Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, October 2, 1995 TAG: 9510020063
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Deep in the bowels of Pitt Stadium on Saturday, the Virginia Tech Hokies could almost hear their hopes for a third consecutive bowl bid being flushed.
Tech was down 9-0 to Pittsburgh at halftime and seemingly content to let a once-promising season go down the toilet.
Coaches were yelling. Players were hollering.
Then, big Mike Bianchin stood and took center stage.
``Hey, the [mistakes] had to stop,'' the senior offensive tackle said afterward. ``Everybody was asking what happened to the team that showed up last week [in a 13-7 victory over Miami].
``We didn't have any emotion, there's no question. We were playing flat. When everybody started yelling, I got up and told everybody, `That's enough talk and no more [expletive], let's just play.'
``And I think that's what happened. We just quit talking, quit trying to say so much and just started playing.''
No kidding. A Tech team that had scored 27 points in the season's first 10 quarters put 26 on the board the next 30 minutes to dismiss Pitt 26-16.
So instead of being 1-3 overall and 1-2 in the Big East Conference, Tech returned to Blacksburg 2-2 and 2-1.
The Hokies will be heavy favorites in their next two games - at Navy (2-2) on Saturday and vs. Akron (1-3) at home Oct.14 - and should be 4-2 heading into a key Big East stop at Rutgers on Oct.21.
Of course, Tech coach Frank Beamer won't concede that notion. He is worried about Navy. And maybe for good reason, as the Middies won 30-9 on Saturday night at Duke, where they were two-touchdown underdogs.
But after Saturday's comeback, Beamer seemed to feel good about his team.
``I was proud of our crowd last week against Miami, but I believe I'm even more proud today,'' Beamer said after Saturday's victory, Tech's first after trailing at halftime since 1990.
``What happened after halftime is what I'm impressed with. Our players and our coaches reached down, got better and came back and beat what I think is a good football team.''
Beamer credited his club's senior leaders - Bianchin, J.C. Price, Chris Malone, George DelRicco and Co. - with pulling the Hokies together at halftime.
Beamer, however, was first in the halftime sermon line.
``You can't write what I said,'' he said. ``I didn't tell the guys anything they didn't already know.''
Price then aired his feelings.
``I thought we'd be ready to play,'' he said. ``Maybe some guys weren't expecting [Pitt] to pop us in the mouth, but I was, and they did.
``I told 'em, `The Miami game doesn't mean [anything] if we lose this one.' But we came together and got it done. I think we've got leadership on this team, and without great leadership I think we'd have lost today.''
Saturday's game mirrored Tech's season to date. One never knows which team is going to show up, from game to game or from half to half.
After managing 114 yards total offense in the first half, the Tech offense rolled up 311 yards on Pitt in the second half. That, combined with two huge blocked punts by freshman Angelo Harrison and a defense that tightened, was enough for Tech.
``We are real fortunate to get out of here with a win,'' Beamer said. ``But we made enough plays to get it there.''
Which is all that counts.
TECH TIDBITS: The Hokies' offense averaged 8.9 yards per play in the second half, picking up 311 yards on 35 snaps. ... Flanker Bryan Still surpassed 100 yards in receiving for the second time in his three games. Still, who caught five passes for 139 yards Saturday, had 105 yards against Boston College. ... The Hokies yielded 154 yards rushing, 45 yards short of the total they had given up in the first three games combined. Tech's rush defense, yielding 66.3 yards per game, was ranked second in NCAA Division I-A entering the game. ... Billy West, Pitt's brilliant tailback, had 113 yards on 23 carries before breaking his left leg midway through the third quarter. West was scheduled to undergo surgery Sunday and is out for the season. ... The Big East continues to flounder. West Virginia, Boston College and Temple lost outside the conference Saturday, dropping the Big East's record against non-conference Division I-A foes to 6-16.
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB