Tech talks QBs; ECU loses starter for Saturday
Blacksburg — East Carolina quarterback Rob Kass was suspended Tuesday for the season-opener at No. 9 Virginia Tech due to a violation of team policy.
Kass, a sophomore slated to be ECU's starter, was arrested Saturday morning in Greenville, N.C. and charged with driving while intoxicated. He didn't play much last season, completing just 14 of 30 passes for 184 yards, no touchdowns and an interception.
With Kass out of the game, sophomore Brett Clay or junior Patrick Pinkney will start Saturday. Clay is No. 2 on ECU's depth chart, while Pinkney is No. 3.
Just hours before the announcement of Kass' suspension, Tech coach Frank Beamer said Tuesday a quarterback change might cause the Pirates to tweak their offense.
"You've got one guy that's a big old guy that can really throw the football from what I can see," said Beamer, referring to Kass, who is 6-feet-4 and 247 pounds. "Then, you've got two six-foot guys [Clay and Pinkney] that I would assume are very quick guys. That's what you would assume. So, I would think there'd be a little bit of a difference in how they would approach the game depending on who played, but you don't know that for sure."
THOUGHTS ON MICHAEL VICK
Beamer and tailback Branden Ore offered their thoughts about former Tech quarterback Michael Vick's guilty plea Monday on a federal conspiracy count of dogfighting.
"I thought Michael Vick took a big step (Monday)," Beamer said. "I thought he was extremely sincere. I'm pulling for Michael Vick. I know him and like him and think about him and I'm pulling for Michael."
Vick, a Warwick High graduate, will be sentenced Dec. 10 in Richmond. He likely faces at least 12 to 18 months in prison.
"He's a good guy, and I still believe in him," Branden Ore said. "Sometimes when you make mistakes, you just have to deal with them."
MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE
Before Richard Graham got his scholarship offer from Virginia Tech, he had two options: the ivy-covered walls of Princeton or the steel gray uniforms of the U.S. Military Academy.
After being named Tech's starting left guard against ECU, Graham said he isn't second-guessing his decision to turn down chances to study and play football at an elite academic institution like Princeton or Army. Tech was the only major Division I football program to offer him an athletic scholarship.
As far as Graham's teammates' level of confidence in him going into his first start, quarterback Sean Glennon said he has no doubts about Graham, who is also a backup at right tackle. Glennon has been impressed with Graham's toughness.
"You'd sometimes rather go with the guy who would die for you in there than the guy who maybe doesn't play with as much fire," Glennon said.
FRESHMEN GETTING IN?
Beamer said he plans to have six true freshmen dress out for Saturday's game, including quarterback Tyrod Taylor, a Hampton High graduate, right tackle Blake DeChristopher, tight end Chris Drager, free safety Davon Morgan, cornerback Cris Hill and long snapper Collin Carroll.
Out of those players, Beamer said DeChristopher, Drager and Morgan all have the best chance of playing in the first game.
See more
at www.dailypress.com
| 
