Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, December 11, 1993 TAG: 9312110101
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Tech practiced four times Dec. 4 through Tuesday in preparation for the Poulan/Weed Eater Independence Bowl on Dec. 31 in Shreveport, La. Drakeford, the Hokies' All-Big East Conference cornerback, didn't participate in drills but ran on his own without complications from the broken ankle he suffered Oct. 23 during a game against Rutgers.
"It's healing," Ferrell said. "It's not solid yet, [but] it looks good. It's sticking together."
Drakeford had one interception and 14 tackles when he was hurt. He also averaged 26.7 yards on six kickoff returns. Drakeford, who had started 32 consecutive games before his injury, is second on Tech's all-time interceptions list with 16.
\ BEAMER STATUS: Tech coach Frank Beamer and athletic director Dave Braine have begun talks about extending Beamer's contract, but Braine said nothing will done - or said publicly - until after the Independence Bowl. Beamer, in his seventh year at Tech, has two years left on a five-year deal he signed after the 1990 season.
Incidentally, the Hokies' 48-34 defeat at Boston College means Beamer has lost more games (43) than any other Tech football coach. However, the Hokies' eight victories allowed Beamer to pass Ben Cubbage (30 from 1921-25) to move into sixth place in coaching victories at Tech. Beamer has 32; Branch Bocock (34 from 1909-10 and 1912-15) is fifth.
\ BOWL TICKETS: Tech ticket sales for the Independence Bowl have slowed since an initial rush, and the school had sold slightly more than 5,400 tickets through Friday afternoon. That's about 3,000 fewer than it has to sell to meet its agreement with the bowl. If it doesn't sell its allotment, it has to pay the Independence Bowl for the balance at $30 per ticket.
Sandy Smith, Tech's assistant ticket manager, said at the moment, he expects about 7,000 Hokies supporters to be at Independence Stadium. The figure of 5,400 tickets sold does not include players' families, Tech employees or Tech's band.
Bill King, Indiana's ticket manager, said his school had sold 1,724 tickets as of Friday afternoon. Including the band, players' relatives and athletic department employees, King estimates Indiana's travel party at about 3,000.
\ SLOW FIX: At Lane Stadium, 12 sections of the lower bleachers on the east side of the field have been torn out to allow workers to replace the concrete foundation. Don Perry, Tech's assistant athletic director, said the 29-year-old concrete had deteriorated and will be replaced at a cost of about $600,000. Those 12 sections make up about two-thirds of the lower stands on the student side. The other one-third won't be replaced yet because the money isn't available.
By the way, Perry said, the wooden bleachers won't be replaced, just re-installed.
\ TURNAROUNDS: Tech and Auburn tied for the second-most-improved Division I-A football teams this year. Both made 5 1/2-game improvements over 1992 - Tech from 2-8-1 to 8-3, Auburn from 5-5-1 to 11-0. Southwestern Louisiana, which was 2-9 in 1992, was 8-3 this year - a six-game improvement.
\ STATS: Tech finished 12th nationally in rushing offense (242.8 yards per game), 15th in total offense (444.1) and 11th in scoring (36.4 points per game). Quarterback Maurice DeShazo finished tied for eighth in passing efficiency (157.5) with Florida State's Charlie Ward. Tailback Dwayne Thomas was 17th among all-purpose runners (140.91 yards per game).
by CNB