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Sporting News, The, Dec 19, 1994 by Lenn Robbins

This matchup will be

something special

For the last four seasons, Tennessee has enjoyed a quiet confidence that it would prevail in close games. Senior kicker John Becksvoort has seen to that.

Becksvoort is a perfect in his Tennessee career with an NCAA record 161 consecutive extra points. He also is 20 for 21 in kicking field goals of shorter than 30 yards, and in the Citrus Bowl loss to Penn State last season he hit from 46 and 50.

So Tennesee should feel confident if the Gator Bowl comes down to special teams, but it has reason to be wary of its opponent. Virginia Tech, in eight seasons under Coach Frank Beamer, has blocked 40 kicks, including field-goal and extra-point attempts and punts. This season, the Hokies blocked two field-goal attempts and two punts.

But Tech's special teams are equally impressive. Antonio Freeman finished first in the Big East and sixth in the nation with 12 yards per punt return. Bryan Still also led the Big East and was 11th nationally in kickoff returns, averaging 26 yards.

Tech's Robbie Colley was 20th in the nation in punting (42.1 yards). And one of the most endearing stories in college football is the success of Tech kicker Ryan Williams, who led Big East kickers in scoring, averaging 7.8 points per game.

Williams had half his kicking foot chopped off in a childhood farming accident. He was 27 for 28 in extra-point kicks and 17 for 21 in field goals.

The Vols have special-teams weapons of their own. Nilo Silvan is second nationally in punt returns (18.1 yards).