ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, November 1, 1996 TAG: 9611010024
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
IT WILL BE OLD HOME week when Southwestern Louisiana coach Nelson Stokley and his son, Brandon, return to Blacksburg.
Southwestern Louisiana and Virginia Tech will meet for the first time on a football field Saturday at Lane Stadium.
But for one Ragin' Cajun player, the venture to Blacksburg won't be a trip into foreign territory.
When the Louisiana visitors roll into town Saturday morning, Brandon Stokley can peer out a bus window and see home.
"I'm probably the only guy on our team who's ever heard of Blacksburg,'' Stokley said. "It's pretty easy for me. I was born there.''
The son of USL head coach Nelson Stokley, a Tech assistant from 1974-77, will be getting his first look at his hometown since he was 2 years old.
"Needless to say, I don't remember much about it,'' said Stokley, who was born June 23, 1976 at Montgomery Regional Hospital.
"I've never been back since, so that's why it's going to be nice. I've been looking forward to this game ever since it was announced.''
The Ragin' Cajuns (4-4) were a late addition to Tech's schedule after the Hokies nixed a proposed deal to play at Auburn.
Inviting USL to Blacksburg, which ensured Tech of a record seventh home game for 1996, may not prove to be such a bargain for the Hokies.
The Ragin' Cajuns, aided by eight turnovers, upset three-touchdown favorite and then-ranked Texas A&M 29-22 on Sept.14. Last Saturday, they beat Memphis 13-9.
In USL, Tech will face a passing attack like no other on its schedule. The Cajuns are ranked 13th nationally in passing offense (274.5 yards per game), 33rd in total offense (401.7 ypg) and 43rd in scoring (27.8 points per game).
"Yeah, we can win it,'' Stokley said. "We'll have to play a perfect football game. We can't have any turnovers and our defense is really going to have to show up to play.''
You can bet the house Stokley will show. The kid with the Velcro hands has posted some incredible numbers in his first 19 college games.
Last season, he rewrote the NCAA record book for receptions (75) and receiving yards (1,121) by a freshman - without ever starting a game.
"It kind of took me by storm,'' said the 6-foot, 175-pound Stokley. "The first two games, I barely played. I knew I was capable of doing things like this, but I didn't know I would do them so soon.''
This season, Stokley has proven 1995 was no fluke. He has 61 catches for 888 yards, which puts him fourth nationally in receptions per game (7.63) and eighth nationally in receiving yards per game (111.0).
For his 19-game career, Stokley is averaging 105.7 yards per game. Only nine players in NCAA history have completed their careers averaging in triple figures. None has ever done it over a four-year period.
Making Stokley's story even more amazing is the fact that 1995 was only his second season of playing organized football. He was strictly a baseball-basketball guy in high school until his senior year, when he went out for football and proceeded to catch 80 passes for 946 yards.
Despite the numbers, Stokley drew no attention from college football recruiters. Of course, he did have one obvious option.
"I took one official visit - right here,'' said Stokley, referring to the school where his father has coached since 1986.
Needless to say, son has taken care of father since.
"I think being around football all my life, with my dad being a coach, helped me know some things that others don't know,'' Stokley said.
"I've always seemed to know how to run routes, and catching the ball pretty much comes natural to me.''
As is a kid's wanting to go home.
"That Stokley kid is impressive,'' said Tech coach Frank Beamer, after watching USL film this week.
"I know his father. I've never met the boy. I'm glad he's coming home. I hope he doesn't have too much fun, though.''
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: headshot - Stokleyby CNB