Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, December 25, 1994 TAG: 9412300089
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
They share a border, separated only by a 31/2-hour drive on the interstate.
But despite being neighbors, Virginia Tech and Tennessee haven't met on a football field for 57 years.
That all changes Friday, when 17th-ranked Tech (8-3) and unranked Tennessee (7-4) clash in the Gator Bowl in Gainesville, Fla.
``I think it's great that these two schools can finally get together,'' said Dave Braine, the Hokies' athletic director.
``We thought we were going to get to play in a two-for-one deal in 1997, '98 and '99. The contract was about ready, then we got in the Big East and the SEC expanded, and that was the end of that.
``So, I think this meeting is fitting. At least we'll get to play once.''
Bowl officials are predicting a crowd of 60,000 for the game at the University of Florida's 83,000-seat Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, 63 miles from Jacksonville, where the Gator Bowl stadium is undergoing renovations.
The game, which kicks off at 7:30 p.m., will be shown on TBS cable.
Both teams will arrive in Jacksonville on Monday, when they will commence daily workouts at designated sites in the northern Florida city.
Tech's practices, which will be open to the public for the first half-hour, will be held at The Bolles School on San Jose Boulevard.
The Gator guarantees each participant $1.5 million. It will be the largest payday in the history of Tech, which is going to a bowl in consecutive seasons for the first time. The Hokies whipped Indiana 45-20 last year at the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La.
Obviously, Tech's first matchup with Tennessee since 1937 has intrigued Hokies followers. The Hokies have sold 17,653 tickets through Saturday, some 7,000 more than Tennessee.
If Las Vegas oddsmakers are correct, Tech will require similar excitement from its players to handle the Volunteers. Tennessee has remained a steady seven-point betting favorite since an opening line was posted on the game Dec.2.
Tech regards the bowl game as a reprieve, an opportunity to erase the bad memories from its crushing 42-23 home loss to archrival Virginia in the regular-season finale Nov.19.
``We appreciate the opportunity to play again after that last ballgame,'' said Frank Beamer, the Hokies' coach. ``I don't think anyone associated with Virginia Tech football feels like we played up to our capabilities in that last ballgame.
``This is a super opportunity for Virginia Tech. The game's on TV, it's against a big-name opponent and it's a chance to show the country about Virginia Tech. The real key is to go down there and play well.''
Tech will have to in order to have a chance. Tennessee enters the game as one of the nation's hottest teams, winning six of its final seven games, including its last four.
``They might be the best team in the Southeastern Conference right now,'' Beamer said of the Vols. ``They won their last two by a combined score of 117-0 [52-0 over Kentucky and 65-0 over Vanderbilt], so they're doing a lot right.''
After being ranked No.13 in the The Associated Press' preseason poll, the Vols saw their season nearly trashed in a 1-3 start.
Making matters worse, coach Phil Fulmer's club lost its top two quarterbacks - senior Jerry Colquitt and junior Todd Helton - to injuries. Colquitt suffered a season-ending knee injury on the Vols' seventh play of the season, at UCLA, while Helton was hurt in a Game 4 loss at Mississippi State.
Freshman Peyton Manning, son of former NFL star Archie Manning, took over at quarterback in Game 5. The Vols have lost only once since, 17-13 to Alabama.
Offensively, the Vols like to control the ball behind one of the nation's biggest and best offensive lines. Tennessee's offensive linemen weigh an average of 294 pounds.
``Some magazines have called it the best line in the country,'' Beamer said. ``All five will probably play in the NFL.''
The Vols like to put their all-time leading rusher, James Stewart, behind that big line and let the ``Little Man'' run.
After yielding 103 points in its first four games, the Tennessee defense - after some personnel moves - gave up 82 points in the final seven games.
While the Vols were forced to make changes early, most of Tech's moves have come late.
The Hokies lost their offensive coordinator Dec.6, when Gary Tranquill accepted a similar post at Michigan State. The loss of Tranquill leaves Beamer responsible for calling the offensive plays, a task he hasn't undertaken since his days as head coach at Murray State (1981-86).
Also, Tech has made some changes in its secondary since the UVa game, with free safety Antonio Banks and cornerback William Yarborough swapping spots.
The Hokies, however, appear to like their position against tradition-rich Tennessee.
``I think we play better as the underdog,'' said Brian Edmonds, Tech's sophomore fullback. ``This way, we don't have to live up to the expectations of going into the game as a favorite. All the pressure is on Tennessee, if you ask me.''
by CNB