THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 26, 1995 TAG: 9501260507
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
Booker T. Washington's Michael Beverly, who led the Bookers to their first Eastern District title in 10 years, said Wednesday that he will sign with Division I-AA William and Mary, where he expects to play quarterback.
Meanwhile, Norview High's Wayne Bacon, who broke Amos Lawrence's 19-year-old single-game rushing record this past season, said he will sign with Division I-AA James Madison University.
According to their coaches, both players qualify under NCAA freshman eligibility guidelines and will sign Feb. 1, the first official day of the NCAA's signing period.
Beverly was also recruited by Richmond, James Madison, Hampton University and Virginia Military Institute, as well as several CIAA schools.
The 6-foot, 175-pounder passed for 1,083 yards and 17 touchdowns, completing 51.4 percent of his passes while being intercepted 11 times. He was named first-team All-Eastern District at quarterback.
But it was his play as a defensive back that earned the highest postseason accolades. Beverly, who intercepted 10 passes, was named first-team All-Tidewater and first-team all-state in Group AAA.
``They want me as a quarterback, and I have more fun at quarterback,'' Beverly said. ``Right now they've told me they'll put me at quarterback and see what I do.''
Beverly follows in the footsteps of another former Norfolk product who quarterbacked William and Mary, Maury graduate Shawn Knight. Knight, who started at quarterback for three years, led the Tribe to an 8-3 record this past season.
Bacon, a 6-foot-1, 173-pound tailback, chose the Dukes after also visiting Wake Forest and Appalachian State.
Bacon ran for 427 yards against Kellam in the second game of his senior season, surpassing the 411-yard mark Lawrence had set while playing at Lake Taylor against Bayside. He finished the season rushing for 1,166 yards and nine touchdowns.
Bacon said JMU's coaching staff told him they intended to use him as a tailback and a slotback.
Bacon said JMU's recent head coaching change - Alex Wood on Monday replaced Rip Scherer, who took the head coaching job at the University of Memphis - had little to do with his decision.
Wood is the first black head coach of an existing Division I program in Virginia. He had been offensive coordinator at Wake Forest. The Dukes were 10-3 this past season and advanced to the I-AA semifinals.
``Either way, I was going to get a new coach moving from high school to college,'' Bacon said. ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Wayne Bacon
Michael Beverly
by CNB