THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 26, 1996 TAG: 9610260479
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 44 lines
After a second bye week this month, Virginia Tech's football team may need a kick start.
Which means today is the perfect time for the Hokies to face Pittsburgh at Lane Stadium.
Last year, Tech blocked a pair of punts to overcome a 9-0 halftime deficit and win at Pittsburgh. In Pitt's last outing, Syracuse scored three times on special teams plays - on a kickoff return, a punt return and a blocked punt.
Panthers' coach Johnny Majors said his team, also coming off a bye week, has worked extensively on special teams play to get ready for the Hokies.
Tech (4-1, 3-1 Big East) has blocked three punts and an extra point in five games, and has 52 blocked kicks in Frank Beamer's 107 games as head coach.
``We've spent a tremendous amount of time on it because Virginia Tech, through the past several years, has been a team that's had the best success at blocking kicks of anybody in America to my knowledge,'' Majors said.
Pitt (2-5, 1-3) hasn't had much success at anything this season. The Panthers have allowed an average of 53.2 points in their last five games and rank among the nation's worst teams in every major defensive category.
Out of 111 Division I-A teams, the Panthers are 106th in rushing and total defense, 108th in passing defense and 110th in scoring defense.
And yet, Beamer said of Pitt's defense: ``They come after you. They do a lot of stunting, blitzing and things that cause you problems.''
The Panthers are only marginally better offensively, ranking 101st nationally in total offense.
Tech, meanwhile, is gearing up for an imposing November in which it will play five games - three against nationally ranked teams and another that is on the cusp of the top 25 in East Carolina.
It's a stark contrast to October, in which Tech had two bye weeks and games against the least of the Big East - Temple and Pittsburgh.
``It's been unusual,'' said linebacker Myron Newsome, who is questionable today because of a shoulder injury. ``Last year we didn't have any open weeks, we just rolled through the whole season.''
``I don't think any coach would particularly like a week off, a game and a week off, but that's the way it is,'' Beamer said.
``I hope we've used it to our advantage. We'll see.'' by CNB