Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, November 11, 1995 TAG: 9511120010
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
Virginia Tech's football team can pop the champagne corks today - if it first can handle a Shirley Temple.
Today at 1 p.m. at RFK Stadium, 21st-ranked Tech (7-2) can guarantee itself no worse than a tie for its first Big East Conference title by downing lowly Temple (1-8).
If the Hokies can beat the 22-point underdog Owls, they will finish 6-1 in the league and become the Big East's leader in the clubhouse.
In that scenario, either Miami, Syracuse or Boston College - all currently are 3-1 in the league - would have to win their final three conference games to tie Tech.
If one of the chasing trio - Miami appears to be the most likely candidate - ties Tech, the Big East's Bowl Alliance representative will then be left in the hands of the selecting bowl, the Sugar or Orange.
No matter what happens concerning the bowls, the Hokies figure they're the real Big East champions if they get it done today. The Hokies won't be popping any postgame champagne - NCAA rules prohibit such locker-room libations - but they will be measured for ring sizes.
``If we beat Temple, we're going to at least share the Big East title,'' said Frank Beamer, Tech's coach.
``No matter what happens down the line, whether we win it outright or share it, those rings we'll be wearing will be the same size.''
First, however, Tech must dispose of Temple. The Hokies, riding the crest of a seven-game winning streak, don't figure to run into a Temple of doom. The Owls are 1-29 in the Big East since joining the conference in 1991.
On paper, Tech appears to be a lock over Temple. The Hokies are playing their best football of the season, outscoring the opposition 233-74 since starting 0-2.
Can Tech possibly slip today? Or will the Washington Monument collapse first?
``Hey, we slipped against Cincinnati [a 16-0 home loss],'' warned J.C. Price, Tech's senior defensive tackle.
``I know it's a cliche, but any team can get beat on any given day. We've got to be ready to play.''
Beamer said on Monday's Big East conference call that ``this is a game that really scares me to death.''
But even the ever-cautious Beamer, at least privately, likes his team's chances. Sure, it might be the Owls, but these Hokies will give a hoot, Beamer hinted.
``We're going to take Temple seriously,'' Beamer said. ``The normal thing, after such an emotional week [last Saturday's 31-7 romp over Syracuse], it's hard to come back and be as emotional again. But I think this football team has done a lot of things that are not standard. We've got people that don't go by the average.
``I think our football team realizes this is the most important game of the year. There are not many Saturdays when you can go out there and play, and if you win, you can call yourself champions.''
Realizing the stakes at hand, the Hokies indicated they won't require a wake-up call today.
``We learned our lesson early against Cincinnati about taking things for granted,'' said Tech's Bryan Jennings, a junior tight end. ``We know that Temple is not that good, but they're capable of beating us. We can't let that happen like we did against Cincinnati. I don't think it will, because there's no back-off in this team.''
Added senior defensive tackle Jim Baron: ``If we show up as a team on offense and defense, I don't believe there's anybody who can beat us.''
Much less Temple. Make no mistake, however, these Owls are better than past year's versions.
Temple broke a 27-game league losing streak on Oct.14, beating Pitt 29-27. Last week, the Owls missed three field-goal attempts in a 10-9 loss to Boston College. Temple, which lost its first 25 Big East games (1991-94) by an average of 29 points, has trimmed that average margin to 10.2 points this season.
``This is a different Temple team brewing,'' said Ron Dickerson, the Owls' third-year coach. ``We're playing hard, and the kids now believe they can win.''
Dickerson, though, realizes he has the short straw today. When asked how the Owls will handle Tech's furious pass rush, he said: ``Maybe we can put 12 guys on the field, maybe 13.''
Despite the fact this is Temple's home game, the Owls figure to be outnumbered in the stands, too. Of the predicted crowd of 20,000 fans, most will be Tech backers.
Dickerson, hoping to enhance Temple's recruiting efforts in the D.C. area, asked Tech last summer about moving the game from Philadelphia.
``The decision wasn't difficult at all,'' Dickerson said. ``When you're building a team you've got to start somewhere, and that's through recruiting. Therefore, we have to expose our program.''
It didn't take Tech long to say ``yes'' to the move.
``With all our Northern Virginia and Maryland people, it's almost going to be like a home game for us,'' Price said. ``That will just make things even better if we can bring [a championship] home.''
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB