Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, September 24, 1994 TAG: 9411040007
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
While Maurice DeShazo apparently is trying to carry the Hokies by himself, the senior quarterback isn't holding up his end of the deal.
``I'm playing terrible,'' DeShazo said as Thursday night became Friday morning at Lane Stadium. ``No one is blind. Everybody can see it.''
That's more accurate than most of DeShazo's passes were in the Hokies' 34-6 domination of West Virginia. Tech (4-0) may be unbeaten heading to Syracuse next weekend, but DeShazo has been far from perfect.
It's a measure of the Hokies' talent that they have scored as much as they have with DeShazo struggling in a new offensive scheme. However, it's more than that.
Two years before at the same site against the same foe, DeShazo was booed in a 16-7 loss to the Mountaineers. He heard the same sounds Thursday night as he looked positively sophomoric again, throwing into double coverage, or tossing high, wide or low on a 12-for-32 passing nightmare.
DeShazo completed three passes to WVU corner Aaron Beasley. The Hokies' signal-caller had hardly been stellar in previous wins, but in a convincing victory, he left the field with a frown as big as some of the splits Tech's defense rushed through at the West Virginia line of scrimmage.
DeShazo looks like he's trying too hard to make something happen. On the sideline, new Tech offensive coordinator Gary Tranquill often has DeShazo's ear, and this one-on-one conversation was quite animated in the third quarter.
That was the period Tech went scoreless with 14 yards on 12 plays in 15 minutes. Even Tech coach Frank Beamer yelled and threw his headset in exasperation then.
It is apparent the quarterback's switch from his old play-caller - Rickey Bustle left for South Carolina's staff in the off-season - remains anything but a tranquil work in progress.
After throwing only seven interceptions with 22 touchdowns last season as Tech became one of the nation's surprise teams, DeShazo already has had six passes picked off (and five touchdown throws) in four games this season. He's also been sacked 10 times.
``I'm trying to do what he [Tranquill] asks,'' DeShazo said after Tech sent WVU (1-4) to its worst start since 1978, when the Mountaineers started 1-7 two seasons before coach Don Nehlen arrived on the sideline. ``I'm trying to do it on every play, everything I can.''
To DeShazo's credit, he doesn't point an accusing finger at anyone other than himself. And he isn't reading anything here that he and his teammates don't already know. He also knows that if the 14th-ranked Hokies are to have another Happy New Year, he's going to have to play much better.
Defense and a solid running game might be enough to beat Arkansas State, Southern Mississippi, Boston College and West Virginia, whose best offensive player is punter Todd Sauerbrun.
Those ingredients certainly aren't enough to beat Miami, especially at the Orange Bowl. They might not be enough to get past Syracuse at a soldout Carrier Dome in eight days.
``Guys are wide open in the end zone and I can't hit him,'' DeShazo moaned. ``I'm making stupid mistakes. I really think I'm trying to do too much. I feel like I've got a lot of pressure on me, and I don't need that.''
It's not about whatever longshot Heisman Trophy hopes that fluttered away with his passing Thursday night. DeShazo said he hasn't thought about that, but maybe it's because he's thinking about too much else.
``I need to start helping instead of hurting,'' said the former Bassett High star. ``I can't keep turning the ball over the way I'm doing. I watch film until 1 in the morning. I'm just not executing.
``West Virginia's defense wasn't the problem. I'm the problem right now. I wanted badly to play well tonight.''
Instead, he played badly, then had to play psychologist, which wasn't any easier than playing quarterback.
by CNB