ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, April 19, 1997 TAG: 9704210123
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: HIGH SCHOOLS
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM
Many people don't know that Steve Ragsdale, the highly successful football coach at Giles, made his fame as an athlete in basketball.
As a student at Roanoke College, Ragsdale played for the 1972 NCAA College Division national champions. Ragsdale was a reserve guard on that team, which gathers tonight at the college to celebrate the 25th anniversary of that championship.
Most of the players will attend, as will coaches Charlie Moir and his assistant, Don Brown, and the school's athletic director, Tom Martin. Ragsdale probably will be there also, though until earlier this week, he didn't realize the importance of this occasion.
Then Ragsdale got philosophical about his role as a reserve. He says the experience taught him many things that have helped him be successful in coaching.
Ragsdale isn't talking about the single wing offense he employs with great success at Giles. He is the only coach in the state and one of the few in the nation who uses that formation.
``My career was that of a reserve. It was a good experience,'' Ragsdale recalls. ``I did what I could to contribute to the team. I got a free education and took some nice trips. I got to be close to some nice people. I can't complain.''
There was something bigger Ragsdale experienced at Roanoke.
``As a coach, it helps you to appreciate those kids who aren't starters,'' he said. ``They're there every day putting forth just as much effort as the starters and they mean a whole lot to the ball club. As a player in that position, you feel you're not important. As a coach, you feel that everyone is important.''
Hal Johnston, an All-American guard on the same Roanoke College team and one of the ones who encouraged Ragsdale to keep playing, puts this into perspective.
``When I played a game after having Ragsdale guarding me all week during practice, it was a relief,'' Johnston said. ``He was physical and hard-nosed. I dreaded practicing against him.''
That underscores the value of reserves who often go unnoticed by the public.
NO VIOLATION: When boxes of cornflakes with pictures of Salem players went on sale last week promoting the school's Group AA Division 4 football title, there was a possibility of violating NCAA or Virginia High School League rules.
The school had checked with the VHSL, which said there was no violation because the athletes weren't receiving anything from the sale of the cereal. Salem athletic director Sandy Hadaway said the cereal sale was a school fund-raiser and not intended for any other purpose.
Sharon McCloskey, the senior associate athletic director at Virginia Tech checked with Stan Wilcox, the Big East Football Conference compliance officer and associate commissioner. They say the Salem players who will become NCAA student athletes will have no problem because NCAA legislation states appearance on commercial items must come after enrollment.
The school for which the student plays should send a cease and desist letter to the company that produced and sold the cereal boxes asking that the company to no longer sell them after the enrollment of the said athletes. An example is Salem's Jeff Akers who is prominent in one picture and is headed to VMI on a football scholarship.
If the company continues to sell the cereal, it's no problem for Akers or VMI once the school has written and asked to have the promotional sale stopped. The important thing is the filing of the letter rather than whether the company actually stops selling the product.
STRONG WRESTLING: Franklin County's Stacy Menefee finished third in the Cadet Division of the 105-pound class in the National Freestyle and Greco Roman wrestling championships at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.
Former William Fleming wrestler Keno Shepherd was runner-up in the University Division 114-pound class a second straight year. An elbow injury forced him to default the championship match that was scoreless at the time.
ANOTHER ALL-STATER: While the state private schools released the boys' all-state teams this week, there was none for the girls. However, Roanoke Valley Christian sophomore Gina Guthrie was a first-team pick for the girls, according to a school announcement. There was no word whether anyone from North Cross or Roanoke Catholic made the team or honorable mention.
SOME STATS STARTING: Coaches in softball, baseball and soccer should have received a request for statistics to be faxed to the sports department this Monday. Statistical leaders will be published next Thursday and the boys' and girls' track honor roll will start the next week after the Cosmopolitan Club Track meet at Salem and the All-America Relays at Radford on April 26.
LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: CINDY PINKSTON THE ROANOKE TIMES Salem High School'sby CNBstate football championship is celebrated on commemorative boxes of
cornflakes.