ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, November 30, 1996 football TAG: 9612020096
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: SPORTS EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: JACK BOGACZYK
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
Virginia Tech has achieved something none of the previous 102 Hokies football teams had, and done it convincingly.
Tech has 10 victories in a regular season for the first time in school history. On a cold Friday at stuffed Lane Stadium, the Hokies turned a state rivalry into a rout.
Tech tackled Virginia 26-9 with the same gusto and stick-to-itiveness the Hokies fans used to tear down both goal posts. It was the Cavaliers' worst loss since a 41-17 beating in their 1994 opener at Florida State.
And they helped.
Tech knows it is going to at least the Gator Bowl for what would be a very attractive matchup with North Carolina. However, this Tech team has been one for which dreams have come true.
So, among the believers as Tech hopes for an Orange Bowl berth via a Miami upset at Syracuse today is one happy alumnus.
What would Tech coach Frank Beamer have thought if someone told him back in August that his alma mater's team would be 10-1 on Thanksgiving weekend?
``I would have thought we'd have a lot of work to do,'' Beamer said.
The Hokies have played through injuries and suspensions, and have built a seven-game winning streak since Syracuse ended their 13-game run with a 31-point thrashing Sept.28 at the Carrier Dome.
Tech has finished its regular season with three consecutive victories over ranked teams, and beat a very good East Carolina club just before that.
Offensively, Tech had season scoreboard highs among ECU and West Virginia opponents. The Hokies also were the only team to keep the Cavaliers out of the end zone this season.
The difference between the state rivals was behind center. Big surprise there, huh?
The Hokies wanted to force UVa quarterback Tim Sherman to beat them. Instead, he was the one beaten, leaving the game with a concussion and swollen right (throwing) elbow late in the first half.
For Tech, Jim Druckenmiller was his usual superb self. He not only completed 15 of 22 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns, he also refused to lengthen UVa's interception streak past 39 games.
About the only thing Druckenmiller and Sherman have in common is that each is a fifth-year senior. In a recurring theme in their four losses, the Carquest Bowl-bound Cavaliers came up short at quarterback again.
Of course, Sherman and his replacement, Aaron Brooks, didn't get much help - except from Tiki Barber, who became the most prolific rusher in UVa history.
Virginia's play calling lacked imagination. The Cavaliers, continuing a trend, were woeful in the red zone. And given a chance, down 13-9, on fourth-and-less-than-one from the Tech 22 midway through the third quarter, UVa coach George Welsh opted for a field-goal try.
When Rafael Garcia's kick was wide right from 39 yards, UVa got nothing, which is pretty much what it got all afternoon inside Tech's 25. UVa drove inside the Hokies' 25 on five series and managed three Garcia field goals.
Tech moved inside Virginia's 25 five times, and after a missed field-goal attempt early by Jimmy Kibble was 4-for-4 with four touchdowns.
The Hokies played with more guts. Welsh wouldn't gamble, but on a third-and-13 from his own 19 with a four-point lead - the next series after Welsh's timidity backfired - Druckenmiller bombed a 72-yarder to Cornelius White.
Marcus Parker ran through UVa for a 9-yard score on the next play, and although it was only 20-9 with still more than 20 minutes to play, Virginia already had that sinking feeling that has marked its recent Novembers.
In the past four seasons, the Cavaliers are 37-19 in the first two months of the season, but 8-8 in November. Meanwhile, the Hokies are on a short list of teams that can say they already have followed at least 10 victories last year with another double-digit performance in the left column.
The others, to date, are Florida, Florida State, Nebraska and Ohio State. That's pretty good company.
A comparison Beamer made early in the week hit much closer to home, however.
``I told our guys Thursday night when we got together that they had a chance to separate themselves from all of the other great players who have been on Virginia Tech teams,'' Beamer said.
``Bruce Smith never played on a team that won 10 regular-season games. Neither did Tony Paige, nor Don Strock, nor any of the others. Now this bunch accomplished that.''
These Hokies also made it look easier than it really was.
LENGTH: Medium: 85 linesby CNB