Tech Defense Performs Well Despite Losses

Tech Defense Performs Well Despite Losses

by Chris Coleman, TechSideline.com, November 11, 2011



Virginia Tech had the best performance you could hope for on Thursday night against a powerful Georgia Tech rushing attack. The Yellow Jackets entered the game #2 in the country in rushing, and the Hokies went to Atlanta with a young, patchwork and banged up defense. Things didn't look promising on paper, but Bud Foster's defense turned in a very impressive performance.

GT Rushing Yards this Year

Opp.     Yards     YPC

Western Carolina     297     6.2

Middle Tennssee State     382     5.9

Kansas     604     12.1

UNC     312     5.4

NC State     296     5.7

Maryland     272     4.5

UVA     272     5.1

Miami     134     2.8

Clemson     383     5.7

VT     243     5.0

Average     319.5     5.84




Only Miami held Georgia Tech to fewer rushing yards than the Virginia Tech defense did, and only the Hurricanes and the Maryland Terrapins limited the Yellow Jackets to fewer yards per carry. 243 rushing yards and five yards per carry might look like a lot on paper, but for Georgia Tech, its well below average.



Consider who Bud Foster had available to put on the field, and where he had to put them, and it's an even more remarkable accomplishment.


    * A 6-0, 187-lbs cornerback (Kyle Fuller) playing whip linebacker

    * A 6-2, 240-lbs defensive end (J.R. Collins) playing defensive tackle

    * A 6-1, 219-lbs defensive end (Tyrel Wilson) in the starting lineup

    * Missing from the lineup: Antoine Hopkins, Jeron Gouveia-Winslow, Alonzo Tweedy

    * A mike linebacker who had played just four snaps all season

    * A front seven that featured all sophomores with an average weight of just 237.7-lbs.

    * A defense that featured just one starter (Kyle Fuller) who started against Georgia Tech at the same position in 2010



When you consider all of those facts, it just didn't seem likely that the VT defense would be able to put the clamps on the Georgia Tech offense, but they did. The Yellow Jackets broke their share of big plays, as they always do. But the VT defense took away the A-back option pitches, and Embry Peeples, Roddy Jones and Orwin Smith combined for just 10 touches all game. That was a big part of why the Hokies were successful on Thursday night.



Imagine if the Hokies had Antoine Hopkins to go along with his brother Derrick on the inside. That would have allowed J.R. Collins to play defensive end, and the defense probably would have fared even better against the Yellow Jackets.



Tech's defense will go back to normal next week against the traditional pro style offense of the North Carolina Tar Heels. While Thursday night's performance won't be looked back on as one of the best VT defensive performances ever, because of what the defense was missing heading into the game, it should be fondly remember by Tech fans.

GEORGE WASHINGTON WINS EXHIBITION OVER BOWIE STATE 92-65

GEORGE WASHINGTON WINS EXHIBITION OVER BOWIE STATE 92-65







(WASHINGTON, D.C.) The Bowie State University men’s basketball team dropped a 92-65 exhibition decision to Division I George Washington University Sunday night. GW’s Colonials are a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference and the former employer of Bulldogs head coach Darrell Brooks.





"We never gave ourselves a chance to win the game because we turned the ball over so much", said Brooks. "I thought we played pretty hard, the rebounds were even and I thought when we ran our offense we got good stuff out of it."





Junior Bryan Wilson (Upper Marlboro, Md.) and senior Jay Gavin (Seat Pleasant, Md.) and led Bowie State in scoring with 16 and 13 points respectively. Preseason All-CIAA selection Travis Hyman (Annapolis, Md.) struggled on offense, going 2-for-11 from the field but pulled down a game-high nine rebounds before fouling out with 7:57 left in the contest.





The Colonials jumped out to an early 8-2 advantage on three layups and a dunk. Bowie State pulled to within five at 16-11 with just over 13 minutes remaining in the first half, but would get no closer.





George Washington held a 51-26 lead at the half, shooting 60.6% from the floor (20-of-33). Bowie State shot 35.0% from the field (7-of-20) and committed 14 first period turnovers. Free throws were Bowie State’s main weapon in the first 20 minutes with the Bulldogs hitting 10-of-13 (76.9%).





The Colonials began the second half with a 15-4 run to open a very comfortable 66-30 cushion. George Washington’s largest lead of the night (84-43) came at the 5:41 left to play following a three-pointer by Bryan Bynes. Bynes came off the bench and hit 3-of-3 field goals to go along with four rebounds.





Points in the paint and points off turnovers were big for George Washington as the Colonials recorded 46 and 33 respectively.





Bowie State committed 31 turnovers overall and ended the night with a shooting percentage of 40.8. The Bulldogs did shoot free throws pretty well, converting 21-of-26 (80.8%). Bowie State won the battle on the glass, outrebounding George Washington 32-31.





Lasan Kromah paced George Washington with 23 points to go along with six assists. Tony Taylor and Aaron Ware added 12 points each for the Colonials. Taylor dished out a game-high nine assists. Other top scorers for the Colonials include John Kopriva and David Pellom with nine points apiece.





Brooks concluded his post game press conference saying, "I know we're going to be a better team come Friday ... taking care of the basketball and knowing what we're doing ... I'm excited about starting the regular season ... Tonight was a tough game but we've got to move on and get ready for the next one."





The Bulldogs officially tip-off the 2011-2012 season Friday, November 11th versus West Virginia State University at 6 pm on opening day of the Clarion Hotel Classic hosted by Shepherd University.

Dunkeroo Ladies Style?

 

 

Let me begin with this statement.  I have a cousin who is a VERY big fan of the WNBA.

 

We were having a discussion about whether the rim for the WNBA should be lowered by 4 - 6 inches, and it surprised me that we disagreed on this subject.  I think it should be, and she thinks that it should stay the same.  My main reason for lowering the rim is to add excitement for the fans.  Her main reason for keeping it the same is that some people will think women are not as atheletic as men.

 

Looking strictly at the WNBA and NBA rules, there are already some differences:

 

                                            WNBA                                 NBA

 

1.  3 point line                       20 feet 6 inches                    23 feet 9 inches

2.  Ball circumference            28.5 - 29 inches                   29.5 - 29.875 inches

3.  Ball weight                       18 - 20 ounces                     22 ounces

4.  Time per quarter               10 minutes                           12 minutes

5.  Backcourt violation           8 seconds                            10 seconds

 

There are probably other differences, but these are the only ones that was highlighted on each page that I researched. 

 

The only difference I think is due to male vs. female is the ball circumference, which makes me believe that if the rim was lowered more women would be willing to attempt to dunk during games, thus making the games more exciting.  I personally know and have seen at least 5 former or current WNBA players dunk on a 10 foot (regular height) basket. 

 

Lisa Leslie is the first woman to successfully dunk during a WNBA game in 2002, the only woman to dunk twice in one season is Candace Parker in 2008, the most recent dunk is July 2009 by Sylvia Fowles, and there are only 4 women total who have dunked in a game.  Of the 4 women that have officially dunked in a WNBA game, none are the 5 I mentioned.  There is nothing anyone can say that will convince me that only 9 former or current WNBA players can really dunk, because I know it is not true.  Michelle Snow, who dunked 3 times as a player at Tennessee, has not dunked once in the WNBA in her 9 seasons. 

 

Lower the rim to make the game more exciting for the fans.  Why would it make women look inferior to men?  When I go to a basketball game I want to see something that is going to make me jump out of my seat and cheer.  I'm not talking about just seeing a woman dunk like in the past, but seeing a woman attempt to dunk ON someone. 

 

There is no LOSS of Integrity of the Game when there are already other differences.

 

What do you think?

 

Marie

 

http://womensrimheight.blogspot.com/

Washington D.C. Area Sports Update 11/06/2011

MORGAN STATE HOLDS OFF BOWIE STATE 66-50 IN WOMEN’S EXHIBITION







(BALTIMORE, Md. – November 5, 2011) The Bowie State University Lady Bulldogs basketball team started slow, battled back in the second half, but came up short dropping a 66-50 exhibition to the Lady Bears of Morgan State University. Though the team took the tough loss, they had an impressive performance against their tough NCAA Division I opponents.





The Lady Bulldogs gave a good overall effort against their opponents, despite shooting 30% from the field (18-of-60). Morgan State shot slightly better, hitting 39% of their field goals (22-of-56). Senior forward Kimberly Jones (Upper Marlboro, Md. / Allegany C.C.) led the effort for the Lady Bulldogs with 15 points while sophomore forward Chanet Wallace (Baltimore, Md. / Westside Skills Center) and fellow sophomore Brooke Miles (Upper Marlboro, Md. / National Christian Academy) added 13 and 10 points respectively. Wallace and senior Juliette Turner (Atlanta, Ga. / John F. Kennedy HS) led Bowie State will nine rebounds each. Jones and Wallace blocked a game-high two blocks each for the Lady Bulldogs.





Bowie State trailed 31-18 after the first period of play, making just six-of-30 first half field goals. The Lady Bulldogs closed the deficit to seven twice in the second half with the last coming with 5:22 remaining and the Lady Bears leading 52-45.





Morgan State paraded to the free throw line over the final five minutes of play, making seven of 10 freebies down the stretch. Tracey Carrington paced the Lady Bears with a game-high 21 points to go along with 11 rebounds. Amarah Williams chipped in 16 points and Omara Parker hauled down a game-high 12 rebounds for the Lady Bears.





Bowie State will open the 2011-12 season next weekend when the team heads to Shepherdstown, W.Va. to take on Seton Hill in a 2:00 p.m. game hosted by Shepherd University.



LATE PENALTIES COSTLY IN BOWIE STATE’S 38-35 LOSS TO CHOWAN







(BOWIE, Md. – November 5, 2011) Late game penalties kill Bowie State comeback as the Chowan Hawks edge Bowie State 38-35 on 31-yard field goal by Ryan Murphy with seven seconds left in season finale for both teams. Chowan ends the season at 3-7 overall (2-5 CIAA) and Bowie State wraps up the year with a 4-6 overall record (3-4 CIAA).





Cameron Stover completed 23-of-35 passes for 187 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Hawks. Stover’s primary target was Robert Holland who led all receivers with 139 yard on 16 catches and was the recipient of all three TD passes.





The Hawks were led on defense by Jason Ampy with eight total tackles and Anthony Session, DaKorio DeSamme and Patrick Charles were credited with six tackles each.





Senior Clifton Budd paced the Bowie State Bulldogs with 100 all-purpose yards (11 rushing, 33 receiving and 56 return yards). Budd completed his final game in a Bulldogs uniform completing 11-of-20 passes. Senior quarterback Andre Johnson came off the bench to lead the Bowie State ground game with 84 rushing yards and one touchdown. Johnson also completed 10-of-17 passes for 78 yards and three second half touchdowns.





Senior Marcelus Manear had a career afternoon, tying for team-high tackles with eight to equal junior Bekewele Amadi.





Bowie State closed out the game with 335 total offensive yards and Chowan was right behind them with 315 total offensive yards. Penalties plagued Bowie State all season, and today was no exception. BSU’s Bulldogs’ tied their season-high of 15 penalties resulting in a school-record 215 yards.





Prior to the game 13 seniors (Reginald Berry, Clifton Budd, Terrance Hemsley, Kevin James, Andre Johnson, Delano Johnson, Tariq Jones, Marcelus Manear, Seth Minter, Matthew Odezugo, James Proctor, Kenneth Turner and Maurice Wilson) were honored with pictured plaques as a token of appreciation for their time as Bulldogs football players.

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Bye Week Hasn't Been Kind to Hokies

by Chris Coleman, TechSideline.com, November 4, 2011



A lot is being made of Virginia Tech having extra time to prepare for the Georgia Tech offense. A bye week is considered a good thing in this situation, and it certainly will help the Hokies get healthier. However, their recent results suggest that a bye week does not help them prepare better for the next opponent.

Hokies After a Bye Week, Last Six Games

Year Opp. Result Total Offense

2006 BC 22-3 L 181

2007 BC 14-10 L 265

2008 BC 28-23 L 240

2008 Maryland 23-13 W 400

2009 UNC 20-17 L 256

2010 GT 28-21 W 335




The Hokies have lost four of their last six games following a bye week. Their only wins came over a 6-7 Georgia Tech team in 2010, and an average Maryland team in 2008. Tech's offense has failed miserably in five of those six games, with their only 400 yard game coming in 2008 when Darren Evans rushed for a school record 253 yards.



All of those games were Thursday night games, and they've all but destroyed the myth that Virginia Tech was unbeatable in Thursday night games. On the contrary, the Hokies have played some of their worst football games on Thursday nights in recent years, particularly the offense.



In the past, Virginia Tech used to completely flatten teams when the Hokies were coming off a bye week.



Hokies After a Bye Week,

Previous Five Games

Year Opp. Result Total
Offense

2005 Virginia 52-14 W 503

2005 Maryland 28-9 W 497

2004 Maryland 55-6 W 376

2004 Georgia Tech 34-20 W 446

2004 Western Michigan 63-0 W 487




Tech won those games by an average of about five touchdowns, and they also averaged 461.8 yards of total offense in the process. Granted, the competition wasn't great. Western Michigan was a cupcake, and Maryland's 2004 team finished with a losing record. Even with the level of competition considered, it can't be argued that Tech hasn't been anywhere near as good following a bye week since the 2006 season.



Part of it is talent level. The Hokies struggled in 2006, 2007 and 2008 because they were not a good offensive football team in those years. It didn’t matter whether Tech had a bye or not, and it generally didn't even matter what team they were playing. Virginia Tech wasn't going to move the ball, and they weren't going to have a lot of high scoring, impressive victories.



However, the Hokies did have pretty good offenses in 2009 and 2010, and they were still very limited offensively against North Carolina (loss) and Georgia Tech (win).



Tech's 2011 offense, statistically speaking, is their best since the Michael Vick era. The Hokies have gained 400+ yards in each of the last four games, and that's the first time that has happened since the 1999 season. Tech certainly has the talent to put up good numbers offensively. With a few extra days to prepare, they'll have no excuse not to play well against Georgia Tech next week.



The Hokies will need their offense to play well, because Georgia Tech is a very good offensive football team that is going to be difficult to stop. Let's hope the bye week is kinder to Virginia Tech this week than it has been in recent years.



The Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League (CRCBL) is proud to announce that it has expanded into the nation's capital, welcoming the new D.C. Grays as its tenth team in one of the country's premiere summer wood-bat college-level baseball leagues.



The Grays will play its home games at the newly-renovated baseball stadium, Hoy Field, at Gallaudet University in Northeast Washington, D.C., and will work with Gallaudet on a major new youth baseball outreach program for children in the District. The team, which boasts an ownership group that includes African-American representation, will also work to make sure that its roster includes a number of black college ballplayers. The team will do promotions and community events that celebrate the history of baseball in Washington D.C. The name chosen for the team evokes the memory of the Homestead Grays - the great Negro League champion team that played in Washington, D.C. in the 1930s and 40s.





The Grays will be the tenth team in the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League, which is made up of teams from the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. metropolitan region and feature amateur players from colleges and universities around the country. The Cal Ripken League, founded in 2005, is quickly becoming a 'destination point' for collegiate players as one of the top summer wood bat leagues in the country.

FDA Seeks to Outlaw All the New Supplement Discoveries of the Last 17 Years

Back in the early 1990s, the FDA tried to make many supplements illegal. Consumers were so alarmed by the FDA's bullying that they staged a massive revolt. The result was that Congress passed the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA). That law protected supplements from the FDA unless the FDA could prove a supplement wasn't safe.



There was, however, a loophole in the 1994 law. The FDA was given the authority to regulate new ingredients introduced after October 15, 1994.



So what happened? Nothing at first. For 17 years, the FDA took no action, gave no guidance, and launched no enforcement of these "New Dietary Ingredients."



And that's been a good thing. Because for 17 years, the dietary supplement industry has enjoyed tremendous innovation. These innovations have allowed us to extract and concentrate the most effective natural ingredients. As a result, millions of consumers have benefitted. They've protected their hearts and arteries ... found relief from their joint pain ... boosted their memory ... and more.



And during this time, supplements have enjoyed a remarkable safety record. Statistics show that supplements are safer than prescription drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, and even food!



According to the Poison Control Centers, there were zero deaths due to supplements in 2008. In 2009, there was one.



Supplements the FDA Wants to Ban


But now the FDA wants to act like the last 17 years never happened. The agency has drafted a proposal to regulate what it calls New Dietary Ingredients. If this proposal is implemented, some of the most effective nutrients you take will be pulled from the market. Nutrients like resveratrol ... ubiquinol CoQ10 ... bacopa ... strontium ... and more.



But that's not all. Under these guidelines, the FDA can define almost anything as a "new" dietary ingredient. For example:



* If a supplement includes more of an ingredient than was used 17 years ago — even something like vitamin C — it's "new."

* If an ingredient uses a different extraction process — like baking or fermentation — it's "new."

* If a supplement uses an ingredient at a different "life stage" — such as using ripe rather than non-ripe apples — it's "new."

* If a supplement duplicates an ingredient in a laboratory rather than extracting it from the food — even though it's chemically identical — it's "new."

* And if a probiotic formula includes a strain of bacteria that wasn't found in yogurt 17 years ago, it's "new."




So what would happen to all these "new" ingredients? The manufacturers would have to take them off the market until they could prove the ingredients are safe — even if those ingredients have been safely used for 17 years!



Why It's Nearly Impossible to Comply


What kind of proof is the FDA demanding? According to the guidelines, many companies would have to conduct animal studies using a dosage that's 1,000 times the typical dose.



I'm not kidding you. It's right there in black and white on the FDA's website. The FDA wants vitamin makers to do studies for a full year, at 1,000 times the typical dose.



So a fish-oil manufacturer would have to conduct a one-year study where animals are force-fed the human equivalent of 240,000 milligrams of fish oil each and every day! This outlandish dose would injure the animals and give the FDA an excuse to outlaw the product.



But wait, it gets even better. If one fish-oil manufacturer performs such a study and it passes, it doesn't mean the other fish-oil makers can use the same data. No sir. They are still required to go out and do their own studies before they're allowed to sell their product.



And these studies are very expensive. A study like the one above typically costs about $100,000-$200,000 to perform. Multiply that by several ingredients in several products, and you get an idea of the cost.



Say a company carries 6 products containing 6 ingredients each. It would cost between $3.6 and $7.2 million in studies before that company could even offer the products for sale. For a larger company offering 50 products or more, the costs would be astronomical.



Few supplement makers will be able to afford these studies, and many will be put out of business. And the ones that remain would still be at the mercy of the FDA's whim. That's because there are no requirements for the FDA to approve anything. They can approve or reject anything they want. And in the past, they have rejected the majority of ingredients submitted to them.



That means most of the nutrients you buy today will be pulled from the market and never return. Those that do return will be a lot more expensive — or may only be available as prescription drugs!



A Blatant Abuse of Power


This is a blatant abuse of power. What the FDA is doing here is performing an end-run around the existing law. According to the law, the FDA has to prove a dietary supplement is unsafe for it to be taken off the market. These new guidelines turn that on its head. They are clearly not what Congress intended.



Fortunately, these FDA guidelines have not yet been finalized. All federal agencies are required to give the public an opportunity to comment on a draft before it is made final. In this case, the FDA has given interested parties until December 1st to comment on the draft. That means there's a small window of opportunity for you to voice your disapproval.



Frankly, I wouldn't bother commenting to the FDA. The process is cumbersome, and those unelected bureaucrats don't care what you think anyway.



What You Can Do


The best way to defeat these new rules is to talk to the people you do elect — your congressman and your two U.S. senators. They have the power to rein in the FDA — and they have done so in the past when enough voters complained.



Back in the 1970s, the FDA tried to require "warning labels" on vitamins. Angry voters called and wrote letters, and Congress responded with the Proxmire Amendments which limited the FDA's power.



Then in the 1990s, the FDA went on the warpath again. When voters complained, Congress passed the Dietary Health Supplement Education Act, which once again limited the FDA's power.




But like a monster killed in a horror movie, the FDA keeps coming back. And so once again, it's time for us to step up and call the folks who rely on our votes.



Here's what you need to do:


Go to http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml and look up the phone numbers of your U.S. Senators and your Representative (congressman). Then give them a call.



Don't be shy and don't worry. No one is going to bite you, no one is going to argue with you, and no one is going to quiz you to see how well you know the issues. The job of the staffers who answer is to listen politely and to relay what you say to their boss. So please do call. And please be polite and respectful of the staffers' time.



Here are some talking points to use when you call:


* Hello, my name is [name] and I am a constituent of [name of Senator or Representative].

* I am very concerned about the new FDA draft guidance on dietary supplements and new dietary ingredients.

* [Feel free to tell them about the supplements you take and/or the benefits you get from those supplements. Then feel free to make as many of the following points as you like:]

1. Supplements have an unrivaled safety record. Statistics show they're safer than drugs, safer than medical devices, safer than cosmetics, and even safer than food.

2. The FDA cannot define New Dietary Ingredients so broadly. According to these guidelines, almost everything is a New Dietary Ingredient. This will strangle innovation and deprive consumers of the supplements they depend on for their health.

3. The FDA did nothing about new dietary ingredients for 17 years. Now they want to wipe out 17 years' worth of innovation and 17 years' worth of benefits to the consumer.

4. When the Dietary Health Supplement Education Act was passed, Congress intended a simple notification process for new dietary ingredients. The FDA is turning this into a pre-approval scheme, which goes against the intent of the law.

5. The FDA already has ample regulatory authority to take action against a product if it's unsafe. They don't need to have this pre-approval power, too.

6. These could be disastrous to public health. At a time when preventative measures are even more important to health care costs, the FDA is limiting access to preventative health care.

7. The cost of complying with these guidelines would be astronomical. Experts estimate that the studies required would cost between $100,000 and $200,000 per ingredient notification. That adds up to millions of dollars per supplement company. Smaller companies would not be able to afford this and would go out of business.


The economy is already hurting and we have high unemployment. Experts estimate that this could cost the economy tens of billions of dollars and result in the loss of tens of thousands of jobs.

8. The government's resources are already stretched. We have record budget deficits and record debt. Why enact more regulations when there are no safety issues here?

* I request that Congress direct the FDA to carefully review their draft guidance. If they do not amend the guidance to reflect my concerns, I request that Congress call hearings at the end of the review process. I also call on Congress to write legislation that would "grandfather" all supplements currently on the market.

* Thank you for your time.




After the phone call, send a letter to your senators and reps, making the same points. Make sure the letter is in your own words (form letters tend not to work as well). You can find the e-mail and physical addresses at the same website, http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml.



Then send the same letter to President Obama. (His address and phone number are on the website, too.)



Please, please, please don't make the mistake of thinking that the FDA won't take your supplements away. Similar regulations were passed in other countries, and the result was disastrous. Many supplements were taken off the market forever. In some instances, the entire supplement industry was decimated. Don't let that happen here.



Take action now! You only have a small window of opportunity to make your voice heard. Get started by going to http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml.

Bodybuilding.com's Teen Bodybuilder Of the Week Cassandra Orr

 
VITAL STATS
* Name: Cassandra Orr
* E-mail: cassandraorr567(at)hotmail.com
* Age: 17
* Where: Alberta
* Height: 5'4"
* Weight: 127lbs
* Years Bodybuilding :1
* Favorite Bodypart: Abs/Shoulders
* Favorite Exercise: Cardio-Running/Beep Test
* Favorite Supplements: IsoFlex


How Did You Get Started?

I've always played a lot of sports. When I started playing more competitive sports I started training like crazy! I needed to be in top shape to be able to compete in the sports I was playing.


What Workout Plan Worked Best For You?

Day 1/Day 3/Day 5: Upper Body/Abs Circuit

* Treadmill: 32 minutes, 1-3 minutes intervals, varying between level 3 to 11
* Sprints: Sprint 50 meters, jog 50 meters, repeat 12 times
* Superset:
Dumbbell Bench Press: 3 sets of 20 reps
One Arm Row: 3 sets of 20 reps


* Superset:
Front Plate Raise: 3 sets of 20 reps
Overhead Raise: 3 sets of 20 reps (....More....)

Injuries Creating Future Depth for (VA) Tech Defense

Date Released: 10/29/2011

Injuries Creating Future Depth for Tech Defense by Chris Coleman, TechSideline.com, October 28, 2011 The Virginia Tech defense is very young. Not only are they young, but with so many injuries sustained this year, some of the even younger backups have gotten an opportunity to play a lot, and even start games in some cases. The Hokies have played well defensively this year despite the injuries. Though all the attrition certainly won't help Virginia Tech in 2011, it will make them a better defense down the line. Experience Chart, Tech Defense Player Pos. Yr. Games Played Game Started Alonzo Tweedy Whip r-Jr. 35 1 Antoine Hopkins DT r-Jr. 32 17 Bruce Taylor LB r-Jr. 29 22 Jeron Gouveia-Winslow Whip r-Jr. 29 12 Tyrel Wilson DE r-So. 22 1 Jack Tyler LB r-So. 22 1 Kyle Fuller CB So. 22 14 Antone Exum FS r-So. 22 13 Tariq Edwards LB r-So. 22 8 J.R. Collins DE r-So. 22 9 Derrick Hopkins DT So. 21 8 James Gayle DE r-So. 20 9 James Hopper FS r-So. 20 0 Duan Perez-Means DE r-Fr. 8 0 Zack McCray DE r-Fr. 8 0 Corey Marshall DT Fr. 8 1 Luther Maddy DT Fr. 8 2 Detrick Bonner CB r-Fr. 8 1 College Football Tickets The Hokies have just one senior starter: rover Eddie Whitley. Barquell Rivers is also a r-senior who is taking over the mike position because of Bruce Taylor's injury last week against Boston College. Tech also has r-senior Cris Hill, a backup cornerback who plays in the nickel package, and they will likely lose Jayron Hosley a year early to the NFL. Other than that, the entire defense will return intact in 2012, and they will have lots of experience on the field. Assuming Tariq Edwards, J.R. Collins, Derrick Hopkins and James Gayle are healthy from here on out, Virginia tech will return nine defensive players with double-digit starts for the 2012 season. Because of the injuries to Jeron Gouveia-Winslow, Antoine Hopkins, Jayron Hosley and James Gayle, some other players are getting action. Alonzo Tweedy, who has played in more games than anyone on this list because of his experience on special teams, is starting for the first time. Nick Dew will start at whip against Duke, because now Tweedy is hurt. True freshmen defensive tackles Corey Marshall and Luther Maddy are getting starting experience because of the injury to Hopkins. Detrick Bonner will be ready to step into a starting role next season because he has been able to get valuable experience this year. While no one every hopes that injuries occur, there are plenty of times in the past when they have been beneficial. Back in 2002, cornerback Eric Green blew out his knee and had to redshirt. As a result, he got to play in 2004, and was a big reason the Hokies won the ACC Championship. Same with Jim Davis, who redshirted in 2003. If David and Green had never been injured, they would have been finished following the 2003 season. I doubt Tech would have won the ACC in 2004 without those guys. If Brett Warren didn't get to redshirt in 2006 because of an injury, Tech would have been in bad shape at mike linebacker in 2008. Injuries are hurting Tech in 2011, but it might be beneficial down the road. Not only will it help build depth for 2012 and 2013 on defense, but it will also serve as a boost to the wide receiving corps next year. Dyrell Roberts will be back as a result of his injury, and with him out in 2011, D.J. Coles has been getting a lot more reps and could be Tech's #1 receiver next season. If Tech can survive this rash of injuries and still play for the ACC Championship, it will be an impressive feat. Either way, the defense should be loaded with experience for the next couple of seasons.

Trading Booze For A Barbell, 5 Reasons To Hire a Personal Trainer (Strength and Conditioning Coach) From Bodybuilding.com

Trading Booze For A Barbell: How Ben Booker Set Down His Glass And Lifted Weights Instead.
Ben Booker isn’t your typical fitness model. He’s a blue-collar tech who suffered from alcoholism. Learn how bodybuilding saved his physique, his marriage and his life.

by Dustin Lapray Oct 26, 2011


When bodybuilders raise a glass, it's usually at end of a workout, with some sort of protein concoction sliding down their gullet and into their welcoming muscles.


But what happens when alcohol fills the glass, and it's consumed at all hours of the day, because the man in question simply can't help himself anymore?

Ben Booker knows. He started drinking alcohol at age 13 and continued until 2005. The drug drowned his body with toxins and nearly destroyed his marriage. Ben's future looked destitute.

His wife Erin, exasperated, told him she wasn't happy with the life they were leading.

Not every guy chooses the loving, lovely wife. That's how powerful and insidious this disease is.

Yet Ben chose to change for the better. He kicked the booze and eventually dedicated himself to the gym, lifting weights, and taking supplements. When he found Bodybuilding.com and its Bodyspace community, he was able to finally fill a void left by alcohol. His transformation was such that he became the 2010 BodySpace Spokesmodel contest winner.
Training Saved My Life:



Winning the 2010 contest helped him secure a position as the Spokesmodel for Applied Nutriceuticals.


Today, Ben sticks to his blue-collar roots, working with his father's family business, supporting his wife with CrossFit and helping to raise their three children.


"It's so important to tell your story, no matter what it is," Ben said. "No matter how little you think it is, there might be someone out there who needs to hear it."


You've heard Ben's story and seen his incredible results, but can you keep up with him in the gym? If you want to get built like Book, you'd better be eager to bring it. Ben's training is no-holds-barred, based on taking each and every set to failure. Ben encourages long rest periods and heavy weight. He wants to recruit every possible muscle fiber and force his body to grow.


Ben's tip? "Push yourselves." Keep it safe, but "lift heavier than you thought possible. It's all about absolute failure."

5 Reasons To Hire A Personal Trainer

by Frank Sepe, MET-Rx Oct 25, 2011

1. You Are Totally Confused

The landslide of fitness routines and diet plans on the market can flood your sensory receptors. It is tough to narrow down a program and commit to it, especially when you really don't fully understand how to do it.

If you are having a hard time choosing or figuring out how to perform your routine, then it is time to call a trainer. A good trainer will put you on the right path to success.

2. You Have Stopped Making Gains

If you have been training for a while and you are not satisfied with the results you have achieved, then you need a trainer. A trainer can dissect your training routine like an investigator at a crime scene and make the appropriate changes to put you back on track to faster results.

3. You're Unsure About Your Form

One of the easiest ways to stifle results is to use poor exercise form. You can work out day-in and day-out, but unless you perform your exercises correctly, you won't see the results you long after.


Bad form can cause a serious injury. A trainer can teach you good form and exercise habits that will last you a lifetime. Many beginners should hire a trainer for the first week, so they are taught proper exercise form from the start.


4. You Need To Be Challenged

Exercise plateaus are often difficult to overcome by yourself. Many people just can't find a way to surmount a plateau without the help of a professional trainer. You can save a lot of time and wasted energy if you hire a trainer when you hit a fitness plateau.

A trainer can put together a personal workout plan that will take you over the hump and onto new results - Fast!

5. Injuries And Special Needs


If you are injured and/or have a specific illness, then your doctor and trainer can work together to make sure that your training routine is effective, but safe at the same time. Working out is supposed to create better health, not impair you further.

It is an absolute must that your doctor and trainer work together if you are injured or have a specific illness that requires medical attention.

Washington D.C. Area Sports Update 10/22/2011

ELIZABETH CITY CLAIMS NORTH CROWN WITH 23-12 WIN OVER BOWIE STATE


(ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – October 22, 2011) In a game to determine the CIAA Northern Division crown, Elizabeth City State University got the job done, beating Bowie State University 23-12. The loss eliminates the Bulldogs from a chance at playing in the conference championship game and evens their record at 4-4 overall and 3-3 in the CIAA.


The Bulldogs took an early 3-0 lead at the 7:50 mark of the first quarter following a 38-yard field goal by senior Michael Gagne (Baltimore, MD).





In terms of team statistics, Bowie State accounted for 374 yards of total offense (204 rushing and 170 passing) and Elizabeth City State accumulated 314 yards of total offense (219 rushing and 95 passing). Bowie State, the most penalized team in the CIAA, shot themselves in the foot again, being flagged 12 times for 82 yards. Elizabeth City State was not immune from the penalty bug, as the Vikings were penalized 10 times for 84 yards.





Elizabeth City State’s Kevin Miller (Womelsdorf, PA) booted a 24-yard field goal with 5:32 left in the second quarter to tie the game at 3-3. The ECSU Vikings capitalized on a Bulldogs turnover and DaRonte McNeill (Elizabeth City, N.C.) hauled in a sideline pass from Creven Powell (Elizabeth City, N.C.), scoring a 33-yard touchdown at the 3:22 mark. Miller converted the extra point to take a 10-3 advantage. The touchdown was setup after Justin Beatty intercepted a pass by Bowie State junior Tyrae Reid (Baltimore, MD). Reid returned the interception 33 yards for an apparent Vikings score. However, a holding penalty along with an unsportsmanlike penalty negated the score at that time.





Gagne cut the Bowie State lead to 10-6 with 10:19 remaining in the third quarter following a 27-yard field goal, capping off a 10 play, 67-yard drive.





McNeill increased the ECSU Vikings lead to 16-6 after pounding in from 8-yards out with 12:20 remaining in the game.





BSU’s Reid was picked off for the second time, this time by Josh Brooks at the Vikings four-yard line and returned it to the Bowie State 10-yard line. Two-plays later, McNeill found the end zone again, and Miller’s extra point, pushed ECSU Vikings lead to 23-6 with 10:10 left to play.





Reid connected with junior Douglas McNeil (Baltimore, MD) for a 23-yard touchdown with 8:52 left on the clock, trimming the deficit to 23-12.





Elizabeth City State (5-2, 3-1 CIAA) was led on offense by McNeill’s 159 rushing yards and Powell’s 95 passing yards. Dewitt Dixon paced the Vikings defense with 10 total tackles.





Senior Tariq Jones led the Bowie State offense with 87 rushing yards on 15 carries and fellow senior James Proctor recorded a team-high 100 all-purpose yards. Defensively, junior Bekewele Amadi (Riverdale, MD) and sophomore Eric Walters (Capital Heights, MD) led the Bulldogs with 18 and 9 tackles respectively.





Bowie State will finally wrap up its six-week road swing next Saturday (October 29), traveling to Shepherd University for a noon non-conference contest against the Rams.



Hokie Hoops Team Prepares for Season

by Chris Coleman, TechSideline.com, October 21, 2011



Basketball practice has been going on for a week at Virginia Tech, and the Hokies open the 2011-12 season on November 12 against East Tennessee State. Preseason predictions have the Hokies finishing anywhere between fourth and eighth in the ACC. Today we'll take a quick look to see exactly what Tech has coming back this season.



Here is the projected starting lineup for Virginia Tech.

Virginia Tech 2011-12 Basketball Roster

Starters

Pos. Name Ht. Wt. Yr.

G Erick Green 6-3 185 Jr.

W Dorenzo Hudson 6-5 220 r-Sr.

W Dorian Finney-Smith 6-8 192 Fr.

F Jarell Eddie 6-7 218 So.

F Victor Davila 6-8 242 Sr.



Reserves

F J.T. Thompson 6-6 225 r-Sr.

F Cadarian Raines 6-9 238 r-So.

W Robert Brown 6-5 190 Fr.

G Ty Garland 6-1 180 So.

F C.J. Barksdale 6-8 232 Fr.

G Marquis Rankin 6-1 165 Fr.

F Joey Van Zegeren 6-10 206 Fr.

G Erik Sorenson 6-3 175 So.




We are certain that Erick Green, Dorenzo Hudson and Victor Davila will start, while it's likely that Dorian Finney-Smith and Jarell Eddie will get the nod as well.



The Hokies have 11 healthy scholarship players right now. Allan Chaney was not cleared by Virginia Tech to play basketball, while true freshman point guard Marquis Rankin had knee surgery back in early October and is expected to miss the next 4-6 weeks.



The Starters


Erick Green: Tech's veteran point guard, Green enters his second season as a starter looking to improve his shooting. However, his most important role is that of team leader. Green is a very good transition point guard and an excellent defender as well.



Dorenzo Hudson: After missing last season, Hudson returns as a fifth year senior and could be Virginia Tech's top scorer this season. He would like to be more consistent on his outside shots, but the key to Tech's success this year could be how well Hudson and Green coexist in the backcourt.



Dorian Finney-Smith: A long and athletic wing, Finney-Smith should be very good in transition, and he is also expected to be a good rebounder as a freshman. He will be one of Virginia Tech's better players in his first year on campus.



Jarell Eddie: Recently cleared to play for the first semester, Eddie will be a combo forward for Virginia Tech this season. He should be able to defend most power forwards he faces this year. He has good range on his jumper, though it needs to get more consistent. Eddie is a wildcard for the Hokies this season. If he becomes a scoring threat, then Tech will probably be better than expected.



Victor Davila: With the loss of Jeff Allen, a big void has been created on the inside when it comes to points and rebounds. Victor Davila had a solid season last year, and he'll be looking to improve yet again this year. More than anything, he has to improve his hands. If he can catch the ball cleanly on a consistent basis, he has the ability to score in double figures.



The Bench


J.T. Thompson: After missing last season with a torn ACL, Thompson will probably be Tech's top player off the bench. He's a very good sixth man who brings great energy and experience to the court.



Cadarian Raines: For the first time in his career, Cadarian Raines is participating in preseason practice. By all accounts he has had a good preseason, and he could be Tech's top rebounder and post defender this season.



Robert Brown: A highly-touted freshman, Brown is expected to provide Virginia Tech with a good scoring threat off the bench.



Ty Garland: Garland can back up Erick Green at the point guard spot, but he is also capable of playing on the wing as well.



C.J. Barksdale: As a true freshman post, Barksdale's time will probably be limited this year.



Marquis Rankin: Regarded as an excellent defender, Rankin is a terrific athlete in the form of former Wake Forest point guard Ish Smith. We won't know how ready he is to help the Hokies until he returns from his injury and gets into playing shape.



Joey Van Zegeren: A true freshman from Europe, Van Zegeren will use this season to get accustomed to American college basketball.



The Hokies have good talent on their team, but the losses of Malcolm Delaney, Terrell Bell and Jeff Allen will hurt. Scoring and rebounding could be issues, though Tech is expected to be a very good defensive team, as usual. We'll have more on the Tech basketball team as the season draws closer.

Washington D.C. Area Sports Update 10/16/2011

BOWIE STATE GRINDS OUT 22-10 WIN OVER LINCOLN (PA)







(WEST GROVE, Pa. – October 14, 2011) Senior Tariq Jones rushed for a career-high 171 yard on 33 carries to help lead Bowie State to a 22-10 road win at Lincoln University of Pennsylvania. The win snapped a three-game losing streak and improved the BSU record to 4-3 overall and 3-2 in the CIAA.





Jones scored the games’ first six points on the opening possession, rushing in from seven-yards and senior Michael Gagne added the extra point, giving Bowie State an early 7-0 lead at the 9:52 mark of the opening period.





Gagne booted a 28-yard field goal at the 12:08 mark of the second quarter to take a 10-0 lead.





Lincoln’s Kyle Jaska kicked a 29-yard field with 5:04 left in the first half to trim the Lions deficit to 10-3.





BSU’s Gagne drilled a 38-yard field goal with 6.9 seconds remaining in the first half to give the Bulldogs a 13-3 advantage heading into halftime. Bowie State controlled the ball in the first half, eating up 21:26, running off 13:36 in the first quarter.





Lincoln quarterback Doug Cook rushed for a five-yard touchdown at the 11:53 mark of the third quarter and Jaska’s extra point cut the margin to 13-10. The Lions used up 3:01 capping off an 8-play, 60-yard opening second half drive.





Bowie State’s Oladimeji Layeni sacked Cook in the end zone for a Bulldogs safety, giving the guest a 15-10 advantage with just under six minutes remaining in the contest. Bowie State capitalized on the Lincoln free kick when Reid faked a handoff a scampered around left end for a 36-yard touchdown run, which was the longest run of his career. Gagne converted the extra point to give the Bulldogs a 22-10 cushion that held up for the rest of the game. Reid, making his first start of the season, completed 9-of-15 passes for 58 yards.





As a team, Bowie State rolled up 363 yards of total offense, 305 via the ground. The Bulldogs accounted for 82 total plays compared to 47 for the Lions.





Lincoln (2-5, 2-3 CIAA) was led on offense by Cook’s 163 passing yards and was paced by Daron Jones and Brandon McElwee with a game-high 19 tackles each.





Besides Jones’ output, junior Ramono Flowers carried the ball 14 times for 63 yards and redshirt freshman Kendall Jefferson added 42 rushing yards on nine carries. Freshman Khari Lee led the BSU receivers with 20 reception yards on three catches. Junior Bekewele Amadi led the Bowie State defense with seven total tackles and junior Antonio Bond added five tackles in the victory.





“The win was something we definitely needed but Tariq played a great game tonight and answered the bell as our senior running back and we knew we had to run the ball in order to be successful said BSU third-year head coach Damon Wilson.





Bowie State continues its six week road trip, traveling down tobacco road to face the Vikings of Elizabeth City State University – Saturday (October 22nd) at 1 pm in ECSU’s Roebuck Stadium.




WILMINGTON (DEL.) KNOCKS OFF BOWIE STATE 3-0 IN VOLLEYBALL PLAY







(BOWIE, Md. – October 13, 2011) The visiting Wildcats of Wilmington (Del.) University knocked off Bowie State 3-0, defeating the Lady Bulldogs 25-12, 25-12 and 25-14 in non-conference volleyball action. The loss puts Bowie State’s record at 7-18 on the year while Wilmington improves to 12-7 overall.





As a team, Bowie State wrapped up the evening with a minus .037 attack percentage and gave up 12 service aces. Wilmington closed out the match with a positive attack percentage of .347.





The BSU Lady Bulldogs were paced by freshmen Jenahye’ Johnson (Baltimore, Md.) and Cara Nance (Island Lake, IL) with six and five kills respectively. Junior Jasmine Nixon (Middletown, N.Y.) added three kills and fellow junior Symone’ Jordan (Accokeek, Md.) along with freshman Paige McIntosh (Tucson, Az.) contributed one kill each.





McIntosh added a team-high 11 assists and Nixon had two service aces and seven digs, both team-highs.





Wilmington’s Wildcats were led by Kaitlin Shorter (Pasadena, Md.) with a match-high eight kills to go along with a team-high three blocks. Ann Marie Scarfo (Newark, Del.) knocked down six kills and added one service ace and five digs. Shannon Rumple (Fallston, Md.) paced the guests with 16 assists and 11 digs.





Bowie State returns to action with another non-conference match, Tuesday (October 18th), hosting Washington Adventist University at 6 pm in BSU’s A.C. Jordan Arena.



D.C. DIVAS ANNOUNCE NEW HEAD COACH



Allison Fischer by Maria Koklanaris Bonaquist of the Reston PatchLandover, MD -- Alison Fischer has been named the new Head Coach of the D.C. Divas. Alison is an original Diva having played for the Divas since its first season in 2001, so she will bring a wealth of football experience to the position. In the 2011 season she was elected a team captain by her team mates and played defensive back on a squad that held opposing teams to an average of only one touchdown per game during the regular season. Off the field Alison is a civil engineer and heads a group maintaining the Dulles Airport runways. Owner Paul Hamlin commented, “I’m proud that the Diva’s will be one of the few teams in all of women’s football with a female head coach. Again, the Divas are leading the way in women’s football.”



Joining Alison’s staff in the new position of Assistant Head Coach is Dan Tovar. Dan was the head football coach of the So Cal Scorpions of the former Women’s Professional Football League when they won their championship in 2007. He is a graduate of the U.S Naval Academy where he played linebacker for its Sprint Football team.



Finally, Eric Evans will be the Divas new offensive coordinator. Eric has been our quarterback and wide receiver coach for the past few years and knows the Divas offensive team very well. He played quarterback for Morgan State University.




BOWIE STATE BULLDOGS RANKED 8th IN D-II PRESEASON POLL







(BEAVERTON, Ore. – October 13, 2011) The Division II Bulletin released its monthly (October/November) newsletter and the Bowie State University men’s basketball team is ranked 8th in the Division II Preseason Poll.





Coming off its first Division II national championship, Bellarmine College is the No. 1 team in the 2011 Division II Bulletin Preseason Top 25 ranking. Rounding out the top five are Alabama-Huntsville, BYU-Hawaii, Missouri Southern and Findlay.





The second five includes Lincoln Memorial, Tarleton State, Bowie State, Colorado School of Mines and the College of St. Rose.





The Bowie State University men’s basketball program continues to gather momentum and looks to follow up a highly successful 2010-2011 campaign in its third year under head coach Darrell Brooks.





“I really think we can be very good this season. We’re deep and pretty athletic and I really like our experience this year. If we can rebound and defend, we can be a good basketball team,” Brooks said.





Last season, the Bulldogs reached the second round of the NCAA Division II Tournament and won the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association North Division crown with an 11-1 mark, while finishing a CIAA best 16-2 in the conference and 23-6 overall. The Bulldogs reached the NCAA Division II Tournament for the first time in six seasons last year.





The future looks bright for the Bulldogs, who will have four seniors returning including senior 7-foot forward/center Travis Hyman, who had a CIAA high 104 blocks last season to go along with 15.2 points per outing after earning CIAA Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2010. Senior point guard Darren Clark was amongst the conference leaders in assists with 114 last season while starting 28 of 29 contests and averaging 15.1 points per game. Senior guard Jay Gavin, who started all 25 games he appeared in, returns after averaging 8.6 points along with senior forward Ali Djim.





The Bulldogs will be bigger than they have in recent seasons with the addition of junior transfer Branden Doughty (6-8, 210 / Coppin State), junior junior college transfers Demeatric Scott (6-7, 210 / Hagerstown Community College) and Najee White (6-8, 238 / Hagerstown Community College) to go along with freshman Joel Clemons (6-7, 211 / National Christian Academy).





As a team, the Bulldogs led the CIAA in scoring at 81.3 points per game while yielding 74.8 points per game. The Bulldogs led the conference in blocks last season with 163.





The Bulldogs will open the 2011-2012 season with an exhibition against George Washington University (11/6). The team will kick off the regular season at the Clarion Classic and will face West Virginia State University – Friday, November 11th. The team will begin its home schedule Tuesday, December 6th against California University of Pennsylvania.





D-II PRESEASON TOP 25


Team (2010-2011 Record)


1) Bellarmine (33-2)


2) Alabama-Huntsville (29-5)


3) BYU-Hawaii (22-9)


4) Missouri Southern (26-5)


5) Findlay (24-4)


6) Lincoln Memorial (27-3)


7) Tarleton State (26-4)


8) Bowie State (23-6)


9) Colorado School of Mines (24-6)


10) St. Rose (22-9)


11) Central Oklahoma (30-4)


12) Alaska Anchorage (24-10)


13) Southern Indiana (24-6)


14) West Liberty (33-1)


15) Queens (N.C.) (21-8)


16) Indiana (Pa.) (26-6)


17) Benedict (21-8)


18) Georgia Southwestern (20-9)


19) Metro State (22-8)


20) Kentucky Wesleyan (19-10)


21) Humboldt State (26-4)


22) Augustana (27-4)


23) C.W. Post (21-10)


24) Seattle Pacific (20-10)


25. Winona State (20-10)