merryman Athletic Center, Feb. 23, 2019.
into question how other states plan to address the topic. The state of Virginia does not currently have legislation in place that either denies or defends student-athlete pay. As a Virginia state school, Virginia Tech Athletics abide under NCAA regulations and adhere stringlently to these rules. “An individual loses amateur status and becomes ineligible for intercollegiate competition if he/she uses his or her
athletics skill, directly or indirectly, for pay in any form in that sport,” states the Virginia Tech Student-Athlete Handbook. NCAA President Mark Emmert responded to the California bill saying, “as a national governing body, the NCAA is uniquely positioned to modify its rules to ensure fairness and a level playing field for student-athletes.” In regards to student-athlete pay, the NCAA has permitted student-athletes
to benefit from their name, image and likeness for the state of California despite established limitations elsewhere. Many argue against student-athletes’ pay based on the amount of scholarships provided to prospective players. Opportunities to receive money for tuition, room and board, and books are available to select student-athletes making postsecondary education more affordable, which many view as studentathlete compensation. In the 2015-2016 academic year, Virginia Tech Athletics spent $14.4 million on scholarships to encourage student-athlete attendance. The Hokie Scholarship Fund, a prominent donor for student-athlete scholarships, have over 13,000 donors in 2018 helping the organization fundraise millions for students to play at Virginia Tech. “I think that makes sense because you shouldn’t receive special treatment because you are an athlete,” said Ben Fleming, a junior majoring in management and member of the Virginia Tech cross country team. “It’s almost as if it (is) a job, but at the same see page 5
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time it’s only mandatory until it is not. Until you are not doing it.” On the other hand, others believe student-athletes deserve part of the revenue collegiate athletic programs accumulate and that postsecondary institutions should be allowed to profit off of a student-athlete’s name or popularity. In the 2017–2018 Virginia Tech Athletic Department’s fiscal year report, all 22 athletic programs earned $98,485,395 in salary. The football team alone generated
collegiatetimes.com $57.6 million of the total 2017-2018 fiscal year. With profiting broadcast rights and dependable ticket sales, collegiate sports is a viable revenue stream for many universities. Another pillar of the debate is merchandising and publicity benefits. Collegiate apparel that have players’ names printed on the backsides and student-athlete publicity instigates the question: who should reap the rewards? Players for collegiate sports must wait until graduation to begin their professional career. Players are ineligible if one, “signs
a contract or commitment of any kind to play professional athletics, regardless of its legal enforceability or any other consideration received,” according to Virginia Tech Student-Athlete Handbook. Additionally, the NCAA bars the acceptance of “promise of pay even if such pay is to be received following completion of intercollegiate athletics participation.” “I think there should be some sort of pot you should be able to accept after college,” Fleming said on NCAA rules on studentathlete pay. “I still go back and forth about it because you are still technically
lifestyles
November 19, 2019 PAGE 5
winning the money in a sense. It doesn’t seem fair, but at the same time, it makes sense to get it at some point.” T he Vi rginia Tech Athletics Department declined to comment. The “Fair Pay to Play” Act was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom and goes into effect Jan. 1, 2023.
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Meet Sai Gurrapu: Virginia Tech’s Forbes Under 30 Scholar Gurrapu attended the summit conference in Detroit with 1,000 other scholars from around the globe.
BRANDON ALIMANESTIANO lifstyles staff writer
One of our very own Hokies, Sai Gurrapu, was selected as part of the Forbes Under 30 Scholars program and attended the 2019 summit conference this October in Detroit, packed with events and speakers including Kevin Durant, Serena Williams and Olivia Munn. “It was an incredible opportunity (to go to) the summit,” Gurrapu said, a junior general engineering major. “I got to meet a lot of great founders and leaders and other Under 30 Scholars. I learned a lot from them — especially the speakers, who had a lot of insights to share.” The Forbes Under 30 Scholars Program is no easy accomplishment, as Gurrapu was one of only 1,000 students selected from around the world. “One of my friends was selected for this last year, and he suggested that I also apply to it,” Gurrapu said. “I applied to it back in September, and after that I heard back from them, and I was selected.” The 2019 summit was no joke either. Over 9,000 global attendees participated in the event, as well as an A-list speaker lineup of celebrities involved in business, prominent entrepreneurs and iconic founders. “I had a chance to mingle with the other Under 30 Scholars. That was a cool opportunity because I got to meet all these people from all these different places,”
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Gurrapu said. “We even had a special Under 30 Scholars programming that was geared toward us.” Along with being a Forbes Under 30 Scholar, Gurrapu is involved in several organizations related to entrepreneurship and is even working on projects of his own. “I’m actively involved in Apex, which is the entrepreneurship center at Virginia Tech,” Gurrapu said. “I’m also in the entrepreneurship club at Virginia Tech, both of which foster entrepreneurial growth. I’m just working on current projects, and I can seek out help from others because most of the people there are very experienced. It’s great getting to know other people who share the same interests as me.”
Gurrapu is also actively involved in his own startup company, a ridesharing app for Virginia Tech students. “So, I’m currently working on this project called Hitchhike, which is a ridesharing app for Virginia Tech that I started with a few friends here,” he said. “It’s been going pretty well, and we’ve recently raised some funding for it from the Apex center.” The app was designed to create a solution for students who don’t have easy access to cars. “So, we started Hitchhike back around May, and currently we have an actual product launch, but we’re gearing up for an upcoming second marketing campaign around Thanksgiving,” Gurrapu said.
“The original reason we created this application was that we felt the need for a better carpool system (for rides back home) than the Facebook group.” Gurrapu thought of the idea after experiencing his own troubles using Facebook groups to find a ride home for breaks –– necessity is the mother of invention, of course. “We do have 160 users at this point, but we’re hoping to get most of the people from the Facebook group into this application,” Gurrapu said, “We thought there needed to be a better, more user friendly and convenient platform.” Having already been named a Forbes Under 30 Scholar and working on his own startup while in college, Gurrapu continues to set his sights on the future. “Currently I’m really interested in doing research for machine learning. I would like to pursue that further,” Gurrapu said. “Down the road, I hope to eventually work on solutions that solve the world’s most pressing issues using machine learning.”
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Hokies are friends, not food: How to make the most of Friendsgiving with your pals
Be thankful for the time spent with your friends because for the next week you’ll be with your prying family members. T IES EA K T HOON’ R D THE IES O OK H
BRANDON ALIMANESTIANO lifestyles staff writer
Thanksgiving break lasts a long time — like a whole week with your extended family. As the holiday approaches and the metaphorical highlight reel of last year’s family gathering plays in your head every five minutes, you might feel a little trapped. Don’t worry; this is incredibly reasonable. Nobody wants to dive headfirst into a political piranha pit, get pestered about their relationship status or eat anything with cranberries in it. Like seriously, what do cranberries even have to do with being thankful as an American? There’s still plenty of time to enjoy yourself here in the capital of questionable football decisions and maroon-painted poultry, however. Also, Thanksgiving is a holiday founded on being thankful, isn’t it? Though traditionally spent with family, being thankful can extend beyond those who are blood-related to you. . So, why not just throw an early Friendsgiving? This rich tradition of Friendsgiving is immortalized by Charlie Brown and now resides in a beautiful mess of college-made casseroles and fun memories free of partisan politics and the smell of your relatives’ hairspray. A Friendsgiving at Virginia Tech should contain a few key elements, and in order to make a truly unique HokieBird-themed banquet, there are a few great ways to do it. First of all, you have to start with the shopping. Venmo is your friend, and a Friendsgiving is not complete unless
your cooking skills are not adequately compensated for, unless it is a potluck. In fact, just make it a potluck. Friends of yours are not your friends if everything gets complicated with money — that’s what Thanksgiving is for. Okay, sidetracks aside: Kroger. Virginia Tech is not Virginia Tech without the shining blue goldmine that is Kroger. Yeah, there’s Food Lion here too, but Krogering is Krogering and there is no such thing as “Food Lioning.” Kroger adds the aesthetic you need for a
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fowl to keep yourself distracted from your Turkey cravings until Thanksgiving comes around. For the vegetarians, Beyond Meat is making all sorts of meat alternatives, so you don’t have to feel left
“This rich tradition of Friendsgiving
is immortalized by Charlie Brown and now resides in a beautiful mess of college-made casseroles and fun memories free of partisan politics and the smell of your relatives’ hairspray. Virginia Tech feast. Here you will find bags of potatoes for pennies and hunks of meat for dollars. You will also find the Friendsgiving staples you need for the feast as well, which leads to my next point: A Virginia Tech Friendsgiving cannot include turkey. Yes, unfortunately you cannot use turkey, no matter how good it is. This may seem controversial, but we are the school which is responsible for sheltering the Turkeys pardoned by the President of the United States. Kroger, your other friend, carries chicken, duck and even goose — enough
”
out eating leaves in the corner. If this is a potluck, then casseroles are a go-to meal to bring over. If it is in a casserole dish and it’s warm, everyone will love it. If you have taken to Kroger and bought a massive amount of cheap meat and potatoes, go ahead and throw them all in a rectangular dish and slide it into the oven. This isn’t a call to action, because you should probably research how to make a casserole beforehand. Either way, everyone will love your casserole dish. As this is a college level Friendsgiving, procrastination is a key element in preparing the food and the event. Make
sure to invite your friends at the last minute and don’t throw your mess of meat and potatoes in the oven until everyone gets there. In fact, if you forget your casserole altogether, there are options specifically tailored to this situation — at Kroger, of course. Kroger has a ready-made food section in both Krogers. It is simple, fast and convenient — and if that is not enough, what is a better place to get take out at Virginia Tech but Hokie House? As your Friendsgiving in Blacksburg progresses with your delicious casseroles and good times, remember to be thankful for everything. Be thankful you aren’t in a dorm room anymore microwaving a hot dog, remember to thank Bud Foster for all of the turkey calls and most importantly, be thankful that regardless we beat UVA 15 times in a row.
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November 19, 2019 PAGE 7
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Hokies’ men’s basketball wins to stay undefeated after a dominant second half against Lehigh Landers Nolley’s 27-point performance was enough to propel Tech past Lehigh for the team’s fourth win of the season. DEVIN SHEPARD sports staff writer
The Virginia Tech Hokies beat the Lehigh Mountain Hawks 79–53 on Saturday. The Hokies moved to 4–0, keeping head coach Mike Young undefeated in his first year. In a game that started off rough, the Hokies went on to win handily in a team effort. The first half started off slowly, with the Hokies only scoring nine points through the first 17 minutes. But the game took a turn with the Hokies going on a 10–0 run halfway through the first half that was topped off by a three-point dagger by freshman Hunter Cattoor. From then on, it was all Virginia Tech. The Hokies made nine 3-pointers in the second half and completely pulled away. Lehigh just couldn’t keep up as they cooled off in the second half. Landers Nolley’s game-high 27 points just proved to be too much for the Mountain Hawks. Nolley also had 5 rebounds and 4 assists. It was his third game scoring over 20 points this season, and he is quickly becoming Virginia Tech’s go-to guy. His smooth shot and natural scoring ability make him a formidable matchup for most schools.
Junior P.J. Horne and Cattoor also scored in double digits, with 14 and 11 points respectively. Virginia Tech just couldn’t get much to go its way in the first half, but they fought and stayed in the game. The scrappy style of play is seemingly becoming the culture of this team instilled by coach Young. “(Associate Head Coach) Chester Frazier did an exceptional job in preparing our team for Lehigh’s actions, which are very good,” coach Young said after the game. New starter Tyrece Radford led the team in rebounds with 11. The 6-foot-1 guard crashed the boards all night and his hustle was palpable all afternoon. His injection into the starting lineup definitely gave the team even more energy than usual. the 50/50 ball – that ball that Lehigh’s got as much of a chance to get as we do, you’ve got to dominate that part of it, and Tyrece Radford is a big part of that for us,” coach Young said. The defense was on point all night, forcing 19 turnovers on the day. The Mountain Hawks leading scorer James Karnik was held to just 4 points thanks to some great rim protection and double teams by Horne. After Lehigh cooled off
from three, they had no answer for the Hokies’ stifling defense. Virginia Tech has one more mid-major game before they face off against a two-game slate of Michigan State and Duke. If they can play like they did on Saturday afternoon, they should have a decent chance to compete in both of those games.
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CAROLINA HERNANDEZ / COLLEGIATE TIMES Virginia Tech’s Nahiem Alleyne (4) pushes through Lehigh’s defense, Nov. 16, 2019.
Women’s basketball squeaks by Liberty by 4 points thanks to strong late-game foul shooting Head coach Kenny Brooks notes areas of improvement, as the Hokies were outrebounded and had 21 total turnovers. CLAIRE CASTAGNO assistant sports editor
In their second home game of the season, the Hokies edged out in-state rival Liberty 73-69 for a non-conference win Nov. 15. However, it was not done in fashion head coach Kenny Brooks would have liked. Foul trouble for Aisha Sheppard resulted in 37 and 40 minute games for
Dara Mabrey and Taja Cole, something Brooks is not very comfortable with. “We got beat on the scout all night long,” Brooks said. “We weren’t able to be free-flowing like we wanted to. The foul trouble threw our rhythm off.” Sheppard started out strong for the Hokies, scoring nine points in the first quarter, but picking up two fouls along the way. Liberty kept up though, with most of its scoring coming from the paint.
Tech was able to gain more of a lead in the second quarter thanks to its sharp shooting. The Hokies’ field-goal percentage was 54.5%, also with two 3-pointers coming from Mabrey. She led the Hokies in first-half scoring with 10. After a few strong possessions from the Flames, though, they were able to cut Virginia Tech’s lead to only two possessions by halftime with a score of 36-32. However, the Hokies showed grit on
Liberty’s side of the court and forced three shot-clock violations in the first half. In the second half, the Hokies started feeding the ball more to center Elizabeth Kitley under the basket. She made quick layups and drew a few shooting fouls. But she picked up her third foul less than halfway through the third quarter and saw reduced minutes the remainder of the game. RECAP / page 8
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November 19, 2019 PAGE 8
RECAP: Hokies extinguish Flames in home victory from page 7
The score remained close for most of the third quarter, but a few big possessions from the Hokies gave them a 12-point lead. Mabrey and Cayla King made 3-pointers to get the momentum going. Tech blocked shots under the basket and stole possessions from Liberty as well as picking up eight points on the foul line. The Flames went on a 10-0 run in the fourth quarter to make it a one-possession game with 4:30 left to play. Cole then hit a jumper and Liberty’s Keyen Green picked up her fifth personal foul soon after and hit the bench with 14 points on the game. A transition basket coming from a steal credited to Sheppard made it a two-possession game with just over two minutes of regulation left. She then sank two more shots to make it six straight points of offensive coming from her. She ended up finishing with 20 points, while playing just under 20 minutes. But, Virginia Tech could not seem to shake the Flames; Liberty hit a huge 3-pointer inside 45 seconds to play to
come back within two points. Continuous fouls on both teams kept Tech’s lead to two points, until foul shots from Sheppard put the Hokies up four with 10 seconds in regulation. Liberty was not able to make a play in the final seconds and the clock expired with Virginia Tech on top. Rebounding and turnovers proved to be points of concern for the Hokies throughout the game. Tech was outrebounded by four, however Brooks said it seemed like much more. The team also gave up 21 possessions in turnovers, often getting tied up under the basket. “We’re still forming our identity; people are still getting used to their roles,” Brooks said. This is a great opportunity for us to learn; that’s what you want in non-conference.. The Hokies continue their non-conference schedule with a game against Maryland Eastern Shore on Nov. 19 back in Cassell. @CTSportsTalk
VICTORIA CARTER / COLLEGIATE TIMES Lydia Rivers (21) goes up for two points, Nov. 1, 2019.
ALEX NAGELI / COLLEGIATE TIMES The Hokies thank their fans for making the trip to Georgia Tech, Nov. 16, 2019.
Virginia Tech shuts down Georgia Tech, extends bowl streak to 27
Head coach Justin Feunte won his first game against Georgia Tech in his four-year tenure as Tech cruises to a 45–0 win. COLBY TALLEY sports staff writer
Virginia Tech traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, on Saturday looking to carry over the momentum from its big home win against Wake Forest last weekend into its matchup with a Georgia Tech team that had been showing signs of slight improvement in recent weeks. These signs included an overtime victory against Miami and games against Pittsburgh and Virginia in which Georgia Tech, despite losing, remained competitive. It appears after their home matchup against the Hokies, the Yellow Jackets took a few steps back in their progress, getting downed 45–0. Georgia Tech had won the previous three matchups against the Hokies. This included an especially embarrassing game in Lane Stadium last year in which the Yellow Jackets took home a 49–28 victory. Needless to say, the Hokies got their revenge. First, the offense maintained its
efficiency from the previous week. The Hokies came away with points on over 50% of their drives and had little to no trouble making the game a lopsided affair early. Virginia Tech starting quarterback Hendon Hooker once again flashed his dual-threat abilities by passing for one touchdown and rushing for two more. This game marks Tech’s fifth consecutive win in games that Hooker has started. The defense also managed to top last week’s defensive showing by handing Georgia Tech its first shutout loss in 22 years. The Yellow Jackets were kept in double-digits in both the passing and rushing categories while only picking up eight first downs for the whole game. Virginia Tech eventually decided to rest Hooker halfway through the third quarter and handed the reins to backup quarterback Quincy Patterson II. Even with the change, the Hokies’ offense didn’t miss a step as Patterson managed 64 yards on two passes and rushed for a 2-yard touchdown. This
play gave the Hokies a 45–0 lead and served as the final points of the game late in the third quarter. The defense also managed to chip in on the scoreboard when defensive back Caleb Farley returned an interception, one of two interceptions for the Hokies’ defense, 17 yards for a touchdown. Holding Georgia Tech scoreless was not lost on defensive coordinator Bud Foster, who thought the strong play from the starters as well as the backups, who came in once the game was out of reach, acted as a great learning opportunity. “That’s like icing on the cake when it’s all said and done, but to me, more important is the win, and believe it or not, it’s getting those guys experience because that’s the best teacher – playing the game,” coach Foster said. This game proved to be more than just another win for the Hokies. Tech acquired the seventh win they needed in order to be eligible for a bowl game. This is now the
27th consecutive season that the Hokies have managed to secure their bowl eligibility. That is the longest active bowl streak in college football. In addition to this, Tech’s win officially eliminates Miami from contending for the top spot in the ACC Coastal division. Virginia Tech is now one of only three teams that have a shot at clinching the division and playing in the ACC championship game. The other two teams in contention, Virginia and Pittsburgh, just happen to be the Hokies’ final two opponents of the regular season. While the win against Georgia Tech may certainly serve as a good confidence-builder, Virginia Tech now must prepare for what will arguably be the two most important games of the season.
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