THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 7, 1996 TAG: 9604070154
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines
The Virginia Tech football program's finest hour is just three months in the rear-view mirror, but coach Frank Beamer said the Hokies are fixated on the future as they try to qualify for their fourth consecutive bowl game.
``We've put the Sugar Bowl behind us,'' Beamer said. ``It's on with next year. There are some great memories there and so forth, but the important thing now is concentrating on next year.''
The Hokies opened spring practice March 23 and will wrap it up with the spring game April 20 at 3 p.m. at Lane Stadium.
Thirteen starters return from a 10-2 team, but four of them are sitting out spring ball.
Center Billy Conaty broke an ankle the first day of spring practice; linebacker Brandon Semones has been sidelined with a back problem; defensive tackle Waverly Jackson underwent arthroscopic knee surgery; and cornerback Larry Brown is out with grade problems. Semones and Jackson are able to participate in some non-contact work, and all four are expected to be available in the fall.
The Hokies have shuffled some players, most notably rover Torrian Gray has been shifted to free safety where Beamer said he has a greater opportunity to make big plays.
``We're experimenting,'' Beamer said. ``He could always go back to rover.''
The Hokies' biggest question marks for next season are defensive line - where All-American Cornell Brown is the only returning starter - and wide receiver. Beamer said at both positions ``we have kids who have a chance to be good, it's just a question of how far they come.''
LOCALS UPDATE: Greg Melvin, a junior tailback out of Virginia Beach's Bayside High, is listed behind Ken Oxendine and Marcus Parker at tailback. Melvin redshirted last season, his first at Tech after two years at Butler County (Kansas) Community College.
Beamer said the Hokies like the 6-foot-2 Melvin, but would like to see less of him. ``I think he's still too heavy,'' Beamer said. ``He's about 235, 238. He's got natural instincts, he's very strong and he's a natural runner. If he'd lose that weight and get back the quickness he had in high school, that would be to his benefit. I'd like to see him at about 220.''
Beamer said linebacker Tony Morrison of Chesapeake, meanwhile, is playing well this spring despite the weight of a rape charge hanging over his head.
Morrison contends the sex was consensual, and the Montgomery County Commonwealth's Attorney said last week a decision on whether to prosecute Morrison in a criminal case could come this week. The woman, Christy Brzonkala, has filed a federal lawsuit against Virginia Tech, Morrison and teammates James Crawford and Brown. Brzonkala charges Morrison and Crawford raped her in September 1994 while Brown watched.
Morrison is penciled in as a starting linebacker, pending the outcome of the legal proceedings.
STREAK STAT: Virginia Tech won its final 10 games of 1995 and heads into the fall with the second-longest winning streak among Division I-A football schools. Defending national champion Nebraska has won 25 in a row.
RECRUITING TIME: College basketball coaches were allowed back on the road recruiting Friday, and the spring signing period begins Wednesday. Old Dominion has two scholarships to give.
``We're not in any position with anybody right now where we expect to sign anybody,'' Monarchs coach Jeff Capel said. ``We're going out now looking mostly at juniors.''
But also junior colleges. ODU could use a quick fix at shooting guard and may dip into the JC ranks.
``There's a couple kids we've seen that we like,'' Capel said.
WAITING GAME: Guard Michael Williams, who signed with Old Dominion in November, is still trying to meet the test score requirement to qualify under the NCAA's freshman eligibility guidelines. Coach David Bice of Thomas County Central High in Thomasville, Ga., said Williams has taken the Scholastic Assessment Test and American College Testing exams several times. He is waiting to hear the results of a recent SAT attempt.
``He's gotten tutoring and is doing everything he can to try and make it,'' Bice said. ``He's got a reasonable shot. Since basketball is over with, he's really concentrating on his studies a lot.''
Bice said Williams - who already has the core grade-point average requirement - has two more opportunities to take the ACT and one more on the SAT. If he doesn't qualify, Bice said Williams will likely go to Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va., or a junior college.
ODU's other early signee, guard Freddie Bryant from Watson, La., has already qualified academically. by CNB