Cornerback ineligible for Chick-fil-A Bowl

The Roanoke Times
© December 24, 2009

By Randy King

For the second straight season, Virginia Tech's football team will be missing a starter for its bowl game because of academic issues.

Senior cornerback Stephan Virgil has been ruled academically eligible under NCAA guidelines for the Hokies' match-up against Tennessee in the Dec. 31 Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta.

It's a tough finish to a difficult season for Virgil. After playing well in Tech's 34-24 loss to Alabama in the Sept. 5 season opener in Atlanta, Virgil injured his left knee making a tackle on the game's final play. The injury kept him out of the lineup for the Hokies' next two games.

Virgil, the Hokies' most experienced cornerback, returned to start the final nine regular-season games. Following the Hokies' regular-season finale against Virginia on Nov. 28, he had the knee "cleaned" in minor arthroscopic surgery.

Virgil made 36 tackles in 10 games, including a secondary-leading six stops for loss, including a sack. He recovered two fumbles and had one interception.

With Virgil sidelined, the Hokies are expected to start sophomore Eddie Whitley at the field corner position against the Vols. Whitley, who is listed on Tech's bowl depth chart as the backup to free safety Kam Chancellor, made his first college start Sept. 19 against Nebraska.

Cris Hill, a redshirt sophomore who started the first game that Virgil missed (Marshall, Sept. 12), is listed as the backup at the field spot for the bowl and should get playing time along with Whitley.

Virgil was listed Wednesday on the East team's roster for the East-West Shrine Bowl game Jan. 23 in Orlando, Fla. He said last week that he planned to start training sessions in preparation for February's NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Ind.

Last season, senior guard Nick Marshman was declared academically ineligible and missed Tech's 20-7 victory over Cincinnati in the FedEx Orange Bowl.

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NCAA Rules

Submitted by williamh13827 on Thu, 12/24/2009 at 9:35 am.

Good story, but it would have been more interesting if the author had explained to the readers as to why this player had violated NCAA's academic guidelines. Did he miss too many classes, did he fail too many exams? What was this athlete doing when he was "on the sidelines" due to injuries (apparently not going to class or studying). I'm sure Tech will do good in their bowl appearance none the less. GO, HOKIES!