Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, December 29, 1993 TAG: 9312290048
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SHREVEPORT, LA. LENGTH: Medium
The 21st-ranked Hoosiers, who will play Virginia Tech in the Poulan/Weed Eater Independence Bowl on Friday, faced the option once this year. No. 22 Tech runs it regularly, letting quarterback Maurice DeShazo read the triple option - hand off, keep the ball or pitch it out. Tech coach Frank Beamer said that's uncommon these days; most option teams, he said, tell the quarterback which option to use.
Although Indiana is spending part of this week drilling its normally aggressive defense on the discipline needed against the option, Beamer hopes DeShazo's spontaneity gives IU the jitters.
"I don't think they've seen it where a guy actually reads it," Beamer said. "To me, there's a lot of difference when you're saying, `OK, I'm going to hand it off.' "
Indiana coach Bill Mallory said Kentucky read the triple option. The Hoosiers beat the Peach Bowl-bound Wildcats 24-8 on Sept. 18, holding UK to 34 rushing yards.
"It's a little different style option," Mallory said of Tech's offense. "They're more versatile. You're going to be a little truer on the option when you're able to read."
Mallory said he's stressing option responsibilities in practice this week, and Beamer said that's exactly why the option works.
"The option simplifies things defensively," Beamer said.
For example: Offensive coordinator Rickey Bustle said Tech will run the option on third-and-long sometimes to keep a defense aware. Beamer said that means opponents won't throw a lot of different pass coverages in that situation, and they can't afford to double-team a receiver with a cornerback, because then no one's left to take the tailback receiving the option pitch.
Or, Beamer said, if a team shows an uneven alignment, "we just check to the option and go the other way."
"It gets down to, it really doesn't make any difference what [the defense] does. If we execute properly, we're going to be OK," Beamer said.
DeShazo has used the option to complement Tech's basic running game and the junior quarterback's improved passing to lead the highest-scoring offense in Tech history.
And he does it without second-guessing.
"He's good at it," Beamer said. "He did it in high school. It's very natural to him.
"He's not wrong very many times."
DeShazo, whom Beamer said never has the option mapped out for him, loves it.
"Coach Beamer gives me that opportunity to say, `Look, if you mess up, so what?' We're going to run it again," DeShazo said.
\ ACHES & PAINS: Starting offensive tackle Chris Barry sprained his left ankle in a parking lot Monday night and did not practice Tuesday. He is listed as questionable for the game.
Barry was one of only two Tech offensive starters to miss a game with an injury this year; Mike Bianchin took his place. Nine Hokies started all 11 games on offense.
Antonio Freeman, the other player who missed one start, spent part of Tuesday afternoon being treated by a Shreveport dentist who attempted to fix a broken tooth.
Trainer Eddie Ferrell said Freeman's right front incisor chipped when he was home in Baltimore for the holidays, aggravating a childhood condition. A Baltimore dentist "glued" the sliver of tooth back on, but it came loose again and was to be repaired Tuesday.
Third-string Indiana offensive tackle Ethan Linn broke an ankle during IU's practice Tuesday. Second-string outside linebacker Trevor Wilmot missed much of practice with a sore knee.
\ HATS OFF: Mallory is wearing a Virginia Tech cap during Indiana's practices. He says he always wears a cap of IU's opponents during game week. Asked where he got the cap, Mallory was coy but admitted it came in the mail with a Virginia postmark.
\ DRUG TESTING: The NCAA has picked the Independence Bowl as one of a few of the 19 bowl games at which to conduct drug testing. Eighteen Hokies, chosen at random, will be tested this morning, mainly for steroids.
\ IU WORKOUTS: Virginia Tech practiced Sunday before leaving Blacksburg on Monday, but Monday was Indiana's first practice in five days. An IU spokesman said the Hoosiers may not practice at all on Thursday, limiting themselves to a walk-through at Independence Stadium. The Hokies plan a one hour, 15-minute practice late afternoon Thursday, less than 24 hours before the 11:30 (CST) kickoff.
\ WALK-ONS: Tech's probation from 1987-89 forced the Hokies to rely on walk-ons because of scholarship cuts. Two of them, fifth-year senior Scott Jones and third-year sophomore William Yarborough, start at cornerback. But Tech is the only program in such a condition. Indiana starting free safety Chris Dyer and starting cornerback Jason Orton are former walk-ons.
by CNB