THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 28, 1996 TAG: 9609280521
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SYRACUSE, N.Y. LENGTH: 75 lines
Virginia Tech may step into the Carrier Dome today with the feeling it is stepping back in time.
The Hokies can relate to Syracuse's woe. Highly regarded in the preseason, the 0-2 Orangemen stand on the precipice of a promising season gone awry when a Big East power comes calling today (3:30 p.m., WTKR).
It's a repeat of Tech's rocky start story line in 1995.
``I definitely look at them like when we were 0-2 and having Miami come in,'' Tech center Billy Conaty said. ``I'm sure they're not counting the season off yet. I'm sure they still think they can win the Big East.''
Tech did, following that upset over Miami. The Hokies did not lose again - haven't lost yet, actually, with a school-record 13 consecutive wins that is the longest current streak in Division I-A football.
Syracuse, surprisingly a one-point favorite, draws inspiration from its opponent's circumstances of a year ago.
``It's not what you do in September, it's what you do in October and November that they remember,'' Syracuse offensive tackle Brad Patkochis said. ``But it's damn close to the last stand. It's not like if it doesn't happen we press the panic button and the season is over, but it's almost a must-win game for us.''
But coach Frank Beamer said the 18th-ranked Hokies (3-0) need a win just as badly if they want to claim the Big East championship.
``I don't care what the record says, Syracuse is a really good football team,'' said Beamer, who made similar utterances about his 0-2 team last year.
Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni has not seen his team play well yet. The Orangemen got whipped at home by North Carolina, then lost at Minnesota despite a 429-266 advantage in total yardage. Turnovers and penalties have been Syracuse's undoing.
The Orangemen have not started a season 0-3 since 1986.
One of the keys today should be Syracuse's offense and quarterback Donovan McNabb - the preseason pick for Big East offensive player of the year - against Tech's excellent defense. Tech shackled the Orangemen in a 31-7 victory last year, holding Syracuse to season lows in nine statistical categories, including points and total yards (167).
``They do a good job of pressuring the quarterback and they've got real good quickness on defense and can run as well as contain,'' Pasqualoni said of the Hokies. ``If (McNabb) is in a scramble mode, there's some quick guys chasing him.''
McNabb, third nationally in passing efficiency a year ago as a freshman, is seventh in passing efficiency in the eight-team Big East after two games. He's thrown three touchdowns, three interceptions and is completing 38.2 percent of his passes.
Sophomore jinx?
Pasqualoni doesn't think so. He said McNabb's rating is more a reflection on the offense as a whole than on the quarterback.
``If we caught the ball more efficiently and I think if we gave him another second in the protection some times, I think you'd probably see him about where he was a year ago,'' Pasqualoni said.
It wouldn't hurt if Pasqualoni could bring back multi-talented receiver Marvin Harrison from the NFL, either.
``You can't go out and replace a guy like Marvin Harrison right away,'' said Patkochis, who is likely to encounter Tech All-American defensive end Cornell Brown much of the afternoon. ``It's a transition period.''
Tech's defense is rendering just 42 yards rushing per game, second in the nation. Syracuse is not far behind, allowing 73 rushing yards.
The Hokies' ground attack will be bolstered by the return of junior tailback Ken Oxendine, who rushed for 118 yards and a 62-yard touchdown in the Carrier Dome as a freshman. Oxendine separated his shoulder in the opener and missed 2 1/2 games. Freshman Shyrone Stith from Chesapeake, who is second in the Big East in scoring (10 points per game) and fifth in rushing (91.3), returns to a backup role.
Beamer said the dome probably is worth some points for the Orangemen. Tech has scored a combined two touchdowns in its last three trips here, all losses.
``For us to be successful, we have to take (the crowd) out of the game,'' Brown said. ``I don't think anywhere I've played is louder. The fans are right there on your back.''
Undoubtedly those fans will be on Pasqualoni's back if Syracuse loses. by CNB