Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, January 1, 1993 TAG: 9301010014
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE: Jack Bogaczyk (staff)
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
IN 1993, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF...?
This could happen in 1993:Jan. 5: Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer appoints center Jim Pyne the team's line coach, enhancing Pyne's All-America chances as the only player-coach in college football.
Jan. 17: Washington beats San Francisco 21-20 in the NFC playoffs on Earnest Byner's three halfback touchdown passes to Gary Clark, and coach Joe Gibbs names Byner to replace Mark Rypien as the Redskins' starting quarterback in the NFC championship game in Dallas. "This is just a one-quarter deal," Gibbs says. "Mark is still the guy."
Jan. 28: Radford beats Liberty 72-68 in Big South basketball as Doug Day goes 24-for-57 from behind the 3-point stripe. "For our other guys, the game was pretty pointless," says Highlanders coach Ron Bradley.
Jan. 31: Stan Humphries fires four touchdown passes to lead San Diego to a 31-7 Super Bowl victory over the Redskins. After the game, Gibbs trades four draft choices to reacquire Humphries, then appoints Rypien to replace Dale Jarrett as driver for the Gibbs' NASCAR team.
Feb. 18: Virginia pulls an 83-80 basketball upset of top-ranked Duke before a crowd of 1,993 at University Hall. Among the no-shows is UVa athletic director Jim Copeland, who says, "I was in my office calling about that Copper Bowl bid."
Feb. 26: The Roanoke Valley Rampage wins its first game since December with a 7-2 rout of the Henry Brabham-owned Johnstown Chiefs before 742 spectators at the LancerLot. Rampage owner Larry Revo complains that the heat isn't on in Brabham's building, and a fight ensues between the landlord and tenant, bringing 2,400 people from the adjoining exercise room into the rink.
March 1: Roanoke Mayor David Bowers says an Amtrak route is needed between the Star City and Frederick, Md. "Most of the city's best high school basketball players already are up there anyway," Bowers says.
March 14: Virginia Tech loses the Metro Conference basketball tournament final, after which athletic director Dave Braine announces the Hokies are moving to the Ivy League in 1994. "Our academics speak for themselves," Braine says. "And, since I've been here, it's been a goal of mine to put us in an all-sports conference."
April 4: In NCAA women's basketball championship, Virginia wins as the Burge twins turn in a rare double double-double. Copeland announces UVa will build 16,000-seat arena for women's hoops only.
April 5: VMI wins the men's NCAA championship game over Michigan, and three of the Wolverines' Fab Five announce they want to transfer to the military school, but only if women are admitted. VMI announces that because of financial problems it is dropping basketball but keeping its rifle program.
April 15: Roanoke's bid to bring pro hockey to the Roanoke Civic Center is jeopardized when promoter Whitey Taylor goes before city council and reveals that Mac McCadden's plan includes a 2-for-1 pension for Revo and a Zamboni-driving job for Joel Schlanger.
April 25: Rypien drives to his first Winston Cup win in the Hanes 500 at Martinsville Speedway, but Gibbs misses it because he's making a deal at the NFL draft, trading Humphries for Jay Schroeder.
May 9: Rampage owner Revo announces he is moving the hockey club to Charlotte, N.C., and renaming it the First Union Raiders. "Charlotte already has everything else Roanoke wants," Revo says.
June 20: At the conclusion of the Grand Prix of Roanoke, horse lover Marion Via announces that in addition to the Grand Prix purse, she will purchase the sponsorship to racing's Triple Crown and asks to move the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes to Victory Stadium. "They've had racing there already," Via says.
June 30: At the opening ceremonies for the Commonwealth Games, Virginia Amateur Sports chairman Ken King announces that First Union Bank will be the new Games' sponsor. First Union moves the event to Charlotte but announces the torch run will pass through Doug Fonder's backyard.
Aug. 28: Tech athletic director Dave Braine doesn't like what he sees at football practice and tells Beamer changes have to be made. Beamer replaces two managers, puts Pyne at quarterback and tells the media, "I hope the NCAA doesn't construe Dave's help as our having one too many coaches in our program."
Aug. 30: The Salem Buccaneers break the club attendance record, but the city decides to tear down Municipal Field. The Bucs must move after Salem officials announce that since high school football season has started, their thoughts will be otherwise occupied until December.
Sept. 3: Virginia goes on three years' NCAA probation and is banned from television for improper loans to athletes. Coach George Welsh throws his cap in disgust, then says, "It's OK. Our administration doesn't want us on TV anyway."
Sept. 18: After two wins, Virginia Tech loses 41-7 to defending national champion Miami. Beamer says, "We're only 60 minutes and five touchdowns from being 3-0."
Oct. 25: Copeland calls the Independence Bowl, gets Chuck Noe on Welsh's radio show.
Oct. 31: Braine calls the Aloha Bowl, gets Beamer's home, tells the coach to change socks.
Nov. 1: Reacting to criticism about temperatures in the LancerLot, Brabham promises to bring a Miami Heat game to Vinton next week.
Nov. 20: Tech and UVa, each with a 6-4 record, meet at Scott Stadium, with scouts from the Copper, Aloha, Independence and Liberty bowls in attendance. Braine and Copeland miss schmoozing with bowl officials because they're talking about future scheduling in cross country. "Do you think we're football guys or something?" Copeland asks as bowl bids go elsewhere. Welsh throws cap. Beamer makes another Braine-ordered change, switching order of assistants' mail slots in office.