A Rough Reception?
October 20, 2003 03:55 PM | General
October 20, 2003
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – There has been considerable spice added to this year’s West Virginia-Virginia Tech football game.
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Long rivalry not withstanding, this year’s tussle in Morgantown also features two long-term partners about to go their separate ways. Last summer Virginia Tech was able to benefit from some in-state political maneuvering to land a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The Hokies will officially become ACC members next season, leaving behind a Big East Conference that helped develop Tech into an annual top 25 contender.
While concerned about the reception his team will receive in Morgantown, Virginia Tech Coach Frank Beamer is hopeful Mountaineer fans understand the circumstances that forced Tech to leave the league.
“It’s going to be an emotional place. I think the people that understand what we did and why we did it … I think the people who are close to the situation and are realistic about it would understand why we’ve done what we’ve done with the ACC and so forth,” said Beamer Monday morning.
The coach admits it will be tough leaving the Big East after this year.
“I think that everyone understands that we’ve always been appreciative and grateful for the Big East. It’s been a great conference for us,” he said.
Last week the West Virginia department of public safety issued a statement imploring fans to use good judgment during Wednesday night’s game.
West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez echoes those sentiments, “I want them to be respectful. I don’t think there is any need for cursing or throwing things but as far as booing and making a lot of noise when they have the ball, I hope our fans do that.”
Beamer says he expects a tough crowd Wednesday night, but he’s more concerned about what takes place on the field.
“Situations change but I think what wins football games is how you play on the next play,” said Beamer. “I think teams that get tied up into circumstances whether you’re playing at home, whether you’re playing away or whether you’re leaving someone behind in the Big East … if you get tied up into those things then you’re tied up into it too much. What you really need to do is get ready to play that next play and mentally and physically give it your best shot.”
Beamer expects West Virginia to give his No. 3-rated Hokies its best shot Wednesday.
“It has always been my thought that when West Virginia and Virginia Tech got together it was tough, tough football game,” he said. “West Virginia kind of spreads you out but it still gets back to their ability to be tough and run the football. I think they do that very well.”
And while Beamer is expecting a rowdy reception Wednesday night, he actually prefers that instead of having no reaction at all.
“When you come to town and people know you’re there I kind of like that,” he said. “I’ve been with a lot of teams where you can get in and out of town and nobody knew you were there.”
West Virginia (2-4) is coming off a lethargic performance nine days ago against Rutgers. WVU won the game, 34-19 but couldn’t put away the Scarlet Knights until late.
“The disappointing thing was offensively we had several plays that had the potential to be big plays and we didn’t execute them,” said Rodriguez of the Rutgers game. “Defensively we didn’t play with the same type of emotion that we had done in other games. It wasn’t a great performance but we did have enough plays to pull out the victory. Our guys know that if there are potential big plays that show up against Tech we’ve got to complete them. And defensively we’ve got to play with a little more enthusiasm if we want to have a chance.”
Virginia Tech, meanwhile, is coming off its best performance of the year beating Syracuse, 51-7. Tech, now 6-0, returned two punts for touchdowns and held the Orangemen to less than 200 yards of total offense. After the West Virginia game, Virginia Tech has a showdown with No. 2-ranked Miami in Blacksburg.
Yet Beamer is focused solely on Wednesday night’s game in Morgantown. A questioner on Monday’s Big East conference call asked Beamer a question about the Hokies’ next game against Miami.
The coach respectfully declined to answer.
Game time is 7:30 pm and tickets still remain for the contest. Fans can purchase tickets by calling the Mountaineer Ticket Office toll-free at 1-800-WVU game or by ordering on-line at www.WVUGAME.com.
