AT RANDOM

How weird is it ... that Ali Jennings will make his Virginia Tech debut 

… finally, at last … against Old Dominion Sept. 2 (8 p.m. kickoff at 

Lane Stadium)?

This is the third stop for the special wideout from Richmond … having 

spent two years at West Virginia U., then two more at ODU before

 entering the transfer portal and signing with his original first choice

 … after leading the Monarchs to a 20-17 victory over Tech in the

 season-opener a year ago. Jennings caught five passes for 122 yards.

It wasn’t just another game for him either. Jennings admittedly played 

with a (cliché alert) chip on his shoulder because he grew up a Tech 

fan, his high school coach was a former Hokie, and – naturally – he 

dreamed about spending his college career based in Blacksburg.

But former Tech coach Justin Fuentes thought he could do better and 

didn’t offer Jennings a scholarship … just another example of why 

Fuentes eventually was fired. Now, Jennings, the former all-state 

player from Highland Springs, has one more opportunity to prove he is 

talented enough to become a most-wanted in the 2024 NFL draft.

According to an in-depth draft evaluation made during his stay at Old 

Dominion:

“He had offers from top schools like Michigan State … but elected to 

go where he faces easy competition … [Therefore], he’s a challenge to 

properly evaluate. He’s faced secondaries that are Bottom of the Barrel 

… [He’s also been a victim of] poor quarterback play. Most passes 

have been absolutely abysmal and under-thrown ... No doubt he will 

have an above-average pro day … but, at this time, [he’s] no higher 

than UDFA or fringe seventh-round pick.”

In other words, the pressure is on … Jennings and, especially, Tech 

QB Grant Wells.

..... THE WAY way the NCAA has abdicated its responsibilities, 

college athletics have become more pro-like with each passing 

transfer. To the highest bidder? 

Speaking of which … the time has come to drop the student charade 

from “student-athlete.” It’s been a long-time coming.

And, in case you missed it – I know we did – former Manchester High 

star QB Brandon Clark, who transferred from Notre Dame to Old 

Dominion, has stopped playing football because of recurring injuries.

.....ORIOLES’ designated hitter Gunnar Henderson took aim on the 

woeful Oakland pitching staff Sunday for two doubles, a triple and 

home run … then took all kinds of grief from teammates for not 

stopping at first in the eighth inning with the score 11-1. They were 

kidding … of course, they were … except Henderson, a rookie, wasn’t 

about to settle for a single and a rare “hit for the cycle” on his resume. 

How refreshing was that? Especially nowadays when too many players 

pose at the plate, turning doubles and triples into singles when the ball 

doesn’t leave the park.

The final was 12-1 as the first-place Birds had 17 hits and went 30 

games over .500. Did Henderson know he only needed a single to hit 

for the cycle? Of course, he did.

“I thought about it … maybe I should have stopped,” Henderson, 22,

 said in a post-game interview on Orioles TV,” … but I just kept 

going, It’s the way I play.”

“He only knows one way … to go a hundred miles an hour. He’s the

 [AL] rookie of the year,” said Brandon Hyde, who should be a lock

 (read: unanimous) for best manager.

… Playing for AA Bowie on rehab assignment recently, Orioles’ CF

 Cedric Mullins made one of those once-in-a-lifetime catches in the

 deepest part of The Diamond against your Richmond Flying 

Squirrels. We saw it. Didn’t believe it.

Actually, that was a warmup for Mullins who rejoined the Birds in 

time to do it again a few nights later against Seattle. A game-saving 

grab was followed by a game-winning home run.

…..QUESTION: Why build a new ball yard here … when there’s 

nothing wrong with what we’ve got on Ashe Boulevard? The playing 

surface looks the best ever … the seats are great, regardless where you 

sit, especially in the lower bowl. And they spent $2.3 million to fix up 

stuff to suit major league baseball … little of which was for the 

comfort or betterment of the game experience for the paying public 

which pays the bills, after all.

How in the world did they play years ago without all the luxuries 

demanded by today’s players? It says here they are pampered beyond 

belief, and most don’t appreciate it.

Given the fact that Flying Squirrels management puts on a crowd-

pleasing show regardless of how the team is playing … combined with 

the longest of long shots the city will meet MLB’s demand for a brand 

new, over-the-top facility by 2026 … why not try something else … 

like?

Like teaming up with like-minded franchises and forming an 

independent league. There are lots of good players around who (a) 

would play hard, hoping to impress with the chance of making big 

money later on; and (b) would become a part of the community, in the 

meantime, and therefore better known – and liked.

Now players come and go. Just when you have a favorite one day 

more than likely he will be gone the next.

Sure, part of the fun is to watch AA Squirrels become MLB Giants but 

San Francisco apparently doesn’t care about putting a consistent 

winner here. For the most part, the teams have been mediocre to poor. 

As long as Gang Parney keeps on keeping on, people will keep 

coming in large groups … which is why the airborne rodents are in 

business after all.

But then, I’m just a kid. What do I know?

Until next time ...