ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, September 21, 1996 TAG: 9609230115
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
THE HOKIES AND Cavaliers shouldn't have trouble with their conference foes today - if they don't think about next week.
Playing a pair of opponents they have recently owned, Virginia Tech and Virginia face a similar trap today - don't commit the sin of looking ahead.
Before the Hokies and Cavaliers turn their full attention to next Saturday's red-letter dates with Syracuse and Texas, respectively, each has some preliminary noontime chores to handle today.
According to the oddsmakers, both should take care of business rather easily.
Eighteenth-ranked Tech is a 28 1/2-point favorite in its home opener against Big East Conference foe Rutgers, while No. 20 UVa rates as an 18-point pick over Wake Forest on the ACC road.
A crowd of some 45,000 is expected at Lane Stadium to watch Tech's attempt at extending the nation's second-longest Division I-A winning streak to 13 games. The Hokies, 2-0 coming off an impressive 45-7 Big East romp at Boston College last week, don't figure to get much resistance from Rutgers (1-2, 0-1 Big East).
The Scarlet Knights, rebuilding under first-year coach Terry Shea, not only were a preseason choice to finish last in the Big East, but they also suffered the embarrassment of losing to their alumni last spring.
As usual, Tech coach Frank Beamer claims he's worried.
``[The Scarlet Knights] have some dangerous people, some real weapons. We've had some wild games,'' said Beamer, whose club travels to preseason Big East favorite Syracuse next week.
Since losing 50-49 at Rutgers in 1992, Tech has beaten the Scarlet Knights three straight times - 49-42, 41-34 (1993 and '94 in Blacksburg) and 45-17 last year in Piscataway, N.J.
For the second straight week, the Hokies will be facing a former defensive coordinator. Last Saturday it was Boston College's Phil Elmassian. This time it's Rod Sharpless, co-coordinator with Bud Foster for Tech's defense last season.
``We all like Coach Sharpless, but we don't want him having any fun in his return to Blacksburg. We'd like to make it a long day for him,'' said Brandon Semones, Tech senior linebacker.
Beamer said Sharpless has done a good job instituting Tech's eight-man front defensive scheme at Rutgers.
``Rod has the defense playing well for one who hasn't been there long and that's a credit to him,'' Beamer said. ``They really got after it against Miami.''
Rutgers, after trailing just 6-0 at halftime, wore down and eventually lost to Miami 33-0.
Rutgers' biggest problem has been offense. Shea's new West Coast-style offense hasn't produced a touchdown since an Aug.31 season-opening 38-28 victory over Villanova.
``We've got to find a way to move the ball,'' said Shea, who used three quarterbacks in Rutgers' first two games before going with walk-on Mike Stephans for the duration against Miami.
``It won't be easy, though. Virginia Tech is just as strong defensively as Miami.''
Speaking of offense, Virginia (2-0, 1-0 ACC) will be looking for some against Wake (2-1, 0-1). The Cavaliers mustered only 221 yards in last week's 21-3 victory over Maryland.
The Cavs' quarterback duo of Tim Sherman and Aaron Brooks is a combined 14-of-34 and has yet to throw a touchdown pass. UVa had zero yards passing in the first half against Maryland.
``It might be a first in the [24-year] history of my coaching no passing yardage at the half,'' UVa coach George Welsh said. ``That's about as bad a half as we've had on offense in a long, long time.''
UVa's aerial game won't be helped today by the loss of Germane Crowell, the Cavs' top returning receiver, who is out with a dislocated toe. Also, regular free safety Joe Williams is out with a groin pull.
Virginia has whipped Wake 12 straight times - the longest current streak of one ACC team over another - and few have been close. UVa has been particularly successful at Groves Stadium, where it is 10-2 overall and 6-0 since 1983.
However, Groves was the site two weeks ago for Wake's 28-27 upset of then-No.13 Northwestern.
Will that result make certain that Virginia won't dare peek ahead to its much-anticipated home clash with No.6 Texas next week?
``I'd like to think we wouldn't need that, but it's there for [the players] to see,'' Welsh said. ``Northwestern's a pretty good team, I think.''
VMI, which has struggled in its passing game early this season, will try to open up its offense against East Tennessee State today at noon in Johnson City, Tenn.
``These guys aren't kindergartners,'' said coach Bill Stewart, whose Keydets beat the Bucs 37-23 last season. ``We've got to get off the tentative list.''
Ferrum (0-2) welcomes Division III power and two-time Stagg Bowl finalist Rowan (1-0) at 1:30 p.m. ``Their linebackers would be our line,'' said Ferrum coach Dave Davis. ``They're that big.''
Washington and Lee is coming off its first shutout loss since 1994 and brings an injury-depleted backfield to Guilford (0-1) today at 1:30. The Generals (0-1) again will be without tailback Seth McKinley.
Quarterback Brooks Fischer, who has started W&L's past 27 games, has a shoulder injury. One-time back-up Tommy Rueger has returned to quarterback from wide receiver.
LENGTH: Medium: 100 lines KEYWORDS: FOOTBALLby CNB