ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, December 2, 1995 TAG: 9512030038
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
SOME FANS feel the Hokies would have been slighted by the Bowl Alliance had Miami been eligible.
The prevailing mood among those on the Virginia Tech campus Friday was that the Hokies and the Miami Hurricanes both got what they deserved.
The Hurricanes got NCAA sanctions and were banned from a bowl appearance this season. Thus, the Hokies got the Big East's spot in the Bowl Alliance and will be going to either the Sugar Bowl or Orange Bowl.
Still, there was a trace of bitterness among Hokie faithful who felt that the Hurricanes were on the verge of getting preferential treatment from the hometown Orange Bowl had the sanctions not kicked in.
The big bowls were about to slight the Hokies. At least, that's how some felt.
``If we got in [the Bowl Alliance] just because [the Hurricanes] have sanctions, I think that's sad,'' said Jerome Campbell, a 19-year-old sophomore from Alexandria. ``We should get in just for what we've done. ... [The Hurricanes] can say, `If not for the sanctions, hey it would be us [in the Bowl Alliance].' ... Our record stands for itself. They can't take that away from us.''
The sanctions served as the tiebreaker the Hokies were looking for after they finished in a tie with Miami for the Big East title. Since the Big East has no tiebreaker, it appeared the Hurricanes were going to be selected for the Bowl Alliance, even though Tech beat the Hurricanes 13-7 on Sept.23.
Some of the Tech students said they were sick of the comments they had read from Miami the past couple of weeks. Coaches and players were quoted saying they had improved since that loss and were now better than the Hokies. This, despite the fact that Tech has a nine-game winning streak (Miami has won six in a row).
``They had said we didn't really play a tough schedule,'' said Lee Cross, a 24-year-old Blacksburg native working behind the information desk in Squires Student Center. ``They said we played Sister Mary of the Poor or whatever. And something about us being better that one day and that day only. ... We beat three Top 25 teams. As far as them saying they're a better team [than Tech] now, well, we're better, too. We missed several field goals that day [when Tech beat Miami]. They were fortunate the score was as close as it was.''
Added Rich Park, 20, of Fairfax: ``Those guys at Miami are a bunch of idiots. They had an easy schedule, too. I'm [miffed] about ESPN GameDay, too. Now, Craig James is kissing up to us. ... Basically, I wanted us to get into an Alliance Bowl, but I wanted Miami to suffer.''
Some pointed out that Tech beat Big East foes Syracuse and West Virginia by wider margins than did Miami.
``We shut out West Virginia [27-0 on the road],'' said Brian Thompson, a tenor saxophonist in the Marching Virginians who has missed only two Hokie games. ``Miami couldn't do that [the Hurricanes won 17-12 at home]. They're just being disrespectful. They couldn't beat us.''
``It's common sense,'' said Gary Olacsi, a graduate student. ``We beat Miami. We're 9-2. We deserve [the Bowl Alliance berth].''
There was an outside chance the Sugar Bowl would have picked the Hokies even with Miami eligible. Most likely, had Miami been picked for the Alliance, Tech would have made a return trip to the Gator Bowl, the same bowl the Hokies lost 45-23 to Tennessee last season.
``That's messed up,'' said Raymond Curtis, 21, of King George. ``If you beat Miami, beat Syracuse, and they still don't take you, ... that's messed up.''
Even though the comments of Miami players and the likelihood the Hurricanes would have been taken ahead of the Hokies rubbed some fans the wrong way, most students were glad just to be making plans to go to either New Orleans or Miami, the sites of the Sugar and Orange bowls, respectively.
``That will make you a football fan,'' said Shae Crisson, 20, of Alexandria.
Crisson was already making travel plans with friends Chrissy Conlan and Beth Pruden. All they needed to know was the destination.
``Oh, New Orleans,'' said Conlan, 21, of Burke. ``That Mardi Gras atmosphere will be great. Florida would be great, too.''
The Bowl Alliance will announce the bowl pairings at 5:30 p.m. Sunday on CBS.
LENGTH: Medium: 80 linesby CNB