ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, September 23, 1996 TAG: 9609230153
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FROM STAFF REPORTS
Hokies now own top win streak
When it awakened Sunday morning, Virginia Tech's football team found a nice surprise under its pillow.
It's called the nation's longest Division I-A winning streak.
Nebraska's shocking 19-0 loss at Arizona State late Saturday night means the Hokies' 13-game run is now tops among the country's 111 Division I-A schools. Tech beat Rutgers 30-14 on Saturday.
The two-time defending national champion Cornhuskers had won 26 games in a row before falling to the 25-point underdog Sun Devils.
Tech, which hasn't lost since bowing to Cincinnati 16-0 in Blacksburg on Sept.16, 1995, will have its streak severely tested Saturday at Syracuse.
The Orangemen figure to be in a foul mood when the Hokies come calling at 3:30p.m. in the Carrier Dome. Syracuse, ranked 10th in preseason, fell out of the Top 25 after its 35-33 loss at Minnesota on Saturday night. It was the second loss in as many games for the Big East Conference's preseason favorite.
If it can get out of Syracuse with a ``W'' Tech will be in great shape. The Hokies then get four straight home games against the likes of Temple, Pittsburgh, Southwestern Louisiana and East Carolina. Tech will be prohibitive favorites in all four games.
The possibility looms that the Hokies could take an 18-game winning streak to Miami on Nov.16. Coincidentally, the Hurricanes currently own the nation's second longest winning streak of 10 games.
Tactics lead to Brown-out
Tech coach Frank Beamer was not amused with Cornell Brown after the Hokies' All-American was flagged for a personal foul that helped fuel Rutgers' game-tying touchdown drive early in the third quarter.
Beamer immediately yanked Brown from the game and admonished him on the sideline.
``[The official] threw it on me because I was yelling at him,'' Brown said. ``The coaches got on me, pulled me out for a play and told me if I get another one that I'd be out.''
Brown claimed Rutgers lineman T.J. Spizzo leg-whipped him.
``The ref was right there and I got on him about that,'' Brown said. ``The double teams are one thing, but when the refs don't make the call and they're standing right there that's the most frustrating thing.''
Win a milestone for Strock
The victory was the 200th that Tech assistant coach Terry Strock has been associated with in his 29 years as a collegiate assistant. The first one came in 1966 when Strock was serving his first five-year tenure as a Tech assistant. Strock coached at Maryland (1972-81), Kentucky (1982-89) and Georgia Tech (1990-91) before returning to Tech in 1992. Tech limited Rutgers to 41 yards rushing on 27 carries. In three games, the Hokies have permitted just 126 yards rushing on 95 attempts (1.33 yards per attempt). Junior defensive end Danny Wheel recorded his first two college sacks and had another tackle for loss. Tech has racked up 16 sacks in three games, for losses totaling 119 yards.
Hokies 18th; Cavs 19th
Virginia Tech is ranked 18th for the second straight week in The Associated Press poll released Sunday. Virginia, which shellacked Wake Forest 42-7, moved up one spot to 19th.
Glee tempered for Cavaliers
If Tom O'Brien has his way, any celebration of Virginia's offensive performance against Wake Forest will be short-lived.
The Cavaliers had 522 yards in total offense in their thrashing of the Demon Deacons, but all O'Brien could see was UVa's four turnovers.
Quarterback Tim Sherman was intercepted once and the Cavaliers lost three fumbles - one each by Sherman, back-up quarterback Aaron Brooks and fullback Darryl Medley.
``Right now, we're fortunate we're 3-0 and able to play the way we've played,'' O'Brien said. ``We're not going to be a good football team turning the ball over like we did today.''
Substitutions just for kicks
Virginia substituted so liberally Saturday that it was able to use two place-kickers, two punters and three kickoff men.
After Rafael Garcia kicked three first-half field goals, sophomore Whitney Magers converted a 35-yard attempt in the fourth quarter. Virginia has no record of two players ever kicking two field goals in the same game.
Magers is listed at 5 feet 5 and 127 pounds, although those are his August 1995 measurements. For reasons that aren't exactly clear, coach George Welsh has released updated heights and weights only for selected players.
Improvements come to pass
Welsh said improvements in UVa's passing game came at a good time, with Texas coming to Scott Stadium next week. The Cavaliers originally were scheduled to play the Longhorns on Sept.14, but the game was moved for television purposes.
Barber rushes to new role
UVa cornerback Ronde Barber apparently has been unsuccessful in his effort to play wide receiver, but the Cavaliers found a new role for him Saturday, twice sending him on blitzes.
``That's different,'' Welsh said. ``I'm not sure it's the right thing. We missed the tackle. He's a little guy [5-10, 180].''
`Eagle' has rough landing
Legendary VMI coach John ``Eagle'' McKenna made a special trip up from Atlanta to Johnson City, Tenn., for the Keydets' game at East Tennessee State.
McKenna, who coached the Keydets from 1953-65 and is the winningest coach in school history, is not in the best of health. The Keydets' 38-0 loss surely didn't help.
``What really makes me sick, what breaks my heart,'' VMI coach Bill Stewart said after the game, ``is that we did a disgrace to his name.''
Smoked on Tobacco Road
Washington and Lee's 24-10 loss at Guilford on Saturday was the Generals' first loss in the state of North Carolina since 1977, when they fell to Davidson 42-14.
LENGTH: Long : 117 linesby CNB