Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 27, 1995 TAG: 9504270031
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The Hall of Fame Bowl, which had fourth choice of ACC teams in 1993 and '94, offered more money this year and was able to secure the third choice of Southeastern Conference teams to play Big Ten Conference No.3.
``We're kind of hanging at 31/2 spots right now,'' said ACC associate commissioner Tom Mickle, who was able to negotiate a sharing plan with the Carquest Bowl, which has Big East No.3 as one of its teams.
For its second team, the Carquest Bowl has its pick of ACC No.4 and SEC No.5, but potential ticket sales are certain to be a determining factor, which does not favor several ACC teams that have a poor track record.
``We would have liked to have [the team] determined by the national rankings and the SEC would have been agreeable,'' Mickle said, ``but the bowl wanted to retain the option.''
The ACC tried to persuade the Independence Bowl to agree to take an ACC team, as it did last season, but was unsuccessful. There are four uncommitted slots - two in the Independence Bowl, one in the Liberty Bowl and one in the Anaheim, Calif.-based Freedom Bowl, which never has taken an ACC team.
``I would like to have a fourth spot,'' Mickle said. ``I'd love to have the Carquest by ourselves, but financially the [new] bowl alliance is great for us. Our top team gets $8 million as opposed to the $4.45 [million] we got last year, and that's split among nine teams.''
In the Football Bowl Alliance, which replaces the Football Bowl Coalition, the top ACC team will go to either the Orange, Sugar or Fiesta Bowl. The Gator Bowl will get the second choice of ACC teams, with the Peach Bowl getting third pick.
COLLEY A 49ER: Virginia Tech punter Robbie Colley signed a free-agent contract with San Francisco. The 49ers chose him over Auburn All-American Terry Daniel, who averaged a school-record 44.5 yards per punt during his college career.
MURPHY TO CONCORD: Salem High School senior Mike Murphy, first-team All-Group AA as a kick-returner and first-team All-Timesland as a defensive back, has made an oral commitment to Concord College in Athens, W.Va.
``We really think he can help us, especially on returns,'' said Concord coach Bob Mullett. ``He has the potential to play wide receiver, running back or wide receiver and he can play special teams right away. He's a game-breaker on returns.''
REPORTS FAVORABLE: VMI's early basketball signee, 6-foot-71/2 Alex Harrington from Boca Raton, Fla., averaged 14 points and 16 rebounds as a senior and was named player of the year in his conference. Harrington, a second-team all-state selection, was a rare five-year starter.
The Keydets were able to offer a full ride to Cave Spring guard Matt Matheny in the spring because freshman Nate Shiflett is not expected to return after sitting out his freshman year with a knee injury. If academically ineligible Darryl Faulkner does not return, VMI may add a point guard.
HOKIES HOPEFUL: Alvaro Tor, a 6-foot-9 Spanish exchange student who spent his final year of high school in Winston-Salem, N.C., is seriously considering Virginia Tech and may decide this week among the Hokies, N.C. State, Tennessee and North Carolina-Charlotte.
Kestutis Marciulonis, a 6-4 Lithuanian who played this year at Huguenot Academy in Richmond, has taken an unofficial visit to Tech but has not met NCAA eligibility standards. Reports that he has committed to the Hokies, who have one available grant, are premature if not unfounded.
IN THE ACC: North Carolina State has signed 6-7 Tyrone Outlaw from Roxboro, N.C., and 6-6 Danny Strong from Rock Hill, S.C., by way of Spartanburg Methodist College. ... Unheralded Armond Wilson, a 6-2 point guard from Laurel, Miss., has signed with Wake Forest.
MORE RECRUITING: Connecticut has signed 6-9 Antric Klaiber from Episcopal High School, rated one of the top five prospects in Virginia by the Roanoke Times & World-News. ... Top 15 choice Marvin Rodgers, a 6-9 post player from Churchland High School, signed with West Virginia.
Roshown McLeod, a former high school All-American, is expected to transfer from St. John's to Duke. McLeod, a 6-8 forward, played for the father of former Duke All-American Bob Hurley at St. Anthony High School in Jersey City, N.J.
Brett Harper from Kecoughtan High School in Hampton has become the third All-State player from Virginia to commit to Hagerstown (Md.) Junior College, joining Shawn Hobson from Granby High School and Group A player of the year Percy White from William Monroe.
Dayton coach Oliver Purnell has signed 6-7 Coby Turner, an All-Group AAA selection at Lee-Springfield in 1993-94 who spent the past season at Hargrave Military Academy.
LOCAL UPDATE: Unless Roanoke College secures a bid to the NCAA Division III women's lacrosse tournament, Lexington's Susan Brown this weekend will wrap up a college career in which she has lettered four times in each of three sports: volleyball, basketball and lacrosse.
UVa freshman Ryan Gilleland, the Timesland baseball player of the year in 1993 for Jefferson Forest, started at second or third base in 43 of the Cavaliers' first 45 games and was batting .303. Gilleland hit his first collegiate home run Saturday in an 18-13 loss to Georgia Tech.
by CNB