Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 16, 1995 TAG: 9511160028
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Developments at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., could have just as big an impact.
If Virginia beats Virginia Tech and Clemson loses at South Carolina, the Gator Bowl would be obligated to select the Cavaliers, according to ACC assistant commissioner Tom Mickle.
``There is a clause in the contract that says the Gator Bowl can't take an [ACC] team with more than one win less than another conference team,'' Mickle said.
If Virginia wins and Clemson loses, the Cavaliers will be 9-3 and the Tigers will be 7-4.
But, if the Tigers win, it might not matter if UVa wins. The Gator Bowl, with the second choice of ACC teams, might be inclined to take third-place Clemson.
``I don't think that's a slam against Virginia,'' Mickle said. ``There's no school in the country that's like Clemson. If they're eligible for a bowl, they're going to sell 25,000 tickets.''
Virginia and Virginia Tech have clinched at least co-championships in the ACC and Big East, respectively, but it is unlikely that either would be selected as its bowl representative to the Football Bowl Alliance.
Tech, of course, could win the Big East championship outright if Miami loses either of its remaining games with West Virginia and Syracuse and Syracuse also loses one of its remaining games with Boston College and Miami. Virginia would get sole possession of the ACC championship if Maryland were to win this week at Florida State, but that's a virtual impossibility.
If Tech beats Virginia and Miami or Syracuse wins out, then the Hokies almost certainly would play Clemson in the Gator Bowl, regardless of what happens at South Carolina. If the Hokies lose and Clemson wins, they still could play the Tigers in Jacksonville, Fla.
``The Gator Bowl would have a tough decision,'' Mickle said. ``It's probably going to take awhile. Obviously, they can't match Virginia [and] Virginia Tech. Ticket-wise, they'd like Clemson. TV-wise, they want Virginia. I think NBC's already told them that.''
Virginia Tech has brought more fans to bowls than Virginia in recent years, but there is another variable. If Virginia goes to the Gator Bowl, it likely would play Syracuse, another inconsistent draw.
``For Virginia, it's almost a double whammy because Syracuse isn't going to sell as many tickets as Virginia Tech,'' Mickle said.
So, the Cavaliers would go to the Peach Bowl, where they have wanted to return since their first appearance in 1984. Or, would they? Georgia Tech, which can qualify for a bowl if it beats visiting Georgia on Thanksgiving Day, is high on the Peach Bowl's list.
``You're right on target,'' said Robert Dale Morgan, the Peach Bowl's executive director. ``We have very good feelings about the crowd Virginia would bring, but if it came down to Virginia or Georgia Tech, we'd have a very tough decision to make.''
PLAYOFF-BOUND: Kris Sweet is in his third year as the starting center at Carson-Newman, which will make its 10th consecutive postseason appearance Saturday, when it entertains West Georgia (8-2) in the first round of the Division II football playoffs in Jefferson City, Tenn.
Sweet, a transfer from Virginia Tech, is a graduate of Salem High School. The leading rusher for Carson-Newman (8-2) is Wayne Morton, an alumnus of R.E. Lee High School in Staunton who was named Sleeper of the Year among Virginia prospects in 1991.
nClinch Valley (10-1) will make its first postseason appearance when it visits fourth-ranked Lambuth University (8-0-1) at 2 p.m. Saturday in the first round of the NAIA Division II playoffs in Jackson, Tenn. The Cavaliers, who are in their fifth season of intercollegiate football, were 12th in the final regular-season poll.
KEYDETS LIKE CAMERA: VMI (4-6) has been on SportsSouth regional television five times this season and is 4-1 in those games. Three of the opponents - Liberty, East Tennessee State and Tennessee-Chattanooga - purchased the TV time, even though they were coming to Lexington. ``Our players were insulted,'' said Bill Stewart, VMI's coach.
FREEMAN A FACTOR: Antonio Freeman, who did not have a single kickoff return in his Virginia Tech career, had a 45-yarder Sunday for Green Bay in its 35-28 victory over Chicago. Freeman, the Packers' third-round draft pick, also had a 26-yard punt return in that game.
RECRUITING: Virginia Tech and Virginia elected not to get involved with 6-foot-9 Marco Harrison, named Mr. Basketball in Virginia last year by The Roanoke Times, before Harrison signed a letter of intent last week with North Carolina State.
Harrison, from Petersburg, may play for the Wolfpack as early as the end of the first semester. Harrison enrolled at Fork Union Academy in August, even though his test scores were high enough to qualify for a scholarship, but left school after less than a week.
Wake Forest put itself in good position for the post-Tim Duncan era when 7-1 Loren Woods from St.Louis signed a letter of intent with the school. Woods' teammate at Cardinal Ritter High School, 6-6 Chris Carrawell, signed with Duke.
North Carolina, disappointed by several earlier prospects, added 6-6 Mike Brooker from Sandersville, Ga., on the final day of the fall signing period. Other ACC-bound recruits include 6-11 Pablo Machado from Tifton, Ga., with Georgia Tech; and a pair of 6-8 forwards, Ron Hale from Largo, Fla., and Ronald Thompson from Savannah, Ga., with Florida State.
Crystal Moles, a 6-foot center for Auburn High School, was expected to sign a letter of intent Wednesday night with Longwood College. Moles averaged 19.4 points and 11.5 rebounds this season, making the top five in Timesland in both categories, and shot 55 percent from the field.
by CNB