ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, September 7, 1996 TAG: 9609090120
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
VIRGINIA TECH AND VIRGINIA open their seasons against what should be nominal resistance.
It might be an exciting game if Akron and Central Michigan played each other. In fact, it was last year, when Akron prevailed 16-13.
Nobody expects that kind of game out of the Zips and Chippewas today.
At least Akron wasn't inconvenienced by Hurricane Fran - or even Tropical Storm Fran. The Zips will play host to 15th-ranked Virginia Tech at 7 p.m. at the Rubber Bowl.
The bad weather was in Central Michigan's direct path Friday as it flew to Charlottesville, where the Chippewas will face No. 23 UVa at 7 p.m. in the Cavaliers' opener.
Virginia can only hope it doesn't encounter any turbulence against Central Michigan, coming off a 42-21 victory over Boise State. The Chippewas went 27 years without a losing season, 1965-91, and won the Mid-American Conference championship as recently as 1994.
``When we scheduled them, they didn't have a game before they played us,'' UVa coach George Welsh said. ``I've been told they've done that before, when they upset Michigan State [in 1991 and '92]. It's not like we're playing Ohio U.''
Central Michigan was a preseason choice for seventh in the Mid-American Conference. Ohio, a 41-7 Virginia victim in 1993, was eighth. Then came Kent and Akron.
The Zips lost to Ohio 44-14 in their opener Aug. 29.
``Some of you guys [in the press] have written about the greatest upsets and all that stuff,'' Tech coach Frank Beamer said earlier this week. ``I don't want you to be writing about us on Saturday. Sugar Bowl, Rubber Bowl. I'm treating Akron just like they're Texas.''
The Hokies beat Texas 28-10 in the Sugar Bowl, but Akron has brought back memories of another 1995 opponent, Cincinnati. Tech wants no repeat of its 16-0 loss to the Bearcats.
``We might have to move out of Blacksburg,'' offensive lineman T.J. Washington observed.
However, there are few comparisons between Cincinnati and Akron. The Bearcats played five bowl teams and beat two of them, Tech and East Carolina, en route to a 6-5 finish. Akron was 2-9, including a 77-17 loss to Tech in which the Zips trailed 56-0 at one point.
``If we do Virginia Tech football the way it's supposed to be done, we should win this game,'' Washington said. ``We won't look past Akron. If we lose to them our season's a bust.''
The temptation might be to look ahead to Boston College, which upset the Hokies 20-14 in the 1995 opener and entertains Tech next week.
``I haven't heard BC mentioned and I better not, either,'' Beamer said.
Virginia plays host to improving Maryland next week, but it might be a mistake to underestimate Central Michigan. The Chippewas set an NCAA record with four ties in 1991, when they upset No. 18 Michigan State in the second game and finished 6-1-4.
Coach Herb Deromedi gave up coaching to become athletic director in 1994, the year Central Michigan won its fourth MAC title. Last year, the Chippewas went 4-7 - their worst record since 1961 - but return a 1,000-yard rusher in sophomore Silas Massey.
``The films we got [from Central Michigan] looked like they were taken on a camcorder, by some guys who had a few drinks,'' said Virginia defensive tackle and co-captain Todd White. ``But, we know about [Massey]. He's No.3.''
Nobody is expecting a close game in Akron, Charlottesville or Jackson, Miss., where VMI steps up in classification to meet Mississippi. One newspaper headline made the Keydets' bulletin board this week: ``Rebels Welcome the Patsies.''
Mississippi is on NCAA probation, which might account for back-to-back games with Division I-AA opponents, a no-no for bowl hopefuls seeking the required six victories over I-A opposition. The Rebels opened with a 38-14 victory over Idaho State, but have shown proper respect to the Keydets' All-America running back, Thomas Haskins.
``He's hard to tackle, something our running backs could take a lesson from,'' coach Tommy Tuberville said.
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