ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, November 6, 1996 TAG: 9611060032
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: TECH NOTES
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
Perhaps Lester Karlin, the equipment man for Virginia Tech's football program, should dig up the blinders. No doubt, the Hokies could use them this week.
Three days before facing tough East Carolina, the Hokies' focus will be severely tested by the ramifications of today's Montgomery County grand jury hearing concerning an altercation Aug. 31 that allegedly involved some Tech football players.
The grand jury will hear evidence in the case in which a Hokies track and field athlete, Hilliard Sumner III of Bronx, N.Y., claimed he was beaten by a group of Tech football players. Authorities have said they expect indictments to result from the evidence.
The uncertainty surrounding such a situation is the last thing a football team needs heading into a big game, Tech players said Tuesday.
``I think it's going to be hard to focus, and I think it's going to test our team,'' said Brandon Semones, a senior linebacker. ``We're going to have stay focused on the task at hand - and that's beating East Carolina - and not worry too much about things we can't control.''
Senior offensive lineman Jay Hagood said, ``I think it's going to be a mental check for a lot of players.''
Hagood said coach Frank Beamer addressed the issue of focus in a Monday team meeting.
``Coach Beamer told us to focus on East Carolina, and I think that's what everybody has done,'' Hagood said. ``Hey, we have no control of what's happening off the field, but we do have control of what goes on inside Lane Stadium.''
Hagood acknowledged the uncertainty of the case was a distraction.
``In a card game, you can fold on a bad day,'' he said. ``But in football you can't do that. You've got to take what you've got, go on the field and play football.
``Personally, I didn't feel [the incident] was a big deal, but now it has come to my attention that something is going to happen [today] and nobody knows what's really going to happen. It will be nice to get this thing over, yes.''
CRANDELL UPDATE: East Carolina (5-2) has its own personnel question mark. Marcus Crandell, the Pirates' record-setting quarterback, sustained a strained ligament in his left knee Saturday against Arkansas State and still was listed Tuesday as questionable for the Tech game.
Crandell got hurt on the final play of the first half of East Carolina's 34-16 victory when a blocker was pushed into his knee from the blind side. He never returned to the game.
Tech coaches expect to see Crandell, a guy who has rewritten most of the Pirates' passing records established by Jeff Blake, who starts for the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals.
``My understanding is that he could have played in the second half, but chose not to,'' Beamer said. ``I think he'll play.''
There must be some question in Las Vegas, however. Tech (6-1) opened as a six-point favorite Sunday, but the spread jumped to eight Monday.
WONDER BOY: Freshman kicker Shayne Graham has wasted no time in putting his name in the Big East Conference record book. The former Pulaski County High School star set a league single-game mark for points scored by a kicker, producing 17 in Tech's 47-16 romp over Southwestern Louisiana on Saturday.
Graham broke a record that had lasted about an hour. Miami's Andy Crosland had 15 points (three field goals, six extra points) in the Hurricanes' 57-26 victory at Temple. The record was 14, held by Tech's Atle Larsen (1995) and Syracuse's John Biskup ('92).
``I don't know if that's the kind of record that will last too long,'' said Graham, who had a Big East record-tying four field goals and five extra points.
Graham, who has hit nine of 13 field-goal attempts and is perfect on 27 extra-point tries, leads Big East kickers in scoring with 54 points.
POLL TALK: Obviously, the coaches remain more impressed than the writers with Tech's 6-1 start. The Hokies are 17th in this week's USA Today-CNN poll, compared with 25th in the Associated Press poll. It's the greatest disparity among any team ranked in both polls.
``I think it's just another example of who you ought to be listening to - coaches or writers,'' said Beamer, laughing. ``I know this. If we play well in these next four [games] we won't have to worry about it. We'll be right up there in the top 10.''
TECH TIDBITS: Beamer said guard Gennaro DiNapoli (foot), defensive end Danny Wheel (shoulder) and backup DE Chris Cyrus (knee) are questionable for Saturday's game. Tech's 33.7 scoring average ranks 16th in NCAA Division I-A. The Hokies, who rank 10th in team rushing (245.4 yards per game), are on pace to score the most points in school history. Something will have to give Saturday. East Carolina's defense ranks ninth in scoring defense (13.6) and 22nd in total defense (310.7 ypg). Tech officials are predicting a crowd of close to 45,000 for the game, which kicks off at 7:06 p.m. and will be televised by ESPN2.
LENGTH: Medium: 92 linesby CNB