Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 2, 1994 TAG: 9410050017
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
DATELINE: SYRACUSE, N.Y. LENGTH: Medium
The no-longer-unbeaten Hokies had been anything but perfect in a 4-0 start and one reason is they've continued to recklessly run past an obvious warning:
Flagman Ahead.
Tech blew perhaps the greatest opportunity in its century-old football history Saturday, losing 28-20 at Syracuse on regional television in a game with Big East title implications and much more.
The Big East officiating crew led by referee John Soffey spent the afternoon littering the Carrier Dome carpet with yellow hankies. Unsurprisingly to anyone who has watched the Hokies this season, most of the flags were flying because of Tech.
For the second time this season, the Hokies were penalized 12 times. In five games, 51 penalties have cost Tech 410 yards. Since 1983, the Hokies have had more than 12 penalties in only four games.
Tech, 4-1 overall and 0-1 in Beamer's new contract era, is the most-penalized team in the Big East. Yes, even more per game than marauding Miami, which probably gets some flags on reputation alone.
Syracuse (4-1), which will climb into the Associated Press poll this week on precision and more, has only 20 flags in five games.
Of course, Tech's unbeaten start wasn't simply flagged down. The Hokies tackled like their putrid predecessors of two seasons ago, and they scored only one touchdown in their third straight Carrier Dome loss.
Syracuse's offensive line, averaging 296 pounds per man, was still quick enough to dominate Tech up front. Coach Paul Pasqualoni's delay-game offense was prepared for Tech's attacking defense just as Tech's defenders were sublimely ready to ruin Boston College's offensive scheme two weeks earlier.
However, in its five games, Tech has 12, 9, 10, 8 and 12 penalties. Obviously, this flag-flying is perhaps the most consistent part of Tech's play this season. The NHL can stay on strike. The Hokies are doing enough penalty-killing for everyone.
Someone pointed out to Tech coach Beamer that Soffey's crew was the one that took Miami heat last New Year's night for its work in the Orange Bowl, but the only thing the Hokies' alumnus-coach was biting was his tongue.
``I don't think the officials beat us here,'' Beamer said. ``One of us is screwing up. Either they're calling a lot or we're doing a lot. And [it's] probably us. ... We'll see.''
If Beamer is considering a complaining phone call to Big East officiating supervisor Dan Wooldridge, he should save the toll call to Salem. Tech has no one to blame but itself. A film of most of its penalties this season would be accompanied by the theme from ``Dragnet.''
Dumb-da-dumb-dumb-dumb.
``We have made a lot of dumb penalties, and today it caught up with us,'' said Tech senior wideout Antonio Freeman, who in defeat had one of the finest receiving days of his career. ``You can't do that against a good team. When you hold, you just kill drives.
``I still don't think the offense played up to our potential. We have to score touchdowns when we get in the red zone, but we end up with three points [field goals] instead of six.''
Beamer insisted he's ``more convinced than ever'' that the Hokies can still be a great team. However, Tech hasn't played like one, and there are others - like pollsters - who this weekend will vote that Tech flagged down its season of destiny.
The season is basically half over, and Tech is looking up at Miami and Syracuse in a league that's 2-9 against the six other major I-A conferences. To be second in the Big East this season, it won't take greatness, but the Hokies now need someone to beat Syracuse besides Miami.
That's only because Tech did as much to beat itself as the Orange did.
``We've talked a lot to the team about playing smart,'' Beamer said. ``When you're reaching out there grabbing them and holding them, that's not playing smart. And when you're hitting them in the back, that's not very smart.
``And I would assume every penalty is a correct call, and so we'd better play smarter.''
He's obviously seen too much hankie-pankie.
by CNB