THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 7, 1996 TAG: 9606070579
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 57 lines
A strong right arm got Aaron Sparrow into the Calgary Stampders' training camp.
A torn stomach muscle could send him home.
The former Norfolk State quarterback tore the muscle Sunday, and has been unable to practice since. He's afraid the injury may have doomed his chances of making the Canadian Football League team.
``I'm a little scared because I don't know what they're going to do with me,'' Sparrow said from Calgary, Alberta. ``I'm not going to be upset if they release me, because I know the real reason.''
The Stampeders have four quarterbacks in camp. They'll keep at least two, and possibly three, offensive coordinator John Hufnagel said. Jeff Garcia is expected to be the starter, and Danny Barrett the backup. Both are CFL veterans.
That leaves Sparrow and fellow rookie Dave Dickenson, the 1995 Division I-AA player of the year from Montana, vying for a possible third spot. The third quarterback on most CFL teams does not dress, and Hufnagel said the league's salary cap may prevent Calgary from carrying a third quarterback this year.
Still, Dickenson has been practicing, and Sparrow hasn't. The first exhibition game is Monday. The regular season opens June 23.
``I know I'm behind on that field, I know it,'' Sparrow said. ``Those guys are getting a lot of reps, and getting better. I'm not getting better.
``I don't know why I'm still up here. There must be a reason.''
Sparrow has outlasted another Virginian, former Virginia Tech quarterback Maurice DeShazo, who was released Tuesday. The move shocked Sparrow, who was rooming with DeShazo.
``I was crushed,'' he said. ``It was shocking because Maurice had one of his best practices right before they let him go.''
Sparrow was playing well before the injury, Hufnagel said.
``He has a big league arm, no question about that,'' Hufnagel said. ``The biggest problem he has right now is staying mentally involved, because he hasn't been out there physically.''
Hufnagel declined to say if Sparrow would be released, but he said that because Sparrow is a rookie, placing him on injured reserve is not an option.
The injury is expected to take 4-6 weeks to heal. Sparrow tore the muscle on the left side of his stomach while throwing a pass Sunday. He tried to practice Monday, but couldn't.
``This is the worst pain I've ever felt in my life,'' he said. ``I should have stopped throwing the first time I felt it, but I wanted to make the team.
``I'm just taking it day by day. They told me just to sit and learn.''
If he doesn't make the Stampeders, Hufnagel said Sparrow could eventually land with another CFL team.
``With his athletic ability, and his mental frame of mind, if he was in the right place at the right time, he would have a future in this league,'' Hufnagel said.
If he is released, Sparrow said he'll complete his degree in social work. He has to only complete an internship before he can receive his degree, he said. by CNB