
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, November 19, 1993                   TAG: 9311190090
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

PYNE STANDS TALL AGAIN

Virginia Tech football player Jim Pyne, recognized last spring and summer by several publications as the nation's top center, has turned preseason expectations into season-ending reality.

Pyne has been selected to the Kodak All-America squad, scheduled for public release on Sunday, and joins Virginia guard Mark Dixon as first-team selections to the Football News All-America team announced Thursday. Pyne and Bruce Smith (1983 and '84) are the only Tech players to make the Kodak team, chosen by the American Football Coaches' Association. The Kodak panel picks only a first team.

"Above and beyond," Tech coach Frank Beamer said when asked how Pyne's play this season measured up to preseason hype.

"I'm thrilled," Pyne said. "The preseason was nice, but you always want to make it in the postseason."

Beamer noted that Pyne helped neutralize Syracuse preseason All-America nose guard Kevin Mitchell in Tech's 45-24 victory over the Orangemen last Saturday. The Hokies, picked sixth or below in the Big East, are fourth in the league and will play in the Poulan/Weed Eater Independence Bowl.

"We're proud for Jim and proud of the way he's represented Virginia Tech," Beamer said. "An award on the national level such as this also helps us as a football program to move up."

Pyne, a 6-foot-2, 280-pound center from Milford, Mass., officially has allowed one sack by his assigned man in 2,556 career snaps. He anchors the offensive line on the highest scoring team in Tech history (38 points per game, seventh in the nation). The Hokies are No. 8 in rushing yards per game (256.1) and 13th in total offense (462.2 yards per game).

Pyne figures that success helped, and he said he takes special note of the Kodak panel.

"I put more weight behind coaches voting than maybe some writer from Utah," he said.

Dixon, a 6-4, 290-pound left guard from Jamestown, N.C., is a co-captain and a three-year starter on teams that have gone 8-3-1, 7-4 and 7-3. Virginia was picked to finish sixth in the ACC this year buthas clinched at least third place in the league. Dixon was rated the No. 1 guard in the country in The Sporting News' preseason yearbook, which also ranked Pyne the top center.

Five other publications, including Playboy magazine, chose Pyne a first-team preseason All-American.

by CNB