ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, August 15, 1996 TAG: 9608150058
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: TECH NOTES
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
One of the most talked-about football players in Virginia Tech history finally talked Wednesday.
Cornell Brown, the All-America defensive end who eludes offensive linemen and reporters with similar ease, held court during the Hokies' annual Media Day gathering at Lane Stadium.
In a reversal of recent form - he was a no-show for Big East Media Day on Aug.1 - Brown smiled as he welcomed a horde of reporters, who quickly circled him at midfield.
``Oh, I love it,'' said Brown, when asked if he liked dealing with the media. ``It's no problem to me. I love the attention. That's why you play the game. It's part of the success and I love it. Bring it all on.''
OK, Cornell, what's on the agenda this season? How can you top 1995, when you made five All-America teams and were named the Big East's defensive player of the year?
``I feel I want to be the best player in college defensively,'' Brown said. ``I'm going to go out each Saturday and play like that. I feel that if I play like that, my teammates are going to bring their games just as well ... and that's going to help us get through it all.''
All right, Cornell, how do you expect your game to improve in 1996?
``I can improve by just being a definite all-the-time player, a big-time player,'' Brown said. ``Somebody who you just take notice of ... who, no matter what, at any point of the game, can be able to take over and control it.''
And what abut the team, Cornell? Can Tech possibly top 1995, when it finished 10-2, won the Sugar Bowl and finished ranked No.10 in the country?
``I feel we should be better than we were last year,'' Brown said. ``I feel we definitely can go undefeated. Our goal is to top last year. We look back and figure we shouldn't have lost two games last year. We want to win all 12 this year.''
Oh, Cornell, one last question, please? How close did you come to leaving college early and making yourself eligible for the NFL draft?
``Real close,'' Brown said. ``It was hard to turn down. That's been my dream of a lifetime.
``Ultimately, it came down to me personally just wanting to come back and enjoy myself, and improve my game just by one more year. I think that will help me a lot going into the draft next year, hopefully.''
IN LIMBO: The status of returning starting left cornerback Larry Green remains in doubt until final summer-school grades are posted. Beamer said he expects the results in the next week or so.
Green apparently needs a couple of good grades to ensure himself a spot in the Hokies' lineup in the fall.
NO QUOTES HERE: There was no need for Antonio Banks, the projected starter at right cornerback, to hang around after pictures were taken Wednesday.
Tech's media relations director, Jack Williams, said Banks has decided ``he doesn't want to grant interviews'' this season.
Banks first adopted the policy last year. The word is Banks feels his play was ``jinxed'' by an as-yet-unidentified story written about him during the 1994 season.
GLOWING WORDS: Tight ends coach Bryan Stinespring doesn't mince words when describing senior Bryan Jennings, a former All-Timesland choice from Jefferson Forest High School.
``Bryan is the complete player,'' Stinespring said of the former Parade All-American. ``He has it all. He's as good as you're going to see at that position.''
QUICK STOP: Beamer rapidly headed off any potential questions concerning the suspension of junior tailback Marcus Parker. After greeting the media, Beamer's first words were: ``I'm not going to discuss Marcus Parker's suspension.''
Parker was suspended indefinitely from competition Monday after pleading no contest to a shoplifting charge.
Fourth-year junior Aaron Layne has replaced Parker behind Ken Oxendine on the tailback depth chart.
TECH TIDBITS: Strength coach Mike Gentry said the summer was the Hokies' most productive ever in the weight room. Twenty team records were broken in testing. Six players earned Super Iron Hokie status. Four more may make it, which would be another record. ... Speaking of weights, how about the numbers of the Hokies' projected starting offensive line? From tackle to tackle, Tech likely will go 313-308-298-295-313. ``We're big. Real big. We've got to be about as big as anybody in the country,'' said J.B. Grimes, the Hokies' offensive line coach. ... Tackle Mike Bianchin, who helped anchor Grimes' line last season, has landed a job as the assistant strength coach at Marshall. Bianchin signed a free-agent contract with the New York Jets, but was cut. ... Beamer said both kicking jobs are ``up for grabs.'' Freshman Shayne Graham of Pulaski will battle redshirt freshman Jimmy Kibble for the place-kicking chores, and returning punter John I. Thomas faces competition from Kibble and redshirt freshman Mike Kilgore. ... The Hokies begin full-squad practices today. Tech opens the season Sept. 7 at Akron.
LENGTH: Medium: 95 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ALAN KIM/Staff. Virginia Tech All-American Cornell Brownby CNBshows off his new-found media savvy while fielding questions from
reporters Wednesday at Lane Stadium. color.