ROANOKE TIMES Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times DATE: Saturday, November 2, 1996 TAG: 9611040115 SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
NOVEMBER HAS ALWAYS been the stretch drive for most teams, and this season is no different as UVa and Virginia Tech search for postseason passes.
The calendar says November. But for the football teams of Virginia and Virginia Tech, there's a more appropriate name for the next 27 days. It's called the stretch drive.
If UVa (5-2) and Tech (5-1) are going to put an exclamation point on successful seasons, each will have to take care of business this month.
``It's always November,'' said UVa coach George Welsh, when asked the most critical time of a season.
``I learned that at Penn State [where he was an assistant from 1963-73]. We always preached to win in November, and I think all coaches do. Obviously, not everybody wins in November, but there needs to be some special emphasis.
``When we're in this position now, we could have a bad season. We could have a mediocre season, but we could have a really good season.''
Frank Beamer's Hokies face the same plight. The Tech coach has long bought into the policy that it's not how you start, it's how you finish.
``I think winning late [in the season] is really important,'' Beamer said. ``That really shows what kind of of team you've got and whether you've gotten better over the course of the season.
``Not to mention the fact that winning games late plays a major role in the rankings and to what bowl you might end up going to. I think a lot of people look at teams who are hot late.''
Today's assignments for UVa and Tech figure to be the lull before the storm.
The 16th-ranked Cavaliers, coming off a 31-24 loss last Saturday at No.3 Florida State, are a 27-point favorite to beat hapless Duke (0-7) in a 1:30 p.m. kickoff at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, N.C.
Tech, which stands outside the Associated Press Top 25 (the Hokies are 26th in voting points) because of its weak first-half schedule, is a 201/2-point pick to beat pass-minded Southwestern Louisiana (4-4) in a 1 p.m. game at Lane Stadium.
Both UVa and Tech officially can qualify for bowl consideration today with their sixth victories against Division I-A competition. Both, however, have bigger items on their November shopping lists.
After Duke, UVa closes with home games against ACC foes Clemson (Nov.9) and North Carolina (Nov.16) before facing Tech on Nov.29 in Blacksburg.
Welsh maintained it's a case of survival of the fittest - mentally more so than physically - from here on out.
``It's from the shoulder on up now,'' Welsh said. ``It's harder to do when you get into November. You get a little bit tired and then you get mentally fatigued.
``It's not easy for a lot of these kids. They're going to class. They have to study at night. They're getting tutored. They're getting tests. It can start wearing 'em down. And that's part of it. It's also time to suck it up.''
While his team is a huge favorite, Welsh remains leery of a Duke club that jumped to a 21-3 lead last year in Charlottesville before succumbing 44-30.
``There's too many upsets it doesn't matter what the record is,'' Welsh said. ``They are a lot better football team based on their last two games.''
Duke lost to Clemson13-6 last week at home and fell 22-19 to Maryland the week before.
``They're just as good as Clemson and just as good as Maryland. So, if we don't take it seriously and get ready to play, then we're going to get beat.''
The Blue Devils will be starting a different quarterback for the eighth straight week, with sophomore Matt Rader getting the call over junior David Green, who is recovering from a concussion. Duke is trying to avoid the first 0-8 start in school history.
Meanwhile, winning hasn't been the problem for Tech. The Hokies have lost only once - a 52-21 Big East drubbing at Syracuse on Sept.28 - this season and have won 15 of their past 16 games dating back to 1995.
Tech has played well in only two of its first six games, and its biggest drawback nationally has been its schedule. The Hokies' first six opponents have a combined record of 17-32. Four of Tech's five wins have come against teams ranked 89th or lower in the latest Sagarin power ratings.
Tech's schedule is much harder this month. After today's game, the Hokies finish against East Carolina, Miami, West Virginia and Virginia. In the Hokies' favor, all but the Miami game will be played in Blacksburg.
Beamer, however, isn't looking down the road. He knows his team can't overlook a USL squad that was good enough to upset then-ranked Texas A&M 29-22 in Lafayette, La., on Sept.14.
The Ragin' Cajuns, coached by former Tech assistant Nelson Stokley, possess the best passing game to visit Lane this season. USL's potent aerial attack is led by senior quarterback Jake Delhomme, who has thrown for 250 yards or more in six straight games. Delhomme ranks 32nd on the NCAA's all-time career passing list with 8,388 yards.
``Just look at some of the guys he recently passed on the list Steve Young, Dan Marino, Randall Cunningham and you know this guy is legit,'' Beamer said.
``He's one of the most accurate passers I've ever seen. He's got a lot of guys who can catch it, too. They can throw and they've got a lot of speed, and those two things can present trouble.''
In Lexington, VMI will gun for its second straight league victory when it faces Western Carolina (2-6 overall, 0-6 Southern). The Keydets (1-6, 1-4) have had an extra week off after winning at Tennessee-Chattanooga on Oct.19.
Keydets coach Bill Stewart has experienced deja vu lately. Last season, VMI had a bye week following a victory over UT-C and looked terrible the next week at Western Carolina.
``I haven't been in this business long enough to know what open weeks do for you,'' Stewart said. ``I hope our young guys got better, I hope they kept their minds on football, and I hope history doesn't repeat itself.''
Washington and Lee is looking to continue recent history when it travels to Bridgewater for an Old Dominion Athletic Conference game. The Generals (3-4, 1-2 ODAC) have won two in a row heading into the matchup with the Eagles (4-3, 2-1), the ODAC's second-place club.
Ferrum might wish this season was history. The Panthers (1-6) will be a large underdog today at Emory & Henry (5-2).
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