Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, October 5, 1993                   TAG: 9310050038
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

TECH OFFENSE PLANS TO RELOAD DURING WEEK OFF

He's made up his mind. During Monday's conference call of Big East Conference coaches, Beamer said Tech will use the week in part to review its offense and make changes.

"We want to try to make sure we're as effective as we can possibly be," Beamer said. "We're looking at a couple different areas there.

"We want to use the people we have, guys we think can make a difference in a ballgame. Part of what we're looking at right now is why we weren't able to control the ball better, and what we need to do about it."

Beamer noted that Tech gained an average of about 2 1/2 yards on first down (counting incomplete passes, not counting penalties) and ticked off the Hokies' 14 third-down situations. Tech needed 4 yards or fewer on third down twice; nine times, Tech needed 9 or more yards.

Beamer wouldn't assess blame or specify how the offense will change before the Temple game in Blacksburg on Oct. 16. The Hokies' play-calling has seemed conservative at times against the two strongest teams they have faced: Miami and West Virginia.

Tech has scored 33, 62 and 55 points against Bowling Green, Pittsburgh and Maryland, respectively; the Hokies have scored 2 against Miami and 13 versus WVU.

"Whether it's run or pass . . . you attack the defense and do what you think is right to win," Beamer said.

\ GRIPES: Beamer apparently chided Tech's players about their postgame comments to the media, some of which criticized teammates and coaches.

"Some of the comments that were [made] could've been handled in a better way," he said. "It's a personal matter between myself and the football team."

\ GRIPES II: Beamer ripped the holding penalty against Jim Pyne that nullified a Tech touchdown pass in the first half as an "atrocious" call and said he'll send a tape to Dan Wooldridge, the Big East supervisor of officials.

"I saw Jim Pyne dominate a player, as best I could tell, and get called for holding," Beamer said.

\ ETC: Freshman free safety Antonio Banks led Tech with 11 tackles against WVU. Banks also made his third interception of the season. . . . The combined record of teams Tech has beaten: 3-10. The combined record of teams that have beaten Tech: 8-0. The combined record of Tech's remaining opponents: 15-10-1. . . . The WVU game was the fourth one-point loss for Tech under Beamer (the Hokies have won one such game). In Beamer's six-plus years, Tech is 8-18 in games decided by seven or fewer points. Tech's last eight victories, dating to midway through the 1991 season, have been by an average of 28.2 points.