Saturday, December 21st, 1996

Conaty Speaks His Mind

Billy Conaty has had enough of the boorish behavior. And he's not even talking about the arrests off the field. He's talking about the Tech players who scorn the media and fans. If you haven't seen it yet, check out this article in The Roanoke Times:

First of all, let me say that I'm with Conaty on this one. I have an incredible amount of respect for Billy Conaty, ever since I watched him play an entire year with a shoulder that separated nearly every week, and particularly after I watched him come back from multiple broken ankles. Through it all, Conaty has started 47 straight games, and he will make it 48 - a Tech record - when he lines up against Nebraska in the Orange Bowl.

I think it's every player's right to not talk to the media if they don't want to. Lord knows, we've blasted the main stream press enough here at Hokie Central that it would be incredibly hypocritical of me to say that it's the "duty" of Cornell, Antonio Banks, and Brian Edmonds to speak to the media.

But I don't think you should be offensive about it, and that's precisely what Cornell was when he showed up for the Alliance Bowl selection show wearing a ski mask with no mouth hole in it. And that's also what he was doing when he taped the numbers of Toni Morrison and James Crawford over the VT logo on his helmet during Sugar Bowl practices last year. In effect, he is placing himself and his teammates above the institution that is giving him a free education, and I think that's wrong. It's also reflecting poorly on the university, and well ... I don't think I need to tell you how I feel about that.


One of These Days, We'll Talk About Football Again

As a matter of fact, let's give it a try right now:

  • The off-the-field woes haven't stopped the Hokies from receiving four more verbal committments:
    1. 6-7, 240 lb. DE Dave Kadela from Fork Union - also played TE and could play on the offensive line for Tech. 3.9 GPA, 1270 SAT.
    2. 6-6, 230 lb. TE Bob Slowikowski from Central Catholic in Pittsburgh.
    3. 6-0, 195 lb. RB Wayne Ward from Plant City, Florida - Ward was offered a DB position by Miami, but wants to play running back, so he refused the Canes. 1660 yards, 20 TD's as a senior, 4.4 40 yard dash.
    4. 6-3, 255 lb. TE Derek Carter, Fork Union - good blocker and receiver who could play defense for Tech.
  • The Roanoke Times has a nice page called Hokie Highway to the Orange Bowl which essentially collects all of their stories from the last year in one easy place, as well as adding new material. Check it out.
  • My buddies and I have 6 Orange Bowl tickets up for sale, if you're interested. In case you missed the box near the top of the page, scroll back up for info and email addresses to contact.

          

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