DATE: Thursday, October 16, 1997            TAG: 9710160767

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C6   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: Frank Vehorn

                                            LENGTH:   67 lines

ACC REPORT

Wolfpack's O'Cain may need win over UNC to save job

If North Carolina State seems to be approaching Saturday's game against rival North Carolina with a sense of desperation, so be it.

It is a game that could save the Wolfpack's season, or cost coach Mike O'Cain his job.

``We have not beaten North Carolina since I've been head coach and a win would probably do an awful lot as to whether I return next year or not,'' O'Cain said.

O'Cain said entering the season he would not return if there was not noticeable improvement following back-to-back 3-8 seasons.

The Wolfpack opened the season by upsetting Syracuse and defeating Duke, but they have won only one of their last four games. State is 1-3 in the ACC and 3-3 overall.

A loss to North Carolina, with a road trip to Florida State coming up next, could spoil hopes for a bowl.

O'Cain said he thinks his team will beat North Carolina and jump back into the bowl picture.

``I am thinking bowl. The team is thinking bowl, and it doesn't make a rat's rear end what everybody else is thinking,'' O'Cain said.

No surprise, it's Oscar

There is no drama this week about who will start at quarterback for North Carolina.

``Oscar Davenport,'' said coach Mack Brown.

It is the first time in a month that Brown did not wait until game day to announced the starting quarterback.

Making it easy for Brown is the fact that Davenport has tossed six touchdown passes without an interceptions this season.

Davenport, who started the season as backup to All-ACC Chris Keldorf, leads the league in passing efficiency and is 12th nationally.

``Taj MackHall'' paying off

North Carolina's new $47 million football center, known locally as the ``Taj MackHall,'' seems to be paying dividends.

The Tar Heels already have received 10 oral commitments from recruits, including six named to SuperPrep's preseason All-America list.

Latest to commit was offensive lineman Bryant Malloy of Shelby, N.C., who turned down Florida, Penn State, and Tennessee.

Malloy will graduate from high school early and enroll in UNC in time to participate in spring training.

Virginia injury report

Virginia linebacker Jami'h Ranier will undergo knee surgery that will sideline him for the remainder of the season.

Ranier suffered the injury in the Clemson game. He is the brother of the Cavaliers' leading tackler, Wali.

Coach George Welsh said defensive lineman Mo Anderson (ankle) and running back Anthony Southern (leg), who missed last week's game, are expected to play against Duke. Cornerback Joe Williams and tailback Antwoine Womack probably will miss their second straight game.

Bowden tired of penalties

Florida State has been the most penalized team in the ACC since joining the league and coach Bobby Bowden is at the end of his patience.

Bowden expressed his concern this week to commissioner John Swofford. ``We played Miami with their (Big East) officials and had only four penalties. Then the next week in our own conference (against Duke) we get 23 penalties,'' Bowden said.

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