THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 18, 1994 TAG: 9411180588
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BOB MOLINARO
LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
A first step: For Jeff Capel and his Old Dominion team, the near-miss at Virginia will be a tough act to follow. But if creating interest in the Monarchs' season was a concern, it looks as if that's been taken care of quite nicely.
Expectations: The selection of Norfolk's Joe Smith to the Associated Press preseason All-American first team as a sophomore could be a case of too much, too soon. The Maryland center deserves a chance to grow into his reputation.
Fashion report: Judging from the early games, college basketball shorts are even more ridiculously baggy than before. From now on, call them longs.
In passing: Cory Alexander is the most talented member of Jeff Jones' Virginia basketball team, but his best position isn't point guard. He's got all the tools except one - he doesn't think like a point guard.
Hokie high: As usual, I get the sense that Saturday's football game holds more importance for Virginia Tech than Virginia.
Nonsense: Stories out of Dallas this week question Emmitt Smith's work ethic, stamina and dedication to weight lifting. This about a future Hall of Famer who is famous for playing with pain. Goofy.
The next thing: If Bill Walsh steps down as Stanford football coach, he'll immediately be added to the Charlotte Panthers' list of coaching candidates.
Infantile behavior: Newest Washington Bullet Chris Webber says, ``I look like the spoiled, demanding brat when that's not the case at all.'' Could have fooled me.
Just asking: Why should Duke's Fred Goldsmith have to settle for ACC coach of the year? What about national honors?
Quick hit: Here's an easy way for NFL officials to squash talk about a return to video replays - make the right calls.
Worth keeping around: Michigan captain Walter Smith has it all wrong. He wants to beat Ohio State so that Buckeyes head coach John Cooper will be fired, whereas the Michigan alumni, noting the Wolverines' 5-0-1 record against Cooper, would be willing to pay his salary if he stays.
The road less traveled: Can't accuse defending basketball champion Arkansas of padding its schedule with automatic wins. The Razorbacks play Massachusetts Nov. 25 in Springfield, Mass., then fly to Memphis to meet Georgetown Nov. 27. Arkansas is dancing to TV's tune.
Update: One man's Heisman Ballot - No. 1: Warren Sapp, Miami defensive tackle; No. 2: Kerry Collins, Penn State quarterback; No. 3: Ki-Jana Carter, Penn State tailback.
Go figure: Although Collins is a strong Heisman candidate, he isn't one of the six nominees for the Unitas Award, presented to the top senior quarterback in the country.
In the shadows: If Randolph Childress played basketball for North Carolina or Duke, he'd be a household name by now. This season, the Wake Forest guard may have to settle for being ACC player of the year.
Dropping back: The eighth-rated Duke basketball team is ranked on reputation. The Blue Devils are too young and too short.
Phantom fight: Boxing insiders, upset that the James Toney-Roy Jones Jr. bout isn't getting more respect, don't seem to realize that fistfighting has become a sideshow, and George Foreman is the barker.
Blacked out: Amazingly, last Sunday's Cowboys-49ers game was not televised in the New York and Los Angeles markets. Another case of the NFL's outdated policy denying the public what it wants.
The minor league: At this point, I wouldn't hazard a guess as to which team will represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. Nobody looks strong enough to make it through the playoffs.
Political football: If Newt Gingrich were a football player, he'd be a trash-talking member of the special teams. by CNB