THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 10, 1994 TAG: 9409100380
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HATTIESBURG, MISS. LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
Virginia Tech will try to eradicate some bad feelings rooted in both recent and long-ago history today when it plays Southern Mississippi.
The 6 p.m. game at Roberts Stadium is the second of the season for the nationally ranked Hokies (No. 21 in the Associated Press poll; 18th in USA Today/CNN), who weren't satisfied with their lackluster offensive performance in their opening 34-7 win.
Today, the Hokies will try to put that outing against Arkansas State out of their minds.
``We were very disappointed in our performance on Saturday,'' Hokies offensive guard Damien McMahon said.
``We came in to watch the film on Monday morning, and nobody was satisfied with the way that they played. It gave us stuff to work on this week.''
Coach Frank Beamer said this work week and second game could tell a lot about the Hokies.
They are coming off a mediocre offensive showing. It's their first road game. And they have to be concerned about Mississippi burning - which refers not to a movie title, but the climate. The early-evening kickoff should help, but it's traditionally hot and humid in Hattiesburg this time of year. Today should hold to form.
``This gives us an opportunity to see what kind of personality this football team will have,'' Beamer said. ``Just because we could focus in real well last year, I'm not sure yet whether this team can. We'll find out.
``I think you establish yourself early. I've always said the first week and the second week is when you improve the most.''
The Hokies better hope for improvement over their previous trips to Hattiesburg. They haven't been here often, but when they have, they've been awful.
Tech lost here, 41-0, in 1958 and 35-13 in 1988. In those two games, the Hokies failed to score an offensive touchdown and had a total of 15 first downs and 274 yards of total offense.
``I heard it's kind of hard playing down there,'' Tech fullback Brian Edmonds said.
None of the current Hokies experienced either of those games, but many were around for the last meeting between the teams - a 13-12 Southern Miss victory in Blacksburg in 1992. It was one of five games in which Tech squandered fourth-quarter leads during a 2-8-1 season.
Last year the Golden Eagles matched that Tech record of two seasons ago, losing four games by eight points or fewer and tying another.
``It reminded me of our year a couple of years back,'' Beamer said.
Southern Miss has seven starters back on both offense and defense, including All-America candidate Michael Tobias. The Sporting News rated him the fourth-best defensive tackle in the country.
``He's going to be one of the best people I've ever gone against,'' Tech guard McMahon said. ``He's a real good athlete, strong, he's got good feet and he plays the pass and the run equally well. I think he'll make me focus a lot more and make me concentrate on the things I need to do to be successful.''
Beamer would like to see his entire offense do likewise.
Notes: Tech backups and special-teams players William Ferrell (flanker), Ken Landrum (tailback), Michael Williams (wide receiver) and Chris Frith (linebacker) did not make the trip because of injuries. . . . A crowd of 20,000 is expected at 33,000-seat Roberts Stadium, which disappoints Southern Miss coach Jeff Bower. ``Our people all along have been saying, `Bring in some name teams and bring in some ranked teams,' '' Bower said earlier this week. ``Well, this is an opportunity for them to come out and watch one of the top teams in the country. This is what they've said they wanted.'' . . . Tech quarterback Maurice DeShazo has thrown for two or more touchdowns in 13 games. If he does it today, he'll tie Will Furrer's school record of 14 games with multiple touchdown tosses. DeShazo is seven touchdown passes shy of Furrer's school career record of 43. . . . Tech has won four games in a row, dating back to last season, and has blocked a kick in each game during the streak. by CNB