DATE: Tuesday, September 23, 1997           TAG: 9709230392

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C4   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: HARRY MINIUM

LENGTH: 67 lines

BIG EAST REPORT

Scheduling foes

is easier said than

done, Beamer notes

Virginia Tech football coach Frank Beamer defended his much-maligned schedule Monday, saying that the school had to play some relative lightweights to give its fans six home games.

Several things went into the decision to schedule Arkansas State, Alabama-Birmingham and Miami of Ohio this season, he said.

``First, people have got to want to play you,'' he said. ``People say, `Go play so-and-so,' but it's not that easy. They've got to want to play you, and it's got to fit into both schedules.

``This is the year we have four Big East road games, and we also play Virginia on the road. I think Tech is a program whose fans deserve to have six home games. When you try to schedule home games, it's more difficult than you realize.''

Tech turned down an offer to play Auburn on the road. The 3-0 Hokies host Arkansas State on Saturday and Miami of Ohio the following week.

``These are all good schools,'' Beamer said. ``They're all Division I programs. They give scholarships like we do. That's what we've got.''

Beamer was more comfortable talking about his soon-to-be title: winningest coach in Virginia Tech history. The 23-13 triumph over Temple last week tied him with Bill Dooley, each with 64.

``I grew up watching Tech football, going to Miles Stadium and watching guys like Carroll Dale play,'' said Beamer, a native of Hillsville, Va., and a Tech alumnus. ``For me the big treat was going to Victory Stadium in Roanoke and watching VMI vs. VPI, as the school was known then.

``For a guy who's grown up with Virginia Tech football, it's really quite an honor.''

The mighty have fallen

Miami of Florida coach Butch Davis says the once-powerful Hurricanes, 1-2 after last week's stunning loss at Pitt, are losing games from the neck up.

``Arizona State and Pitt both played well,'' Davis said. ``But we are not physically talented enough to overcome our own mistakes. . . . We're beating ourselves.''

Once upon a time, Miami was talented enough to overcome mistakes and still compete for national championships. The Hurricanes are under a lot of pressure to turn things around, Davis said.

``We've got to start playing. We've got to start getting guys to produce,'' he said.

Asked if he will make wholesale changes in his lineup this week against West Virginia, he said: ``If you come to the game, you might see some.''

West Virginia coach Don Nehlen was overly careful not to give the Hurricanes any bulletin-board quotes. Asked if he had any thoughts on Miami's losing four of its last five home games in the Orange Bowl, where it once had a 58-game winning streak, he said. ``No, I don't have any thoughts.'' Asked if he thought the Miami mystique was no more, he said. ``Is it gone? I would have no idea.''

Quick hits

Tech fullback Marcus Parker should return this week from a knee injury, while defensive end John Engelberger is questionable, Beamer said. Neither played against Temple. . . . Tech placekicker Shane Graham was named special-teams player of the week. He had three field goals and two extra points against Temple. . . . Tech is 12th in the nation and first in the Big East in rushing at 254.7 yards per game.

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