THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 3, 1996 TAG: 9610030528
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 52 lines
It seems a little early in the year to talk about setting single-season records, but that's what James Madison receiver Macey Brooks has a chance to do Saturday against Maine.
Just four games into the season, Brooks has tied the school record for touchdown catches with eight. He has 23 catches overall. With his next touchdown catch, Brooks will pass David McLeod, who had eight scoring catches in 1991.
Brooks, a senior from Hampton, has nearly as many reasons for his breakthrough year as he does touchdown catches. He ticks them off almost by rote.
``More maturity. Better attitude. I came in into the season in probably the best shape I've ever been in. Renewed dedication. Senior year. Talk of potential maximization,'' he said.
The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Brooks chose the Dukes over the San Francisco Giants, who drafted him in the second round in 1993 out of Kecoughtan High.
Brooks caught 61 passes in his first three years, 11 for scores. But with his size and 4.45 speed in the 40-yard dash, there was always a sense he could do more.
``He's always been a major contributor, but now that he's a senior, I think he wants to play well his last year,'' JMU coach Alex Wood said.
Brooks said thoughts of an NFL career have spurred him. But he hasn't given up baseball, and will play for the Dukes again this spring. The rightfielder hit .298 last year with 5 home runs in 51 games.
RANDOLPH REMEMBERED: John Randolph, who served as athletic director at William and Mary from 1985 until his death from cancer last year, will be honored Saturday when the Tribe hosts New Hampshire.
Current and former Tribe athletes, as well as members of Randolph's family will be on hand for a dedication ceremony at halftime. A postgame cocktail reception will be held at the Holiday Inn Patriot, where a minimum donation of $30 is requested, with proceeds going to John Randolph endowments at the College. Reservations can be made by calling 757-221-3350.
VMI WOES: Pre-season optimism has given away to something else at VMI, but after a 31-14 loss to Furman last week, coach Bill Stewart bristled at rumors that there is dissension on the 0-4 Keydet squad.
``We've got a wonderful little football family here that's hurting a little bit, and I'd like to let it go at that,'' Stewart said. He dismissed talk of the ``ship going sour here'' as ``bullcrap.''
VMI travels to Georgia Southern Saturday.
QUICK HITS: JMU kicker John Coursey had a string of 16 straight field goals snapped when he missed a 48-yarder against Boston University. He had not missed since the end of the 1994 season. . . Hampton plays the last of four games in NFL stadiums Saturday, when it faces Florida A&M in the Circle City Classic at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. by CNB