Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, August 12, 1993 TAG: 9308130006
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Scott Blanchard Staff Writer
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Conaty is a 20-year-old redshirt freshman from Pennsauken, N.J., historically a center, who finds himself one of two starting offensive tackles for Tech's 1993 football team. Holland was a `who's he?' recruit in 1991 who has risen from fourth to first on the depth chart at defensive tackle.
They're not there entirely on their own. Junior Mike Smith ended spring practice in a tie with Conaty for a starting tackle spot but left the team during the summer. Tech coach Frank Beamer said Wednesday that sophomore Mike Cox, who was moved from tight tackle to split tackle to compete with Conaty, is ineligible this year.
On the defensive line, Chris Breheny and Eugene Mays probably would have started - until each fell victim to academic problems, leaving Holland in one starting spot.
Tech begins full-team practice today in preparations for its first Big East Conference season. And although some experience returns on the offensive and defensive line. Conaty and Holland are important. Conaty, for example, said he has to pass protect without the tight end on his side. Holland has to produce at a depleted position.
`The line as a whole is going to be very, very good,' Conaty said at Tech's annual media day Wednesday in Lane Stadium. `The weak link is me. I think it's good. I don't mind. I'll adapt to it. I will get beat. But I've just got to keep going.'
Holland, from Chesapeake, is a quiet sort who grins and bears an interview and says he doesn't think much about Tech fans who wonder where this kid came from.
`I do sometimes, but I'll just show what I can do on the field,' he said. `I think I'll produce.'
Conaty, 6 foot 2 and 282 pounds, enrolled at Tech after one semester at Milford (Conn.) Academy, getting a spring-practice jump on his fellow '92 recruits who enrolled the following August. The extra maturity was hard to find at first.
He found a mentor, Tech center Jim Payne, whom Conaty said kept telling him to `get my s--- together.'
`He was late for meetings...that's just Bill,' Pyne said. `I was trying to help him out, fire him up. He wasn't a the right step. He had to turn up his speed a little bit. He's getting there.'
Tech coaches praise Conaty's footwork and explosiveness off the ball, and Conaty said his physical skills have been improving. He has put on weight but lowered his 40-time by one-tenth of a second and improved his vertical leap by two inches.
Conaty, who was recruited for Maryland by current Tech assistant Rod Sharpless, doesn't doubt himself - even though he's never played a Division I-A game.
`It's going to be totally different.' he said. `I'm excited. I think I'll do pretty well.'
Holland is a slow-maturing investment who hopes to pay back Tech for its faith three years ago. Former Hokies assistant Larry Creekmore recruited Holland, whoes other suitors were Richmond, Willam and Mary and James Madison - Division I-AA programs all.
Grantham said Holland was the most productive interior lineman in spring practice, based on a system that stresses contact with the ball carrier one out of every six snaps changing the quaterback's throwing motion or plans one of every three pass plays.
`I knew I could play,' Holland said. `Luckily, Virginia Tech took a chance on me.'
Beamer ticks off a list of other lightly recruited former Hokies who are on NFL roster: John Granby, Will Furrer and Eugene Chung who, like Holland, is Korean-American.
`He's such a quiet kid, if you're not careful, sometimes you think he's not interested,' Beamer said. `We went through that here with him. All of a sudden, he's gotten stronger, gotten bigger and just played well.'
Memo: a slightly different version ran in the State edition.