Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 29, 1993 TAG: 9309290076
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
West Virginia looms Saturday - the same West Virginia that chased DeShazo, pelted by boos, off the Lane Stadium turf last year in the Mountaineers' 16-7 domination of Tech.
Then, DeShazo was a struggling first-year starter who completed three of nine passes for 13 yards and was benched during the game. Now, DeShazo is the nation's leader in passing efficiency, his team is 3-1 and the Hokies may break into the national rankings if they beat 25th-ranked WVU.
Is it DeShazo's biggest game ever?
"No," he said Tuesday. "I kind of did that last year [against WVU]. I went to my coach [Sunday] and said, `I owe the team something. I got really humiliated last time.' He said, `No, you don't owe them. You owe your football team to do your part.'
"[I said] I want to do something special, but that's not the case. That's when individuals start getting involved. That's not our route. When we win, we all rejoice together. When we lose, we all rejoice together."
DeShazo has delivered on preseason promises of improvement. He has completed 42 of 65 passes (65 percent) for 696 yards and eight touchdowns with three interceptions. Through four games last year, he was 23-for-50 (46 percent) with 410 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.
His nadir came against the Mountaineers, a team he said recognized several Tech offensive formations and held the Hokies to 237 total yards, including a season-low 86 rushing.
"It's not the same quarterback they saw last year," he said.
DeShazo said Tech's coaches have given him more responsibility to audible. Two of his four touchdown passes in Saturday's 55-28 victory over Maryland were check-offs, he said.
"[Last year] when I had a chance to do something, I was a little timid to take that chance," he said. "I was scared to check off: `Is this the right check?' [Now], if I don't get it right, I don't get it."
\ FIGHT UPDATE: Tech coach Frank Beamer said he took disciplinary action against tailback Dwayne Thomas and tight end Kevin Martin, who were ejected from the Maryland game after the first-half brawl. Beamer said Thomas and Martin were made to run a number of 100-yard dashes double the amount of the yards they were penalized for personal fouls (30).
Thomas can be seen on replays of the fight throwing a helmet; Tech's staff, however, saw Thomas being held up by a Maryland player and kicked in the stomach by another before he threw the helmet.
Beamer apologized for Tech's part in the incident and said athletic director Dave Braine and Big East Conference Commissioner Mike Tranghese approved of his handling of Thomas and Martin.
Reserve fullback Brian Edmonds said a team meeting on the subject didn't result in any specific penalties if a player does fight, but Edmonds said, "I'm pretty sure there will be now."
\ BARRY BACK: Chris Barry, a senior offensive tackle who has had surgery to repair torn ligaments in this left thumb, is expected to play against West Virginia while wearing a protective cast.
\ PRESTON'S FUTURE: Martinsville native P.J. Preston returned to the team Monday after conquering his gagging problem by using a visualization technique, but it may be awhile before he plays regularly.
Beamer said Preston is likely to switch to what Tech calls a "whip," or outside linebacker, the position he played his first three years with the Hokies. Beamer said Preston will have to compete for playing time and said missed practice time might hold him back - not to mention the fact that he had left the team while he was being treated.
"I'm sure it hasn't helped him from [the standpoint of] understanding the defensive scheme, not counting on coming back as opposed to thinking his career is over," said Bud Foster, the Hokies' linebackers coach.
Preston's earliest contribution should come on special teams.
"He's got to get back into shape, and back into football shape and hitting shape - those are two different things," Foster said. "He's got to get his timing, [work on] shedding blocks and basic fundamentals. If he comes back and plays for us, great. We've gone this far without him."
\ BEAMER ON BEAMER: Tech is off to its best start in Beamer's seven years as head coach, and at his weekly news conference Tuesday he brought up national rankings and bowl implications - an unimaginable scene 10 months ago when Tech finished a 2-8-1 season.
Asked what it would mean to him if Tech beat WVU and found itself ranked Sunday, Beamer said: "I'm in the exact same boat as the players. I'd better be spending my time thinking about West Virginia."
by CNB