Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 10, 1993 TAG: 9302100227
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: DWAYNE YANCEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
SALEM LETS RIVAL RUN WITH RESOLUTION
Don't let it be said that the folks in Salem aren't good sports.The football-lovin' city had one last chance to sack the state champion Richlands High School Blue Tornadoes, this time on the political field.
But Salem let it pass - and so did the House of Delegates, which on Tuesday approved a resolution commending Richlands for winning the state football championship.
Normally, these sorts of resolutions commending hometown heroes are mom-and-apple-pie-type votes for state legislators.
The difference this time, though, is the illegal-cleat scandal that has embroiled Richlands since it stomped on Salem in the state semifinals in December.
Two weeks ago, the Virginia High School League - the state's governing body for high school sports - put Richlands on probation. Twice, in fact. Once, for using the illegal cleats against Salem. And again because Richlands fans hurled racial slurs against Orange County players in a raucous state championship game.
Monday night, the Tazewell County School Board responded by suspending Richland's coach, Dennis Vaught, from coaching for a year.
Despite the cleat scandal, there seemed little enthusiasm in Salem or in the General Assembly for tackling the resolution introduced by Del. Jackie Stump, whose district includes Richlands.
"I personally would hate to see the kids down there deprived of something they've received," said Don Shoemaker, president of the Salem Sports Foundation. "Let the kids down there enjoy what they won.
"A lot of the uproar here was related to the way [Salem] Coach Willis White was treated. I'd like to put this behind us. I'd be surprised if the people reacted, especially knowing the action that was taken [by the Tazewell County School Board]."
Salem Del. Steve Agee declined comment on the resolution.
Del. John Davies, D-Culpeper, who represents Orange County, also passed up a fight.
Davies sent word through an aide that "you shouldn't penalize the student for the coach's actions. It's regrettable that it happened, but there's a valuable lesson for all involved."
The commendation for Richlands was included in a package of similar resolutions that passed on a voice vote, with no audible dissent.
Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1993
Memo: Shorter ersion ran in Metro edition.