THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Saturday, September 24, 1994           TAG: 9409240377
SECTION: SPORTS                   PAGE: C4   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG                       LENGTH: Short :   50 lines

HEAVILY FAVORED TRIBE WON'T TAKE VMI LIGHTLY

Victories over Virginia Military Institute have been as predictable for William and Mary's football team in recent years as the sun rising each morning.

The Tribe hasn't lost to VMI since 1985, when the Keydets eked out a 39-38 victory. Last season the Tribe shellacked VMI, 49-6, in the Oyster Bowl in Norfolk.

The teams meet for the 72nd time today at 1 p.m. at Zable Stadium in Williamsburg, and, as usual, the Tribe is a heavy favorite.

William and Mary is 3-0 and ranked eighth nationally in Division I-AA. Moreover, the Tribe is seeking a school-record 13th consecutive home victory.

VMI, rebuilding under first-year coach Bill Stewart, is 0-2.

``William and Mary is a big challenge for us,'' said Stewart, who was an assistant under Tribe coach Jimmye Laycock in the early 1980s.

``But we'll strap our helmets on and give it our best shot.''

Elsewhere among Virginia Division I-AA schools, Richmond travels to Yankee Conference rival Northeastern and Liberty University is at Boise State. James Madison is idle.

The VMI-Tribe game will match the state's top two I-AA rushers. VMI's Thomas Haskins has rushed for 349 yards in two games while the Tribe's Troy Keen has 435 yards in three games.

VMI played 12 freshmen or redshirt freshmen in its first two games, including true freshman quarterback Al Lester.

Tribe quarterback Shawn Knight says VMI looks better on film than in the win-loss columns.

``Last year they ran the (wishbone), and it really limited what they could do,'' he said. ``This year they've opened up and they're a better team for it.

``This won't be any cakewalk.''

Laycock says it rarely is with VMI.

``We've had great success against VMI, and last year's game was one-sided, but most of our games with them have been close,'' said Laycock, who has won 11 of his last 12 games against the Keydets.

``Back in 1990, when we had one of our best teams we've had here, we played them in the Oyster Bowl and it was a wild game (W&M won, 59-47). It came down to Alan Williams recovering a fumble. If he doesn't get it, who knows what happens.'' by CNB