Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 12, 1990 TAG: 9007120110
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LYNCHBURG LENGTH: Medium
That's because 6-foot-7, 250-pound Mike Smith of Covington and 6-5, 278-pound Reuben Brown of E.C. Glass will be providing the pass rush for the West.
Smith and Brown aren't the only big players on the West front line, but they probably are the best-known. Both were big-time college prospects as seniors; Brown chose to attend Pittsburgh and Smith signed with Virginia Tech.
Brown almost didn't get to join Smith on the field tonight. He was late reporting to practice because he played in the All-American Football Championship game last week in Las Vegas, Nev.
By the time Brown returned home Sunday, VHSCA officials had ruled him out of the game. That didn't sit well with the people in Lynchburg, who consider Brown a natural resource. After a brief battle, Brown was placed back on the West squad Monday.
"It was just a lack of communication; let's put it at that. But I'm happy to have him," said Blacksburg coach Dave Crist, who will guide the West for the third time.
Brown said it was his understanding that he still would play in the VHSCA game even if he went to Las Vegas, where he played with some of the nation's best prep seniors. In Nevada, Brown played mostly center, a new spot for him.
"They needed a center because one didn't show up, and I decided that I'll play anything," Brown said. "I didn't know anything was wrong about me playing back home because Coach [Bo] Henson [of E.C. Glass] said everything was OK."
For the East, Brown's reinstatement is bad news. So is the presence of Smith, who was on a list of top prospects in the nation last year by one national publication and received recruiting attention from as far away as the West Coast.
The duo is part of a talented West team that will be trying to end a two-game losing streak in the all-star game and return the West to the dominance it showed in winning seven straight at one point during the 1980s.
"I don't want to say which team was the best, but this is one of the best in terms of talent," said Crist, who was head coach in 1977 and 1986 and also served as an assistant on other occasions.
Smith, who comes from a Group A school, said he doesn't worry about his first venture against players from a higher classification. "I just figure competition is competition and I can do it," he said.
Smith said he started getting letters from the University of Virginia as a sophomore. "Then I heard from Virginia Tech, North Carolina and Wake Forest," he said. "About 1 1/2 years ago, I got stuff from Arizona, Georgia and UCLA."
So why did Smith choose Tech?
"I wanted to stay closer to home," he said. "We have a lot of good football here in Virginia; just as good as anywhere else."
Brown took the opposite approach.
"I had my mind set on going out of state when I realized I could play Division I football," Brown said. "I wouldn't say Virginia has less football. Tech has one of the top-rated defenses [in the nation], and Virginia is up and coming. But I just wanted to see some new places."
Smith said he needs to put on more upper-body weight to be a force in college. Brown will have to improve his pass-rush skills. No matter, the two might be a load for the East to handle tonight.
"It's going to be a devastating pass rush," Brown said. "I think we'll give them a hard time."
by CNB