THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, November 12, 1994 TAG: 9411120350
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
Virginia Tech has had a long time to mull over something it would just as soon forget.
Today against Rutgers at 1 p.m. at Lane Stadium, the Hokies can still salvage a season to remember with a win that would keep them in the hunt for a quality bowl game and the chance to go 9-2. A victory today would virtually guarantee the Hokies a bid in at least the Carquest Bowl, and keep them in the running for one of the Big East's two Bowl Coalition spots.
Tech (7-2, 4-2 Big East) - ranked 16th by The Associated Press, 12th by USA Today-CNN - hasn't played since an Oct. 29 loss to Miami that eliminated the Hokies from the Big East title picture.
``You worry about your timing and do you pick up where you left off in terms of being in the flow of things,'' Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer said.
Of course, the Hokies don't really want to pick up where they left off at Miami, where they rushed for minus-14 yards and were basically squeezed into pulp at the Orange Bowl in a 24-3 loss.
``After we lost, we would have played again on Sunday just to get back on the field again,'' offensive guard Chris Malone said.
``It's bad to lose a game like that and then have an open week. I think we're ready to explode finally.''
Wide receiver Antonio Freeman said Tech's break was well-timed in one respect, but not so in another.
``Everyone affiliated with this football team needed to get away for a couple days,'' Freeman said. ``But when you get some time off, you only remember your last game, and we don't have many good memories of our last game.''
Tech and Rutgers have had memorable games the last two seasons.
In 1992, the Scarlet Knights defeated Tech, 50-49, on a touchdown pass on the game's last play. That game is the highest scoring in the four-year history of the Big East.
Tied for the league's second-highest scoring game is last year's 49-42 Hokie victory, which is the most points ever scored in a game at Lane Stadium.
``They've been different than any other games I've been associated with,'' Beamer said. ``I think both defenses are improved from a year ago. I don't think it will turn into that type of game.''
True, both teams are statistically better defensively. They also have both experienced a dramatic offensive dropoff.
``The thing for us to do is take advantage of all the offensive opportunities we can,'' Malone said. ``If we execute the way we're capable of, we can score all the points we want. Offensively we can go out there and put this game away.''
Rutgers (5-3-1, 2-2-1) - which is clinging to bowl hopes - hasn't been easy to put away for a couple of the Big East's better teams.
The Scarlet Knights tied Boston College, and lost by a point to Syracuse with a failed 2-point conversion with 39 seconds left to play. Both games were on the road.
``That's all you need to say to get our attention,'' Beamer said. ILLUSTRATION: GAMEWATCH
RUTGERS vs. VIRGINIA TECH
Where: Lane Stadium (51,000) in Blacksburg
When: 1 p.m.
Records: Unranked Rutgers is 5-3-1, 2-2-1 in the Big East; No. 16
Virginia Tech is 7-2, 4-2.
TV: None
Radio: WGH 1310-AM
Tickets: Available for $22. A crowd of 40,000 is expected.
Key to the game: The ability of Rutgers' tailback Terrell Willis
to run against Tech, which is ranked 10th nationally.
Favorite: Virginia Tech by 15.
by CNB