Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, December 28, 1994 TAG: 9412280085
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
DATELINE: JACKSONVILLE, FLA. LENGTH: Medium
Henley has started 23 games in Virginia Tech's secondary during the past three seasons, including the past four this autumn at cornerback. Still, he doesn't expect to start Friday night's Gator Bowl at Florida Field in Gainesville against Tennessee.
He may not be a starter, but Henley unquestionably is a survivor. He began his senior season as a fourth-string split end. That wasn't as low as he'd been, however, and we're not just discussing depth charts here.
Last season, after starting the Hokies' first nine games at strong safety, Henley was demoted by Phil Elmassian, Tech's defensive coordinator, after a loss at Boston College. Torrian Gray got Henley's job. Henley never got the message to get lost.
He found himself on the scout team. He didn't even make the Independence Bowl trip. Fired from the defense, he tried to learn a new position in spring practice.
He could have quit.
``I wanted to show them I was a better person than they thought I was,'' Henley said Tuesday as Tech continued its Gator Bowl workouts. ``I knew it was something I had to fight through.
``I figured after I graduated and got a job, down the road, someday, maybe I'd lose a real job. Maybe I'd get fired, laid off. How would I handle it then?
``I still had a lot going for me. I wanted to prove to my teammates I was unbreakable, but I'd be lying if I said quitting didn't cross my mind.''
Henley had been a starter at cornerback for Tech in 1992, when Elmassian arrived as Frank Beamer's defensive chief and decided the Potomac High School graduate couldn't play the position. At rover, Henley found himself out of position in more ways than one.
When Henley returned this season, because he wasn't starting on either side of the ball, he became a special player on the special teams.
He's been fierce and often first on hits for the kickoff team, a role he'll fill in the Gator Bowl, as well as play on the punt-return and punt-coverage squads. He'll play his final game with a torn ligament in his right ankle.
And, he'll be backing up at a couple of positions in the secondary, although it would be a stretch to call him a prodigal son.
At midseason, Henley stunningly went to Elmassian and offered his services again on defense. As he stood on the sideline watching his former backfield mates, he decided he wanted to finish his career where it began.
``I'd always played defense,'' said Henley, 23. ``On offense, when I was playing against those guys, it kind of felt weird. So, I went to Coach Elmassian and told him that if Torrian went down, I could play rover.
``And we sort of made up.''
Elmassian ended up starting Henley again in a secondary short on height, talent and depth. He will not, however, say Henley has become a much-improved player.
``I give Stacy a medal for persistence,'' Elmassian said. ``You have to admire him for hanging in there. Under the circumstances, a lot of kids in his position would have quit.
``It's not his work ethic. He just has to be a more consistent player at strong safety. Don't get me wrong. I'm thrilled he's here. He's endured. He's graduated.''
Asked to describe his relationship with Elmassian now, Henley thought for a few seconds and replied, ``businesslike.''
``He's a tough man to get along with in football,'' Henley said. ``The average person - unless you meet someone like Coach Elmassian - just doesn't understand how intense he is. Off the field, he's one of the nicest guys in the world. He cares.''
Henley received his business degree in consumer studies last week. In the 13 months since his football demotion, he raised his grade-point average one full point, because he began to take academics more seriously.
Henley has had job interviews with Merrill Lynch and Wheat First Securities and hopes to land a job in money management near his home in the Washington area.
``What happened opened my eyes to a lot of things,'' Henley said. ``One was that football wouldn't always be there. It did help my grades. It helped me become more serious about geting a job.
``What I've been through to get here and to finish with the Gator Bowl, that probably won't hit me until a few hours before the game. When it comes time to run onto the field, I know I'll feel it.''
What he should feel is good.
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB