ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, February 22, 1996 TAG: 9602220005
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: COLLEGE NOTEBOOK
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY
Bryan Still, hero of Virginia Tech's 28-10 victory over Texas in the Sugar Bowl, has made himself known to National Football League scouts in another manner.
Still was timed in 4.36 seconds for 40 yards, reportedly the fastest clocking for draft hopefuls at the recent NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
``It depends on who's clock you're talking about,'' said Still, who had scoring plays of 60 and 54 yards against Texas. ``I think it's fair to say I was in the top three. They had about eight different people clocking us and they had me anywhere from 4.36 to 4.44.
``It was a good experience. Before I went up there, all I heard was a lot of bad things about how slow the turf was and how nerve-wracking it would be, but I was ready.''
Still, measured at 5-feet-11 and 176 pounds, had all the incentive he needed when draft ``analyst'' Joe Buschbaum rated him the No. 30 wide receiver in the senior class.
``I told myself, `I've got to be better than that,''' said Still, whose 40 times were matched only by Texas A&M running back Leland McElroy and Maryland wide receiver Jermaine Lewis. ``That kind of fueled my fire. It was the kind of thing we faced at Tech - a lack of respect.''
Hokies administrative assistant John Ballein, who serves as a liaison with NFL scouts, said he has been hearing that Still might be selected in the top half of the draft April 20-21.
``I wouldn't feel comfortable saying I'm in good position,'' said Still, the only Tech player to participate in the combine after fellow invitee J.C. Price became ill. ``I can't really say I know the system.''
MITCHEM TO TECH: All-Timesland offensive lineman Mike Mitchem from Cave Spring High School and running back Terrence ``Tee'' Butler from Woodberry Forest in Orange have plans to try out for the football team at Virginia Tech as walk-ons.
Mitchem was rated the No. 38 prospect in Virginia by The Roanoke Times and Butler was 46th, bringing to 11 the number of Tech freshmen in the top 50. Butler's teammate at Woodberry Forest, fellow New Yorker Manny Clemente, earlier signed a letter-of-intent with Tech.
Another player with aspirations of playing for the Hokies is 5-10, 190-pound Brian Gilreath, the leading tackler for Franklin County this past season. Gilreath, a linebacker, had 32 solo tackles and 46 assists for the Eagles.
IN THE BIG EAST: One of the most outrageous quotes to come out of this year's football recruiting was attributed to West Virginia coach Don Nehlen after the Mountaineers lost junior-college running back John Avery, who signed with Mississippi.
``The Avery kid, let's face it, he's either the biggest liar that God ever put on this earth or somebody bought him,'' said Nehlen, quoted by the Blue & Gold News, a publication covering West Virginia athletics. ``There's no sense in worrying about guys like that because, if they are going to do that to you, so what?''
COACHING CHANGES: Darrell Moody, offensive coordinator at North Carolina for the past eight seasons, is the new quarterbacks coach at Clemson. The Tar Heels passed for 2,687 yards this past season - their previous high was 2,220. defensive-line coach, has been named assistant head coach at Georgia Tech.
CAREERS RESURRECTED: Steve Rich, who began his college career at Wake Forest, had 43 points for Miami on Monday night in its 96-91 double-overtime victory over St. John's. Rich, an injury-plagued 6-9 senior, previously was averaging 6.6 points. ... Larry Davis, a transfer from North Carolina, had a career-high 35 points for South Carolina against LSU.
DAVID AND GOLIATH: VMI will be looking for its first win over North Carolina since the 1920-21 season when the Keydets visit the Tar Heels tonight at 7:30. The Tar Heels have a 31-game winning streak against VMI and lead the series 34-4. Next year, Carolina is scheduled to play at VMI, as is Penn State.
HAMPTON HOT: Keith Hampton from William Fleming is having a memorable freshman year at Bluefield College, where he broke the school scoring record with 43 points against the College of West Virginia and had a ``triple-double'' against Tusculum College with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 12 steals.
Hampton, son of one-time Virginia Tech guard Mickey Hardy, did not commit to Bluefield until late in the summer and did not become a starter until midway through the season. He was averaging 14.2 points after 26 games for the Rams, coached by one-time VMI aide Walt Ayers.
QUICK TURNAROUND: Ferrum College basketball standout Marlo Ferguson-Jamison, a junior from Magna Vista, plans to make her college softball debut Sunday against Emory & Henry. That's one day after the Dixie Conference women's basketball final.
Ferguson-Jamison, in her third season as the Panthers' starting point guard, scored in double figures in five of Ferrum's first 15 games. Since then, she has had seven consecutive double-figure games and averaged 21 points, with a high of 31 against Christopher Newport.
SHATTERED DREAMS: Virginia Tech, the preseason favorite for the men's indoor track-and-field championship and a contender for the women's title in the Atlantic 10, was unable to participate in the conference meets this past weekend when it could not fly out of the Roanoke airport Friday morning and found northeast airports closed later in the day.
LENGTH: Medium: 98 linesby CNB