Unlike last weekend's encounter with the Pirates, they will try to do it with sophomore quarterback Tyrod Taylor on the playing field. At the team's weekly Tuesday press conference, head coach Frank Beamer announced that Taylor would have his redshirt status removed and would see playing time this Saturday against the Paladins.

"Having him on the field, I think you've got a chance when he's in the ball game," Beamer said. "He can make a big play on the run or by the pass. He presents a threat."

Taylor will split time with redshirt senior Sean Glennon, although it is not known how the playing time will be divided. Glennon completed 14 of 23 passes for 139 yards and a pair of interceptions against the Pirates.

Another unknown is how effective cornerback Victor "Macho" Harris will be. The senior cornerback left the Aug. 22 scrimmage with a sprained left foot and did not play last week. Although he has been practicing this week, his effect on the game -- in the secondary and on special teams -- could be limited by the ailment.

With Harris out last Saturday, Stephan Virgil came through with a pair of scoring plays.

"I felt like with Macho not there I had to step up and play good honest football," Virgil said. "I tried to take advantage of the opportunity I got."

Like the secondary, Tech's offensive line also has some injury issues. Starting right tackle Blake DeChristopher suffered a deep thigh bruise on the team's first offensive series and did not return to action.

"Well, (he) is such a tough kid," Beamer said. "He wants to play and wants to be good. I feel for him. The offensive line needs to work together and hang in there. They need to know how the guy next to them will react."

His injury had an effect on the Hokies' ground game. Running backs Darren Evans and Kenny Lewis Jr. combined to rush for 67 yards in the first half, averaging 5.2 yards a carry, but the two only managed a total of 99 yards over the entire game.

Another point of concern is the special teams unit. Place kicker Dustin Keys missed an extra point as well as a 44-yard field goal try in the third period, while punter Brent Bowden had his fourth-quarter punt blocked and then returned by ECU's T.J. Lee for the game-winning touchdown.

Because of the disappointment that last week's game brought, each player on the Tech team is eager to get back on the field.

"Always after a loss like that you want to get back on the field, get it behind you as fast as you can and move on to the next week," said guard Nick Marshman.

The Hokies will try to move on against Furman, a Football Championship Subdivision (Division I-AA) program out of the Southern Conference. The Paladins, coached by Bobby Lamb, opened their year with a 62-14 win over Mars Hill.

"There are I-AA teams and good I-AA teams," Beamer said. "This is a good I-AA football team. They have a good record. They've been in the playoffs a number of times. They are tough."

During Lamb's seven seasons as coach, Furman has made four Football Champion Series playoff appearances and won the 2004 Southern Conference title.

Last week, Paladin quarterback Jordan Sorrells completed 73 percent of his passes -- 19-for-26 -- for 218 yards and three touchdowns through the air. He also managed to rush for one score.

Leading Furman on the ground was Mike Brown, rushing for 93 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries.

Although the Paladin defense held Mars Hill to just 172 yards of total offense, it didn't fare well in holding down its opponents' passing game in 2007.

Last year, Furman had the worst pass defense in its conference, allowing nearly 264 yards per game through the air. This weakness could greatly benefit Taylor, Glennon and Tech's many young wide receivers, which combined for only seven receptions against East Carolina.

Although Furman's pass defense is weak, its rush defense was the best in the Southern Conference last season, holding the opposition to only 135 yards per game.

History, on the other hand, suggests a favorable outcome for the Hokies.

Saturday will mark the fifth meeting between Tech and Furman -- all four of the other match-ups coming from when both schools resided in the Southern Conference. The Hokies, unblemished in all four games, beat the Paladins 20-6 in Blacksburg nearly 61 years ago -- the last time the two clubs met.

Also, in Frank Beamer's 21 years on the Hokies sideline, Tech has won 19 of its home openers.

Even Saturday's loss to ECU has a silver lining. The last two times the Hokies lost their first game of the season, they won their conference and advanced to a major bowl game.

Tech commenced the 1995 season with a loss to Boston College, and then proceeded to win the Big East Conference and the Sugar Bowl. Four years ago, the Hokies fell to then-No. 1 Southern California, but went on to win the ACC.

Beamer realizes that his team needs to get better -- starting this weekend -- if they want to repeat history.

"Hopefully we can stay healthy and if we do that I think we can be a factor in the ACC race," Beamer said. "The key thing for us now is to improve as a football team."

The Hokies will don special retro white uniforms and helmets for the game. Saturday's 1:30 p.m. kickoff will be broadcast on ACC Select.

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