Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, November 12, 1995 TAG: 9511130092
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
In its first football visit to this city in three decades, Virginia Tech found the juice for its first Big East championship on ``Death Row.''
The Hokies got two touchdowns from defensive tackles in a 48-second span Saturday afternoon. If that isn't some sort of record, Tech's eight-game winning streak is, tying a school mark set in 1905.
In a 38-16 triumph over Temple that was nearly as sloppy as the weather at RFK Stadium, 21st-ranked Tech (8-2, 6-1) clinched at least a share of its first Big East Conference crown and stayed in the Bowl Alliance picture.
The Hokies' defensive front named itself ``Death Row'' last season when it was sacking its way to success, but in the last four games of an 8-4 season, Tech's defense allowed 145 points.
It hasn't happened again. Sure, the Hokies returned 10 starters from last year's defense, but you still have to show up with more than confidence - although that obviously helps, too.
The Hokies showed up at RFK with a team-load of caps proclaiming themselves ``Big East Champions.'' Of course, when you're playing a team that is now 1-30 against league teams since the Big East started playing football in 1991, confidence comes easy.
But two touchdowns in 48 seconds? On a Jim Baron fumble recovery and J.C. - that's Just Cruising - Price interception? By a defense with five touchdowns from five players this season?
In the first 2 11/2 minutes of what quickly became a rout, Temple's offense was on the field for almost 16 of those. That was OK was Tech.
The Hokies' best unit was on the field then, too.
In one stretch, Temple had 18 straight plays - the same span in which the Hokies scored 14 points to go up 24-6. Had this been last November, the Tech defense would have been in its own gas chamber.
What's happened? Tech has been practicing in pads only on Tuesdays and Wednesdays since the victory at Rutgers three weeks ago. The Hokies are fresher, physically and mentally.
With a defense with an eight-man front, a defense that plays an attacking style, a defense that's played consistently in opponents' backfields, freshness counts.
Although Tech's defense made the highlight tapes with the twin touchdowns up front, the victory was as much about consistency. The Hokies entered the game ranked first nationally against the run, allowing 74.3 yards per game. The awful Owls slogged for 79.
It's been that way all season. Former coordinator Phil Elmassian's emotional style in showing Tech's defense how to win also had the Hokies walking on a tightrope. When Elmassian went to a different Washington to coach the Huskies' secondary, Tech coach Frank Beamer made Bud Foster and Rod Sharpless co-coordinators.
Maybe two heads are better than one. Maybe it's the measured charge they bring to their roles. Maybe it's that the only people attacking are those in uniform.
``What we're doing works, too, because it's a mature group we have,'' Foster said of the reduced hitting in practice. ``Two or three years ago, what we were doing then was good for us. We had to learn.''
Crunch time has been just that for Tech's defense. In 10 games, with Saturday's visit to Virginia and then a bowl to be played, the Hokies have allowed only three fourth-quarter touchdowns. Five of those 10 foes haven't scored in the second half.
Tech's defense hasn't played a bad game, period. Foster didn't disagree, although the coach in him said, ``This wasn't a crisp game, like we have been playing.''
Even in the 0-2 start with losses to Boston College and Cincinnati, Tech's defense was good enough for the Hokies to win.
``We didn't play bad in those games,'' Foster said. ``We just didn't make plays. We talked about that, and the next week we stopped Miami [13-7] and we've never looked back.''
Some Hokies did that in the bowels of RFK after their first conference title in 32 years. ``Death Row'' also describes where Beamer and his program were three years ago at the end of a 2-8-1 season.
Since then, the Hokies have won at least eight games in three straight seasons for the first time. In three years of round-robin Big East play, Tech is 15-6 with three bowl trips.
Beamer achieved another milestone at the home of the Redskins. He reached .500 as the coach at his alma mater. He's 49-49-2. Of course, he did it the hard way - 24 wins his first six seasons, then 25 the last three.
``When I think back to where we've been and what we've gone through, I'm proud to get to the .500 mark,'' said Beamer, pushing his title cap back on his head. ``We've kind of caught up.
``I'm proud of where the Tech program is now, and I've said I think we can take it to a new level. Right now, I think we're in the middle of a going to a higher level.''
The Hokies also are at the top of the Big East, even if right now that means still being in the middle of a race.
by CNB