ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, April 12, 1996 TAG: 9604120058
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: TECH NOTES
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
The most arduous task during Virginia Tech's spring football drills belongs to the newest member of the Hokies' coaching staff.
``No doubt about it,'' said Tech head coach Frank Beamer, ``I'd have to say Charley Wiles has the toughest job of all of us.''
Wiles, who got his coaching start as a graduate assistant under Beamer at Tech in 1986-87, returned to Blacksburg six weeks ago. The 31-year-old Florida native was hired to replace defensive line coach Todd Grantham, who resigned to take a similar post at Michigan State.
Grantham, for his sake, couldn't have picked a better time to leave as Tech lost six of its top eight players off one of the nation's best defensive fronts.
``Now wonder why Todd would do that to me?'' Wiles asked with an accompanying wink. ``I keep seeing guys like [honorable-mention All-America tackle] J.C. Price walking around here. I ask myself, `Why can't I have him?'
``Well, I guess Todd didn't leave the cupboard completely bare. I do have Cornell.''
As in Cornell Brown, a 1995 consensus All-American end. Other than senior tackle Waverly Jackson, Tech's best defensive player since Bruce Smith has lost all of his major 1995 partners in crime (Price, tackle Jim Baron and end Hank Coleman), plus contributing bit players Jeff Holland, Lawrence Lewis and Rafael Williams.
``We've lost a lot of talented people,'' Wiles said. ``I look at film of that bunch last year and it's simply amazing how good they really were.
``But, hey, in this game guys do move on ... they don't stay forever. You hate to see 'em leave, but there's always new guys waiting for their shot. We've got a lot of new kids who are eager to step up and fill the holes.''
Brown and Jackson, who is sitting out spring practice after undergoing knee surgery, are locks to start. Junior Brad Baylor has emerged as the leading candidate for the other tackle spot, while walk-on junior Danny Wheel figures to be the best bet to land the end spot opposite Brown. Redshirt freshman tackle Nat Williams also has turned some heads.
``All three of those guys have worked hard and have looked good,'' Wiles said. ``None of them have a whole lot of experience. But they're getting better each day, and that's all I can ask for.''
Wiles, who comes to Tech after six years at Murray State, Beamer's first head coaching stop, said his biggest concern is developing an inside pass rush. Wiles knows that if he can't get pressure inside, opponents will gang up on Brown outside.
``We're going to have to find a way to free Cornell up,'' Wiles said. ``I'm sure a lot of people are going to look at the guys we lost and say, `Well, let's double- and triple-team Cornell.' So it's imperative we get some pass rush inside to take some heat off Cornell.
``And Cornell? We just need him to be Cornell.''
And what about Charley Wiles?
``I realize I've got a heck of an act to follow,'' he said. ``But I don't think there's any extra pressure than I would normally put on myself. Hey, the people around here know we lost some players, so they understand.''
EARLY PUSH: Brown is one of three Hokies already being promoted by the Tech sports information department for All-America consideration. Quarterback Jim Druckenmiller and center Billy Conaty, a pair of seniors who were second-team All-Big East last season, are the others.
Brown, a consensus All-America choice last season, already has been named to the first 1996 A-A team selected by Playboy magazine.
QUOTABLES: ``The guy started as a tight end and ate his way onto the offensive line.'' - Beamer on former Alleghany High standout Todd Wheatley, who has ballooned from 240 to 304 pounds since arriving at Tech.
n``I don't know how we're going to get the guy through the airport metal detectors.'' - Offensive line coach J.B. Grimes on Conaty, who now has metal plates in both legs after breaking both of his ankles the past four months.
QUICK KICKS: The starting time of the annual Maroon-White game on Saturday, April 20 at Lane Stadium has been moved up from 4 p.m. to 3 p.m. ... Redshirt sophomore linebacker Jason Berish will miss the rest of spring drills with a separated shoulder. ... Brian Crist, a graduate assistant coach under Beamer the past two years, has landed a full-time assistant's post with the University of Massachusetts. The son of longtime Blacksburg High coach Dave Crist will coach the Minutemen receivers. ... Former Tech quarterback Will Furrer, released in February by the NFL's Houston Oilers, will play for the second second straight summer with the Amsterdam Admirals of the World League of American Football.
LENGTH: Medium: 84 linesby CNB