Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 28, 1995 TAG: 9509280031
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Of course, nothing has been normal at Maryland since quarterback Scott Milanovich was suspended by the NCAA for gambling on college basketball games.
Milanovich, whose suspension was reduced from eight games to four, will take over for stopgap quarterback Brian Cummings when 17th-ranked Maryland visits Georgia Tech at 8 p.m. today for a game that will be televised nationally by ESPN.
Although he had not attempted a pass in a college game before this year, Cummings led the Terrapins to consecutive victories over three 1994 bowl teams (North Carolina, West Virginia and Duke) and last week passed for a season-high 299 yards and two touchdowns.
``This is something I planned for all summer,'' said Cummings, who ranks second in the ACC behind Florida State's Danny Kanell in passing efficiency. ``Coach [Mark Duffner] did what he felt was best for the team and I respect that.''
Milanovich, who has thrown for more than 6,000 yards in his career, considered turning pro when the suspension was first announced. There was speculation that he returned for a fifth year after receiving assurances from Duffner.
``I don't want to make it sound like it was a promise,'' Milanovich said Tuesday in his first public comments in two months. ``At some places, [a] coach might have gone with the hot hand. I don't know what I would have done in that situation. I'm just glad he had faith in me.''
Virginia coach George Welsh predicted on his radio show Monday night that Cummings would start. Duffner was somewhat evasive Tuesday on the weekly ACC teleconference when asked about his reasoning.
``It has not been a distraction, other than all the questions about Scott [because] it's a short week,'' Duffner said. ``It's not like Scott has been on Mars or something like that or that Brian's going to go there either. Our players have seen both players practice.''
IN THE ACC: Redshirt freshman Jose Laureano is getting most of the work at quarterback this week for North Carolina State, which could be without regular Terry Harvey when it entertains Clemson on Saturday. Harvey, who has thrown 69 of 75 passes attempted by the Wolfpack, has a pulled groin muscle.
There have never been more than four 1,000-yard rushers in the ACC, where seven players are currently on pace to top the 1,000-mark. That group does not include North Carolina tailback Leon Johnson, who rushed for 1,012 yards in 1994 but currently ranks 10th in the ACC in rushing.
Duke defensive end Johannes Brugger lost feeling for two hours Monday night after a collision with another Blue Devils' player. ``I've coached 34 years and seen a lot of things that would turn your stomach,'' Fred Goldsmith said, ``but this was the first [injury] where I was scared of paralysis. Boy, it makes you put everything in perspective.''
Florida State coach Bobby Bowden couldn't resist one more comment Tuesday on coaches who allegedly run up scores. ``We've got coaches [like Bowden] who are getting guilty consciences whether we're trying to run it up or not,'' he said. ``At the other extreme, we might have some whiners out there who are tired of getting their tails beat.''
IN THE BIG EAST: Penn State coach Joe Paterno opened his weekly news conference Tuesday by reading a statement in which he apologized for his behavior following a 59-34 victory over Rutgers, when he and Scarlet Knights' coach Doug Graber had a shouting match.
``I feel very, very bad about the four-letter words,'' Paterno said. ``I would not want my kids to to have to listen to a national figure go on television and say what I said. I should have understood that the guy was upset [and] said, `I'm sorry you feel that way. I'll give you a call next week.'''
Running back Robert Walker, who needs 303 yards to break West Virginia's career rushing record, returns this week after missing two games with a sprained ankle. Chronic ankle problems limited Walker's effectiveness last year, when he dropped from 1,250 yards as a sophomore to 749.
Anthony Dorsett, son of the former Dallas Cowboys star of the same name, intercepted two passes for Pittsburgh last Saturday in a 54-14 loss to Ohio State. That doesn't come close to offsetting the 11 interceptions yielded so far by Panthers' quarterback John Ryan, who faces Virginia Tech this Saturday.
EX-FLAME COVETED: Jon Stark, who began his career at Liberty and later served as a back-up quarterback at Florida State, has surfaced at Trinity International, an NAIA football program in Deerfield, Ill.
Stark, a 6-foot-5, 220-pounder, passed for 491 yards and four touchdowns in his first game for Trinity and is currently rated the No.3 NFL-eligible quarterback by draft analyst Mel Kiper, Jr. Stark was 49-of-73 (67.1 percent) for 619 yards and six touchdowns in two years at FSU.
MILESTONES: Jimmye Laycock of William and Mary and Emory & Henry's Lou Wackereach received his 100th victory as a college football coach. Laycock has a 100-72-2 record in 16 seasons; Wacker, in his 14th season in Emory, is 100-41.
MIDNIGHT MADNESS: Both Virginia Tech and Virginia are planning to celebrate the start of basketball practice with ``Midnight Madness'' scrimmages following home football games Oct.14. The Cavaliers are one of the teams who will be featured by ESPN on its telecast.
UVa expects visits this weekend from two of its prime recruiting targets, 6-5 Willie Dersch from Flushing, N.Y., and 6-8 Malik Allen from Medford, N.J., both ranked among the top 40 prospects nationally. ... Tech entertained two players on unofficial visits last Saturday, 6-4 Cornelius Jackson from Oak Hill, W.Va., and 6-2 Terrence Newby from Siler City, N.C.
by CNB