Daily Press from Newport News, Virginia • Page 15

Friday, February 3, 1989 apogfts rn Tabb's Slade commits to ma Mike Keech 73 High schools arships," said Hovis, whose team won the 1987 Group AA state title and went 12-1 last season losing 32-24 to York in the Region I final after Slade went out with a shoul-' der injury in the first quarter. "We knew that when Chris was in the game, we would give other people fits. Even if he didn't get the sack, he got doubled, which left other peo-, pie open. "I felt air along that (U.Va.) was his number one school and that he wanted to visit the others just to see (what they had to offer)." Slade's commitment, however, doesn't mean Virginia fans should chalk up Kirby as the top prize in a package deal. By SONNY DEARTH Staff Writer YORK Some recruiters told Tabb High School's Chris Slade that he'd be a big fish in a little pond if he went to the University of Virginia.

But after being wooed by the Cavaliers for four years, Slade gave U.Va. one of its biggest catches of the recruiting season Thursday, verbally committing to Coach George Welsh's program. The 6-foot-5, 213-pound defensive end will sign a grant-in-aid Wednesday, the NCAA's first official signing day. "They've been recruiting me since my ninth grade year," said Slade, a two-time All-Group AA performer and a second-team All-America se lection by USA Today at defensive end. "They would give me tickets to see the basketball team and make unofficial visits.

It meant a lot to me. "A lot of colleges say, 'Why go to Virginia (because) you're just going to be a big fish in a small That's not necessarily true because they've got a good football team. If you're good enough, you're going to get recognition no matter where you go." Tabb Coach Charlie Hovis, who has an even bigger star in Parade Magazine National Player of the Year Terry Kir-by, is well aware of Slade's value to the Tigers. "He was recruited by as many schools as Terry, and he was offered as many schol Kirby will visit Clemson this weekend and will announce his decision Feb. 13.

He is considering Virginia, Clemson, Penn State, Alabama and Georgia. "Terry's his own man," said Slade. "If Terry comes to Vir-ginia, I think that would be great. I've been with Terry since we played youth football in eighth grade. But if he didn't (come to U.

it would be nice to play against him." "Terry's going make up his mind for what's best for Terry," said Hovis. "I don't believe (Slade's signing) will influence him." Slade, who officially visited Please see Slade, C6 i Chris Slade 2-time All-State pick Ex-coach prospers as city athletic head Wayne Begor's office says much about the man. The organized appearance of the desk carries over to the entire room. Well-spaced trophies cover the wall shelves. Two neatly framed golf and tennis cartoons adorn one wall.

The opposite wall features two enlarged color photos of young children. This simplistic, well-designed orderliness smacks of a no frills, competitive and successful person. Begor, in his 14th year as athletic director for the Newport News School System, is just that. Upon taking the newly-created post in 1975, he faced the stern task of revitalizing the system's sagging athletic budget. "Attendance at most of the games was down to practically nothing at that time," said Begor.

"And even with the practice of giving the gate receipts (directly) to the schools, only two schools had their heads above water." The athletic director post was created at the recommendation of a school board committee. Begor's credentials included 12 coaching years at Warwick Junior High and Ferguson High School. He had taught physical education, served as a guidance counselor and eventually was an assistant principal. "Since the athletic Slip, slide and away Runner tops Redskins' list of free agents director position was new, there were no models to go by," said Begor. "It was something I could create on my own." His creativity worked wonders when he came up with the idea of his heading up a central purchasing office for the school system's athletic equipment needs.

The gate receipts Notable Washington play en who were left unprotected In the NFL's new free agent system. Player Pos. Anthony Allen WR Todd WR Dave Butz DT Reggie Branch RB Joe TE Greg Coleman Kurt Gouvela LB Russ Mel LB Neal Olkewicz LB Terry Orr TE Timmy Smith RB R.C.Thielemann Dennis Woodberry DB Wayne Begor w'-X- 32... ViWjissass: WASHINGTON (AP) The Washington Redskins' league-high list of 29 unprotected players under the NFL's new free-agency system includes running back Timmy Smith, who gained a Super Bowl-record 204 yards against the Denver Broncos but lost his starting job last year. The Redskins also left four time Pro Bowl guard Russ Grimm, veteran defensive tackle Dave Butz and linebacker Neal Olkewicz up for grabs.

According to the new free agency plan, each team has 37 protected players, all of whom are restricted free agents if their contracts expire this season. The unprotected players have until April 1 to sign with the team of their choice, regardless of whether they are under contract. Butz, Grimm and Olkewicz will be in their mid-30s by the time the 1989 season gets underway, so their appearance on the unprotected list comes as no surprise. But few could forsee Smith's rapid fall from grace after his outstanding effort in Washington's Super Bowl triumph two seasons ago. "We just feel like we should go in another direction," said Redskins general manager Bobby Beathard.

"We'll look for a big running back willing to pay the price to be a good football player," The Redskins questioned Smith's offseason training habits after the Super Bowl, and his 1988 season underlined their fears. The 25-year-old Texas Tech product averaged only three yards a carry and lost his starting job midway through the year. His 470 rushing yards were barely twice the total he managed in the Super Bowl alone. "The more we thought about it, we figured Timmy wasn't going to be in our plans," said Washington Coach Joe Gibbs. Other notable names on the Redskins' unprotected list include safety Todd Bowles, linebacker Mel Kaufman, defensive end Steve Hamilton, defensive backs Travis Curtis and Johnny Thomas and punters Greg Coleman and Tom Barnhardt.

v. AP photo Illinois' Ervin Small loses control of a rebound as Purdue's Stephen Scheffler pressures from behind. The Boilermakers upset the 2nd-ranked lllinl 76-72. Please see C2. from athletic events were funded by the School Board back to the city, allowing each school to have equal opportunity to purchase equipment.

The central purchasing idea was a big money saver for the school system. "The coaches at each school decided what equipment they needed and sent me their orders," said Begor. "By ordering in such large quantities, we could get very competitive prices on things." After a period of austere spending that helped the budget back on its feet, Begor was able to stockpile basic equipment, freeing funds for special items. "Now if somebody wants to get special stripes on some uniform pants, we can do it." Another accomplishment Begor takes particular pride in is the improvement of Todd Field. A new all-weather track surface, high jump and broad jump pits, a sprinkler and fertilization system and scoreboards are just some of the additions made to the complex.

"When we first got it from the city, there were football games and a handful of track meets held there. We keep expanding and now host regional and state championships, college meets, soccer, field hockey and even had the German Army conduct physical fitness tests here recently. "Officials from all over the state come to see and learn about our facility. It's one of the best high school facilities around." Begor is quick to cite both the School Board and the Newport News School System for helping make the athletic program better. 'These people understood the value of athletics.

Our program is entirely funded by the School Board." But even with all the budgetary and physical improvements over the years, Begor is unhappy with other trends he sees emerging in high school athletics. Please see Keech, C6 VCU's Pollio to resign "(The list) doesn't really have much to do with a player's current value to the team as much as how we can protect the most number of players," Gibbs said. "If we were to play a game tomorrow, Dave Butz, Olky, Todd, Russ and Mel would probably be starting. "It has nothing to do with how we feel about them," Gibbs said. "It has more to do with age, injuries and dollars." Olkewicz, 32, ranked second on the team in tackles last year and led the Redskins with three fumble He started all 16 games.

"I guess I'm free, but at this point it does me no good," he said. "Four or five years ago, it would have been great." Said Beathard: "We talked about whether we should protect Neal. I think Olky loves the area and plans to stay here." On the topic of protecting Butz, Beathard said, "I don't know whether someone will pick up a 39-year-old defensive tackle with that high a salary. A lot of teams took similar chances. You're counting on other teams not picking a guy like that." While the Redskins have more unprotected players than any other 'NFL team, Beathard will probably end up gaining more athletes than he'll lose.

Please see Redskins, C5 ia Commonwealth's "athletic director, said Pollio came to him several weeks ago to discuss resigning. Sander said he asked that Pollio remain as an assistant athletic director. 'Sander said he hopes to hire a new coach by April. Pollio posted a 12-16 record during his first season at Virginia Commonwealth. His 1986-87 team was 17-14 and last year's team was 23-12.

"Right now we are turning all our energies toward the games in Pollio said. "It is a tight Sun Belt race and we want to finish well." died during practice from a rare heart disease. Pollio's teams at Virginia Commonwealth have compiled a record of 60-52, including an 8-10 mark this season. The Rams are 4-3 in the Sun Belt Conference and are tied or second place in the conference standings. Before coming to Virginia Commonwealth, 45, was athletic director and head basketball coach at Kentucky Wesleyan where his teams were 117-35.

Pollio's career record is 177-87. Dr. Richard Sander, Virgin RICHMOND (AP) Vir-ginia Commonwealth basketball coach Mike Pollio, saying he has "lost some of the fire," announced Thursday that he will resign at the end of the season to become assistant athletic director at the university. "After all of the tragedy in January, basketball hasn't seemed quite as important," said Pollio, who has headed the VCU program for 3a years. "It has been hard for me to get excited over basketball." On Jan.

2, senior forward Mike Brown collapsed and I On tho incido Black network uses sports to battle giants in cable game 1 Terry Armour TVRadio In ACC basketball action, Maryland is at Georgia Tech at 1:30 p.m. on Channel 10. Syracuse is out to avenge Its first loss of the season when it visits Pittsburgh at 2 p.m. on Channel 3. N.C.

State is at DePaul (4 p.m., Channel 10) and Louisville, without center Pervit Ellison, visits Memphis State (9 p.m., ESPN), The basketball fun contiunes Sunday when Big East rivals Georgetown and Villanova go head-to-head at noon on Channel 3 followed by an NBA game featuring the Chicago Bulls and the NBA: Patrick Ewing and Gerald Wilkins score 21 points each as the Knicks crush Cleveland. Page C4 College basketball: The lastest college basketball rankings find William and Mary at almost the very bottom among Division I schools. Page C2 NFL: Former area high school greats Dwight Stephenson and Shaun Gayle are left unprotected. Page C5 Best TV bet Detroit takes on Philadelphia in NBA action at 8:05 p.m. on WTBS.

tut. rntz coverage. Plus, I think we have been helpful in letting the rest of the world know there is something going on in black sports." After a successful college football season, BET is in full swing with its basketball coverage. The network shows a weekly college game and will once again have coverage of the CIAA tournament semifinals and finals (Feb. 25, Norfolk Scope).

The men's semifinals and finals will be shown live while the women's championship will be shown via tape delay. Neal said that the importance of BET is limitless. Please see Armour, C6 When Black Entertainment Television (BET) hit the cable airwaves nine years ago the game plan was simple: have programming geared to the black community. "That was the whole idea. We felt sports was a vital part of the black community," said Charlie Neal, BET's executive producer of sports.

"And unless you were a Notre Dame or a UCLA, your college wasn't going to get major network coverage." So the network made sure to incorporate a full slate of football and basketball games featuring predominantly black schools in its programming. It wasn't that hard since there are quite a few black colleges in the United States, including 14 universities in the CIAA (including Hampton University). Plus there was inter-i est. "There are a lot of places where blacks are living where there are no black colleges," said Neal, "They like to see the Detroit Pistons (2 p.m.). Bruton High defensive back Chris Parrott verbally commits to James Madison.

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