ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, August 2, 1996 TAG: 9608020010
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
TYPE: COMMENTARY
SOURCE: RAY COX
The rain is pouring, life is boring.
Both conditions, happy to report, are temporary. Fortunately, we have the thrill-a-minute sporting life to discuss.
Among the topics for our consideration
Will anybody ever again pose a legitimate threat to Pulaski County High's aspirations to win every single Roanoke Valley District football game from now through the turn of the century?
Yes.
The key word here is ``legitimate.'' William Fleming and, to a lesser extent, Patrick Henry pose a legitimate threat right now. Of course, not one game has been played nor practice drill conducted in preparation for the 1996 campaign.
This we do know, however. Fleming will be a five yards and pick-the-turf-out-of-your-teeth kind of team with tailback Lee Suggs. PH, which beat the oddly emotionless Cougars last year, should be even better.
Come to think of it, though, that may just play into the paws of the Cougars. It is always helpful in football to discover that one is not quite as wonderful as one thought.
Pulaski County will also take a swig of new-vintage coaching tonic when Joel Hicks proteges Paul Wheeler and Jack Turner join his staff. Wheeler, it will be recalled, played for Hicks at Woodrow Wilson of Beckley, W.Va., prior to coaching George Wythe to a state runner-up finish. He subsequently won two state titles at Rustburg. Turner, a star for Hicks at Pulaski County before proceeding to a fine career at Ferrum College, has been on the staff at Franklin County.
High school teams don't often add assistant coaches of that caliber. Fleming and PH are going to be good. Not to worry. The revamped Cougars staff will make the boys aware of any and all threats.
What impact will Glenvar High have as a new member of the Three Rivers District?
Plenty, particularly in girls sports such as basketball and and minor sports such as golf and tennis.
Glenvar will give Floyd County its first big district challenge in girls basketball because it is returning a veteran team that includes 1995 Timesland Sizzling Sophomore Erica Hale as well as guard Amy Layman and big girl Amanda Rydell.
As for golf and tennis, the Highlanders will pose an immediate threat to the powers that be in the Three Rivers, in golf and boys tennis to a greater extent than in girls' tennis, where Radford will not yield easily.
Giles is rebuilding in football, but then so are Glenvar and Radford. In a three-way battle of rebuilders, the Spartans cannot be overlooked.
What impact will Blacksburg and Christiansburg have on the new Blue Ridge District?
Enough to make the first year very interesting indeed.
Blacksburg ought to give perennial football power Salem something to think about. Christiansburg will continue to be stout in the running sports such as cross country and track no matter what district it's in.
What a girls' basketball district. You have the defending state champion (Lord Botetourt); the defending runner-up (William Byrd); Blacksburg, which has won state basketball titles; and Salem, whom Blacksburg native Dee Wright has coached into a perennial contender.
Then there is soccer. Blacksburg and William Byrd in the same league means something is going to have to give.
LENGTH: Medium: 67 linesby CNB