
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, November 13, 1995                   TAG: 9511130115
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

TECH'S HANK COLEMAN ON VIRGINIA

``Yeah, it's a big ball game. In the state of Virginia, you either go to Virginia or Virginia Tech,'' said Coleman, a defensive end for the Hokies. ``That's just how it is. All of us know the guys up there, and we know it's going to be a good game. Virginia beat Florida State and should be commended for that. Virginia is a good team. I think it's going to be an even game.''

No running allowed

Not against Tech's defense. The Hokies are the nation's second-best at stopping the run, allowing only 748 yards in 10 games. Michigan leads at 73.0 yards per game. On 386 rushing attempts, Tech opponents are averaging a chintzy 1.94 yards per carry.

Tech has yielded 80 or more yards rushing only three times - Pitt (154), Navy (126) and Cincinnati (103).

Tech has tightened the screws even more in its past five games, permitting 269 overland yards on 180 attempts (1.49 ypc).

The Hokies' numbers against the rush have been boosted by their Big East-high 41 quarterbacks sacks for 317 yards in losses. Unlike the NFL, the NCAA subtracts sack yardage lost from a team's rushing total instead of passing total.

The Hokies, who have allowed only one back all season (Pitt's Billy West, 113 yards on 23 carries) to gain triple digits, face their sternest test of the season against Virginia's Tiki Barber. The junior from Roanoke has a Cavalier-record 1,339 yards rushing in 11 games.

Hokies-'Hoos notables

With a victory Saturday, Virginia coach George Welsh would tie a record that belongs to a former Virginia Tech coach. Welsh has 97 victories in 14 seasons at UVa. The ACC coaching record is 98 wins, set by Bill Dooley in 17 years at North Carolina and Wake Forest, sandwiching his nine years as the Hokies' coach and athletic director. ... On Saturday, coach Frank Beamer will move into third place on Virginia Tech's all-time list of games coached. The following game, Tech's 1995 bowl appearance, Beamer will tie the school record of 102 games, shared by his mentor at his alma mater, Jerry Claiborne, and Dooley.

by CNB