Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 14, 1995 TAG: 9506140056
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
By Thursday, it might be Calgary.
So goes the pro football career of Maurice DeShazo. Virginia Tech's career leader in total offense appears to be headed for his fifth Canadian Football League club, all while going nowhere. Hey, there are only 13 teams in the league.
He's been a Rough Rider, but not a Roughrider. Different teams, different cities, different provinces.
Perhaps DeShazo should check whether his name is on the expansion draft lists for the NBA's Toronto and Vancouver franchises, too. Maybe he doesn't need an agent, just a travel agent.
``If it weren't so frustrating, it would be funny,'' said DeShazo, the quarterback whose bags already are packed for somewhere. ``I know I can play in the CFL. It's perfect for me.''
DeShazo, 23, has the athletic ability to fit the CFL, where the field is wider and longer than in the NFL and NCAA football. His improvisational skills are his sales pitch. Considering what's happened to date, DeShazo's scrambling already has been put to use.
DeShazo's CFL rights originally belonged to Las Vegas, which was one of six U.S. teams in the CFL. The Posse didn't just leave town, it left the league. Ottawa got DeShazo's rights, and the former Bassett High School quarterback appeared ready to sign when the club grabbed another former Henry County QB, ex-Virginia star Shawn Moore, who has NFL experience.
When Ottawa's negotiating rights expired, DeShazo's rights were picked up by Hamilton. The Tiger-Cats wanted him as trade bait for secondary help. No deal was made, and when Hamilton's 10-day negotiation period ended, DeShazo's name was moved to Birmingham.
The Barracudas' negotiating rights are about to expire, and the Alabama franchise really doesn't need DeShazo. Matt Dunigan, a 12-year CFL veteran and former MVP, is the starting quarterback. Former Auburn star Reggie Slack is the backup. Calgary is interested, because the Stampeders' quarterbacking behind Doug Flutie is shaky.
Birmingham knows that and may be driving a hard bargain. Meanwhile, CFL teams have been in training camp for two weeks, the exhibition opener was Tuesday night and the regular season begins June 28.
Meanwhile, DeShazo's only workouts have been his own the past couple of weeks in Blacksburg. His belongings are packed in the Roanoke home of Shawsville High School athletic director Jerry Cannaday, DeShazo's coach at Bassett.
He has taken time off from his job at Shelor Automotive Group, where he was selling cars. ``Maybe I could make a deal with a team by throwing in a coach's courtesy car,'' DeShazo said, laughing.
Can't you just hear his agent, Chuck Mathison, on the phone to Alberta now?
``Yes, sir, we've got just the one you need,'' Mathison says. ``Except it's DeShazo, not DeSoto.''
Somehow, with the Canadian league treating DeShazo like acid rain, you get the notion that come August, he'll be playing at Victory Stadium with some of his less celebrated former Tech teammates for the first Roanoke Rush.
``That's not going to happen,'' said DeShazo, who remains a good-humor man. ``I've been kind of [given the runaround] so far, but if I get an honest chance and they tell me I can't play up in Canada, then I'm done with football. Then it will be time to find a job.''
DeShazo knows he's no Broadway Joe. He just wants an opportunity to be Manitoba Maurice. And if Birmingham doesn't want him and it doesn't work out in Calgary, he still has eight clubs to try. He could be an Argonaut or an Eskimo.
He doesn't even demand a nickname. He'd go to Colt-less Baltimore. He'd certainly go to Shreveport, where he is remembered as the offensive star of the 1993 Independence Bowl.
``If I get to Canada, I'm going to stay there until the rubber on my shoes falls off,'' DeShazo said.
Hey, Maurice, do you know the way to Saskatchewan?
by CNB