Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 31, 1994 TAG: 9408310040
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
When Tech announced in March that a scheduling snafu forced it to drop a 1994 game with Division I-AA James Madison, the Hokies sugarcoated the mix-up by stressing the new opponent, Arkansas State, was in Division I-A and thus would count toward the bowl-mandated minimum of six I-A victories.
It was a pricey mistake, however: Tech is out $205,000 because of it, according to figures provided by assistant athletic director Jeff Bourne.
Had Tech played JMU on Saturday as originally scheduled, it would have owed the Dukes a $70,000 guarantee. When Tech had to break the date with JMU, it agreed to pay a $75,000 guarantee to the Dukes' opponent, which turned out to be Middle Tennessee State. The Arkansas State guarantee is $200,000.
Tech already had agreed to pay JMU $125,000 (in annual payments of $25,000) to buy out games in 1995, '96, '97, '98 and '99 after the Big East Football Conference asked its schools in March 1993 to cease playing I-AA opponents.
When Danny Monk, Tech's associate athletic director, discovered he had inadvertently scheduled games against JMU and Southern Mississippi on Sept.10, Tech and JMU had to agree on a settlement. When school officials were talking, JMU assistant athletic director Brad Babcock said his school wasn't trying to gouge Tech for its mistake. Bourne agreed.
The buyout for the original long-term contract between the schools was $50,000 per game, Bourne pointed out, double what Tech is paying.
``I think they were very, very equitable in their approach,'' Bourne said of JMU officials.
POLLING: Tech moved up in the Associated Press Top 25 without playing a game. The Hokies, No.22 in the season-opening poll, were No.21 in the rankings released Tuesday. They switched places with Illinois, which also hasn't played yet.
SCHEDULING MATTERS: In 1992, changes in Tech's schedules caused the cancellation of an eight-game series with North Carolina State, but Tech and the Wolfpack have agreed to a four-year series from 1999-2002. Other future non-conference opponents for the Hokies - besides Virginia - are Cincinnati (1995-2000), Akron (1995-'98), Navy (1995) and East Carolina (1996, '98, 2000). The 1995 schedule includes only five home games (Miami, Boston College, Syracuse, Akron and Cincinnati). Tech is looking to buy a home game to fill out the '97 and '99 schedules.
INJURIES AND LINEUPS: Incumbent Ryan Williams has won the place-kicking job, Tech coach Frank Beamer said, and will start the season kicking off, too, because he had the most hang time on his kicks. Hang time wasn't the only thing the Hokies' coaches charted during the kicking competition.
``On kickoffs, we chart hang time and putting the ball where you like to put it,'' Beamer said. ``We have kick-offs [on field-goal attempts] - everyone gets a kick, and who's the last one kicking? And not only are you making it, but is it in the middle? Are you hitting the ball where you want to? Or are you spraying them?''
Senior Kevin Martin still is listed as a co-starter with Bryan Jennings at tight end, but don't be surprised if Martin starts Saturday. Beamer complimented Martin's preseason work and said two-a-days bothered Jennings' knees.
Three reserves will miss the Arkansas State game with knee injuries - tailback Ken Landrum, linebacker Tom Harsanyi and linebacker Chris Frith.
QUOTABLE: Sophomore Billy Conaty, on moving from tackle back to his natural position, center: ``Sometimes if I didn't know the snap count [last year], I'd just look at the center. Now, I [am] the center. Sometimes you just forget, because you're not used to the responsibility.''
ON PRESEASON: Last year, Tech players moaned about their grueling preseason. This year, Beamer said, preseason was tougher - in part because afternoon practices were moved from around dinner time to 3:15 p.m.
``I caught myself nursing a lot of aches and pains. My body can tell you better than I can [why it was tougher],'' said fullback Brian Edmonds. ``It hit us more physically than last year.''
GOALS: Linebacker Brandon Semones said the defense's goals are to win the Big East and go to a New Year's Day bowl. Nothing, however, about lowering 1993's numbers: 388 yards and 22.7 points allowed per game. Semones noted Tech allowed Miami 54 rushing yards, while Temple gained 213 against the Hokies.
``There's a beast in our defense,'' said Semones, a former Glenvar High School standout. ``If we don't execute the defense, it can hurt you. If we play well, the so-called beast will work for you.''
ACCOLADES: ESPN analyst Beano Cook has called Tech ``one of the three most exciting teams in the nation.'' ... USA Today, in a college football overview in its Aug.26 edition, listed players, coaches and teams to watch in '94. ``The Team'' was top-ranked Florida; ``The Sleeper'' was Virginia Tech, and Miami coach Dennis Erickson was quoted as saying the Hokies could finish in the top 10 ... The New York Times ranked Tech No.13 in its preseason Top 20.
by CNB