ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, September 16, 1996 TAG: 9609170063
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK
SOURCE: FROM STAFF REPORTS
Virginia Tech didn't have to read its e-mail in order to send Boston College a message Saturday in Chestnut Hill, Mass.
E-mail or no e-mail, the bottom line was the Hokies didn't need any help from the Internet in sending the Eagles to the trash basket, 45-7 at Alumni Stadium.
"They might have had something else going besides the 'Net,'' BC coach Dan acknowledged.
Yeah, like more talent.
"Virginia Tech manhandled us today and I think they showed why they are ranked so high in the nation,'' confessed Matt Hasselback, Eagles quarterback.
Henning concurred.
Obviously, they're a better football team than we are,'' Henning said. "We've got a long way to go to catch up to Virginia Tech.''
Henning was playing catch-up before the Hokies ever left Blacksburg. On Thursday, the BC coach had expressed concern that Tech may had gained some valuable tips on the Eagles through a story that surfaced on the Internet detailing a BC practice session a week ago Saturday.
The information was planted on the 'Net by Kevin McGrath, a correspondent for a BC football publication. When nabbed, McGrath said he never dreamed anyone but BC fans would bother to read his report that commented on how certain Eagles had performed in the practice.
"Yeah, we saw it,'' Tech assistant coach Jim Cavanaugh said before the game.
"It had some stuff that might be useful ... like which cornerbacks were getting beat and to what side and such. I don't see it being that big a deal though. We're not changing anything now.''
Just showing up was enough for Tech. The Hokies were simply too strong for the Eagles.
As far as Henning goes, he may not choose to check his e-mail this week.
Chance are, there won't be any complimentary messages heading his way after BC's worst Big East loss ever.
NO TRICKS HERE: Several Tech offensive players were surprised that the BC defense didn't resort to any trickery. After all, the Eagles' defense was led by a man who had the inside lowdown on most of Tech's offensive personnel, former Hokies coordinator Phil Elmassian.
"We played the same defense we see every day in practice,'' said Tech quarterback Jim Druckenmiller, who pierced BC's secondary for 214 yards passing and two touchdowns.
"They [the Eagles] run our defense and no one runs against it more than us. [Elmassian] didn't do anything different and that surprised me.
"As far our offense, I was extremely confident. I've never been so confident about a game plan in my life.''
Senior center Billy Conaty said facing Elmassian's defense - an eight-man front like Tech's - was a huge advantage for the Hokies.
"It's the same defense we see all the time,'' Conaty said. "We saw nothing we haven't seen before. I was expecting [Elmassian] to send anything at us. I at least thought he would blitz us more, but he didn't.''
Elmassian said after the game that his scheme requires more speed than BC currently possesses.
"Size is irrelevant,'' he said. "It's speed, not the size that counts in this defense.''
CROWELL UPDATE: Virginia coach George Welsh said on his television show that wide receiver Germane Crowell dislocated the middle toe on his right foot in a 21-3 win over Maryland.
``It could have been worse; it could have been one of the other toes,'' said Welsh, who watched Crowell pull up lame twice Saturday. ``But I don't know if he'll play next week or not.''
NOT TO BE OVERLOOKED: Virginia senior Will Brice averaged 47.6 yards on seven punts Saturday, including a 59-yarder with the Cavs leading 7-3 that left Maryland at its 9 with 5:30 left.
Brice's shortest effort was a 27-yard ``pooch'' punt with 9:23 left that landed inside the Terrapins' 10 before it spun back to the 11. Five of his nine punts have gone for 50 yards or more, including three Saturday.
MISSED KICKS: Maryland place-kicker Joe O'Donnell had made 19 of 22 field goals in his college career before missing from 31 and 42 yards into a swirling wind in the first quarter Saturday.
O'Donnell later converted a 45-yarder in the third quarter, but it was not a good day for field-goal kickers. Virginia's Rafael Garcia was slightly short and to the left on a 53-yard attempt in the third quarter.
Garcia had made his only two career attempts of 50 yards or more, but Welsh later second-guessed himself and said he should have punted because of the importance of field position in the low-scoring game.
STREAKS: Maryland now has lost 17 consecutive games to teams ranked in the Top 25, the ACC's longest drought now that Wake Forest has beaten Northwestern. ... Virginia has 12 straight wins over Wake, its opponent Saturday. That's the longest current streak of one ACC team over another.
HARD KNOCKS: The saying goes that success in football starts up front. Well, for VMI, lack of success starts at the same place. One week after the Keydets were hesitant to pass against Ole Miss, VMI rarely was able to pass against William and Mary in a 40-21 loss Saturday.
VMI's receivers are too inexperienced to assume some of the pressure, but the Keydets (0-2) aren't helped when the men who won the starting guard spots in the preseason, David Campbell and Jason Fletcher, are redshirt freshmen. Fletcher missed the William and Mary game with a strained right knee.
Four backup linemen are freshmen or sophomores, as well. That's part of the reason the line hasn't pass blocked effectively this season. ``It's growing pains,'' said VMI coach Bill Stewart.
The situation led to pains for starting quarterback Al Lester, who left the game in the first half with a bruised collarbone. Lester, who returned for all but one second-half series, does not have a shoulder separation.
He and backup Greg Ellen are a combined 10-of-24 for 96 yards passing in two games.
SHOULDERING A BURDEN: Ferrum, like VMI, lost a quarterback to a hit on his shoulder during the Panthers' 17-14 loss to Clinch Valley on Saturday. The forecast for the future is even more dire.
Starter Josh Whitley is out indefinitely with a dislocation to his right (throwing) shoulder. Since there is no fracture, his recovery time depends on how much damage he sustained to ligaments.
If he cannot return this season, Whitley could apply for a medical redshirt, allowing him another year to play.
Sophomore Brith Osinkosky now will handle the quarterbacking duties. Osinkosky completed 12 of 27 passes for 140 yards in Saturday's loss.
``He didn't hurt us yesterday at all,'' Ferrum coach Dave Davis said Sunday.
HOSTILE TERRITORY: Other than John Benazzi's return of the opening kickoff to the Ursinus 44, Washington and Lee didn't reach Ursinus' side of the field in a 27-0 loss Saturday.
The lone highlight for the Generals may have been the play of 5-foot-8, 150-pound free safety Chris Watson, who had 12 tackles and two pass break-ups in the end zone.
LENGTH: Long : 128 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. Virginia Tech's defense was up to the task inby CNBSaturday's rout of Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Mass. Here,
Michael Steuwe levels Eagles' running back Mike Cloud.