THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 19, 1995 TAG: 9511190485
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BOB MOLINARO
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
The fun didn't stop until the clock blinked its final zero and Virginia Tech fans, drunk from exhilaration or spirits or both, streamed onto the field at Scott Stadium.
Virginia fans can be excused for putting a different spin on a Saturday that awoke the ghosts of Michigan and Texas.
Still, you couldn't beat this one for sheer entertainment. Perhaps even the Wahoos could feel the same way - if they weren't, by now, so numb to this sort of thing.
If there were a Novocaine Bowl, U.Va. would be the first choice.
Only Antonio Banks' interception and 65-yard return on the game's final play prevented the Cavaliers from losing their third game of the season by a single point.
It was deja vu all over again, right Yogi, uh, George?
``I never thought we had it,'' Welsh said. ``It can't get away if you don't have it.''
George has learned the hard way that it is always too soon to count the Cavaliers in.
Speaking of history and reputations, it's difficult to recall a Virginia Tech team winning a big game quite this way. Few, if any, Hokie teams of recent vintage would have been capable of the kind of comeback Frank Beamer's crew put together.
Virginia helped, of course. A Cavalier defense that displayed considerable spine, and got very little help from U.Va.'s kicking teams, inexplicably turned to cat litter in the final minutes.
``Chokers,'' was the description used by some press box cynics as U.Va. packpedaled down the field on Tech's final drive.
Even so, on this same field in early November, the Cavaliers turned aside no less than Florida State at the goal line as the clock ran out. Against the same defense, Tech scored on a 32-yard pass from Jim Druckenmiller to Jermaine Holmes with 47 seconds to play.
``This is the first week we ever ran that play,'' Holmes said. ``Druckenmiller pump-faked, the free safety bit, and I went.''
The Hokies went to 9-2 Saturday. If nine victories in a row don't impress the bowl scouts, maybe the style and verve the Hokies demonstrated in their 22-point fourth quarter will.
``A program on the move,'' is how Beamer described Tech following its 36-29 victory. ``Some teams,'' he said, ``have been there for awhile, but we're a team on the way there.''
On the way to the Sugar Bowl or Orange Bowl, the Hokies hope.
But until now, at least, Tech's lack of a national image has hurt the Hokies with bowls big enough to pick and choose the best TV attractions.
What will the bowl folks say now that Tech has come from 15 points down in the fourth quarter to win on the road against the 13th-ranked team?
``You tell me,'' said Tech defensive tackle Jim Baron. ``Are we better than Miami? Are we better than Syracuse? We beat 'em. I would think the Sugar Bowl would want the best team.''
Bowl politics are beyond the understanding of most of us. Better for Tech boosters to savor the surprises of a season that started 0-2.
As for U.Va., the Cavaliers finish the regular year 8-4, with all four defeats coming by a touchdown or less.
``I think we've had a good year,'' said U.Va. lineman Chris Harrison, ``but all people are going to look at is our record. They'll think we're a mediocre team.''
They shouldn't. But if they do, it will be because of those spooky fourth quarters.
In a different way, Tech's fourth-period performance Saturday should change perceptions of the Hokies as they go bowling for dollars and attention. by CNB