THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 3, 1994 TAG: 9411030528
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
Who says Hampton can't play for a national championship?
With two games remaining, the Pirates, who are not eligible for the Division II playoffs, have their eyes on another title: the Sheridan Black College Championship.
Hampton (8-1) is second in this week's Sheridan Poll, behind Grambling State. Grambling beat Hampton, 32-29, on Sept. 24.
Grambling (8-0) has three games remaining, against Alabama State, Florida A&M and Southern University.
``Hampton's chances are good,'' said Ty Miller, producer of the Sheridan Black College Football Report. ``Undoubtedly, if Grambling goes undefeated, Grambling will be national champions. Should Grambling stumble, Hampton would be right there.''
The poll, conducted by the Pittsburgh-based Sheridan Broadcasting Network, uses a select group of nine voters, mostly college sports information directors, Miller said.
Rounding out the top five this week are Central State of Ohio, Albany (Ga.) State and South Carolina State. Virginia State, which is tied for eighth, is the only other CIAA team in the poll.
Miller said it's unusual, but not unheard of, for a Division II team to win the championship. Because Hampton is moving up to Division I-AA next year, it is ineligible to compete for the Division II title this season.
The Pirates, who have not lost a CIAA game in two years, finish the season with C.W. Post and Fayetteville State.
``It's a matter of us taking care of our business,'' Hampton coach Joe Taylor said. ``If we stay focused, there's no telling what can happen.''
WHITHER THE GUNSLINGER?: According to family members, former Norfolk State football coach Archie Cooley is doing exactly what he said he would when he resigned in May.
Relaxing.
Cooley said he planned to take some time off from coaching when he resigned under pressure. Unlike several other former Norfolk State coaches, he is not teaching at the school.
Two family members said they did not know if Cooley plans to return to coaching.
Through a family member, Cooley declined a request for an interview.
RUNNING WILD: It's been a good year for running backs in the CIAA. Three have reached the 1,000-yard mark and two others have a good chance.
Winston-Salem State's Richard Huntley, Fayetteville State's Clifton Davis and Virginia Union's Bobby Phillips all have cracked the 1,000-yard barrier. With two games left, Hampton's Lamonte Still has 951 and Elizabeth City's Aaron Murchison 843.
``I just feel I can't be stopped,'' Phillips said last week.
Still could say the same. The freshman from Cox High School has piled up his yardage on just 135 carries, for an average of 7 yards per carry.
Still is also the best receiver of the bunch, with 34 catches for 406 yards.
As well as they've done, this year's group of backs won't match last season's, when four - including Huntley, Davis and Phillips - rushed for better than 1,500 yards.
TIDBITS: Norfolk State's Aaron Sparrow is on pace to break the conference record for pass completions (190) set by Virginia State's Greg Clark last season. Sparrow has 170 with two games remaining. . . . NSU receiver James Roe has a chance to break conference records for catches (70) and yardage (1,387). Roe has 55 catches for 1,123 yards. . . . CIAA fans in South Hampton Roads will have two games from which to choose Nov. 12. Virginia State meets Winston-Salem State in the Fish Bowl at 1:30 at Harbor Park, while Norfolk State will host Kentucky State at 1:30 at Indian River High School. Foreman Field will be playing host to the Oyster Bowl. . . . Winston-Salem State linebacker Adrona Crawley had a busy day Saturday. He made 20 tackles, 11 solo, in a 23-10 victory over Wofford College. . . . Next week: our end-of-season awards. by CNB