Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, December 2, 1993 TAG: 9312020089
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Virginia Tech placed five players on the All-Big East football team announced Wednesday, including one first-team selection - cornerback Tyronne Drakeford - who missed the Hokies' last four games with a broken ankle.
Center Jim Pyne was the first-team center. Second-team Hokies were wide receiver Antonio Freeman, linebacker Ken Brown and tight end John Burke.
Tech quarterback Maurice DeShazo, who battled West Virginia's Jake Kelchner for the nation's lead in passing efficiency for part of the year, was not honored. Kelchner was named to the second team behind offensive player of the year Glenn Foley of Boston College.
Tech tailback Dwayne Thomas, the first Hokie to gain more than 1,000 yards since 1986, was not one of the league's top four runners in voting by the eight head coaches.
The Hokies' five selections matched the total for Pittsburgh and Rutgers. Conference champion West Virginia led with 12 selections and runner-up Miami had nine.
"I'm a little bit surprised some of our guys didn't make it, and some of the ones that did weren't higher," Tech coach Frank Beamer said. "At the same time, I think it's a very competitive league.
"I'm proud of the ones that did [make it]."
Drakeford did not play in 2 1/2 of Tech's seven Big East games after hurting his ankle near halftime of the Rutgers game Oct. 23, but that didn't stop the league's coaches from making him one of the top four defensive backs.
"My feeling is, he's the best corner in the league, but whether he had played enough games to get that honor, I didn't know," Beamer said.
Burke caught only 10 passes but apparently was recognized as a blocker.
"That probably says how good a football player Burke is," Beamer said.
Miami defensive end Kevin Patrick was named defensive player of the year. West Virginia head coach Don Nehlen was the unanimous choice as coach of the year after leading the Mountaineers to a 11-0 regular season and their first Big East Football Conference championship. The Mountaineers were picked to finish fourth in the conference's preseason media poll.
Foley completed 222 of 363 passes for 3,397 yards and 25 touchdowns, setting single-season conference records for yards and touchdowns. The senior led the Eagles to an 8-3 overall record, a win over then top-ranked Notre Dame and a date against Virginia in the Carquest Bowl on New Year's Day.
Coaches could not vote for players from their teams.
The Associated Press contributed information to this report.
by CNB