From The Bleachers 2000:
Week One
by Ardent Cougar

Friday, August 25 - Christiansburg Blue Demons (Home):

Series: PC leads 1-0.
Last Meeting: 1999 at Christiansburg.  The Cougars totally dominated the game from start to finish, the destruction amounting to a near school record 51-0 shutout.

Coach Hicks' squad opens the schedule against a team it had absolutely no trouble with last season.  The Blue Demons were a disappointing 1-9 last year, while PC's 5-5 record was very disheartening.  The Cougars had plenty of injury and official misfortunes in 1999 while playing a tough schedule, 60% of which consisted of playoff teams.  The offense looked awesome for most of the TD Classic.  The mobile Junior QB Alan Wheeling takes over for Travis Roop, who graduated in the spring.  The amazing Junior TB Josh Calfee and Senior FB Frank Cobbs should dazzle and punish opposing defenses once again.  ZBs Adam Roop (Senior) and Greg Cobbs (Junior), as well as TBs David Hale (Senior) and Antione Meadows (Senior), will get their share of carries.  The highly recruited TE Jeff King (Senior, committed to Va. Tech) will be a prime target when Wheeling passes.  The defense looks to be more solid than last year, though pass defense might be a question mark.  On special teams, the strong-legged punter Paul Taylor is gone, and it remains to be seen how his replacement Brandon Hamblin (Senior) will do.  John Hedge (Sophomore) will kick field goals and extra points.  Kick coverage needs to improve over last season.