Hoke isn’t apologizing to anyone for that, saying that his team has simply worried about itself all season and that isn’t going to change now. The former San Diego State and Ball State coach also has some interesting opinions on Denard Robinson and the rumors that the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry game could be moved from the last week of the season.

Brady Hoke joined WXYT in Detroit with Stoney and Bill to discuss preparing his team for distractions in New Orleans, the excitement level of his team as they prepare for a BCS bowl game matchup with Virginia Tech, the threats Virginia Tech poses in all three phases of the game, the agreement between the Big Ten and Pac-12 to play each other every year, the future of quarterback Denard Robinson, and the potential moving of the rivalry game with Ohio State from the last weekend of the regular season.

Are there distractions you have to worry about with your team playing in New Orleans?:

“You’ve been here, right? And you’re distracted easily. When you’ve got a bunch of 18 to 23 year olds and you’re in a great city that has a lot of different opportunities, it can be a distraction. … We pretty much check them in every night. … They had a little time to themselves, but believe me, we check them all in.”

Do you have to educate your players about the surroundings and what’s going on down there?:

“No question. We brought in the New Orleans police department and they do a great job of really trying to educate your guys on the different elements that are here and the different traps that you can fall into. I thought that was a great orientation.”

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How excited is your group and can you understand the frustration of fans from teams like Michigan State who think they should be in a BCS bowl game?:

“We’re extremely proud and excited to be here and playing in a BCS football game. All year long, we haven’t worried about anybody else but ourselves. We’re just going to go out and represent the University of Michigan and represent the Big Ten Conference to our highest level.”

On the matchups with some dynamic offensive players for Virginia Tech:

“The running back, you have a 1,600-yard back. That’s a pretty special thing. He’s definitely a guy who can do an awful lot — hitting the hole, he’s got great explosion, he’s a triple jump champion at the Penn Relays. He’s a very athletic guy, David Miller. And then Logan Thomas at quarterback is a 6-8 version of Denard. He’s 250 pounds. He reminds you a lot of Ben Roethlisberger at an early age, when he could move around the pocket a little better.”

What are your thoughts on the new agreement pitting Pac-12 teams against the Big Ten every year?:

“I think the two conferences have so much tradition together, when you look at the Rose Bowl. I think it’s good for our conference. You definitely have to look at your scheduling and what you’ll do with that, going on from here, if that’s what you’re going to have.”

Do you believe Denard Robinson will be back next year?:

“I think so. We’re the ones who encouraged him to find out [more about the NFL]. There’s a lot of different reasons you would do that, maybe some motivation, maybe some insurance a guy can take out. All of those things are a part of it, and to see where you’re at. Denard kind of came to me about it and was very hesitant and I said, ‘No, I think we need to do this and I think it’s the right thing to do for you.’”

On rumors that the Ohio State-Michigan game may be moved earlier in the season and you guys would always end the season against Michigan State:

“I would be very much against it. That rivalry with Ohio has always been played at the end of the year and you’d probably find a lot of people with the same sentiment that it needs to be kept where it is.”

Listen to Brady Hoke on WXYT in Detroit here

Not Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer. Beamer is glad the NFL isn’t allowing people to simply walk away from their infractions. In fact, he wishes the league would more frequently force former college athletes and coaches to pay the price for their wrongdoings at the collegiate level, regardless if they were no longer associated with college sports or a particular program.  For instance, Beamer believes the NFL should have taken a similar stance with Pete Carroll when he bolted from turmoil at USC for the Seattle Seahawks.

Frank Beamer joined 106.7 The Fan in Washington D.C. with The Junkies to discuss getting over the disappointments of last season for the Hokies program, not having a big-time non-conference game this year, talking to his team about compliance issues in the wake of recent scandals across the country, the NFL upholding Terrelle Pryor’s suspension if and when he joins an active NFL roster, why he believes Roger Goodell and the NFL should have enacted similar penalties with Pete Carroll when he jumped ship from ‘SC to join the Seahawks, rumors about the Hokies potentially being wooed away by the SEC, if it gets harder for him to relate to players as he gets older, and what he’s seeing out of this year’s Virginia Tech squad as the new season rapidly approaches.

On getting over the loss in the bowl game to end last season:

“I think I go back and look at 11 straight that we won there when we started out the season losing our first two. Our kids hung in there and we didn’t point fingers. We got closer as a football team. I’m proud of the ability to come back and win the ACC championship and I thought we made a great statement there.”

What’s the rationale behind a non-conference schedule that doesn’t feature an upper-echelon team this year?:

“I think East Carolina has certainly been a good program for a while and Marshall, that’s a good, solid program, too. … We try to get a major program on there every year. It just turns out we didn’t get what you guys would call a big, big program. But, certainly, I think East Carolina and Marshall are solid programs.”

How much do you address your team about compliance at this point and did you address your players specifically about what happened at Miami?:

“During preseason we have what we call educational meetings every day and talk about different things in the program — what you can do and what you can’t do. I think you educate your kids and they know what’s right and wrong and they’re responsible for their actions.”

On the NFL upholding the five-game suspension leveled to Terrelle Pryor at Ohio State:

“I appreciate the NFL working with the colleges to … [take] the general statement, if you’ve done something wrong in college, you can’t take the next step and just walk away from it. I think the NFL’s sending a message and hopefully it will hold up in court and we can have consistency throughout.”

Shouldn’t they do the same thing to coaches then, like Pete Carroll?:

“I agree totally. I don’t think you can just be somewhere and something happened and you can just walk away from it and take the next step.”

On the rumors that the Hokies could be wooed away to the SEC:

“We just feel very fortunate to be a part of the ACC. When they invited us in, that was exactly where Virginia Tech needed to be. I know our fans feel that way. We’re happy exactly where we are.”

As you get older, do you find it harder to relate to players?:

“I don’t believe relationships change. I think what’s important is that they trust you and know you care about them and they can rely on what you tell them. I think that’s still the foundation of coaching a player.”

What’s the overall strength of your team this year?:

“I don’t know that there is an overall strength. I do think our quarterback’s going to be good. I think David Wilson is a special player. Wide receivers probably is are as special as any. … On the offensive line, we’ve got some experience there, guys who have started a lot of ballgames. Hopefully we’re going to see that consistency in our offense. Defensively, we’re just very young, still … but I do think we’re athletic.”

Listen to Frank Beamer on 106.7 The Fan in Washington D.C. here

Frank Beamer joined WQXI in Atlanta to talk about how the team was able to respond to losing the first two games of the season to where they are today, the notion that Virginia Tech has always had a hard time beating Florida State, what the team’s concern is defensively against FSU, and Christian Ponder not being 100 percent healthy.

How the team was able to respond to losing the first two games of the season to where they are today:

“I think number one we got really good character guys on our team. I think you have to have that if you have to come back from two devastating losses like we had, and when your hopes are high and all of a sudden you are 0-2 that is a time where a lot of people cash in their chips but our guys didn’t. We came back, and I think guys like John Graves and Tyrod Taylor I think they were right up front and talking. Neither one of them talk very much but when they do talk people listen. I think they were instrumental along with some other seniors we have here. I give them the credit. They hung in there and came back and they have always played hard since then.”

In hindsight whether he would have scheduled the game against James Madison again five days after the Boise State game:

“No, that was a tough deal and we lost there in the last few minutes to Boise State and so much was made of that game and then you try to come back trying to get ready for a team that is good, they are in state, they maybe be I-AA but they play good football. James Madison did what they needed to do to beat us.”

On Virginia Tech’s struggles beating Florida State during his tenure in Blacksburg:

“Yeah we have. When I first came back, I came back to Virginia Tech and they were so much better than we were. We couldn’t get them beat back then, and then as we caught up with them a couple of games just got away from us, but the thing I told our kids yesterday is the thing about Florida State, I remember the championship game three games ago and they just lost three and Florida beat them bad at the end of the season, lost three in a row and they came in there and got us. I was telling our players yesterday that the thing they need to know about Florida State is they are always going to have good players and they are always going to be well-coached and you better get ready to play and play well. We have got to play well because you have got to go beat those guys. They have got good enough players where you are not going to get it unless you go beat them.”

What the team’s concern is defensively against FSU and Christian Ponder not being 100 percent healthy:

“I thought he was 100% last week, he played like he was 100%. I don’t know if he was or not but he played and threw some great balls for them. I think to me they are just Florida State. You look at them And I think their line is very good, good feet, good running backs, got a bunch of those guys and they all look about the same, got good speed and then their wide receivers. One kid there, Smith, is 6’6’’ and just a couple of guys there. Reed #83 makes a lot of catches and he has got about 53 catches. They are just typical Florida State. To me, good players, well-coached. That is what Florida State is.”

Frank Beamer with Pollack & Bell on 790 The Zone in Atlanta

If all of that wasn’t enough, Kansas State may very well go through that entire stretch without Curtis Kelly, who was benched by coach Frank Martin in the opener. The coach hasn’t spoken much about the situation, but says it’s an on-the-court issue and it appears Kelly, a pivotal senior on the young team, needs to work his way out of the doghouse.

And if he’d like to help the No. 3-ranked team in the country prove it deserves that ranking.

Frank Martin joined WHB in Kansas City with Kevin Kietzman to discuss playing such a tough game in Virginia Tech in the first week of the season, what he wants to learn in possibly playing the Hokies, Gonzaga and Duke over the next week, Curtis Kelly’s absence from the lineup, what Kelly’s issue is and the play of preseason All-American Jacob Pullen.

On playing a tough team in Virginia Tech right out of the gate:

“I don’t know if I’m enjoying just getting dropped right in the middle of a volcano here, but it is what it is. We’ve got a young team and we expected certain things to be a little differently at this time of the year, but unfortunately they’re not and it is what it is. We’re going to light up and it’s going to be a great challenge for our guys.”

On what he hopes to learn in potentially playing three ranked opponents in a week:

“If we can survive. I hope we’re still breathing a week from Wednesday. It’s great, it’s great. We’ve built our program. Ideally, as a coach, you don’t want to play so many hard games in such a short period of time, but truth be told, if you’re getting better as a program, you’ve got to challenge your guys. … It’s all about the Big 12. When you play in the Big 12, it’s not like you play one hard game, one easy game, one hard game, two easy games. It’s 16 consecutive hard games. Our guys have to learn the frame of mind that needs to be created for that environment.”

On not playing Curtis Kelly:

“He just hasn’t handled some things the right way and it’s something that’s been ongoing for a while and we’ve tried to correct it and it wouldn’t get fixed. Now he’s been better for the last couple days and I hope that continues. When he shows me that he’s back to having both feet on the ground and just back on the track that he’s been on for over two years, then he’ll be able to go out and play again, but that’s kind of between he and I.”

On whether it’s a basketball issue or off-the-court issue:

“Oh it’s not off the court. You can go Google whatever you want to, you’re not going to find anything. You’re talking about a young man that came in here and got a college degree last June. He’s a heckuva kid, but it’s one of those things. … I understand that my job’s about winning games, but I’m a little deeper than that. My job’s about making young men grow up and making young men prepared and I’m not going to cheat them out of that at the expense of winning a game. And then we also have a program to continue to build. We expect our upperclassmen to do things a certain way and he understands that. … He’s in practice, he’s on our bench, we love him, he’s one of us, but he had to kind of take a step back, too, for a little bit.”

On the play of Jacob Pullen:

“That’s what happens with good players when they gain confidence, the game really slows down. I have a saying which is: Run Fast, Play Slow. If you’re running, whether it’s running the court, running to set a screen, running to come off a screen, running to get back on defense, whatever, run. When the ball gets in your hands, it’s time to play, so play slow. And Jake … that’s what he plays like. It’s a combination of a good player that has put in the time and now has gained confidence. That game has slowed down. He is starting to see things that are happening two plays ahead of time and two passes ahead of time.”

Listen to Frank Martin on WHB in Kansas City here

Despite the early season losses, VT is in the driver’s seat and in a position to claim their third ACC crown in just the last four seasons.  This year’s GT squad isn’t the same as it was from a year ago.  They don’t have a deep threat now that Demaryius Thomas plays for the Denver Broncos, and without a legitimate receiving option, senior QB Josh Nesbitt has seemingly regressed as a passer.  If Virginia Tech can stop the run and manage to make the Jackets one-dimensional with the passing game, Tyrod Taylor and the Hokies will have a field day and should blow the doors off of them.        

Frank Beamer on WQXI in Atlanta to talk about the play of Tyrod Taylor this season, the versatility of their 3 different running backs, and how much playing the spread option will affect the way their defense uses their nickel formation.

On the play of Tyrod Taylor this season:

“He is playing at a very high level, he is throwing very accurate.  He is making plays, he is keeping plays alive, he is very much in control meaning his knowledge of the game is really good and where the ball needs to go, and he is a great leader, a great person, you know.  He is the total package.”

Where Tyrod Taylor fits among the quarterbacks he has coached during his career at Virginia Tech:

“We have been fortunate but Tyrod right up at the top.  I think the thing that Tyrod gives you is he is so much in control, I mean he knows what exactly is going on the field and he doesn’t throw it to the wrong place very much.  He is good about people changing up on him and not getting him into a bad flow or an interception, so he had been good.  I hope like heck he can keep it up and I believe he will.  He has really worked hard over the summer and in his preparation to become a better quarterback and I think it shows on the field.”

On the versatility of their 3 different running backs:

“The thing that makes it work I think is they’re all great people, you know.  Darren Evans, Ryan Williams, David Wilson, they all bring something to the table, they all bring something to the game, but they like each other, they all get along.  I think that’s what makes this whole thing work.  They want what’s best for Virginia Tech, there’s not a selfish guy in the group, you know it’s worked of course.  Ryan has been out for a while but I think he is going to be back for this ball game and probably the closest he has been to 100% in a long time.”

Whether he allows himself to go back and think about what could have been had they not lost to Boise State and James Madison:

“Well I go back and say how proud I am of my players and coaches.  I don’t know how many programs that have two devastating losses like that within a week, one was on a Monday and the other was on a Saturday, and then come back and beat some good football teams, and then of course the heart of our schedule starts here tomorrow night, we beat some good football teams too.  I think the way that they came back and handled that, there is something to be said for that…  Right now we are in a situation where we just need to take one game and that game is Georgia Tech and play as good as we can play and we’ll see where we are after that.”

How much playing the spread option will affect the way their defense uses their nickel formation:

“That is the problem, I’ve seen in an interview and people ask, whether your defense is getting better or not?  Yeah I think our defense is getting better but they were getting better playing some other different offenses, not the one that we are going to see tomorrow night and that offense is so different.  You play it one time a year, unless you play Army or Navy, you play against it one time a year and Paul and his coaches know exactly what they are doing.  They make great adjustments and it’s just a difficult task for a team to play and get ready for it in a short period of time.  That is the problem with their defense right now is we have got some young guys who have played in some games so they’re not so young any more but they haven’t seen this offense and how quickly it comes at you.”

Frank Beamer on 790 the Zone in Atlanta with Barnhart & Durham

Long-time defensive coordinator Bud Foster feels this is the fastest unit he has ever coached.  The problem is that much of that speed comes with little experience, so he will be tested this season early on when they play Kellen Moore and the Boise State Broncos  One thing is certain that you can count on this defense to be playing with the same intensity and be flying to the football on every play as they always have with Foster directing the ship.  With Georgia Tech, Clemson, North Carolina, and Virginia Tech all vying for the top spot, this season should be a fun one to watch.

Frank Beamer joined 106.7 the Fan in D.C. to talk about whether he feels comfortable with the media choosing them to be the team to beat in the ACC, whether he is excited to go back to D.C. and play Boise State and get a better result than from last season, and what he and his coaching staff have been able to instill in the program to make it so successful year in and year out.

Whether he feels comfortable with the media choosing them to be the team to beat in the ACC:

“Yeah I was a little bit surprised with as many players as we are replacing from last year, I really don’t think there are a lot of teams to win that ACC but I think it shows respect to our program, our coaches, our players, that as many players as we lost they would still pick us to win the ACC and by a pretty big margin, really.”

Whether he is excited to go back to D.C. and play Boise State and get a better result than from last season:

“Yeah that is a great place to play and of course we are playing a quality opponent in Boise, they are going to be probably # 2 or 3 are the most I have seen in the preseason so far and probably everyone that comes out.  They have earned it.  Every time they have had a big stage to play on they have come through.  It is a quality opponent and probably the #2 team in the country so we will look forward to playing there.”

What goes into the idea of playing a quality opponent like Boise State early in the season when there isn’t very much upside for them:

“Again, it is no different to me than playing Alabama last year.  Alabama was #5 in the preseason and Boise is #2.  I think they have earned people’s respect.  To me, it is a chance to play a top program early in the year and our kids understand how good Boise is.  Our summer preparation is going well.  I think our preseason practices will be better because we are playing a nationally ranked opponent.  So I think with this particular matchup, Boise has everyone back and we are replacing quite a few.  To play in the first ball game is going to be a little bit tough for us but again it is a chance to play a quality opponent at the beginning of the year and I think it helps us in the long run.”

What he and his coaching staff have been able to instill in the program to make it so successful year in and year out:

“Well I think you have to have good players first of all.  It takes skill to block a kick, it takes skill to block a play and we have had a lot of good players and I feel fortunate to keep the coaching staff together and I think we do have a consistent way of coaching the kids.  Then I think it builds itself on a little bit so once something happens like that it will cause it to happen again.  Our kids start thinking they can do it again.  So I think all of those things kind of come into play.”

Frank Beamer on 106.7 the Fan in DC with Bill Rohland

SRI continues to work in new writers. This post is courtesy of Tim Gunter from 790 the Zone in Atlanta.  Frank Beamer has taken his alma mater from obscurity to become a powerhouse in college football.  Frank is in his 22^nd season in Blacksburg and has had 17 winning seasons and has made it to a bowl game for an unprecedented 15 consecutive times.  Since the beginning of the 1995 season, only Florida and Ohio State have posted more wins than Virginia Tech.  With the loss of many seniors from a year ago, they are going to have their work cut out for them this season.  It doesn’t help when you lose your leading rusher, Darren Evans, to a knee injury and start off the season with Alabama, Nebraska, and Miami (FLA) in their first four games.  If they can manage to win 10 games again this season along with another ACC Conference Championship, this could be one of Frank Beamer’s best coaching jobs yet.

Frank Beamer joined 1620 the Zone in Omaha  to talk about the vibe in Blacksburg for the upcoming Nebraska game, what he has seen from Nebraska as they are preparing for this game, how the young running backs have performed thus far, the tough start to the 2009 season with games against Alabama, Nebraska and Miami, the difference in Tyrod Taylor’s game from last year to this year, and how he breaks down the special teams practice with offense and defense. 

On the vibe of Blacksburg for the game Saturday:

“I think there is a lot of excitement.  Our fans have really talked about it a lot about how impressive the Nebraska fans and how courtesy they were to them.  That’s the way it ought to be.  I am hoping our people will treat Nebraska people the same way we were treated out there. I think it’s going to be an exciting atmosphere at the stadium.  I know both of us will pull hard for our football teams and we’ve got the makeness of a good football game.”

On what he has seen from Nebraska as they are preparing for this game:

“I think they are really a good football team.  I think they have improved from last year.  I don’t think there is any question about it.  I think Coach Pelini has done a heck of a job.  I know anything to do with Tom Osbourne is going to be solid and stable and that’s is what has happened there in Nebraska.  I think they’re back and back very quickly to where they are going to compete and be a factor in the Big 12.  I am impressed.  I am impressed with their quarterback and anybody who can throw for 74% completion. That’s pretty impressive.  They throw to a lot of different receivers.  They are impressive. The offensive line is impressive.  That front four defensively and just their defensive line flying around.  They are impressive.  I think they are a good football team, a really good football team.”

On the excitement of Virginia Tech’s entrance to the stadium:

“Well I think it’s kind of a nice entrance there.  Everybody in the stadium is jumping.  At least everybody that’s for Virginia Tech.  It’s kind of exciting.  It got started here a couple of years back.  You know I think it’s a good way to enter the stadium.”

On how the young running backs have performed thus far:

“We knew they had talent and they do.  The trouble is they are young.  You know Williams and Wilson are freshman and Oglesby got into games a little bit last year but not a lot.  When we lost Darren Evans that was a tough loss for our football team.  Not only the 1,200+ yards he got last year but and just his confidence and how he affected our football team.”

On the tough start to the 2009 season with games against Alabama, Nebraska and Miami:

“I need to have a talk with the Athletic Director.  When I first came here I made the statement many times that one of the things is that they wanted to schedule better.  So I said:  So, if you talk about scheduling Alabama, Nebraska and Miami of Florida in the first three out of four games.  That is scheduling better.  Our fans are happy, but I am not sure if it’s right for our football team. P laying good folks with a quality program and playing a program like Nebraska with all of the history behind that football program.  Our fans are excited and I think in the end when you play good folks like that, you get better.  I think all of us are concerned about our conference schedule.  I think you get to be a better football team when you play good folks.”

On the difference in Tyrod Taylor’s game from last year to this year:

“You know he is a year older.  We tried to redshirt him two years ago and haven’t been able to because of personnel on our football team and how he fit that and so forth.  He has played for two years and experience is a wonderful thing.  I think he is throwing the ball better.  I think he is getting to the right spot quicker . I think he is making good decisions and I think just the experience is showing.  And I think the fact that Sean Glennon is not there you know because there was always two of them and now it’s his team.  I think that is the factor.  The problem with that is we got two freshman as backups so that is not exactly what we wanted.”

Listen to Frank Beamer on 1620 the Zone in Omaha with Kevin and Mike’l

That’s the side of the story about redemption, remorse and rehabilitation. And I applaud the media for presenting this side of the Michael Vick now that he’s finally been given the chance to redeem his credibility as a humane person, a law-abiding citizen and professional football player after the months..excuse me, years…of negative opining about Vick and his involvement in a dog fighting cartel. Nevertheless, to complete the coverage of Vick’s signing with Philadelphia, it would only be…uhh, not sure what the right word is because though I adore animals, I can’t take PETA too seriously…so let’s just say that let’s hear from PETA officially once more before the start of the 2009 season to hear their take on Michael Vick being given a second chance in America’s most culturally and economically powerful sports league, the National Football League. Dan Shannon, a national spokesmen for the animal rights group, joined XX Sports in San Diego to do just that.

On if PETA has tried to over-capitalize on Michael Vick’s situation when they admit that Vick is just one of many who has, or currently does still engage in such behavior:

“I certainly wouldn’t use the word rejoice, but I mean, look, a silver lining obviously to what was a pretty horrible situation all around is that it really shines a spotlight on the cruel, underground industry of dog fighting. Many people really had no idea what was going on. And we’ve heard from local law enforcement, local humane societies – that reports that lead to arrests and convictions of dog fighters around the country have spiked, they’ve gone way up in the past two years because people are more aware of what to look for and are more aware of what to do if they’re suspecting that it’s taking place. Certainly it’s a bad situation all around, but it has led to an increased awareness of what is a very serious problem.”

On his initial reaction to the Philadelphia Eagles signing Michael Vick:

“You know, I was disappointed . But realistically, we understood that somebody was going to sign him. They hadn’t been one of the teams that they had been chattering about quite so much, so it was a little surprising. But hey, as a football fan, I’ve got to wonder if he really has the skills to compete in the league after being out for that long. We’ll be interested to see how it goes, but I do worry about the message that it sends.

And what is that message:

“The message, I guess, depends on what people take from it. The message I hope people don’t take from it, you know, is that if you’re rich and famous, and a talented football player, you can get away with this sort of thing. And certainly you can look at other guys in the league like Donte Stallworth and Ray Lewis and wonder the same thing on a number of different issues. He served his sentence and his debt to society – and we respect that part of it – but guys, I think if you or I…well certainly me..but I think if most people were convicted of a federal charge and spent 23 months in prison, they would probably have a hard time getting their job back. We certainly don’t think Vick should be blackballed from gainful employment for the rest of his life, but I don’t know, it’s one thing to kind of go out and lay bricks for a living, it’s another thing to be put in a situation where your poster’s going to be on kids’ walls, you’re going to be on the cover of Madden, your jersey’s are going to be sold in malls across the country. I think that puts much more importance on it.”

Shannon was then asked to follow up on his statement that Vick deserved a chance to earn a living, just not doing something so high-profile and glamorous as playing quarterback in the NFL:

“Based on really, the remorse – or lack thereof – that he’s shown. I mean, hasn’t come out and done a lot of public apologies, he hasn’t come out and really sort of shown the public that he’s truly remorseful for what he did. I think there are some questions about whether or not he has, again, earned the right to serve as a role model to millions of young kids out there and be treated with that level of respect. Time will tell. Maybe he’ll prove himself to be worthy of that in time. We certainly aren’t against the idea of second chances here at PETA – certainly people make mistakes, learn from them and grow as a result. But, at this point, personally I don’t think I’ve seen a lot from Vick to show that he’s on that path. But you know, maybe that will be the path that happens.”

On what PETA and Shannon might feel if Vick were to do something like donate the proceeds from jersey sales or what not to some sort of animal organization:

“You know, if he were to come out and say something like that or do something like that, that might be a different story. But we haven’t seen something like that yet and hopefully we will.”

On what exactly they want from Vick, since he seems to at least be saying all the things that PETA wants to hear, as long as doing a number of charitable and public awareness events about the subject at hand:

“Our feeling is – and I’m speculating…I can’t see in to the man’s soul and know what’s going on – but it seems to be more of a cynical PR move to try to repair his public image than it is a genuine, heartfelt wanting to do well for the world. I tell ya, I mean, I had personal meetings with this guy and we discussed doing the same sorts of things that he’s out there doing now, and we didn’t feel that his heart was in it.”

Shannon was then asked to explain when he met Vick:

“This was over a year and a half ago before he went in to Leavenworth.”

On what that meeting and conversation with Vick entailed:

“Like I said, we had conversations about whether he wants to speak out against this sort of thing with PETA – it was sort of an exploratory discussion. We talked to him speaking to children; we talked to him about filling public service announcements. But we didn’t walk away from the conversations feeling it was coming from a genuine place. Now, the problem with that, of course, is that we don’t want to put a spokesperson out there for PETA who doesn’t believe in what they’re saying. And we don’t want to create a situation where he then, I don’t know, makes negative comments further down the road, or God forbid, gets involved in this sort of thing again. I don’t think that’s likely to happen, but…”

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On opening the season against Alabama:

“I think playing a great team like Alabama makes Virginia Tech better.  I think our summer workouts are better, I think our preseason workouts will be better.  You got into it and you know if you have a chance to beat Alabama, and with them being ranked #1 a lot of weeks last year and got all of their defense back, you’re going to have to have a great preparation.  Our kids know that.  I think that’s what we’re doing.  I firmly believe this – if you can win it, it’s great momentum for you, it’s great energy for you.  If you lose it, I think you still got a chance to come back and have a chance at the end [of the season] …There’s great excitement early in the year.  We know what a challenge it is but I think our players and coaches look forward to the challenge.”

On the ACC:

“I think last year there was a lot of good teams in the ACC.  I firmly believe every team is going to be better.  You can go right through our league and I think every one of them is going to be better.  The one that has to overcome the most is Boston College because not only did they lose some good players through the NFL draft and graduation, but they also lost a couple players that they expected to have back.  But they have a history of coming back and showing up and being solid… I think we’re really in there like a lot of other people.  I think we’re a lot of good teams, not a great team, but I think everybody is going to step it up.”

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