DATE: Wednesday, October 8, 1997            TAG: 9710080659

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C6   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: STEVE CARLSON

                                            LENGTH:   84 lines

VIRGINIA TECH REPORT

Virginia Tech had won 24 of its previous 26 games prior to Saturday's upset loss to Miami of Ohio, so the bounce-back factor is something of an unknown element in Blacksburg.

Hokies coach Frank Beamer said Tuesday he'll be curious to see if Tech can return to the sharpness that has characterized its last two seasons when Boston College comes to Lane Stadium at noon Saturday. He said the mood of the team is good, but he's reserving judgment.

``We need to wait until Saturday,'' Beamer said. ``We'll see what kind of practices we have and then after the first few plays Saturday you'll see what these guys are all about, and what we're like as coaches.''

The Hokies were not good in the 24-17 loss to the RedHawks.

``Last week was probably a display of the level of maturity we are at as a team right now,'' rover Pierson Prioleau said. ``It was a hard lesson for us to learn.''

It was not as costly as it could have been, as Beamer has pointed out. The non-conference loss does not hinder Tech's chances of going to a third-consecutive Alliance bowl if it can win the Big East.

The biggest toll came in the polls, where Tech dropped nine spots to No. 23, and it eliminated any thoughts of an undefeated season and possibly competing for a national title. Given Tech's favorable schedule, that possibility had been bandied about.

But not in the locker room, guard Gennaro DiNapoli said.

``I'd never heard much talk about it, other than in the press,'' DiNapoli said. ``As far as on the team I'd never heard one player talk about a national championship or going 11-0.'' Grimes undergoes surgery

Virginia Tech offensive line coach J.B. Grimes' heart bypass surgery had been scheduled for today, but it was hastily moved up to Tuesday afternoon at Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

``Doctors felt a heart attack was coming on and they needed to do surgery immediately,'' Tech athletic director Jim Weaver said.

The three-hour surgery was deemed successful, and Grimes, 42, will be out at least six weeks and possibly the rest of the season. Grimes was taken from Lane Stadium by ambulance Saturday when he experienced chest pains.

``It's hard to focus, but you have to press on because that's what coach would want,'' DiNapoli said. ``They've just got to fix him up. Like he said, he needs some plumbing work done. Coach Grimes was laughing right up until surgery.'' Block party for foes

Tech has developed a reputation under Beamer for blocking kicks, but the Hokies are the ones with kicking game problems this year. Tech has had four punts blocked, which according to the school's sports information staff makes this just the second season in more than 50 years the Hokies have had that many blocked.

Miami of Ohio cornerback Jamie Taylor boasted that the RedHawks saw a flaw on film in Tech's blocking scheme on punts.

``I don't mean to criticize, but their scheme is not too sound and they don't play it too well,'' he said. ``We knew if they didn't change it, we'd block at least one, maybe more.''

The RedHawks blocked two, including one returned for a TD. Broadcast news

The Virginia Tech-BC game will be broadcast on the Big East's regional television package Saturday, which normally airs on WTKR in Hampton Roads. But the CBS affiliate will carry the Michelob Championship instead Saturday. The game will be televised by WPEN.

Tech's Oct. 25 game at West Virginia has also officially been picked by CBS as a split-national telecast at 3:30 p.m. The starting time for the season-ending game at Virginia on ESPN Nov. 29 has been set for 5:30 p.m. Quick hits

The Fiesta Bowl has requested a credential for a bowl scout to attend Saturday's game at Lane Stadium. ... None of Tech's previous 23 opponents - including Texas, Miami, Syracuse, Nebraska - could hold the Hokies under 20 points, but that school-record streak was snapped by Miami of Ohio. The RedHawks also ended Tech's 12-game home winning streak.

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