Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, December 30, 1994 TAG: 9412300113
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: JACKSONVILLE, FLA. LENGTH: Long
For weeks, Virginia Tech has heard the rumblings of a speeding locomotive headed its way. Now, either the Hokies stop it or they get run over.
Tonight in the 50th Gator Bowl, Tech faces its long-anticipated collision with a runaway freight train out of Tennessee.
Before an expected crowd of 60,000, 17th-ranked Tech (8-3) meets red-hot Tennessee (7-4) at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville. The 7:30 game will be shows nationally by TBS cable.
Tech will be gunning for its third consecutive victory in a bowl. The Hokies whipped Indiana 45-20 in last year's Independence Bowl and nipped North Carolina State 25-24 in the 1986 Peach Bowl.
Winning this one figures to be a challenge. The Volunteers are unranked, but that hasn't swayed the opinion of Las Vegas oddsmakers, who have made Tennessee a seven-point favorite.
``I think people that know football know that Tennessee is a top 10-caliber team right now,'' said Frank Beamer, Tech's coach.
``There's no team in the country any hotter than Tennessee is right now. They're legit everywhere - on offense, defense and special teams.''
After a 1-3 start in which they lost their top two quarterbacks to season-ending injuries, the Vols closed by winning six of their last seven games, including their final four. Meanwhile, Tech limped home, losing two of its last three games, including a 42-23 thumping by Virginia in its regular-season finale.
To pull the upset, Tech's defense somehow must slow the Vols' crunching ground attack and the offense must keep to a minimum the mistakes that doomed it at times.
Defensively, the Hokies face a mammoth task trying to handle Tennessee's star-laced offensive line that averages 294 pounds per man. Conversely, the Tech defense has one player - 294-pound sophomore tackle Waverly Jackson - who weighs 270 or more.
``I look for Tennessee to run, run and run some more,'' said Hokies defensive coordinator Phil Elmassian, whose unit tapered off late in the season after a strong start.
``I sure wouldn't blame 'em for running,'' Beamer said. ``I know I would if I were them. They're going to come right at us and try to mash us up front.''
Much like Virginia did, the Vols figure to pull their big horses, letting their all-time leading rusher - tailback James Stewart - follow.
``That's definitely what we're going to try to do because we think we can run the ball on anybody,'' said Jason Layman, Tennessee's 287-pound left tackle. ``People talk about them maybe being quicker. Well, all we've got to do is hit 'em. If we get a man on a man it doesn't really matter how fast you are if you're going backward or you're on your back.''
Phil Fulmer, the Vols' coach, said he expects Tech to load as many as eight defenders at the line of scrimmage in an effort to stop the run and create confusion for his two freshman quarterbacks - Peyton Manning and Branndon Stewart - who share playing time.
``That should open up the pass for us, leaving some guys in one-on-one coverage,'' Fulmer said. ``Our young quarterbacks are going to have to handle their blitzes and hit those guys in single coverage.''
Tech likes to move players around a lot just before the snap, in hopes of creating confusion for the offense.
``They move around a lot,'' Layman said, ``but they've got to stop sometime. Besides, they really only play about three defenses. If you know what you're doing against those defenses it's not really hard to block 'em.''
Tech's defense could have used inside linebacker Ken Brown. The All-Big East Conference performer will see very limited, if any, action because of a pulled right hamstring.
``He might play in some situations, maybe certain run situations because he's a big guy,'' Beamer said.
Brown is being replaced by 6-foot-1, 211-pound freshman Tony Morrison.
Offensively, like the Vols, Tech hopes to go the smash-mouth route on the option. Beamer, calling plays in lieu of offensive coordinator Gary Tranquill, who left to join the Michigan State staff Dec.6, said the Hokies will keep things simple, but gamble when necessary.
The key for Tech's offense will be quarterback Maurice DeShazo, whose up-and-down 1994 season didn't come close to preseason billing.
``We have to have a big game out of Maurice, no question,'' Beamer said. ``As Maurice goes, so goes our offense. I think he's ready for this. He's loose, having fun and ready to roll, I believe.''
DeShazo said he's primed and confident for his final college game. He said the pressure of carrying Tech's victory hopes on his shoulders is fine with him.
``Yeah, I love it,'' he said, ``because I know in my mind that's the honest truth. I've got to be on the money in this game.''
Tech, which had a minus-6 turnover ratio, must find a way to keep its hands on the ball. The Hokies' offense had eight turnovers in the UVa debacle - their most miscues in a game in 36 years.
``We can't have a bunch of picks and stuff,'' said DeShazo, who threw five interceptions against UVa. ``But if I get picked on the first series of the the game, I can't get down. I just have to stay calm and come right back.''
Senior receiver Antonio Freeman, Tech's all-time leading pass-catcher, predicted a successful close to the season.
``I see a big game coming out of Maurice,'' Freeman said. ``We're the underdogs, so to speak, but we can win this game, believe me.''
Outback Steakhouse Gator Bowl
Virginia Tech (8-3) vs. Tennessee (7-4), 7:30 p.m., TBS cable.
by CNB