THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 3, 1994 TAG: 9411030533
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines
Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer has won his argument with officials.
He just won it way too late to do any good.
Big East coordinator of officials Dan Wooldridge said Wednesday Beamer was justified in his prolonged, vehement grousing Saturday over a second-quarter intentional grounding call against quarterback Maurice DeShazo. Wooldridge, who was at the game and defended the call at the time, said after reviewing the tape that referee Terry Monk's flag should have remained in his pocket.
``I think we would have been better to have picked the flag up and waved it off,'' Wooldridge said. ``It's obvious there was a man in the area, and it was just not a very good call.''
The penalty and loss of down pushed Tech into the shadow of its goal line with a second-and-27, and two plays later the Hokies had to punt. The play helped set up a Miami touchdown with one second left in the first half that put the Hurricanes ahead 17-3.
Beamer said the call didn't cost the Hokies the game. True, but it changed the complexion of the second half somewhat with Tech needing a big comeback.
``We need to continue to evaluate our officials,'' Beamer said.
The bad call also provoked even worse calls.
Wooldridge of Salem, Va., said he has received five or six irate telephone calls as a result of the officiating at the Orange Bowl, including a couple threatening ones.
``It becomes a concern,'' Wooldridge said. ``This is the first time I've ever received threatening phone calls. We made an honest mistake, and the referee called what he saw. We have a lot of crazies out there.''
TITLE GAME: Based on preseason predictions, last week's Virginia Tech-Miami game should have been for the Big East title. Saturday's Miami-Syracuse game probably is.
``It looks to be for the marbles,'' Miami coach Dennis Erickson said. ``It's back-to-back for us.''
Syracuse (6-1, 4-0 Big East) wasn't expected to be in this position. The Orangemen were pegged for the middle of the pack in most preseason publications.
``Obviously it's a season in which we've been pleased with the effort of our players,'' Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni said. ``But in the month of November we play a lot of football against teams that are all right now playing tough football. This season for us is a long way from being over, but we've been satisfied so far.''
Syracuse still has to play at Boston College, Maryland and at West Virginia. The 10th-ranked Orangemen are a 14-point underdog when they host No. 5 Miami (6-1, 3-0) Saturday in the Carrier Dome (3:30 p.m., WVEC).
MARTIN STILL SMARTIN': Pittsburgh tailback Curtis Martin, a 1,000-yard rusher who was third in the Big East last season, suffered an ankle sprain in the Panthers' second game of the season and was expected to be out a week or two.
Almost two months later, he's still out. Martin, a senior, could apply for a medical redshirt year and return next season if he chose to. Pitt coach Johnny Majors said it will be Martin's decision. The coach would prefer not to play him at this point even if Martin could return for the Panthers' final two games.
``All the pro scouts I've talked to have said he needs an extra year,'' Majors said.
Martin's backup, sophomore Billy West, hasn't done too bad. West leads the Big East with 112.2 yards rushing per game.
BIRD WATCHING: Boston College's Eagles probably need a victory tonight against the Louisville Cardinals (8 p.m., ESPN) to maintain any bowl hopes. The Eagles (4-2-1) still have to play Syracuse, at West Virginia and at Miami.
QUICK HITS: Virginia Tech's DeShazo, fifth in the nation in passing efficiency a year ago, has slipped to eighth in the Big East in that statistic - or in other words, last among the league's starting quarterbacks. . . . Virginia Tech's minus-14 yards rushing against Miami was its worst rushing day since 1968, when Miami held the Hokies to minus-30 rushing. . . . Miami has allowed 80 points all season. Washington scored 38 against the 'Canes, and Miami's other six opponents have combined for 42 points. . . . Temple coach Ron Dickerson blames himself for the loss to Pitt last week: ``Our kids weren't mentally prepared to play Pitt,'' Dickerson said. . . . Virginia Tech has scored just one offensive touchdown in three Big East road games against Boston College, Syracuse and Miami. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer vehemently protested an intentional
grounding call Saturday.
by CNB