Richmond Times-Dispatch from Richmond, Virginia • E1

112107DCY01E city; good CMYK; direct 1 1 21 07DCY01 ZALLCALL 66 121004 SPOTLIGHT E6-7 CXJIDOCKS E8 SCOREBOARD E9 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2004 Bnaux SECTION Mb Hmhi's raHranmt sl0ub the end of an era" E2 PORTS Editor Jack Beminpr (804) 649-6445 jbemingetftimesdispatch.com www.HmeiDiipitch.coin 4 James Madison at William and Mary Beamer, Miller honored What: Division I- AA semifinals TV: ESPN2 When: Today, 7 p.m. Radio: WIOX(1480), WCLM (1450), 6:30 Showdown after simdowm Tech coach, U.Va. end get league, national accolades for feats on and off field BY MIKE HARRIS AND JEFF WHITE Times-Dispatch Staff Warms Virginia Tech's coach and one of Virginia's tight ends were recognized yesterday with prestigious awards that covered their conference and the country. Frank Beamer was announced as the overwhelming choice as the ACC's coach of the year, and Heath Miller re Tribe, Dukes ready to battle under the stars for trip to title game BY JOHN O'CONNOR TmesDispatch Staff Wrttfji Williamsburg William and Mary's Zable Stadium, opened in 1935, is brick and mortar. Good thing.

Strong guts were required the last two Saturdays. In the first round of the Division I-AA playoffs, the Tribe pliminatpH Hampton 42-35 in a ceived the John Mackey Award, given annually to the collegiate tight end who best exemplifies the skills, sportsmanship, scholarship and community values of the former Syracuse great Beamer has been oaA font Kail nnanh at gamp that wasn't decided until HITs on-side kick failed in the final 30 seconds and included 962 yards of offense and scoring kickoff returns of 93 and 92 yards. Laycock Virginia Tech for 18 Beamer seasons. Before that, he was at Murray State for six seasons. He's won conference titles at each place and led the Ho-kies to 12 straight bowl appearances.

Tech won 10 straight after starting 0-2 in Oklahoma's Ja-1995. His 1999 tpam son White wins played for the national Maxwell, O'Brien championship. awards. Page E2. So it is saying something when Beamer, normally very modest in public, agrees that 2004 has "probably" been his best coaching job.

Those who cover the ACC agreed. Picked sixth in the preseason poll, Tech finished with a 7-1 league record to win the championship in their first year. The Hokie8 will take a 10-2 overall record and an eight-game winning streak into a Jan. 3 meeting with unbeaten Auburn in the Sugar BowL Miller came to the University of Vir James Madison coach Mickey Matthews, who has guided the Dukes to an 1 1-2 record, received a three-year contract extension last year. A season after the brink turned to the form that made him a sophomore starter in 2002.

"Now, I just throw my body around ti6 the broken neck I Jk-1 never happened," said Pi ginia as a quarterback. He now is considered the finest tight end in college football. "The entire Virginia football family is thrilled for Heath, and we congratulate him," Cavaliers coach Al Groh said in a statement "He truly is the Is In last Saturday's quarterfinal, slipped past Delaware 44-38 in double overtime after trailing 31-10 after three quarters. The Tribe (11-2) and Blue Hens combined for 991 yards. Jimmye Laycock, celebrating in grand style his silver anniversary as coach, was hesitant to forecast the on-field form of this evening's nationally televised semifinal vs.

visiting James Madison (11-2). But he knows the Tribe's sold-out stadium havent seen those words together in 20 seasons will be swinging like never before. "It should be equally exciting as last week, if not more, with the crowd, the lights and the TV," Laycock said. This semifinal's reward is advancement to the I-AA title game next Friday in Chattanooga, against Sam Houston State (11-2) or Montana (11-2). Juice the stakes with this: and JMU are members of the Atlantic 10 Football Conference, shared that league's championship (along with Delaware), played a 27-24 game last month won), and are located in the same state, a three-hour drive apart.

"When you think about it, it couldn't be any more fun than this," said Dukes coach Mickey Matthews. If the rematch resembles the first meeting, Madison will rely on the run, and will chuck it against the Dukes' small-but-quick defense. "It could very well be like the SEE SHOWDOWN, PAGE E3 iason, wnose necx area includes a metal plate (front) and a braided titanium cable (back). Against Delaware in the I-AA quarterfinals last Saturday, Cason's 62-yard scoring interception return on the Miller besr every respect Cason Dukes' Matthews, Tribe's Cason rebounded well from rock bottom in 2003 BY JOHN O'CONNOR Times-Dispatch Staff Wbtter williamsburg -y ast December, Stephen Cason be-I lieved he was done as a football J-player, and Mickey Matthews wondered if he was done as a head coach. To tonight" Division I-AA semifinal between William and Mary and James Madison, Cason conies as the Tribe's celebrated defensive hero.

Matthews has guided the Dukes to the high-water mark in program history. Cason broke his neck in one-car accident a month before the start of the 2003 season and was told by medical personnel that he should never again play football He accepted the verdict For a season. Last spring, after surgery and rehabilitation, the junior defensive back from James River High convinced himself a comeback was possible. Cason received clearance from neck-injury specialists in August and gradually re- I KsH i first play of the fourth quarter "jump-started us," said coach Jimmye Laycock. The Tribe trailed 31-10 before Cason's play.

It won 44-38 in double overtime. Matthews completed the final year of his contract in 2003. The Dukes, under him, shared the 1999 Atlantic 10 Football Conference championship but slipped to 6-5 in 2000, 29 in 2001, 5-7 in 2002 and 6-6 last season. "I just thought we went through a period where we were incredibly young, and in the A10, young is bad," Mat- wnuui AND MAK1T He is a sensational playmaker yet selfless in every way. We are all proud to go to the field with him every day." Beamer received 69 votes from members of the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association.

Runner-up John Bunting of North Carolina had 29 votes. Miami's Larry Coker and Groh each got one vote. "If anything is deserved without any politics involved, this is," said Tech quarterbacks coach Kevin Rogers, a Beamer assistant for three seasons. "A lot of people thought Coach was losing it, that the luster was off the program He knew what needed to be changed, he changed it and the kids bought into it That's good coaching If you are around Coach Beamer for any length of time, you know what an awesome guy he is and it is great to see him rewarded." Tech finished 8-5 last season after SEEHONORS, PAGE E2 William and Mary junior defensive back Stephen Cason, a James River High School graduate, says, "Now, I just throw my body around like the broken neck never happened." SEE SEAS ON, PAGE E3 Slide show Inside on Page E3 1im8sDispatcfa.com I Rosters I Recent JMU-W4M reiulta View a slide show of tonight? action following the game by going to 11meiDiipatch.com Division I-AA notes Game capsule; Tale of the tape Ukrop retires as a player Unemployment is next stop when winning isn't enough he best Frank Beamer could I manage his first half-dozen seasons at Virginia Tech was a couple of six-win muddlers, and he went 2-8-1 with no victories after Sept 19 in the last year of that stretch. He'd be tossed on the unemployment line by today's standards.

current climate. Tyrone WiHingham, six wins over .500 for three seasons at Notre Dame? Thaf all the evidence we need, bub. Ron Zook, 20-13 after two-phis years at Florida? Zooker, we knew the 01' Ball Coach. You're no 01' Ball Coach. David Cutchffe, 4-7 at Ole Miss a season removed from 10-3 and a Cotton Bowl berth? Whad-dya done for us lately, has-been? Being a big-time college football coach is a high-risk potential-reward exercise.

The pay is great, the hours long, job security nonexistent unless you're a Paterno or a Bowden (not the one in Pickens County, SEE LIP PER, PAGE E3 the 6-3, 210pound forward got into 17 of the Kickers' 33 games (including VS. Open Cup, exhibitions and playoffs), starting two. His only goal was a 35-yard game-winning, highlight-reel strike in the final minute to beat Puerto Rico here July 30. "It gets tougher every year to sit there," Ukrop said. "I could continue to perform in a limited capacity, but it still takes a lot of energy in that role, and that energy could be better served in other areas." Ukrop, whose father, Bobby, is one of the team's owners, said he would continue to serve the Kickers "in a limited role." That will include being active in the community as a motivational speaker.

"He's done more to put the organization on the map than anyone else," Kickers General Manager Paul Sterbenz said. In 11 years with the local team, Ukrop appeared in 222 regular-season games, scoring 69 goals and finishing with 167 points. The two-time All-American at Davidson College and 2004 inductee in the school's athletic hall of fame also is in a three-way tie with Tony Williams and Kevin Jeffrey for assists (29). "He's a natural goal scorer, and they're hard to find," Kickers coach Leigh CowEshaw said. "Hell be irreplaceable." Contact Jerry Undquist at (804) 649-6323 or jlindquistitimesdispatch.com Kickers' career leader in scoring to stay with team in a limited role JERRY LINDQUIS Times-Dispatch Staff Wbtter Rob Ukrop, the Richmond Kickers' career leader in games, goals and points, announced his retirement from pro soccer yesterday.

The 34-year-old Richmond native said there wasnt one thing that prompted his decision other than he just felt it was the right thing to do. His playing time had been limited in recent years. This past season, for mmplp, BOB Upper George Welsh lost to point of view James Madison two games into his debut campaign at Virginia, went 6-5, 3-8 in Years 4 and 5 and only once exceeded six victories during that period. He'd be gonzo per the P. KEVIN KOBIWmim-DBPiUCH Rob Ukrop totaled 69 goals and 167 points in 222 regular-season games in 1 1 years with the Kickers..