THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 3, 1996 TAG: 9611030177
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STEVE CARLSON
LENGTH: 46 lines
Brown isn't counting on winning the Lombardi Award
BLACKSBURG - Cornell Brown said it felt good to be back, and he made his presence felt.
The Hokies' All-American defensive end had missed two games following arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. In his return to action, Brown was credited with just four tackles, but also had a tackle for loss, batted down a pass and forced a fumble.
``I felt great,'' Brown said. ``I just got winded at times.''
This week Brown was named one of the four finalists for the Lombardi Award given to the nation's outstanding lineman by the Houston Rotary Club. Asked about the Lombardi Saturday, Brown laughed heartily and paused for a minute.
``That's good,'' he finally said. ``I enjoy it, but we all know what the deal is on that. They just need a few names.''
In other words, Brown knows being a finalists is as far as close as he'll get to holding the trophy. Ohio State offensive tackle Orlando Pace, who won the award last year, is expected to easily claim it again.
Stith is making the most of his chances
Freshman tailback Shyrone Stith - Tech's early-season savior who is now back to third team - doesn't see the field much these days. But when he does, he makes the most of it. The freshman from Chesapeake's Western Branch High got in on the game's last two series and gained 87 yards on seven carries, including one 35-yard gain. Stith is Tech's second-leading rusher on the season with 433 yards.
``I like the way that Stith runs,'' coach Frank Beamer said. ``He's got a quick step, he jumps up in that hole.''
Quick hits
Saturday's crowd of 35,643 was the smallest at Lane Stadium in 16 games, dating back to a 1993 game with ECU played before 34,306. ... Shawn Scales scored a touchdown on a 21-yard screen pass and had kickoff returns of 61 and 45 yards, the longest of the season by a Hokie. ... The Hokies have scored 20 or more points in a school-record 13 consecutive games, and have scored 30 or more in their last six home games. ... Tech blocked a pair of punts, while only punting once itself. . . . The Hokies had a 36:58 to 23:02 edge in time of possession. ... Beamer has 99 career wins, including 57 at Tech and 42 at Murray State. by CNB