THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, December 2, 1995 TAG: 9512020696
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
The hardest part of football for Indian River's David Selby and Edward Seward was deciding to play.
Selby, the starting point guard on the Braves' region championship basketball team, always liked football. But at 5-10 and 150 pounds, with legs like toothpicks, Selby saw football as an introduction to crutches.
Seward, the backup center on the basketball team, had a similar fear. He's 6-8 and 200. It's one thing to block a shot in basketball, quite another to block a 250-pound defensive lineman with hate in his eyes and blood on his cheeks.
Ronnie Wilson, the Braves' third important pickup from the basketball team this year, couldn't plead fear of injury as his excuse for not playing.
Wilson is a robust 6-1 and 190.
``I came out twice before,'' he said. ``But I never made it through summer practice.''
When school ended last June, Selby, Seward and Wilson were nowhere to be found on the Braves' depth chart. But when Indian River lines up at 1:30 this afternoon against Lake Braddock in a state Division 6 semifinal game at Oscar Smith, all three will be in the starting lineup. Moreover, Selby and Seward will see action on both sides of the ball.
``We knew where the talent in the school was,'' Indian River coach Bob Parker said, referring to the Braves' glamorous basketball program. ``So we went after those guys.''
Phil Wood, an assistant coach, was Parker's chief bird dog.
``He's the one who talked me into coming out,'' Selby said of Wood. ``I had no idea last year that I'd be playing football. But coach Wood said it would help me with my strength.''
It was a slow recruiting process.
``I began working on Selby right after last season,'' Wood said. ``I told him he would able to start somewhere despite his size because he's a good athlete. And that if he did play we could get him some serious (college) offers.
``Finally last summer he shook my hand and gave his word he'd play.''
Selby, a junior who played football in middle school, has been one of the Braves' most valuable players as a cornerback and receiver.
He leads the team with eight interceptions and has caught 17 passes for 198 yards and one TD.
Wood told Selby that if he didn't like football no one would hold it against him if he quit.''
Like it?
``I love this game,'' Selby said.
Seward, whose nickname is Stretch, came out briefly for football last season and quit.
``We had a lot of big guys on the team last year and Stretch didn't feel like he had a future,'' Wood said. ``I told him what's past is past and that if he played he would get some serious looks (from colleges) just based on his height.''
Parker originally envisioned Seward as a defensive end, but he's ended up dividing his time between offensive and defensive tackle.
``When he extends his hands he can reach almost 11 feet and he can jump and touch the crossbar,'' Wood said. ``A lot of teams won't pass to his side because of that.
``Also when teams try to fire out and block him, he can step aside and get outside containment.
``Offensively, he's tough to get by because he can step back and reach block.''
Wilson, a senior defensive tackle, always had the tools to be an outstanding football player. He just needed encouragement, especially during August when the pain seemed far removed from the reward of winning.
Wood, again, was the guru.
``Coach Wood kept telling me how much talent I had and got me all hyped up to come out,'' Wilson said.
Wilson has started eight games and has hit his stride in the playoffs. In victories over Tallwood and Green Run, he's been in on 20 tackles - nine solos - with one sack and one pass batted down.
``Things have worked out quite good,'' Wilson said. ``No, better than that. I thought I'd be on the bench and I ended up starting.''
Selby, Seward and Wilson will rejoin the basketball team as soon as football is over. But no one is rooting for that just yet.
``I shoot around at the rec center and some of the guys keep telling me to come on back,'' Selby said. ``I tell them I'll be back, as soon as we win the championship.'' by CNB