Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 29, 1995 TAG: 9508290021
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Virginia Tech coaching staff and players had assigned television Sunday afternoon. On Monday, they didn't know if they liked what they saw or not.
After watching his team's first opponent, Boston College, get waxed 38-6 by Ohio State in Sunday's Kickoff Classic, Tech head coach Frank Beamer didn't know whether to flash the thumb's up or thumb's down sign.
``I don't really know if that was good or bad for us,'' said Beamer, whose club opens the 1995 season against BC at Lane Stadium on Thursday, Sept.7.
``I was a little surprised [by the score], but you've got to remember that Ohio State is a heck of a team.''
The Eagles needed some BC headache tablets by Sunday night. A Boston College team picked by many to push Miami for supremacy in the Big East Conference never was in the game with the Buckeyes. Ohio State rolled up 498 yards of total offense. If that wasn't enough, the Buckeyes amassed 133 return yards, including Shawn Springs' 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
Beamer, ever the cautious coach, isn't counting on a repeat performance by BC in Blacksburg.
``I think the safe thing to say is we won't see the same Boston College team 10 days from now,'' Beamer said. ``They will have played a game, for one. And all those new guys playing for them will will have learned a lot from that.''
The lopsided loss bounced Boston College out of The Associated Press' Top 25 poll. The Eagles, who were 22nd in the preseason, plummeted to 30th in this week's voting.
Tech, meanwhile, remained 24th.
``Things have been going pretty well for us,'' said Beamer, whose club plays its fourth and final preseason intrasquad scrimmage tonight at 7 in Lane Stadium.
``When we've asked the kids to turn it up and play, they have so far. We're getting there.''
YOUNG HELP: Although the Hokies' 1995 recruiting class didn't draw rave reviews, it appears that as many as nine or 10 newcomers could wind up playing at some point this season.
Besides junior-college transfer Myron Newsome, who is currently No.1 ahead of sophomore Tony Morrison at Ken Brown's old linebacker spot, best bets among ``true'' freshmen to see action are rover Justin White, tight end Pedro Edison, linebacker Tyron Edmond, safety Keion Carpenter, place-kicker Jim Kibble and cornerbacks Pierson Prioleau, Loren Johnson and Marcus Gildersleeve.
``I think when it's all said and done,'' said Beamer, ``we will have played more first-year guys than ever.''
TRAINER'S TABLE: Newsome sustained a hip pointer in Saturday's scrimmage and could miss from several days to a week of practice time. Starting right guard Todd Washington (strained back) and backup defensive tackle Jeff Holland (strained shoulder) also could miss a day or two of workouts.
Eddie Ferrell, Tech trainer, said it's been a nice August from his perspective.
``Most of the guys came in in good shape and the weather has been good for warming up and working out,'' Ferrell said. ``So far, things have been pretty quiet, and that's good.''
TECH TIDBITS: Tailback Dwayne Thomas missed considerable practice time last week. A cousin of Thomas' was shot and killed in Florida, and the shaken senior returned home for the funeral. ... Morrison, who missed the first week of practice before his appeal to be reinstated in school was granted, saw a lot of action in Saturday's scrimmage. ``He played a lot of plays,'' noted Beamer, ``but he needs to play a little better. '' ... Jim Baron continues to turn a lot of heads in preseason. The 6-foot-4, 260-pound senior has moved ahead of projected starter Waverly Jackson at one of the two defensive tackle spots. ... Tonight's scrimmage will be closed to the public and all Hokie Club members. ... Tech has sold just under 13,600 season tickets - a school record. The previous high was last season's 12,300 figure. Tech ticket manager Tom McNeer said Monday that plenty of tickets remain for the BC game, which starts at 8 p.m. and will be televised by ESPN.
by CNB