ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, December 22, 1996 TAG: 9612230141
SECTION: ORANGE BOWL PAGE: O-4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
VIRGINIA TECH CAN throw the ball effectively, but the rushing game is the Hokies' bread and butter.
Ask him point blank if this is the strongest backfield he's had at Virginia Tech and Billy Hite won't use any fakes or misdirection.
The longtime keeper of the Hokies' running game simply lowers his head and shoots straight to the hole. Full bore, with no chance of a fumble.
``Right now,'' Hite said, ``I think it's the best group I've ever had.
``I've had some good ones over the years, but, yeah, I think this one is the best. The success our backs have had and what they mean to this football team are immeasurable.''
Using sheer statistics as a measuring stick, it's tough to find many cracks in Hite's argument. Tech's 1996 ground-game numbers are enough to bowl over anyone.
The Hokies (10-1) averaged nearly 5 yards per attempt (4.8) in producing 2,504 yards rushing and 27 touchdowns. Tech's 227.6-yards-per-game rushing average ranked second to Syracuse in the Big East Conference and 19th among the nation's 111 Division I-A schools.
``Since I've been here, I think this [running game] is the tops,'' said Billy Conaty, Tech's outstanding senior center.
``We had a good one my freshman year [1993]. We'd run all over teams. Then we'd run into Miami, and we couldn't run Virginia, and we couldn't run. There were certain games we couldn't run.
``But this year, besides the first half of the West Virginia game [a 31-14 Tech victory], we weren't really shut down ever.''
Basically, the Hokies have run wild. All season long.
Tech's ground attack, which manufactured 215 or more yards eight times, produced 56 percent of the yardage and 59 percent of the touchdowns for an offense that averaged 31.7 points per game.
``It's not Dooley-ball anymore,'' said Hite, referring to run-happy former Hokies coach Bill Dooley. ``But, believe me, Virginia Tech is still a running football team.
``Every Friday when I meet with our backs to go over the final checklist for our next opponent, I honestly believe the chances of us winning the football game depend on what that group sitting in that room does.''
Tech's rumbling ground game, as usual, was paced by its featured tailback position. The Hokies got a combined 1,831 yards (5.7 yards per carry) and 22 touchdowns from its tailback trio of Ken Oxendine, Marcus Parker and Shyrone Stith.
Oxendine, despite separating a shoulder in the first half of the opener at Akron and missing the next 21/2 games, posted career highs in rushing yards (890) and touchdowns (13).
Parker, despite missing the season's first four games because of a suspension, wound up with a career-high 467 yards rushing and four touchdowns.
And, Stith, a true freshman, came through big time. When Oxendine and Parker were out, the rookie stepped in and danced his way for 474 yards rushing and five touchdowns.
``Add up all those numbers and that's pretty strong production,'' Oxendine said of the Hokies' tailback-by-committee position.
``We all pull for each other. There's no jealousy about who's in there and who's not. If Marcus rips off a long run, I just tell myself, `Hey, I need to come up with something to top that when I get in the game.' It's kind of fun, really.''
Since October, Oxendine and Parker, both juniors, have alternated at tailback basically every other series of games. The split duty obviously has been well-accepted by both parties.
``There has been no complaining at all,'' Hite said. ``I'm blessed that these guys are so unselfish. They're more interested in what the team does, not what the individual things are.
``Shoot, after the Virginia game, I asked Oxendine if he won the Big East rushing title. And he didn't have a clue. He honestly didn't know.''
Stith, who could be starting for a lot of Division I-A programs, has bought into the party line, too. The freshman has been the mop-up man since September and has accepted his role.
``Shyrone understands,'' Hite said. ``He said Parker and Ox had to wait their turn and he's no different.''
To the opposition, the 6-foot-1, 225-pound Oxendine and the burly 5-10, 221-pound Parker must look like battering rams behind Tech's massive front wall that averages 305 pounds per man.
Before Tech's 21-7 victory at Miami in mid-November, Hurricanes coach Butch Davis said the Hokies' backs were ``as big, as strong and as physical as any we'll see.''
``They're a load to handle,'' Davis said. ``They can wear you out just tackling them.''
Mention that to Hite and he just smiles and nods in rapid agreement.
``Ox and Marcus are so strong,'' Hite said. ``They're very physical backs. Ox had 10 broken tackles and Marcus eight in the Virginia game. They not only run over people, but they have the ability to run around 'em and make cuts.
``And because we play both, each guy is fresh when they come in the game. And that makes it even tougher for the defense.''
Senior offensive tackle T.J. Washington said Ox and Parker have more than strength going for them. Each can motor, too.
``They each can move,'' Washington said. ``That helps the linemen. If we can hold our blocks just a couple seconds, they're to the hole and gone.
``And I'm telling you, I just love seeing the backs of our backs running away from me. That's one pretty picture, man.''
Especially to Hite, who has been coaching Hokies backs since 1978.
``With these guys,'' Hite said, ``I don't need any moves. They do everything for me.''
LENGTH: Long : 109 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: GENE DALTON Staff. Junior tailbacks Ken Oxendine (top)by CNBand Marcus Parker are two of the reasons the Hokies have averaged
nearly 5 yards per carry and scored 27 rushing touchdowns this
season. Graphic: Chart by staff: 1996 Virginia Tech running game. KEYWORDS: FOOTBALL MGR