THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 26, 1994 TAG: 9410260579
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BOB HUTCHINSON OUTDOORS EDITOR
DATELINE: NEWPORT NEWS LENGTH: Long : 141 lines
A proposed $59,000 study of the importance of menhaden as a forage fish in the Chesapeake Bay was turned down Tuesday by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission.
The nine-member board also voted down a proposal that would have extended Virginia's recreational flounder season through Dec. 31, a measure recently approved in North Carolina. The Virginia season will close Oct. 31, as scheduled.
The menhaden study was requested by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and had the approval of the Virginia Recreational Fishing License Advisory Board and the Atlantic Coast Conservation Association, a 3,500-member organization of rod-and-reel fishermen.
Money for the study would have come from the saltwater fishing license fund.
It was the first time in the license's two-year history that the commission voted against an advisory board recommendation.
The plan drew objections from Virginia's menhaden fishing industry, which said the eventual report would be biased because it was requested by recreational fishermen and would be funded by recreational dollars.
In addition, representatives of the menhaden industry met in Richmond on Monday with Becky Dunlap, secretary of natural resources, to voice their objection. William A. Pruitt, head of the commission and an opponent of the project, reports to Dunlap.
The menhaden is a small, oily fish considered the primary source of food for Chesapeake Bay striped bass, gray trout and bluefish, among other species. Processing plants at Reedville in the Northern Neck convert the fish into oil used in manufacturing and into high-protein meal for livestock food.
BLACKSBURG - Stacy Henley had resigned himself to a senior season of special-teams play.
But last Saturday was perhaps the most special of his career, because he was reborn on Virginia Tech's defense.
About two weeks ago, Henley took a chance, asking if he could return to defense. He had been all but thrown off the team late last season following the Boston College game, when an admittedly strained relationship with defensive coordinator Phil Elmassian went sour. Henley went from starter the first nine games to oblivion, not even dressing for the last three games.
``We didn't get along that well in practice,'' Henley said of himself and Elmassian last season.
They're getting along better now, partly because Elmassian's cornerback corps is so thin.
``Our corner situation is concerning to me,'' Elmassian said.
Last Monday, Tech tried Henley again at rover. Tuesday, he was put at cornerback. Saturday, he started in place of Larry Green and played 41 of 69 defensive downs.
``I never thought this day would come again,'' Henley said.
This Saturday, Henley will start again when the 13th-ranked Hokies play No. 6 Miami at the Orange Bowl (3:30 p.m., WVEC).
After the Pitt game, Henley got a hug and thanks from Elmassian, but Henly still describes their relationship as ``businesslike. He tells me what to do, and I do it.''
Henley is just happy to be doing it again on defense.
BIG 'DOGS: Miami is a 14-point favorite over Tech, which doesn't sit well with the Hokies.
``It symbolizes the fact a lot of people don't understand the character of our football team,'' wide receiver Antonio Freeman said.
``It seems people respect us more than they did before, but not as much as we want them to,'' defensive end Lawrence Lewis said.
PLAYERS OF WEEK: Virginia Tech's Brandon Semones and Freeman were recognized as Big East players of the week.
Semones, a linebacker, earned defensive honors for his 10 tackles in the Hokies' 45-7 victory over Pittsburgh. Four were made behind the line, including three sacks, for losses totaling 21 yards. Semones also forced two fumbles, broke up a pass and had a quarterback hurry.
Freeman set Big East and school records for punt-return yardage in a game with 164 to earn special teams player of the week honors. One return went 80 yards for a touchdown. Freeman, who leads the Big East and ranks sixth nationally with an average of 13.2 yards per return, also had returns of 22 and 30 yards that set up Hokie touchdowns.
``I've always anticipated a day like that,'' Freeman said. ``Everyone kept telling me, `It's only a matter of time before it happens.' It was a fun game returning punts.''
QUICK HITS: The Hokies are relatively injury-free heading into the Miami game. Offensive guard Damien McMahon will return from a foot injury that sidelined him for several weeks. No other Hokies are expected to be held out of the game. . . . True freshman Gennaro DiNapoli made his first career start against Pitt at left guard. . . . Miami will be the 16th top-10 team the Hokies have faced in Beamer's eight seasons. The only one they beat was No. 9 West Virginia in 1989.
BLACKSBURG - Stacy Henley had resigned himself to a senior season of special-teams play.
But last Saturday was perhaps the most special of his career, because he was reborn on Virginia Tech's defense.
About two weeks ago, Henley took a chance, asking if he could return to defense. He had been all but thrown off the team late last season following the Boston College game, when an admittedly strained relationship with defensive coordinator Phil Elmassian went sour. Henley went from starter the first nine games to oblivion, not even dressing for the last three games.
``We didn't get along that well in practice,'' Henley said of himself and Elmassian last season.
They're getting along better now, partly because Elmassian's cornerback corps is so thin.
``Our corner situation is concerning to me,'' Elmassian said.
Last Monday, Tech tried Henley again at rover. Tuesday, he was put at cornerback. Saturday, he started in place of Larry Green and played 41 of 69 defensive downs.
``I never thought this day would come again,'' Henley said.
This Saturday, Henley will start again when the 13th-ranked Hokies play No. 6 Miami at the Orange Bowl (3:30 p.m., WVEC).
After the Pitt game, Henley got a hug and thanks from Elmassian, but Henley still describes their relationship as ``businesslike. He tells me what to do, and I do it.''
Henley is just happy to be doing it again on defense.
BIG 'DOGS: Miami is a 14-point favorite over Tech, which doesn't sit well with the Hokies.
``It symbolizes the fact a lot of people don't understand the character of our football team,'' wide receiver Antonio Freeman said.
``It seems people respect us more than they did before, but not as much as we want them to,'' defensive end Lawrence Lewis said.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Virginia Tech's Brandon Semones and Freeman were recognized as Big East players of the week.
Semones, a linebacker, earned defensive honors for his 10 tackles in the Hokies' 45-7 victory over Pittsburgh. Four were made behind the line, including three sacks, for losses totaling 21 yards. Semones also forced two fumbles, broke up a pass and had a quarterback hurry.
Freeman set Big East and school records for punt-return yardage in a game with 164 to earn special-teams player-of-the-week honors. One return went 80 yards for a touchdown. Freeman, who leads the Big East and ranks sixth nationally with an average of 13.2 yards per return, also had returns of 22 and 30 yards that set up Hokies touchdowns.
``I've always anticipated a day like that,'' Freeman said. ``Everyone kept telling me, `It's only a matter of time before it happens.' It was a fun game returning punts.''
QUICK HITS: The Hokies are relatively injury-free heading into the Miami game. Offensive guard Damien McMahon will return from a foot injury that sidelined him for several weeks. No other Hokies are expected to be held out of the game. . . . True freshman Gennaro DiNapoli made his first career start against Pitt at left guard. . . . Miami will be the 16th top-10 team the Hokies have faced in Beamer's eight seasons. The only one they beat was No. 9 West Virginia in 1989. by CNB