WDBJ 7 news at Noon for 05/05/03

[News-Heads]

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[VO-NAT]
Tornadoes showed no mercy in this Missouri town, leaving its destructive mark on virtually every home and business.
The line of destruction extends from Missouri, to Kansas, and to Tennessee.
Nearly 30 people have died.
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[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]

And a Virginia Tech student has died from injuries she suffered in an accident more than a week ago.
[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Leo]
[SS=None]
Scattered showers will continue through the day with a few isolated thunderstorms. I'll have you forecast.
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[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY 2-Shot]

News 7 at Noon starts right now...

[Video-Open]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
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[VO-NAT]

A resident says the town of Jackson, Tennessee looks like "downtown Baghdad" in the wake of this weekend's deadly tornadoes .
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[Tornadoes]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 at Noon]

Good Afternoon, I'm Kimberly McBroom.
The full impact of the series of twisters isn't yet known.
Authorities say at least 32 people were killed in Kansas, Missouri, and Tennessee, and that death toll could rise.

Dozens of others were injured.
Tornadoes and thunderstorms hit the three states yesterday -- ripping apart homes, uprooting trees and sending telephone poles flying through the air.
And officials say it may not be over yet.
At least one tornado has developed today in Tennessee.
Cheryl Kepes (KEPP- us) joins us from Jackson, Tennessee with an update on the tornadoes and their aftermath.
[LIVE=NEWSPATH/FULL]
[SUPER=01-Cheryl Kepes/Reporting;]
[SUPER=05-Jackson, TN;]
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[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Jackson, TN;]
[SUPER=01-Jerry Gist/Jackson Mayor;]
[SUPER=03-Pierce City, MO;]
[SUPER=05-Jackson, TN;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=back to you.]
((
(locator: Jackson, TN)

(natz)

Thousands of people in the heart of the nation are lucky to be alive this Monday. Powerful tornadoes ripped through Kansas, Missouri and Tennessee over the weekend...leveling homes....businesses and killing more than 2 dozen people.

(natz/sot)

This is Jackson, Tennessee where a twister tore through the center of town...several died and the search for survivors is going full throttle.

sot: Mayor,Jerry Gist, Jackson, TN.
"still trying to get to some of our residents, having to just basically cut their way to the houses because of the trees."

(natz)

(locator: Pierce City, MO)

In tiny Pierce City, Missouri...just about every home and business suffered damage. Some sought refuge in a National Guard Armory...only to be buried beneath it when part of the building collapsed. The death toll is unknow. Survivors are still in shock.
Mos/Resident. "I just think it's a dream. I want to wake up tomorrow and have everything the way it used to be, but I know it's not going to happen."

(natz of funnel cloud)

Most of the damage was done around mid-day on Sunday. Some families returned home from church services to find out they no longer had a place to live.

Poss sot/Mos resident.

(standup ...to come:)

))

[Iraq]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

U-S officials say coalition forces have captured a top Iraqi biological weapons scientist.
Huda Salih Mahdi Ammash was also among the 55 most wanted members of the former regime.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=203-Baghdad, Iraq;]

Meanwhile, the U-S civil administrator of Iraq Jay Garner says he's hopeful that more changes will be coming in the next several weeks, as Iraq works to form interim leadership.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=May is a key month]
((JAY GARNER/U. S. CIVIL ADMINISTRATOR OF IRAQ: MAY IS A KEY MONTH FOR SETTING THE CONDITIONS FOR THE REST OF THE TIME, I THINK. BECAUSE WHAT YOU HAVE NOW IS, I THINK, YOU CAN SEE THE BEGINNINGS OF SETTLEMENT.))
[SUPER=201-Jay Garner/U. S. Civil Administrator of Iraq;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=beginnings of a settlement.]
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[VO-NAT]

In other developments, Britain has re- opened its embassy in Baghdad after a 12- year break, following the first gulf war.
A staff of 20 will be in place by the end of July.
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[Kruegar]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tbr]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=fatal accident]

A Virginia Tech freshman has died from injuries she suffered in an April 26th accident in Montgomery County.
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[VO]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co./April 26;]

Virginia State Police say 18-year-old Ashley Kruegar was one of six Virginia Tech students riding in a Ford Explorer that went out of control on Interstate 81, ran into the median and rolled.
Kruegar died yesterday at Carilion Memorial Hospital in Roanoke.
The 19-year-old student who was driving the Explorer has been charged with reckless driving. Police believe he fell asleep at the wheel.
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[Nichols]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]

He's already serving life behind bars for his role in the Oklahoma City bombing.
Today Terry Nichols will appear at a preliminary hearing to determine whether there's enough evidence for him to stand trial on 160 counts of first degree murder.
Nichols was convicted in the deaths of eight law enforcement officers in the bombing, which killed 168 people.
The state charges involve victims who were NOT part of Nichols' federal trial.
State prosecutors say they'll seek the death penalty.

[Soyuz]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tbr]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Russian space experts are meeting to figure out why one of their space capsules landed 300 miles off target.
The Soyuz carried two Americans and one Russian home from the international space station.
Tom Fenton has more.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[RUNS=1:10]
[OUT Q=CBS NEWS, London]
((WITH THE U-S SHUTTLE FLEET GROUNDED BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF THE COLUMBIA.. A RUSSIAN SOYUZ ROCKET WAS PRESSED INTO SERVICE TO RETURN THE CREW AND IT DID...SAFELY...BUT TO A SPOT HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY FROM IT'S DESIGNATED LANDING SITE IN KAZAKHSTAN..

(shots from chopper)
THE LAST MESSAGE FROM THE SOYUZ BEFORE IT HIT THE ATMOSPHERE AND THE RADIO BLACKED OUT INDICATED THE PARACHUTE HAD OPENED AND THE MOST BRUTAL PART OF REENTRY WAS OVER. BUT THERE STILL WERE TWO ANXIOUS HOURS WHILE THE RUSSIAN RECOVERY CREW SCOURED THE ARID COUNTRY. WHEN THEY FINALLY FOUND THE CAPSULE...THE 2 AMERICANS AND ONE RUSSIAN HAD ALREADY CRAWLED OUT AND WERE STANDING AROUND WAITING.
ON THE WAY BACK TO WHERE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE...ONE OF THE AMERICANS EXPLAINED HOW SURPRISED THEY WERE WHEN INSTRUMENTS TOLD THEM THEY WERE WAY OFF COURSE.

(SOT: ken bowersox, expedition six commander) (SOT WILL HAVE TO BE
CHYRONED) when we saw those signs our eyes got very wide cause we truly expected a nominal entry

(flowers, welcome)
NARR: THERE WERE NO MAJOR INJURIES. IT WAS THE FIRST LANDING OF U-S ASTRONAUTS IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY...AND IN A FOREIGN SPACECRAFT THAT HAD NOT DESCENDED FROM ORBIT BEFORE.. BUT FOR AN ASTRONAUT THE UNEXPECTED IS ROUTINE...

(NAT: BOWERSOX:)
"Just a normal return to earth".
TF CBSN LONDON.))
[Tease1] [HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

Coming up next on the newscast, we will tell you why diabetes is hitting the minority communitites hard.
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[VO-NAT ]
Then a little later, some four legged friends of the military were putting on the dog yesterday.
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[music up full] [comm1]

[Goodlatte]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=03-10 1:09:41]
[GRAPHIC=Goodlatte]

Congressman Bob Goodlatte wants Roanoke's Ex-Prisoners of War to buy a new set of wheels.
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[VO-NAT :09]
[SUPER=03-Salem;]
The Republican today presented the group with a check for more than one thousand dollars. The money will help purchase a new van to transport veterans.
(///// SOT at :09 /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=All the upholstery is....]
[SUPER=@Goodlatte;]
[SUPER=01-Elizabeth Bowles/Roanoke Chapter, American Ex-P.O.W.;]
(CONGRESSMAN BOB GOODLATTE: ALL THE UPHOLSTERY IS TORN UP...)
((ELIZABETH BOWLES/ROANOKE CHAPTER, AMERICAN EX-PRISONERS OF WAR: WE'RE REALLY EXICTED ABOUT IT.))
[RUNS=:38]
[OUT Q=We're really excited about it.]
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[VO-NAT :12]
The donation is one of dozens Congressman Goodlatte's made over the years. The annual contributions equal the salary increases he would have received through a pay increase Congress approved in 1993.
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[Diabetes]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tbr]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=Diabetes]

As more Americans become obese, diabetes rates are skyrocketing.
That seems especially true in minority and low income groups.
Sandra Hughes has more on the causes and what it could mean to the already overburdened healthcare system.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Mario Obledo/Diabetes Patient; :14]
[SUPER=01-Sandra Hughes/CBS News; :34]
[SUPER=01-Dr. E. Richard Brown/UCLA; :56]
[SUPER=07-Dr. Bill Releford; 1:19 QUICK]
[RUNS=2:00]
[OUT Q=CBS NEW Los Angeles]
((AFTER SERVING AS CALIFORNIA'S SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND WELFARE AND SPENDING MOST OF HIS LIFE IN GOOD SHAPE, MARIO OBLEDO WAS SHOCKED BY THE DIAGNOSIS OF DIABETES:

(SOT: Mario Obledo/ Diabetes Patient) " It's been devastating impact,
really. When you consider I lost my ability to walk , I've had three strokes, they've impacted on my speech so I have a slurred speech sometimes. It's impacted my daily life, my daily existence"
HIS DAILY EXISTENCE FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS HAS INCLUDED PILLS, HOSPITAL STAYS AND THE AMPUTATION OF ONE LEG.

O.C. A RECENT STUDY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES FOUND OBLEDO IS PART OF AN ALARMINGLY HIGH NUMBER OF ETHNIC MINORITIES STRUCK BY DIABETES.
((ADD NUMBERS))THE FINDINGS SHOW AFRICAN AMERICANS AND HISPANICS ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO DEVELOP DIABETES AS THEIR WHITE COUNTERPARTS (END GRAPHIC))
IN A STATE LIKE CALIFORNIA WITH IT'S MAJORITY- MINORITY POPULATION-IT COULD MEAN A HEALTH CRISIS:

(SOT: Dr. E. Richard Brown/UCLA " ) One in seven adults in California is
either diagnosed with diabetes or at high risk of developing diabetes because of them being overweight or living sedentary lives"
ANOTHER RISK FACTOR? POVERTY..SOME EXPERTS SEE THE CHEAP FAST FOOD AVAILABLE IN low income NEIGHBORHOODS AS THE CULPRIT:

SOT: ( Dr. Bill Releford /Diabetes Amputation Prevention Foundation) " I
think the 39 cents hamburger is the real weapon of mass destruction..all the fast food venues that are up and down Crenshaw blvd-that's the real terror.."
THE RESULT; MORE EXTREMELY OVERWEIGHT CHILDREN WHO END UP DEVELOPING ADULT DIABETES..

(Nats of fitness instructor talking to kids ) "on your marks, get set,
go"
AT PLACES LIKE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL LOS ANGELES, PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED TO STOP DIABETES BEFORE IT STARTS. CESAR LOPEZ IS RELEARNING HOW TO APPROACH FOOD:

SOT: Cesar Lopez " "I'll look at it and if it's bad I'll leave it alone
and if it's good I'll take it!

UNLESS THESE EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAMS CAN REVERSE THE CURRENT TRENDS, MANY EXPERTS PREDICT THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM ITSELF COULD BE OVERWHELMED WITH TREATING THIS FRIGHTENING NUMBER OF NEW DIABETES CASES....SH CBS NEWS LA.)

[Monticello]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=03-05 TC-2:05:18]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Descendants of one of Thomas Jefferson's slaves, Sally Hemings, have given up attending the yearly family reunion sponsored by the Monticello Association.
Instead, they will hold their own reunions at Jefferson's Charlottesville home.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville/File Tape]

DNA tests have found a link between the Jefferson and Hemings families.
Some historians believe Hemings was Jefferson's mistress, while others think she was the mistress of his brother.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Despite that, last year the Monticello Association formally excluded the Hemings from membership, and prohibited its members from allowing more than two Hemings guests at each reunion.
Hemings family members plan to hold their reunion in July.

[VOB-Festival-Wrapup]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=NetB]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The people behind the Southwest Virginia Festival 2003 are very pleased with the weekend turnout.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem;]
Nearly 18- thousand people attended the closing service making it the most attended event of the three- day festival.

Gospel singer Nicole C. Mullen was a big crowd pleaser, as was the fact that Saturday's rains did not return. Organizers say the festival wouldn't have been a success without all the support it received from the community.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:34:38]
[IN Q=Participation from area churches]
((SHERMAN BARNETTE/FESTIVAL ORGANIZER: PARTICIPATION FROM AREA CHURCHES HAS BEEN MORE THAN WE EXPECTED BECAUSE WE'VE HAD OVER 500 CHURCHES PARTICIPATING, OVER 53 DENOMINATIONS SO REALLY FOR AN AREA THIS SIZE THAT'S REALLY OVER THE TOP. ))
[SUPER=01-Sherman Barnette/Festival Organizer;]
[RUNS=18]
[OUT Q=really over the top]
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[VO-NAT]
The price tag on the event was about one- million dollars. One- quarter of that will be paid for by the Graham Ministries and the rest will be made up of donations from local churches and businesses.
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[Tease2] [SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

Next on the newscast, if you like warm and sunny days...you're going to hate Leo's forecast.
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[VO-NAT ]
Plus if this couple was not stuck on each other before the prom, chances are they are now that they made their prom clothes out of duct tape.
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[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]

[Dog-Troops]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Some patriotic pooches are showing their support for U-S troops.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-San Diego, CA;]

Yesterday, they gathered in San Diego, wearing yellow ribbons attached to their collars.
The dogs of all breeds got together for a "Support Our Troops" party.
Their owners were asked to bring something to include in a care package for servicemen and women still overseas.
The canine group then got together for a group picture, which will be included in the care package.
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[Duct-Tape]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Girls often worry that someone else will show up to the prom wearing a dress similar to theirs...
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Slinger, WI;]

However, that wasn't a problem for Ali Gilbertson.
The Wisconsin high school junior and her date, Travis Fischer fashioned their prom outfits out of DUCT TAPE.
This year's theme was "Jungle Fever, " and the couple felt their striped and dotted ensembles would be appropriate, yet creative.
Travis says he was trying to set himself apart from the other students.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Yeah, I just]
((TRAVIS FISCHER/HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR: YEAH, I JUST WANT TO BE REMEMBERED FOR SOMETHING. SO, LIKE HEY THAT'S THAT KID THAT WENT WITH DUCT TAPE.))
[SUPER=01-Travis Fischer/High School Senior;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=with duct tape]
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[VO-NAT]

There is, however, another reason for getting into the STICKY situation.
Ali and Travis are also trying to win a national contest.
If their designs are chosen, they'll receive 25-hundred dollars and another 25-hundred will be donated to their school.
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[Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly 2-Shot]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE# none]
[GRAPHIC=None]

On Wall Street at Noon, the DOW was DOWN 45 points. The NASDAQ has gained 8.

[super=460-y/45/x/8;]

[tease3] [SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
Four teams are headed to the second round of the NBA playoffs...
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[VO-NAT ]
While another team begins its search for a new head coach.
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[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]

[S-NBA]

[ANCHOR=kim]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-134 TC13109]
[GRAPHIC=NBA]

The second round of the NBA playoffs are now set, and the Detorit Pistons will play the Philadelphia 76'ers. The Dallas Mavericks will face the Sacramento Kings.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Auburn Hills, MI/ESPN; :00]

Former Virginia star Rick Carlisle watched his Detroit team hold Tracy McGrady to 21 points on 7 of 24 shooting on the day.
Meanwhile, Virginia Union product Ben Wallace was busy getting rebounds off of the Cliff Robinson miss.
[SUPER=34-Orlando/93/Detroit/108/;]

Chauncey Billups scored 37 points for Detroit. The Pistons advance 108-93, winning the series 4 games to 3.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Rick Carlisle/Pistons Head Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:25]
[OUT Q=into our greatest opportunity."]
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Dallas, TX/ABC Sports; :00]

In Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki scored seven straight points late against the Blazers. The Mavericks win 107 to 95.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Dirk Nowitzki/Scored 31 Points; :00]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=that advantage very nice."]
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[S-Silas]

[ANCHOR=kim]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-138 TC11728]
[GRAPHIC=NBA]

In one other NBA note, the New Orleans Hornets have stung Head Coach Paul Silas.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-NBA; :00]

Yesterday the team fired Silas, who is the franchise leader in victories.
Silas spent five seasons on the Hornets sidelines, and leaves with an overall record of 208 wins and 155 losses.
The team had been to the playoffs the past four seasons, but had not advanced past the second round.
This season the team was 47 and 35, good enough for third place in the Central Division.
The Sixers eliminated the Hornets from the post- season earlier in the week.
(------------)

[S-Brooks]

[ANCHOR=kim]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-146 1:14:28]
[GRAPHIC=UVa]

UVA freshman sensation Ahmad Brooks is expected to have a huge impact this fall in Charlottesville. Steve Mason has more on the young linebacker.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville; :00]
[SUPER=01-Al Groh/14-12 Record at UVa; :15]
[SUPER=03-Chatham; :30]
[SUPER=01-Ahmad Brooks/UVa Freshman Linebacker; :45]
[SUPER=01-Dennis Haley/UVa Junior Linebacker; 1:06]
[SUPER=01-Darryl Blackstock/107 Tackles as a Freshman; 1:27]
[SUPER=@Steve1; 1:45]
[RUNS=1:58]
[OUT Q=...news 7 sports"]
(---------------)

((Until the spring game, Al Groh was the only UVa coach who had seen Ahmad Brooks play at Fork Union. Now every coach on staff has reason to smile at the Cavaliers young talent and his spring performance made the wait worth while. ((AL GROH/UVA THIRD YEAR HEAD COACH:))
The 2001 USA Today high school national defensive player of the year was in on 48 tackles and four sacks at Fork Union last season. But Brooks seems humble after playing a few weeks with a talented Virginia defensive group. ((AHMAD BROOKS/UVA FRESHMAN LINEBACKER:))
Brooks was assigned Darryl Blackstock as a roommate and the rising sophomore who recorded 10 sacks as a freshman and was named national defensive freshman of the year by college football news.com, has been helpful but honest with Brooks.)) ((DARRYL BLACKSTOCK/ALL ACC HONORABLE MENTION AS FRESHMAN:)) ((STEVE MASON:BROOKS WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO APPLY THE KNOWLEDGE LEARNED FROM BLACKSTOCK QUICKLY THANKS TO SOME HOLES IN THE UVA LINEBACKING CORE. STARTERS ANGELO CROWELL AND MERRILL ROBERTSON ARE NOW WITH NFL TEAMS. STEVE MASON NEWS 7 SPORTS. ))
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