Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 8, 1990 TAG: 9004080102
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
A witness for the latter: Kevin Bennett.
"When we were 13 years old, 14," he said of the Bennett kids, "my father used to take us out on Miami Beach, and he used to make us run up and down the beach late at night. I used to think he was the worst father . . . "
A six-mile round trip three nights a week after football season ended - on sand, no less - made Bennett question authority. But the 19-year-old Virginia Tech wide receiver, who has had a solid spring and has wiggled his skinny self into a three-way battle to replace Myron Richardson at split end, has a new adjective for his parents: inspirational. He credits them with helping him navigate urban Miami and end up at relatively serene Blacksburg.
In the past month, Bennett said, three of his boyhood friends were killed in Miami, which has become one of several cities in the United States noted for drug- and gang-related violence. He said he realizes now that the 9 p.m., surf-dodging runs were designed to do more than keep the young Bennetts in shape for their respective sports: For those three nights, at least, John Bennett knew his kids weren't in trouble.
"I think that was the main reason for it, really," said Kevin Bennett, the youngest of 11 kids. "I was never one to hang on the street corner, you know, because my parents didn't allow that."
Bennett's cockiness, however, couldn't be suppressed. Tech assistant coach Larry Creekmore, who recruited Bennett, said the receiver talked Tech's staff out of redshirting him last year. The 6-foot-4, 178-pounder is nicknamed "Showtime" for the brief jig he does after catching a pass, and from the seat of his pants hangs a white towel with a magic-marker inscription intended for defensive backs that reads "Bye Bye."
He caught only five passes last year in limited playing time but caught five for 58 yards and a touchdown in the Hokies' March 31 scrimmage. Part of the reason for that: Tech's coaches, intent on developing Bennett, are giving him big chunks of playing time and individual instruction during the spring.
Bennett claims he's arriving as a receiver, but said he wants part of his image to leave.
"That's like patting myself on the back when I do that . . . that's what keeps me going," Bennett said of the dance. "I'll do it, but I won't do it as much as I did coming out of high school. I want people to know me as Kevin Bennett; I don't want people to call me `Showtime' all the time. Because, really, I have a long way to go."
Tech's coaches, although pleased with Bennett's speed and his overall performance this spring, would agree. Hokies receivers coach Rickey Bustle said Bennett must improve his blocking and stop dropping some catchable balls. Tech coach Frank Beamer said Bennett must run better after catching the ball.
"He needs to just play with more consistency in his overall game," Bustle said.
Beamer said a better blocking Bennett might get more playing time. Bo Campbell, who'll be a sophomore next year, had six catches last year and was the Hokies' top punt returner. He is first on the depth chart.
"If [Bennett] does all those things," Beamer said, mentioning Bustle's improvement list, "I would think he'd move up."
Bennett added about 9 pounds during the off-season weight program and cut a tenth of a second off of his time in the 40-yard dash. And, because of his productive spring, he's chomping at the bit as a member of the three-deep squad.
"We've had two scrimmages and I've caught more passes than anyone else," Bennett said. "To be third on the depth chart and doing the things I do . . . I'll just keep proving it every scrimmage."
by CNB