Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 24, 1994 TAG: 9501180018
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S16 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DWIGHT FOXX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Sorry, Emmitt. It's not you. It's Robert Murphy, the star tailback's father, who played at Staunton River High School and coached his son in sandlot football.
Murphy says everyone thinks he wears the number in honor of the Dallas Cowboys superstar. Murphy must have seemed like Smith to Patrick County in the first-round of the state playoffs last Friday.
The Spartans running back rushed for 169 yards on 23 carries to lead his team to the Region III semifinal victory. He needs only 36 yards against Amherst County in the Region III championship game to exceed the 1,000-yard mark for the season.
Head coach Willis White says Murphy is not doesn't demand the football in big games but he has delivered, particularly against Patrick County and against Northside in the Blue Ridge District championship game on November 11.
"He's not the type," White said. "He really wants it but he doesn't demand it. It doesn't matter he's going to get it anyway."
It's just this season that fans in Timesland are getting a chance to see what Murphy can do as a runner. He's been a three-year starter for the Spartans at defensive back - cornerback his sophomore and senior seasons, and safety last year. Offensively, his sophomore and junior seasons, he alternated at running back. He says he carried the ball more times against Patrick County than he did his entire junior year.
"I probably carried the ball 20 times last year," he said. "I like to get it as much as I can but it doesn't matter as long as we come out on top. Whatever is best for the team."
White says Murphy is one of the reasons the team has been able to turn around an 0-3 start and is now 7-4 heading into the showdown with unbeaten Amherst (11-0), the No.1 Group AA team in the state.
"He's our all-purpose guy," the coach said. "He runs, catches, blocks, returns kicks, plays defense - he does it all. He just does what we ask him to do and never says a word."
Just because Murphy does what his coaches' ask of him does not mean he's a laidback player. This is one Spartan you do not want to test.
"All football players have to be crazy to an extent," Murphy said. "You have to be tough and go after people when you're on the field. You have to play as hard as yu can for as long as you can."
Salem lifts weights twice a week, continuing a team motto set before the season to be stronger at the end than it was at the beginning.
"I try to stap in shape and keep my muscles up," Murphy says of the Monday and Wednesday weight lifting sessions. "I'm a lot stronger than I was at the beginning of the year."
At 5-foot-6 and 163 pounds, Murphy has a low center of gravity and can break tackles. Quickness is what he considers his strong point but he thinks he has strength as well.
"I'm just as strong as any runner around and just as quick," he said.
Murphy is a dedicated and serious football player. All of his sentences dealing with football begin and end with "we" in mind. He wants to get 36 yards on Friday night for the young men in front of him.
"It would be great not only for me but for my offensive line," he said. "It would show that my offensive line has been working hard this year."
There has been speculation that Amherst did not scout Salem on Friday night. Both White and Murphy know the top-ranked Lancers do a lot of talking.
But the running back, who is one of the leaders on the team, says Salem won't get into a shouting match with them.
"They probably see that we're a 7-4 team and are saying to themselves, 'Salem, they're a good team but we're the No.1 team in the state,'" Murphy said. "They're real cocky. I don't think they have respect for us or anybody they play. They might think this is going to be a calkwalk."
White says as long as "we're in it," Murphy will get the ball 20-25 times. When asked what he would miss most about Murphy when his career is finished, White said, "His eyes and his smile. He's got bright eyes and a quick smile."
Amherst might see his bright eyes looking for a hole to run through but they definitely won't see a smile - unless Salem wins.
by CNB