ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, December 6, 1995 TAG: 9512060050
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
VIRGINIA TECH football fans are in Hokie heaven.
Their team - Big East champions, ranked No. 13 in the country - will be traveling to New Orleans to play in the Sugar Bowl on New Year's Eve. There, Tech will meet No. 9 Texas, the Southwest Conference champion.
This is Tech's first trip to a major bowl. The projected payoff to Tech is roughly $4 million, less expenses, with another $4 million or so to be split among the other seven Big East members.
Though the euphoria level can't match that of Tech fans, these are also heady days for University of Virginia football fans. The Wahoos, No. 18 in the country, won't be going to a major bowl. But they will be traveling to Atlanta to meet unranked Georgia in the Peach Bowl on Dec. 30. Projected payoff: $1 million.
The appropriate congratulations are in order for each team; the appropriate wishes for a safe journey are in order for the thousands of Virginians who'll be traveling to each game.
Meanwhile, we'd like to underscore another piece of football-related news that in its way is as notable as national rankings and bowl games: These players also go to school.
Noteworthy, thus, is the academic success of Roanoker Tiki Barber, a junior majoring in commerce at UVa.
Like his brother, who plays defense for UVa, Tiki is an excellent player. Named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference first team as a running back. Set school records this season by rushing for 1,397 yards and scoring 14 touchdowns. A touted prospect for next year's Heisman trophy.
Yet the Cave Spring High School graduate is also an excellent student. Boasting a 3.4 grade-point average, he was named last week to the Hitachi/College Football Association Scholar-Athlete Team, an honor that brings a $1,000 donation from Hitachi Ltd. to Cave Spring High.
Barber's athletic talent makes him stand out from the crowd, and is to be appreciated. But over time, a solid academic background will prove more important to the success of almost anyone's life than the few brief years when athletic skills are at their peak.
LENGTH: Short : 45 linesby CNB