Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, October 27, 1995                   TAG: 9510270075
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JAMES C. BLACK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

RUSH RESOLVES MINOR PLAYER REVOLT

Several players threatened to quit the team and not play in Roanoke's first-round National Minor League Football playoff game Nov.4 at Victory Stadium.

The dissension occurred over incentive money the players were to receive at season's end.

At practice Tuesday, the players were told the amount of their shares from the performance incentives instituted during the last month of the season. Once the money was pooled and divided, the figures worked out to $17 each for offensive players and $23 for defensive players.

``We were told how much we were receiving and no one was satisfied,'' offensive lineman Stewart Boyd said Thursday.

Money, or the lack of it, has been an issue with many players throughout the season.

Rush management has said players were told from the beginning of the season that no one would get paid. However, players have offered different stories.

Some players have complained of being told they would receive a salary. Others have quit because of frustration over the money issue.

The unhappiness over the salaries and incentive pay provoked the players to meet and discuss those issues with team owners Nick Rush and Donald Wayne Snell on Wednesday.

According to players representative Maceo Tony, a defensive back, the players will receive a percentage of the ticket sales for the playoff game Nov.4 against the Charlotte Blasts. According to the oral agreement, $1 from each adult ticket will be pooled and divided among the team's 50 or so players.

``Everybody's happy,'' Tony said. ``We're just out to have a good time and play football.''

Rush and Snell were not available for comment.

The Rush, third in the Mid-Atlantic Division, was supposed to travel for its first-round playoff game but the league switched the game to Roanoke. The Rush is in the league's top five in home attendance, averaging 3,510. However, Roanoke averaged fewer than 3,000 for its past three home games.

In the regular-season finale against the Delaware Warlocks on Oct.21, the Rush reported an attendance of 1,800 to the league.