Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 17, 1993 TAG: 9309170008
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Tech coach Frank Beamer said Thursday that Drakeford and Banks won't make the trip. Drakeford, an All-Big East cornerback, sprained a shoulder and freshman free safety Banks sprained an ankle against Pittsburgh.
"Tony [Banks] tried to practice [Wednesday] and Tyronne was going to try [Thursday]," Beamer said. "We don't feel like they're going to be completely well by Saturday."
Sophomore William Yarborough will start for Drakeford, and redshirt freshman Torrian Gray, from Lakeland, Fla., will start for Banks. Yarborough and Gray, respectively, have played on 16 and 29 of Tech's 115 defensive snaps.
Beamer said he hopes Drakeford and Banks will be ready for the Hokies' Sept. 25 game at home against Maryland and its pass-oriented offense, but said that wasn't a factor in deciding to leave the two in Blacksburg this weekend.
"If you're not well, you go down and hurt yourself again, then you're not ready the next week," said Beamer, adding that missed practice time was important. "Early in the year, you're not as sharp as you're going to be. To go down there [having missed practices] and play well come Saturday, it's not possible."
Freshman cornerback Larry Green, from Boynton Beach, Fla., should see his first action after missing two games with a sprained ankle. Also, Beamer said, linebacker George DelRicco should play after recovering from a sprained shoulder suffered against Pittsburgh.
In other Tech football news, team doctor Duane Lagan said former defensive end P.J. Preston, who quit the team in August because of an undiagnosed illness that caused him to gag during physical activity, is "progressively getting better." But Lagan said Preston's return is not imminent, and Beamer said only that he would talk to Preston about the senior's possible return.
Lagan said Preston has seen a clinical psychologist in Roanoke and has undergone hypnosis therapy, although Preston said he hasn't "gone under." A visualization technique, Preston said, has helped him overcome the gagging sensation. Preston said he now runs about a mile every other day without incident.
Preston said before he runs, he imagines the gagging sensation. Then he pictures himself running with his body relaxed, including stomach and esophagus. Next, pictures himself "in workout drills, having confidence like I used to, going full speed."
"Then I picture a candle with the flame, and at the end I blow out the flame," he said. "When I blow it out, I'm blowing out everything, all the sickness."
Preston said he plans to talk with Beamer soon about coming back and said it was his impression that he could return to the team as soon as he was cured. He expressed caution, however, about pushing his recovery too fast.
"This is such a bad feeling for him, he wants to be very sure," Lagan said. "With the first success, you don't want to go right back. You could go back too soon. The last thing we want is for him to go back and have the problem reoccur."
by CNB