THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, September 24, 1996 TAG: 9609240446
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 56 lines
Syracuse began the football season with high expectations laced with some mention of a national championship run.
But the Orangemen have run aground. They are 0-2 after losing at home to North Carolina and then 35-33 last week at Minnesota, which scored on successive third-quarter possessions when it returned Syracuse fumbles for touchdowns.
``We can't be making the mistakes we're making and expect to win football games,'' Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni said.
Syracuse was ranked No. 10 nationally in the preseason but has disappeared from the polls. Pasqualoni said despite the rough start, Syracuse players have not lost faith in themselves.
``I think they believe very much in the program and in each other,'' he said. ``We just have to keep coaching the positive aspects of what has happened and get ready to move on.
``This game is a very unforgiving game. You don't have time to hang your head and feel sorry for yourself, because you'll get your fanny kicked pretty quick. Saturday is only five days away.''
Saturday the Orangemen host 18th-ranked Virginia Tech (3-0) in a game that still could go a long way toward determining the Big East champion. The Hokies, who started 0-2 a year ago and finished 10-2, don't have to be reminded that a good team can have a slow start.
``They're 0-2, but they're not an 0-2 football team,'' Tech coach Frank Beamer said. ``They're one of the really good football teams in the country. They've just had some tough, tough luck.''
BIG TEN, BIG TROUBLE: The Big East played five games against the Big Ten on Saturday and limped away with a 1-4 record.
Three of the four losses came to teams ranked in the top seven in the nation this week - Penn State, Ohio State and Michigan. The most humiliating was a 72-0 Pittsburgh loss to Ohio State, the most lopsided defeat in Pitt history.
West Virginia was the only Big East school to come away with a victory over Big Ten member, beating Purdue.
``When you play the Big Ten, you're taking on a league that's pretty dag-gone good,'' Mountaineers coach Don Nehlen said.
STAT STUFF: The Hokies are the only Big East team that ranks among the top three in all eight major statistical team categories - rushing, passing, scoring and total offense and defense.
Tech is tops in rushing offense (221.7 yards per game) and rushing defense (42 yards allowed per game, which ranks second nationally behind Florida State). It also leads the Big East in first downs per game (24.7) and third-down conversions (.512 success rate). However, the Hokies are less impressive in special teams, ranking seventh in punt and kickoff returns and last in net punting. They are also last in turnover margin.
HOKIE HONORS: Quarterback Jim Druckenmiller (24 of 37 for 282 yards passing with a touchdown and interception plus 53 yards rushing) was Big East offensive player of the week, while placekicker Shayne Graham (field goals of 35, 31 and 25 yards) was special-teams player of the week. by CNB