Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 25, 1993 TAG: 9311260114
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
These innocents haven't seen the real Tony Wheeler.
Until recently.
The 6-foot-1, 197-pound junior is enough to disturb their sleep, tie them in knots and leave them badly shaken. And that's just in football.
What this serious-minded fellow can do on a football field is worth further examination. At least there is tangible evidence of the skills he can bring to bear in that violent game.
What he can do on the basketball court and baseball diamond have only been hinted at, though. The possibilities can only bring a shudder to those who must deal with him in upcoming seasons.
For now, Wheeler is tearing it up in football, which is one of the chief reasons the Indians are in the thick of the Group AA Division 4 Region IV playoffs.
Wheeler has been bruising them as a linebacker and bowling them over as a running back. Furthermore, he has been seeking the counsel of the wise men of the Blacksburg coaching staff as to how to perform these tasks more effectively.
Not that he isn't doing a splendid job already.
"He's a great athlete," said Vaughn Phipps, a Blacksburg assistant coach who works with the defense. "I can teach kids a million things, but I can't teach them how to run and react. Tony's born with that. You can't coach that."
For all intents and purposes, Wheeler is just coming into full and fearsome bloom. A year ago, he was starting as sophomore when a dislocated shoulder cut his football playing time. The injured wing mended sufficiently for him to launch into basketball season, during which he hacked up Blacksburg foes to the tune of 15 points and 13 rebounds per game.
Then the shoulder broke down again. Doctors said it didn't look good this time.
"They told me that I was going to miss the rest of the season," Wheeler said. "But I worked real hard rehabilitating it so I could come back."
Wheeler did make it back and played two games in the New River District tournament and one more in the Region IV tournament. Shortly thereafter, doctors were putting his shoulder under the knife.
A melancholy adios to baseball season.
"It was very frustrating," he said.
Similar sentiments no doubt were shared by baseball coach Jim Shockley. Wheeler is a catcher whose skills are said to be sound; the bat he swings makes a lot of sound. We shall see.
"Tony's best athletics are definitely ahead of him," said David Crist, Blacksburg's head football coach.
Recovery from surgery was arduous, as is usually the case. Wheeler wasn't really back in the pink until football season was well under way.
"You knew it was bothering him, but you never heard him complain and you never heard him ask to come out," Crist said. "He's got a big heart - a lot of courage. That may be the best thing he has going for him."
A good feel for football is another strong point. Wheeler is in his first full season as a linebacker, because Crist assumed he would be taking too many risks with the lame shoulder if he asked Wheeler to play defense.
"I love defense," Wheeler said. "I like the collision stuff. I just let everything go. You don't have to worry about clipping or anything else. You just go mangle."
Wheeler's role on offense has increased since Nick Burroughs suffered a season-ending knee injury. He and Wheeler alternated at tailback. Now, Wheeler is playing the position pretty much full-time.
Through the regular season, Wheeler had 307 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 71 carries. He added another 118 yards on punt and kickoff returns.
Even if he does have to worry about the odd clipping penalty on offense, he finds a certain level of satisfaction carrying the ball.
"Getting the pitch and running somebody over is a great feeling," he said. "It really gets the adrenaline going."
Wheeler once had a chance to meet Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Reggie White when the big guy was preaching at a Tennessee church where Wheeler was attending a service with relatives. The two chatted briefly, and Wheeler allowed that he had tried football.
"He told me to keep working hard and even if I have an off week, not to worry about it because everybody does," Wheeler said. "Just keep at it."
Wheeler seems to have taken those wise words to heart. With increasing frequency, Blacksburg's athletic opponents are becoming sorry he has.
by CNB