Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 29, 1992 TAG: 9203290126
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Foussekis is wondering, too.
"I knew that's where I wanted to be. I wanted to end my career there," said Foussekis, a Tech assistant from 1969-71. "I really don't know what happened."
On March 11, after spending 10 days in a Blacksburg hotel, Foussekis spurned the job at his alma mater under Frank Beamer, a former Tech teammate. The choice, Foussekis had said, was between staying in coaching or joining his brother G.E.'s contracting business in Charlottesville.
Foussekis said Friday that several days after turning down Tech, he decided not to join his brother's business after all, instead making a financial commitment to the business. Foussekis said he will try to stay in coaching. He had spent 19 years at Maryland before the Terrapins' staff was let go after last season.
"There were a lot of things happening," Foussekis said of his week-and-a-half in Blacksburg. "My dad had had a stroke and basically lost his eyesight, so I was dealing with that. I was melancholy about leaving [Maryland].
"You go through stages. I just wasn't thinking clearly. Maybe it was a little depression or whatever. I just couldn't make a decision.
"It's the perfect job. I'm a little depressed now."
Foussekis, reached at his home in Louisa, said he doesn't know what's available for him in coaching. After leaving Maryland, he didn't pursue other jobs because he said he knew he'd have a chance to coach at Tech.
"Right now, I miss it," he said of coaching. "I know I'm going to miss it next fall."
\ Redshirt freshman quarterback Fred Lassiter upstaged Maurice DeShazo in Tech's first controlled spring football scrimmage Saturday in Blacksburg.
Lassiter, a 6-foot-1, 160-pounder from Newport News, completed eight of 11 passes for 92 yards, including touchdown passes of 23 yards to converted linebacker Richard Strong and seven yards to Ray Crittenden. Lassiter also scored on runs of 2 and 4 yards.
DeShazo, expected to take over the quarterback job from graduated Will Furrer, was 3-of-8 passing for 24 yards. Beamer said earlier this week that if DeShazo would have any competition for the starting job, it likely would come from Lassiter.
"There is no question that Fred caught my eye this afternoon," said Beamer, who added that he was pleased with the lack of turnovers.
Fullback Mike Hodges ran for 74 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown. Hodges and Rocky Mount native Mark Poindexter are in the running to start at fullback.
Two redshirt freshmen, linebacker Ben Scott and defensive end Mike Bianchin, had two sacks each. Walk-on redshirt freshman linebacker Keith Gray and senior defensive tackle Stephan Holloway also had two sacks each.
by CNB