Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, November 25, 1995 TAG: 9511280054
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LINDA ROBERTSON
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Those are some of the reasons the University of Miami may end up in the Orange Bowl while Virginia Tech may have to settle for the Citrus Bowl.
Talk about pulp fiction.
Miami is sexier, a bigger draw on TV and in the stadium, with its tradition as Quarterback U., Taunt U., and Suntan U. Miami has won four national championships since 1983.
But this season, Virginia Tech is the better team. That's why, regardless of what happens Saturday night when Miami plays Syracuse, Virginia Tech deserves to be recognized as champion of the Big East and the conference's representative in the Bowl Alliance.
If Miami (7-3, 5-1) beats Syracuse, it would tie Tech (9-2, 6-1) for the Big East title. The Big East, showing the forethought of Jim Carrey's character in ``Dumb and Dumber,'' has no tie-breaker system. Even though Tech has a better record, a higher national ranking, nine straight victories including last week's defeat of then-No.13 Virginia, and a victory over Miami, Tech could be banished to the Carquest-Weedeater-Thighmaster tier of bowls while Miami again basks in the glow of its home stadium.
There's the difference in prestige and in bowl payouts, $6 million or so.
Tech should do what everybody else does and sue. Or hire a marketing genius. Get on the ``Larry King'' show. Get on ``Jeopardy.'' ``College football players for $100 please.'' ``Jim Druckenmiller.'' ``Who is Virginia Tech's quarterback?''
Talk to the folks at Northwestern (which may also get squeezed out of a big bowl). Why do they have a monopoly on the ``storybook'' adjective?
Tech is being much too gentlemanly about this injustice.
``We're getting prettier all the time,'' Tech coach Frank Beamer said. ``Maybe we don't have a glamourous name but that comes from being on top for awhile.''
The Big East looks inferior as it is masquerading as a top-flight football conference. The lack of a tie-breaker makes it look even more like a novice. If it has to bend over backward to push Miami to the front of the stage, it needs to re-examine its membership.
The Big East doesn't deserve all the blame. The bowl system will choose money over fairness because money is needed for those astronomical payouts. The Orange Bowl could be honorable and choose Tech, but the people in the gaudy blazers may opt for the tried and true (and tired) Miami-Notre Dame matchup. It's a business decision, and the old Catholics vs. Convicts theme draws a lot more than, say, Turkeys vs. Volunteers, even if the game isn't as good.
Let's face it. Miami is not a Top 20 team this year. The New York Times poll had Miami of Ohio ranked higher than Miami. The Hurricanes are better than they were when they lost to UCLA, Tech and Florida State, but barely; they barely beat Pitt, Boston College and West Virginia. A Miami victory over Syracuse would cause a weak debate, but Tech would still be the deserving team.
Fortunately for the Big East, there's one good thing about annual bowl angst time: It signals the start of basketball season.
Linda Robertson is a sports columnist for the Miami Herald.
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB