By Jimmy Robertson
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Virginia Tech football program held its first practice in Charlotte on Friday morning after the players and coaches arrived in the Queen City on Thursday.
After four full days off, Tech practiced for its upcoming Belk Bowl matchup with Kentucky with great energy and showed no rust or sluggishness after being away with family and friends for the Christmas holiday.
"As coaches, it's our job to worry, and we certainly worry about that," Tech head coach Justin Fuente said. "We came out last night and got a good run in to get the juices flowing a little bit. But the guys did a good job today. I think they understand we have a tremendous challenge in front of us. I think we're learning through bowl prep that there is a time to relax and have a good time, and there's a time to be serious. I think our kids, thus far in our short time here, have done a good job of balancing those two things."
The football program certainly knows how to prepare for a bowl game, considering it has been to 27 consecutive bowls. The Belk Bowl will mark the program's fourth under Fuente, including a 2016 appearance in the Belk Bowl – the Hokies' first bowl win with him at the helm.
The Hokies knocked off Arkansas in that game, and they hope history repeats itself. Tech is practicing at the same local high school as it did in 2016, and Fuente pretty much is keeping the same routine.
"Essentially, we have the same schedule," he said. "The practice schedule varies a little bit, but in terms of what we're going to do, if it's not verbatim, it's pretty darn close."
Tech enters the game with plenty of motivation. The Hokies want to send retiring defensive coordinator Bud Foster out with a victory, and they want to do the same for the seniors.
"I think it's wonderful opportunity for this team to play together one last time," Fuente said. "I think were similar to Kentucky in some ways in the act that they have a bunch of guys coming back next year. We have a large portion of our squad coming back next year, so we want to put the focus on our improvement pushing forward to next year while focusing on sending our seniors out the right way."
"It means everything," Tech defensive tackle Jarrod Hewitt said. "As far as we're concerned the future is now. Everyone is talking about the future, but we really just want to win this game."
Here are some more notes from Friday's practice:
FARLEY IN QUESTION
Caleb Farley, the Hokies' top cover cornerback, missed Friday's practice because of recurring back spasms. Farley suffered the spasms in the lead-up to the Virginia game, and he missed that game. Now, his appearance in the bowl game is in question.
"I just don't know right now," Fuente said. "Obviously, he wasn't able to go the last time, and he's still not getting much work in."
MURRAY GETTING ADDITIONAL WORK
Armani Chatman figures to get the start if Farley cannot play, but Tech's staff continues to work Brion Murray for added depth. Murray, a 5-foot-10, 190-pounder, arrived at Tech after a two-year stint at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas (one year as a redshirt), and he has played in 10 of the Hokies' 12 games this season.
"Continues to work and get better," Fuente said of Murray. "He hadn't played a tremendous amount of football in general, and when he got here, you've seen him go about it the right way and continue to get better. There have been a couple of times in the middle of close games we've lost a guy or two, and he's been thrown in there and stood up at a couple of different spots. I've been pleased with his development."
VANLANDINGHAM IN IMPORTANT ROLE
Jacob Vanlandingham, a redshirt freshman from Franklin, Tennessee, is playing an important role this week, as the receiver/quarterback works on the scout team as a quarterback. He plays the role of Kentucky quarterback Lynn Bowden, the star of the Wildcats' rushing-oriented offense who has rushed for 1,235 yards and 11 touchdowns after being moved from receiver to quarterback early in the season.
"You do your best to try to simulate it, but he's a special player for a reason – because there aren't many of them around," Fuente said. "We've gotten good looks from our guys. They're doing the best they can to help us with what we're about to face."
NEW POSITION COACHES WITH OPPORTUNITY
The departures of Charley Wiles and Brian Mitchell have created opportunities for a couple of people on Tech's staff who normally wouldn't be in the role as an assistant coach for a bowl game. Zach Sparber, a graduate assistant, will be coaching the Hokies' defensive line in the bowl game, while Pierson Prioleau will be coaching the cornerbacks.
"It's a great learning experience for them – a great opportunity for them to be in the room and be the head coach of their position," Fuente said. "My own personal experience, I was given a room probably well before I was ready … So you learn on the fly and emulate what you've heard and put your own spin on it."
Gallery: (12/27/2019) 2019 FOOTBALL BELK BOWL PRACTICE 1