Chris Cyrus groggily answered the telephone at 7 the next morning. The caller, a man, wanted to speak to Engelberger. He's still asleep, Cyrus told him. Forty-five minutes later, the guy called back. It was a sports agent who wanted to represent Engelberger when it comes time to talk money with a National Football League club.
Strict rules govern contact between college players and sports agents.
Engelberger informed the guy there was no way he could talk now while preparing for a championship game. An hour later, the agent confronted Engelberger outside the ballroom where the Hokies ate breakfast. Again, Engelberger wouldn't talk. John Ballein, Tech's associate athletic director in charge of football operations, approached the two and told the agent to take a hike. Yeah, a player got a call,'' he said.