College Football : ALOHA BOWL : Georgia Tech’s Quickness Is Biggest Concern for Stanford

Stanford (8-3) has a chance to prove that it is becoming a national power.

The Aloha Bowl today in Honolulu will match Georgia Tech’s quick defense against the multiple-attack offense of the 17th-ranked Cardinal. Stanford Coach Dennis Green, a former 49er assistant, has patterned his offense after San Francisco’s.

“The key will be how we deal with their speed on defense,” Green said. “They have explosive speed, and on an artificial surface they’ll be even faster.”

Georgia Tech’s defense, rated one of the best in the nation, is led by linebackers Marco Coleman and Jerrelle Williams, lineman Coleman Rudolph and backs Ken Swilling and Willie Clay. They will face a Stanford attack featuring Tommy Vardell, who rushed for 1,084 yards and 20 touchdowns, and quarterback Steve Stenstrom, who led the Pacific-10 Conference in passing.

Green said Stanford’s defensive key is to stop Yellow Jacket quarterback Shawn Jones. Coach Bobby Ross said Georgia Tech (7-5) needs a fast start to restore confidence lost in an 18-15 defeat to Georgia. The Georgia Tech defensive line will face a line that averages 6 feet 7 and 300 pounds. Only the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts are said to have a bigger line.

Fresno State quarterback Mark Barsotti hopes to prove during the Blue-Gray all-star game today in Montgomery, Ala., that he belongs in the NFL. His four-year record at Fresno State was 35-5-1.