Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, September 30, 1995 TAG: 9509300009
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The challenge for coaches George Welsh and Frank Beamer this week has been to convince their football teams to ignore recent history.
Virginia has not lost to its opponent, Wake Forest, since 1983. Tech, the past two years, has defeated Pittsburgh 63-21 and 45-7.
The assignment is a little more imposing for the Hokies, who visit Pitt Stadium as only a 21/2-point favorite. ESPN has chosen the Panthers as its upset special or ``Mighty Dog.''
The good news for Tech is that the ``Mighty Dog'' is 0-4 this season, a statistic that is hardly reassuring for Beamer, whose Hokies upset 17th-ranked Miami 13-7 last Saturday for their first win of the season.
``I think last week's win over Miami puts us back in the Big East race,'' said Beamer, whose Hokies are 1-2 overall and 1-1 in the conference, ``but it doesn't do us a lot of good if we turn around and don't get the job done against Pitt.''
Pitt (2-2, 0-0) is coming off a pair of losses to nationally ranked opponents - Texas and Ohio State - in which it played well for at least a half. The Panthers led Texas 27-24 in the fourth quarter before losing 38-27 in Austin, Texas, and Ohio State had a 20-14 halftime lead before pulling away for a 55-24 triumph.
``I really think that Pitt wants to beat us bad,'' Tech fullback Brian Edmonds said. ``We scored 63 on 'em up there two years ago and I'm sure that hurt them. I know they want us.''
The Panthers are hoping for a lift from the return of junior tailback Billy West, who has missed the past three games with a shoulder injury. West rushed for 1,358 yards last season - tops in the Big East and ninth in Division I-A.
``It wouldn't hurt my feelings if [coach Johnny] Majors left him out another week,'' Tech defensive tackle J.C. Price said. ``He's got legs like tree trunks. If we don't gang-tackle him, one guy is not going to bring him down.''
Freshman Demetrius Harris has come off the bench to rush for 314 yards in four games, but the Panthers' chief threat is the combination of quarterback John Ryan and wide receiver Dietrich Jells. Jells has 25 receptions this season, six for touchdowns, and a school-record 137 for his career.
In Charlottesville, 11th-ranked Virginia (4-1 overall, 3-0 ACC) is looking for its 12th straight victory over Wake Forest (1-3, 0-1). The Cavaliers have been installed as 321/2-point favorites, a line that makes Welsh cringe.
``I don't know how it's [the streak] gotten to 11,'' Welsh said. ``They've had some good games against us. I can remember a couple of years ago, they were ahead at the half [in 1993]. Down there in '86, we had to kick a field goal at the end.
``We've got a fairly young team and I think - I hope - that they know the pitfalls that can come about. You see all the upsets in college football, like Cincinnati and Virginia Tech [won by the Bearcats 16-0]. Those games happen every week.
``Just because one team is better, it doesn't mean they can win just by showing up. I hope we don't get carried away with what's happened so far. I don't think we're that much better than Wake Forest.''
Even Jim Caldwell, the Deacons' head coach, had to laugh at that one.
``I wouldn't make that statement,'' Caldwell said. ``That's a heckuva football team he's coaching. Let's be honest. And we're also talking about one of the premier coaches in the country. They're one of the top football teams in the country and we're not there.''
VMI, which has won its first two home games, faces an unenviable task today when William and Mary comes to Alumni Memorial Field at 1:30 p.m. in search of its third straight shutout.
Keydets' head coach Bill Stewart, a former William and Mary assistant, has great admiration for the Tribe program. However, he wants no part of a possible defensive hat trick.
``This ain't hockey,'' said Stewart, who has two ex-Tribe players and a former William and Mary assistant on his staff.
Ferrum, which gained its first victory of the season with a 15-6 upset of Division I-AA Charleston Southern, entertains winless Newport News Apprentice at 1:30 p.m.
Washington and Lee (0-1-1) will be without injured tailback Seth McKinley when it visits Randolph-Macon (1-1-1).
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB