Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 6, 1995                   TAG: 9509060136
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                 LENGTH: Medium

HOKIES WILL HAVE THEIR PLATES FULL WITH BC

This time, the Hokies won't enjoy the pastries first.

Unlike past years when it munched on cupcakes like Arkansas State, Bowling Green and James Madison in its season opener, 20th-ranked Tech will be served with some tough meat this time as highly regarded Boston College visits Lane Stadium at 8 p.m.

Nevertheless, the Hokies are salivating. Because they're hungry.

"I prefer to just jump right into it,'' said J.C. Price, Tech senior defensive tackle. "A lot of people would probably say they'd rather open with a team that on paper you're supposed to beat, but I've got no problem opening with a good team like BC. Let's get on with it.''

Senior flanker Bryan Still said a strong opening test will let the Hokies know early what kind of hand they're holding in '95.

"I'd rather open with a game like this,'' Still said. "That way we'll know where we stand. I'd rather do that than having the falseness of playing a weaker team. After we win this game, we know we're a good team.''

The Eagles will come to Blacksburg with their feathers ruffled from a 38-6 loss to Ohio State in the Aug. 27 Kickoff Classic.

The whole scenario makes Tech coach Frank Beamer more than a tad leery.

"If I had my druthers, I'd rather see BC a little later down the line,'' Beamer said.

"I know they're going to be a lot better than the team that lost to Ohio State.

"Sure, I'd rather open against a nonconference opponent. But you go with what's dealt you.

"It seems like we've been practicing a long time [since Aug. 12]. It's time to play, I do know that.''

ROSTER TALK: Tech will dress 67 players for BC. The total includes seven newcomers - junior-college transfer Myron Newsome, who will start at middle linebacker, and true freshmen Shelly Ellison (fullback), Angelo Harrison (wide receiver), Tyron Edmond (linebacker), and cornerbacks Loren Johnson, Pierson Prioleau and Keion Carpenter.

Greg Melvin, who like Newsome transferred from Butler (Kan.) Junior College, will be redshirted this season, Beamer said. Beamer said Melvin, an all-Group AAA running back at Virginia Beach's Bayside High in 1992, hopes to lose some weight and return to tailback speed for 1996.

SHORT INJURY LIST: Beamer said sophomore tailback Ken Oxendine (broken right hand) will be the only player who would have dressed to miss the game. Senior defensive tackle Jeff Holland (strained shoulder), whom Beamer listed last week as doubtful for the game, is now expected to play.

RECRUITING ANGLE: Beamer downplayed any recruiting implications from the game. Last year, BC coach Dan Henning's staff landed seven prospects from Virginia, including three players ( Donovan Yarbough, Damien Woody and Darnell Alford) off The Roanoke Times' Top 25 list.

"I don't think Boston College can continue to come down here and do that,'' Beamer said. "They got some good players, sure. But unless you're around the metropolitan areas, I don't think most of the kids want to go from the state of Virginia up to a big city like that. I know this. We're going to battle 'em hard to keep our kids in the state.''

TECH TIDBITS: There will two Miamis on the Hokies' 1997 schedule. The Hokies have added Miami of Ohio as their fourth non-conference opponent in '97. The Mid-American Conference school had an opening when Notre Dame backed out of an agreement. The Irish, scheduled to have 20,000 more seats to fill in '97, opted to play Georgia Tech instead. Tech's other '97 non-conference foes are Virginia, Cincinnati and Alabama-Birmingham. ... Tech, a 2-point underdog when it won 12-7 at BC last year, has been installed by Las Vegas oddsmakers as an early 2 1/2-point favorite this time. ... Since losing to West Virginia and Miami in 1992, Tech has won seven straight Big East Conference games in Blacksburg. The Hokies, however, have won only six of 16 season openers played at Lane Stadium. ... The Hokies' ticket office is expecting a crowd of approximately 45,000 fans, according to Jack Williams, Tech's director of media relations. The final number will be determined by student-ticket pickup and gate sale. Williams said numerous Tech students had pitched tents Monday night in order to reserve a spot in the ticket line.