Friday, August 3, 2007

Hokies Step Toward Normalcy by Stepping on the Field

Virginia Tech football, no stranger to the media, will receive more attention than ever this season for all the wrong reasons. Everyone will want to see how the school recovers from the massacre last April, where a gunman's shooting spree killed 32 people.

Another step in that recovery began Thursday when football practice started. This from ESPN.com's Joe Schad:

"I think it's a relief," Virginia Tech quarterback Sean Glennon said. "We've been asked so many questions. There's been so much media attention. 'When are you going to get back out there?' Now it's good to have all these questions behind us. Just to be back out here and to be with my teammates. It feels good to be out here throwing the football around. I missed it."

There were many messages delivered by Coach Frank Beamer in a Wednesday evening team meeting. And in a group huddle on the practice field 15 minutes into Thursday's practice.

• Embrace and live up to high expectations.
• Play not just for yourself, but for others.
• Be leaders for the university.
• Be stronger than ever.

In the middle of the practice field, attached high on a coaching tower, hung a sign that read: "VT: Team United. Strength In Unity." Above that sign was a flag with the school-endorsed logo honoring the 32 people who lost their lives at the hands of an on-campus shooter.

"People look up to us and expect us to bring the university back together," backup quarterback Ike Whitaker said. "As a family we want to move forward but at the same time bring them with us."

Beamer does not want his players to forget those who died or were injured.

"All of us have to work hard to give this school, give this community, give the alumni something to be proud of," Beamer said. "And that means getting out here and getting a little bit better every day."

For players like Ike Whitaker, who has had some serious off the field issues, that message is very important. What Beamer told his team would be appropriate for any season, but it takes on extra meaning this year. Kudos to him for not avoiding the legacy of the tragedy but instead taking a straight forward approach to it.

I can't think of a better way he and his team could honor the memories of those whose lives were lost.

Click here to read the rest of Schad's article.

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