Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 9, 1995 TAG: 9502100079
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS AND STAFF REPORTS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The gift is believed to be the largest individual contribution ever made to Virginia's athletic program, university president John T. Casteen III said Wednesday.
Harrison's gift brings his donations to the university in the past two years to $12.2 million. He gave $6.7 million in 1993 to support a professorship in archaeology, teaching professorships in medicine and the Law School building campaign.
The football field will be dedicated in Harrison's name during the Cavaliers' Sept.2 home opener against William and Mary. Scott Stadium will retain its name.
Besides the natural turf, Harrison's money also will establish an endowment for future development needs and fund such long-needed stadium improvements as upgraded locker rooms, entrances and media areas.
Harrison and his father played football at Virginia. Harrison, a lawyer who lives in Hopewell, earned his bachelor's degree in 1939 and his law degree in 1941.
``Thanks to his generosity and his interest in the players' welfare, we will have an excellence in facilities that will be better for the program, will give us an edge in recruiting the best student-athletes and will be more enjoyable for the fans,'' said George Welsh, UVa's coach.
In other sports news in the region:
Four Virginia players - Patrick Jeffers, Chris Harrison, Charles Way and Mike Frederick - have been named to the 1994 ACC All-Academic football team.
To be eligible, a player must have earned a 3.0 grade-point average for the fall semester or have maintained a 3.0 cumulative average during his academic career.
Jeffers, a senior wide receiver, had a 3.5 last semester, and offensive tackle Harrison, a graduate student, had a 3.25. Way, a senior running back, had a 3.1, and defensive end Frederick, a graduate student, had a 3.17.
Georgia Southern was favored to win the 1995 Southern Conference baseball championship in a preseason poll of the league's head coaches.
The Eagles, who finished second in the league standings last season, received six first-place votes and amassed 77 points in the balloting. The Citadel finished second with one first-place vote and 66 points, followed by Western Carolina with two first-place votes and 65 points.
VMI, projected to finish fifth, received 41 points.
by CNB