Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 17, 1991 TAG: 9104170119
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
However, instead of playing VMI in a regular-season game at the stadium, a Hokies tradition for 26 years, Tech will play itself in a preseason scrimmage.
Jim Pearman, president of the Roanoke Valley Hokie Club, said Tuesday that Frank Beamer's fifth Tech team will hold a full intrasquad scrimmage Aug. 17 at the 25,000-seat facility. That date is two weeks before the Hokies' season opener in Blacksburg against Division I-AA James Madison.
Pearman said his club and the Tech Alumni Association are jointly sponsoring the game, which will cap a weekend of activities that will include an Alumni Association golf tournament Aug. 16 in Salem and pregame festivities at Victory Stadium. Pearman said tentative plans include having a band, food vendors, information on Tech for prospective students and possible appearances by Beamer and basketball coach Bill Foster.
Admission to the game, Pearman said, will be "nominal."
"It's not a fund-raiser," Pearman said. "We're trying to promote Virginia Tech. For Tech to be successful, Roanoke needs to support the program.
"Hopefully, we can make it an annual event."
Tech played VMI in a regular-season game annually from 1913-40, in 1942, and each year from 1945-71. The last 26 games were at Victory Stadium, which was built in 1942. The Hokies also played Virginia, William and Mary, Wake Forest, North Carolina State, The Citadel, Duke and North Carolina in Roanoke between 1945-69.
\ Outside linebacker Robert Davis, a transfer from Tennessee who had 23 tackles as a reserve last year, said he has been suspended indefinitely from the team by Beamer. Davis would not disclose why he was disciplined.
"I really don't know how to describe it," Davis said when asked the reason for his suspension. "It doesn't involve the law, and it doesn't involve drugs. That's all I can say."
A team source said Davis was suspended in February because of repeated violations of team rules.
Davis, a third-year sophomore last season, said he is scheduled to meet with Beamer at the end of the school year, at which time Davis' future with the team will be determined. Asked whether he wants to remain a Hokie if Beamer lifts the suspension, Davis said, "Oh, sure, yeah."
Davis, 6 feet 4, 217 pounds, is a talented player at a position at which Tech has little experience because of the loss of 1990 starters Archie Hopkins and Darwin Herdman.
\ Tech receiver Steve Sanders, rated one of the Top 25 football players in the state by the Roanoke Times & World-News in 1990, is having a good spring and may have an impact on the '91 Hokies.
Sanders, a redshirt freshman from Green Run High School in Virginia Beach, has been timed at 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash and is one of several receivers fighting for playing time at either flanker or split end.
"He's got good quickness, he gets off the line of scrimmage well, runs good routes, is an intelligent football player and catches the ball well," said Tech assistant Denie Marie, who works with the receivers. "He figures in quite heavily [next year]."
Marie said Sanders and fellow flanker Michael Sturdivant were moved to split end during spring drills to compensate for the occasional absence of starting split end Bo Campbell. Marie said the coaching staff has allowed Campbell, who made 22 catches last year, some time off from spring drills to attend class.
Redshirt freshman Ken Landrum, from Brookville High School in Lynchburg, went to Tech as a tailback/defensive back but is being tried at split end this spring.
\ Entering Tuesday's practice, only a handful of Hokies were expected to miss the spring game on Saturday.
Defensive end James Hargrove, who has a broken leg, and offensive lineman Calvert Jones (sprained knee) will be the most notable absentees. Trainer Eddie Ferrell said reserve safety Dennis Spain (sprained back), backup cornerback Chad King (pulled hamstring) and reserve linebacker Kirk Gray (sprained knee) also will miss the game.
by CNB