THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 1, 1995 TAG: 9512010392
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
Virginia Tech football coach Frank Beamer was a unanimous choice as the Big East coach of the year, and Hokie defensive end Cornell Brown was the league's defensive player of the year.
Four of Virginia Tech's five first-team picks were defensive players. Voting was done by the league's eight head coaches.
Brown, a 6-foot-2, 240 pound junior from Lynchburg, had 104 tackles and a league-leading 14 sacks for 114 yards in losses. He also led the league with 25 tackles for losses totaling 142 yards.
``He makes big plays,'' Beamer said.
The question is will Brown be playing for Tech next season? Brown has acknowledged he is mulling an early jump to the NFL.
``We're going to sit down after this season is all over with,'' Beamer said. ``I told him I want to do what's best for him. If he is going to be a high draft choice right now, he probably needs to go. If not, I think he'll help himself by coming back. I think he'd be better off coming back right now.''
At one point this season, Beamer was pushing Tech senior defensive tackle J.C. Price for defensive player of the year honors. Price was a first-team pick.
Beamer led the Hokies to a 9-2 season, a share of the Big East title and No. 13 ranking following an 0-2 start. Beamer's ninth season at Tech is expected to end in the school's most prestigious bowl to date - either the Orange or Sugar - pending NCAA sanctions expected to be announced against co-champion Miami today.
``Our coaches do the coaching and the players do the playing and I just try to do the organizing,'' Beamer said. ``I'm really proud of our program that other people thought we were deserving of this.''
Other Hokie first-team picks were seniors George DelRicco at linebacker, William Yarborough at safety and offensive guard Chris Malone. Tech had six second-team picks, including junior quarterback Jim Druckenmiller.
Rutgers tight end Marco Battaglia was the offensive player of the year with 69 receptions for 894 yards and 10 touchdowns. Syracuse freshman Donovan McNabb was the first-team quarterback and unanimous choice as rookie of the year.
Five players each from Tech, Syracuse and Miami were first-team selections. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Virginia Tech's Cornell Brown was named Big East defensive player of
the year.
by CNB