ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, December 23, 1995 TAG: 9512250029
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: TECH NOTES
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
Their pre-bowl drills in Blacksburg complete, Virginia Tech's football players headed home Friday for a short Christmas break.
No matter what goodies they find under their trees, the Hokies will have to wait until New Year's Eve in New Orleans before seeing if they get the Christmas gift they would cherish most - a Sugar Bowl victory over Texas.
``Going home for Christmas is nice and everything,'' said Tech senior flanker Bryan Still.
``But the Christmas gift everybody around here really wants is to beat Texas. That would make sure that this is an unforgettable Christmas for all of us.''
The 13th-ranked Hokies (9-2) concluded seven days of workouts Thursday. The team will reassemble in Blacksburg on Christmas Day and depart for New Orleans early Tuesday morning.
``We'll have our regular week of practice in New Orleans,'' said Frank Beamer, Tech's coach. ``Exactly how we'd prepare in Virginia is how we'll do it [in] New Orleans. It will be at exactly at the same times, so we can keep our routine going.''
The Hokies will conduct daily workouts Tuesday through Friday at Tulane University's field. Tech will practice next Saturday at the Louisiana Superdome, site of the game.
The ninth-ranked Longhorns (10-1-1) will practice exclusively at the 75,000-seat dome from Tuesday through Saturday.
The 62nd Sugar Bowl kicks off at 6:10 p.m. CST next Sunday.
NEW THEORY: In a change from last season, Beamer opted to considerably lighten the Hokies' pre-bowl practice load.
``I know it's the right way now,'' Beamer said. ``Steve Spurrier [Florida coach] told me the other day, and I believe it, too - you can practice too long.
``Last year, I thought we practiced too long [before a 45-23 loss to Tennessee in the Gator Bowl]. We kept practicing from the time we came back from Thanksgiving break until [the] time we broke for Christmas. Not every day, but just [a] couple times a week.
``Then we tried to recruit at [the] same time and I'm not sure we did either one of 'em really well.
``This year, our coaches recruited, our players concentrated on academics. Now we're concentrating on Texas.''
During Tech's 26-day break between the Nov.18 regular-season finale against Virginia and the start of bowl drills, the Hokies were relegated to simply lifting weights and short drills between the skill-position personnel.
SERIOUS TO A POINT: While Beamer maintained his club is approaching the school's first major bowl game with a business-like attitude, he said it's imperative the players have some fun in one of the world's great partying spots.
The lures of the Big Easy will be right smack in the Hokies' faces. Tech's hotel is located two blocks from Bourbon Street.
``We have a lot riding on this football game,'' Beamer said. ``[But] I want our players to enjoy this trip. They deserve to have a good time.
``I do believe we'll have a very focused group in New Orleans, a group that knows the importance of playing well against Texas.
``I'll be the most surprised person in the world if we don't go down there and play with great effort.''
BETTORS LIKE 'HORNS: Judging from the early action in Las Vegas, the majority of wagerers have chosen not to buy stock in the Hokies.
After opening as a 1-point favorite on Dec.4, Tech is currently listed as a 2-point underdog by most Vegas books. The 3-point line change is the biggest move of any of the betting spreads on the bowl menu.
As the line change suggests, most of the early money has been plopped down on Texas.
Although some were shocked that Vegas made Tech the initial favorite, news out of Blacksburg about Beamer's rumored link to the Georgia job and the Hokies' suspension of two players for the bowl undoubtedly helped push some bettors toward Texas.
Betting against Tech hasn't been profitable this season. Since failing to cover the spread in their first two games, the Hokies have gone 8-0-1 against the numbers.
INJURY SITUATION: Besides junior center Billy Conaty, whose status is questionable due to recent surgery on his right ankle, the Hokies will head to the Big Easy in good shape physically.
Beamer said that junior tight end Bryan Jennings and senior split end Jermaine Holmes were both slowed by slightly pulled hamstrings this week but should be full speed by game day.
ANOTHER BIG GAME?: The Sugar Bowl may not be Tech's only huge New Year's Eve athletic contest in New Orleans.
If Tech's men's basketball team beats Virginia at the Roanoke Civic Center on Thursday, the Hokies will be gunning for coach Bill Foster's 500th career victory only hours before the football game.
In a game moved from Blacksburg, Foster's Hokies face Wright State at 11 a.m. CST at the University of New Orleans' Lakefront Arena.
``That sure would be nice,'' Foster said, when asked about the possibility of claiming the monumental 500th in New Orleans.
The Tech basketball team will leave for New Orleans after facing UVa. After playing Wright State, Foster & Co. will get free tickets into the SuperDome to pull for the football team.
``We want two wins in New Orleans - one for us and one for the football team,'' said Ace Custis, Tech's junior forward.
LENGTH: Medium: 99 linesby CNB