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Virginia Football: Any Significance to Tony Muskett Attending ACC Media Days?
Is there any significance to Tony Muskett being chosen to represent the Virginia football team at the 2024 ACC Football Kickoff event this week in Charlotte?
The attendees for the ACC Football Kickoff were announced last week and joining UVA head coach Tony Elliott will be graduate defensive end Chico Bennett Jr., sixth year defensive end Kam Butler, and graduate quarterback Tony Muskett. Naturally, the question is being asked: why Tony Muskett and not Anthony Colandrea and does this decision at all reflect the current thinking as to who will be Virginia’s starting quarterback when the season begins in less than six weeks?
Elliott maintained throughout the spring that a decision has not been made between the two candidates, who both started six games for the Cavaliers in 2023 as Muskett dealt with injuries over the course of the season. There’s no doubt that Elliott did not intend for the decision to bring Muskett to ACC media days to imply that a starter had been named. In fact, Elliott has said multiple times that that decision won’t be made until fall camp, which is set to begin on July 31st. But if it’s any indication that Elliott and his staff are leaning Muskett’s way ahead of fall camp, we’re here to ask that question.
So, why was Muskett selected to represent Virginia if not because he’s expected to start at quarterback this fall? As compared to the rising sophomore Colandrea, Muskett is significantly older and more experienced and thus, better at fielding questions from the media. And there will probably be a number of questions posed at media days regarding the quarterback situation. Muskett attended ACC Kickoff last year and knows what to expect.
That’s not to say that Colandrea isn’t good at handling the media, though he did have the memorable soundbite that included the quote “after we beat Virginia Tech” a few days before the Hokies dismantled the Cavaliers 55-17 in Colandrea’s first bitter taste of the Commonwealth Clash. That moment comes to mind, but Colandrea has otherwise handled the media well.
READ MORE: Five Cavaliers Poised for Sophomore Leaps in 2024
Another reason Muskett might have been chosen is that this is his final season of college football and his last chance to experience events like this. Whether he ends up the starter or not, Muskett is one of the veteran leaders of the team and it makes sense that he’s been chosen to be a voice to represent his teammates. Colandrea is undoubtedly the future of the program, though many UVA fans would hope that that future begins this season, but he’ll probably get multiple chances in the future to experience ACC media days, while this is Muskett’s last ride.
It should be noted, though, that four other ACC teams (Cal, Duke, North Carolina, SMU) have chosen to bring multiple quarterbacks with them to the ACC Kickoff. Virginia is only bringing three total players and there are other teams bringing four, or in the case of Duke and North Carolina, even five players in addition to their head coach to Charlotte. With that said, having both Muskett and Colandrea up at the podium likely would have done nothing but further encourage the media to ask questions about Virginia’s quarterback situation, questions Tony Elliott would have had to answer with his two quarterbacks sitting right beside him.
Ultimately, our verdict is that the decision to bring Tony Muskett to the ACC Kickoff is not strong enough evidence that Muskett is expected to start or that he even has the lead in the race for the starting job.
The 2024 ACC Football Kickoff will take place from July 22nd to July 25th at the Hilton Charlotte Uptown in Charlotte, North Carolina. UVA is scheduled to appear at the event on Tuesday, July 23rd along with California, Pittsburgh, Stanford, and Virginia Tech. The ACC Network will have live coverage of the event on all four days.
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In this world of college football, with the transfer portal and recruiting battles, bad blood is present more than ever before between head coaches.
That’s not the case between the Virginia Tech head coach and Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, however. In fact, Franklin revealed at ACC Kickoff on Thursday that the two are actually close friends, dating back to their time at the Nike trip that various coaches take over the summer.
“Dabo’s my guy,” Franklin said on Thursday. “We go way back. We’ve been on the Nike trip for a long time. His wife and my wife are friends.”
The long-time Penn State head coach is making the move to the ACC after being fired from the Nittany Lions in October. 12 seasons of being with the program had Franklin hold a 44-21 record against top 10 opponents, an impressive record for a new conference foe of Swinney’s.
But when that trip comes around, there’s a camaraderie between Swinney and Franklin and both of their wives. In fact, the two hang out with each other instead of the other coaches at times. It simply comes to an “edgy” time in college athletics that raises tempers.
“I’m going to be honest, I wouldn’t say we’re necessarily like the type of people that love a lot of other coaches and a lot of other programs,” Franklin said. “It’s hard when you just compete year-round.”
On Swinney’s end, there are a few who could immediately come to mind among Clemson fans. Perhaps the most recent would be Ole Miss coach Pete Golding, who played the most significant role in the tampering of former linebacker Luke Ferrelli.
It’s a select list of coaches who make the good side of the Tigers’ head coach, and Franklin is certainly on that list. On the other hand, Hokies’ head coach has Swinney on his own shortlist.
“Obviously, tremendous respect for what he has built at Clemson and what he’s done at Clemson, and what he’s done for the ACC,” he said.
The two will see that close relationship face off at Memorial Stadium this upcoming season. Clemson will host the Hokies on Oct. 24 in what could be a potential title-eliminator for the ACC Championship.
Of course, the last game that we’ve seen the Tigers play in was against Franklin’s former team in Penn State at the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl. That game ended in a 22-10 contest that saw a foundation of Franklin players end Clemson’s season in disappointment.
Swinney will see many of those players once again in October, including starting quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, in that contest. The anticipated Hokie starter recorded 260 yards and two passing touchdowns on the Tigers in the Bronx that day.
Although friends become foes, another ACC coach has given Swinney his flowers for what he’s been able to do for the conference. In the upcoming moments, Franklin will look to prepare his team to prove itself on one of the biggest stages in the ACC, while Swinney looks to put his team back at the top of a conference he’s dominated for over 15 years.
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MARTINSVILLE, Va. (WSET) — Extreme drought conditions in parts of Virginia have prompted an emergency drought warning for a wide swath of the region, including Bedford, Campbell, Charlotte, Franklin, Halifax, Henry, Mecklenburg, Patrick, Pittsylvania and Roanoke counties, along with the cities of Danville, Roanoke, Salem and Martinsville.
The governor has warned that if conditions worsen, she will activate mandatory nonessential water-use restrictions.
In Martinsville, city leaders have issued a voluntary water conservation notice and are urging residents and businesses to cut back where they can. The request comes as local businesses that rely heavily on water say the drought is already affecting day-to-day operations.
SEE ALSO: Botetourt County residents adjust daily routines as voluntary water restriction continues
John Hughes, owner of John’s Car Wash, said the dry conditions have hit his business hard in recent weeks. “For the last 3 weeks, it’s been hitting pretty hard. We done three yesterday and haven’t done anything today with the drought and hot weather. Yeah, I’m really concerned about it,” Hughes said.
Restaurants are also feeling the strain. David Kitzmiller, an owner of Be Wiched, said water is essential for routine tasks such as washing dishes and preparing some menu items.
“We use a lot of water for washing dishes and some of our recipes if they limit us in anyway defiently can’t produce and its a scary aspect,” Kitzmiller said.
Kitzmiller added that cutting back is not always realistic for businesses that must meet sanitation needs. “Not really feasible for a business that depends solely relies on water to wash their dishes, so that can’t definitely be an impact there,” he said.
City leaders emphasized that the conservation request is voluntary for now, but they are encouraging everyone to do their part by taking shorter showers, turning off the faucet when it is not in use, washing only full loads of laundry, and limiting outdoor watering whenever possible.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Five people were charged after Virginia Beach Police conducted a two-day human trafficking and vice operation on July 3, according to the Virginia Beach Police Department.
The department’s Special Investigations Bureau conducted the operation, which was aimed at identifiying human trafficking victims, reducing the demand for commercial sex and targeting individuals seeking to exploit or recruit children for prostitution.
Detectives used many investigative techniques to proactively identify individuals involved in criminal activity related to prostitution, human trafficking and offenses against children. The operation was conducted in Virginia Beach, involving personnel from all of the bureau’s squads.
As a result of the operation, five people were identified and charged with offenses ranging from solicitation of prostitution to sex trafficking and crimes involving minors. Two vehicles and U.S. currency were seized during the operation. Other people were connected to victim services through Samaritan House.
The operation led to the following people being charged:
- Shane Carter, 28, of Norfolk, was charged with solicitation of prostitution.
- Robert Harris, 64, of Virginia Beach, was charged with solicitation of prostitution and assault and battery.
- Larry Pittman, 53, of Portsmouth, was charged with sex trafficking and use of electronic devices to facilitaate certain offenses involving minors.
- Kenric Frazier, 46, of Portsmouth, was charged with sex trafficking, use of electronic devices to facilitate certain offenses involving minors and solicitation of child pornography.
- Cameron Lewis, 24, of Norfolk, was charged with solicitation of prostitution.
Investigators also developed leads about people who are suspected of trafficking and exploiting others for commercial sex. Those are now active and ongoing investigations. There may be more charges and arrests pending further investigation and consultation with the Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.
If you’re a human trafficking victim or know someone who is, you can report it to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
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