DATE: Tuesday, September 30, 1997           TAG: 9709300446

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C4   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: Harry Minium

LENGTH: 159 lines

BIG EAST REPORT

The "other" Miami offers challenges to Virginia Tech

No, it's not Miami of Florida that Virginia Tech will host Saturday. It's the other Miami, as Miami of Ohio is often known.

And though it's hard to believe, the Hokies may be playing the better of the Miamis. Miami (O.) is 3-1 after beating Army 38-14 last weekend. Miami (Fla.) is 1-3.

The Red Hawks' only loss is to Mid-American Conference preseason favorite Bowling Green 28-21.

``They have good players, good coaches, just a solid operation all around,'' Tech coach Frank Beamer said. ``They built their reputation on upsetting folks. I remember a few years ago when Northwestern (won the Big Ten title), their only loss was to Miami.''

Beamer's Hokies are 4-0 overall, 3-0 in the Big East, and are solid favorites at this point to win the league. Tech, at No. 14 in the Associated Press Poll, is the only ranked conference team.

Problems springing up all

around Hurricanes' Davis

Meanwhile, the disintegration of once-mighty Miami (Fla.) continues.

For whatever reason - perhaps to avoid hearing more questions about what's wrong with his team - Miami coach Butch Davis was a no-show for the Big East telephone news conference Monday.

That's a no-no that could result in a reprimand. Coaches are required to do their 10 minutes each week regardless of their record, which is 0-2 in the Big East after Miami's 28-17 loss at home to West Virginia.

Davis has tried to end the hoodlum-like image that has long permeated Miami's program, but suffered a blow Sunday when receiver Santana Moss was suspended following his arrest in a bar brawl.

Moss was arrested and charged with battery on a police officer and resisting arrest. Davis said Sunday that several students claimed that Moss ``was clearly not close to the incident. But when it broke out, it was like someone hollering fire, everybody runs to see the fire. He got there and got involved when he had no business to be involved.''

Another Hurricane, freshman defensive back Al Blades, was also involved and may be charged, police said. Blades was among four people who tried to block a police car in which Moss was sitting from leaving, then jumped on the trunk of the car and pounded on the rear window.

Good news for Blades: He's out for the season with a knee injury and can't be suspended.

Progress at Temple; Owls fans seem to give a hoot

How do you measure improvement in a downtrodden football program? Temple coach Ron Dickerson says one measure is fan discontent - when the fans are complaining, you're making progress.

``One measure is that our games have been closer,'' he said. ``We've been in every game this season except Penn State.

``But we're also getting more griping and moaning from people in the stands. That's good. Now they're upset when we lose games that we should win. In the past they didn't care.''

HARRY MINIUM

The ``other'' Miami

team could give

Va. Tech problems

No, it's not Miami of Florida that Virginia Tech will host Saturday. It's the other Miami, as Miami of Ohio is often known.

And though it's hard to believe, the Hokies may be playing the better of the Miamis. Miami (O.) is 3-1 after beating Army 38-14 last weekend. Miami (Fla.) is 1-3.

The Red Hawks' only loss is to Mid-American Conference preseason favorite Bowling Green 28-21.

``They have good players, good coaches, just a solid operation all around,'' Tech coach Frank Beamer said.

``They built their reputation on upsetting folks. I remember a few years ago when Northwestern (won the Big Ten title), their only loss was to Miami.''

Beamer's Hokies are 4-0 overall, 3-0 in the Big East, and are solid favorites at this point to win the league. Tech, at No. 14 in the Associated Press Poll, is the only ranked conference team.

Problems springing up all

around Hurricanes' Davis

Meanwhile, the disintegration of once-mighty Miami (Fla.) continues.

For whatever reason - perhaps to avoid hearing more questions about what's wrong with his team - Miami coach Butch Davis was a no-show for the Big East telephone news conference Monday.

That's a no-no that could result in a reprimand. Coaches are required to do their 10 minutes each week regardless of their record, which is 0-2 in the Big East after Miami's 28-17 loss at home to West Virginia.

Davis has tried to end the hoodlum-like image that has long permeated Miami's program, but suffered a blow Sunday when receiver Santana Moss was suspended following his arrest in a bar brawl.

Moss was arrested and charged with battery on a police officer and resisting arrest. Davis said Sunday that several students claimed that Moss ``was clearly not close to the incident. But when it broke out, it was like someone hollering fire, everybody runs to see the fire. He got there and got involved when he had no business to be involved.''

Another Hurricane, freshman defensive back Al Blades, was also involved and may be charged, police said. Blades was among four people who tried to block a police car in which Moss was sitting from leaving, then jumped on the trunk of the car and pounded on the rear window.

Good news for Blades: He's out for the season with a knee injury and can't be suspended.

Progress at Temple; Owls fans seem to give a hoot

How do you measure improvement in a downtrodden football program? Temple coach Ron Dickerson says one measure is fan discontent - when the fans are complaining, you're making progress.

``One measure is that our games have been closer,'' he said. ``We've been in every game this season except Penn State.

``But we're also getting more griping and moaning from people in the stands. That's good. Now they're upset when we lose games that we should win. In the past they didn't care.''

HARRY MINIUM

The ``other'' Miami

offers challenge

to Virginia Tech

No, it's not Miami of Florida that Virginia Tech will host Saturday. It's the other Miami, as Miami of Ohio is often known.

And though it's hard to believe, the Hokies may be playing the better of the Miamis. Miami (O.) is 3-1 after beating Army 38-14 last weekend. Miami (Fla.) is 1-3.

The Red Hawks' only loss is to Mid-American Conference preseason favorite Bowling Green 28-21.

``They have good players, good coaches, just a solid operation all around,'' Tech coach Frank Beamer said.

``They built their reputation on upsetting folks. I remember a few years ago when Northwestern (won the Big Ten title), their only loss was to Miami.''

Beamer's Hokies are 4-0 overall, 3-0 in the Big East, and are solid favorites at this point to win the league. Tech, at No. 14 in the Associated Press Poll, is the only ranked conference team.

Problems springing up all

around Hurricanes' Davis

Meanwhile, the disintegration of once-mighty Miami (Fla.) continues.

For whatever reason - perhaps to avoid hearing more questions about what's wrong with his team - Miami coach Butch Davis was a no-show for the Big East telephone news conference Monday.

That's a no-no that could result in a reprimand. Coaches are required to do their 10 minutes each week regardless of their record, which is 0-2 in the Big East after Miami's 28-17 loss at home to West Virginia.

Davis has tried to end the hoodlum-like image that has long permeated Miami's program, but suffered a blow Sunday when receiver Santana Moss was suspended following his arrest in a bar brawl.

Moss was arrested and charged with battery on a police officer and resisting arrest. Davis said Sunday that several students claimed that Moss ``was clearly not close to the incident. But when it broke out, it was like someone hollering fire, everybody runs to see the fire. He got there and got involved when he had no business to be involved.''

Another Hurricane, freshman defensive back Al Blades, was also involved and may be charged, police said. Blades was among four people who tried to block a police car in which Moss was sitting from leaving, then jumped on the trunk of the car and pounded on the rear window.

Good news for Blades: He's out for the season with a knee injury and can't be suspended.

Progress at Temple; Owls fans seem to give a hoot

How do you measure improvement in a downtrodden football program? Temple coach Ron Dickerson says one measure is fan discontent - when the fans are complaining, you're making progress.

``One measure is that our games have been closer,'' he said. ``We've been in every game this season except Penn State.

``But we're also getting more griping and moaning from people in the stands. That's good. Now they're upset when we lose games that we should win. In the past they didn't care.''

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