HANK KURZ Jr.
Virginia Tech quarterback Hendon Hooker, right, stiff arms Deon Jones, left, of Boston College in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Blacksburg, Va. Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020. (Matt Gentry/The Roanoke Times via AP, Pool)
No. 19 Virginia Tech presents big challenge for Wake Forest

By Hank Kurz Jr. Oct. 22, 2020 01:33 PM EDT
Justin Fuente makes it clear No. 19 Virginia Tech has many areas in which it

Virginia head coach Bronco Mendenhall adjusts his mask during an NCAA college football game against North Carolina State Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020, at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Va. (Erin Edgerton/The Daily Progress via AP)
Cavaliers, Demon Deacons looking for signs of improvement

By Hank Kurz Jr. Oct. 15, 2020 11:00 AM EDT
Virginia will be looking to put a poor performance in the rearview mirror when

Virginia Tech quarterback Hendon Hooker (2) scores pas North Carolina's Tomari Fox (56) on a five-yard carry in the third quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. (Robert Willett/The News & Observer via AP)
No. 23 Hokies, Boston College renew longstanding rivalry

By Hank Kurz Jr. Oct. 15, 2020 09:02 AM EDT
Virginia Tech coach Justin Fuente and the No. 23 Hokies have battled two

Mendenhall: Armstrong has concussion, listed as day-to-day

By Hank Kurz Jr. Oct. 12, 2020 02:36 PM EDT
Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall said quarterback Brennan Armstrong suffered a

North Carolina State quarterback Devin Leary throws a pass against Virginia during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020, at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Va. (Erin Edgerton/The Daily Progress via AP)
Leary, Knight lead Wolfpack past Virginia, 38-21

By Hank Kurz Jr. Oct. 10, 2020 05:27 PM EDT
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Devin Leary got North Carolina State off to a fast

Virginia Tech head coach Justin Fuente looks on after an NCAA college football game against North Carolina State Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, in Blacksburg, Va. (Matt Gentry/The Roanoke Times via AP, Pool)
Signs of conditioning issues concern for some ACC schools

By Hank Kurz Jr. Sep. 30, 2020 01:27 PM EDT
Virginia Tech’s twice-delayed season-opener could hardly have started any

Duke quarterback Chase Brice (8) throws the ball against Virginia during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, in Charlottesville, Va. (Erin Edgerton/The Daily Progress via AP)
Armstrong, Davis help Virginia rally past winless Duke 38-20

By Hank Kurz Jr. Sep. 26, 2020 09:04 PM EDT
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — It took Virginia four scheduled opponents to

FILE - In this Sept. 19, 2020, file photo, North Carolina State running back Ricky Person Jr. (8) scores on a 3-yard touchdown run as Wake Forest linebacker Ryan Smenda Jr. (5) defends during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C. Virginia Tech plays North Carolina State on Saturday, Sept. 26. (Ethan Hyman/The News & Observer via AP, File)
No. 20 Hokies could be shorthanded for opener vs Wolfpack

By Hank Kurz Jr. Sep. 24, 2020 12:46 PM EDT
Virginia Tech finally begins a season of high expectations as the No. 20 Hokies

File-Florida State head football coach Mike Norvell speaks at a news conference Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Tallahassee, Fla. Norvell said this week he's asymptomatic, for the coronavirus and planned to help with preparation and monitor practices remotely. Deputy head coach Chris Thomsen will fill in for him Saturday. (AP Photo/Phil Sears, File)
Cardinals, Panthers renew old rivalry to highlight Week 3

By Hank Kurz Jr. Sep. 24, 2020 04:00 AM EDT
Here are things to watch in the Atlantic Coast Conference in Week 3:

North Carolina State coach Dave Doeren watches from the sideline during the second half of the team's NCAA college football game against Wake Forest in Raleigh, N.C, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020. (Ethan Hyman/The News & Observer via AP)
Coach Fuente hopes Hokies 'able to play' Wolfpack this week

By Hank Kurz Jr. Sep. 21, 2020 05:33 PM EDT
First it was North Carolina State that couldn’t play Virginia Tech because of

FILE - In this Jan. 11, 2020, file photo, North Dakota State safety James Hendricks (6) slides on the field after intercepting a pass from James Madison quarterback Ben DiNucci during the the second half of the FCS championship NCAA college football game in Frisco, Texas. As the college football season ramps up in three major conferences and among other programs scattered across the country, there will be a void at the Football Championship Subdivision level -- very few games and no scheduled playoffs. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde, File)
Without fall playoffs, FCS schools missing a top attraction

By Hank Kurz Jr. Sep. 13, 2020 01:59 PM EDT
As the college football season ramps up in three major conferences and among

COVID-19 knocks out Virginia-Virginia Tech football opener

By Hank Kurz Jr. Sep. 12, 2020 11:21 AM EDT
The pandemic disrupted college sports again Saturday, with Virginia and

FILE - Virginia head coach Bronco Mendenhall directs his players during the second half of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game against Clemson in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019. One year after dynamic quarterback Bryce Perkins led Virginia to its first Coastal Division title in the Atlantic Coast Conference and a trip to the Orange Bowl, the Cavaliers will put Bronco Mendenhall’s new standard to a big test this season.(AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)
Virginia looks to fill voids, repeat as Coastal champ

By Hank Kurz Jr. Sep. 01, 2020 04:45 PM EDT
One year after dynamic quarterback Bryce Perkins led Virginia to its first

FILE - Virginia Tech quarterback Hendon Hooker (2) tosses the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Virginia in Charlottesville, Va., Friday, Nov. 29, 2019. Hooker emerged last season as a reliable decision-maker, finishing with 13 touchdown passes and just two interceptions. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)
Fuente, Hokies optimistic with many key players returning

By Hank Kurz Jr. Sep. 01, 2020 04:08 PM EDT
Virginia Tech will take on a different look in the fifth season of the Justin

FILE - In this Nov. 16, 2019, file photo, Indiana coach Tom Allen watches the second quarter of the team's NCAA college football game against Penn State in State College, Pa. The Big Ten and Pac-12 became the first Power Five conferences to cancel their fall football seasons because of concerns about COVID-19. The Big Ten said it hopes to compete in the spring, and the Pac-12 pushed even basketball back to Jan. 1. “My heart breaks for our players. I couldn’t be prouder of the commitment and focus they have demonstrated from the start of this pandemic," Allen said of the Big Ten's decision Tuesday, Aug. 11. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger, File)
Coaches' emotions on edge as pandemic questions linger

By Hank Kurz Jr. Aug. 11, 2020 06:33 PM EDT
Indiana coach Tom Allen was heartbroken. Kansas State’s Chris Klieman doesn't

FILE - In this Oct. 11, 2019, file photo, Virginia head coach Bronco Mendenhall watches the first half of an NCAA college football game against Miami in Miami Gardens, Fla. College football coaches are facing the daunting challenge of getting their players to maintain the required focus to prepare for season-openers when the prevailing question swirling around the sport is when, or if, the season will even be played because of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)
College football coaches facing tough adversary: uncertainty

By Hank Kurz Jr. Aug. 10, 2020 05:34 PM EDT
College football coaches are facing the daunting challenge of getting their

JMU rolls into FCS title game, 30-14 over Weber St.

By Hank Kurz Jr. Dec. 21, 2019 09:37 PM EST
HARRISONBURG, Va. (AP) — Ben DiNucci and James Madison didn't want to leave

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney high-fives fans after an NCAA college football game against South Carolina, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, in Columbia, S.C. Clemson won 38-3. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
Stout defenses could play role in outcome of ACC title game

By Hank Kurz Jr. Dec. 04, 2019 02:17 PM EST
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — The offenses are deservedly getting a lot of

Virginia quarterback Bryce Perkins (3) breaks the tackle of Virginia Tech defensive back Jermaine Waller (28) for a touchdown run during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Charlottesville, Va., Friday, Nov. 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Virginia views matchup vs No. 3 Clemson as ‘opportunity’

By Hank Kurz Jr. Dec. 02, 2019 04:52 PM EST
Virginia just ended one streak and the No. 22 Cavaliers would like nothing more

Virginia quarterback Bryce Perkins (3) runs the ball past Virginia Tech defender TyJuan Garbutt (45) during an NCAA college football game Friday, Nov. 29, 2019, in Charlottesville Va. (Matt Gentry/The Roanoke Times via AP)
Virginia’s Perkins’ big week began with hospitalization

By Hank Kurz Jr. Nov. 29, 2019 06:32 PM EST
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Bryce Perkins’ week ended better than it started.