ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, January 5, 1996 TAG: 9601050049
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: RICHMOND
SOURCE: Associated Press
IT'S HEADED FOR Richmond, thanks to the Hokies' Sugar Bowl victory over the Texas Longhorns.
Gov. George Allen placed the bet, and the Virginia Tech Hokies made sure he won. Now they will share the prize.
Allen invited coach Frank Beamer and the Hokies to the executive mansion to help him consume beef ribs to be supplied by Texas Gov. George Bush, who lost a wager when Tech whipped Texas 28-10 in the Sugar Bowl.
``I asked them to butcher Bevo,'' Allen said, referring to the Longhorns' mascot. But he said the Hokies will have to feast on another, less prominent bovine creature.
Allen extended invitations to the Hokies and the Peach Bowl champion Virginia Cavaliers during a news conference Thursday at the Capitol. He also presented both teams framed proclamations honoring them for their victories.
Before receiving the invitation, Beamer reminded Allen who was responsible for his gastronomic good fortune - and also got in a subtle dig at the Hokies' rivals from Charlottesville.
``I know how much the governor likes his ribs, and I'm glad we finally were able to get those ribs for him,'' he said. ``He had a couple of shots at them.''
Allen, a former Cavaliers quarterback, also bet Bush on the outcome of the Texas-Virginia game in October - a game the Longhorns won on a final-play field goal.
The Cavaliers might find peaches on the menu when they visit the mansion. Their 34-27 victory over Georgia won Allen a supply of the fuzzy fruit from Georgia Gov. Zell Miller.
Virginia coach George Welsh did not attend Thursday's ceremony. Receiver Pete Allen, who scored the winning touchdown against Georgia on an 83-yard kickoff return in the final minute, represented the Cavaliers.
``I am a little concerned that George is not here,'' Beamer said. ``He might be out there on the recruiting trail getting an advantage on us.''
LENGTH: Short : 47 linesby CNB