Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 20, 1995 TAG: 9509200043
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Well, Hokies coach Frank Beamer still felt so bad Tuesday about Saturday's unexpected slip that he issued what amounted to a formal apology at Tech's weekly football news conference.
``My thoughts - and I think it's probably our team's thoughts - is we know we didn't play very well,'' Beamer said.
``We're embarrassed about how things went. We apologize for our play, to some degree.
``This thing involves a lot of people and things didn't go well. I don't think it was a lack of effort for the most part.''
Beamer said a review of the Cincinnati horror film ``showed 10 players doing the right thing and one breaking down'' on numerous offensive plays.
``You miss one block and you've got a guy in the backfield; you don't throw the ball properly and it's an incomplete pass; and you hit the hands throwing the ball, and you drop it, it's a dropped pass,'' Beamer said.
``I showed the team the video Monday. I said, `It's us, not the other team.' I went through about 20 plays. I think we're a good football team, but we just haven't played well yet.''
The Hokies (0-2) have three days to air their dirty laundry and get things ironed out. On Saturday at noon, 17th-ranked and Big East beast Miami (1-1) comes calling at Lane Stadium.
Unless Tech beats Miami, which it hasn't done in 12 previous meetings, the Hokies will be 0-3 and looking at six of their final eight games on the road.
``There's a lot on the line because we didn't really see ourselves starting out 0-2, especially the way [Cincinnati] turned out,'' said William Yarborough, Tech's senior free safety.
``I'm not going to say it's the turning point of our season, but this is a very important game for us. You don't want to be 0-3 heading out for the road.''
BOO TO FANS: While Beamer was apologetic about the Cincinnati debacle, the coach was none too enamored of the home fans who abandoned ship early in the game. The fickle faithful were booing junior quarterback Jim Druckenmiller and the offense by the second quarter.
``I don't think that's what we want going on in our football program,'' said Beamer of the Lane Stadium boo-birds.
``I know everyone is frustrated, I understand that. I didn't think we needed those boos to tell people we're stinking the place up. We knew that.
``I don't think it helps your program in any way. If these players were getting paid 800 million bucks to play on Saturday, that's one thing.
``There's not one thing that you help by booing what's going on. We had some good [recruiting] prospects there at the game, and it's not good to have that kind of stuff going on.
``Let it be said that I do appreciate the fans who stood by our side.''
FULL HOUSE: Tech officials are expecting a sellout crowd of 51,000-plus for Miami. That's refreshing news to Beamer.
``It [Lane] was kind of a dead place [against Cincinnati],'' Beamer said. ``The week before [against Boston College] we had the Marching Virginians in there playing early and people were bouncing around. [Last] week they were there, but no one was playing. I don't guess they play before 12 o'clock.
``Don't get me wrong, I'm not blaming that. We're mature enough to get ourselves ready to play. It just helps when there's a good, festive, enthusiastic group around us.''
Remaining tickets for the game are on sale at the Tech ticket office. The Hokies' last sellout came last year against Virginia.
GIVE US LIBERTY: In what's good news to Tech, especially considering its poor start, Liberty Bowl officials will announce today a tie-in to take a fourth Big East team.
The Big East representative, assuming the slow-starting league has four clubs with the necessary six NCAA Division I-A victories, will face the Conference USA champion Dec.30 in the Memphis, Tenn., bowl. The noon game will be televised by ESPN and will be worth $750,000 to each of the competing schools.
TECH TIDBITS: Senior linebacker George Del Ricco, whose 33 tackles lead the Hokies' defense, hurt a knee in the Cincinnati game is taking it easy this week in practice. He is expected to play Saturday. Beamer said flanker Bryan Still (separated right shoulder) and tailback Ken Oxendine (broke right hand) are questionable for Saturday. Bet on both to play, however. ... Beamer said sophomore flanker Shawn Scales has ``completed some unresolved academic issues'' and has been cleared to play again. Scales should get some time in the rotation of Tech's stuggling receiving corps. ... Beamer's son, Shane, dressed for a college game for the first time against Cincinnati. The walk-on freshman was listed on the game roster as a backup deep-snapper. ... Oddsmakers have tabbed Miami as an early nine-point favorite against Tech.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB