THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 19, 1995 TAG: 9508190201
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
Tony Morrison's endless summer is over.
Morrison was reinstated to Virginia Tech and the Hokies football team Friday by university provost and senior vice president Peggy Meszaros. Although he has already missed a week of practice, Morrison will travel to Blacksburg today and be ready for the start of classes on Monday.
``I'm excited,'' Morrison said from his Chesapeake home Friday. ``It's been a long summer. I'm glad I'll be up there with my teammates now.''
Morrison, a rising sophomore linebacker from Indian River High School, received word from his lawyer late Friday afternoon that his suspension had been overturned.
Morrison originally was suspended during spring semester exams for an unspecified incident. Morrison appealed the suspension, and when the appeal was denied almost 11 weeks ago, Virginia Tech director of university relations Larry Hincker said it was ``definite'' Morrison would not return to Virginia Tech this fall.
But David Paxton, an attorney from Roanoke, helped change that.
``His lawyer brought certain things to our attention we thought warranted a second look,'' Hincker said Friday, adding that the first finding was declared null and void and the process started over from scratch.
Hincker said there are not enough situations like Morrison's to state whether it is or is not unusual for the university provost to step in and make the decision. He also was not definitive about whether another party involved in the incident could appeal and overturn the decision once again.
``My guess is it is final,'' Hincker said. ``The university has ruled on it and we don't plan to look at it again.''
Neither Morrison, Paxton nor Hincker would divulge any details of the incident, or what led to the reversal of the suspension.
``This is great news; It's been a rugged three months,'' said Morrison's father, Jim.
``We had hoped we'd have a decision sooner, but the most important thing is we got the right decision,'' Paxton said. ``What has been a very difficult summer for Tony Morrison is over. He's got some catching up to do.''
Morrison said he has remained in good shape but declined to answer further questions.
Tech coach Frank Beamer repeatedly made it clear the situation was between the university and Morrison, who will be enthusiastically welcomed back to the program.
``In my opinion, it is not only the right thing, but the fair thing for Tony Morrison to be enrolled at Virginia Tech this academic year and play football for the Hokies,'' Beamer said in a statement. ``I'm always interested in students being treated fairly, and I think that is what has happened in this situation.''
Morrison figures to quickly regain the starting inside linebacker spot he occupied at the end of spring practice. Morrison's position is the only one on Tech's defense which does not return a starter. Two junior college transfers and a redshirt freshman had been battling for Morrison's spot.
Morrison was one of the Hokies' prize recruits in 1994 and played in 11 of 12 games as a true freshman, starting twice. He was selected Group AAA all-state at quarterback and defensive back in high school and was ranked one of the state's top five football recruits by The Roanoke Times & World News. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Tony Morrison will be back in Blacksburg this fall after the
reversal of a suspension once termed ``definite.''
by CNB