ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, September 14, 1996 TAG: 9609170011
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
THE HOKIES and Cavaliers begin conference play with stiff tests.
Virginia Tech and Virginia have become such fixtures in college football's Top 25 that neither program views the weekly rankings as a hot news item.
However, neither team is so highly regarded that it can survive an upset with a spot in the polls intact.
The Hokies, whose 21-18 victory over Akron resulted in a drop from 15th to 19th, are a two-point favorite today for their Big East opener at Boston College at 12:30 p.m.
Maryland, a bit of an unknown after beating Northern Illinois and Alabama-Birmingham, comes to Charlottesville as a 13-point underdog to No.22 Virginia. Game time is noon.
Boston College handed Tech its only conference loss in 1995, when the Eagles prevailed 20-14 in a Thursday night game Sept.7 at Lane Stadium, but since then the programs have been headed in opposite directions.
Tech, after a 16-0 loss to Cincinnati in its second game, proceeded to win 10 straight games and jump from 21st to 10th in six weeks. Boston College never won two games in a row and finished 4-8, dropping Dan Henning to 11-12 in his two seasons as Eagles coach.
Five teams scored 30 or more points against BC, prompting Henning to change defensive coordinators. He went after Phil Elmassian, who coached the secondary at the University of Washington, but is more recognizable in this area for his work at Virginia Tech and Virginia.
Elmassian served two tours with the Hokies, most recently as defensive coordinator in 1993 and '94. One of Elmassian's first hires was his former Tech colleague, Tom Throckmorton, who coaches the BC linebackers.
``Phil made a difference for us,'' Tech coach Frank Beamer said. ``There's no question about his ability to coach and get a team ready to play, [but] I don't think what we know about each other is going to win this football game. It comes down to who makes plays.''
Against Akron, the playmakers included Shyrone Stith, a ``true'' freshman who carried 21 times for 119 yards in his first college game. Stith was pressed into service by an injury to regular tailback Ken Oxendine, who suffered a separated shoulder in the first half.
Oxendine will be sidelined for 3-4 weeks and the Hokies also will be without Marcus Parker, who came out of the spring as their No.2 tailback. Parker remains on indefinite suspension while undergoing counseling following a shoplifting conviction.
``Brian Edmonds will be back for sure and then we'll see after that,'' said Beamer, referring to the Hokies' No.1 fullback, who was suspended for the Akron game. ``I think we have a chance to run the football. That gets back to your people up front and we feel good about them.''
Maryland has a running game for the first time in Mark Duffner's five-year coaching tenure, but the Terrapins would be foolish not to test a Virginia pass defense that gave up 300 yards against Central Michigan - the fifth time in the last two seasons that a UVa opponent has passed for 300 yards or more.
The Terrapins, who abandoned the run-and-shoot offense after last season, had 55 rushing attempts in a 39-18 victory over Alabama-Birmingham. Nevertheless, they have a formidable receiving corps that includes Geroy Simon, who set an ACC record in 1994 with 77 receptions, and Mancel Johnson, returning this week from a two-game suspension.
Virginia quarterbacks Tim Sherman, Aaron Brooks and Will Thompson attempted only 17 passes against Central Michigan, which wasn't by design. The problem was, the offense wasn't on the field very often. UVa scored on a kickoff return, a blocked punt and an interception return.
In other games, VMI coach Bill Stewart thinks the Keydets (0-1) will need to throw the ball effectively to do something they haven't accomplished since 1985 - beat William and Mary (1-1).
``We just can't let people gang up on [All-America tailback] Tommy Haskins,'' said Stewart, whose quarterback, Al Lester, attempted six passes last Saturday in a 31-7 loss to Mississippi. Today's kickoff is at 1 (WRIS 1410 AM Roanoke, WREL 96.7 FM, 1450 AM Lexington).
Ferrum, coming off a 42-7 loss to Wesley, makes its home debut at 1:30 p.m. against Clinch Valley (1-0).
Washington and Lee, which hasn't won an opening game since 1984, has replaced traditional Week 1 opponent Emory & Henry with Ursinus (0-1) at 1:30 p.m. in Lexington.
LENGTH: Medium: 80 linesby CNB