Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 2, 1995 TAG: 9503030073
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The departure of Spinner and running back Tommy Edwards, along with some medical casualties, has forced Beamer and his staff to re-open their recruiting files.
``We could sign a couple of more players,'' said Beamer, who indicated that defensive backs remain a priority. ``Now is not a bad time to have a couple of scholarships available, especially for players who are just getting their test scores.''
Beamer said it was likely that backup linebacker Vernon Dozier and Matt Morrell will drop football, Morrell as the result of a neck injury. Headaches have been a recent concern for Dozier, who suffered a stroke in high school.
In addition, Beamer said that seldom-used redshirt juniors Tewon Stevens and Ben Scott will not return for their final season of eligibility.
Spinner was released from his scholarship in order to transfer to another school, Beamer said.
``To be honest with you, I don't think Baron wanted to play defensive back,'' Beamer said. ``I encouraged him to work as a tailback, but he never got involved with our [winter] program. So, a couple of weeks ago, we visited and decided the best thing for him to do was transfer.''
Spinner, named Timesland Offensive Player of the Year in 1992 after rushing for 1,750 yards and 30 touchdowns, said he has his eyes on James Madison and several other Division I-AA programs.
``When they asked me to move to defense last spring, I was excited about the opportunity for playing time and was determined to give it my best shot,'' he said. ``It was a big thrill to start in the bowl game, but still something was missing.
``Although I had played defense in high school, the two levels are totally different. To play defensive back in college, you need to be more confident and almost cocky. The more I was out there, the more I realized my heart was still in offense.''
OFFER TEMPTING: Beamer said he was flattered when Bobby Ross, head coach of the Super Bowl runner-up San Diego Chargers, offered him the position of defensive coordinator when Bill Arnsparger retired after the season.
``It was tempting to go back and work with coach Ross and work in one area,'' said Beamer, a former Ross assistant at The Citadel. ``When I called plays in the Gator Bowl, I concentrated all my efforts in that direction and I've kind of missed that.
``As a head coach, you're going all different directions and a lot of it doesn't even involve coaching football. I think we've got something pretty good going on here and I feel good about what's taken place.
``I thought about it [for] a couple of days. I think coach Ross knows that pro football has always kind of had an interest for me. At the same time, I don't think he expected me to take [the offer], quite honestly.''
STAFF MATTERS: Lew West, secondary coach at Kent University, was in Blacksburg Wednesday as the second of three candidates to fill the vacancy created when defensive coordinator and secondary coach Phil Elmassian went to Washington.
Beamer said he hoped to make a decision as soon as the weekend and no later than next Tuesday, when the Hokies' staff will begin its spring planning meetings. Bud Foster and Rod Sharpless will share Elmassian's old coordinator duties.
COACHING CAROUSEL: New Georgia Tech coach George O'Leary, who considered Elmassian for a coordinator's position, is now on his second defensive coordinator after losing Danny Smith to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Brian Baker, who has coached the Yellow Jackets' outside linebackers since 1987, will take over for Smith. Both Baker and Smith had worked previously for O'Leary, who left Georgia Tech following the 1990 season to become defensive-line coach for the San Diego Chargers.
COLONELS' CHOICES: William Fleming football coach Sherley Stuart reports that Virginia Union has signed Colonels' tailback Daniel Gunn and center Paul Wallace, and that mammoth lineman Russell Mills will go to Hampton.
Gunn, who transferred to Fleming from Meadowbrook High in Richmond, led the Roanoke Valley District in rushing with 904 yards. Wallace was a second-team All-Timesland selection and Mills was rated one of the state's top 25 prospects after his junior year, although academics later became a concern for recruiters.
RECRUITING: Virginia Tech and Virginia are two of the men's basketball programs making a push for Marco Harrison, a 6-foot-9, 220-pound center for unbeaten Petersburg High School.
Harrison is averaging 18 points and 19 rebounds, with 145 blocked shots in 23 games. Harrison has a 650 on the Scholastic Assessment Test, with hopes of making the required 700 on his next try.
nVirginia Intermont has signed Becky Grinstead, an All-Highlands District and honorable-mention All-Region IV basketball player from Marion High School.
LOCAL UPDATE: Chad Briscoe, a senior guard from Northside High in Roanoke, was one of two players to start every game this season for Anderson (Ind.) University.
NON-REVENUE: Washington and Lee junior Robert Hull, an All-America football player, wrestled for the first time since his senior year at Lexington High School and finished 15-9, finishing fourth in the Division III East Regional.
by CNB