DATE: Monday, September 15, 1997            TAG: 9709150149

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C3   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   36 lines

W&M WAITING FOR WORD ON QB COOK, A PRE-SEASON ALL-AMERICAN, SUFFERED A KNEE INJURY IN SATURDAY'S VICTORY OVER VMI.

William and Mary quarterback Mike Cook, knocked from Saturday's 41-12 win over VMI by a late hit, was evaluated by doctors Sunday who were trying to determine the extent of the damage to his injured left knee.

An announcement on Cook's status is expected today.

Cook, a pre-season All-American, seemed headed for a record-setting day when VMI's Jordan Clark blind-sided him just before halftime. Cook had completed a swing pass to Alvin Porch when Clark's helmet struck his knee, causing it to buckle. Clark was penalized for a late hit.

Cook had already thrown for 294 yards and three touchdowns for the 3-0 Tribe. The single-game yardage record is 414, set by Stan Yagiello in 1982.

Cook was replaced by Steve Fill, who threw for 162 yards and one touchdown before twisting his right ankle in the fourth quarter. Third-stringer Daron Pope, a redshirt freshman, then came in and threw a 42-yard touchdown to Dave Conklin.

The trio combined for 498 passing yards, a school record. Conklin's 240 yards on nine catches also set a school record.

Cook, a junior, has completed 66 percent of his passes for 888 yards and six touchdowns. He threw for 3,166 yards and 26 touchdowns last year and was voted All-Yankee Conference.

Fill, also a junior, suffered a minor ankle sprain and is expected to be ready for Saturday's game at New Hampshire. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Mike Cook, on his way to a record-setting passing day, went out on a

late hit. An announcement on his status is expected today.

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