THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 13, 1994 TAG: 9410130595
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 48 lines
Old Dominion will open basketball practice Saturday with one less guard than expected.
The Monarchs announced Wednesday that sophomore Corey Robinson has been granted a release from his scholarship and intends to transfer at the end of the semester. Coach Jeff Capel said he and Robinson met Monday, but the coach did not offer specifics about why Robinson is leaving.
Robinson called his departure ``an understanding between me, the coach and the team,'' indicating it wasn't strictly his decision. But he refused to provide more detail. He said he will finish the semester, but doesn't know what school he will transfer to.
``I'd rather not comment,'' Robinson said. ``It's a tough time for me right now, and I don't want to talk about it.''
Asked what his reaction was, the first-year ODU coach said, ``Surprise is a fair word.''
The decision apparently went beyond the desire for more playing time, although that could have contributed.
Robinson, who came to ODU from Watkins Mill High School in Gaithersburg, Md., would have been among a logjam of players at the shooting guard spot this season. Senior Mike Jones is the projected starter, while Mark Johnson and E.J. Sherod will also see time there.
Johnson and Sherod are sophomores like Robinson, and ODU watchers had speculated one of the trio would transfer eventually.
``I didn't presume anything,'' Capel said.
Robinson's departure leaves the Monarchs with four scholarships to give for next season, but means they will have just 11 players on scholarship this season available to play. Transfer Joe Bunn from North Carolina A&T has to sit out this season.
Capel said it's good to know before the November signing period that ODU has another slot to fill.
``If this is going to happen, you want to get it over with before we get focused,'' Capel said. ``I'd hate to have to deal with this halfway through the season, or even two or three weeks from now.'' ILLUSTRATION: Corey Robinson
by CNB