Keynote Speaker at Virginia Tech
First Lady Michelle Obama chose to speak at Virginia Tech for all they have had to overcome since the shootings five years ago. In her keynote speech Mrs. Obama told students that when they’re out there in the world and meet someone and you tell them that you’re from Virginia Tech, and they say, “Huh, isn’t that the school where” — to interrupt them right there and say, “Yes, it is the school where we have some of the best academic programs and professors in the country” and it is the school where students are passionate about serving their country and supporting each other.
Whether you’re walking around campus decked out in your maroon and orange or cheering your hearts out to the opening beats of “Enter Sandman,” few can match the school spirit on displayed at Virginia Tech.
Mrs. Obama also spoke about her personal experience with the healing power of helping others. Obama told graduates to follow Virginia Tech’s slogan, “Invent the future,” by charting their own course in life. “The truth is, there will be people who judge you based on one isolated incident,” she said. “People can only define you if you let them. In the end it’s up to each of you to define yourselves.”
A Kicker With a Ponytail
A graduate of Spotsylvania High School, Lauren Luttrell has her sights set on becoming a kicker for the Virginia Tech Hokies and if that comes to fruition, the first female to join the college football team. Luttrell played soccer for the Spotsy Knights but it was her passion for sports and athletic ability to become a kicker for a collegiate football team.
Last summer before arriving on campus at Virginia Tech as a freshman, Luttrell’s supervisor at Famous Dave’s BBQ, David Turner, was intrigued by her desire and encouraged her to try out for Virginia Tech’s team as a walk-on. Luttrell thought he was crazy but Turner persisted and before you knew it, Luttrell contacted the Hokies’ football department and had been invited to try out.
Luttrell showed up at Lane Stadium during her first week of classes and saw head coach Frank Beamer standing on the field. There were a handful of kickers, a few punters and a few long snappers at the tryout. She was the only one with a ponytail but once she started kicking, her nervousness diminished and she fit in just fine. She missed only once during the workout. While Beamer was impressed, he did not have a spot for Luttrell and asked her to try again in the spring.
That winter, training for a second chance, Luttrell worked diligently with her kicking coach, Dave DeArmas, who attended training camps with the St. Louis Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers after playing college football at the University of Connecticut. Aside from practice and technique, DeArmas taught her things like how the wind at the bottom of a two or three-tiered stadium differs from the wind blowing atop the flag poles above the stadium. He took pictures of her form and showed her what needed to be fixed.
Luttrell is quite comfortable kicking field goals within 42 yards but is not familiar suited up with a helmet and pads, not to mention the pressure of a game winning kick in a stadium packed with exuberant fans. Gaining experience in the true atmosphere comes with time invested.
Clearly the Hokies needed a kicker. Redshirt sophomore Cody Journell was suspended indefinitely after being arrested for breaking and entering and was charged with a Class 2 felony due to the alleged use of a dangerous weapon. Prior to the Hokies’ Orange Bowl game against Michigan, senior kicker Tyler Weiss, a graduate of Courtland High School, was sent home for missing curfew.
As a walk-on and one of ten kickers, Luttrell’s next tryout occurred March 31st. She made all four field goal attempts in the 20 to 25 yard range kicking her way to the second round in the 35 yard range making three out of four attempts with one falling short of the crossbar and therefore not advancing to the third round. Impressed with her ability, Coach Frank Beamer thanked her for trying out, offered encouragement to keep trying and explained that she just didn’t have the power required to make the cut. A disheartened Luttrell vowed to keep kicking away at her goal; a goal to nail it between two uprights, particularly in Lane Stadium at Virginia Tech, as the Hokies’ kicker.
Countin’ Down Days, Rampin’ Up Anticipations
At least in many arenas and households around the country (this probably doesn’t hold true for those sitting on death row). Less than a month to go til we all get the final “who’s where”, “who got who”, “how much are they payin’ that dude”, “boy he’s gettin’ a royal screwin’”, or “man, are they screwin’ up”. And then we can lay down our “I knew it” or “I didn’t see that one comin’”, at least for this year. Commits and offers are on the spread.
Certain enough, life changes are in order for the recruits (some veterans too). Some will fare well and undoubtedly go on to great careers and prove their worthiness, improving through their hard work efforts, determination, and sheer love of the sport. Paying close attention to their mentors and hopefully being coached with sound experience, logic, and tact will possibly pave the way to fame.
There will be others, those that think they can do no wrong and there’s nothing they don’t already know, that fall disgustingly short of the franchise performance expectations, as well as expectations of family, friends, and supportive college football fans. These are the guys that don’t care or are too ignorant to see that they’re hurting some folks, letting people down, let alone shaming themselves. We’ve seen that time and again, even as some blow it through involving themselves in undesirable and despicable extracurricular activities.
It does seem, however unfair, that with some recruits, the expectations are set so high and people tend to forget that there is a good deal of adjusting and learning, practicing and perfecting, that needs to be dealt with and acquired during most transitions from NCAA college to NFL pro football. Often times fans, as well as management, put the weight of the entire team (and any seasonal outcome) on one player, many times that player is the “save the world” rookie. That only because all eyes are dead on, so don’t make a mistake, even if the coach demands it. Though once in a great while, there comes along a natural that just gets it and the fit is seamless.
Anyway, all this stuff keeps our anticipations right up there with a moon shot. It keeps us halfway sane during the lull. Plenty of guess-work and a little writing on the wall. But we really do love the surprises too, almost like waitin’ up for old Saint Nick right? He’s probably placing bets with the little guys and spreadin’ plenty of shop talk up around his camp too, in his free time that is!
