Virginia Tech Football Notebook: Beamer, Foster among those providing motivation for Hokies
CHARLOTTESVILLE — Frank Beamer made an appearance at Virginia Tech practice Wednesday. Bud Foster showed up the following day. Videos were shown from former players.
Each time one of the legendary coaches spoke to the team or the videos were played, the message of the importance of the Virginia rivalry was delivered. Beamer, Foster and the former players made sure the Hokies knew the importance of the Commonwealth Cup.
“That’s what it felt like with them talking, just telling us how the rivalry is, talking from their perspective,” quarterback Kyron Drones said. “Two famous coaches. So yeah, I think it helped.”
Drones and quite a few others on this season’s roster participated in their first Battle for the Commonwealth Cup. The week of focusing on the importance paid off with a 55-17 thumping of the Cavaliers on Saturday before an announced crowd of 42,976 at Scott Stadium.
“We shared those with the team. We had videos each and every day of memorable moments in this game,” Hokies coach Brent Pry said. “We’ve got six guys on staff that played here and played in this game and what it meant to them. They shared that with the team. It was a good, good week of preparation.”
Players like Tech running back Bhayshul Tuten revealed they had no idea the importance of the rivalry before hearing from the likes of Beamer and Foster. Those two coaches were responsible for turning the series around in the Hokies’ favor over the last three decades.
“They really made it meaningful,” wide receiver Stephen Gosnell said. “They made it to where you understand, this is a game that you take seriously.”
Elusive 10th sack
Tech defensive end Antwaun Powell-Ryland had multiple chances to record his 10th sack of the season. He shared a half sack with Cole Nelson, but couldn’t knock down Anthony Colandrea one more time as he brought his season total to 9.5 sacks.
At least he has a bowl game to reach the 10-sack mark.
Powell-Ryland nearly became the sixth player in program history to post 10 sacks in a season, joining Bruce Smith (1983 and ’84), Corey Moore (1998 and ’99), Cornell Brown (1994 and ’95), Morgan Roane (1985) and Darryl Tapp (2005) to accomplish the feat.
He has 9.5 sacks heading into the postseason.
“I told him during the game that I wouldn’t be the player I am right now pass rushing-wise if he didn’t come in,” Nelson said. Nelson recorded two of the Hokies’ six sacks. “I really appreciate him because I do look up to him in pass rushing for sure.”
Powell-Ryland did not record a sack over the previous three games after posting six sacks in a two-game stretch against Wake Forest and Syracuse.
Don’t kick it to Tuten
DeAngelo Hall was the only player in Tech history with multiple games of scoring different types of touchdowns in a game entering this season.
Bhayshul Tuten accomplished the feat in one campaign.
Tuten, the North Carolina A&T transfer, had his second game of scoring different types of touchdowns in a contest Saturday by scoring on a run and a kickoff return for the Hokies (6-6, 5-3 ACC).
“Bhayshul got better over the course of the season, which needed to happen,” Pry said. “There’s things he does without the ball that’s been really good.”
Hall accomplished the feat in 2002 and 2003.
Containing Washington
UVa wide receiver Malik Washington finished with 14 catches for 115 yards. It was another typical performance for the All-American candidate.
Most of Washington’s production came in the second half after the Hokies seized control.
Washington had nine catches for 89 yards in the second half.
“He’s a good player. He’s proven that week in and week out,” Pry said. “But I think the defensive crew had a good plan, a good effort. There wasn’t a lot of the double coverage called, but there was eyes on him and good leverage on him.”
Another TD for 25
The players honored with wearing No. 25 have actually been productive in the scoring column this season.
Tucker Holloway, who wore the number Saturday, scored his first touchdown from scrimmage on a 33-yard double reverse early in the second quarter.
It marked the fourth time this season a player wearing Beamer’s former number accounted for points.
Tuten scored a touchdown against Wake Forest, Nelson had a safety against Syracuse and John Love made a field goal at Louisville.
Damien Sordelett (540) 981-3124
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