DATE: Saturday, November 29, 1997           TAG: 9711290509

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE                   LENGTH:  157 lines

VA. TECH, VIRGINIA COMPARE PROGRAMS HOKIES APPEAR TO HAVE THE EDGE, HAVING WON 3 OF LAST 4 IN THE SERIES.

Virginia offensive lineman Doug Karczewski had just moved from a round of television interviews to a session with writers when he was hit with the same question: Is Virginia Tech putting a big gap between its program and Virginia's?

``That must be the question of the day,'' Karczewski said with a forced smile.

Actually, it is the question of the week, one the state's two Division I-A teams try to resolve in their annual confrontation today (5:30 p.m., ESPN) in Scott Stadium.

On paper, the Hokies offer strong argument they have become the premier team in the state.

They have won the last two games and three of the last four in the series and have not lost in Charlottesville since 1991.

A victory could propel the Hokies into their third straight Alliance bowl, something that surely would impress talented high school players looking to play for a national program.

Virginia has not been to a major bowl since 1990 and no bowl has expressed public interest in the unranked Cavaliers this year even if they get a qualifying sixth Division I-A win against the Hokies.

Still, Karczewski, a senior co-captain, contends any gap between the two programs is more perception than reality.

``They definitely have had more Alliance berths, but I don't think they have moved ahead of us,'' said Karczewski, a native of Gaithersburg, Md., who was recruited by both schools.

``If I had the decision to do over again, I would make the same choice. I'm very impressed with our program and the very high standards for athletes on and off the field. That is something I take pride in and one thing I don't think Virginia Tech can touch.''

Virginia Tech made its move to national prominence after joining the Big East Conference, which offered television exposure and an avenue to the major bowls.

It didn't hurt that shortly after the conference was formed one-time powerhouse Miami was placed on probation and began to wither.

Meanwhile, Virginia faces the problem of having to beat Florida State, North Carolina, and Clemson in the ACC to get an automatic major bowl bid.

``You can't compare the schedule that we play to the one Tech plays. It is like comparing apples and oranges,'' Karczewski said.

``It hurt last year to go down there (Blacksburg) and lose and see them go to the Orange Bowl. You have to sit back and get some satisfaction from knowing you are not the only person in the world that has seen their schedule.''

Virginia safety Anthony Poindexter, also recruited by both schools, gives the Hokies more credit.

``I don't know if their program has pulled ahead, but they have won most of the games they had to win and we have not,'' Poindexter said.

``When we had chances to break into the Top 10 or go to a big bowl we lost games we were supposed to win. Tech has been winning those games the last couple of years and that has been the big difference.''

Ironically, Tech is not crowing loudly over its successes.

Fullback Marcus Parker, a Roanoke native who was recruited by both schools, recalled it was not long ago when Virginia was going bowling and Tech stayed home.

``We haven't gone past Virginia,'' Parker said.

``I would say we're at least at their level. In the past, U.Va. owned Tech, but these past few wins bring us at least to their level.''

Hokies coach Frank Beamer says a third straight win over Virginia would not be proof his program is pulling away.

``The bottom line is we both have good programs and both have been successful the last few years,'' Beamer said.

``Regardless of who wins, it is going to be a very good series for years to come.''

Cavaliers coach George Welsh has seen the series streak in different directions in his 16 years at Virginia.

Virginia lost four straight games to the Hokies before Welsh got his first win, in 1984. It was a crucial step for his program, he said.

``When I came here all I heard was we had to beat North Carolina,'' Welsh said.

``We beat North Carolina in 1983, then got hammered by Tech, and I realized how important this game was. I knew going into the '84 game that if we didn't beat them in the next couple of years that it was going to be tough to recruit in the state. We had to establish some credibility.''

Welsh got his program in high gear about the time Beamer replaced Bill Dooley at Virginia Tech.

The Hokies began a downward spiral after losing several scholarships because of NCAA infractions under Dooley.

It was during that period, from 1987 to 1992, that Virginia won five of six games against the Hokies.

Welsh said Tech still was able to recruit effectively during that time to get the players it needed to turn the situation around.

Similarly, Welsh does not believe Tech's current run has adversely affected his program.

At least not yet.

``After awhile, if they keep going to those Alliance bowls, keep winning the Big East, and we are 7-4 or 6-5, it might make a difference,'' Welsh said. ``But I don't see a difference just yet.'' MEMO: Staff writer Harry Minium contributed to this story. ILLUSTRATION: VIRGINIA TECH vs. VIRGINIA

The bowl situation:

For Virginia Tech: To make a third straight Alliance bowl, Tech

probably must beat Virginia and have Miami beat Syracuse. Then

Syracuse and Tech would tie for the Big East title, and Tech gets

the Alliance bid because of its win over the Orangemen in September.

But, if Syracuse is ranked five or more spots higher in the combined

average of the two polls, Syracuse probably gets the bid. The Hokies

are also in the running for the Gator and Carquest bowls and

probably would go to one of those if Syracuse beats Miami. In a

worst-possible-scenario for Tech, it could slip all the way to the

Liberty or Independence bowls.

For Virginia: The latest reports have Virginia not going to any

bowl, even if the Cavaliers win today. To be eligible for a bowl,

Virginia must win to have six victories against Division I-A teams.

If Virginia wins, it's best chance of a bowl is as an at-large team

in the Independence or Motor City bowls.

The series:

Tech leads 39-34-1, has won the last two, three of the last four,

and the last two in Charlottesville.

The visiting team has won four of the last five games in the

series.

This is the second year of the Commonwealth Cup, which goes to

the winner of the rivalry.

Did you know:

Virginia needs a win today to post seven wins for the 11th

straight year. Its current streak of 10 seven-win seasons already is

an ACC record.

George Welsh is the winningest coach in Virginia history and

Frank Beamer the winningest in Tech history. Welsh holds a 6-4 edge

over Beamer.

Tech has won 15 of its last 20 regular-season roads games.

In regular-season finales, the Hokies are 65-33-5, including 7-3

against Virginia. The Cavaliers are 40-63-4 in final games.

Tech has lost just 10 turnovers this season, tied for first

nationally with Georgia and Colorado State.

Virginia game-by-game

L, vs. Auburn, 28-17

W, vs. Richmond, 26-7

L, vs. North Carolina, 48-20

W, vs. Wake Forest, 21-13

W, vs. Clemson, 21-7

W, vs. Duke, 13-10

L, vs. Florida State, 47-21

W, vs. Maryland, 45-0

W, vs. Georgia Tech, 35-31

L, vs. N.C. State, 31-24

Virginia Tech game-by-game

W, vs. Rutgers, 59-19

W, vs. Syracuse, 31-3

W, vs. Temple, 23-13

W, vs. Arkansas State, 50-0

L, vs. Miami (Ohio), 24-17

W, vs. Boston College, 17-7

L, vs. West Virginia, 30-17

W, vs. UAB, 37-0

W, vs. Miami (Fla.) 27-25

L, vs. Pittsburgh, 30-23

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu