Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, December 28, 1994 TAG: 9412280070
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: JACKSONVILLE, FLA. LENGTH: Long
He's smiling. He's laughing. He's loose.
And unless this is some kind of serious game of charades, Maurice DeShazo appears to be back.
``I'm ready to play and play well,'' Virginia Tech's starting quarterback said. ``Yeah, I think you're going to see the old Maurice again come Friday.''
That comes as reassuring news for a Tech team searching for a lift heading into Friday's 50th Gator Bowl, a matchup with favored Tennessee.
``To have a chance in this game, we have to have Maurice DeShazo play well,'' said Frank Beamer, the Hokies' coach. ``From what I've seen lately, he appears to be the same old, loose Maurice once again. He's got to be loose, just let it happen and have some fun.''
If DeShazo is uptight about Tech's biggest bowl game, he's carrying out one of the greatest fakes of all time.
When asked about his well-chronicled struggles against Virginia in the Hokies' regular-season finale - he threw five interceptions in Tech's crushing 42-23 loss - DeShazo delivered what is, thus far, the line of the week.
``My teammates have been saying stuff like, `Why don't you pass me the salt and pepper. Oh, they're probably going to get intercepted,''' said DeShazo, grinning as a group of reporters howled with laughter.
After what DeShazo has gone through this season, it's testimony to his character that he still can laugh.
Coming off a great junior season, DeShazo entered 1994 touted as one of the nation's top quarterbacks. In preseason, he was dubbed a Heisman Trophy candidate by the Hokies' publicity office.
That campaign ended quickly, however. Struggling to grasp a new scheme installed by first-year offensive coordinator Gary Tranquill, DeShazo saw his gaudy '93 numbers - including a school-record 22 touchdown passes - head south. He finished with 13 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions, almost double the seven he threw in '93.
``No doubt, I had hoped to have a better year,'' said DeShazo, who finished seventh in the Big East Conference in passing efficiency and didn't make The Roanoke Times & World News' All-State team. ``I put too much pressure on myself. At the beginning of the year, the game was like a job ... like I've got to do this and do that.''
DeShazo refused to blame his downfall on the new system of Tranquill, who left Tech on Dec.6 to become offensive coordinator at Michigan State.
But some close to DeShazo maintain the quarterback's heart wasn't exactly broken when Tranquill left.
``Maurice had a lot of pressure put on him by Coach Tranquill,'' said Antonio Freeman, Tech's outstanding senior wide receiver. ``It hasn't been an easy year for him by any means.''
Tranquill's new offense took away much of DeShazo's freedom and forced him to make many more defensive reads. It was a one-year crash course that, at times, DeShazo flunked.
``Coach Tranquill knows his offense, for sure,'' DeShazo said. ``But I got uptight a little. It wasn't that he was intimidating, but I was trying to learn because he's been at the next level [as an assistant with the NFL's Cleveland Browns].
``I'm not going to blame him, though. I'm the one who has to make the plays, and there were times I didn't make them.''
With Tranquill gone, Beamer will call the offensive plays against the Vols. The restraints lifted, DeShazo said he can't wait to suit up for his final college game.
``Coach Beamer knows what I like to do and I know what he likes to do,'' DeShazo said. ``I think Coach will probably give me the opportunity to call some plays, and I like that.''
``The other guys around me have done their jobs. Now it's time for me to do my job.''
The prognosticators figure Tech (8-3) has no chance against red-hot Tennessee (7-4) if DeShazo is anything less than perfect.
If he's not and the Hokies lose, the former Bassett High School star still will leave Tech as the school's career leader in touchdown passes (47) and total offense (6,105 yards). The Hokies are 17-6 the past two years and have gone to consecutive bowls for the first time.
``There have been a lot of good times and a few bad times,'' DeShazo said. ``The people won't let you forget the bad times.
``But that's OK. I learned a long time ago that there are three things you've got to accept as the quarterback. Number one is responsibility; number two is blame; and [number] three is glory.
``No doubt, you've got to be able to take the criticism, and I can do that. I know my last game wasn't a good outing. Some of the mistakes were my fault and others I couldn't control. That's just the way it goes.''
DeShazo realizes his Tech legacy likely will be determined by what happens Friday night at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville.
``This is my last shot,'' he said. ``And everybody wants to go out a winner. I'm ready, really ready, to play this game.''
That's sweet music to the Hokies' ears.
``Maurice DeShazo is a player,'' said Freeman, DeShazo's favorite passing target. ``He has this aura, this charisma about him. There's no doubt in my mind that he's going to play a great game.
``If you ask me, the old Maurice is back.''
by CNB