Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 30, 1993 TAG: 9306300064
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"I made a big mistake dealing with the baseball people," Wilkins said Tuesday. "I committed to Virginia Tech first, and that's what I should have stuck with."
On Monday, a Mariners scout questioned Tech's role in getting Wilkins to his Boynton Beach, Fla., home from Seattle's rookie league team in Arizona during the weekend.
Wilkins said Tuesday the baseball club bought him a round-trip ticket and that Tech's only involvement was assistant coach Todd Grantham making Wilkins' reservation on the Sunday flight home. Under NCAA rules, Tech could not have paid for the flight.
Wilkins said he agreed to a $30,000 signing bonus with the Mariners, including money for his college education, but he received only $500 for travel expenses. That money must be repaid before Wilkins can accept a scholarship to an NCAA school.
"I spent all of it, but I'll find a way to get it back [to Seattle]," Wilkins said. "I'll get a job and just give him [scout John Ramey] all my checks. I want to get out of this baseball thing."
Wilkins met with Ramey, the Seattle scout who signed him, on Tuesday afternoon and was told the Mariners would release him from his contract.
Wilkins said he had second thoughts about signing a baseball-only contract on the plane to Arizona. He said Grantham called Friday, asked him if he liked Arizona and then asked if he was ready to go home. Wilkins said he didn't know. The next day, Grantham called again.
"I said, `Coach, I'm coming home,' " Wilkins said. "I want to be a Hokie."
by CNB