THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 24, 1995 TAG: 9509240196
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BOB MOLINARO
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
Frank Beamer hopes he rediscovered his Virginia Tech football team Saturday. Meanwhile, rumors of Miami's appearance at Lane Stadium have yet to be confirmed.
It is alleged that it was Miami that Virginia Tech manhandled. Same orange pants. Same white helmets with the funny ``U'' on the sides.
Looks can be deceiving, though. Where was the superior quarterback play? Perhaps somebody thought to ask for identification before the Hurricanes fled town.
``They're not the Miami they used to be,'' said senior guard Chris Malone.
With two losses against Division I-A opponents this season, Miami's Hurricanes have been downgraded to a tropical depression. It is not the Miami of the last 10 years, the irritating, celebrating Miami that was the baddest athletic program in America.
Not that Tech had reason to be swaggering into this game, either. After an 0-2 start, the Hokies' 13-7 victory did nothing less than resuscitate a season.
``The important thing today is that we found the Virginia Tech team, the one we knew we had the potential to be,'' Beamer said. ``Now if we can take this performance and build on it, we can go ahead to a good season.''
As building blocks go, the Miami game was a Gibraltar. The wonder of it all isn't that Tech prevailed, but that it didn't win by two or three touchdowns.
The Hokies sacked Miami quarterbacks six times. They controlled play on both sides of the line. They rushed for 300 yards. They had it all over Miami when it came to field position.
Of Tech's dominance, center Billy Conaty said, ``It reminded me of the Independence Bowl. We just lined up and smashed them.''
In the '93 Independence Bowl, the Hokies leveled Indiana, a Big Ten mediocrity. So now people are comparing Miami to Indiana. Hurricane Felix was never dissed this badly.
``They're still good, but . . . , '' is the way Conaty put it.
Conaty's memory of last year's Miami game is his getting whipped by All-American tackle Warren Sapp, who now roughs up people for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
``I don't know who the new guys are,'' Conaty said of the Miami linemen, ``but they aren't Sapp.''
Virginia Tech took full advantage of this. The Hokies knocked down the visitors in mid-swagger.
How is it, then, that, with 23 seconds to play, Miami wasn't done?
``We let some opportunities go by,'' Beamer conceded.
And Tech almost paid for it.
On fourth down, backup quarterback Ryan Clement lofted a prayer down the left sideline to Yatil Green. Hokies freshman Loren Johnson broke up the play inside the 5, avoiding pass interference.
Close call, Tech agreed.
Close to aggravated assault, argued Miami.
``You don't expect an official to have the courage to call that late in the game when you're on the road,'' Miami coach Butch Davis said.
The final moments sounded this dramatic note because Tech managed only a field goal in the second half, set up by a blocked punt that the Hokies recovered on the Miami 9. Truth be told, Tech's offense lacked imagination the final two quarters.
``Even though we won, we realize we could have been better,'' Beamer said. ``This game should have been over earlier.''
When the game finally was over, all anybody knew for sure was that this was not the Miami that used to be. Or the Hokies from a week ago. by CNB