ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, September 26, 1996 TAG: 9609260036
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: COLLEGE NOTEBOOK
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY
Virginia Tech has a history of never forgetting a football prospect, not that it was hard to remember Ricky Hall.
Hall, who originally signed with Tech in the winter of 1995, renewed his commitment this week after experiencing the best game of his Butler County (Kan.) Community College career.
Hall, once rated among the top 10 prospects in Virginia, had nine receptions for 156 yards and one touchdown as Butler knocked off No. 1-ranked Hutchinson Community College 27-0.
``It was a real blow when I couldn't go [to Tech] straight out of high school,'' said Hall, an All-Richmond Metro selection at Thomas Dale High School in Chester, ``but this was the best thing as far as getting my head in the books.''
Hall is the fourth Butler player from Virginia to commit to the Hokies in the past two years. Myron Newsome and Greg Melvin went that route in 1995 and Walter Ford signed with Tech last year.
Hall started the 1995 season behind Ford at wide receiver, moved to defensive back and then returned to receiver. His numbers were nothing exceptional, but he already has three 100-yard receiving games this year.
Hall, measured at 6-21/2 and 200 pounds, has been timed in 4.38 seconds for 40 yards and has a vertical leap of 321/2 inches. He said Tech was the only school that recruited him.
``The coaches [at Butler] told them that I wasn't going anywhere else,'' said Hall, who, as a partial qualifier out of high school, must graduate from junior college before enrolling at Tech.
Hall is the sixth player to commit to Tech, not counting running back Lamont Pegues, a transfer from Clemson who is on campus but not eligible to play until 1997.
RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME: Shyrone Stith, the freshman running back who has played a big role in Virginia Tech's 3-0 start, might have been redshirted if not for an injury to classmate Andre Kendrick. Kendrick, a former all-state quarterback who has moved to running back, missed some valuable summer practice time and probably will be redshirted.
PANTHERS SEARCHING: Pittsburgh coach Johnny Majors is trying not to use freshman quarterback Tony Zimmerman but may not have a choice. Starting quarterback Matt Lytle has been benched in favor of backup Pete Gonzalez for this week's trip to Miami.
Majors, who has one year remaining on a five-year contract, has a 9-30 record in his second stint as Panthers coach and has games remaining with fifth-ranked Notre Dame, No. 10 Miami and No. 18 Virginia Tech. Pitt already has been blown out by No. 4 Ohio State (72-0) and No. 23 West Virginia (34-0).
ACC TO BIG EAST: Rashidi Brown, the player of the year in New Jersey two years ago, has enrolled at Rutgers after transferring from Clemson. Brown, a 5-7, 169-pound running back, had two carries for Clemson last year after gaining 1,714 yards as a senior at Hackensack High School.
CUMMINGS LOOKS BETTER: Maryland quarterback Brian Cummings returned to practice Monday, nine days after suffering a separated shoulder against Virginia, and coach Mark Duffner is ``pretty optimistic'' he will play Saturday night at West Virginia.
The game originally was scheduled for Thursday night on ESPN, but it was moved to Saturday night and ESPN2, Duffner said, after the Mountaineers realized that Maryland would have the advantage of an open date. Georgia Tech and Duke took the Thursday night slot.
WOUNDED KNEES: Charles Wiley, who rushed for 193 yards in Georgia Tech's first two games, is the second prominent Yellow Jackets player to suffer a season-ending knee injury. Wide receiver Derrick Steagall was injured in a non-contact drill before the season.
TIGHT LIPPED: Duke coach Fred Goldsmith, whose Blue Devils have lost 15 of 19 games since a 7-0 start in 1994, said he will not divulge his starting quarterback for tonight's game. Back-up Matt Rader has better numbers than starter David Green, who has been hobbled by a sprained ankle.
CAVS' BIG WEEKEND: Point guard William Avery from Augusta, Ga., and Oak Hill Academy heads a trio of coveted men's basketball recruits making official visits to Virginia this weekend.
Avery will be joined by 6-8 Elton Brand from Peekskill, N.Y., and 6-7 Andre Hutson from Trotwood, Ohio. Recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons rated Avery and Brand the Nos. 5 and 9 junior prospects in the country before the summer.
Duke will be tough to beat for Avery, especially now that the Blue Devils have lost out on Santa Monica, Calif., point guard Baron Davis, who committed to UCLA. Virginia was at Oak Hill to see Avery on the first day of the fall evaluation period, but Avery is a longtime Duke fan.
SAMPSON SIGHTING: Ralph Sampson, a three-time national player of the year at Virginia, has gotten into the apparel business. Sampson, president of Ralph Sampson Sportswear, Inc., will introduce the first of his designs at UVa's football game Saturday night against Texas.
BASEBALL: Virginia Tech and Virginia are pleased to have their shortstops returning for their senior years. Both Kevin Kurilla from Tech and Adam Robinson from UVa were selected in the 52nd round of the free-agent draft, Kurilla by Florida and Robinson by Minnesota.
*Tech pitcher Jon Hand, a member of the Manhattan, Kan., team that won the 12-and-under National Baseball Congress title in 1988, has another national championship to his credit. Hand got the save as the Baltimore Corrigans defeated the Washington Senators 8-7 in the All American Baseball Association tournament.
LENGTH: Medium: 98 linesby CNB