Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 10, 1993 TAG: 9311100034
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Jack Bogaczyk
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
There's an obvious way the East Coast Hockey League can avoid a Blast-off for owner Larry Revo's Huntsville franchise.
Find a woman goaltender for Revo's less-than-rampaging club. The first two ECHL starts - and victories - by female goalies have brought record crowds, including significant walk-up business.
A crowd of 5,352 made for standing room only at the Toledo Sports Arena when Erin Whitten won Friday night for the Storm. A Knoxville franchise record of 4,805 watched the next night as Manon Rheaume won her ECHL debut for the Cherokees, over Johnstown.
Do you think Roanoke Express officials are hoping Rheaume is named to start a day or two before Knoxville's Nov. 18 date at the Roanoke Civic Center?
Florida State's Bobby Bowden can't win. He has never been elected college football's coach of the year. Now that he's two tough victories from 11-0, so is his son, Terry, at Auburn. The award usually goes to a guy who's team is accomplishing the unexpected - like the Tigers, on NCAA probation.
If Virginia wins at Clemson for the first time in history Saturday, Tigers coach Ken Hatfield likely will be job hunting. With South Carolina coach Sparky Woods also in trouble, they're calling the Nov. 20 Clemson-South Carolina game the "Dick Sheridan Bowl."
The question is, who gets the former Furman and North Carolina State coach, the winner or the loser?
Count on Marshall's Jim Donnan being in the chase for one or both of those jobs.
An early vote for NBA coach of the year: Cleveland's Mike Fratello. Yes, the Cavaliers started 0-2, but they're tougher, which they'll have to be to challenge New York in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland averaged 19 fouls per game last season and committed 35 on Sunday in an overtime loss to the Knicks. In the preseason, the Cavs had nine foul-outs in eight games after only 10 in 82 games last season.
Here's why not even the Washington Redskins are hog wild about getting to .500 this season: Their backup offensive linemen are Darryl Moore, Greg Huntington, Paul Siever, Vernice Smith and Guy Bingham. Of that group, only Bingham was with the club last year, and he was used only as a deep-snapper.
It isn't just a 2-6 record that has made the Redskins' season frustrating for VMI grad Mark Stock. The wide receiver has been on the inactive list for six of the eight games, primarily because he's the club's No. 5 receiver, and depth has been more crucial on injured offensive and defensive lines.
When they're paying you to do it, it's more difficult. Scott Sisson, whose last-gasp field goals for Georgia Tech beat Virginia twice and Virginia Tech once, is about to lose his job as an NFL rookie. He has missed eight of 20 attempts for New England.
Former Virginia point guard John Crotty stuck with the Utah Jazz for a second season, but even without a guaranteed contract, he was likely to have an NBA job. Had Crotty been waived, the Charlotte Hornets likely would have signed him to back up Muggsy Bogues and Tony Bennett, just off the injured list.
The Maroon Zone? Virginia Tech must beat Syracuse on Saturday to clinch a bowl bid, and continuing an impressive trend at Lane Stadium would help the Hokies.
Dating back six games, including the 1992 season-ending loss to Virginia, Tech has reached the opponent's 20-yard line 29 times at Lane Stadium, and scored 28 times - getting 23 touchdowns and five field goals in the "red zone."
Keywords:
BASKETBALL
by CNB