THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, September 19, 1994 TAG: 9409190164
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STEVE CARLSON
DATELINE: CHESTNUT HILL, MASS. LENGTH: Short : 46 lines
Virginia Tech's 12-7 victory at Boston College on Saturday was a pivotal road win over a supposed Big East power, producing the Hokies' first 3-0 start in 13 years.
With it, the Hokies jumped four spots in both polls, to No. 12 in the USA Today/CNN coaches' poll and No. 14 in The Associated Press' media poll. Tech's previous highest ranking in any poll was 14th, by the AP in 1954.
Despite that backdrop of reasons for contentment, there is also cause for discontent for Hokies faithful. Through three games, Tech's offense has been mediocre at best, if not a disappointment. So has Maurice DeShazo.
Tech and others labeled the quarterback a Heisman Trophy candidate. Any voter who saw him on the Big East Network game at BC surely wrote off the notion of writing DeShazo on the ballot.
DeShazo missed receivers every way imaginable. Twice on one series, an accurate throw to wide-open Antonio Freeman would have produced a touchdown.
DeShazo was 13-for-27 for 145 yards, was sacked five times and had minus-24 yards on 14 carries while guiding an offense that couldn't find the end zone.
``He's not as sharp as he has been,'' coach Frank Beamer said of DeShazo. ``With Maurice it's kind of like rolling the dice - they may come up bad for a while, but eventually they come up good.''
Adjusting to new offensive coordinator Gary Tranquill and a having retooled line have contributed to the offensive woes. But there's no denying that DeShazo is struggling.
``I think maybe he's pressing a little bit,'' Tranquill said. ``He's got to relax a bit more. We'll have to make some decisions. Maybe we're trying to do too much as an offense and it's more than we can handle.''
DeShazo admitted he's battled pressure and said he needs to ``have more of an `I don't care' attitude.'' He discounted the possibility that Heisman talk has hindered him.
Tech easily could be 1-2 were it not for outstanding defensive play. Someone asked rover Torrian Gray, whose 66-yard interception return was Tech's lone touchdown at BC, if he expected the defense to be carrying the offense.
Gray stammered a minute, then smiled. ``No,'' he said. by CNB