Go Man Go: 1994-95

by Chris Colston

If you yearn for the Glory days of Virginia Tech football—when there were no “decommitments” or “transfer portals” and the Hokies ascended into the national conversation—this book is for you.

“Want a front-row seat to Virginia Tech’s rise as a college football power? Chris Colston takes you there, with vivid, behind-the-scenes stories and anecdotes about the Hokies’ decades-long evolution. There isn’t a more definitive and comprehensive history of Virginia Tech’s transformation from football nomad to national title contender under Frank Beamer than this.”—Andy Bitter, The Athletic.

Colston’s eight-volume series GO TECH The Inside Story Behind the Rise of Virginia Tech Footballis designed for easy reading—perfect for your favorite mobile device. In Volume Six, Go Man Go (1994-95), Coach Frank Beamer leads the Hokies to their first Gator Bowl bid, earning the biggest payout in school history to that point. For an encore, they earned a bid to the Sugar Bowl, defeating the mighty University of Texas.

“Riveting stuff,” says Hall of Fame broadcaster Bill Roth. “Reads like a well-written novel. Essential for all Hokies, old and new.”

“The Inside Story Behind the Rise of Virginia Tech Football is not a misnomer,” says Hall of Fame sportswriter David Teel. “Chris attended Tech, cheered for Tech, absorbed Tech’s history, worked at Tech, and most essential, earned the trust of those who authored the program’s ascension, including Frank Beamer.”

CHRIS COLSTON worked in the Virginia Tech Athletics Department from 1985-96 as editor of The Hokie Huddler and went on to cover the MLB, NFL, and NBA as an award-winning reporter for Sports Weekly and USA TODAY. Says TechSideline.com Founder Will Stewart, “Chris Colston is the most authoritative voice on the modern era of Virginia Tech football. …if you want to learn about Virginia Tech football, he’s the guy. I personally learned a ton from reading his stuff over the years. Sit back and enjoy Go Tech Go from one of the most revered writers about Hokie sports.”

128 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 15, 2020

About the author

WHY SHOULD YOU READ CHRIS COLSTON?

One word: Authenticity.

OK, maybe two words. Add “Unique.”

The authenticity comes from Colston’s 26 years as a professional sportswriter, including 13 years at USA Today and USA Today Sports Weekly. He’s been there, done that. But his career path is what makes his story remarkable. He had no journalism degree; after graduating from college he worked as a pizza delivery man, managed a corner hot dog stand, built moving crates, and sold shoes. His first journalism job came at rural weekly newspaper with a circulation of 300. From there he joined a university sports department, running its newspaper, circulation 3,000, before landing at USA Today Baseball Weekly, circulation 300,000. That led to covering NFL and NBA for USA Today, circulation three million.

How to peg Colston’s genre, other than “pure fun entertainment”? His stuff is contemporary, it’s funny, it’s serious, it’s character-driven—but the plot moves. His books are quick reads, but they have much to say about the state of journalism over the past two decades.

In his travels across America, Colston banked a wealth of memories by covering big-time sports from the inside. He has weaved those experiences into a rollicking series titled American Sportswriter, featuring quick-witted sportswriter James Hoak. But while the series might be labeled “contemporary sports fiction” or “contemporary action-adventure,” the books are really about life—and how we all cope with it.

You can email me at chris@chriscolston.com