Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 30, 1994 TAG: 9411230006
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
DATELINE: MIAMI LENGTH: Medium
Miami already had done that.
The difference between the No.6 and No.13 teams in The Associated Press college football poll was more than seven positions. The Hurricanes dominated the Hokies 24-3, and in which steamy setting have we seen this before?
How about at the Orange Bowl last season? Tech hasn't beaten Miami in a dozen tries, and a year ago the score was 21-2.
Other than another wearying-but-solid performance by Tech's defense, that's about where the similarities ended. The Hurricanes' 363 yards matched their season low in a victory over Florida State, and 119 of those came in the fourth quarter.
Miami (6-1) is better than it was last year. The Hurricanes and Hokies may both play in the Big East Football Conference, but, clearly, they're not in the same league.
In a game that probably sent Tech 20 miles up the road for a Carquest Bowl date at Joe Robbie Stadium - Miami reaffirmed its national championship credentials.
Yardage on first and third downs was just about nonexistent for Tech, which was seeking its first 8-1 start since 1954. The Hokies, in 26 carries, had minus-14 yards rushing. That's a nadir dating as far back as 1975, perhaps earlier.
In a 7-2 season that heads into a welcome open date Saturday, Tech's major inconsistency has been with the ball. Against the Hurricanes, who really do run like the wind, the Hokies' offense didn't have a chance even to be inconsistent.
Tech's 157 yards total offense was its low since a 60-yard day in a 22-10 loss to Clemson in 1987 - Beamer's first game as the head coach at his alma mater.
In the second quarter, while Miami was scoring 17 points - including a game-turning touchdown reception by leaping Yatil Green with one second left in the half - the Hurricanes had the Hokies reeling backward to minus-24 yards offense.
Tech had blocked a punt - the 39th kick block in Beamer's eight seasons - and turned it into a 3-0 lead. The Hokies had great field position throughout the first quarter, but their offense was going nowhere.
``I knew then that we were in trouble,'' Beamer said candidly.
Tech knew it couldn't run outside because of Miami's speed. Trying to bust between the tackles was futile, too, because Miami middle linebacker Ray Lewis decided it would be a good day to pick up some votes for Big East Player of the Year.
``I don't know if we ever touched him,'' Beamer said of the Hurricanes' scary sophomore, who had 17 tackles, four passes broken up and an interception of Maurice DeShazo. ``We tried to block him. It didn't seem like we could.''
And Miami's defense, led by Lewis and tackle Warren Sapp, didn't have to play honest because Tech was going nowhere on first down. On their 21 first-down plays, the Hokies gained 20 yards.
Tech had minus-1 yard on 10 third-down plays before the half, but by then the Hokies were hot in a different fashion.
Tech, which entered the game tied with New Mexico for the most penalties in Division I-A football, received a flag that had Beamer much warmer than the 88-degree air temperature.
The Hokies' coach absolutely fried field judge Howard Curry on the sideline after referee Terry Monk made an intentional-grounding call on a DeShazo clock-stopping pass into the ground with about one minute left in the half.
The 17-yard penalty backed the Hokies up to their 4. DeShazo's pass landed about a yard or two short of running back Dwayne Thomas, and Beamer felt the flag was wrong because the ball was in the vicinity of an eligible receiver.
Tech had to punt on fourth-and-27, and Miami quarterback Frank Costa needed only five plays and Green's leap in the right corner to get the Hurricanes to a two-touchdown lead.
``Of course we're throwing the ball away,'' Beamer said. ``There's a receiver there, and ... I don't know, to me, it's incompetence. I ... I don't understand it.''
In the press box, Big East officiating supervisor Dan Wooldridge said he thought Monk made the correct call. He said he thought DeShazo made the clock-killer too obvious.
``It's a judgment call,'' Wooldridge said. ``I know we'll hear about it.''
Beamer, to his credit, said the Hokies weren't beaten by one flag. That was obvious. That call was the only thing close about this game.
Miami's defense did the rest of the intentional grounding.
by CNB