Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, November 18, 1995 TAG: 9511200101
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Brown, a 6-foot-2, 246-pound Lynchburg native, has had a banner season, leading the Big East in sacks (12). He has 23 tackles behind the line of scrimmage for 127 yards in losses in Tech's 10 games. He also has a Hokie-high 43 quarterback pressures.
Brown's sack total is the highest for a Tech player since Outland Trophy winner Bruce Smith posted 16 in 1984.
Other finalists for the award are linebacker Percell Gaskins (Kansas State), defensive end Cedric Jones (Oklahoma), defensive back Lawyer Milloy (Washington), linebacker Simeon Rice (Illinois), linebacker Zach Thomas (Texas Tech) and defensive end Mike Vrabel (Ohio State).
The winner will be announced on Nov. 29.
Also Friday, Tech coach Frank Beamer was announced as one of six finalists for the Paul ``Bear'' Bryant award, given to the national coach of the year as voted by the Football Writers Association of America.
Other finalists for the honor are Glen Mason (Kansas), John Cooper (Ohio State), Gary Barnett (Northwestern), Steve Spurrier (Florida) and Bill Snyder (Kansas State).
The winner will be announced Dec.14.
Hokies-'Hoos hodgepodge
There are only five schools in the country currently ranked in both The Associated Press' Top-25 football and basketball polls. Michigan, Kansas and Arkansas fit the bill. The other two? UVa and Tech. ... Scouts from five bowls - Orange, Sugar, Gator, Peach and Carquest - will be in attendance at today's game.
'93 defeat on Barbers' minds
One source of motivation for Virginia this week has been the memory of a 20-17 loss to the Hokies in 1993, when Tech fans tore down one of the Scott Stadium goalposts after the game.
``I'll never forget that because their fans rushed our field like it was their home game or something,'' said Virginia tailback Tiki Barber, who did not carry the ball against the Hokies that year. ``We don't want anything to happen like that again.''
``When they beat us that year, I was like, `I hate Tech,''' UVa's other Barber twin, Ronde, said. ``But, that's not really the attitude this team has about Tech. We really respect them [and] respect how far their program has come along. In the past, if Tech beat you, it was a fluke. Now, they're a great team.''
Players like timing of game
George Welsh's desire to play Virginia Tech at an earlier point in the football season does not necessarily reflect the sentiments of his Virginia football team.
``I like playing them at the end,'' UVa quarterback and co-captain Mike Groh said. ``Regardless of what the records are, even if they're both 0-10, this gives them something to play for at the end of the season rather than saying, `Let's get the season over with.'
``Both teams care about this game a great deal and it's one of the games you like to see on the schedule.''
by CNB