Tech’s two-headed monster
Story by Chris Graham
sportsdom@ntelos.net
Al Groh was getting ready for what turned out to be a nailbiter with Connecticut when he saw something on the TV that worried him about another game that his Virginia team had on the schedule.
“We had a later game the day that Virginia Tech was playing Duke – and when Tyrod (Taylor) got hurt, and Sean (Glennon) went into the game, I thought to myself, This is going to be trouble,” Groh said after Virginia Tech’s two-quarterback monster put up 33 points on his defense in a win last weekend in Charlottesville that sent the Hokies to the ACC Championship Game. Read more
County decals, swastika guy, Ray Robertson
Winners and Losers column by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
BIG WINNERS: Augusta County considering dropping vehicle decals
Even bigger winners would be Waynesboro if they decided to do this.
You know, since I live there now.
LOSER: Suspect in Greater Augusta-area swastika case apprehended
Did you catch the details in the local media as to where they caught this obvious brainiac?
He was just leaving the Dairy Queen in Verona after leaving another mark at around one or two in the morning.
For those who don’t know the lay of the land, the Dairy Queen is three doors down from the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office.
WINNER: Ray Robertson
I’ve criticized the hell out of the guy for his work on the Staunton porn-store case, but to his credit, he sat down with me for a lengthy interview for a story on the obscenity issue that will appear in our upcoming New Dominion magazine.
Chris Graham is the executive editor of The Augusta Free Press.
New book chronicles educators, church leaders from WWII generation
Story by Jim Bishop
They were born in the Depression, grew up during World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War and Vietnam. All moved from more rural to professional settings and made major impacts on the Mennonite Church, its institutions and the larger society.
Reflections and stories from these 16 educators and church leaders form the basis of Making Sense of the Journey: The Geography of Our Faith, a 350-page paperback. The volume, with a foreward by EMU president Loren Swartzendruber, is edited by Mennonite educators and church leaders Robert and Nancy V. Lee. Read more
‘Skins Nation, Al Groh, Frank Beamer, Mickey Matthews
Winners and Losers column by Chris Graham
sportsdom@ntelos.net
LOSERS: ‘Skins Nation
Sean Taylor – Rest In Peace.
WINNER: Al Groh named ACC coach of the year
How funny things turn out sometimes – ‘Hoo Nation wanted him canned after the Wyoming debacle, now he’s the conference coach of the year and the recipient of a contract extension.
WINNER: Frank Beamer gets the other prize
Ask Groh which he would take – the coach of the year award or the invite to Jacksonville.
LOSER: Mickey Matthews takes the heat for JMU loss
Fourth-and-one from your own 30, first-and-goal from the nine – either decision works out, and JMU upsets mighty App State.
And now Matthews has all winter and spring and summer to think about it.
Wouldn’t want to be him.
Groh gets another reward
Story by Chris Graham
sportsdom@ntelos.net
Two ACC coaches have already gotten the axe this week.
Former hot-seat sitter Al Groh got something else.
The Virginia coach had a year added to his contract on Tuesday – hours after learning that he had been named the ACC coach of the year.
Groh’s contract now runs through the 2011 season. Read more
UVa.-Northwestern Live Blog
We are live at the John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville for tonight’s ACC-Big 10 Challenge game between Virginia and Northwestern.
Virginia is 5-1 on the season – and is coming off a 74-60 loss to Seton Hall on Saturday in the final round of the Philly Hoop Group Classic.
Northwestern is 1-3 on the season.
Check back here for updates and analysis during tonight’s game.
Horror authors talk about ups, downs in business
Story by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
I go into any discussion of the book industry presuming that sales are down, down, down, reader interest is even worse, the prospects for improvement are dead in the water.
And then I talk to my friend the horror author Matthew Warner, and I start to get depressed.
“I’m trying to break into the paranormal-romance genre, and I’m working on a manuscript there – and that’s only because I think there’s better money in it,” Warner told me.
That, I hope, explains my glum feelings – that my friend the horror author Matthew Warner is aspiring to be my friend the paranormal-romance author Matthew Warner.
His books make it so that I have to sleep with the lights on at night – and he’s thinking of jumping ship? Read more
