THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 1, 1994 TAG: 9410010409
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SYRACUSE, N.Y. LENGTH: Medium: 96 lines
The Carrier Dome was nearly silent as the Virginia Tech Hokies ran through a light afternoon workout Friday. The only noise heard when coaches weren't shouting was the buzz of the giant compressors which heat and cool the giant bubble.
But the atmosphere will be radically different today when Virginia Tech returns to the Carrier Dome at 3:30 p.m. A noisy, orange-clad throng of 50,000 will scream its lungs out when Tech faces off against Syracuse University on ABC regional television (WVEC-TV in Hampton Roads).
It will be the first home sellout since 1992 for Syracuse (3-1, 1-0 Big East), which views 14th-ranked Tech (4-0, 2-0) as an inviting target.
A victory today would establish Syracuse, the preseason pick to finish fifth in the Big East, as a legitimate championship contender.
``It will be loud for sure, and Syracuse will get after us,'' Tech coach Frank Beamer said. ``Syracuse has a great atmosphere here and it makes it tough on the visiting team in some respects.
``But I think everybody gets a little more excited when things are enthusiastic. It will be a sign of the importance of the football game as soon as we hit that field.''
The game is important to Tech for many reasons. A victory will:
Give Tech a great chance of going 8-0 heading into its Oct. 29 Big East showdown at Miami. Syracuse is the most difficult hurdle left. Tech will be favored in the three games leading up to that contest - Temple, East Carolina and Pittsburgh.
Nearly ensure Tech of a major bowl bid. The New Year's Day bowls begin narrowing the field of candidates by early October. A victory today, barring a complete collapse the rest of the month, would ensure that Tech will play on New Year's Day for the first time since the 1947 Sun Bowl.
Possibly propel Tech into The Associated Press top 10 for the first time since the Hokies began playing football 102 years ago.
Give Tech's football image a big boost in its first network television appearance since 1983. The game will be available to 22 percent of the nation's television households.
Tech has gone 4-0 by beating teams with losing records and Syracuse, warns Beamer, is no loser.
Ranked 22nd by USA Today but unranked by The Associated Press, Syracuse is but one penalty away from being 4-0. The Orangemen took the lead late in their opener against Oklahoma, but was penalized for celebrating excessively. That penalty gave the Sooners the field position necessary to drive for a late, game-winning field goal in a 30-29 Oklahoma victory.
``That was a tough loss for them,'' Beamer said. ``This is a quality football team, the best we've played this season.
``This is going to be a tough football game.''
Especially when Syracuse has the ball. Tech leads the nation in passing defense and is second in total defense.
Syracuse's high-powered offense, led by quarterback Kevin Mason, is averaging 30 points per game.
``They're playing defense as well or better than anyone else in the country right now,'' Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni said of Tech.
The Hokies' offense is another story. Tech has been plagued with offensive mistakes, especially from quarterback Maurice DeShazo, who has thrown six interceptions and had four turnovers last week against West Virginia.
DeShazo says he has healed from an injury that slowed him against West Virginia, but the Hokies received a big blow earlier this week when standout tailback Dwayne Thomas was scratched from the lineup with an ankle sprain.
``Dwayne is in Blacksburg getting treatment,'' Beamer said. ``We'll try to get him well for next week.''
The Hokies also will be missing offensive guard Damien McMahon because of an injury.
Sophomore Tommy Edwards will start in place of Thomas, though Ken Oxendine, the highly regarded freshman from Richmond, is expected to see much playing time.
If DeShazo is to pull out of his funk, today would be an opportune time. Syracuse is ranked second to last in the Big East in pass defense. ILLUSTRATION: GAMEWATCH
VIRGINIA TECH vs. SYRACUSE
Where: Carrier Dome (50,000), Syracuse, N.Y.
When: 3:30 p.m.
Records: Va. Tech is 4-0 overall, 2-0 Big East; Syracuse is 3-1,
1-0.
TV: WVEC, 3:30
Radio: WGH, 1310-AM.
Tickets: Unavailable.
Outlook: This is Tech's toughest challenge to date. Syracuse is
30-9-2 in the Carrier Dome since 1987 and features a high-scoring
offense led by quarterback Kevin Mason (553 yards, 59 percent
completion percentage). Tech leads the nation in pass defense, but
its offense has been sputtering. Tech's offense, including slumping
quarterback Maurice DeShazo, must get its act together if the Hokies
are to win this one.
Favorite: Tech by 5.
by CNB