ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, February 20, 1997 TAG: 9702200044
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: College Notebook
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY
It will be a surprise if Virginia Tech doesn't receive a football commitment in the next couple of weeks from quarterback Travis Turner, a junior from Appalachia High School.
Turner, a 6-foot-4, 200-pounder, has passed for more than 4,000 yards in three seasons and was named first-team All-Group A this year as a defensive back.
Both of Turner's parents are Tech graduates and his father, Tom, played for the Hokies from 1972-76. Tom Turner is the coach at Appalachia, which has won two Group A championships with Travis at quarterback.
The Hokies already have made an offer to the younger Turner, who has not made a public commitment, mostly because he wants to wait until the end of basketball season. Depending on how far Appalachia goes in the playoffs, he could have 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds by the end of the season.
``Tech wants him as an athlete,'' said Tom Turner, a defensive lineman in his college days, ``but they've [the Hokies] told him they'll give him a chance to play quarterback, too. He's been going up there to camp since he was 4 years old, it seems.''
If the younger Turner goes to Tech, he will join the sons of two his father's illustrious teammates, Tom Beasley and Bill Houseright. Bill Houseright Jr. was on Tech's team this year and Chad Beasley is among the Hokies' signees.
A second Houseright son, Jake, was rated the No.6 junior in Virginia by The Roanoke Times. Turner was 10th on that list.
DRAFT TALK: In ratings published after the National Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, USA Today has included Virginia running back Tiki Barber from Roanoke among the top 30 draft prospects. Barber had a 7.20 rating, which translates into a ``potential starter.''
Barber, listed at 5 feet 10 throughout his UVa career, was measured at 5-8 5/8, but was taller than several running backs on the list, including Troy Davis (5-7 3/4) and Warrick Dunn (5-7 5/8). Barber's time of 4.48 seconds for 40 yards was slower than his best, but comparable with the other top backs.
Virginia linebackers James Farrior and Jamie Sharper were on the list, but Virginia Tech quarterback Jim Druckenmiller was not. The likelihood of Chicago drafting Druckenmiller decreased when the Bears signed Rick Mirer, but all indications are that Druckenmiller had a good combine.
Virginia Tech insiders are wondering how USA Today could report that Hokies defensive back Torrian Gray and offensive tackle Jay Hagood were ``losing status.'' The word is that Gray wowed pro scouts when he ran a 4.4 40.
IN THE PROS: Former Virginia Tech quarterback Will Furrer, who was not in the National Football League last year, has signed a free-agent contract with the St.Louis Rams. Furrer has been a star for the Amsterdam Admirals of the World League of American Football.
Furrer originally was drafted by the Chicago Bears and also has been with the Denver, Phoenix and Houston organizations. Furrer started for Houston against Cleveland in 1995 and was 22-of-41 for 268 yards and one touchdown, but he played in only one of the last 13 games.
* The Washington Redskins on Wednesday re-signed former Ferrum star Jim Kitts and allocated him to Amsterdam. Kitts was in the Redskins' training camp for two weeks before being released on Aug.20, 1996.
Kitts was in the Redskins' camp as a linebacker but has moved to fullback, his preferred position since starring for the Albany (N.Y.) Firebirds of the Arena League.
IN THE BIG EAST: Big East football fans may have been surprised to read that Miami signed 19 players, given that the Hurricanes have been limited to 15 grants this year as part of the terms of the NCAA probation they received following the 1995 season.
It turns out, coach Butch Davis and his staff were holding open two scholarships, possibly for late qualifiers. That would put the Hurricanes at 21; however, as many as six signees will wait until the second semester to enroll or pay their way for the first semester.
* Syracuse quarterback Donovan McNabb, who has rejoined the Orangemen's basketball team, contributed 10 points and six rebounds in a 77-74 victory over Georgetown. After the Hoyas had pulled to 75-74, McNabb hit two free throws with 4.1 seconds left.
IN THE ACC: Georgia Tech basketball star Matt Harpring, discouraged by the dropoff that has taken the Yellow Jackets to the bottom reaches of the ACC, has indicated he might skip his final season of eligibility if it does not appear the team will become an NCAA Tournament threat.
Harpring, a first-team All-ACC choice as a sophomore, ranks among the top five in the ACC in scoring and rebounding but the Yellow Jackets, who are 9-14 after Wednesday's loss to No.14 Maryland, are headed for their first losing season since 1982-83.
* Reporters who follow Florida State most closely think Pat Kennedy will keep his job, despite the Seminoles' late-season slide. It would cost Florida State boosters nearly $1.5 million to buy out the remainder of Kennedy's contract, which has three years to run at $485,000 per year.
NON-REVENUE: Virginia Tech's first men's and women's Atlantic-10 indoor track-and-field championships came one year later than some expected. The Hokies were among the favorites last year, but they never reached Kingston, R.I., after being stranded in Roanoke by a snowstorm.
* Virginia Tech football recruit Cory Byrd, a wide receiver candidate who was redshirted this past season, already is making his mark as a 190-pound wrestler. Byrd, a state champion last year in New Jersey, is 6-0 despite starting the season at heavyweight.
* Jill Archer, a freshman from Salem High School, has moved into the No.4 singles spot for the Radford University women's tennis team. The Highlanders' first-year coach is Sue Hollandworth, who played on Radford's nationally ranked 1984 team.
LOCAL UPDATE: James Madison distance runner Jason Alexander, a junior from George Wythe High School in Wytheville, won the 5,000-meter run at the Virginia Tech Invitational. ... Amy Moore of Salem was a starter for the University of Richmond women's soccer team as a freshman but played in only eight of 18 games because of injury.
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