Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 13, 1994 TAG: 9410130035
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Doug Doughty
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
``The only one of those teams that we should have beaten was Newport News,'' Davis said, ``and some people would argue that point because Newport News [4-2] has played well. But we match up with that team.
``To be honest with you, I didn't expect some of those other games to be as close as they were, which has been a pleasant surprise. We've lost four games by 15 points. But, sometimes that's harder to take than if you'd lost handily.''
Ferrum (1-5) traditionally plays a difficult schedule, but Davis reports this year's losses have come to teams with a combined record of 23-6. Three of those losses have been to teams in higher divisions.
``Without a doubt, it's the toughest schedule Ferrum has ever had to this point,'' he said.
And, the Panthers' talent isn't what it once was. Ferrum is so thin that one-time wishbone specialist Millard Vining will move from quarterback to tailback Saturday against Chowan.
``If we had a veteran team, I don't know that we would have gone this route this quickly,'' Davis said of the switch to a more wide-open offense, ``but we're not experienced enough to do anything but struggle offensively.''
The roster includes four seniors and 11 juniors, some of whom tried to do too much and lost focus Saturday in a 20-17 loss to Newport News Apprentice, Davis said.
``One of the Newport News coaches asked, `How do you get your kids to play so hard when they aren't winning?''' Davis said. ``That's never been a problem.''
Davis is working tirelessly to add teams from the Division III South Region to Ferrum's schedule and has picked up Guilford and Methodist for next year. Contracts expire with Thomas More, Westminster and Montclair State.
``I think the reason our schedule has remained the way it is are the memories of Chris Warren,'' Davis said of the Virginia transfer who was a Division III All-American in 1989 and now plays for the NFL's Seattle Seahawks. ``I think there's a misconception about our level of talent; we're not going to have any more Chris Warrens.''
FUTURE FOE? Davis said he inquires every year about the possibility of playing Clinch Valley, a third-year program located in Wise, but has sensed the Cavaliers didn't think the game would be competitive.
That position might be changing now that Clinch Valley has won five of its first six games and jumped to 11th in the NAIA Division II poll. The Highland Cavaliers already have beaten two Old Dominion Athletic Conference teams, one-time power Hampden-Sydney and Bridgewater.
BARBER ELEVATED: Virginia coach George Welsh said Wednesday that Tiki Barber from Roanoke probably will start at tailback against Georgia Tech. A bruised shoulder has kept regular Kevin Brooks out of practice.
Mike Groh definitely will start at quarterback for the Cavaliers, although Welsh is inclined to take Symmion Willis on the trip. Willis has a pulled hamstring and won't play ``unless there's a catastrophe,'' Welsh said.
IN THE ACC: Nealon Greene, a ``true'' freshman, is Clemson's latest quarterback hope after completing 13 of 19 passes in a reserve role at Georgia on Saturday. Four quarterbacks started for Clemson last season; Greene would make it three in 1994.
Donnie Davis, who passed for more than 1,800 yards last season, has been moved to wide receiver by Georgia Tech, where junior college transfer Tommy Luginbill has emerged as the ACC's most prolific passer.
IN THE BIG EAST: Pittsburgh will come to Virginia Tech next week without Curtis Martin, a 1,000-yard rusher who has been out since the second game with an ankle injury and probably will make a hardship appeal for an extra year of eligibility. Martin's former understudy, Billy West, leads the Big East in rushing.
ONE MORE YEAR: Virginia basketball star Cory Alexander could announce as early as today that he will make himself available for the NBA draft after this season.
Alexander, a senior, is eligible for a fifth season after missing virtually the entire 1993-94 season with a broken foot. No declaration is required at this point and Alexander could return to UVa if unhappy with his draft position. However, coach Jeff Jones and Alexander don't want the NBA talk to become a distraction.
RECRUITING: Eyebrows have been raised throughout the ACC by Clemson's ability to recruit basketball players without the benefit of official visits. The Tigers have received three commitments this fall, the latest from 6-foot-10 Virginia target Tom Wideman.
Last year, new Clemson coach Rick Barnes signed seven players, two of whom failed to qualify academically, with no paid visits. This year, in its last season on NCAA probation, Clemson is limited to two paid visits until the end of the calendar year.
North Carolina has made an offer to 6-10 Greg Cristell from DeMatha High School in Hyattsville, Md. Cristell and 6-7 teammate Darryl Presley visited Virginia two weeks ago, but the Tar Heels have urged Cristell to wait until the spring, when they will have a better idea of his projected playing time.
Sources say Wake Forest has received an oral commitment from 6-10 Rodney West of Oneida, Tenn. ... North Carolina reportedly has received a commitment from 6-7 Ademola Oiculaga, a Nigerian playing in West Germany this year.
NON-REVENUE: Jon Hawthorne, a junior from Cave Spring High School in Roanoke, has three top five finishes for Virginia Tech's cross-country team, which moved into the national rankings for the first time this season at No. 23. Hawthorne also was eighth in a quad meet that included fifth-ranked Tennessee.
Virginia freshman soccer player Andriy Shapowal, last year's Gatorade national player of the year, has undergone surgery and probably will miss the remainder of the season with a broken ankle suffered in the Cavaliers' 6-4 victory at Clemson.
by CNB