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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 24, 1993                   TAG: 9311230257
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

N.C. STATE IN PLACE FOR A BOWL

Virginia, which can finish no worse than tied for third, still faced an uncertain postseason fate as of Monday night.

Hall of Fame public relations director Mike Schulze would not confirm an agreement with N.C. State late Monday night.

Schulze said an announcement is on hold because the bowl coalition must release the Hall of Fame's ACC choice from its coalition commitment. The coalition has first and second pick of ACC teams - at present Florida State and North Carolina - but Schulze said if North Carolina loses to Duke this week, a coalition bowl could opt for Clemson, which would affect the teams available for the Peach (third ACC choice) and Hall of Fame (fourth).

Wolfpack athletic director Todd Turner, however, said N.C. State has a deal in hand.

"I know that N.C. State is in a bowl and I'm excited about that," said Turner, who would not say whether it was the Hall of Fame. "I don't know whether [Virginia is] in a bowl or not.

"I'd be shocked if both teams weren't going to bowls. There are places where [the Cavaliers] can go."

UVa athletic director Jim Copeland declined comment Monday night other than to say the Hall of Fame Bowl had reached a decision. There seemed to be little doubt that State was the choice.

"That's the word I get," ACC assistant commissioner Tom Mickle said.

The Hall of Fame Bowl, the object of an aggressive campaign by the Wolfpack, had made little secret of its interest in State (7-4 overall, 4-4 ACC).

"We get the fourth pick; the Peach gets the third," Hall of Fame scout Don Gifford said Saturday night at the N.C. State-Florida State game. "I assume they'll [the Peach] take Clemson; then we'll take State."

Schulze, however, said the Hall of Fame's selection committee met Sunday and could not decide between the Wolfpack and Virginia, then called another meeting Monday of its executive board.

"It's one of the toughest decision processes we've ever had to make," Schulze said.

With the Hall of Fame Bowl out, Virginia's best opportunities would be the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Texas, and the Carquest Bowl in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

The Alamo Bowl is guaranteed third choice of Southwestern Conference teams, but there will not be an SWC team with the required six victories against Division I-A opposition if heavily favored Texas A&M beats Texas on Thursday.

If no SWC team qualifies, Virginia's chief opposition would be a Big Ten team, most likely Iowa (6-5) now that Indiana has agreed to play in the Independence Bowl.

"If it's Virginia and Iowa, [the Cavaliers] will have to sell hard because Iowa has a track record for bringing people," Mickle said.

The Carquest Bowl has the fifth choice of SEC teams, but only four SEC teams have qualified. LSU (5-5) must beat visiting Arkansas to get the bid.

"It's one of the few times Virginia has found itself rooting for [Arkansas coach] Danny Ford," Mickle said.

Keywords:
FOOTBALL