THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, November 18, 1995 TAG: 9511190493
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
For the first time in the series' long and colorful history, a major New Year's Day bowl bid may be at stake for the winner of today's Virginia-Virginia Tech game.
But both sides have insisted all week the sweetest reward for the victor will be the same as in the previous 76 games over the last 100 years:
``It's for bragging rights in the state, all that hoopla and stuff,'' said Virginia Tech lineman Chris Malone.
``It has been a good season for us,'' said Virginia defensive back Ronde Barber, ``but we need a win over Tech to make it complete. A lot of pride goes into this game. If you win, you get to talk about it all year.''
Both teams go into the regular-season finale having already given their fans much to talk about. The 20th-ranked Hokies (8-2, 6-1) have clinched at least a share of the Big East title and 13th-ranked Virginia (8-3, 7-1) is in a similar position in the ACC.
While a victory in Scott Stadium would brighten either team's hopes for a bid to the Orange or Sugar bowls, nothing is definite. If Florida State beats Maryland today, it will share the ACC title with Virginia and likely would be picked as the ACC representative in one of the major bowls.
Tech faces the probability of sharing its title with either Miami or Syracuse. If so, it would be left to the Orange or Sugar to make a choice.
``We both have a chance at one of the big bowls, but even if we win a lot of other things have to happen,'' Virginia quarterback Mike Groh said. ``All we can do is play the game, let it all hang out, and see what happens.''
``I'm not sure what we're playing for from a bowl standpoint,'' Tech coach Frank Beamer said. ``What we're really playing for is state pride. Most people, when you start messing with their pride, it definitely gets serious.''
Groh predicts both teams will put aside bowl talk and championships and play the game as it always has been played, as a family feud.
``Championships won't mean a thing in this game and there is no way to tell if it will have an impact on the bowls or not,'' Groh said. ``It will be just a game of football, with no strings attached, and I expect both teams to be fired up and play as if it were the Super Bowl.''
Virginia is a four-point favorite and has not lost at Scott Stadium this season, but the visiting team has won the last three games in the series.
Cavaliers defensive tackle Todd White will try motivating his teammates by recalling the painful memory of losing at home to the Hokies two years ago.
``They came here and beat us and their fans rushed our field and celebrated after the game,'' White recalled. ``That is going to stay in my mind a long time. When you have fans from another team to rush your field, it bothers me.
``Florida State came in here like they owned the place, and we showed them. We are the ones who pay the bills here, you know? I want people to respect us when they come in here to play.''
The victory over a No. 2-ranked Florida State is the jewel in what is being called Virginia's best season.
Two of Virginia's three losses were one-point, last-second decisions on the road at Michigan and Texas. The other loss was by five points at North Carolina. Victories over N.C. State and Florida State were almost as tight.
``The close games made us more mature and brought us together,'' White said.
Virginia Tech has made consistent improvement, too, since losing its opening two games to Boston College and Cincinnati.
``Where we started and then to come back and win eight straight,'' Beamer said, ``I'm proud of my coaching staff and I'm proud of my players.''
The Hokies' eight-game winning streak ties the school record set in 1905. No Tech team has won nine in a row in one season. Tech also is 5-0 on the road this year.
``The team that can put all (the emotion of the game) out of the way and concentrate on what they have to do is going to win,'' said Tech's Malone. ``If we lose, it won't spoil the season, but it will kind of put a dark cloud over it.'' MEMO: Staff writer Steve Carlson contributed to this report. ILLUSTRATION: Color photos
Gerlge Welsh, left...
Frank Beamer, right...
by CNB