THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, April 11, 1995 TAG: 9504110456
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
Shawn Knight's career options became crystal clear Monday when the former Maury High and William and Mary star signed to play in the Canadian Football League.
Instead of going to the San Diego Padres' Class A minor league baseball club, Knight signed a two-year deal with an option year with the CFL's Toronto Argonauts. Although financial terms of the deal weren't announced, Knight's contract is said to contain some performance incentives not found in the standard CFL contract.
Knight, 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, completed 66 percent of his passes last season and set two NCAA records for passing efficiency during his career with the Tribe. He will report to training camp in Guelph, Ont., on June 1, to vie with at least four other quarterbacks for one of three spots on the roster.
``Football was in my heart,'' Knight said when asked why he had abandoned, at least temporarily, a career in professional baseball.
The Argonauts, who finished third in the Eastern Division of the CFL last season with a 7-11 record, already had four quarterbacks.
Former Syracuse University star Marvin Graves has a toehold on the starting spot, with competition expected from former Bowling Green quarterback Erik White, former NFL taxi-squadder Mike Kerrigan and ex-Boston University star Robert Daugherty.
The Argonauts also have expressed interest in acquiring British Columbia Lions starter Kent Austin.
``It wasn't just the financial considerations that swayed Shawn,'' Knight's agent, Ronald Del Duca, said Monday night. ``The Argonauts have indicated that he will have a strong chance to be the team's No. 2 quarterback.''
Argonauts general manager Bob O'Billovich has a reputation for using more than one quarterback during a game, further increasing Knight's chances of playing should he make the final 37-player roster.
``I have a lot of confidence in my ability to play quarterback,'' Knight said. ``I realize there are a lot of quarterbacks here, but my focus coming into camp is just to do my job.
``The competition is only going to make me better and the team better.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color staff photo by CHRISTOPHER REDDICK/
Shawn Knight set two NCAA records for passing efficiency during his
career with William and Mary.
by CNB