THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 1, 1995 TAG: 9510010169
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PITTSBURGH LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines
Atle Larsen could have been dubbed ``Rattled'' Larsen.
The Hokies kicker was 2 for 8 on the season on field goal tries, missing chippies as well as lengthy kicks. There were questions about his job security, but this week Tech coach Frank Beamer insisted, ``Atle Larsen is my kicker.''
Beamer couldn't contain his pride Saturday after Larsen went 4 for 4, making kicks of 34, 33, 26 and 36 yards in the Hokies' 26-16 victory over Pittsburgh. When Beamer was asked in his postgame press conference to talk about Angelo Harrison, who blocked two punts, the coach blurted out, ``I want to talk about Larsen - Atle Larsen.''
Larsen, a Norwegian, admitted he needed some success.
``It boosts my confidence a lot,'' Larsen said. ``It tells me I really know what I'm doing, and we're better than what we had been the last couple games. When you're 2 for 8, you start to have doubts in your mind.''
If he had any doubts, Beamer wasn't owning up.
``I told you guys this is a guy made of good stuff,'' Beamer said.
BLOCK PARTY: Harrison, a true freshman from Spotsylvania, Va., had never blocked a kick in his life before he came to college. He was a return man in high school and at Hargrave Military Academy.
In the past two weeks, he's blocked three punts.
What's the secret?
``Practice, lots of practice,'' Harrison said.
Beamer said the 6-foot-1 Harrison has a long body, long arms, great speed and no fear of sticking his hand or body in front of a kicker. All are requirements of a quality kick blocker.
``He's well on his way to being a pretty good one,'' Beamer said.
Harrison said he got booted in the gut on his second punt block Saturday.
``It doesn't hurt as bad when it's blocked,'' Harrison said.
GOOD COMPARISON: Asked if Tech's anemic offense in the first half was as weak as he could imagine, Tech offensive tackle Mike Bianchin remembered a recent similar Hokie performance: ``I thought (against) Cincinnati was pretty damn bad,'' he said. Tech lost to the Bearcats 16-0 two weeks ago.
BOOB TUBE: ESPN's Chris Fowler picked Pitt as his ``Mighty Dog'' underdog in college football this week.
``They haven't been picking too well lately,'' Tech defensive tackle J.C. Price said. ``They were 0-4, I'm glad to make them 0-5. I like those guys on ESPN, though.''
QUICK HITS: Tech defensive tackle Jim Baron reinjured a sprained left ankle early Saturday and did not return. Trainer Eddie Ferrell said he is not sure if Baron will be available for next week's Navy game. . . . The victory was Tech's first in the last three seasons when it trailed at halftime. During that span, Tech is 17-1 when leading at half, 1-0 when the score is tied and 1-8 when trailing. by CNB