Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 7, 1994 TAG: 9409070122
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
In a Monday team meeting, Beamer asked how many Hokies had been to Hattiesburg, Miss., where Tech will meet Southern Mississippi (1-0) in a 6 p.m. kickoff Saturday.
``No one's ever been there,'' Beamer said of his players. The only hand-raising Hokies on Hattiesburg were assistant head coach Billy Hite, offensive coordinator Gary Tranquill, inside linebackers coach Bud Foster and Beamer.
Not only have none of the Hokies been there. No Hokies have won a football game at 33,000-seat Roberts Stadium. In two trips to Southern Miss (1958 and '88), Tech has been outscored 76-13 and hasn't produced an offensive touchdown.
The Hokies' coach wasn't teaching geography, but for 21st-ranked Tech's visit, Beamer is focusing on more than the Golden Eagles' two-deep roster.
``We're playing Southern Miss at exactly the right time,'' he said. ``This gives us an opportunity see what kind of football team we have. And there will be other things to deal with, like the travel, the humidity and the temperature. And we'll be playing in a stadium that won't have many Tech fans in it.''
The trip to Southern Miss - a Metro Conference basketball foe of Tech - isn't a lot different than the game the Hokies faced in Week 2 a year ago, when they traveled to Pittsburgh. The Golden Eagles, who beat Tulane 25-10 in the Superdome on Saturday night, are coming off a 2-8-1 season. It's a crucial game for the Hokies, who found out how good they could be a year ago when they pounded Pitt on the way to a 9-3 season.
The difference is coach Jeff Bower's club has more talent than Johnny Majors had in his Pitt debut a year ago. Southern Miss has seven returning starters on each side of the ball, led by senior defensive tackle Michael Tobias, whom the Eagles are touting for postseason honors.
``Up front, they're pretty good,'' Beamer said.
Up front, the Hokies have to be better. In Tech's 34-7 triumph over Arkansas State on Saturday, Beamer said the Hokies didn't display the offensive chemistry a Top 25 team needs against a more respectable opponent.
``I was disappointed we didn't run the football better. We have to focus on that,'' Beamer said. ``Defensively, we had way too many breakdowns. We did pretty well on the defensive line, but we didn't grade up like we need to at linebacker or in the secondary. I've always said that a team improves the most between the first game and the second game. We need to do that.''
INSIDE LINE: Beamer said he doesn't anticipate any changes in the Hokies' starting lineup, but he is concerned about center Billy Conaty and backup guard Jared Hamlin. Both have shoulder injuries, although each is probable for the Southern Miss game.
Left tackle Jay Hagood made the first start of his career Saturday, and the redshirt sophomore said the Hokies' offensive front will get a challenge from the Eagles. ``After we scored three [first-quarter] touchdowns Saturday, we got comfortable and stopped working hard,'' he said.
After watching film, Hagood said Tech's inside running game and trap plays will be crucial against the Golden Eagles.
``Their defensive ends play 6 to 8 yards off the ball, a lot like linebackers, but they're angled in,'' Hagood said. ``If we can handle the inside people, we should be able to run inside, especially the traps. ... Southern Miss won't break as easily as Arkansas State did, but if we can move their down four, we can beat their defense.''
TECH TALK: Arkansas State's 52 passing yards at Tech were the fewest in the air against the Hokies since Clemson won at Lane Stadium with 23 passing yards in 1987. ... Beamer said the play of junior-college transfer Jim Baron was as impressive on film as it was on the field in the opening victory. Baron, the only junior college alumnus on the Tech roster, had six tackles - including three sacks - and two quarterback hurries from his backup tackle spot. ... Starting tight end Kevin Martin has made two receptions in his career, both for touchdowns, including an 11-yarder in the Arkansas State victory. ... The trip to Hattiesburg is the last scheduled game between the Hokies and the Golden Eagles. ... Southern Miss has joined Memphis, Cincinnati, East Carolina and Tulane in the new Liberty Bowl alliance. The team with the best record among them this season is host for the game in Memphis, Tenn. ... Southern Miss has won 11 of its past 14 home openers. ... The Golden Eagles piled up 314 yards rushing at Tulane on Saturday, including 186 by tailback Chris Buckhalter. ... Sports Illustrated, which put Tech-opening foe Arkansas State 104th among 107 I-A teams, ranked Southern Miss 76th. The Hokies were 15th.
by CNB