THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 29, 1994 TAG: 9409290603
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines
Although Virginia has dropped William and Mary from most future football schedules, the Tribe intends to keep scheduling Division I-A teams.
U.Va. announced last week that it will drop the Tribe in 1996 and 1998. That mirrors a trend among I-A schools, who must win six games against I-A opponents to qualify for a bowl and thus are dropping I-AA opponents.
However, Tribe athletic director John Randolph says he'll fill those holes with other I-A schools.
``We've had some discussions with Maryland,'' he said. ``We want to play I-A schools, and there are a number of schools who would like the play an institution of our type.''
William and Mary will play U.Va. in 1995 and N.C. State in 1997, but has no other I-A opponents signed for future dates.
Tribe coach Jimmye Laycock says playing I-A schools provides two benefits. It gives the Tribe a chance to measure itself against big-time programs, and it provides a hefty paycheck. The Tribe receives $200,000 for playing at U.Va. on Saturday. Six years ago the Tribe went home with more than $300,000 after playing at Georgia.
``I'm kind of disappointed'' U.Va. dropped the Tribe, Laycock said. ``I think it's been a good series for both schools, but I understand Virginia's situation. They have to do what they have to do.
``For us I look at it as a part of a kid's college experience. It gives him a chance to go up against a very challenging opponent. It gives him a chance to see what he can do against a bigger team, a bigger program. Just the experience of playing in front of 40,000 or 50,000 people in that kind of atmosphere means a lot.''
NO MORE FOOTBALL: Greg Parker, an Englishman who lived out his dream to play American football with the Tribe, has seen the dream ended by recurring head injuries.
Parker briefly lost his memory last season after receiving a concussion, then had a similar occurrence in the Tribe's 28-26 victory over Furman two weeks ago.
A fullback whose primary duty was to blow open holes for tailback Troy Keen, Parker is a native of Leicester, England, who fell in love with football watching it on the BBC. One of the Tribe's hardest-working players, Parker was fitted with a specially padded helmet this season that it was hoped would end the injury problems.
However, team physicians decided late last week that Parker can't continue to play.
``They felt like it was not worth the risk for him to continue on because of the number of injuries and memory loss,'' Laycock said. ``I totally concur with that.
``Greg's put a lot into football, he worked very hard to become as good as he could, and all of a sudden to not be able to play is tough for any individual. It looks like he's accepting it now.
``We talked about it and he's going to help out at practice, he's going to work with the backs.''
AROUND THE STATE: Life just gets tougher for VMI, which fell to 0-3 with a 45-7 loss at William and Mary last week. The Keydets visit Georgia Southern this week, then host Marshall the following week. Both are programs with national championship aspirations. VMI has 14 freshmen and 10 sophomores in its two-deep chart. ``They're going to play,'' coach Bill Strickland said. ``They're not going to get any better sitting and watching the upper classmen play.'' ... James Madison, coming off an open date, will be seeking to end a 16-game Yankee Conference winning streak at Boston University ... Richmond tailback Uly Scott had been expected to emerge as the school's all-time leading rusher with ease. He needed just 512 yards to surpass Barry Redden's when the season began. After four games, he still needs 289. Scott has lost playing time to other runners, including Minoso Rodgers, who has rushed 31 times for 158 yards. He's also being keyed on by opposing defenses.
MODEL PLAYER: Some college football players work construction. Others sling fast food during the summer to make some money.
William and Mary's Jude Waddy, a linebacker from District Heights, Maryland, is a little more sophisticated, one that's earned him the moniker of ``pretty boy'' from his teammates. He's a male model who makes up to $150 per hour displaying men's clothes and bathing suits in Washington.
``I enjoy it, and the money's good,'' said Waddy, a pre-med major.
``I don't know if I can make a career out of it. If you're a model, when you get a scratch on you're face, you're out of work. If you're a doctor, you'll never be out of work.''
Waddy, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound redshirt freshman, has been a pleasant surprise in football gear. He's second on the team with 39 tackles and was named the team's defensive player the last two weeks. He had an interception against VMI that killed a first-half Keydets' scoring threat. by CNB