THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 28, 1995 TAG: 9512280061
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NEW ORLEANS LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
Have fun, but remember why you're here.
That, in essence, is what coach Frank Beamer told Virginia Tech players once they descended on the Big Easy Tuesday. Beamer doesn't want to dampen the enjoyment of his players, but he also wants them focused on Sunday's Sugar Bowl game against Texas.
``You can do both things,'' Beamer said.
It would be understandable if Beamer elected to keep his players on a short leash. Three Hokies - Tony Morrison of Chesapeake, Antonio Banks of Newport News and James Crawford - have been arrested in recent weeks, and Morrison and Crawford were indefinitely suspended from the team.
There are plenty of places and ways to get in trouble in New Orleans. So one of Tech's first acts upon arriving Tuesday was to have New Orleans Police Department representatives brief the Hokies on safety and dangerous areas to be avoided.
Tech players had 2 a.m. curfews their first two nights, 1 a.m. Friday morning, 11 p.m. Friday night and then Saturday players will not be out roaming free.
Defensive tackle J.C. Price said he didn't do much his first night in New Orleans.
``I just walked up and down the street for three hours and then went home,'' Price said.
Beamer said he had a nice dinner, but that was about it.
``I had all kinds of plans worked out, but came back to my hotel and my age caught up to me,'' Beamer said. ``I went to bed and was asleep in about five minutes.''
INJURY BUG: Beamer clicked off a slew of injuries that have hobbled the Hokies in workouts since bowl practices began in Blacksburg.
Center Billy Conaty (knee) is the most severely injured, but Beamer said he is hopeful Conaty will play. Other injured starters include: tackle Jay Hagood (back); receiver Jermaine Holmes (hamstring); guard Gennaro DiNapoli (neck); tackle Mike Bianchin (several minor injuries); tight end Bryan Jennings (hamstring); linebacker Brandon Semones (knee); and reserve guard Todd Washington (hamstring).
``For us not having practiced a lot, we've got a bunch of guys that are kind of banged up,'' Beamer said. ``That's a concern for us right now, the walking wounded. Hopefully all of them are going to play.''
DOME IS NOT HOME: Texas had its choice of practice facilities, and selected the Superdome. That left Tech to practice outdoors at Tulane University.
``I'd personally rather work out on grass until gametime,'' Beamer said.
The Hokies will have one crack at practicing in the Superdome Saturday. Beamer said he hopes to also give his kickers, quarterbacks and receivers a chance to do some light work in the Superdome following Friday's practice at Tulane.
UNDER PRESSURE: Beamer said the onus is on the Hokies to show they belong in the same company as other Bowl Alliance members Nebraska, Florida, Notre Dame, Florida State and Texas.
``There's probably more pressure on us to play well in this bowl than on everybody else but Nebraska and Florida,'' Beamer said. ``A lot's been written about why we shouldn't be here. We certainly have some pressure on us now that we're here to show some people that we belong.''
NEW ATTITUDE: Some Hokies say the approach they are taking to the Sugar Bowl is in stark contrast to their approach to last season's Gator Bowl, in which they were blown out by Tennessee.
``We were going down there last year just trying to have a good time, and if we can win the game, great,'' offensive guard Chris Malone said. ``We realized what we were up against and we weren't expecting to win. The attitude this year is more `Let's show them what we have' rather than `Let's make it close.' ''
The Hokies are figuring a victory catapults them into the final top 10 for the first time and provides the underpinnings for future major bowl trips and recognition as a big-time program.
RECORD SETTER: Malone, a senior, will leave Virginia Tech having started a school-record 47 consecutive games. But it could be a short-lived mark.
Assuming Conaty, a junior, is able to play Sunday, he will have started 36 consecutive games and could hit 48 by the time his career ends if Tech makes a fourth-consecutive bowl game next year.
``If we hadn't gone 2-8-1 my freshman year, I wouldn't have had that problem,'' Malone said with a laugh. by CNB