Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, September 23, 1995 TAG: 9509260104
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Well, the leaves haven't turned yet and already the Hokies' season is on the line.
In what many believe is a must-win situation, the Hokies will have their life preservers out when the 17th-ranked Miami Hurricanes blow into Lane Stadium today at noon.
In front of a sellout crowd of 50,000-plus fans and a regional television audience (WSLS, Channel 10), winless Tech must do something it's never done - beat Miami - or else stare down the barrel of an 0-3 start.
To think, only 16 days ago the Hokies hadn't lost a game, were ranked No.24 in the country, and generally conceded as a lock player in the Big East Conference's four-school bowl package at the end of the year.
If Tech loses today - Miami (1-1) is a 9-point favorite - it will fall to 0-2 in the Big East and face the difficult prospect of playing four of its final five league games away from home. Another ``L'' today and Tech would have to win six of its final eight simply to have enough wins to qualify for a third straight bowl berth.
"Things can change with the flick of an eye in this business,'' noted Hank Coleman, Tech senior defensive end. "If anybody had told me this was going to happen, I wouldn't have believed them.''
Well, believe it. As if losing their home season opener - 20-14 to Boston College - wasn't painful enough, the Hokies sank to rock bottom last Saturday at Lane, losing 16-0 to two-touchdown underdog Cincinnati.
"That was as bad a day as I've ever seen,'' said Rickey Bustle, Tech offensive coordinator. "It was just a dadgum day in which nothing was going to go right. I don't care what it was, it wasn't going to work.''
Things had better work today or Tech will be just another bug on the windshield of Butch Davis' first Miami club.
``I know there will be one good team on the field,'' said Frank Beamer, Tech coach. ``I hope there will be two.''
Not surprisingly, Tech's biggest concern comes on offense. The Hokies have scored a total of five points in their past two meetings with Miami, losing 21-2 in '93 and 24-3 in '94. In going 0-12 against Miami, Tech has scored 10 or more points on the 'Canes only four times.
``We've got to score some points and we can't turn the ball over,'' said Bustle, whose offense has given up the ball six times in two games, leading to 23 of the 36 points allowed by Tech.
``Our defense has played them well over the years. If we can put some points on the board and not give it to 'em in bad situations I think we can hang in there and play with 'em.''
To move the ball, Tech will have to find a lost running game that has produced 199 yards on 74 carries (2.75 yards per carry). Sophomore tailback Ken Oxendine, who missed the first two games due to a broken right hand, is back and should help. But if Tech couldn't run on Cincinnati, how does it plan to run against a team that held it to minus-14 rushing last year?
``First,'' said Beamer, ``we've got to block somebody and get our backs some holes to run through. It's imperative we help [quarterback] Jim Druckenmiller out some. If we can run, I believe we can pass it.''
But will they catch it? Tech's receiving corps has handled the ball like it was a hand grenade the first two games.
The return of senior flanker Bryan Still, who had an 80-yard touchdown against BC, should help. Still has missed the past six quarters after sustaining a separated right shoulder on a kickoff return against BC.
Defensively, Tech has been adequate thus far. But the Hokies aren't coming up with any big plays - an interception that kills an opponents' drive or sets up an offense for a room-service score. Tech hasn't intercepted a pass since last Nov.12 against Rutgers, a span covering six games and 120 passes.
``We got our hands on seven balls last week and still couldn't down with one,'' Beamer said. ``We have to make something happen sometime.''
That now becomes even harder with the loss of Antonio Banks. Tech's starting left cornerback tore up his left knee in a practice drill Tuesday and underwent arthroscopic surgery on Thursday. Banks, a second-team All-Big East choice last year, is expected to be out for at least three weeks.
Banks' spot will be filled by Loren Johnson and Pierson Prioleau, a pair of ``true'' freshmen who haven't played a college down at cornerback yet.
``It's going to be a tough game, to say the least,'' said Dwayne Thomas, Tech's senior tailback.
``The fans are sort of down on us after last week, but in the past we've played some of our best games in these type situations ... when nobody thinks [we] have a chance.
``This definitely is a must game. We're already 0-1 in the Big East and to have a chance to finish on top or challenge we've got to win this one. We beat Miami and I don't think there's anything that can stand in our way the rest of the season.''
And if they don't?
``I don't want to think about that,'' Thomas said.
by CNB