Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 22, 1994 TAG: 9409240009
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
``He's climbing the ladder,'' said John Shuman, Fork Union's coach. ``I've been here for 14 years and he has the most potential of any quarterback we've ever had.''
That's a mouthful, considering Fork Union quarterbacks have included Vinny Testaverde, who won the Heisman Trophy at the University of Miami, and Don Majkowski, who has played in the Pro Bowl. A third Fork Union quarterback, Jeff Komlo, played for the NFL's Detroit Lions.
Taylor will be in Blacksburg on Friday, when Fork Union meets the Virginia Tech junior varsity at 2 p.m.
``He's shown some flashes,'' Shuman said. ``He hasn't really let loose yet, but that's the typical `attached' syndrome. Guys started worrying about injuries when they've already got scholarships. They think that all they have to do is get their 700 [on the Scholastic Assessment Test].''
Taylor made an oral commitment to Virginia last season and has been assured a grant-in-aid provided he meets NCAA and school entrance requirements.
``I'd give him a B-minus so far,'' Shuman said. ``That's for everything: the military, academics and athletics. I've substituted in a few of his classes and I've told him, `Every day you're not into it for five periods and two night study halls, you've lost an opportunity to raise that score.'
``The Roanoke people involved in getting him here did a good job of getting his head on straight. He's been, `Yes, sir; no, sir,' since he arrived. If we get him to be committed like [Derick] Byrd or [Al] Clark, wow.''
Byrd and Clark, the past two Fork Union quarterbacks, received scholarships to Virginia and Virginia Tech, respectively. However, Shuman isn't afraid to use the example of Maurice Anderson and Shelley Ellison, who signed with UVa and Tech, respectively, last year, but did not post the required test score.
``If they had applied themselves all year, there wouldn't have been a problem,'' Shuman said. ``We take the blame for that. They ended up strong, but Shannon and the others have to realize you can't wait until the last minute.''
GOODPASTURE MILESTONE: Salem High School alumnus Richard Goodpasture, in his third year as Wake Forest's starting strong safety, returned an interception 47 yards in the Deacons' 56-14 loss to Florida State.
It was Goodpasture's first college interception, not counting an intercepted two-point conversion pass in the 1992 Independence Bowl, but run support has been his claim to fame. FSU running back Warrick Dunn was assisted from the field after he was flattened by Goodpasture, who also recovered a fumble.
TERPS MAKE CHANGE: Scott Milanovich, who set a Maryland record when he passed for 3,499 yards last season, has been replaced as starting quarterback by sophomore Kevin Foley, whose relief effort Saturday was instrumental in a 24-13 upset of West Virginia.
Milanovich, second on the ACC's single-season lists for touchdown passes (26) and yardage, had three turnovers - two fumbles and an interception - before giving way to Foley. Foley is the younger brother of New York Jets and former Boston College quarterback Glenn Foley.
TRANSFERS POPULAR: Eric Boykin, who has shared duties this year with Chad Johnston, is the fourth transfer to start at quarterback for West Virginia under Don Nehlen.
Boykin, who began his college career at Michigan, follows in a line of WVU quarterbacks that includes Jeff Hostetler (originally at Penn State), Greg Jones (Miami) and Jake Kelchner (Notre Dame).
Conversely, former Louisville quarterback Browning Nagle began his career at West Virginia, as did current college quarterbacks Brandon Bailey (Connecticut) and Scott Otis (Glenville State).
IN THE STATE: Liberty's leading rusher in a 37-27 loss to Toledo was 6-foot, 270-pound fullback Butch Jennings, a former Virginia Tech walk-on and brother of Hokies' tight end Bryan Jennings. The Flames were without one-time Penn State running back J.T. Morris, who had a jammed hip.
BASKETBALL RECRUITING: Georgia Tech and North Carolina were among those disappointed when 6-8 basketball standout Shareef Abdur-Rahim from Atlanta announced he would sign with California. Abdur-Rahim, whose father is an Islamic minister, said the Islamic community in the Bay area was a factor in his decision.
One of the top prospects in Virginia, 6-9 Marvin Rogers from Churchland High School, will be academically ineligible for the first semester. Rogers failed to meet new Portsmouth School Board guidelines requiring at least a 1.3 grade-point average.
Melvin Levett, a national Top 50 prospect, has left Oak Hill Academy after three weeks and will play his senior year in Euclid, Ohio. Levett, who has made an oral commitment to Cincinnati, played on a state championship team last season in Cleveland.
WOMEN'S HOOPS: Virginia signee Tiffany Bower, named Ms. Basketball in the state last season by the Roanoke Times & World-News, underwent reconstructive knee surgery Aug.26 and will miss the 1994-95 season. Bower was injured in the opening minutes of the Virginia High School Coaches' Association all-star game.
LOCAL UPDATE: William Fitzgerald, one of the top players on William Fleming's Group AAA runner-up basketball team, is at Seminole Community College in Sanford, Fla. ... Lord Botetourt graduate Jay Gilliland, named Timesland boys' tennis player of the year after winning the Group AA singles championship, is at George Mason.
by CNB