WSET.com - ABC13Justin Case for August 11, 2010

Football is here. We've been covering HS and college football for the last week or so. If you haven't seen, here's a list of our FOOTBALL FRIDAY previews.

 Football Friday Preview Schedule

*Subject to change

Monday August 2nd - Altavista

Tuesday August 3rd- Rustburg

Wednesday August 4th - LCA

Thursday August 5th - Heritage

Friday August 6th - Amherst County

Saturday August 7th - E.C. Glass

Sunday August 8th - Nelson County

Monday August 9th - Brookville

Tuesday August 10th - Appomattox County

Wednesday August 11th - Jefferson Forest

Thursday August 12th - Liberty

Friday August 13th - G.W.

Saturday August 14th - William Campbell

Sunday August 15th - Staunton River

Monday August 16th - Gretna

Tuesday August 17th - Chatham

Wednesday August 18th- Dan River

Thursday August 19th - Tunstall

Friday August 20th - Patrick Henry at 6 p.m., Football Friday preview show at 11:15 p.m.

Saturday August 21st - Northside

Sunday August 22nd - William Byrd at 6 p.m., Rockbridge County at 11 p.m.

Monday August 23rd - VES at 6 p.m., Salem at 11 p.m.

Tuesday August 24th - William Fleming at 6 p.m., Franklin County at 11 p.m.

Wednesday August 25th - Martinsville at 6 p.m., Cave Spring at 11 p.m.

Thursday August 26th - Bassett at 6 p.m., Magna Vista at 11 p.m.

Friday August 27th - Football Friday Week One

 You can also access these from wset.com. Click on SPORTS and/or VIDEO.

----------------

College

Virginia Tech.

They're ranked 6th in the preseason coaches poll. Their first opponent Boise State is 5th. Last year Tech lost their opener against a tough team Alabama. In two years Boise State has lost ONE game. They return 10 starts on offense and 10 on defense.

Here's one scouting report via nationalchamps.net:

STRENGTH

QB / RB / OL / DB, etc.

 Locating a weakness in Boise is tough with ALL of the returning starters back from a team that had few to begin with. The Broncos are near the top of the nation in every single offensive and defensive team statistic.

QUESTIONS

Sack Production / Rushing Defense

Getting to the QB has not exactly been one of the stronger points. And the run defense, while not performing too bad, still could use some tinkering. Ultimately, look for the front seven on defense to get much stronger via experience.

Stay tuned for an in-depth look at lunch pail man John Graves on ABC 13 sports before or just after the season starts.

----------------

Virginia

Change is everywhere. Al Groh is gone and nearly everyone is glad. Mike London, to his credit, has done just about everything you can to reinvigorate the program. He said, "I've been everywhere from Rhode Island to Florida." (in regards to speaking engagements).

 For my money, Marc Verica will be the starting quarterback. London really hasn't complimented his running backs. Dominique Wallace, Torrey Mack, Perry Jones and Keith Payne all seem to be in his academic doghouse. Grades from the summer semester came out this past Friday. Results might not be made known until Monday the 9th but until then he doesn't really have a firm grip on who will start there.

 One lock - Ras-I Dowling is their man on defense. Stay tuned for an in-depth look at him on ABC 13 sports before the season starts.

 ----------------

Liberty

I haven't been over to one of their practices just yet. The big news is Liberty's season opener against St. Francis will be played at City Stadium because of ongoing renovations at Williams Stadium on LU's campus. The kickoff has been change from 7 p.m. to noon on Sept. 4.

In my mind, AD Jeff Barber has got to bit at least a little bit embarrassed by that. Yes we did get a lot of snow over the winter but still, you think 7-8 months after that should be enough time. It'll look spectacular once it is ready though. Count on that.

-------------- 

MLB - 5 of 6 division races are close. My Reds, yes, are rollin'. They're in first in the NL Central. It's been a while since I've gone to a game at Great American Ball Park. I'll be there Monday night in Cincy. I might take in a Wednesday day game. Then I'll be back for nose to the grindstone football action. Stay tuned for FF this year. We got some new looks and it should be solid.

Rock it out.