ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, October 3, 1996 TAG: 9610030045
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: COLLEGE NOTEBOOK
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY
Six weeks after most colleges held their first classes and five weeks after the start of its football schedule, Georgia Tech will begin school next week.
Rival coaches wonder if that hasn't given the Yellow Jackets an advantage.
``I think it's a little bit of both,'' said George O'Leary, Georgia Tech's coach. ``The advantage is the kids don't have to worry about school. The negative is how do you keep them busy without school and with the 20-hour rule in force?
``They've got a lot of spare time with school not in session, and it's not like there's nothing to do in the city of Atlanta.''
The school year traditionally has started late in the Georgia college system, but Georgia Tech started later than usual this year because the Summer Olympics were held in Atlanta.
Summer school could not start at Georgia Tech until the Olympics ended in early August, so summer school won't end until Monday. The regular session begins Oct.10.
``I think it's an advantage, but it's all in how you work the advantage,'' O'Leary said. ``I've started the freshmen on reading and math tutoring for two hours a day, four days a week.''
Yellow Jackets players were allowed to take summer-school classes at North Georgia College, where the team held preseason camp before returning to Atlanta on Aug.31
It was the fear of some ACC coaches that Georgia Tech might be able to practice twice a day until classes began, but the NCAA has closed that loophole.
A rule that limits players to 20 hours of football related-activity goes into effect on the first day of classes or with the first game, whichever comes first.
``Oh, well, then it's not that much of an advantage,'' said Virginia coach George Welsh, whose Cavaliers (4-0 overall, 2-0 ACC) visit Georgia Tech (3-1, 3-1) for a 3:30 p.m. game Saturday. ``Do you have to give them a day off every week? Then, five weeks might be too long.''
IN THE ACC: Chris Combs, a redshirt freshman from Roanoke, was one of the few Duke players singled out for praise by coach Fred Goldsmith following a 48-22 loss to Georgia Tech on Sept.26. Combs, a back-up defensive end, had two sacks and a total of six tackles.
``Every week he's gotten better and better,'' said Goldsmith, who may start Combs for the first time this week. ``I feel Chris is going to be one of the big-time linemen in this league as time goes on. A lot of things are new to him, but, wow, I'm really glad we have him.''
*North Carolina State coach Mike O'Cain has dismissed wide receiver Greg Addis and quarterback Colin Harris for an unspecified violation of team policy. Harris, a junior college transfer, was a contender for the starting job in the preseason.
*ACC quarterbacks expected to return to the starting lineup this week are Duke's David Green and Maryland's Brian Cummings, both of whom have been injured. At N.C. State, O'Cain gave a vote of confidence to Jose Laureano after going with redshirt freshman Jamie Barnette in the second half at Purdue.
*Clemson coach Tommy West said quarterback Nealon Greene wasn't close to being ready to play Saturday against Florida State, based on Tuesday's practice. Greene was one of four Tigers who suffered knee injuries this past Saturday against Wake Forest.
TOUGH LUCK: Willie Gonzalez, who transferred from Georgia Tech to James Madison with the knowledge he would start at quarterback for only one year, is hoping the NCAA will look favorably on his appeal for a sixth season of eligibility. Gonzalez suffered a broken hand in JMU's third game.
nMore than three weeks after injuring an ankle in West Virginia's season-opening victory over Pitt, fifth-year tight end Eric Boykin learned it was broken. It wrapped up an unfulfilled college career for Boykin, briefly the Mountaineers' starting quarterback after transferring from Michigan.
IN THE BIG EAST: Pittsburgh, which this week celebrates the 20-year anniversary of its 1976 national championship, is a one-point underdog at home Saturday against a Temple team that has a 1-26 record in four years of Big East play.
The Panthers, 29-27 losers at Temple last year, have moved top receiver Curtis Anderson to the secondary. Freshman quarterback Tony Zimmerman, expected to redshirt this year, played Saturday in a 45-0 loss to Miami and failed to complete any of his four passes.
CAUSE FOR CONCERN: The late start of classes at Georgia Tech finds the Yellow Jackets nervous about the status of basketball signee Kevin Morris. The point guard, still awaiting approval from the NCAA clearinghouse, was expected to start with the departure of Stephon Marbury to the NBA.
BASKETBALL RECRUITING: First-year North Carolina State coach Herb Sendek has received his third oral commitment, this one from 6-6 Ron Anderson, originally from Fayetteville, N.C. Anderson and Kenny Inge, who committed to the Wolfpack in September, are at Hargrave Military Academy.
nOld Dominion has received a commitment from 6-8, 225-pound Paul Reed. The Orlando, Fla., native picked the Monarchs without taking an official visit. ODU earlier had dismissed its 1995-96 leading scorer, Joe Bunn, after his arrest on a charge of assault and battery.
NOT SO FAST: Point guard Larry Morrissey's oral commitment to Wake Forest's basketball program may not be as solid as it sounds. It seems that when Wake made an offer to Morrissey before the summer, he said he wasn't ready to commit.
As a result, the Deacons turned their recruiting attention elsewhere. That doesn't mean Morrissey won't eventually wind up in Winston-Salem, N.C., but sources say the timing of his announcement caught the Deacons' coaches by surprise.
LENGTH: Long : 102 linesby CNB