Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 16, 1994 TAG: 9411160140
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Long
Tech's other 22,000 or so students will immerse themselves in textbooks and notes Dec.9-15. Semones will do that, too, but this week he'll be learning a new position in preparation for Tech's game against Virginia on Saturday at Lane Stadium.
Semones, who has started 10 games this season at outside linebacker, will replace inside linebacker Ken Brown against the Cavaliers - assuming Brown's strained hamstring keeps him out of the noon game. Brown, Tech's second-leading tackler with 93, is listed as doubtful for the game.
Sophomore Vernon Dozier probably would have started in Brown's place, except Dozier and reserve tight end Rhasheyd Williams have been suspended indefinitely for what Tech termed a ``violation of athletic policy.''
So, freshman Tony Morrison will start in Semones' place while the sophomore from Glenvar High School fills in for Brown. Semones not only has to play a new position, he has to call the defensive signals. He said he's spent about three hours a day before practice cramming with Bud Foster, the Hokies' linebackers coach.
Semones said he was told Saturday night after the Rutgers game he probably would be shifted inside.
``I'm putting in a lot of hours this week, probably the most I've ever put in,'' Semones said.
``I feel pretty confident. For the most part, [inside linebacker] is about half the position of `whip' [linebacker] with a little more run responsibility.''
Beamer said he felt ``comfortable'' with the setup, but appeared to give Morrison a lukewarm endorsement. Morrison's playing time has fluctuated in his first year at Tech.
``Tony'll do as well as he's ready to do at this particular time,'' Beamer said.
Brown, who has made 41 starts, outweighs Semones by 31 pounds. A former Hokies defensive back, Semones was placed at outside linebacker to take advantage of his quickness and speed.
``I still don't feel like my size will hurt me that much,'' he said. ``I don't have to take on that many blocks. It's nothing that I haven't done so far this year.''
Semones has 89 tackles, third on the team, and is tied for the lead in tackles for losses with eight. He has five sacks and six pass breakups.
As for play-calling, Semones said junior George DelRicco could help if there's confusion. But nobody's being prepared to hold Semones' hand; he has to learn it all.
``I feel the players have a lot of confidence in me,'' Semones said. ``I feel pretty comfortable getting in front of the players. If it had been earlier in the season, I probably would've felt less comfortable.''
CONSTRUCTION: After the Tech-Virginia game, Hokies fund-raisers will begin solidifying contributions that will pay for a football facilities building, which is expected to cost about $4 million. There's little doubt Tech can raise the money to give Beamer the building he's sought.
``We think we have enough people to solicit enough money for that complex,'' said Dave Braine, Tech's athletic director.
The facility will include a training room and a weight room and probably the team's locker room, meeting rooms and coaches' offices. Beamer wants it built beyond the open end zone at Lane Stadium; Braine said it could be built as an expansion of the Jamerson Athletic Center.
``If you build something in the end zone, then that stops you from expanding [the stadium] in the end zone,'' Braine said.
Braine said luxury boxes, which Beamer had envisioned leasing to major contributors to help finance the project, aren't in the plans but could be added later.
That's fine with Beamer, who for some time has been eyeing improved facilities at schools such as Virginia, North Carolina State, Tennessee and Georgia Tech. He's not sure whether the facility could be built by the start of next season. Tech still needs state approval.
``I think everyone here at Virginia Tech realizes we need to do some things to keep [our] program where year in and year out we can have a game like the one coming up Saturday,'' Beamer said. ``There's people that want to contribute to this. We need to do it, so we're going to get it done as soon as we can.''
PIGGYBACK: Tech's football team could drag the Hokies' basketball team with it during the Christmas holidays. Tech plays basketball against Delaware State on Dec.31 at Cassell Coliseum, and Braine said he is looking into moving the game to Miami or Jacksonville, Fla., if the Hokies are in the Carquest Bowl. It's possible Tech could play Tennessee in the Carquest Bowl; the Hokies and Volunteers play basketball in Knoxville, Tenn., on Dec.28, and Braine said he would see if Tennessee was interested in moving the game to Florida if the schools' football teams are playing.
BOWLS: A victory Saturday, combined with some other happenings this week and next, could put Tech in a bowl coalition game. This, the Hokies know, and this, the Hokies won't talk about. Beamer pretty much forbid his players discussing postseason play before Saturday evening.
``All of 'em are good; I haven't seen a bad possibility yet,'' Beamer said of the bowls. ``[We talked] about if we won, what was possible, who's coming [to represent bowl games], and my final statement was, `And now we won't talk about it anymore this week. That's it.'''
ETC: Virgina's Randy Neal intercepted two Maurice DeShazo passes in the teams' 1992 game and returned both for touchdowns. ``I don't plan on doing that again,'' DeShazo said. ``At least, not to the house. I'll tackle him.'' ... How upset was Ken Brown about his hamstring injury? ``He cut his hand; he hit his hand on the wall at halftime,'' said Tech tight end Kevin Martin. ... Defensive tackle Jim Baron (hip) is doubtful, and offensive linemen Jay Hagood (Achilles' tendon) and T.J. Washington (knee) are questionable for Saturday's game. ... Tech's Ryan Williams is one of five finalists for the Lou Groza National Place-kicking Award. Williams, a senior from Hampton, has made 16 of 20 field-goal attempts this season and is 25-of-26 on extra-point tries. The winner will be announced Dec.2. Other finalists are Steve McLaughlin of Arizona, Brian Leaver of Bowling Green, Remy Hamilton of Michigan and Mike Shafter of Southwestern Louisiana.
by CNB