Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, December 29, 1993 TAG: 9312290163
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Jack Bogaczyk
DATELINE: SHREVEPORT, LA. LENGTH: Medium
Walk up the steps, pass through the metal detector, turn left into the court clerk's office and head for the microfilm room. Or, more simply, you can ask at the deputy's desk.
A return visitor from nine years ago did that Tuesday. He barely got the words "case" and "Virginia Tech" out of his mouth when a deputy clerk smiled, nodded and said:
"Bruce Smith."
Seems that when many in the ArkLaTex region heard Virginia Tech was invited to this year's Poulan/Weed Eater Independence Bowl, they recalled a big defensive tackle who played an unimpressive game on a losing team.
It's Case No. 310135, Bruce Smith vs. Dr. Cecil Lloyd, et al, filed Dec. 14, 1984, in the First District Court of Caddo Parish. It was the last hope for Smith, the Hokies' Outland Trophy-winning defensive lineman, to play in the final game of his college career after he had been declared ineligible by the NCAA when Tech was placed on probation in 1983.
"It was the best thing that ever could have happened to the Independence Bowl," Lloyd said nine years later. "It got us international publicity. It put us on the map."
Smith filed a temporary restraining order and preliminary and permanent injunctions, asking the court to order Lloyd - then the bowl chairman - to allow Smith to play in the Hokies' game against Air Force.
"I remember it, sure, like it was yesterday," said Mike Spence, the Caddo District deputy court clerk who signed and filed the papers. "I had to stay late, until about 6:30, to wait for them. Then, the next night I went to the bowl game and watched him play."
It was only 25 hours before kickoff when Smith's suit was filed. On game day, Judge Eugene W. Bryson Jr. granted the injunction. Lloyd, a dentist seemingly on the wrong end of justice served, just smiled.
"Shoot," he said, remembering the controversy. "All of that helped us sell some tickets."
Spoken like a true bowl official. When No. 22 Tech faces No. 21 Indiana at lunchtime Friday in the 18th Independence Bowl, the crowd isn't likely to match the 45,034 that appeared to see Smith play what might have been the worst game of his career in a 23-7 loss to Air Force. That was the fourth-largest crowd in the bowl's history.
Smith was ineligible after Tech had exhausted its NCAA appeals. He was ruled ineligible only for postseason play because of illegal recruiting inducements - including the now-celebrated loads of firewood from a Tech alumnus in the Tidewater area.
Smith got an injunction before leaving the Tech campus, in Montgomery County Circuit Court, against the NCAA. The NCAA won an appeal. Bill Dooley, Tech's athletic director and coach at the time, hadn't told Independence Bowl officials that Smith was ineligible.
"My gosh, that's horrible," an angered Lloyd said then. "We should have been informed by somebody."
Smith's case also gave a boost to the legal profession in Caddo Parish. Not only did Smith hire two Shreveport lawyers, the NCAA did the same in trying to get the injunction overturned.
"We didn't want to keep Bruce from playing," Lloyd said. "The lawyers for the NCAA told us we were in violation of NCAA rules if we let him play. I told the NCAA that the courts were more powerful than the NCAA."
Lloyd was concerned that the NCAA might not sanction the bowl in the future, and the Independence - paying $425,000 per team then compared to $700,000 now - was in a shaky financial situation anyway.
"The NCAA was really upset with us, and they were madder than that at me personally," Lloyd said. "Still, we didn't have any qualms about what we did."
Tech's sack star went after justice like he was chasing a quarterback:
"The petitioner's entire future is dependent on his ability to receive an award to play professional football and that, if he is deprived of the opportunity to play in the Independence Bowl, it would prevent his level of play and athletic skills from being viewed by many professional scouts . . . in as much as the Independence Bowl will be shown on national television."
Smith was the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft five months later, by Buffalo. During the past summer, he signed a five-year, $13.6 million contract with the Bills, giving him earnings of about $24 million for his NFL career.
Smith's suit was dismissed quietly four days after it was filed. His $500 bond was returned to attorneys nine days after the game.
"I watch him on Sundays all the time," Spence said. "A lot of people here won't ever forget him."
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB