ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, March 25, 1997 TAG: 9703250107
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING THE ROANOKE TIMES
MEMO: ***CORRECTION***
Published correction ran on March 27, 1997.
Clarification
Some information in Tuesday's story in the Sports section, "Morrison
won't play for Hokies," needs to be clarified.
In January 1996, Attorney General Jim Gilmore asked state police to
investigate former Virginia Tech student Christy Brzonkala's charge that
Tech football players Tony Morrison and James Crawford raped her in
September 1994. She has said she did not go to police immediately
because she was in shock.
After a two-month investigation, the Montgomery County commonwealth's
attorney presented the state police findings in April to a Montgomery
County grand jury, which declined to indict the players.
Earlier in January 1996, Brzonkala filed suit in federal court
against the two players under the Violence Against Women Act. She also
sued Tech.
A judge dropped Tech from the suit and then dismissed the suit
against the players, ruling that the act was unconstitutional.
Brzonkala and the Justice Department are appealing the judge's
decisions.
In July 1996, Brzonkala filed suit against Tech and the players in
state court to meet the statute of limitations. Those suits will be
pursued if Brzonkala's federal appeals are unsuccessful.
NOTE: Correction also ran March 26 in New River Valley edition.
No reason was given for Morrison's departure, which was announced after he met with Frank Beamer.
The football career of one of Virginia Tech's most heralded recruits ever apparently is over.
Tony Morrison, whose three-year Tech career has been overshadowed by a myriad of off-the-field problems, is no longer a member of the Hokies' squad, coach Frank Beamer confirmed Monday.
Morrison, a 6-foot-1, 231-pound rising senior from Chesapeake, figured to be a key starter at linebacker for Tech in the fall.
``This decision was made after a meeting between Tony and me,'' said Beamer, in a prepared statement. ``The meeting was private and personal, and I will have no further comment on it.
``All of us connected with Virginia Tech football wish Tony Morrison well in his future endeavors.''
Morrison, who is still enrolled in school, didn't want to talk about the matter when reached Monday.
``I don't want to comment on anything,'' said Morrison, who, according to a source, met with Beamer before the Hokies began spring practice last Saturday.
Morrison, a first-team All Group AAA quarterback and defensive back at Indian River High School, saw significant playing time in each of his three seasons with the Hokies.
He took over Tech's starting mike linebacker's duties last season but was hampered by foot and ankle injuries. He started five of the six games in which he played, making 50 tackles, including five behind the line of scrimmage.
Off the field, however, Morrison has had more than his share of problems.
During his freshman season, Morrison was suspended by Beamer for one game for a violation of team policy.
Things would get worse his sophomore season.
Morrison, along with teammate James Crawford, was a defendant in a rape case filed by former Tech student Christy Brzonkala. The case, which drew national publicity, ultimately was dropped when a Montgomery County grand jury decided there wasn't enough evidence to indict the players on criminal charges.
A civil suit filed by Brzonkala against the two players is still pending, however.
Morrison was suspended again in December 1995 after an incident at a Blacksburg restaurant.
Morrison was charged with petit larceny, destruction of property, being drunk in public and possession of a fake driver's license. He was fined $500, $400 of which was suspended upon Morrison's completion of an alcohol education program. Morrison was found guilty of possession of a fake driver's license. He had to return money he stole from a tip jar and pay for the cost of having a door repaired at the establishment.
That suspension prevented Morrison from making Tech's 1995 trip to the Sugar Bowl in which the Hokies beat Texas.
Last season, Morrison missed more time when he was suspended by Beamer for one game. Beamer refused to reveal why Morrison was suspended, saying only it was a violation of team policy.
LENGTH: Medium: 88 linesby CNB