THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 18, 1996 TAG: 9609180634
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: 73 lines
Virginia Tech's football team is 2-0, ranked 18th nationally, has won 12 games in a row and will be playing at home Saturday for the first time this season.
So Lane Stadium will be packed with 50,000 fans when the Hokies host Rutgers, right?
Probably not. Tech officials expect a crowd of more than 40,000 but not nearly a sellout, ticket manager Tom McNeer said.
While Tech's football program has skyrocketed from mediocrity to national prominence the last three seasons, the Hokies' fan support has grown more modestly.
Average home attendance has increased in recent years - last year's average attendance of 41,926 was fourth in the Big East and about average in Division I-A. Season-ticket sales are up to 16,000 this season, a school record. The Virginia and West Virginia games have already sold out and East Carolina is another likely sellout.
But Tech officials clearly are disappointed that their home opener will have some empty seats.
``We have done everything we can to promote'' the Rutgers game, Tech athletic director Dave Braine said. ``We usually have a good walk-up (for a home opener). I hope we do Saturday.''
LUNCH PAIL KIDS: Much was made last season of a ceremonial lunch pail awarded each week to a Hokie defensive player by co-defensive coordinators Rod Sharpless and Bud Foster. The pail was supposed to be symbolic of the team's blue-collar work ethic.
Players who received the pail took it everywhere - to class, to practice, to games, even on the road. Television talking heads made much of the dented, old metal container during the Sugar Bowl.
So where, reporters asked Tech coach Frank Beamer Tuesday, is the lunch pail now that Sharpless is coaching at Rutgers?
``I don't know what happened to it,'' he said, and then reflected for a few seconds before speaking again.
``They don't have our lunch pail (at Rutgers), do they? There'll be a heckuva fight going on if they do.''
Not to worry, Frank. The pail is safely in the possession of linebacker Brandon Semones.
Foster, now the defensive coordinator, still awards the pail each week to a defensive standout. Semones had 12 tackles and two sacks in Saturday's 45-7 victory over Boston College.
Semones said the players didn't think much of the pail at first last season.
``One of the hinges doesn't even work,'' he said. ``It's all beat up. But it grew on us. It shows our personality. This is the first time I've gotten it. I'm pretty excited about it.''
INJURY UPDATE: Half a dozen Hokies missed practice Tuesday, including All-American defensive end Cornell Brown (slightly swollen knee), who is expected to start Saturday.
Of the six, only linebacker Tony Morrison is listed as questionable. The junior from Chesapeake's Indian River High School has an injured foot and is on crutches.
Ken Oxendine, the star tailback who was expected to start this season, could play next week at Syracuse, Beamer said. He was sidelined with a separated shoulder against Akron.
When Oxendine returns, Beamer faces a dilemma. Does he start Oxendine, who is considered Tech's most talented runner? Or does he stick with Shyrone Stith, a freshman from Chesapeake who has starred in two games?
Stith has 199 yards rushing - fifth in the Big East - and four touchdowns.
``Let's just hope he gets back and then we'll figure that one out,'' Beamer said.
PARKER UPDATE: Tailback Marcus Parker, who was suspended indefinitely in the wake of a July shoplifting incident, apparently will learn this week whether he will play this season. Parker pleaded no contest to a charge of shoplifting from a Blacksburg grocery store.
Said Beamer: ``I will have an announcement concerning Marcus Parker later in the week. I really don't have any other comment on that situation right now.'' by CNB