ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, November 14, 1996 TAG: 9611140019
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: COLLEGE NOTEBOOK
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY
As it begins to compile records on the first season of overtime for all divisions, the NCAA can save itself a lot of time by inquiring first at Ferrum College.
The Panthers' football team was involved in three overtime games, all in the last four weeks.
``It's got to be a record,'' Ferrum coach Dave Davis said. ``Wouldn't you think? I doubt very seriously that there were very many in the country. You didn't see that many ties before they changed the rule.''
Davis is an advocate of the tie-breaking concept, although the Panthers were 1-2 in overtime games, beating Chowan 12-9 before losing to Methodist 24-17 and Frostburg State 6-3 in back-to-back weeks to end the season.
In between, the Panthers lost to Emory & Henry 29-3 in a game that was 3-3 in the fourth quarter.
``I think it's good,'' Davis said. ``I think it's good for football. I think it provides some excitement. I've never been a `tie' kind of person anyway.''
Davis isn't sure he likes the tie-breaking formula, which calls for a flip of a coin at the start of overtime, after which each team is given four downs to score from the other team's 25-yard line.
``When you put the ball on the 25-yard line, you're immediately within field-goal range,'' Davis said. ``I don't think it's good to set it down inside field-goal range. You ought to have to earn something.''
If there were a lesson he would impart to Joe Paterno and Tom Osborne and all the coaches who haven't played an overtime game, it would be to play defense if they win the toss.
``I'll be an expert on overtimes,'' said Davis, jokingly. ``They'll fly in and get my thoughts, for sure. But, then, they might want to get somebody's thoughts who won his overtime games.''
IN THE ACC: What does it say about Wake Forest when the Deacons are 1 1/2-point underdogs at home to a team with the second-longest losing streak in the country? Duke has lost 11 games in a row (Nevada-Las Vegas has dropped 12 straight) and 16 of the last 17.
Wake Forest also is working on a couple of dubious streaks. The Deacons have lost 14 straight ACC games - the record is 18 - and have not forced a turnover in five consecutive games. Wake has had 17 turnovers during that span.
``I think the last time I checked, [Evander] Holyfield was an underdog, too,'' Wake coach Jim Caldwell said.
``When was the last time we were favored to beat anybody?'' Wake receiver Desmond Clark added. ``It's been a long time.''
* Fan apathy has not helped Maryland coach Mark Duffner, whose job appears to be in jeopardy after five seasons. Average attendance has dropped from 42,121 in 1995, when there was a major Byrd Stadium expansion, to 32,517.
IN THE BIG EAST: Junior-college transfer Dwayne Schulters is the new No.1 tailback at Pittsburgh, where 1994 Big East offensive player of the year Billy West has been moved to fullback. It was an effort to get both players in the lineup after an injury to regular fullback Chris Schneider.
* Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni on the Orangemen's opponent this Saturday: ``Army has the option, the power game and play action. I see them spread out all over the place. I absolutely think Army could compete in the Big East every single week.''
AROUND THE STATE: William and Mary's Division I-AA football team has a higher power rating than three ACC teams and three Big East teams, according to the computer rankings published by USA Today.
The Tribe is ranked 71st, which puts it ahead of No. 74 Maryland, No. 85 Pittsburgh, No. 97 Wake Forest, No. 98 Rutgers, No.106 Duke and No.113 Temple. William and Mary is also ahead of Mississippi State, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and TCU - all bowl teams in the 1990s.
Division I-A programs inside and outside Virginia clearly misjudged William and Mary free safety Darren Sharper, who had three interceptions during a 30-6 victory over Massachusetts on Saturday. Sharper, younger brother of UVa linebacker Jamie Sharper, has nine interceptions this season and 23 in his career.
UVa COMMITMENT: Virginia's fourth football commitment is from Evan Routzhan, a 6-foot-7, 286-pound offensive and defensive tackle from Middletown, Md., who also attracted the interest of Rutgers, Maryland, West Virginia and Northwestern.
Routzhan, who has a 3.5 grade-point average and scored close to 1,100 on the Scholastic Assessment Test, is a two-time all-area selection on offense and defense. He played basketball until this year and will throw the discus and shot put in track and field this spring.
``I don't think there's any question he has tremendous growth potential,'' said Middletown coach Tim Ambrose, noting that assistant Joe Krivak recruited Routzhan for the Cavaliers. ``He can run - and he does run - and I can see him getting up to 6-8 and 320 or 330.''
RECRUITING: No one was surprised Tuesday when preseason All-American Bruce Branch, a wide receiver from Huguenot High School in Richmond, committed to Penn State. Huguenot coach Richard McFee has a son on the Penn State team and is pictured with Nittany Lions coach Joe Paterno on Huguenot's schedule card.
McFee said Branch picked Penn State over Ohio State, Notre Dame, Auburn and Virginia Tech, which is a list that seemingly changed every day. There is little to suggest that Tech or UVa, which was on an earlier list, ever received serious consideration.
IN BASKETBALL: Liberty University women's basketball coach Rick Reeves signed his daughter, Kimmie, a point guard from Jefferson Forest High School who helped the Roanoke Stars qualify for the national AAU tournament this past summer.
* Virginia signee Deanna Mitchelson from Bakersfield, Calif., is another player with Roanoke Stars ties. Mitchelson's sister, C'ta, played with the Stars when the family lived in Nelson County.
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