Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 1, 1994 TAG: 9410220031
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SYRACUSE, N. Y. LENGTH: Medium
``They know how to win,'' Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer said.
Or, they know how to lose occasionally, and almost lose regularly. But for 14th-ranked Virginia Tech, which hasn't lost yet, today's 3:30 p.m. encounter in the Carrier Dome (WSET Channel 13) presents the nearest, clearest danger to the Hokies packing a perfect record into their Oct. 29 game at Big East Conference mountain Miami.
Last year, Tech took a 24-0 first-half lead on the Orangemen at Lane Stadium and Tech center Billy Conaty said he sensed Syracuse, near the end of a disappointing season, throttling back.
This year, however, Syracuse has outscored its opponents 76-33 in the second half and realizes its Big East title hopes may die if the Hokies preen before television cameras for the third straight week. Tech beat Boston College 12-7 on the Big East Network two weeks ago and ripped West Virginia 34-6 on ESPN last week.
Today's ABC regional telecast will reach about one-fifth of U.S. television homes, including the Hokies' coveted Washington, D.C., market.
Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni could use a quick scoring start today because Tech's second-ranked defense is unlikely to permit a comeback.
``It's getting to the point where we've got to get better at it,'' Pasqualoni said. ``How many more times does it have to happen?''
In Charlottesville, something will happen possibly for the penultimate time: William and Mary playing Virginia. The 2-1 Cavs have dropped Division I-AA opponents after 1995 and figure to drop the 4-0 Tribe today before back-to-back ACC road games against Wake Forest and Georgia Tech.
Symmion Willis will start over Mike Groh at quarterback and try to get Virginia's offense unstuck.
``We just wish that one of them would step up and take control,'' defensive end Mike Frederick said. ``I guarantee you we won't have the turnovers we had last week; you won't see seven. That's all going to be taken care of. They've emphasized it a lot this week. We've done a little extra hitting with the running backs.''
W&M quarterback Shawn Knight's mobility and passing skills bother Cavaliers coach George Welsh.
``He's a quality athlete who could play at a lot of I-A schools, I think,'' Welsh said. ``We may have made a mistake not recruiting him. I would say we did.''
Virginia Tech, on the other hand, is missing a few players it did recruit. Tailback Dwayne Thomas (team-best 351 yards) isn't here because of his sprained ankle, so Radford native Tommy Edwards (123 yards, two touchdowns) will get his first collegiate start. Right guard Damien McMahon (sprained foot) is out, so Blacksburg resident Jared Hamlin, a starter in '92 but a reserve since, moves in. And touted 1993 recruit Korey Irby, mostly a special teams player to date, replaces suspended freshman Tony Morrison at whip linebacker, one of many defensive positions at which the starter plays almost all the time.
Syracuse will have inside linebacker Dan Conley back (he missed last week's game at East Carolina with knee soreness), but it's Tech's defense that gets most of the pre-game attention.
Syracuse senior quarterback Kevin Mason, in his first year as a starter, has SU's offense moving with the freeze option and wishbone, which the Orangemen will run a dozen or more times per game.
Tech folks always say the Hokies' option takes away some of the defense's aggressiveness because of the discipline required to stick to assignments, but that logic doesn't work the other way around, it seems.
``Don't make the plane trip, cancel the game if you're going to let the wishbone take away your aggressiveness,'' Tech defensive coordinator Phil Elmassian said.
Tech allows 81.5 rushing yards per game; SU is averaging 188, and Mason has thrown just 15 times per contest. He's been sacked only five times; Tech leads the Big East with 17 quarterback takedowns.
``It's very, very hard to run the ball because they have so many people up there,'' Pasqualoni said. ``One thing I know is, you've got to be able to protect the passer.''
Beamer claims Maurice DeShazo is hale after struggling through the West Virginia game with hip, thigh and ankle injuries and a bad-decision virus.
DeShazo's six interceptions (three against WVU) are one fewer than he had all of last year, and he figures to put the ball up plenty today. Syracuse is giving up 270.5 passing yards per game, and the Hokies are believed ready to re-introduce the shotgun set with four wide receivers.
Otherwise, new coordinator Gary Tranquill's offense may be on a diet.
``Maybe we've got too many plays, too many formations,'' Beamer said. ``You draw a line. I don't think we've been on the wrong course.''
Beamer won't say it, but knows that a victory today puts Tech on course for a Big East championship showdown at Miami later this month. Between now and then stand Temple, East Carolina and Pittsburgh (combined record 3-5 when not playing one another with victories over Akron, Army and Ohio University).
by CNB