Moderator

  (1:02 PM)

Sorry folks, there's been a time zone misunderstanding. Reggie will be here in about an hour (2 p.m. ET). If you're looking to chat, Trev Alberts is live right now, send him your questions while you're waiting for Reggie. Sorry for the confusion!! Here's the link to Trev's chat room http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=3997

Moderator

  (2:02 PM)

Ok folks, it's 2 o'clock here in the east ... now we're really ready to rock. I apologize for all the running around. Reggie McNeal is ready to chat. Keep those questions coming. Here we go!

Hello?

Where's the chat?

Moderator

  (2:20 PM)

Thanks for your patience everybody, The bad news is, Reggie is missing in action right now. He is so elusive we can't even find him! BUT, the good news is I just spoke to the folks at A&M and they tell me he will be here. I'll keep you posted.

T.U.

Have you seen our defense? Is it lost with this chat? Where's Reggie??

Hokies2003 (Stevensville, MD)

Let's hope his performance on Thursday is no better than this.

bob

Reggie better be at practice b/c we almost lost to Utah and we have VT coming up ...

VTHokie

He's off somewhere trying to figure out how in the world he's going to move the ball on VT.

aggiebones, DC

Reggie, you know you'd be benched for being this late for a meeting with Fran! Ah well, I'll still be cheering for you on Thursday.

Cavalier

Maybe a frightened Hokie has kidnapped him? (cue theme from Deliverance)

Mike (Port Neches, Texas)

Where's Dustin Long ???

Kris

Reggie is lost in the new athletic building :)

Derek (College Station, TX)

Is there any way to see the messages as they come up? or do you have to keep refreshing it?

Moderator

  (2:35 PM)

Good question Derek. If you guys are in the regular standard version of the chat than you must refresh your browser manually or click "Show New Messages". If you don't like this, you can click where it says "Join the chat | FLASH CHAT" this version shows the latest posts without refreshing.

Shaun (dallas)

Reggie is so fast, he already came and gone and we didn't even know it. Watch out VT, you going down

Steve (Austin)

What are the Vegas odds on Reggie showing up by 3pm Eastern?

Jay (Dallas)

Steve, I bet he shows up before the horns beat the Razorbacks or Sooners

Moderator

  (2:45 PM)

OK EVERYBODY, REGGIE IS HERE!!

Charles Falgout (College Station, Tx)

What do you feel will be the biggest challenge presented by the Virginia Tech this Thursday night?

Reggie McNeal

  (2:47 PM)

Having to go into that hostile environment on our first road game, that's probably going to be one of the biggest challenges for us.

Alex (Lake Orion, Mi)

Playing in Blacksburgs at night is one of the most intimidating venues in all the country. The crowd is juiced up and Coach Beamer is bringing the blitz packages. How does a young QB like yourself prepare for something like that?

Reggie McNeal

  (2:48 PM)

I just have to stay focussed and watch plenty of film. Once I get out there I just have to hope I have sufficiently prepared and then I just do what I have to do. You can't think about all of that once you get out there. When we step on the field we just do what I came to do and we should be fine.

Cortland, NY

What kind of respect do you and your team have for the Hokies after last years meeting. Do you think it was a fluke or do you beleive there as good as everyone is saying. Good luck to you and your team on Thursday. Go Hokies!

Reggie McNeal

  (2:50 PM)

Sure Virginia has always had a good teaim and they are always well coached. As far as last year goes, it is just that -- last year. It's behind us it is not going to affect what happens on Thursday night.

Brent (Carrollton, TX)

Do you think the extra time between the Utah and Va. Tech games will work for you or against you?

Reggie McNeal

  (2:51 PM)

I woulndn't say it will hurt us. Now we're on a stretch where we'll be playing for 9-10 weeks straight. A little rest never hurts. We probably needed it as a team, practice hard, catch our breath and get back out there.

Nick, West Lafayette, IN

Hey Reggie, with extreme weather predictions in Blacksburg on Thursday, How has Coach Fran been preparing you possibly playing in a hurricane? Gig 'em!

Reggie McNeal

  (2:52 PM)

Actually, I just found out about that today, But, we can't really do anything about the weather situation ... we just have to go out there ready to play. It should be interesting!

Bob (Lansing, MI)

The Oklahoma game last year put you in the national spotlight, how do you think this will help you as this year goes on?

Reggie McNeal

  (2:54 PM)

Being a young QB, being able to get out there and get game experience last year really helped me. Any time you are out there on the field I think you learn something so this year I feel like I am a little smarter having had those chances as a freshman.

Kevan, Houston Texas

How difficult was it to learn a new system under Coach Fran vs. Coach Slocum?

Reggie McNeal

  (2:55 PM)

It really wasn't too difficult. Sure it was an adjustment and there were times when we had to work at picking the new style up, but really once you get out there on the field everything just happens and falls in.

Kirby '98 (Houston)

You, and the Aggie offense, flourished in the first half vs. Utah when Coach Fran opened up the offense and let the athletes play. What was different in the beginning of the second half and how can that be averted in the future?

Reggie McNeal

  (2:57 PM)

The bottom line is that we just have to play 4 quarters of football. We have to play the whole game. No half steppin'. We let up in the Utah game.

Mark (Charlotte, NC)

Thursday's game should feature some electric quarterbacks. How impressed are you with Bryan Randall and Marcus Vick on film?

Reggie McNeal

  (2:58 PM)

Well, I'm not on defense so I don't get to watch too much film on these guys. I really don't know too much about 'em.

Alice Chapel Hill, NC

If ya'll beat VTech and Pitt, what do you feel your chances are at winning the national championship

Reggie McNeal

  (2:59 PM)

We just take it one week at a time Alice. We will do the best we can in Blacksburg, then move on from there. We'll see what happens.

Chet in Houston, Tx

Reggie, Do you feel that while A&M has taken a dip below the radar screen over the past 5 years, that it is time to show the state and the nation that A&M, and not Texas, is in fact the place to be for now and the future.

Reggie McNeal

  (3:01 PM)

Well, I'm not concerned with Texas' program, we've got our own thing to worry about down here. But it's coming around each week, as we pick up our game, people will see, they are noticing what we're doing down here.

Derek (Houston)

Did you grow up an Aggie fan? What factors contributed to your decision to play football at A&M. And by the way, THANK YOU for making that decision.

Reggie McNeal

  (3:02 PM)

Actually Derek, I did not grow up an Aggie fan, I used to root for Miami ... but I'm from Texas, and I decided to come here for the atmosphere, and the support from the fans -- they are behind us 100%. I don't think there is another state in the nation like it!

Dallas, TX

You seem to have a lot more patience in the pocket and less apt to scramble compared to last year. Have you been instructed to stay in the pocket or have defenses limited the opportunity to scramble? Gig 'em.

Reggie McNeal

  (3:04 PM)

Nah, it's just my choice. If I see a lane I'll run the ball but if I can get the ball out there to my playmakers, They can turn a three five-yard catches into 30 yards. I just assume sit back and get the ball in there hands.

Garland

Is it true A&M didn't allow anyone to have 16 for the 2 years before you got there?

Reggie McNeal

  (3:06 PM)

Yeah. It's true. I was committed pretty early, the summer going into my senior year, I think. They saved it for me.

Daniel '94 from Dallas

KNowing that the key to the V Tech came is controlling the ball, how do you feel about the offensive line's growth over the last few weeks. Does the loss of Jami Hightower and Andre Brooks still sting?

Reggie McNeal

  (3:07 PM)

Well, they were both great on the line, but these guys we have out here now are learning to play with eachother and really coming around. They'll be fine.

Quinton- Houston, TX

What do you like best- shotgun or under center?

Reggie McNeal

  (3:08 PM)

It doesn't matter to me. Probably shotgun, I can see the whole field a little bit better and it's a little easier to read the defense from back there. Plus it gives me a little more room to move around.

Kris Reyes, Santa Cruz, CA

Reggie, talk about the biggest differences you have noticed with the team this year as a result of the coaching change

Reggie McNeal

  (3:09 PM)

There is more enthusiasm everywhere. The attitude on the field we're playing with a lot more enthusiasm.

Eric, Pensacola, FL

Do you feel that A&M isn't getting the respect they deserve from all the SO called experts?

Reggie McNeal

  (3:10 PM)

Nah. With the year we had last year, we didn't expect it. But respect is earned, not given, so I guess we just have to go out and get it.

Shannon College Station

Was there a deciding factor on why you were given the starting spot instead of Dustin Long?

Reggie McNeal

  (3:11 PM)

Shannon, you will have to ask Coach Fran those questions. I don't konw.

Justin: Fayetteville, GA

Reggie, What's the one piece possibly missing for A&M this season: Is it defensive leadership, or just plain experience with a new system??

Reggie McNeal

  (3:13 PM)

Probably the new system should be our biggest weakness. But as I said everybody is learning and it's coming along real well and I think we can really execute. We've got leadership on both sides of the ball and playmakers on both sides, we've just got to make it happen. Thanks for all of your questions everybody. Keep an eye on us Aggies! Tune in Thursday on ESPN to see us take on Tech! Thanks again! Gig 'em!

Moderator

  (3:18 PM)

Hey everybody, thanks for being such good sports today. Sorry this got started so late. Really appreciate you folks sticking it out. Take care!