Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 2, 1995 TAG: 9511020060
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Pullen was scheduled for release Wednesday from Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where he underwent surgery early Saturday morning after he was involved in a one-car automobile accident.
Pullen was checking on the status of some late-arriving weekend guests Friday night when his pick-up truck failed to negotiate a turn on Virginia 622.
``Something happened to the steering wheel, I don't know what because I've been here ever since,'' Pullen said from his hospital room. ``There was a ravine to the right of the road, I went down the ravine and ran into a tree.''
About a month ago, the steering wheel came off its column while Pullen was driving in western Franklin County. Pullen noticed a loose bolt and later had it fixed, but wonders if there wasn't a recurrence leading to the accident.
``The road was real curvy up by Endicott, I went to make the turn and the wheel didn't respond,'' he said. ``The next thing I knew, I was out. I was pinned in the truck anywhere from an hour and a half to two hours.''
One of Pullen's friends called 911 and Pullen subsequently was airlifted to Roanoke Memorial, where he underwent surgery for a broken right leg. He also sustained torn ligaments in his right ankle and a fractured vertebra in his neck, and he required stitches over his right knee and his jaw.
``I'm not too good to look at right now,'' Pullen said, ``but, all things considered, I'm pretty lucky. I was conscious, but I was in bad shape. My only thought was, if I didn't hurry up and get my legs free, I was going to lose 'em.''
Pullen said he has complete faith in new assistant Steve Proefrock, who has conducted practice since Saturday, but he expected to be on hand this morning.
``That's my intention,'' he said. ``A lot of people think I'm crazy to come back this soon, but my mind's been on the game the whole time I've been out. In 16 years, this is the first time I've ever missed a practice.''
PRESEASON HOOPS: Former Stetson University coach Glenn Wilkes, a scout for the Los Angeles Lakers, will be in Blacksburg to observe men's basketball practice today. The word after two-plus weeks of workouts is that senior point guard Shawn Good has been outstanding.
Tech and West Virginia are the finalists for 6-foot-4 Cornelius ``C.J.'' Jackson from Oak Hill, W.Va., who might make an announcement as early as this weekend. The only player who has visited Tech officially to date is 6-5 Tim Wells from Winston-Salem, N.C., who is likely to stay in state and sign with North Carolina State or North Carolina Charlotte.
Trajan Langdon will be on the sidelines when Duke visits his home state for the Great Alaska Shootout. Coach Mike Krzyzewski says Langdon is suffering from a ``stress reaction'' in one of his knees.
COMMITMENTS: Duke has received a basketball commitment from 6-8 Michael Chappell from Southfield, Mich., rated the No.11 prospect in the nation by recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons. ... Backcourt mates Eddie Cota and Devonaire Deas from St.Thomas More Prep in Oakdale, Conn., have committed to North Carolina and Florida State, respectively. ... Headed to North Carolina State is 6-1 point guard Justin Gainey from Greensboro, N.C.
JONES' LIST: Phil Robbins, football coach at Powell Valley High School, said that star running back Thomas Jones currently has Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina - not necessarily in that order - at the top of his list.
Robbins said Virginia has told Jones that he is the No.1 player on its recruiting list, presumably regardless of position. Jones is still considering other schools, including Virginia Tech, which he will visit unofficially this week for the Hokies' game with Syracuse.
Duane Fisher, the first football player to commit to Virginia, said he considered Maryland, Wake Forest, Boston College, Illinois and Michigan State - ``most of which had offered,'' he said.
Fisher, a 6-3, 190-pound defensive back from Bel Air, Md., finished second in the state last year in the 300-meter hurdles. He was named Harford County Athlete of the Year and was an all-Baltimore metro selection.
IN THE ACC: Maryland's football team will change quarterbacks for the third time this season Saturday when Scott Milanovich takes over for Brian Cummings at North Carolina State. Wolfpack coach Mike O'Cain said he is preparing to start redshirt freshman quarterback Jose Laureano in place of Terry Harvey, who has a sprained neck.
No current ACC football series between respectable teams has been more lopsided than the Clemson-North Carolina series, in which the Tigers have won eight of the past nine games and 12 of the past 14. The Tigers, who entertain UNC this Saturday in a match-up of bowl hopefuls, are 14-3-1 against the Tar Heels since 1977.
NON-REVENUE: Washington and Lee has a legitimate chance at Old Dominion Athletic Conference championships this weekend in men's and women's cross country, in which it is the defending champion, and volleyball. The Generals are 26-6 in volleyball this fall and have set a school record for wins.
Virginia is ranked 22nd in the preseason men's swimming poll, bringing to six the number of UVa programs that have been ranked this year.
by CNB