THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 6, 1994 TAG: 9410060593
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: CIAA NOTES
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
Who is the most dangerous offensive player in the CIAA? The running back, receiver or quarterback whose name strikes fear in the hearts of defensive coordinators from Bowie State to Johnson C. Smith?
CIAA Notebook polled the conference's head coaches this week. Ten of 11 responded, with the stipulation that they couldn't vote for one of their own players.
The easy winner: Bobby Phillips, the hyperquick tailback from Virginia Union.
Phillips, a 5-foot-10, 195-pound senior, received five votes. No one else got more than 1 1/2.
Phillips doesn't lead the conference in rushing. In fact, he's not close. He's fifth in total yardage and fourth in yardage per game.
But the consensus among the coaches who voted for him is that Phillips gets more yardage on his own than any other back in the conference.
``He's quick, strong, a great player,'' said one coach.
Said another: ``He's just lightning-quick. He seems like he's capable of making a big play at any time.''
Phillips made more than his share of big plays last season, when he ran for 1,507 yards and 11 touchdowns. He's off to a slower start this season, with 436 yards in four games. But indications are that new Panther coach Harold Jackson plans to begin using Phillips more often. Phillips carried 34 times last week against Bowie State, for 148 yards.
Look for Jackson, who took over for fired coach Hank Lattimore two weeks ago, to go to Phillips as often as the tailback can stand it. Phillips, who runs a 4.3 40, may be the fastest player in the conference. And he bench presses 360 pounds.
``The best thing about him,'' Jackson said, ``is I've got him.''
Others receiving votes were Norfolk State's Aaron Sparrow and James Roe, with 1 1/2 each; and Lamonte Still of Hampton and Sedric Utley of Fayetteville State, with one each.
Sparrow, who leads the conference in passing yardage, drew praise from one voter for his performance under pressure.
``He's so elusive and can still hold his poise and find an open receiver,'' the coach said.
One coach said he found it impossible to separate Sparrow and Roe, the Norfolk State receiver who leads the conference in catches and yardage. He gave a half-vote to each player.
Still, Hampton's freshman running back, got the nod over Phillips from one coach because of his ability to catch the football. Still not only leads Hampton in rushing, he's the Pirates' leading receiver as well.
The surprise vote was for Utley, a junior receiver from Fayetteville State who was having a quiet year before catching nine passes for 239 yards against Winston-Salem State last week.
BOWIE STATE BANGER: Save a spot on the all-CIAA team for Bowie State defensive back Chris Banks, who continues to carry the Bulldog defense.
Last Saturday against Virginia Union, Banks made 13 tackles, picked off his fifth pass of the year and averaged 23.5 yards on four kickoff returns.
``He's by far the best athlete on the team,'' Bowie State coach Sherman Wood said. ``He just has a knack for the ball and he's an athlete. He wants to do it all.''
Banks, a senior from Fort Washington, Md., was an all-CIAA pick last year. He's tied for the conference lead in interceptions and is fourth in kickoff returns.
BOOM BOOM TO H.U.: Charles ``Boom Boom'' Jackson, the 1993 Tidewater player of the year from Maury High, has enrolled at Hampton and hopes to be eligible to play next year, Pirate coach Joe Taylor said.
``If he gets the 24 hours, and the 2.0 average, he'll play,'' Taylor said.
Jackson, a running back and linebacker at Maury, would probably play tailback at Hampton. He'd join a loaded Pirate backfield that already has a South Hampton Roads flavor. In addition to Still, from Virginia Beach, the Pirate backfield includes Anthony Smith, from Green Run High; Terry Ricks, from Norcom; and Darrell Flythe, from Nansemond River. by CNB