Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 13, 1995 TAG: 9509130041
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Only one problem with that promotional catchphrase in 1995: How do you get in the Hokie huddle when there isn't one?
Tech's new no-huddle offense, unveiled for the first time in the opener against Boston College, is here to stay, Hokies coach Frank Beamer said Tuesday.
``Rickey [Bustle, offensive coordinator] and I both like it, and we're going to stick with it,'' said Beamer, whose offensive unit went no-huddle for approximately 80 percent of the BC game.
``It's good in a lot of ways. First, you know what personnel is on the field defensively, and that makes for less combos [play changes] at the line of scrimmage because you're calling the play while you're looking at 'em. Plus, it gets the tempo of the game the way you want it.
``Probably the thing I like most about it is if it comes down to a critical situation, like the last two minutes and you've got to go hurry-up, we've kind of practiced it the whole game. You just speed up what you've been doing all game.''
The no-huddle offense, which Bustle worked with last year while coaching at South Carolina, shouldn't be confused with the hurry-up attack, Beamer said.
``In the no-huddle you're not particularly in a hurry to run the play,'' Beamer said. ``Now you might go quickly every now and then just to change up.''
Junior quarterback Jim Druckenmiller, who calls the plays through code names, and the rest of the Hokies' offense seem to like the new mode of attack. Tech amassed 419 yards against BC - 64 more than it averaged last season.
``In the spring, the linemen were kind of concerned if we'd be able to do it ... constantly going, constantly rolling, would we be in shape enough?'' said Mike Bianchin, a senior offensive tackle. ``Now, that we've done it the whole spring and fall, we're totally comfortable with it.'' bent over and gasping. You can see it in their face, their eyes.''
LOOKING AHEAD: Suddenly, Tech's noon meeting with Cincinnati on Saturday at Lane Stadium doesn't appear to be quite the mismatch many may have thought.
The Bearcats may be 0-2, but they easily could have beaten Kansas and 21st-ranked Kansas State, losing late leads in both games.
``They're no slouch,'' Bianchin said.
Tech has been installed as an early 141/2-point favorite.
DEFENSIVE SWITCH: In the most notable lineup change for the Cincinnati game, Tech sophomore Tony Morrison will start ahead of junior Myron Newsome at middle linebacker.
Newsome had a tough debut against BC, getting burned early and often by the Eagles' elusive tight ends.
``Newsome got a little confused out there,'' Beamer said. ``Playing his first game at Tech, playing on national TV ... it was just a little too much too quick for him. Don't worry about Myron Newsome. He's going to be all right.''
NO REST FOR WEARY: It was a long opener for Tech's secondary against BC in more ways than one. Not only did Eagles quarterback Mark Hartsell shred it for 273 yards passing and three touchdown passes, the Tech secondary of Larry Green, Antonio Banks, rover Torrian Gray and free safety William Yarborough played every down on defense. With three freshmen in secondary backup spots, Beamer obviously was leery about substituting.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Cornell Brown, Tech's pass-rusher deluxe, found himself caught in a lot of BC double-teams.
``I hope I don't see that stuff all year,'' said the junior defensive end. ``It frustrated me early, but I had to put it out of my mind and play. Coach said it was a sign of respect, but I don't need that kind of respect.''
Despite all the attention from BC, Brown still had 12 tackles and recorded Tech's only sack.
TECH TIDBITS: Tech will be without flanker Bryan Still (separated right shoulder) and tailback Ken Oxendine (broken right hand), its top two big-play guys on offense, this week. Defensive end Hank Coleman (hamstring) and defensive tackle Jeff Holland (strained right shoulder) have missed some practice this week but are expected to play. ... Tech hopes to play offense on a shorter field this week. Of Tech's 14 drives against BC, none started in Eagles territory. Ten of Tech's possessions started inside its 25-yard line. ... Druckenmiller's 296 yards passing was more than his more celebrated predecessor, Maurice DeShazo, threw for in any game last year. ... Vince Russo, a fullback for Tech in the late 1960s-early 1970s, died Sunday of a heart attack in his hometown of Mount Lebanon, Pa.
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB