THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, December 13, 1995 TAG: 9512130516
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
Tony Morrison has been suspended indefinitely from Virginia Tech's football team and will not play in the Sugar Bowl following his arrest early Saturday at a Blacksburg bar and restaurant.
The sophomore linebacker from Chesapeake's Indian River High was charged by Blacksburg police with petty larceny, destruction of private property and public intoxication when arrested at Arnold's, a popular downtown nightspot.
``I believe he created some type of disturbance and may have damaged some property inside the bar,'' police Capt. Walter Mosby said. ``The police arrived and they talked to him and he appeared to be intoxicated and they arrested him.''
Police chief W.H. Brown said Morrison damaged a door and took money from a tip jar. Morrison was freed on bond; his arraignment on the three charges is set for Jan. 18.
Virginia Tech issued a release Tuesday stating that Morrison and redshirt freshman backup receiver James Crawford had been suspended ``for failure to live up to the standards set for Virginia Tech football players,'' according to coach Frank Beamer. The release said they were involved in separate incidents, and that Beamer would have no further comment.
Morrison, who was suspended Saturday, played in all 11 games as a reserve linebacker for the 9-2 Hokies, who are ranked 13th nationally and will meet No. 9 Texas in the Dec. 31 Sugar Bowl. Crawford, who was suspended Nov. 28, played in eight games.
Crawford, from Deerfield Beach, Fla., was charged by Blacksburg police with defrauding an impound lot operator and felony hit-and-run. According to police reports, Crawford's Mercedes-Benz was towed to a service station lot because of unpaid parking tickets. He showed up at the lot and forcibly removed the car while refusing to pay the towing bill, then grazed a female service station employee as he drove the vehicle. The woman did not seek medical attention. Crawford faces a preliminary hearing in January.
Virginia Tech found Morrison guilty in May of ``using offensive and demeaning language'' and suspended him for the 1995-96 school year. Morrison was reinstated in August when provost Peggy Meszaros ruled Morrison's two-semester suspension was excessive and reduced it to probation and an hour of counseling.
Morrison could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
His father, Jim, said he needed to talk with Beamer before commenting in detail on the Saturday incident, but did acknowledge his son's playing career at Tech was in limbo.
``It's hard to say,'' Jim Morrison said when asked if his son would play again for the Hokies. ``Football is not a priority at this particular point.
``I'm interested in my kid succeeding. He definitely feels that he's a victim and he has been falsely accused in the widely publicized news articles over the last two weeks.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
Tony Morrison arrested at nightspot.
by CNB