ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, November 18, 1996 TAG: 9611190016
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
After a monumental victory over Miami at the Orange Bowl, Virginia Tech's football team was smart enough not to raise too much 'Cane on Saturday night.
Following their 21-7 upset, the Hokies had a chance to trash a Miami team that is notorious for putting out the verbal garbage. But, at least publicly, nary a disparaging word was uttered about the Hurricanes.
``Hey, we've got to pull for those guys now,'' senior center Billy Conaty wisely said. ``We need help from them if we're going to win the Big East title. Believe me, we'll be big Miami fans when they go up to play Syracuse.''
Barring a slip by Syracuse (7-2 overall, 5-0 Big East) at lowly Temple on Saturday - forget that, Hokies fans - Tech's only shot at sharing the Big East Conference title again hinges on a Miami upset victory Nov.30 in the Carrier Dome.
Assuming Miami (6-3, 4-1) beats sinking Boston College and favored Tech (8-1, 5-1) defeats West Virginia (8-2, 4-2) on Saturday, a Hurricanes victory at Syracuse would produce a three-way tie for the Big East title.
In such a scenario, Tech, as things stand, would have the advantage in the Big East tie-breaker.
In the event of a three-way tie, the Big East's alliance bowl spot - likely in the Orange Bowl - will be decided by each team's average ranking in the Associated Press (writers') and CNN-USA Today (coaches') national polls.
In Sunday's polls, Tech was ranked 17th by the writers and ninth by the coaches - an average of 13th.
Syracuse's ranking average was 16.5 (17th writers, 16th coaches) and Miami's was 25th (No.25 in both polls).
Even if Tech were to lose its regular-season finale to Virginia on Nov.29, it likely would be ranked higher than a Syracuse club that lost at home to Miami.
It's all a moot point, however, unless Tech beats WVU and Miami wins at Syracuse.
``We need some stuff to happen,'' said Frank Beamer, the Hokies' coach. ``We've got to beat West Virginia, and I don't think you can count out Miami at Syracuse. Miami is a darned good football team.''
If Tech beats WVU and isn't the Big East's alliance representative, the Hokies appear to be Gator Bowl-bound, with the likely opponent North Carolina.
The Hokies still were reveling too much in their conquest of Miami to be concerned about their destination for a school-record fourth consecutive bowl Saturday night.
Spurred by back-up safety Keion Carpenter's spectacular 100-yard interception return for a touchdown with 1:54 left, Tech turned away Miami.
Carpenter's clutch play marked the longest interception return for a score in Tech history, surpassing Ashley Lee's 94-yarder against Vanderbilt in 1983. It also was the longest by a Miami opponent, topping Fred Biletnikoff's 99-yarder for Florida State in 1963.
Carpenter, a sophomore, was in the game only because the Tech coaching staff had moved senior free safety Torrian Gray to cornerback in place of freshman Anthony Midget.
Carpenter, who had never intercepted a pass in college, did the rest.
``Keion called the play before it happened,'' said sophomore Loren Johnson, Tech's other corner on the play. ``He said they were going to run the slant, so get ready to break on it. Keion broke underneath it, I broke above it. There was no way the ball was going to get caught. Then I saw him going 100 yards the other way for a touchdown.''
Carpenter, who was named the Big East's defensive player of the week for his efforts, said he never thought about anything but a touchdown.
Carpenter's theft allowed Tech to become the sixth team to beat Miami in the Orange Bowl in the past decade.
Johnson, whose pass break-up with 17 seconds left sealed Tech's 13-7 upset of Miami in Blacksburg last season, said this one felt better.
``It gets no better at all, man,'' he said. ``No better whatsoever.''
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. Virginia Tech's Loren Johnson (12) breaks up a passby CNBintended for Miami's Tony Gaiter during their game in Miami on
Saturday. color.