Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 20, 1993 TAG: 9303200168
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: From staff reports
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
TECH OPENS FOOTBALL PRACTICE
With the Virginia Tech practice field still covered with snow, the Hokies begin their spring football practice today inside Rector Fieldhouse.Frank Beamer, beginning his seventh season as Tech coach, has 14 starters returning from last year's 2-8-1 team and has four new coaches on his staff. Beamer has announced plans to switch from the wide-tackle-six defensive alignment to a more conventional 4-3-4 alignment.
The Hokies will practice four days a week in preparation for the annual Maroon-White game on April 17 at 7 p.m.
In other college sports:
In New Bern, N.C., Virginia leads and Virginia Tech is second after Friday's first round of the Sheraton/Emerald Collegiate Invitational golf tournament hosted by East Carolina.
UVa was the only team to break 300, shooting 298, on a day with high winds and temperatures in the upper 30s. Tech, led by Sean Farrell and Brian Sharp with 74s, shot 301.
Tennessee-Chattanooga's Neil Connolly (71) was the only player to break par on the 6,924-yard Emerald Golf Club course. He has a one-shot lead over UVa's Tripp Shreves. Roanoke native Lewis Conner had a 76 for Tech, and teammate Clayton Friend had a 77.
The second and third rounds are today and Sunday.
In Ames, Iowa, Virginia Tech heavyweight Josh Feldman won two matches in the consolation bracket and wrestled for All-America honors in a late match Friday night. Feldman beat Greg Troxell of Penn State 2-1 in a consolation match Thursday night. He then dropped Brian Keck of Bloomsburg 3-1 in the consolation third round. If Feldman won his late match, he would be among the top eight wrestlers, who gain All-America status.
Washington and Lee sophomore John Rowe made the All-American first team Friday night in the 400-yard individual medley at the NCAA Division III men's swimming championships. Rowe finished eighth in 4 minutes, 9.7 seconds, his best time of the season.
Marist's Doug Closinski scored the winning goal with 12 seconds remaining to give the Red Foxes a 14-13 season-opening victory over VMI in men's lacrosse. The Keydets (2-1) trailed 13-9 but scored four goals in the final quarter to tie the score. Spencer Gill and Dan Delawyer each scored four goals for VMI.
The Virginia Tech baseball team will attempt to play Kent in Blacksburg today at 2 p.m. The game was originally scheduled for Friday but was postponed because of wet conditions.