Richmond Times-Dispatch from Richmond, Virginia • D1

10103TDRY01D replate Dl bw only okr 10103TDRY01D ZALLCALL 66 "60:51:24 010306 TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2006 SECTION SCOREBOARD D6 NBA D7 HOCKEY BACKPAGE PORTS Editor Jack Beminpr (804) 649-6445 jbemingetftimesdispatch.com DELIVERY PROBLEM? 1-800-468-3382 www.TimasDispatch.COT All-Metro golf and field hockey teams backpage Fighting words Columnist John Markon explores the verbal duel of Rose Bowl stars PAGE D5 NO. 12 VIRGINIA TECH 35 NO. 15 LOUISVILLE 24 TO rrn i eon oewr a una 0 After penalty-tainted performance before intermission, Hokies' comeback trumps Cards BY MIKE HARRIS Times-Dispatch Staff Writer JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The Gator Bowl turned from ugly to entertaining in a hurry. Most important for Virginia Tech, it turned into a victory.

But it was a long, strange trip there. The 12th-ranked Hokies beat No. 15 Louisville INSIDE 35-24 yesterday before an announced crowd of 63,780 at Alltel Stadium. Tech trailed by 11 early in the final quarter before rallying and becoming just the third team in school history to win 11 games. SUPPORTING STANDOUT: A Tech fill-in at tackle was more than a match for Louisville's Al-America defensive end.

PageD4 The Hokies finished 11-2 to 9-3 for Louisville. "We were lucky to come out with that one," said 19-year Tech coach Frank Beamer, who has been in charge for all three llvictory seasons. "We played more Eke Virginia Tech in the second half. Ill remember the second half. I don't particularly want to remember the first half." Beamer has good reasons for that.

The Hokies started the game with one problem. Senior offensive tackle Jimmy Martin, who had started 45 straight games, was unable to play because of a sprained knee suffered in practice Friday. Junior Brandon Frye stepped in and acquitted himself welL Another problem developed early. Senior cornerback Jimmy Williams, a unanimous All-America selection, was ejected late in the first quarter after a confrontation with officials. Redshirt freshman Brandon Flowers replaced Williams and did well, aiming up with one of Tech's three interceptions.

Tech was extremely hicky not to have a huge problem late in the SEE HOKIES, PAGE D4k PHIL COALETHE ASSOCIATED PRESS over loiaavawi Is gtwen a Gatorade ahowor by players, Inckidkig (42), the HokW Gator Bowl victory Virginia Tadi coach Frank Bowl bash Stepping into dirty play. Vick soiled Hokies' win been quarterbacka non grata in Blacksburg two years ago for transgressions that are part of the public record. That he's remained to make all-ACC and further mischief is testament to his skill and one athletic program's go-for-the-gold appetite. Vick threw for 203 yards and a couple of touchdowns scrambled for 9 yards before being taken down by Louisville All-America defensive end Elvis Dumervil. Whistles blew.

The teams separated and began to congregate. The refs turned their attention to other matters. Whereupon Vick stood, looked down as if to momentarily size up possibilities and planted his right shoe to the back of Dumervil's left calf. Several Louisville coaches livid, fingers pointing rushed forward onto the playing surface. Dumervil remained prone on the turf, prompting an injury timeout and his removal for a play.

On Tech's sideline, Kevin Rogers watched with more than a hint of chagrin. He's the Ho- SEE UPPER, PAGE D4 COTTON BOWL No. 13 Alabama 13, No. 18 Texas Tech 10 OUTBACK BOWL No. 16 Florida 31, No.

25 Iowa 24 CAPITAL ONE BOWL No. 21 Wisconsin 24, No. 7 Auburn 10 FIESTA BOWL No. 4 Ohio State 34, No. 5 Notre Dame 20 SUGAR BOWL No.

11 West Virginia 38, No. 8 Georgia 35 Details, Page D5 Vick JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Just what Virginia Tech football needs another Marcus Vick moment. Not the TD pass that vaulted the Hokies toward their 35-24 Gator Bowl conquest of Louisville. The foot stomp to a rival player who was lying face down on the ground.

The sheer embarrassment. The sour aftertaste. This is what you leave yourself open to when you give talent not just the benefit of the doubt but the key to the vault. Marcus Vick shouklVe yesterday and sparked Tech BOB Upper to this comeback triumph. He was aces when it mattered most.

But he also added another ratty entry to his frayed reputation. Flipping off the fans in Morgan town pales by comparison. This incident began innocently enough. With about two minutes left in the first halt Vick Spiders steam into A-10 with offense clicking Inside college basketball They notch several season bests in easy victory over Lancers BY JOHN O'CONNOR Times-Dispatch Staff Wrttfji This was a relatively easy win, as expected, that could have been a romp. The University of Richmond yesterday concluded the pre-At-lantic 10 Conference portion of its schedule with a 74-60 decision over Longwood before 3,440 at the Robins Center.

If the Spiders put away Longwood, which played without 6-3 guard Michael Jefferson (Meadowbrook High), a 12-points-a-game scorer who watched with a sore ankle. Richmond's lead was 10 with four minutes left. "Our defense wasn't nearly as good as it has been, but our offense was better," said UR coach Chris Mooney, whose team was allowing an average of 51.9 points. "I'm pleased that we won the game and won by 14, but I think we could have played a little bit better." SEE SPIDERS, PAGE D3 were looking for a dose of confidence heading into Saturday night's conference opener vs. La Salle, they got it.

Sort of. UR (7-6) set season highs for points, RICHMOND 74 LONGWOOD 60 St sists (21), and 3-point-shooting percentage (53.8). But the Spiders also missed a half-dozen layups and let the Lancers (3-12), who are in the process of upgrading to Division hang around for 36 minutes. The Spiders went ahead 20-10 after 10 minutes, then failed to -BAMA BLUES After rallying from a nine-point deficit in the second half on the road, VCU falls 68-62 to Conference USA power Alabama-Birmingham. CAVALIERS TOPPLED Virginia, playing with only seven scholarship players, loses 78-68 to the Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky in Bowling Green, Ky.

COUNTING ON COLLINS Junior forward Coleman Collins scores a career-high 32 points on 13 -for-18 shooting to lead Virginia Tech to a 77-58 victory over James Madison. Details, Page D3 MARK GORMUST1MES-DISPATCH Richmond barge dunks for two of Ms 17 points In the Spaders' 74-60.