Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, November 6, 1995 TAG: 9511060135
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
As the final seconds ticked down Saturday on the Hokies' rousing 31-7 rout of 20th-ranked Syracuse, Tech fans showered the Lane Stadium grass with oranges and sugar cubes.
Incidentally, there were no gators thrown.
Nevertheless, a second straight trip to the Gator Bowl appears to be a more likely postseason destination for Tech (7-2 overall, 5-1 Big East Conference) than the more lucrative Orange or Sugar bowls.
Unless second-place Miami (4-1 league) or third-place Syracuse (3-1 league) lose one more Big East Conference game - one has to because they meet on Nov. 25 in Miami - Tech's chances of being the league's Bowl Alliance representative are considered slim.
The consensus is that the Orange or Sugar, whichever gets stuck with the Big East's alliance contribution, would take Miami or Syracuse over Tech should either wind up in a tie with the Hokies for the conference title.
Tech, which can do no worse than a tie with a victory over lowly Temple (1-8, 1-4) on Saturday in Washington, is handicapped by its location - meaning small television market - and its lack of a national identity.
The Hokies' national reputation wasn't boosted any Saturday night by comments made on ESPN by Lee Corso, one of the network's college football studio analysts.
``If Virginia Tech goes to the Orange Bowl, it's the worst nightmare the Orange Bowl could have,'' Corso said on ESPN's wrap-up show following Saturday's night's Texas Tech-Texas telecast.
Corso added that a Virginia Tech appearance in the Orange Bowl would assure the Miami-based game of "the worst TV ratings ever.''
The bowl situation is not lost on the Tech players.
``We can't pick our bowl, and we're likely going to tie with somebody,'' said J.C. Price, senior defensive tackle.
``But if the Bowl Alliance picks Syracuse or Miami over us it's going to make me mad because we beat both of those teams.''
Since the Big East has no tiebreaker system to determine its champion, the league's alliance spot is left up to the selecting bowl - Orange or Sugar.
``I would want to think they'd want to pick us,'' said Cornell Brown, Hokies junior defensive end.
``Because we're the hot team now. We're on a roll. And we beat both Miami and Syracuse.
``I don't know. Whoever wants us ... that's where we want to go. I definitely want to go to one of the big ones - the Sugar or Orange. You want to meet one of the best teams, and I feel we're one of those teams.''
POLL-BUSTING: Obviously, Tech's seventh consecutive victory turned some heads across the country. The Hokies were ranked 21st in The Associated Press poll and 19th in the coaches poll, both of which were released Sunday.
It's Tech's first appearance in either poll since Sept. 3. The Hokies were 20th in the AP poll and 22nd in the coaches poll before losing their season opener at home to Boston College 20-14.
Syracuse (6-2, 3-1) fell three spots in the AP rankings to 23rd and seven spots in the coaches poll to 22nd.
HARD-WORKING OX: Sophomore tailback Ken Oxendine played a huge role in Tech's key 11-minute possession edge on Syracuse.
Eighty-four of Oxendine's game-high 118 yards rushing came in the second half, enabling Tech to run the clock and keep the ball out of the hands of the Syracuse offense.
``[Oxendine] was the hot back today,'' noted Tech coach Frank Beamer, on why he used Oxendine more than senior starter Dwayne Thomas in the second half.
Oxendine, who credited his offensive line ``for knocking Syracuse's teeth out,'' has 503 yards on 82 carries (6.1 yards per rush) in seven games. He missed the season's first two games with a broken right hand.
TECH TIDBITS: Syracuse freshman quarterback Donovan McNabb left a lasting impression on the Hokies. The Syracuse scrambler exhibited more dance moves than John Travolta and left the Hokies with a case of Saturday night fever. ``I'll never see him again, and that's OK with me,'' Price said. ``I feel sorry for us next year. That guy is incredible.'' Bud Foster, Tech's co-defensive coordinator, added: ``The thought of playing against him three more years is mind-boggling. I can't imagine playing him on turf [at SU's Carrier Dome]. He's quick enough on grass.'' ... A Tech win over Temple will square Beamer's nine-year coaching record at 49-49-2. Beamer has been fighting back to .500 since his first two Tech teams went a combined 5-17 in 1987-88. ... Thomas' 25-yard touchdown reception from Jim Druckenmiller in the third quarter extended his streak of scoring at least one TD to seven straight games.
by CNB