Virgil to start for the Hokies

I ran into Richard Virgil, father of former Gryphon football standout Stephan Virgil, recently and he told me that his son Stephan will be starting at cornerback for Virginia Tech this fall.

And guess who he'll start against - the East Carolina Pirates in Charlotte at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 30. Kickoff is at noon.

The younger Virgil is now 5-11, 186 pounds as he enters his junior season.

Richard and Sandra, his mom, have their travel plans all set. These guys don't miss a game. In addition to their six trips to Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, the Virgils will hit the road to Charlotte, Chapel Hill (UNC), Lincoln, Ne. (Nebraska), Chesnut Hill, Mass. (Boston College), Tallahassee, Fl. (Florida State) and Miami (U of Miami).

Another local Hokie may get to hit the field for the very first time this season.

Former Southern Nash defensive tackle Kwamaine Battle was redshirted last season with injuries to both his shoulders.

The 6-foot, 271-pound freshman will be in competition for playing time this season. He'll wear the number "93".

According to HokieSports.com, Battle is a promising young player and is expected to be in the battle for playing time.

2008 Rocky Mount Football Team Roster

No. /Player/ Ht./ Wt./ Pos./ Class

1 Josh Boulware 6-1 195 LB Sr.
2 Justin Barnes 6-2 175 QB Sr.
3 Keith Strickland 6-1 180 WR Sr.
4 Hiawatha Bunn 6-0 170 QB/DB Sr.
5 Marquavis Alston 5-10 175 RB Jr.
6 Jordan Ford 5-9 165 RB Jr.
7 Collins Cuthrell 6-0 170 QB Jr.
8 Marcus Jones 6-0 182 WR/S Jr.
9 Nick Harrison 6-2 215 DE/TE Sr.
15 Kendrick Boulware 6-0 172 FB Sr.
17 Hashem Hatu 5-9 155 CB Jr.
20 L’var Silver 5-9 185 FB Sr.
21 Damien Bynum 5-7 160 HB Jr.
22 Zack Williams 6-0 175 DB Sr.
24 Brian Goodwin 6-1 185 S/KR Sr.
28 Jermon Lynch 5-10 175 HB Sr.
33 Carter Varnell 5-9 178 FB/LB Jr.
34 Bradley Arrington 5-11 165 DB Sr.
36 Justin Atkinson 5-10 170 G Jr.
39 Jeffery Henderson 5-10 170 LB Jr.
40 Michael Lee 5-10 175 DL Jr.
41 Chris Pittman 6-1 195 LB Sr.
42 Dedrick Silver 5-10 172 SS Sr.
44 Nick Hahula 5-10 222 K/FB/LB/P Sr.
50 Whit Barnes 6-4 275 C Sr.
51 Darryl Cross 5-11 208 G Sr.
52 Aaron Barnes 5-11 190 LB Jr.
53 Brandon Dennis 6-3 242 G/DL Sr.
54 Greg Williams 6-2.5 282 G Sr.
55 John Wells 5-9 215 NG Sr.
56 Chris Driver 5-10 180 C/G Sr.
60 Robert Cannon 5-10 245 OG Jr.
61 Zebedee Battle 5-10 248 C Jr.
62 Torey Lee 5-11 255 OT Sr.
64 Jordan Knight 5-10 205 T Jr.
65 Corey Tabron 6-3 270 OT Jr.
66 Josh Thigpen 5-11 235 DT Sr.
70 Anthony Miller 5-10 175 DL Jr.
71 Arilius Murphy 5-9 265 OL Jr.
75 Jarron Battle 6-0 315 OT Sr.
77 Trevor Tucker 6-2 285 OT Jr.
80 Spencer Bell 6-0 175 TE Jr.
81 Antonio Willis 5-10 165 DB Jr.
82 Hakeem Parker 6-4 230 DE Sr.
83 Annis Mahmoud 6-1 160 WR Sr.
84 Phillip Wilkins 6-2 220 TE Sr.
86 Patrick Pittman 6-1 205 DE Jr.
88 Johvone Smith 6-2 210 DE/TE So.
90 Jermaine Fields 6-2.5 215 DE Sr.

COACHING/SUPPORT STAFF

Head Coach: B.W. Holt (sixth season)
Mascot: Gryphons
Principal: Leondus Farrow
Athletic Director: Michael Gainey
School Address: 308 S. Tillery Street, Rocky Mount, N.C. 27804
Assistant Coaches: Jason Battle, Jemonte Battle, Gerald Costen, Kent Cox, Alan Hess, Hank Jones, J.J. Jones, Chris Lee
Head Trainer: Bernie Capps
Student Trainers: Will Vaughan, Colin Ward
Student Managers: Tyler Ellis, Jerrell Hilliard, Jazzmen Taylor
Volunteer EMT: Mike Varnell
Team Chaplin: Johnny Williams
Equipment Crew: Erwin Dancy, Ron Driver, Don Johnson
Chain Gang: Dwayne Chambers, Bobby English, Percy Morris, Wyatt Phillips, Bernie Tyndall, Chris Tyndall
Film Crew: Grey Capps, Ken Capps
Radio Crew: Wes Bradshaw, Tony Doughtie – AM 1390 Sports
Statistics Crew: Charles Alston, Bob Hudgins, Lyn Joyner, David Pitt
Timekeeper: Donald Farmer
PA announcers: Wayne Wallace (varsity), Tony Doughtie (JV)

Facilities crew: Quinton Lee, Jacob Parker

Tickets: Keith Barnes, Carol Taylor

Check out the WDT 2008 Football Tabloid

My good friends on the Wilson Daily Times sports staff (Paul Durham, Tom Ham, Michael Lindsay, Brad Howell) have made their 2008 High School Football Tabloid available online for the first time.

Their coverage area includes three teams in the NEW 6 3-A Conference: Wilson Fike, Southern Nash and SouthWest Edgecombe.

Check out this colorful and very informative section right here!

Goodwin has solid effort in Chicago

Perhaps asking for another MVP performance might have been too much to ask from Brian Goodwin.

But then again, perhaps not.

Goodwin, again, made his presence known on a national stage as he played in the Under Armour High School All-American Baseball Game Sunday afternoon at Chicago's Wrigley Field.

The 36 high school All-Americans flown into Chicago were split into two teams: Baseball Factory and Team One. As as starter in right field for Baseball Factory, he went 2-for-4, stole two bases and scored a run as his squad staved off a late Team One rally for a 5-4 win.

Goodwin went a combined 4-for-8, with three stolen bases, two runs scored and two RBI in his travels to Los Angeles and Chicago the past two weeks - plus two All-Star victories.

Not bad!

Now he'll trade in his bat and glove for a helmet and pads as he joins the Gryphons on the football field - where he'll electrify all of us even more with incredible kickoff and punt returns.

Expect him in the lineup by Game 3 of the season - a road contest at Northern Vance.