THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 2, 1994 TAG: 9408020452
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines
The first impression wasn't too good. But after his first day of coaching Old Dominion's basketball team, Jeff Capel was pleased.
The Monarchs practiced at 6 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday to begin preparation for their upcoming trip to France. It was Capel's first look at the players he inherited when he took the Monarchs' coaching job in April, and the players' first look at their new coach.
``I'm real excited,'' Capel said after the second practice. ``We were able to get in our transition game and two offensive sets in one day. I can't say I've been able to do that in one day with any team I've had before. Usually it takes three or four days to get that all in. That shows the intelligence and ability of these kids.''
But around 6:30 Monday morning, Capel saw something he didn't like. Players were doubled over, gasping for air. After just a few minutes of going hard, guys were gassed. And Capel was aghast.
But then the coaches realized they had prepared for the first practice like they normally would when practice begins in the fall. That is usually preceded by several weeks of conditioning, so players come in sharp and in shape.
This practice session was preceded by several weeks of relaxation for some ODU players and little intense competition since March.
``We just forgot that,'' Capel said. ``After the first 30 minutes, it hit us.''
Capel and his staff - who prepared for practice until 2 a.m. Monday and then slept in the basketball office rather than going home for a couple hours - seemed to be a hit with the players. But the early practice time didn't appeal to everyone.
``I am tired,'' rising senior Mike Jones said. ``Practice in the morning is not for me.''
The big question with a new coach is, what's different from the old regime? The offensive and defensive philosophies of Capel and former coach Oliver Purnell are very similar, which should ease the transition. But on the first day of practice, the players noticed some differences in personality.
``Coach Capel is very intense,'' rising junior center Odell Hodge said.
``I think (Capel's) coaching style is a little more vocal,'' rising sophomore guard E.J. Sherod said. ``He wants perfection at all times, and he won't accept any type of laid-back attitude.''
FAMILY MATTERS: Capel already has been reported to the NCAA for possible recruiting violations, but the Monarchs have nothing to worry about.
Capel said an ODU administrator came into his office recently, closed the door and said there was a problem. It seemed two schools had reported Capel to the NCAA for talking to a recruit during the July period when coaches could evaluate players but were not allowed face-to-face conversations. Not only that, one school reported seeing Capel give money to the athlete at an AAU tournament in Los Angeles.
Capel admitted he is guilty as charged. But the prospective recruit was his 14-year-old son Jason, a highly regarded player. Capel said he talked to Jason and gave him $20, and thought at the time it may raise some eyebrows among coaching brethren who didn't know him but saw ``Old Dominion'' on his clothing.
Capel realized right away what incident the administrator was referring to, but played along for a minute.
``I said, `You don't know the rest of it,' '' Capel said. ``She said, `There's more?' I said, `Yeah, I'm sleeping with the kid's mother.' ''
PLAYER SUSPENSION: Capel comes to ODU with the reputation of being a disciplinarian, and the first example already has cropped up.
Rising junior Corey Parker, one of ODU's 10 returning scholarship players, is not practicing with the team and won't accompany the Monarchs on the trip to France. Capel said Parker, whose brother Derrick is also on the team, is expected to return in the fall.
``Corey Parker will not make the trip because he did not perform up to standards academically this summer,'' Capel said. ``He is eligible academically, but he's not allowed to make the trip.''
ODU has 10 players in practice, but walk-on Jeff Mordica is not allowed to make the overseas trip because as a transfer he was not eligible last year.
NCAA rules do not allow incoming point guards Brion Dunlap and Duffy Samuels to practice or participate in the overseas trip. That means the Monarchs will go to France without a true point guard because Capel intends to use E.J. Sherod at the second guard or small forward spot this season.
RECRUITING UPDATE: Capel and his staff already have signed Samuels, and although the paperwork isn't completed yet, Joe Bunn has said he will transfer to ODU from North Carolina A&T, Capel's old school.
After a month of recruiting to fill the Monarchs' three available scholarships, Capel is encouraged with the response so far.
``We're involved with some very good players, some of the top 100 players in the country,'' Capel said. ``We're going to get a chance to go into some homes in September and seal the deal.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
MOTOYA NAKAMURA/Staff
ODU basketball coach Jeff Capel was pleased with his team's
intelligence and ability after a pair of practices.
by CNB