THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 25, 1996 TAG: 9610250717
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: By Robin Brinkley, staff writer
LENGTH: 151 lines
1. STADIUM
The House that Beard, DeLong and Easley Built
With 7,000 seats, four rest rooms, two concession stands, excellent lighting and security and an outstanding Bermuda grass playing surface, three-year-old Oscar Smith Stadium is the best place to watch a big game in South Hampton Roads.
2. ATMOSPHERE
Purple Thunder
Atmosphere: Skydivers in football uniforms, snarling Harley-Davidsons leading the team onto the field, Purple Thunder, the ultimate noise and light show anchored to a - golf cart? It's all part of the Deep Creek football experience. ``We want people to enjoy the game,'' athletic director Carl Stone says. ``But we want them to enjoy it in an entertaining atmosphere.''
3. FANS
The good, the bad, the stubborn
Great Bridge sold nearly 600 season tickets this year and averages about 2,500 fans per game - OK, that counts complimentary admissions and the band. But it's still pretty good for a program that has produced only seven victories since 1992.
4. REST ROOMS
When Nature calls: The women's rooms at Lake Taylor and Booker T. Washington, which have identical facilities: 27 stalls, roomy and well-lit. ``The biggest bathrooms in Norfolk,'' boasts Lake Taylor athletic director Russell Flynn.
6. WEIGHT ROOM
Yeah, but where's the sauna?
Ocean Lakes's facility is so nice AD John Williams could sell memberships. It covers 2,240 square feet, has a rubberized weight floor, a built-in stereo system and mirrors on one side. There are 34 weight stations, five Airdynes and a Stairmaster. Fifty people can work out comfortably and safely at one time.
7. OFFENSE
Winging it
The Wing-T is older than the Model-T. But four of the top seven offensive teams in the area run some version of the Wing-T, with its emphasis on motion and misdirection, including Deep Creek, which is first at 365.4 yards per game, and Western Branch, which is third at 337.5 yards per game.
8. DEFENSE
Mayhem on their minds
It's more a state of mind than a scheme. Attack, attack, attack. The ends close down hard. The tackles engage and pursue. There must be several blitz packages involving not only the linebackers but the defensive backs. The secondary must be able to cover man-to-man. Norcom did it with a five-man front in 1993 and won a state title. Indian River uses a four-man front this year and has posted four shutouts while holding two teams to minus yards in total offense.
9. MARCHING BAND
Tinsel town
The Pride of Portsmouth, Norcom's Versatile 100, combines the best in musicianship and showmanship. Plus we really love those silver tinsel things they wear on their hats. The only negative note is an alarming dropoff in tuba players, from 11 in their state championship season to four this year. Come on guys, get with the program!
10. Uniforms
Deep Purple: Purple pants, purple jerseys, purple helmets - no, not Deep Creek. Tallwood's all-purple home uniforms with the satin finish are the height of sartorial splendor. We especially like the ``TV'' numbers on the shoulders and Lion paw prints on the sleeves and helmet. Kathy Ireland would look good in this outfit.
11. TRADITION
A touching moment: The Oscar Smith ``Victory'' bell sits in the North end of the stadium and every Tiger touches it before stepping onto the field. The bell was cast in 1902 and has been rung after each Tigers' win since 1974.
12. CHEERLEADERS
But can they do it wearing grass skirts? Little Atlantic Shores Christian School made a big splash last spring by placing third in the Eastern Cheerleaders Association Invitational Championship. The event at William and Mary drew more than 5,000 participants from 15 states. Four Seahawks earned All-American status and Chrissy Brown, Laura Brou and Jamie Zimmerman qualified for a pool from which cheerleaders for the 1997 Pro Bowl in Honolulu will be selected.
13. COACH
Part Lombardi, part Foxworthy
Deep Creek is ranked No. 1 in South Hampton Roads for the third straight year and has won 29 consecutive regular-season games. Credit Jerry Carter, a folksy disciplinarian with a keen eye for detail and a flair for showmanship.
14. REFEREE
You make the call: There is no concensus since Ron Cherry stopped working high school games to focus on colleges. Chris Brown and Preston Harding, Sr. are popular in the Southeastern District. Ross Doubleday draws support in the Beach District. And a successful Eastern District coach likes Harding but hates Brown.
15. GAME PROGRAM
War and Peace and rosters, too: The Oct. 11 homecoming program at Western Branch was 96 pages long and included 203 paid ads. We especially liked the up close and personal look at the coaching staff; did you know assistant Wade Williams has four children? But our favorite feature is Coach's Corner, head coach Lew Johnston's take on that night's game. According to Johnston the key to beating Indian River was containing James Boyd. Truer words were never written. Boyd rushed for 178 yards and a touchdown and caught a TD pass in the Braves' 24-12 win.
16. RIVALRY
And your mother wears Army boots: These tend to heat and cool with the ebb and flow of success. Great Bridge-Wilson and First Colonial-Kempsville were the glamour matchups of the 80s. Indian River and Norcom flared up in the 90s, but redistricting killed that. Kempsville-Tallwood and Norcom-Churchland have the potential to outlast those others. But for downright dislike and distrust Indian River-Deep Creek tops the marquee.
17. CONCESSIONS
It's not gourmet, but it is OK: After eight weeks of pre-game chili dogs we've reached no consensus on who serves the best food. However, we've been surprised and delighted at the quality and variety - pizza, chicken sandwiches, nachos, barbeque - offered at many venues. Since nearly all concession stands are run as fundraisers we encourage you to try eating out at the game.
18. DIVISION I PIPELINE
Scholarship High: Indian River and Western Branch each have four former players in Division I. The ex-Braves are Chris Snyder (Penn State), Tony Morrison (Virginia Tech), Shawn Foreman (West Virginia) and Joe Williams (Virginia). The ex-Bruins are Dre Bly (North Carolina), Todd Hollowell (Wake Forest), Shyrone Stith (Virginia Tech) and Lorenzo Ferguson (Virginia Tech).
19. DISTRICT
Beasts of the Southeast
What's the criteria? Great teams? Competitive balance? Top prospects? The Southeastern would have been an easy pick the past three years, but lacks balance now. The Eastern has balance and some top prospects, but no great teams. The Beach has better balance than Dominique Dawes, but few D1 prospects and no great teams. With Deep Creek and Indian River riding atop the poll the pick is still the Southeastern. ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]
The Virginian-Pilot staff photos
[Cutlines available on microfilm.] by CNB