DATE: Wednesday, October 22, 1997           TAG: 9710220733

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: HARRY MINIUM

LENGTH: 76 lines

VIRGINIA TECH REPORT

Hokies feel Big East

crown is theirs

if they beat WVU

BLACKSBURG - Although it will be weeks before the Big East football champion is officially determined, Virginia Tech players say they would all but wrap up the title with a victory Saturday at West Virginia.

``This game is for the Big East championship right here,'' defensive tackle Carl Bradley said. ``We have to go put it all on the table this week.''

Tailback Ken Oxendine says the math is pretty basic. Tech, at 5-1 overall and 4-0 in the Big East, takes a commanding lead with a victory Saturday over West Virginia (5-1, 2-1) and Syracuse (5-3, 2-1), which are tied for second.

If the Hokies lose, West Virginia takes control.

``There's not another team out there who can contend with us (for the championship) like West Virginia,'' Oxendine said. ``Whatever team comes out on top is going to build like a snowball.''

Offensive tackle Brad Baylor says the Hokies are in for an especially hostile reception at Mountaineer Field because they've beaten the Mountaineers handily the last three years and have won six of the last eight.

``They want revenge. They owe us a couple,'' he said. ``If I was in their shoes I'd be excited and ready to play us.''

Not so, says West Virginia coach Don Nehlen.

``That stuff is fun to write about because it gives you something to write,'' he said. ``But all I know is we haven't scored points and they have.

``It doesn't bother me.''

Assistant back part-time

15 days after heart surgery

Offensive line coach J.B. Grimes, who had heart bypass surgery 15 days ago after suffering chest pains at the Tech-Miami of Ohio game, stunned his colleagues by returning to work Monday, albeit on a limited basis.

``Coach is coming in the mornings to look at a little film,'' head coach Frank Beamer said. ``That's more for his therapy. The doctors feel like he could get back in here and watch some video. He comes in during the mornings and then gets back out of there.''

Beamer said Grimes' presence was an inspiration to the Hokies.

``He's just amazed us all,'' Beamer said. ``He's such a tough guy. I would think that if we get to a bowl game, there's a chance of him getting back (full-time).''

Rest helped WVU get well;

Hokies are still hurting

Virginia Tech and West Virginia are coming off a bye week, and Nehlen says his injury list shrank from 14 to two thanks to the rest.

``We're as healthy as we've been,'' he said.

Beamer wishes he could say the same. His injury list of three didn't shrink and includes both starting wideouts - Shawn Scales and Michael Stuewe. Scales missed the Boston College game with a swollen tendon in his left ankle and didn't practice last week. Stuewe has a sprained ankle.

Defensive end Chris Cyrus is out with a knee injury, but Scales, who in five games has 13 catches for 298 yards and two touchdowns and an average of 36.6 yards on five kickoff returns, is the player Beamer most needs.

``We don't know if any or all of them will play,'' Beamer said.

Quick hits ...

Starting linebacker Korey Irby sustained a knee injury in practice Tuesday and is questionable for Saturday's game. . . . The Tech-West Virginia series finally has a trophy. Saturday's winner will take home the Black Diamond Trophy. The award refers to the region's coal industry and is being sponsored by Rish Equipment Company, which will sponsor scholarships at both schools for athletes majoring in mining engineering. . . . Tech is ranked 22nd by the Associated Press and 17th in the USA Today coaches' poll, but only 36th in the USA Today computer rankings. West Virginia is 34th in the computer rankings. .

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu