Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, December 31, 1993 TAG: 9312310039
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SHREVEPORT, LA. LENGTH: Medium
After Virginia Tech's loss to Boston College Nov. 6, Hokies defensive coordinator Phil Elmassian gave Gray a sinus-clearing order: Play rover. Only.
The redshirt freshman from Lakeland, Fla., had 10 tackles and two interceptions in his first start against Syracuse and a touchdown-saving, goal-line hit against Virginia the next week.
Elmassian's prescription had worked.
"I couldn't ever feel real comfortable playing both positions," said Gray, who remains Antonio Banks' backup at free safety. "When I would learn rover and go back to free safety, I always regressed at rover."
Banks' nagging injuries made him miss two starts, and Gray filled in both times.
Curses, said Elmassian, who said Gray probably would have displaced former starting rover Stacy Henley earlier in the season had Gray not been studying from two different textbooks.
Now, Gray said, he reads runs and pass drops better. Today, he'll make his third start at rover in the Poulan/Weed Eater Independence Bowl.
Banks, also a freshman, took notes on Gray's route to full-time rover, which for Tech is a half-linebacker, half-defensive back position.
"Torrian Gray is the epitome of a defensive player. He'll do anything the defensive coordinator wants him to do," Banks said. "He's a player that can go a very long way . . . (because he's) talented, and a hard worker."
His most important toil came in the Syracuse and Virginia games. Tech's win over the Orangemen put it in today's bowl game; the UVa victory was a psychological lift and gave 22nd-ranked Tech its first eight-win season since 1986.
Gray remembers lining up before Virginia's third-quarter, fourth-and-1 play from the Tech 3 with the Hokies ahead 17-10. UVa sent tailback Jerrod Washington up the middle.
"I just made up my mind before the play I was going to go all out to stop them, just give it up for the team," said Gray, who made the initial hit by launching his body crossways into Washington's hole.
"I saw myself hit (Washington) but I didn't get the wrap. I was trying to turn back (to see if Washington scored), but I was under someone. Then I saw everyone celebrating."
Tech might need another play like that to beat Indiana today, but it's not something Gray ever thought he'd be doing.
He was a cornerback at Kathleen High School, where he had nine interceptions in his last two years, and he was a cornerback in his redshirt year at Tech.
"When I first came here, I always envisioned playing man-to-man," the 6-foot, 185-pound Gray said. "I never imagined being a rover, or anything like a linebacker."
His career at rover began with mop-up time in Tech's 33-16 opening-day victory over Bowling Green.
Gray was feeling fine. Elmassian wasn't.
"He took me and said I've got to improve a lot on this and that," Gray said. "I said, `Whoa.' That's when I understood what Division I football was all about, what a mental game it is."
Gray's grading scale for himself is in his head. He can have any number of tackles or interceptions, but that isn't worth much extra credit.
The Syracuse game, he said, was his best - but not for statistical reasons.
"I always evaluate my games by my mental errors, and I didn't make any that game," said Gray, who wants a repeat performance today. "I wasn't expecting all this. I came in (to this season) with a chance to contribute a little. I'm glad I got the opportunity to do it this year, and I'm not going to look back."
by CNB