European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 23, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 30 the stars and stripes sports tuesday August 23,1994 canes seek return to routine West a. Cha Enges for East Mounifa Fop by Alan Robinson the associated pres last year did not provide a routine big East , the league Champion was 11-0, ranked no. 3 and playing for a possible National championship on new year s Day. But for once it was t the Miami hurricanes. It was West Virginia which had a Shotat the National championship before los ing to Florida 41-7 in the sugar bowl. Miami hurricanes the hurricanes Winner of four nation Al titles since 1984, not Only lost to West Virginia but also fell to National Champi on Florida state and was shut out by Ari Zona 29-0 in the fiesta 9-3 record at most schools is cause for Celebration. At Miami it s an unmitigated disaster. It s one the canes Don t intend to re peat. For starters the hurricanes will Goback to their old quarterback Frank Costa benched in favor of Ryan Collin Safter the 28-10 loss to Florida state. They also intend to go Back to their Fly to the Ball get in your face defense. Our goal is to compete for the nation Al championship coach Dennis Erick son Talent shortage May have contributed to Miami s stumble. The nil draft took 13 hurricanes in the first round from 1987 to 1992, then none the Pas two years. There Are no projected first rounders among this season s seniors either. Yet Erickson s most recent recruiting classes have been ranked with the nation s Best and underclassmen will get plenty of playing time this year. Fresh men or sophomores were listed no. 1 on the depth Chart at eight positions enter ing fall s not been a demise in our pro Gram Erickson said. We re As Good Ashe be Ever been. But people Are starting to catch up to us and that s Many defenders catch up to wide receiver Chris t. Jones 45 receptions,700 Yard who is expected to ignite Miami s big play of sense. A healthy productive confident Costa would help Confidence was pretty Well shot by the end of last season Costa s pretty bad for a Confidence Jones boost should com Early at Home where the hurricanes should set an Mcaa record by winning their 58th consecutive Home game sept. 3 against Georgia that though things get a bit s Washington sept. 24 and Florida state oct. 8and Virginia tech oct. 29 arid Boston College nov. 26. We re going to show everybody in the country that last year was a Fluke Costa said. There s no doubt in my mind we redoing to be one of the top teams in the country playing for the National championship on new year s West Virginia mountaineers the mountaineers should be goo again even without 27 departed seniors. Robert Walker the school s single sea son Rushing Leader should see to that. College football 94 but better than Miami again i think we re the team to beat in the big East,0 linebacker Matt Taffoni Don t think Miami is the team to beat. People Are writing us off because we lost so Many Boston College eagles the eagles ruined notre Dame s title Hopes last year by beating the Irish 41-39 on a last second Field goal by David Gor Don. Gordon is Back but the coach to Coughlin off to the nil s expansion Jacksonville jaguars and quarterback Glenn Foley and his 10,000-plus passing Yards Are gone. That could mean trouble in the eagles sept. 3 opener at Michi Gan. Virginia tech homies Fileff photos 2 the homies quarterback option Wiz i Ard Maurice de Shazo and 1,000 Yard Rushe Dwayne Thomas Are Back from team that went from 2-8-1 to 9-3 unjust one season. But the homies did exactly dominate in the big East 4-3,fourth place and won t have the element of Surprise Deshazo a8ain.-"this is just a sign of things to come coach Frank Beamer said. Syracuse orangemen it was hard for Syracuse fans to imag Ine sinking much lower than 6-4-1, the Orange s poorest record since 1986. Now coach Paul Pasqualoni must replace do it All quarterback Marvin Graves and five starters from a defense that surprisingly permitted 379 Yards and 26 Points a game. ". I a " Rutgers Scarlet knights disappointing also described the scar let knights 4-7 record. The defense was a disaster 30 Points and 396 Yards game but the offence should be excellent with talented tailbacks Terrell Willis and Bruce Presley. Vij Ift the panthers would love to be this sea son s Surprise team after going 3-8 under returning coach Johnny majors. But even with Talent such As running Back Curtis Martin linebacker Tom Tumulty and hideout Dietrich jells it will be Tough with a non conference schedule that includes Texas Ohio state and Louisville. Temple owls Temple is. Well Temple. The owls were 1-10 in coach Ron Dickerson s debut season and have yet to win a big East game. They might not this year either. Independents among the independents army went6-5, but Only by beating Lafayette and Navy in its last two games. Rick rope runs the cadets Wishbone offence with flair but the defense needs started 4-2, lost its last five and still has t had a winning season in More than a decade. Arm and the Man Miami quarterback Frank Costa above and West Virginia running Back Robert Walker will provide the spark As their respective teams Battle for the big East championship. Costa s Arm failed the hurricanes in 93 when Walker was the Man gaining 1,250 Yards As his mountaineers wrested the big East championship from Miami. V by. A a1 \ \ r i. F la i ,
