THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, November 19, 1994 TAG: 9411190577
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Long : 104 lines
The battle for college football supremacy in Virginia no longer ceases to be of significance at the state line.
When Virginia visits Virginia Tech today (noon, WTKR), for the second consecutive year the outcome will impact the polls and the bowls. Last year was the first time both programs came into the game nationally ranked, and for just the second time, both went to a bowl in the same season.
Today, it's No. 14 Virginia Tech (8-2) against No. 16 Virginia (7-2) in the intrastate rivalry's first matchup of top 20 teams. Bowl scouts from the Fiesta, Gator, Peach, Carquest and Independence will watch from Lane Stadium's press box.
``It shows you this is a good football state,'' Virginia coach George Welsh said. ``There's been stability at both schools for a long time now, and that's how you can keep getting the good players in state to have a nucleus for a good football team.''
Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer questions why a top player would leave the state when he can choose between two diverse schools that are nationally ranked and vying for bowl bids.
``It used to have state implications,'' Beamer said of Virginia-Virginia Tech. ``Now it has national implications. We've got a full house, lots of bowl people and great enthusiasm. That's the way this game should be played.''
The enthusiasm won't just be among the overflow crowd of more than 53,000. There's extra fervor on the field when many of the players line up across from guys they played with or against in high school, and face a school they considered attending. Tech linebacker Brandon Semones, who has been moved inside to fill in for injured senior Ken Brown, said he remembers facing Virginia's Tiki and Ronde Barber in youth league football.
``It means a lot to me to play against those guys,'' Semones said.
Virginia Tech quarterback Maurice DeShazo knows the ups and downs - literally - generated by this game.
His first season at Tech, DeShazo was photographed perched atop the crossbar after the Hokies' 38-13 victory over Virginia. Two years ago he was dogged for months by the memory of two passes Randy Neal picked off and returned for Virginia touchdowns in a 41-38 Cavalier victory. Last year at Scott Stadium, DeShazo was carried off the field after the Hokies' 20-17 win.
Asked to compare the schools, DeShazo - who considered Virginia - said it's the country flavor of Blacksburg vs. the city feeling of Charlottesville, the laid-pack people at Tech vs. a snobbish attitude at Virginia.
``We hate each other probably for the three hours the game is going on,'' DeShazo said.
DeShazo, who needs 4 yards to become Tech's career total offense leader, may hate operating against Virginia's defense. The Cavaliers are one of the nation's best, and probably second only to Miami as the toughest the Hokies have faced.
Virginia ranks first nationally against the run (59.4 yards per game), ninth in scoring defense (14.7), and 18th in both passing defense (102 rating) and total defense (301.1 yards).
``Their defense is for real,'' Beamer said.
Up until last week, the same could have been said of Tech's. But Rutgers skewered the Hokies for 474 yards and 34 points, and afterward defensive coordinator Phil Elmassian said Tech's defense isn't as good as it was earlier in the season.
Still, the Hokies rank seventh nationally in passing defense (92.6 rating), 13th in scoring defense (16), 17th in total defense (299.5 yards) and 20th in rushing defense (119.6).
Besides Virginia ranking 18th in scoring offense, neither team is in the top 30 nationally in any of the major offensive statistics. With a pair of strong defenses and average offenses, a low-scoring game would appear likely - although Tech has scored 30 or more points in its last 12 home games, the longest such streak in Division I-A.
The Hokies have won 11 in a row at home, with the last loss at Lane coming to Virginia in 1992.
``I see this game as a close game to be decided by turnovers or the kicking game either way,'' Welsh said.
The outcome could help decide the bowl picture. The Peach and Independence, which both have ACC tie-ins, are looking at Virginia. The Carquest, which takes a third team from the Big East, has said it wants Virginia Tech. But the Fiesta and Gator, both coalition bowls, profess to still be interested in both teams.
``There's a lot of possibilities about bowls, and all of them are good,'' Beamer said. Virginia Tech athletic director Dave Braine said earlier this week he expects the Hokies to wind up in either the Dec. 30 Gator Bowl in Gainesville, Fla., or the Jan. 2 Carquest Bowl in Miami.
Welsh isn't interested in thinking about bowls, especially since the Cavaliers have a key ACC game with N.C. State remaining at home the day after Thanksgiving. But Welsh does have another goal that can be accomplished today.
``The first thing we talked about back in February or early March at our first team meeting was that seven wins was not satisfactory for this football team at this stage with the kind of talent we have here,'' Welsh said. ``The team agreed with me.
``. . . Now we're at seven wins. I don't know if a bowl game has anything to do with it or not, but I think the incentive is definitely there right now to play well this week.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photos by Paul Aiken, Staff
Virginia quarterback Mike Groh leads a Cavalier offense that ranks
18th in the nation in scoring.
Maurice DeShazo of Virginia Tech was carried off the field after the
Hokies' 20-17 win at Virginia last year.
by CNB