DATE: Wednesday, October 29, 1997           TAG: 9710290529

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C7   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: STEVE CARLSON

                                            LENGTH:   69 lines

VIRGINIA TECH REPORT [BRIEFS]

Hokies' line coach back to work after quintuple bypass heart surgery

The injury news around Virginia Tech's football program isn't good this week, except for one key person who is coming off the disabled list.

Offensive line coach J.B. Grimes is back to a more-expanded work week after having quintuple bypass heart surgery Oct. 7. Last week Grimes worked in the mornings, attending staff meetings and watching film. This week he is returning to practice and will be at Lane Stadium Saturday when the Hokies host Alabama-Birmingham.

``He's back on the field working during the day,'' Tech coach Frank Beamer said Tuesday. ``He's not working the night hours. Having him back out there is a comforting feeling and helps the organization of our offense.

``It's almost amazing the guy could come back. He's tough, tougher than heck.''

Grimes, 42, first had heart problems during the game when the Hokies lost to Miami of Ohio. He missed the victory over Boston College and the loss at West Virginia. Tech's offense has struggled in each game. Tight ends coach Bryan Stinespring had been filling in for Grimes as the line coach, but Beamer said Grimes' absence affected the Hokies.

``I don't think there's any question,'' Beamer said. ``Bryan's very talented, but what you lose is your continuity and a guy who's been with the players since the beginning. Any time there's change there's a reaction to that and an adjustment period to that. I think it's really going to be helpful to have J.B. back.''

Grimes has to be careful no one runs into him so soon after surgery. Beamer said that can be controlled easily in practice, but may be trickier in the game. For that reason, Grimes may be in the booth instead of his normal spot on the sidelines Saturday.

Ailing Hokies lost more than a game to W.Va.

Tech lost two starters for the season to injuries last week when linebacker Korey Irby tore his anterior cruciate ligament in practice and it was decided Shawn Scales needed surgery to repair a problem with a tendon in his ankle.

The Hokies came out of the West Virginia game more banged up. Beamer said receivers Michael Stuewe (ankle) and Angelo Harrison (toe) probably will not play Saturday. Quarterback Al Clark has a banged up knee, while backup linebacker Sean Ruffing has hamstring and knee problems.

``After that, there's a lot of guys at our practice in blue, which means limited work,'' Beamer said.

Tech's starting receivers Saturday are expected to be former walk-on Ken Handy and Marcus Gildersleeve, who have a combined 15 career receptions. Handy will be backed up by Robert Wimberly, who walked on this year and was going to be redshirted before being pressed into duty.

Finding some humor

Tech may have lost a big game to West Virginia Saturday, but Beamer has not lost his sense of humor. Commenting Tuesday about punter Jimmy Kibble's 29-yard run on a fake punt Saturday - Tech's longest play of the game - Beamer quipped: ``I don't think we need to list Kibble as a tailback quite yet.''

Quick hits

The starting time for the Miami game Nov. 8 at Lane Stadium has been set at 6 p.m. The game will be televised by ESPN2. ... The Hokies had a school-record streak of 22 consecutive games in which they scored 20 points or more going into October. But as the month ends, they now have a streak of three consecutive games scoring fewer than 20 points as they have been held to 17 the last three games. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Frank Beamer: ``It's almost amazing the guy (J.B. Grimes) could come

back. He's tough.''

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