THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 29, 1995 TAG: 9509290637
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 96 lines
Michael Williams' favorite sound in college football isn't a crunching hit or a cheering crowd.
It's thump-THUMPPP!
That's the sound of a kicked ball being blocked, which has become a familiar ring at Virginia Tech.
``It's a good feeling to hear that,'' Williams said.
But it doesn't always feel good.
``Depends on where you catch it,'' said Williams, a senior from Hampton who blocked two kicks last year. ``If it catches you in the arm, you're OK. If it catches you in the stomach, it definitely hurts.''
Virginia Tech's aptitude for blocking kicks has hurt opponents often during coach Frank Beamer's nine seasons. The Hokies have blocked a punt and three place kicks in just three games this season. The NCAA record for placement blocks in a season is six.
The Hokies are not new kids on the block in this category.
In Beamer's 93 games as head coach, the Hokies have blocked 18 punts, 15 field goal tries and 11 extra point attempts. That's 44 blocks, or one almost every other game. Tech has blocked a kick in five of its last six Big East games.
Virginia Tech's sports information department says that only 13 Hokies kicks have been blocked during Beamer's tenure.
``They play as well as anybody in the country does on the kicking game and special teams,'' said Pittsburgh coach Johnny Majors, whose team will host the Hokies Saturday (12:08 p.m., WPEN).
Beamer and his special teams coach, Bud Foster, conducted a seminar on the punt block and punt return at the American Football Coaches Association national convention last January in Dallas.
``That tells you right there how well-regarded they are when it comes to special teams,'' said Florida associate head coach and special teams coordinator Ron Zook.
Zook was a Hokies assistant Beamer's first season at Virginia Tech, and was on the Murray State staff with Beamer 15 years ago. Zook frequently talks special teams with Beamer.
``A lot of the stuff we do at the University of Florida has a lot to do with what I learned from coach Beamer,'' Zook said. ``Frank believes it actually is one-third of the game and they're going to spend time on it and put the best players they have on there.''
Beamer said Tech spends perhaps 20 percent of its practice time on special teams, which is proportional to the number of special-team plays in a game.
It pays off with more than just blocked kicks. The Hokies had the Big East's leading punt returner, kickoff returner and kick scorer last year. This season, punter John Thomas leads the Big East with a 40.7 average.
But not all of Virginia Tech's special units are doing the job. Placekicker Atle Larsen is just 2 for 8 on field goal tries, partly because of problems with the hold and protection, Beamer said. And the Hokies rank last in the Big East and 103rd nationally in kickoff returns; top return man Bryan Still's shoulder injury has limited him to returning just three of nine kickoffs.
Kick blocking, however, is as good as ever. Tech is on a pace to top the seven blocked kicks (four punts, three field goals) in 1988 - the most ever in a season under Beamer.
``We get pride out of that, knowing that we can change the game,'' said Hokies defensive end Lawrence Lewis, who blocked an extra point against Cincinnati.
``The jump is pretty much everything,'' said Williams, who normally flies in off the corner and is a small target for blockers at 5-foot-8, 157 pounds. ``If you can, you want to get off the ball as soon as you see the center's fingers twitching.''
Beamer said he became ``obsessed'' with the kicking game a few years ago. Although Foster is the special teams coach, the Hokies divide responsibility for different units amongst the staff. Beamer coaches punt block/return and kickoff coverage himself.
The special teams assignments go out to many of Tech's best players, not just backups.
``I don't allow people to stand around in practice much,'' Beamer said, ``but if they are it's because we've got people working on the kicking game and they come from so many different positions.''
San Diego Chargers coach Bobby Ross, who Beamer worked for at The Citadel, influenced Beamer's special teams philosophy most. In the late 1970s, Ross got Beamer an interview for special teams coach with the Kansas City Chiefs under Marv Levy, but Levy chose another coach.
Just as a good running game often opens up the passing game, Beamer said a team that is able to block kicks has a better chance to return them well because the opponent has to focus on protecting the kicker.
``Everyone says the kicking game is important, but I don't know that everyone else actually puts the time and effort into it,'' Beamer said.
At the beginning of fall practice, the Hokies try out kick blockers. They grade players' acceleration, takeoff, and guts - not everyone wants to stick his hand or body in front of a booted football.
``If you turn your head and close your eyes, you're done,'' Beamer said. by CNB