THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 29, 1994 TAG: 9409290585
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
After breaking Lamonte Still's high school rushing record, Terry Ricks figured he'd give the Hampton University tailback a break.
Ricks, a freshman at Hampton, reported to practice this summer with one thing on his mind: replacing Still as the Pirates' main punt- and kick-return man.
Ricks figured that every punt and kick he returned would be one Still, the team's starting tailback, wouldn't have to.
``That was one of my goals, to give him a rest,'' Ricks said.
Goal attained. Not only has Ricks given Still a break, he's become a breakaway threat.
Two weeks ago, against Virginia Union, Ricks returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown. Through Saturday, he led the CIAA in punt returns, with a 21-yard average.
``He's come along real well,'' said Hampton special teams coach John Wright. ``We didn't want to put too much pressure on Terry, so initially we went with Lamonte Still. But he's panned out well, and that's really given Lamonte a breather.''
Ricks, a true freshman, ran for 4,085 yards in his Norcom High career, breaking former Cox star Still's record of 3,913 last year.
But at 5-foot-6 and 165 pounds, Ricks was too small for most Division I recruiters. Pittsburgh, Rutgers and Marshall showed early interest but then backed off, and Ricks signed with Hampton.
Still, who signed with Virginia after graduating from Cox in 1992, transferred to Hampton a year later. He sat out '93 and won the starting tailback's job in spring practice.
``We've been friends for a long time,'' Ricks said. ``I was glad to come over here, just to have a chance to play with Lamonte.''
Still figured to make a big splash at Division II Hampton, and he hasn't disappointed. Through four games, he has 52 carries for 365 yards and five touchdowns.
Ricks has been brought along more slowly. In Hampton's stacked backfield, he's been circling the tower, waiting for a place to land.
``I'm just trying to work my way in,'' he said. ``I've got plenty of time to get my shot at running back, if I just wait my turn.''
Meanwhile, Ricks will continue to worry Hampton opponents with his special-teams play.
``The good thing about our defense,'' Ricks said, ``is they force a lot of punts.''
COACHING SWITCH AT J.C. SMITH: Apparently, the week before playing Hampton is a bad time to be a coach in the CIAA. Two weeks ago, Virginia Union's Hank Lattimore was fired the Monday before his team faced the Pirates.
This week, the coach on the hot seat is Johnson C. Smith's Ray Lee. Lee, whose team faces Hampton Saturday, was suspended Friday pending an investigation into whether he used an ineligible player this year. Offensive coordinator Randy Bethel, 25, has been named interim coach.
LIVINGSTONE CLEAN: Meanwhile, Livingstone's football program has been cleared of allegations that it used ineligible players.
After receiving complaints from an unnamed coach, the league office checked the eligibility of half-a-dozen Livingstone players, athletic director Morris Wiggins said.
``They had some players they had some concerns about, and we satisfied everything they asked,'' Wiggins said.
Livingstone has turned heads this year with its surprising turnaround. After going 1-10 last year, the Bears are 3-1 with three shutouts.
Wiggins said he thinks the team's fast start under new coach Rudy Abrams caused a backlash from some conference coaches.
``You've been on the bottom so long and all of a sudden you make a sudden rise,'' Wiggins said. ``A lot of people like to see things the way they've always been in the CIAA.'' by CNB