Va. Tech game comes at right time for Leftwich

Thursday, Sept. 12, 2002 | 9:14 a.m.

SUN WIRE REPORTS

Marshall quarterback Byron Leftwich will have his only chance to audition for the Heisman Trophy against a highly ranked opponent tonight when the 17th-ranked Thundering Herd plays No. 9 Virginia Tech (ESPN, 4:30 p.m.).

Leftwich, a 6-foot-6, 240-pound senior, threw for 4,132 yards and 38 touchdowns last season and has been grouped by NFL scouts in the top tier of college quarterbacks. But recognition is difficult in the Mid-American Conference. Tech (2-0) is the lone Top 25 team on the Herd's (1-0) schedule.

"When we scheduled this game, we didn't know they'd have the best quarterback in the country," Tech coach Frank Beamer says. "He's athletic."

Redshirt freshman Chad Christensen, who beat out Walter during spring drills, has started the first three games for the Sun Devils (2-1).

Walter relieved Christensen in the season-opening loss at Nebraska and in the second half of last Saturday's come-from-behind win over Central Florida.

Head coach Darrell Dickey announced the resignation in a statement Wednesday.

Martin, 37, was on paid administrative leave from his job as receivers and special teams coach since shortly after he was arrested for possessing less than a gram of a controlled substance Aug. 29 at an Arlington topless club.