Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 9, 1995 TAG: 9502100072
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Ware, an offensive lineman from William Fleming High School and the University of Virginia, had talked with the San Francisco 49ers and Jacksonville Jaguars before signing a contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Kansas City will be the third professional organization for Ware, selected by the New York Jets in the fourth round of the 1993 NFL draft. He also spent time with the Miami Dolphins.
``It's not my goal to see how many different teams I can collect paychecks from,'' Ware said. ``I'd like to draw a steady paycheck, the bigger the better.''
Ware said he signed a disclosure agreement that prevents him from discussing financial terms of the contract, but he said Kansas City offered him the best package in terms of signing bonus and salary.
``There's no such thing as a guarantee for somebody in my situation,'' Ware said, ``but one way an NFL team shows faith in you is in the financial commitment. The more money you put out, the better you take care of something.
``It's like a car. You're going to take better care of a Rolls Royce than a Toyota. Kansas City has told me, if I can come in and play well, they would have no problem making me a starting tackle.''
Ware moved into a backup role with the Jets last year during the preseason, but went through a period when his commitment to football wavered. The Jets allowed him to take a short leave of absence, but waived him not long after his return.
``They didn't trust me, and I can't say I blame them,'' Ware said. ``I understood. I have no ill feelings toward the New York Jets, but I'm totally committed now.
``It's why I came to Florida - to get away from New York and Maryland [his father's home and Virginia]. All I do here is work out, eat and rent movies; I haven't been fishing yet.''
IN THE PROS: Among the football players who have been made available for the NFL expansion draft are former Virginia running back Marcus Wilson (Green Bay) and tackle Jim Reid (Houston), as well as former Virginia Tech quarterback Will Furrer (Denver) and guard Eugene Chung (New England).
SIGNEES SURPRISE: The six McDonald's All-America men's basketball players who entered the ACC this season have combined to win the rookie of the week award once.
Two of the conference's less-heralded recruits, Matt Harpring of Georgia Tech and Greg Buckner of Clemson, have been named rookie of the week three times apiece. Ishua Benjamin of North Carolina State is a two-time selection.
Harpring, Buckner and Benjamin were not rated among the nation's top 50 prospects by basketball analyst Bob Gibbons, who had nine other ACC signees rated ahead of the highest of the three, Benjamin at No.66.
DOUBLING UP: Of the five ACC football players who also are playing basketball, none is having a greater impact than Georgia Tech tailback and leading rusher C.J. Williams, who has become the basketball team's sixth man since an injury to James Forrest.
Other ACC football players who have dressed for basketball are Wake Forest quarterback Rusty LaRue, Clemson quarterback Patrick Sapp, North Carolina wide receiver Octavus Barnes and Virginia safety Percy Ellsworth.
Dave Odom, Wake Forest's coach, reports that 6-foot-6, 232-pound Travis ``Scooter'' Banks, whose basketball eligibility expires this year, may try football in the fall as a tight end.
IN THE MEDIA: It has been suggested that Florida State men's basketball ranks behind Seminoles football and football recruiting in level of interest, and there may be some truth to that after Saturday.
Exactly one reporter, Jim Henry of the Tampa (Fla.) Tribune, accompanied the Seminoles' basketball team to a game Saturday in Charlottesville. Henry had to wonder why he made the trip when Florida State star Bob Sura declined to comment after a 76-63 overtime loss.
Despite a school-record nine consecutive ACC losses, Duke officials reported more credential requests for the Feb.2 meeting with North Carolina than all but one regular-season game at Cameron Indoor Stadium, a December 1993 date with Michigan.
QUICK RIDDANCE: By the time Southern Mississippi visited the Richmond Coliseum on Saturday, Virginia Commonwealth had scraped the Metro Conference logo from the floor and removed banners for all Metro schools except VCU and Virginia Tech. Those schools, earlier booted from the conference, had reached a financial settlement with the Metro two days earlier.
RECRUITING: Sources at Virginia and Virginia Tech confirm neither football program is actively involved with any scholarship candidates and they are likely to finish with 24 and 16 signees, respectively.
Byron Stevenson, a running back from C.D. Hylton High School who committed to Tech in 1994, never met NCAA eligibility standards and is in his first year at Montgomery-Rockville Junior College in Rockville, Md.
Stevenson, rated one of the state's top 25 prospects by the Roanoke Times & World-News, must graduate from junior college before he can transfer to a Division I-A program.
LOCAL UPDATE: Former William Fleming standout Dominick Millner, a freshman at Florida, has qualified for the NCAA indoor track and field championship with a personal best of 25 feet, 2 inches in the long jump.
Turk Smith, who needed medical clearance to play basketball as a senior at Patrick Henry in Roanoke, recently was named athlete of the week at Lynchburg College.
Smith did not play as a sophomore or junior for Patrick Henry because of heart problems and visits the National Institute of Health for an annual checkup. He is in his third year at Lynchburg, where he sat out the 1993-94 season to concentrate on academics.
NON-REVENUE: One-time starting quarterback Symmion Willis is one of three Virginia football players on the Cavaliers' baseball roster, joining safety Paul London and kicker Kyle Kirkeide.
Virginia retired the number of former All-American Cherie Greer in ceremonies Saturday. Greer was the first UVa lacrosse player (male or female) and the fifth women's athlete at the school to be so recognized.
by CNB