Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, November 14, 1993 TAG: 9311140147
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD and
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
The Hokies blew a chance to wrap up a bowl bid Nov. 6 at Boston College, but they didn't muff a second chance at Lane Stadium, routing Syracuse 45-24 and happily agreeing to play in the Poulan/Weed Eater Independence Bowl on Dec. 31 in Shreveport, La.
"I'm still in shock," said tight end John Burke. "I'm just happy as hell we're going to a bowl."
The Hokies are Shreveport-bound after a day of scoreboard-watching, the results of which could have had Tech looking at the Peach or Carquest bowls.
The Independence, which pays $700,000 per team, isn't among the diamond cluster of New Year's Day games. But faux pearls will satisfy the Hokies, 2-8-1 last year and bowl-less since 1986.
"Last year, we were home during Christmas break," linebacker Ken Brown said. "It's not like we went to the Rose Bowl or Fiesta. We can't be picky."
Being picked was enough Saturday. Independence chairman Mike McCarthy said Tech was the bowl's No. 1 choice.
"We're going to do our best to put on a great show," said Frank Beamer, the Hokies' coach.
The bowl's No. 2 choice - Tech's opponent - probably won't be known until mid-week, McCarthy said, and might not be known until Nov. 27, depending on who wins and loses on Nov. 20.
The Independence is considering Memphis State, Cincinnati, Illinois, Iowa and Indiana. Louisiana State, McCarthy said, is an unlikely possibility because Auburn's victory over Georgia means the SEC won't have six bowl qualifiers.
McCarthy said it's possible the Independence could issue a you-win-Saturday, you're-in edict to a team this week. Tech fulfilled the same directive Saturday against Syracuse.
"I saw a team that played on both sides of the ball, played with heart and character," McCarthy said of the Hokies. "They're on the rise. There possibly are going to be some 8-3 teams that are going to stay home. We wanted to make sure that didn't happen to Virginia Tech."
Tech will show up at 12:30 p.m. on New Year's Eve at 50,000-capacity Independence Stadium. ESPN will be there, too.
Joining them likely will be Hokies All-Big East cornerback Tyronne Drakeford, who broke an ankle against Rutgers on Oct. 23. Drakeford was walking without crutches Saturday, and after the game, team surgeon Marc Siegel said Drakeford is healing well and should be able to play.
The Hokies brought more than 18,000 fans to their last bowl, the Peach in 1986. McCarthy said each school in his game must sell or buy a minimum of 8,400 tickets; more might be available.
McCarthy said tickets can be bought through Tech's ticket office (703-231-6731 or 1-800-VATECH4) or by calling the bowl office (318-221-0712). Tickets are $30 each; $10 for end-zone seats.
The Independence also has a hotel hotline: 1-800-551-8682.
The 18-year-old bowl, in which Tech lost to Air Force in 1984, already has lined up some extracurricular activities. Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw, a Louisiana native, will speak at a pep rally the day before the game.
And the Independence annually presents the Omar N. Bradley Spirit of Independence Award. Past recipients include President Ronald Reagan (1981), John Wayne (1978) and Shriner's Hospitals (last year). This year's honoree, McCarthy said, is Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, whom McCarthy said already has committed to attend pregame and game-day festivities.
\ NOTABLE: The Independence Bowl will be the second postseason coaching game for Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer. The Tech alumnus guided Murray (Ky.) State to the 1986 NCAA Division I-AA playoffs. The Racers lost 28-21 to Eastern Illinois in the first round. A month later, Beamer replaced Bill Dooley as the Hokies' coach. . . . Virginia Tech finished its home season with a 6-0 record. The other Hokies' teams with 6-0 home records were the 1913 and '80 clubs. . . . With next Saturday's game at Virginia left, Virginia Tech already has established a single-season school record for total offense. The Hokies have 4,622 yards in 10 games. Their total offense per-game average at Lane Stadium this season is 491.3 yards, with 44.7 points per outing. . . . Tech quarterback Maurice DeShazo passed two more former Hokies on the school's career total offense rankings. DeShazo stands fourth with 3,895 yards, trailing former quarterbacks Don Strock (5,871), Will Furrer (5,782) and Steve Casey (4,987). . . . Radford's Tommy Edwards scored his 10th touchdown, setting Tech's single-season record for touchdowns by a freshman. . . . Virginia Tech travels to Charlottesville next Saturday to meet Virginia in a noon battle of 7-3 state rivals. The game will be televised on the ACC network by WSET (Channel 13). . . . When William Ferrell blocked a Pat O'Neill punt Saturday, it was the fourth block of a kick by the Hokies' special teams this season. In Beamer's seven years as Tech's coach, his teams have combined to block 14 punts, 11 field-goal tries and nine point-after attempts.
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB