Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 20, 1994 TAG: 9403200036
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Last winter, when Muscaro's North Cross boys' basketball team was on its way to a state private schools championship, his wife, Jeannie, lost her long battle against cancer.
This fall, as Muscaro's football team won a state title, the North Cross coach and athletic director discovered that a loss of hearing in his right ear had been caused by a tumor.
Wednesday, Muscaro will undergo surgery at the University of Virginia to remove the tumor that is causing acoustic neuroma. This is a space-taking tumor in the area of the inner ear that brings on balance difficulty, hearing problems and headaches.
"These tumors aren't usually malignant - hopefully," says Muscaro, sharing an opinion offered by most doctors on acoustic neuroma.
"This is not a common thing. It occurs in one out of every 3,500 people - most of them women," he added.
Even with the surgery, Muscaro isn't likely to regain the hearing in his right ear.
Muscaro, despite his recent difficulties, has remained upbeat and kept his sense of humor.
"Hey, you've got to live," he says when asked how he maintains an up tempo that is similar to the way his basketball and football teams attack their opponents.
The only active coach in Virginia with state championships in football and boys' basketball, Muscaro never has been one to seek personal glory. He has tried to stay out of the coaching spotlight.
While dealing with his latest problem, he has done his usual workmanlike job for North Cross.
"It was a little different [this year]," Muscaro said of a coaching experience under pressure that is far more difficult to measure than wins and losses.
Many people who saw Muscaro weekly failed to notice his hearing problem until they were told. That's because Muscaro never complained about his health or showed any signs of pressure. That's not surprising because he plays life like a good poker player - without changing expression and to the hilt.
\ EDWARDS LIKES MOVE: At least one Piedmont District football coach, Martinsville's Taylor Edwards, won't be unhappy if the Bulldogs join four Henry County schools and Patrick County in moving to Region IV in 1996.
Edwards, who says discussion of just such a change had been going on for a while, isn't concerned as much with balance of regions or representation on the Virginia High School League legislative council as he is with what might be the real reason for the shift: improved chances in the playoffs.
"I'll be honest, right now Seminole District football is the strongest Group AA [league] in the state with two state champions. If we move, it eliminates having to meet them until the semifinals," Edwards says.
Interestingly, one of Edwards' best prospects, freshman running back Manti Venable, will be a senior if and when the move takes place.
Basketball coaches at the schools planning to move might have a similar feeling about the emergence of the Blue Ridge District as a power in their sport.
Martinsville used to own the Region III boys' basketball tournament, but in the past few years the Blue Ridge District has increased the number of teams it has sent to the Group AA state tournament.
This year, for the first time, two Blue Ridge District teams - Salem and Northside - reached state play. The Vikings can be expected to be one of Region III's strongest squads next season, and Salem, which is beginning to look like a very strong program under second-year coach Charlie Morgan, should be competitive again.
\ COACHING CHANGES: 'Tis the season for coaching changes. Most of them are just out of Timesland, though they could be affecting Timesland by hiring coaches from within the area.
In football, Fred Stanbery won't be back as head coach at Heritage in the Group AAA Western District. Stanbery became an assistant principal after the season and will continue in that job.
One media outlet reported Liberty's Mike Scharnus is one of the favorites to get the job. Apparently, it was just wishful thinking by Pioneers fans.
Scharnus, one of Timesland's brightest young coaches, says, "I haven't talked to anyone from Heritage, and I'm not applying."
Scharnus realizes he has some young talent at Liberty, led by Timesland Sizzlin' Sophomore of the Year Greg Reynolds, and Heritage is one of the state's smallest Group AAA schools in terms of enrollment.
The same report also said former George Wythe coach Paul Wheeler, who has won two Group AA state football titles at Rustburg, as another strong candidate for the job. Like Scharnus, Wheeler never had any intention of leaving the Red Devils for Heritage.
In basketball, Brookville of the Seminole District is looking for a replacement for Allen Bernstorf, who resigned after one year. The Bees, who have had a revolving door in football with three coaches in the eight years since Ed Martin left for GW-Danville, have fans who are getting a reputation for making life tough if teams don't live up to high expectations.
There is no word on Bernstorf's replacement.
\ FOOTBALL NOTES: Lord Botetourt's Jeff Cronise has received a partial grant to NAIA school Mars Hill (N.C.), where he will be used as a tight end. Cronise, 6 feet 6, was a second-team All-Blue Ridge District pick at that position. Cronise, who was second in Timesland rebounding with 11.8 per game, says he will not play basketball at Mars Hill.
Greenbrier East in Lewisburg, W.Va., is looking for two football games next year on Sept. 2 or 23 and on Nov. 4. Anyone interested is asked to call coach Homer Criddle at (304) 647-6464 or (304) 647-6472
Patrick Henry quarterback Shannon Taylor has made his second postseason prep All-America list. This time he's on the Blue Chip National College Recruiting Association All-America team.
by CNB