Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 15, 1995 TAG: 9507170121
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Not only did the ex-Virginia Tech star sign a contract with the Denver Broncos earlier this week, but his +chances at making the club have been enhanced by Tuesday's retirement of All-Pro linebacker Karl Mecklenburg.
``Ken enters camp in a pretty good position,'' said Rick Clark, Brown's agent. ``He performed well in rookie camp and the Broncos say they really liked what they saw.
``As far as signing goes, I can't release the financial numbers of the deal, but I will say he got a signing bonus above average for others that were drafted in his round.''
Brown, an All-Big East performer at Tech last season, finally has regained some of the speed he lost after injuring his right hamstring twice late last season.
``That's helped Ken,'' Clark said. ``I think it really cost him in the draft. He wasn't able to run a good 40 [yard dash] because he was hurt.''
The 6-foot-2, 240-pound Richmond native is one of nine linebackers in the Broncos' camp, which started Friday in Greeley, Colo. Clark said Brown was listed as a backup at inside and outside linebacker on the Broncos' depth chart.
``With Mecklenburg out of the picture, that can only help Ken,'' Clark said. ``I think Denver is real concerned about their age at that position. It's a great chance for a young guy to come in and win a job. They said they like Ken on special teams, too.''
Brown has a three-year deal, none of which is guaranteed. Clark said the contract includes a provision that will allow Brown to renegotiate after two years.
DOWN THE ROAD: Tech's 1997 football schedule still includes two openings.
Danny Monk, associate athletic director, said Tech has talked with Baylor about a possible home-and-home series. The Hokies also have discussed two-for-one deals (two games in Blacksburg, the other away) with Alabama-Birmingham and Central Florida, Monk said.
``We've got inquiries in at a lot of places,'' said Monk, ``but a lot of schools aren't doing a lot right now with future scheduling until the NCAA meets in January.''
That's when the NCAA members will vote on whether a win over a Division I-AA school can count as the sixth victory that Division I-A teams need to qualify for a bowl. Since the 1992 season, I-A schools have needed six wins over I-A competition to be eligible for a bowl bid.
PRESEASON ACCOLADES: Four Tech players made the preseason All-Big East first team picked by The Sporting News.
End Cornell Brown and safety Torrian Gray, both juniors, and senior tackle J.C.Price represented the defense, while senior guard Chris Malone was the only Hokie making the offensive team.
Junior center Billy Conaty, senior defensive end Hank Coleman, senior linebacker George DelRicco, junior cornerback Antonio Banks and senior kick returner Brian Still all made the second team.
The publication picked Tech to finish fourth in the Big East, behind Miami, Boston College and West Virginia.
Athlon's preseason issue, which picks Tech to win the Big East and has the Hokies ranked 15th in the nation, went with Brown, Gray, Price, Banks and Still on its All-Big East squad.
TECH TIDBITS: The Sporting News was especially high on Tech's secondary, rating the defensive backfield as the nation's second best for '95. Tell that to Rutgers. The 5-5-1 Scarlet Knights carved up the Hokies' secondary for 374 passing yards last year in a 41-34 loss to Tech. ... Former Tech punter Robbie Colley, waived earlier by the San Francisco 49ers, has been invited for a tryout by the Birmingham Barracudas of the Canadian Football League. ... Women's basketball player Christi Osborne was presented with a plaque and trophy by GTE Thursday in Blacksburg for being named to the 1995 GTE Academic All-America team. The Burlington, Ky., native has compiled a grade-point average of 3.94, receiving just one grade below an A-minus while at Tech.
by CNB