THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 15, 1995 TAG: 9510150217
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
Virginia Tech athletic director Dave Braine said Saturday the Hokies are close to locking up a home-and-home deal to play national power Auburn in 1996 and '97.
``It may be finalized this week,'' Braine said.
Braine said the game would replace Cincinnati on Tech's nonconference schedule. The two games with the Bearcats would be postponed a few years.
If the deal gets done, Tech will go to Auburn in 1996 and the Tigers will come to Lane Stadium in 1997, possibly in a season opener on ESPN, Braine said.
Tech has come under criticism this week for its schedule, ranked the weakest in the Big East this year and 99th of 108 teams in Division I-A. Tech blistered Akron 77-27 at Lane Stadium on Saturday.
Braine had said earlier in the week there could be a change in the 1996 and '97 schedules, but declined at the time to identify the potential opponent.
Auburn, undefeated last year when it was on probation, is currently No. 7 in the Associated Press poll.
BLOCK PARTY: The Hokies blocked an Akron punt and extra point, bringing their total of blocked kicks this season to eight. That's the most for Tech in Frank Beamer's nine seasons. The previous high was seven in 1988.
The Hokies have blocked at least one kick in five of six games this season, and have 48 in 96 games under Beamer. Okesa Smith blocked a first-quarter punt that Jermaine Holmes fell on for Tech's first score, and Lawrence Lewis blocked an Akron extra-point try. Lewis also had a sack that caused a fumble and set up a Tech touchdown.
BIG EAST CHASE: West Virginia's victory at Boston College on Saturday may have helped the Hokies. The only undefeated teams now in the Big East are Syracuse and West Virginia, both at 2-0. Tech (2-1 conference) still gets to play both. BC (2-1) defeated Tech in the season opener.
``We're in a great position, I think,'' offensive guard Chris Malone said. ``It's all in our hands now, and it's up to us. The first time we let it slip away. I'm pretty sure we're not going to let it slip away again.''
QUICK HITS: Cornerback Antonio Banks appeared in his first action in four weeks, although it was just a cameo. He played one defensive series to test his knee, which required surgery after Banks was hurt in practice the week of the Miami game. . . . Tech's 77 points were the most scored against Akron in its 105 seasons.. . . Tech finished with 465 rushing yards, 35 shy of the school record set in 1993 at Pittsburgh. by CNB