
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, April 15, 1994                   TAG: 9404150030
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Short

EDWARDS' ASSAULT CHARGE TAKEN UNDER ADVISEMENT

An assault charge against Virginia Tech running back Tommy Edwards stemming from a Feb. 27 fight at a Tech fraternity house will be dismissed if Edwards stays out of trouble for a year.

The assault charge, reduced from malicious wounding, was taken under advisement Thursday by Montgomery County General District Court Judge Ellen Weinman. Edwards was ordered to pay restitution and to perform 100 hours of community service within a year.

Frank Beamer, Tech's head coach, said Edwards is on probation with the football team for a year, meaning the Radford native can play for the Hokies but faces sanctions from Beamer if he gets in trouble again.

Beamer said Edwards has been a "model citizen prior to this incident," and said he is "confident there will be no further problems. . . . I believe in him very strongly."

Edwards, Tech's second-leading rusher in 1993 as a freshman, and starting linebacker George DelRicco were charged after the altercation. Assault charges against DelRicco were taken under advisement March 31, and Beamer put him on probation, too.

"We've talked a lot, that they've got to walk away from things. They're in the spotlight," Beamer said. "It's [responsibility] part of being a college football player, too."

by CNB