ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, November 2, 1996 TAG: 9611040113
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: JACK BOGACZYK
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
Not many autumns ago, the state's most prominent college football teams were falling in tandem with the leaves. Now, Virginia Tech and Virginia have a whole month to clinch bowl bids.
The Tech and UVa magic numbers are 1. Both teams should make those vanish today against Southwestern Louisiana and Duke, respectively. For the fourth straight year a sixth win brings a bowlful of possibilities to the Hokies and Cavaliers.
Their soldout Nov.29 game at Lane Stadium probably won't mean much in the bowl chase. Bowl bids are about conference standings, bowl desires, a bit of lobbying and ticket sales. That said, Tech and UVa still can help themselves with tough November schedules.
The ACC and Big East cross paths in two of the four bowls to which they're committed, the Gator and Carquest. Neither the Hokies nor Cavaliers figure to be an alliance bowl participant, although Tech still can tie for the Big East title.
After the alliance spot for each conference, the Big East has slots in the Gator, Carquest and Liberty bowls. The ACC order is Gator, Peach and Carquest. The Sugar gets the top two alliance picks, with the Fiesta at 3-5 and Orange at 4-6. The alliance fills those berths with four conference champions and two at-large teams.
Without stunning upsets, Florida and Nebraska figure to meet at the top of the alliance - this time in the Sugar. Although the Big Ten and Pacific 10 champs are outside the alliance in the Rose Bowl, the also-rans from those leagues are eligible for the alliance at-large berths. The Fiesta has been scouting Big Ten games all season, and word has it it really wants the winner of today's Northwestern-Penn State game, if Ohio State finishes perfect and plays in the Rose.
If a Big Ten team is the No.3 alliance pick, then Tennessee will be the Orange's first choice. That leaves the other Fiesta slot for Florida State. The Big East champ will be the last pick and go to the Orange. However, if the Fiesta passes on the Big Ten and takes Tennessee, a 10-1 North Carolina team could climb into the alliance picture.
This is where the falling dominos could affect the destinations of the Hokies and Cavaliers. The Gator's sharp contract states that if the alliance selects a second team from the ACC or Big East (FSU and UNC, in this scenario), it may fill the vacancy with a team of the bowl's choice.
Gator executive director Rick Catlett must be giddy thinking about the possibilities. They undoubtedly would include Notre Dame, which with another loss is likely to be left out of the alliance. How about a toothy Gator date between Notre Dame and Miami? Carolina has to win Nov.16 at Virginia to make that a possibility.
If that happens, UVa's options are down to Peach or Carquest. It won the Peach last year. If the Carquest has to choose between the Hokies and Cavaliers, it will take Tech, which has proven it can sell bowl tickets. The Peach wants hometown Georgia Tech, but the Yellow Jackets favor the Carquest and a trip to the Fort Lauderdale beaches. They want more of a bowl experience than driving a few blocks to the Georgia Dome.
While the Peach would prefer the hometown team, it would take Virginia against a fourth SEC entry, which could be a big-ticket team like LSU, Alabama or Auburn. However, if the Cavaliers stumble against Clemson and then lose to UNC, the Tigers and their fan following could keep Virginia home for the holidays.
The Syracuse-West Virginia game today in Morgantown, W.Va., is large for the Hokies. If the Orangemen win, they'll be the leader for the Big East alliance spot. Syracuse also faces Miami on Nov.30 at the Carrier Dome. If Miami wins the title, Tech or West Virginia figures to go to the Gator ahead of the Orangemen, who routed Clemson in that game last year.
If the Hokies end up in a two-way tie for the Big East title, they figure to at least go to the Gator Bowl. The Gator prefers Miami over Tech or WVU. West Virginia must win today or Nov.23 at Tech to keep the Gator interested.
If the Hokies lose their final two Big East games to Miami and West Virginia, they'll go to the Liberty Bowl. They must win both to have a Gator chance. A split would likely put them in the Carquest, for a ``Tech times two'' matchup.
Whatever happens, the Hokies and Wahoos at least have something to discuss before their Thanksgiving Friday feast.
LENGTH: Medium: 80 linesby CNB