ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, November 27, 1996 TAG: 9611270024
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: TECH NOTES
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
When the message came that Alabama athletic director Bob Bockrath had called, Dave Braine didn't have to ask why.
``I do not know the nature of the call,'' said Braine, the athletic director at Virginia Tech. ``I can only surmise what the reason was.''
Alabama has been in the market for a head football coach since Saturday night, when Gene Stallings announced his resignation after seven seasons. And the Crimson Tide isn't alone.
Five coaches either resigned or were fired Monday, bringing to 20 the number of Division I-A programs that have undergone - or will undergo - a coaching change.
Only three of those vacancies have been filled, so Braine won't be surprised if he gets a few calls about his coach, Frank Beamer. The Hokies have won 19 of 20 games heading into their regular-season finale against Virginia at 2:47 p.m. Friday.
Braine said he would give permission to any athletic director who wants to talk to Beamer or any of his coaches.
``My reaction is, last year we signed Frank to a five-year contract,'' Braine said. ``It's a guaranteed rollover contract. We gave him an annuity. If he stays for 10 years, he'll walk away with $1 million; that's in addition to what we're paying him.
``He has a buyout [clause]. If he leaves, he has to pay us for four or five years, depending on when he leaves. It's open-ended or close-ended - whichever term you want to use - on both sides. We're obligated to him for at least four years and he's obligated to us.''
Beamer is aware of Alabama's call, as are Tech president Paul Torgersen and executive vice president Minnis Ridenhour.
TICKET TALK: Braine said he spoke with Gator Bowl executive director Rick Catlett, who said the Hokies would get as many tickets as they need. Tech will play North Carolina in the Gator Bowl if Miami does not win at Syracuse, which would create a three-way tie for first in the Big East. Braine said Tech hoped to do a better job of satisfying its season-ticket holders and donors.
COMMITMENT: Larry Austin, the only prospect to take an official visit to Tech this past weekend, apparently liked what he saw. Austin, a defensive back and running back from Norview High School in Norfolk, accepted the Hokies' offer on the spot.
Austin, a 5-foot-10, 165-pounder, was named All-Eastern District on offense after rushing for 940 yards and 15 touchdowns. However, the Hokies plan to use him at cornerback, where he has the speed (4.45 for 40 yards) to play man-to-man coverage.
Norview coach David Heath said Austin received scholarship offers from Duke, Wake Forest, East Carolina, William and Mary and Appalachian State. He may have suffered because Norview had two other Division I-A prospects, cornerback James Whitley and wide receiver David Martin.
``Early on, a lot of people coming through the doors could not believe we had two quality defensive backs,'' Heath said. ``If Larry had played for any other school in the area, he would have been the man. He started out in James' shadow, but now he's right with him.''
KICKER COMING ON: The Tech-UVa game will feature two left-footed punters, All-American Will Brice for Virginia and redshirt freshman Jimmy Kibble for the Hokies.
Kibble, who did not become Tech's full-time punter until the sixth game, punted eight times Saturday against West Virginia. Six went for 40 yards or more and a seventh, which traveled 36 yards, was downed at the Mountaineers' 10.
Kibble also kicks off for the Hokies, as Brice does on occasion for the Cavaliers, and had a big tackle on the second-half kickoff when he stopped WVU's Alvin Swoope and prevented a lengthy return.
EYES OPEN: Beamer said on his radio show Monday night that the Hokies foiled a West Virginia pass on an attempted fake punt after defensive coordinator Bud Foster spotted WVU punter Brian West throwing a football behind the bench.
``I don't know how [Foster] saw that, but we went ahead and called `punt safe,''' said Beamer, who called off a punt return. ``We usually wouldn't do that with a team that far back in its own territory [the Mountaineers' 44], but I'm glad we did.''
INJURY REPORT: Beamer said Tuesday that neither reserve defensive lineman William Flowers, who has undergone knee surgery, nor No. 2 tight end Shaine Miles, who has a knee problem, will play Saturday. Miles and possibly Flowers should return for Tech's bowl game.
Linebacker Brandon Semones has a thigh bruise that prevented him from practicing Tuesday. Linebackers Steve Tate and Tony Morrison were penciled in for only limited work, while defensive back Antonio Banks remains questionable with a groin injury.
``We're just beat up, as you might imagine after playing three games like we've just played,'' said Beamer, referring to opponents East Carolina, Miami and West Virginia. ``I promise you it's an advantage to Virginia not to have played last week and to get those guys well.''
LENGTH: Medium: 92 linesby CNB