THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 17, 1994 TAG: 9411170599
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines
Virginia probably won't be able to surprise Virginia Tech very much when the old rivals play Saturday in Blacksburg.
No team on the schedule knows as much inside stuff about the Cavaliers' style and coach George Welsh's tendencies than the Hokies.
The reason is Tech's offensive coordinator Gary Tranquill and defensive coordinator Phil Elmassian are former Virginia assistants.
``I don't know what their playbook looks like, but they should know ours pretty good,'' Welsh said. ``We've changed a few things the last four years since they were here, but the system is the same.''
Welsh, though, does not seem too concerned.
``The coordinators don't play the game, the players do,'' he reminded. ``I don't think what they know about us will have anything to do with the outcome of the game.''
THE NOMINEES: The Cavaliers have nominated 12 players for All-ACC honors.
They are wide receiver Tyrone Davis, quarterback Mike Groh, center Bryan Heath, fullback Charles Way, defensive tackle Ryan Kuehl, linebackers Randy Neal, James Farrior, and Jamie Sharper, defensive end Mike Frederick, defensive backs Ronde Barber and Carl Smith, and punter Will Brice.
The underclassmen in the group are junior Groh, sophomores Sharper, Farrior, and Brice, and freshman Barber, who also is a candidate for rookie-of-the-year.
FALSE ALARM: College teams routinely stay off campus at hotels the night before home games so the players can get a good night's sleep without being disturbed by noise in the dorms or apartments.
But the strategy backfired on Virginia last Friday before the Maryland game.
The Cavaliers were roused at 4 a.m. by a fire alarm that turned out to be sad prank.
``I wouldn't use that as an excuse for our slow start against Maryland, but it could have affected us,'' fullback Charles Way said.
MAKING A POINT: Duke coach Fred Goldsmith, who will coach in his first Duke-North Carolina game Saturday, got an idea how big the game is from a caller to his radio show this week.
Said the caller: ``On Sunday morning I want to call my mother and learn that she is fine. I want to hear my own heartbeat and know that I am still alive. And I want to pick up the paper and read about us beating the hell out of Carolina.''
STILL ALIVE: For those who believe Florida State wrapped up the ACC championship at midseason, North Carolina State would remind you that it is still in the hunt.
All the Wolfpack has to do to grab a share of the title is beat the Seminoles on Saturday and Virginia six days later in Charlottesville.
``That is quite a challenge, but when the season began our goal was to win the ACC championship and we still have the chance to do it,'' coach Mike O'Cain said.
State's only league loss was to North Carolina. FSU, of course, is unbeaten forever in the league.
Seminoles coach Bobby Bowden promises his team won't overlook the Wolfpack even though the game falls between Notre Dame and Florida.
NO DANCING: Georgia Tech interim coach George O'Leary is a no-nonsense guy who doesn't allow personal celebrations after a touchdown or a sack.
He got that across in his first game as head coach last week when he raced onto the field to reprimand tailback C.J. Williams for high-stepping into the end zone against Clemson.
``If you are a running back and score, that basically is why we have you on scholarship,'' O'Leary said. ``I don't believe in a lot of fancy dancing.''
O'Leary says he tolerated the showboating as an assistant in the NFL with San Diego the last two years.
``In the pros, people come to see the great players play and, maybe, the great players dance. That's entertainment,'' he said.
``In college, you show enthusiasm as an unit, but individual attraction should not be needed.''
ORANGE POWER: Clemson improved its record in orange pants to 28-6 with its victory last week over Georgia Tech, and you can safely assume the Tigers will be in them again Saturday for their game against South Carolina.
The Tigers have won six games in row in the pants, including a 16-13 victory at South Carolina last year, and they are 16-1 while wearing the pants in November.
Makes you wonder why they don't just wear them every game. by CNB