Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, October 26, 1994 TAG: 9410270059
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DWIGHT FOXX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Long
"I know you guys [media] are sitting there saying, `wait a minute, they have a loss.''' Beamer said. ``But the way they are playing right now, they are in my opinion as good as anyone. And probably the best. That loss, to me, got them mad. You know how some people are when they get mad? You get them stirred up and [they're] hard to control. Right now, Miami is hard to control.''
The Hurricanes (5-1 overall, 2-0 Big East) are ranked No.6 by The Associated Press and on Saturday will play host to a Hokies' squad (7-1, 4-1) ranked 13th.
Virginia Tech, a 14-point underdog, never has beaten Miami in 11 tries, including last year's 21-2 loss in the Orange Bowl. But the Hokies feel good about their chances after blasting Pittsburgh 45-7 last Saturday.
``The credit goes to the assistant coaches and players for putting us in position where this is a big ballgame,'' Beamer said.
Wide receiver Antonio Freeman, who set a school and Big East record with 164 punt-return yards last week, is ready.
``This is the biggest game in Virginia Tech football history,'' the Baltimore native said. ``Things are coming together at the right time for this football team.''
Freeman thinks past Tech teams were awed by the Hurricanes, winners of four national titles since 1983.
``Maybe, two years ago,'' he said. ``Last year, we were in the game for three quarters,'' before Miami outscored Tech 14-2 in the second half.
Virginia Tech outrushed Miami in last year's game, 125 to 54, but was outgained through the air (279-51).
``We went down there with a good game plan but got sent home sad,'' Freeman said.
Linebacker Lawrence Lewis is hoping the Hokies' defensive scheme, similar to Washington's, will help stop a Miami's potent offense. Hurricanes quarterback Frank Costa has thrown 10 touchdown passes for an average of 45.1 yards per catch.
``The key, always, is you have to stop their run,'' Lewis said. ``We want to turn them into a one-dimensional team. We're expecting everything.''
The Orange Bowl crowd helps make Miami a tough team to beat at home.
``[It's] very noisy,'' Freeman said. ``Their fans are very supportive. Sometimes it was difficult for [quarterback] Maurice [DeShazo] to change the play at the line of scrimmage like he wants to do, because of the crowd. That's the main disadvantage of playing in the Orange Bowl."
But Washington's win there proved the Hurricanes can be beaten at home, though Beamer said some of the Tech players had mixed emotions about the loss because of their Big East loyalties.
``It showed me that Miami is capable of making mistakes and is beatable,'' Freeman said. ``It brought them down to earth - reality. If we go down there and play Virginia Tech football, I think we can come out of there with a win.''
TALKING CANES: Miami is notorious for being one of college football's most talkative teams.
Miami and Colorado were involved in a brawl last year that resulted in numerous player ejections, including Colorado star receiver Michael Westbrook.
``We have to control ourselves and be humble,'' Freeman said. ``We can't get into a battle of egos - we just have to forget about that and play hard-nosed football.''
But DeShazo said you can't let the Hurricanes ``challenge your manhood.''
``I don't think they are the most talkative team, because everybody talks every weekend,'' he said. ``People put it on them - they are the most talkative - because not only do they talk, but they'll talk at any time. They can make a five-yard catch and get up and take their helmet off.
``I actually like the way they do it, because they play the way they want to play. I've seen [former Hurricanes wide receiver] Lamar Thomas, one time when we played them, catch a short pass and take off his helmet. The [Miami] coaches didn't say anything about it because [head coach Dennis Erickson] lets those guys play. He lets them play, but there are a couple of times when they've gotten a foolish penalty.
``I mean after a while, you know, talking is talking. But sometimes certain things are just not necessary. If they want to do that, that's fine. If they get away with it, you know, I would keep doing it if I got away with it. But we're not in their system."
DESPERATELY SEEKING SAPP: DeShazo said he usually doesn't look out for any particular defensive linemen in a game, but he will be aware of Miami defensive tackle Warren Sapp.
``He's one of the best defensive linemen I've seen in a long, long time,'' DeShazo said. ``What I can't believe is that he's only a junior."
Sapp, a Lombardi Award semifinalist and Outland Trophy candidate, has 14 sacks and 37 quarterback pressures in his career.
ETC.: The two teams rank 1-2 in the Big East in first-down percentage defense, passing defense, total defense, scoring defense and kickoff returns ... Miami is the winningest Division 1-A team since 1983 with a record of 121-18 (.871). Nebraska is second at 116-23-1 (.832). ... Freeman is six catches from becoming Virginia Tech's all-time leader in receptions.
by CNB