ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, December 28, 1996 football TAG: 9612300097
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: MIAMI
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
Whether he wants to or not, Cornell Brown continues to make news in preparation for Tuesday's 63rd Orange Bowl.
Approximately 30 minutes into Virginia Tech's practice Friday morning at Barry University, Brown threw a scare into the Hokies when he suddenly went down on a slippery field.
Tech offensive tackle T.J. Washington, a 6-foot-4, 313-pound senior, fell on the leg of the All-America defensive end, who was helped from the field with what eventually would be diagnosed as a sprained right ankle.
Brown sat out the remainder of Friday's workout and likely will miss today's practice, Tech coach Frank Beamer said.
``He's never been hurt very much and he's been able to handle pain pretty well,'' Beamer said. ``We'll see if there's any swelling [today]. I think that will be the key thing.''
However, not long after Tech's practice concluded, Brown appeared to be getting around just fine at a bowl-function luncheon, according to more than one observer on hand.
``Don't worry,'' said one Tech player, requesting anonymity. ``The guy will play come Tuesday against Nebraska. He's OK. That's just Cornell for you.''
Last year, in Tech's preparation for the Sugar Bowl, Brown was injured similarly in an early bowl-week practice, and was held out of some subsequent workout time.
It was the second stir created by Brown since the Hokies arrived in Miami on Thursday morning. He turned heads Thursday afternoon when he showed up at practice with ``32'' - the number of suspended Tech fullback Brian Edmonds - pasted over the ``VT'' logo on his helmet.
HAVING FUN YET? If you're Tom Osborne or Beamer in Miami, maybe not.
When asked if it were possible for coaches to have fun during bowl week, Osborne shook his head.
``I don't think so,'' he said. ``There's so much work. You start out at five in the morning, finish at nine or 10 at night. There are so many demands, but that's part of the deal.
``You hope your players have some fun, though. I've always enjoyed bowls, I just don't have a lot of fun.''
When asked if the Orange Bowl had lost some tradition by this year's date move from Jan.1 to Dec. 31 to accommodate the Bowl Alliance, the soft-spoken Osborne smiled and replied in his usual unexciting manner.
``December 31st never has meant much to me anyway,'' the 59-year-old coach said. ``I've always had to go to bed early because we had to play on the [Jan.] 1st. My wife has tried to keep me up, but I always went to bed, which keeps with my personality, I guess.''
FRIDAY NIGHT DATE: Most of the Tech coaching staff and players spent Friday night at Pro Player Stadium, attending the Carquest Bowl between Virginia and Miami.
Tech used victories over Miami and UVa in November as a springboard into the Orange Bowl.
The big question Friday morning was who would the Hokies cheer for? Their homestate brethren or their Big East Conference family?
``I've got to hang with my Big East right now, that's who I'm loyal to,'' Beamer said. ``The Big East has meant a lot to this football program, so I've got to stick with them.''
TAKE IT EASY, KID: Hoping to rid the effects of a strained lower back, Tech place-kicker Shayne Graham has been ordered by Beamer to cool it some in practice.
The true freshman from Pulaski missed Tech's regular-season finale against Virginia because of the injury. Beamer conceded Friday that Graham ``probably kicks too much.''
``He made me tired looking at him in pregame warmups. I don't know if he was tired or not, but I was tired looking at him,'' Beamer said.
``He's a guy who always has kicked a lot. I think that's part of it. There's a crack back there, and the more you do, the more you irritate it. I know Dr. [Duane] Lagan [Tech physician] told me that he thought if he could get through this game and get him some rest, he'd be fine.''
SCOUTING TECH: Senior linebacker Myron Newsome, who turned his right ankle Thursday, saw only limited work in Friday's practice. ``There's not any swelling and we feel like we're hoping he'll be OK by game time,'' Beamer said. Starting defensive end John Engelberger sustained a broken nose Friday, but Beamer said the redshirt freshman is expected to play.
SCOUTING NEBRASKA: Grant Wistrom, one of Nebraska's bookend All-Americans at rush end, showed up at Friday's news conference with a bandage hiding a huge gash near his right eye. ``Things are getting pretty rough in practice,'' Wistrom said. ``We're ready to go. Obviously, this defense has got a big chip on its shoulder after Texas,'' the 37-27 loss on Dec.12 that knocked Nebraska out of contention for a third straight national title. On the fact that Husker fans aren't flocking to Miami, Wistrom noted: ``That may be true, but I can guarantee you that every TV in Nebraska will be tuned into this game.''
LENGTH: Medium: 96 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: 1. DON PETERSEN Staff\Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamerby CNB(left) addresses the Hokies during practice for the Orange Bowl. 2.
DON PETERSEN Staff. Cornell Brown, sporting the number of suspended
teammate Brian Edmonds, takes a break in practice. color.
For more on Virginia Tech's Orange Bowl trip to Miami, see our
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