Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 15, 1994 TAG: 9405150017
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D-14 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
This week's chapter concerns the return of Richard Savedge as football coach at Fieldale-Collinsville.
Frustrated by a five-year record of 9-41 and upset by a lack of commitment from his athletes, Savedge resigned after last season.
"I was concerned with the kids. I thought they had lost value in what we were trying to do," Savedge said. "That was my biggest reason for getting out of football. I had a lot of young kids and I was concerned about their future."
There were other problems.
The Cavaliers' projected enrollment submitted to the Virginia High School League for next year's reclassification is 410. That would make Fieldale-Collinsville a Group A-sized school, the smallest in the Piedmont District.
Savedge also had personal problems.
"My mom and dad were getting a divorce [after 38 years]," he said. "They're still going through that. It's a real fight. It tears on me, and it tears on the grandkids, too," Savedge said.
Within a couple of weeks after Savedge said he was quitting, some returning players asked him to reconsider.
Savedge didn't jump at the suggestion. First, he told the players what they had to do, such as hit the weights in an off-season program.
"Most of them did what I asked them to do," said Savedge, who noted that instead of seeing only five or six players in the weight room the number was 15 to 20.
In February, Savedge was ready to come back, but school officials told him he'd have to apply just like any other candidate. That's what makes this story strange.
Coaches have quit and walked back into a job. Several years ago, Pulaski County's Joel Hicks decided to hang it up after a loss to Salem, saying he would finish the year. By February, Pulaski County still hadn't gone after a coach and Hicks decided to return.
"I was a little surprised [at Savedge's return]," said Dr. Russell Wolf, director of personnel for the Henry County schools. "I've been in education 30 years and never heard of this.
"I talked to Mr. [Brent] Vann [Fieldale-Collinsville's principal] and asked if he wanted to conduct interviews. He said yes, so we interviewed eight people of 19 who had applied."
The Henry County school system also had a football opening at Bassett. All candidates were asked if they'd interview for both positions, and one said no to each school. The other 17 were willing to take either opening, and after all interviews were conducted, Savedge was the man for F-C.
Vann was glad to have Savedge back. Savedge, who did not give up his post as athletic director, is held in high regard by his coaching and administrative peers.
"I think a lot of Richard. He's worked hard at this job, but we had already announced the vacancy and taken applications," Vann said. "I felt it was only fair we go along with the [interview] process. Not until it was over was the job offered to him.
"I've heard of people resigning in frustration, changing their mind and deciding to return before April 15 [the date teachers decide if they want to return to a system]. But I can't recall having heard of anyone resigning and going through the whole process."
Vann said his ultimate goal for the football program is improvement.
"I feel like Coach Savedge has the skills to be a successful coach at Fieldale-Collinsville. He's proven that at other places," Vann said. "We have to do a better job of getting athletes to participate. We have done that in most of the other sports. Football is the one we need to work on that."
If Savedge hadn't gotten the job, could he have worked with a new coach as athletic director?
"To his credit, Coach Savedge is the kind of administrator that, if it was necessary, he could have done that," Vann said.
\ MEN OF STEAL: When Timesland baseball statistics were reported Monday, Northside coach Dave Tibbs had some interesting numbers. His Vikings had been successful on 75 of 88 stolen-base attempts.
What's more, Tibbs hadn't been crediting his players with a steal when there was a wild pitch or a passed ball with the runner going. Baseball rules say that it is a stolen base if the runner is on the move.
James Martin, with 14 steals, and Eric Miller, with 10, hadn't been thrown out. Jay Stafford was 17-for-21, John Doss 9-for-11 and Scott Booth 9-for-13.
The Vikings are young. Doss is a freshman, and Booth a sophomore. Miller is a catcher, and people who play that position don't steal many bases.
\ LOOKING AT RAIDERS, CELTS: North Cross coach Jim Muscaro and Roanoke Catholic coach John Cooke report that some of their football players are drawing interest from Division I schools. That's unusual for two private schools with small enrollments.
Hal Johnson, North Cross' quarterback, is getting the most attention. That's not surprising, considering Johnson is 6 feet 5 and has a strong arm.
Muscaro says North Carolina State and Florida State are the only ACC schools that haven't asked for videotape or made phone inquiries about Johnson.
Virginia Tech, Notre Dame, Boston College, Indiana, Texas, VMI, Florida, William and Mary, James Madison and Princeton also have shown strong interest.
The Raiders' Monte Smith, a linebacker and running back, has attracted the interest of Indiana, Maryland and Clemson.
At Catholic, 6-4 center Phillip Buchy - a Virginia Independent Schools All-State selection, along with Johnson and Smith - is being looked at by VMI, James Madison, Notre Dame, North Carolina, William and Mary and Wake Forest.
"I'm sure his [standardized] test score, grade-point average and his height, plus being selected all-state, have a lot to do with that," Cooke said.
by CNB