ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, November 27, 1996 TAG: 9611270036
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FROM STAFF REPORTS
That VMI senior tailback Thomas Haskins was named to the media's All-Southern Conference first team on Tuesday wasn't a surprise. What was surprising was that Division I-AA's all-time leading rusher wasn't a unanimous pick.
Haskins was voted to the first team on 45 of 49 ballots. Three media members voted him to the second team and more amazing, one left him off his ballot altogether.
Appalachian State linebacker Dexter Coakley, Haskins' former teammate at Fork Union Military Academy, was the only unanimous first team selection. (Complete team in Scoreboard. B4)
Sophomore safety Cornell Lewis was the Keydets' only other first team pick. Linebacker-turned-defensive end Kelly Cook was a second-teamer on the defensive line.
Haskins rushed for 241 yards on Saturday for break Frank Hawkins' 16-year-old I-AA rushing record. Haskins finished his career with 5,349 yards rushing.
Almost as surprising as the Haskins vote was that Keydets linebacker Mike Rogers, second in the league with 152 tackles, wasn't named to either team.
The media's players of the year, freshmen of the year and coach of the year will be announced Thursday. The coaches' teams will be released Saturday.
In other sports news in the region:
* The East Coast Hockey League said the Louisiana IceGators will have to forfeit nine games due to the use of an unnamed ineligible player. The IceGators played the first nine games of the 1996-97 season with five ``veteran'' players, a violation of ECHL rules which state a team may only carry four veterans. The Roanoke Express has not and will not meet the IceGators during the regular season.
* Chip Sullivan of Hanging Rock Golf Club carded a 2-under 142 to finish second in the Dave Pelz PGA Tournament series on Tuesday at the 7,082-yard Weston Hills Country Club in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Sullivan will compete for a PGA Tour card beginning next Wednesday when he enters the final qualifier, a six-round tournament in Santa Barbara, Calif.
Sullivan finished second to Dana Quigley of Rehoboth, Mass., who shot a 3-under 141 in two rounds. Sullivan shot a 73 on Monday and a 69 on Tuesday. He came from 2-over par to finish 3-under in Tuesday's round. Quigley clinched the victory when Sullivan bogeyed the final hole. Sullivan earned a $2,000 paycheck.
* The final race of the season will be held Saturday at Franklin County Speedway in Callaway.
All divisions will compete, including the Any Car class. Admission is $5. Youngsters 10 and under are admitted free.
Gates open at noon. The first green flag drops at 2 p.m.
LENGTH: Medium: 55 linesby CNB