THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, January 1, 1996 TAG: 9601010116
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NEW ORLEANS LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
Frank Beamer left Tony Morrison behind when Virginia Tech headed for the Sugar Bowl, but the linebacker from Chesapeake's Indian River High found his way to New Orleans anyway.
Morrison was in the Superdome but not in uniform Sunday when the Hokies played Texas.
Beamer suspended Morrison indefinitely three weeks ago following the player's early morning arrest Dec. 9 by Blacksburg police. Morrison was charged with petty larceny, destruction of private property and public intoxication stemming from an incident at Arnold's, a popular downtown nightspot. His arraignment on the three charges is set for Jan. 18.
Morrison declined comment when reached at his home a few days ago. Several attempts to contact him at his hotel in New Orleans were unsuccessful. Morrison's mother said he visited with teammates Saturday night.
Morrison traveled to New Orleans with his mother and older brother. The family had already purchased three travel packages to New Orleans before Morrison's suspension. Tony went on the ticket purchased for his father, Jim.
``He's obviously dejected about this,'' said Jim Morrison from his Chesapeake home. ``He's been real silent about it. We've tried to stay away from conversation of bowls all the way around. I'm so turned off about it all.''
Morrison was suspended for two semesters by the university in April for what was then an unspecified incident. He spent the spring and summer fighting through the university's judicial system to be reinstated, which he was shortly before Tech's season opener.
Morrison, a sophomore, played in all 11 games and started two. He had 53 tackles - ninth-best on the team - and three sacks.
After the season ended, a Fairfax County woman went public with the charge that she was raped by Morrison. She provided documents on the university's handling of the case. Morrison's suspension in the spring, however, was on a charge of ``using offensive and demeaning language.''
Jim Morrison said Beamer told him he would welcome Morrison back to the team in January, but it's unclear whether Morrison will play for the Hokies again. Jim Morrison said his son saw his picture on a poster with the words ``Public enemy No. 1'' in his dormitory after the details of his first suspension became public. Jim Morrison said he's not sure Tony wants to return to that environment.
``We have a lot to deal with,'' Jim Morrison said. ``Tony academically is in pretty decent shape. His purpose in going there was to graduate from college. That's what he has to work on now.''
Beamer confirmed Morrison has the option of returning to Tech.
``He's a very good person and comes from a great family,'' Beamer said. ``Like some young people, he made a mistake and he understands every day he needs to do things to make his life successful.
``I'm hoping he'll be back in the program. I've talked to him about what I expect, and that's between he and I.''
Virginia Tech senior linebacker George DelRicco said he saw Morrison the day after his arrest.
``He was disgusted with himself,'' said DelRicco. ``I could see it. He was quiet. He's usually fun and pretty loud, but he just looked like something had died inside of him.
``He knew he had made a mistake and wished he could make up for it, but sometimes it's too late.''
Morrison and reserve receiver James Crawford - who was also suspended after being arrested in a separate incident - have been remembered by teammates in New Orleans thanks to defensive end Cornell Brown. Brown has worn the two players' jersey numbers taped over the ``VT'' logo on his helmet in practice.
``In the grand scheme of things, they're still part of the team even though they broke a few rules and got in trouble,'' offensive guard Chris Malone said. ILLUSTRATION: File photo
Tony Morrison...
by CNB