Vol. 9, No. 3, December 17, 2012 Vol. 9, No. 3 ... - Play by Play

DECEMBER 17, 2012 Play By Play 1Vol. 9, No. 3, December 17, 2012

DECEMBER 17, 2012 Play By Play 3PLAYMAKERSpotlightTay TaylorThe Salem senior basketball star formally signed withWake Forest in November, surrounded by her family,coach and school administrators. Taylor has been of the mosthighly recruited girl basketball players in the Roanoke Valley in thepast severalyears.Taylor, whohas startedfor the Spartanssince herfreshman year,led Salem toback-to-backGroup AAstate tournamentfinal fourappearancesSurrounded by her family and school personnel, TayTaylor formally signs with Wake Forest in NovemberBill TurnerPlaybookOpinionsTodd Marcum.......................................... 4Mike Stevens........................................... 5Christian Moody .................................... 6Gene Marrano ........................................ 7Mike Ashley........................................... 19Articlesthe past twoseasons — andentered theVolleyball’s Tamalyn Tanis, 2012 Sportsperson of the Year ....... 10Irregular Heartbeat Doesn’t Slow Averett’s Paul Porter............... 12Guns and Hoses Celebrates a Decade of ‘Charitable’ Hockey......14Liberty’s Nick Sigmon is in the Middle of Everything.....................15Hollins Basketball is on the Upswing..................................................16Jerry English, a Legend of the Games...............................................18Page 7Page 10ExtrasPage 15Playmaker Spotlight........................3Ask A Ref............................................6Snapshots of the Season................9Photo courtesy of Liberty UniversityBrian HoffmanphotosThe University ofDelaware senior, whohelped lead William Flemingto a 2007 state hoopstitle, continues to make aname for himself. ESPNnamed the 6-9 center itscollege rebounder of themonth for November. Herecently snared 23 boardsagainst Lafayette, the mostby a Division I men’s playerin three years.Hagins has improved hisnumbers each year with theBlue Hens and is currentlyaveraging a double-doubleJamelle HaginsPhoto courtesy of the University of DelawarePhoto courtesy of delawareonlineSponsored by:2012-13 season with some eye-poppingcareer stats. Through her juniorseason she had 1,093 points, 332 assists,212 steals and 309 rebounds.The Spartans have just eightplayers on their current varsityroster so Taylor will get little restthis year. She’s started out strongly again,leading Salem to four wins out of the chute.The Salem victories were by an average of13 points. Even with defenses keying onher, Taylor has scored in double figures ineach of Salem’s wins.Jamelle Haginsgrabbed 23rebounds in asingle game(12 points, 12rebounds).He also consistentlyratesamong the nation’sleaders inblocked shots.Hagins hopesto be an NBAdraft choice in2013.

4 Play By Play DECEMBER 17, 2012‘Best seats in the house’ have local tieThe New England Patriotsand Frank Chervan, Inc.are both are on top of theirgame.So when the three-time SuperBowl champions renovated thePutnam Club luxury suites inGillette Stadium outside Boston,they called the Roanoke furnituremaker’s number.Frank Chervan is a seatingmanufacturer that rose from theThe east and west Putnam Clubsare each larger than the fieldPlayers in this IssuePublisher/EditorGraphic DesignerContributorsNow with coloron every page. CallJohn Montgomeryat 761-6751 toplace your ad.Photos courtesy of Frank ChervanJohn A. MontgomeryDonna EarwoodMike AshleyRod CarterLeslie CotyDonald EarwoodTommy FirebaughBrian HoffmanSam LazzaroCover photograph by Bill TurnerBo LucasTodd MarcumGene MarranoJoyce MontgomeryChristian MoodyMike StevensBill TurnerP.O. Box 3285, Roanoke, VA 24015(540) 761-6751 • E-mail: jmonty@cox.netOn the Web: www.playbyplayonline.netand at www.facebook.com/playbyplaysportsTODDSAND ENDSby ToddMarcumremains of Hooker Furniture’swithdrawal from domestic manufacturing.Frank Chervan tookover Hooker’s factory in Roanokein 2006 and employed many ofthe former workers at the plant.Today, all the company’s operationsare based in Roanoke.While Hooker took much of itsfurniture production abroad,Chervan decided that it could bedone better by making its productin Virginia.It turns out American qualityis alive and well and livingoff Greenbrier Avenue in SoutheastRoanoke, near the Vintonline. The company’s reputationfor craftsmanship and durabilityhas made it a leading supplierof frames for many industries.When the Patriots found them-©Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. No part of Play by Play may be reproduced by any meansor in any form without written permission from the publisher. Play by Play is published everyfourth Monday. Deadline for submissions for the January 14 issue is December 31.large dinningtables.A n t h o n yGardnerat Twist &Turns wasabsolutelycritical toour abilityto pullBuilding high-end stackable chairs was a challengethis off,”says Terrill.selves in a tight-deadline situation,Chervan’s can-do attitudepaid off.“The biggest challenge was leadtime,” says Greg Terrill, president“Anthony’s team made us criticalmetal parts in 48 hours, attimes.”Terrill has nothing but praisefor his production team thatof the company that was founded pulled off the manufacturingby his grandfather in 1932. “We equivalent of a successful gamewinninghad to design and sample a solution,two-minute drill. Inthen produce and install theproject in a very tight time window.”Called the Lap of Luxury, theeast and west Putnam Clubs atGillette Stadium are each largerthan a football field, with cathedralceilings three stories highand floor-to-ceiling glass wallsproviding end zone to end zoneviews. Pro teams and corporationsare constantly using thePutman venue for events, sometimesseveral events in a singleday. The space needs to be constantlyreconfigured. While thedesigner wanted a classic look,the chairs needed to be stackable,which is a difficult engineeringfeat for a high-end wooden armchair.“Our engineering team tookthe end, the team designed, produced,delivered and installedmore than 15 tractor-trailer loadsof custom chairs and tables. Thecompany had two teams in Foxborough,Mass., for two installslasting about six days each.The jury is still out on whetherTom Brady will take his team toanother Super Bowl. Still it’s kindof cool knowing that our neighborsset the table for him.While Terrill is too busy to enjoya lot of football games, he’s afan of his own home team — thepeople who pulled together thisfeat.“I am too impatient to sitthrough a game, so I never havebeen much of a sports fan of anytype,” says Terrill. “However thismade me an instant Patriots fan.”the original design from an Italianproducer and made several I also want to congratulate for-* * *redesigns to make it a ruggedstackable chair,” says Terrill.In the middle of the project, anotherwrinkle — and opportunity— arose. The management at GilletteStadium decided to renovatethe players’ dining room. As youmight imagine, when 325-pounddefensive tackle Vince Wilforksits down to a pregame feast, hehad best be supported by somethingmore than a folding chair.In fact, the Patriots asked Chervanto design a “super duty” chairand particularly large and stabledining tables.mer William Byrd football playerTrip Ison, whose Kent State GoldenFlashes rose to No. 17 beforefalling in the MAC conference titlegame to Northern Illinois. Tripparticipated on kickoff teams andserved as the backup long snapperduring his senior year. Heeven got his picture on SportsIllustrated.comgiving his coachDarrell Hazell a Gatorade bathas Kent State clinched the CentralDivision in November. Hazellhas since been tapped as the nexthead coach for Purdue.Kent State will take on Arkansas“Within three weeks, weState in the GoDaddy.comshipped 100 custom-embroideredplayer-sized chairs along with theBowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium inMobile, Ala., on Jan. 6.

6 Play By Play DECEMBER 17, 2012Where have all the flowers gone?Iused to have a cheap littleplaque above my desk witha quote that was attributed toFROM MYBen Franklin. It said: “There aretwo things everyone thinks theyVANTAGEcan do better than anyone else:POINTpoke the fire and edit a newspaper.”Christian MoodyI can think of a couple things toadd to that list. The first is drive. (But like poking the fire, driving isn’t acareer.) The other entry I’ll add to the list is coach a Division I footballteam.Proceed with caution because this might be a column that no oneagrees with, based on a straw poll of vocal fans and people who seemwilling to share their opinions on coaches.Just to be clear, I am talking about Hokie fans and their propensity tothink that something is going to be better if a couple of assistant coachesare replaced.My first point is the simplest: If Frank Beamer wants to make achange, then he should. If he doesn’t, he shouldn’t. My life is not likelyto be affected either way. But this much I know. Beamer knows a lotmore about the program than you or I do.Plus, as an alumnus of Virginia Tech, I want the Hokies to win the nationalchampionship. I really, really want that. But you know who wantsit more? Frank Beamer. That’s his life, his career. I’m a guy who goes togames and invests about 40 hours and a few hundred bucks a year inthe program. To think that Beamer would make any decision that wascounter to the goal of winning is ludicrous.I’ve heard the grumblings for years and never really understood whypeople wanted to make such a target of Bryan Stinespring. Now MikeQ.A.Ask A RefTo inform fans of the games’ finer points, Play by Play publishes“Ask A Ref,” a chance for fans to ask a question about specificsports rules, preferably those related to high school or the NCAA.This month we ask a basketball question (three, actually) toveteran hoops arbiter Reggie Poff.Is it true that after a made basket, a player can take theball on the baseline and pass to another player, alsobehind the baseline, who can then pass it in, so long asit’s done inside 5 seconds? Also, is it true that if a defender reachesover the baseline and swats the ball in the hands of a playerthrowing it in, it’s a technical foul?What happens if, after a made basket, A1 goes behind the baselinewith the ball and the following occurs: B2 is guarding A2, butA2 crosses the baseline to receive a pass from A1, which thereforeis not the throw-in, and while there B2, not realizing A2 is beyondthe baseline and the ball is not yet live, swats the ball?The answers to the first and second questions are yes, theball can be passed behind the baseline after a madebasket and a defender cannot violate the invisible planeof the baseline from floor to ceiling. Therefore, of Question 3: IfA1 passes the ball to A2 while both are behind the baseline for athrow-in after the made basket, B2 cannot play the ball on thatpass or until A2 has released it. If he swats the ball, it is a technical.O’Cain is in the crosshairs.I think it’s message board hysteria. Maybe it’s a result of new media,where anyone can post a rumor or an opinion, disguise it as fact, attacha dubious source, and suddenly it has a credibility all its own.Shooting pool with friends the weekend of the conference championshipgames, I was present as two Tech fans had the following conversation.I swear I’m not making this up.Fan 1: “I know there’s going to be some changes on the staff. Stiney’sgone. O’Cain’s gone. Got a good source.”Fan 2: “I heard that, too. Not sure who told me.”Fan 1: “I got it from someone close. Real close.”Hmmm. Someone close enough thatthey’re entrusted with this information,but not loyal enough to keep it in house.Then I learn the source. It seems mybud knows a guy who works with one ofBeamer’s sisters, and she told him.So if I’m to believe this, there was aconversation at some point where Beamer’ssister must have asked, “So Frank,whatcha gonna do about Stiney andO’Cain?”At which point Beamer, not noticinghow odd it is that his sister is askingabout personnel decisions, pipes upFans have second-guessedBeamer since at least 2008with his plans to make changes. That informationis then shared with a randomco-worker who now has the scoop of theyear and tells other fans, so we can all be aware.I know a couple of the coaches well enough to speak when we seeeach other, and I asked one about a current player and the recruitingprocess, since I knew he was involved. He had great things to say aboutthe player and his family. So imagine my surprise when I’m talkingabout recruiting during the season and I’m told that, in fact, my frienddidn’t have anything to do with the recruit, that’s just hearsay.Now there’s a conundrum. Whom to believe? On the one hand, I havethe guy who is actually part of the staff, while on the other I have anIT guy from western Pennsylvania who reads Internet message boardsand speaks with authority.However, maybe the fans are right. At the Virginia game I sat near agrandmotherly woman who had it all figured out. Seems Stinespringis skipping the fundamentals. Tech quarterback Logan Thomas wasstruggling throwing the ball and a pass skipped short of his receiver.This matron of the gridiron screamed “C’mon Beamer, tell Stinespringto teach Logan he has to keep the ball up!”Oh, it all comes clear. Apparently no offensive coaches had taughtThomas that the ball could not skip on the ground before reaching thereceiver. They were slack in their duties and, without that guidance,Thomas must have no idea.The defensive coaches are not immune. When Florida State scoredjust before halftime, a fan near me was incredulous that the defense “letthat happen.” He had the solution. He told everyone that defensive coordinatorBud Foster needed to “talk to them. He has to tell them theycan’t be doing that.”Seriously? That’s the answer? Talk to them? Well now, if coaching isthat simple, I think good things must be ahead.I’m willing to bet that this is a guy who goes to message boards andspouts off his opinions.I think the biggest beef I have with all the dissatisfaction is the lack ofperspective. One of my best friends actually believes the Hokies wouldbe better off with an entirely new coaching staff because Beamer andSee MOODY, Page 7

8 Play By Play DECEMBER 17, 2012StevensFrom Page 5tiansburg on Oct. 26.“I really think that was the firstgame all season where he was really100 percent healthy with hisback and hamstrings,” says Ben.The Knights won the game 37-24 and immediately afterwardsBen and Andrea took Zac and fiveof his buddies to a cabin in WytheCounty to celebrate the win andhis milestonebirthday. Unfortunately,theynever made itthrough theweekend. TheCenters for DiseaseControland Preventionhad establishedthe incubationperiod for thefungus at sevento 42 days afteran injection. Zacstarted gettingsick on day 39.“He was in so much pain at theonset that he felt like his wholehead was going to explode,” saysBen.After spending that Sunday atLewisGale Medical Center, Zacwas transferred to Carilion thenext day on Oct. 29, and for thenext 16 days he was literally in thedark at Roanoke Memorial wearingeither a sleeping mask or sunglasses.“There was so much pressurein his eyes from the sickness thathe burst the capillaries in them,”says Ben. “It was a week before thenurses knew what he looked likebecause he had his eyes and facecovered to keep the light out.”Ben Foutz was Cave Springhead football coach 1999-2004Still in the darkThe unpredictability of thisstrain of fungal meningitis hasalso kept patients and doctors inthe dark when it comes to findinga definitive cure.“I don’t think anyone is clinicallycured yet,” Ben says. “That’swhy we have to look at this longterm and how this meningitisand the medications are goingto affect a 16-year-old. Good, bador indifferent, we don’t know andthe doctors don’t know if the effectson Zachary will be the sameas they are on a 78-year-old.”Zac currently has to take 1,100milligrams of anti-fungal medicationeach day along with ahigh-powered neurological medication.Both of these can havecertain undesirable side effects.In addition, Zac has blood testsdone each week and the excruciatingspinal taps will continueat least for the next six months.Already he’sundergone sixof these procedures.“Andrea andI sat in his roommany nightsand just wantedhim to get somerelief and restbecause whenhe was awake,he was hurting,”Ben says. “We’veFile photodone a lot ofsoul-searchingand hard prayingand, honestly, it’s a rollercoasterride from day to day.”One of the toughest things forZac has been dealing with the realitythat the team sports he lovesso much just aren’t a possibilityright now.“Sports aren’t the most importantthings in life, but for Zac andkids like Zac who are studentsand athletes, their life is about goingto school, spending time withtheir teammates and then cominghome with their families, andbasically most of that has beentaken away right now,” says Ben,who was Cave Spring head varsityfootball coach from 1999-2004.Ironically, it was an honest effortto keep him active in organizedschool athletics that inexplicablyturned their lives upsidedown.After Zac finished his juniorvarsity year of basketball and hisfreshman year at Cave Spring, hebegan to have some stiffness inhis back. That pain got progressivelyworse and eventually anMRI exam confirmed that he hada disc problem. When Zac didn’trespond to physical therapy, hisdoctor decided to “calm down”the issue with a steroids shot inJune.He slowed down in workoutsand activity level after school letout in June and then eased intothe start of the varsity footballseason later during the summer.By the season opener, he was setto start on defense and punt forthe Knights without any problems.But after the first threeweeks of the season he started toonce again experience some discomfortin his back and returnedto his doctor.Zac had experienced a majorgrowth spurt from June to September,but everyone was relievedthat these tests showed noneurological problems related tohis back and that the inflammationcould likely be treated andresolved with a second steroidshot.“We talked about sitting himdown for a whole year, but wewere all very optimistic becausehe was feeling better and the doctorssaw no signs of any nervedamage,” Ben says. “We weresimply trying to help him.”What now?During his time at RoanokeMemorial, Zac dropped about 15pounds, but that’s only a guessbecause he hated weighing-inand didn’t even want to look at thescales to see his athletic “badge ofhonor” melting away.“That first week he couldn’t eatanything and was violently sick,”says Ben. “It was to the point thatthey seriously thought they mighthave to insert a feeding tube.”Since leaving the hospital andreturning home Nov. 12, his appetitehas slowly returned andhis weight is nearly back to 200pounds. Zac also returned toschool on a very limited basis theweek after Thanksgiving, althoughhe’s a long way from spendingan entire day in the classroom.His homebound instruction willcontinue for months and there’sno way to know when he will becleared to return to his first love —athletics. For now, he dresses outwith his varsity basketball teammatesand watches practice fromthe sideline.To look at him, you would thinkhe could score 20 points a gameand finish off a fast break with athunderous dunk, and becauseof his competitive nature and desireto play he would dive in thestands for a loose ball today, if hisdoctors would just let him. Butfor now, he’s benched until furthernotice through no fault of hisown.“He’s certainly a talent and Ifeel like he has the potential todo it at a very high level one day,but, honestly, I only have to walkout my backdoor and into KendallBayne’s backyard to realize allof this could be a lot worse,” Bensays.Kendall and her family liveright behind the Foutz family inthe Cotton Hill section of RoanokeCounty. Her courageousand often public battle with arare form of cancer for nearly twoyears has been well documented.The two Cave Spring studentswere in the hospital at the sametime last month and visited eachother in their respective rooms.Ironically, Kendall desperatelyneeds white blood cells whileZac has too many of them. Thetwo have come to share a rangeof emotions in recent weeks afterbeing dealt hands that no onetheir age should ever have to play.They’ve also found a commonbond when it comes to jumpstartingtheir appetites that havebeen curbed by disease and medication.“Both Kendall and Zachary lovemy mom’s homemade bananapudding,” says Ben. “We were tryingeverything to get them to eatand nothing has tasted better tothem than her pudding.”Ben and Andrea were forcedto put their professional lives inmedical sales and professionalcounseling on hold for nearly amonth. They’re slowly gettingback to work and things also arereturning to normal at home forthe entire family, including Zac’ssister, Alex.“We certainly feel like we’vebeen through the ringer,” saysBen. “I know the Lord has a planand that all of this is happening fora reason. We just have to have faiththat it will eventually work out.”Faith and Alice Foutz’ bananapudding.

DECEMBER 17, 2012 Play By Play 9Snapshots of the season7RVSGT 2012 ChampionCharles Vassar (above) of Troutvillewas the overall points championin the 2012 Roanoke ValleySenior Golf Tour. Playing in theSenior Golf Tour’s 10th year, Vassarfinished in first place out of a fieldof 130 players by accumulating844 total points and a 25th placeaverage finish for the season’s ninetournaments.Tommy Firebaugh7Hidden Valley Volleyball: Ever So Close!Bill TurnerThe Titans (above, after winning the regional title) nearly brought home theGroup AA state championship trophy Nov. 17. Hidden Valley finished as runners-upfor the second time, losing to Loudoun County 3-2 at the Siegel Center in Richmond.The Titans, who held a 2-1 lead and were ahead 16-10 in game 4, wereriding a 12-match winning streak and had not lost in five weeks. Hidden Valleyfinished 29-5, another banner season under coach Carla Poff.Bill Turner7Lee Johnson ResignsThe William Fleming head footballcoach (above) has decided threeyears is enough. After posting winningrecords at Glenvar and North Cross(including a 2008 state title with theRaiders), Johnson moved to Flemingin 2010 when the new stadiumopened. He went just 2-28 with theColonels. Johnson will remain a physicaleducation teacher in Roanoke.College SigningsTwo Hidden Valley HighSchool seniors (right)announced their collegeplans Nov. 14 in the schoollibrary. Volleyball playerCaroline Boone (seatedon the left in the picture,surrounded by sister Catherineand parents Norvinand Cheryl) will take hergame to Francis Marion Universityin South Carolina,while baseball pitcher RyanLauria (joined by parentsChris and Lisa) will play forLouisville.7Dave Ross BiddyBowl Raises FundsProceeds from the thirdannual youth footballchampionships held Nov. 11raised $1,300 for Susan G.Komen for the Cure. Ross(second from right, front)poses with the ceremonialcheck along with K.C.Bratton and Anne Fox.77Local Wrestler WinsVMI freshman Armando Herrera-Dos Reis (left), a 2012 RoanokeCatholic graduate, posted his firstcollegiate wrestling win Nov. 11at 125 pounds, defeating WestVirginia’s Mike Bolash 8-0 at theWolfpack Open at N.C. State. Lookfor a story detailing the successfulRoanoke Catholic wrestling programin the next Play by Play.Photo courtesy of Jason HannahBill TurnerBill TurnerBill Turner photos‘Sweet Pea’ Visits Roanoke Valley Sports Club1984 Olympic boxing champion Pernell ‘Sweet Pea’ Whitaker(above) addressed the club at the Salem Civic Center Nov. 19.Whitaker, who hails from Norfolk, used speed and a defensiveboxing style to win several world titles as a pro. Below, Whitakerclowns with local youth boxers Monté Tyrone Dunnaville andDanté Trayvon Dunnaville, twins who attended the dinner. TheSportsClub’s nextmeetingwill featureformerVirginiaTech starand NFLfootballplayerPiersonPrioleau onJan. 21.7

10 Play By Play DECEMBER 17, 2012sportsperson of the yearUsing talents to theby Bill TurnerFew people in highschool sports circles wouldargue that winning a statechampionship in any coach’s respectivesport embodies the pinnacleof success.The goal of virtually everycoach and team, yet somethingachieved by only a fortunate few,earning a state title requires intensepreparation, hard work andgood players, not to mention alittle luck along the way.After his football team’s 26-18 loss to Heritage on Dec. 1 in aGroup AA Division 4 state semifinal,I asked Salem High Schoolhead coach Steve Magenbauer,the winner of state titles in 2004and 2005, how hard it is to win astate championship.“Man, it’s hard, very hard!” Magenbauerresponded. “And onceCS coach Tamalyn Tanis has won fivestate volleyball titles in the last 11 yearsBill Turner photosyou’ve been there the firsttime, it gets even harder.”Cave Spring HighSchool head volleyballcoach Tamalyn Tanishas clearly figured outthe winning combination.Her Knight teamshave won five state titles,beginning with her firstseason as head coach, the2002-2003 Group AA winterchampionship.When the VirginiaHigh School Leaguemoved volleyball to afall sport in 2003, Tanisfollowed with championshipsin 2003, 2005,2006 and 2011. Her teamsalso made the finals in 2004, andsemifinals in 2009 and 2010.Five seniors graduated fromthe 2011 championship team,with Morgan Shannon (Davidson)and Shannon Craighead(Stetson) continuing to play at thecollege level. A third, libero LaurenSledd, had the potential fora volleyball career beyond highschool, before deciding to playtennis thanks to a scholarship offerfrom Catawba College.In a rebuilding season this pastfall, with a team that includedseveral freshmen and sophomoresthrust into key roles, CaveSpring still managed to reach thestate quarterfinal round beforefalling to E.C. Glass.The exceptional achievementsof winning five championshipsin 11 seasons, helping to bringvolleyball excellence to the RoanokeValley and being a teacherand ambassador of the gamestatewide, all contributed to thedecision to name Tanis as Play byPlay’s ninth annual Sportspersonof the Year.Tanis follows previous winnersDan Wooldridge (2004), CharlieHammersley (2005), Pete Lampman(2006), Dave Ross (2007),Chip Sullivan (2008), DougDoughty (2009), Billy Hicks(2010) and Brian Hoffman (2011).Tanis is 269-39 in career matches(a winning percentage of .873)and 126-14 (.900) in River RidgeDistrict matches, with 11 of those14 losses coming at the hands ofSouthwest Roanoke County rivalHidden Valley (including fourtimes this past season). UnderTanis’ direction, Cave Spring is acombined 99-3 against the otherfour district teams.“Tamalyn has been very successfulas a coach and loves volleyball,”says Hidden Valley headcoach Carla Poff, who has faredbetter in head-to-head matcheswith Tanis than any other areacoach. “She has definitely beena big contributor to volleyball allover the area.”Tanis played at Cave Springfor three years, under the directionof coaches Joyce Palmer andcurrent Northside softball coachLynn Richmond, before graduatingin 1989.Tanis then took her skills as anoutside hitter to Mary WashingtonCollege in Fredericksburg,where she helped the Eaglesreach the NCAA women’s volleyballtournament her sophomoreyear, and go 35-3 in her junioryear. She graduated from MaryWashington in 1993 with a degreein economics.It wasn’t long before the juniorvarsity volleyball coaching positionat her alma mater becameavailable.“I was a real estate appraiser,and then Cave Spring athletic directorOtis Dowdy gave me theopportunity to coach,” she says.Tanis coached the JV team andserved as a varsity assistant toKnights head coach Penny Williamsfor several seasons.Then, a twist of fate gave Tanisthe chance to become head coachat Cave Spring. But she almostwent a different direction, as Williamsrecalls.“I had been the head coach atPatrick Henry from 1986-1994,and Cave Spring from 1995-2001,”says Williams, now a guidancecounselor at Cave Spring. “I wasleaving coaching for family reasonsrelated to having a child.“Tamalyn was my obvious successor.I was successful as a coachat Cave Spring because of her JVsuccess. She was a motivator, a

DECEMBER 17, 2012 Play By Play 11TAMALYN TANISbest of her abilityYou can find Coach Tanis and otheraccomplished coaches at Spectrum SportsAcademy including: Billy Hicks (Play byPlay's 2010 Sportsperson of the Year);Langston Ware; Jamie Price and Jon Copperspark plug and one that continuallydeveloped talented playersthat moved into the varsity program.“It was at the same time thatHidden Valley was being spunoff from Cave Spring,” Williamssays. “The (Cave Spring) administrationwas slow in announcingtheir decision of my replacement,and I became aware that HiddenValley had Tamalyn on their radar.I passed that along, and shewas immediately named CaveSpring’s new head coach.”Tanis had 14 players on her lastJV team. When the school splitoccurred later that year, seven ofthose players moved to HiddenValley and seven stayed in theCave Spring jurisdiction.“When I took over in 2002, wehad a tight-knit group that I hadalready coached in JV,” Tanissays. “[That first season] we hadseven seniors and five juniors andwe went 29-0.“Winning two state championshipsin nine months [after thechange of seasons] set the tonefor Cave Spring volleyball. Thekids worked hard and everyonerealized you need every piece tofall into place. It was a snowballeffect.”Those early successes helpedchange the landscape in area volleyball.“Players began to be more seriousabout playing on travelsquads and volleyball quickly becamemore than a three-monthsport,” Tanis says. “It involves alot of practice, a natural desire toplay, with very hard work that isphysically demanding.”In the ensuing years, particularlyafter Poff took the helm atHidden Valley, the Titans haveachieved excellence as well. Today,both Southwest RoanokeCounty high schools can boast ofoutstanding programs.Not surprisingly, Tanis refusesto single out her favorite or mosttalented team. “All were so special,”she says with a huge smile.One look at the plaques liningthe walls of Cave Spring HighSchool and you’ll see an impressivelist of volleyball players, manyof whom have gone on to playTanis with 2011 championship seniors (from left): LaurenSledd, Kelli Long, Shannon Craighead, Morgan Shannon andKelsey Sine. The 2012 squad was heavy on underclassmenin college. They include CourtneyFitzpatrick, Emily Harvey,Claire Kerr, Lauren Clary, StaceyCraighead, Jennifer Harvey,Lauren Bosche, Jocelyn Kellinger,Shannon Craighead andMorgan Shannon. These playersended their careers with honorsranging from all-regional to allstatefirst team to VHSLplayer of the year.Tanis has long beena big promoter of volleyball.She foundedthe annual ShamrockFestival tournament, which thispast March attracted 228 teamsand more than 2,300 players whoparticipated in matches held in14 different locations around theRoanoke Valley.Congratulations Coach Tanis onYOUR well-deserved honor!— Creating Champions for Life —(540) 561-0921 • 3710 Tom Andrews Road, Roanoke • spectrumsportsacademy.comIn October, the first Tournamentof Champions volleyballtournament was held at the SpectrumSports Academy, bringingin 12 teams with a combined 24state titles from a two-state area.Tanis serves as director of volleyballat Spectrum, where sheworks to develop players froman early age to attain the properskills needed to succeed in thesport.“It’s key to offer interested kidsthe base to work with,” Tanis says.“From athletic kids to newcomers,we teach fitness, skill developmentand work on building relationshipswith teammates.”Tanis says today’s high schoolvolleyball has become a sophisticatedsport in a short period oftime.“The average fan doesn’t graspwhat’s going on,” she notes. “Ithas become a sportthat players get closeto being perfectionists.Things move fast.We work for hours onlittle things. Perfectthe fundamentals,then adjust to your[team] size.”For Tanis, volleyballis a family affair.Her husband, Mark, serves as anassistant coach for Cave Spring.Mark charts statistics duringmatches while she walks the sideSee TANIS, Page 14Check out Volleyball, Basketball, Football,Baseball, Softball, Tennis Academies,Speed and Agility Programs, Camps,Clinics, Tournaments and Events!

12 Play By Play DECEMBER 17, 2012Playing with heartPorter sets a high standard on and off the courtby Mike AshleyCoaches always say reboundingis about heart.No wonder then that PaulPorter is one of the top reboundersin college basketball.Porter has an irregular heartbeat,one that has nearly sidelinedhim, first back at PatrickHenry High School in 2009, andthen two years ago at his currentlocale at AverettUniversity.Turns out,though, thatin the vernacularof sports,the 6-foot-4Porter has abig heart, too.“He just hasPaul Portera motor that doesn’t quit,” saysCougars coach Matt Parke aboutthe USA South Conference’s toprebounder. “And that’s just theCoke2 liters2/$3.00Open Christmas Dayfor all your last minutegifts and groceries.Photos courtesy of David Conner II/For Averett Universityway he is off the court, too. He’salways doing something.”As the center for the DivisionIII Cougars, Porter regularly goesup against taller opponents yethe’s the one coming down withthe rebounds. “Paul is not reallythat tall but he’s tall enough,” explainsParke. “He’s got long arms.He’s not the strongest guy outthere but he’s stronger than most.He can’t jump higher than everybodybut he can jump higher thanmost. Add those three factors togetherand that’s Paul.”And adding factors together issomething Porter knows aboutas an accounting major, anotherof his loves besides basketball.When he’s not pulling down rebounds,nearly 12 per game so farthis season, he’s adding numbersup.It was factors that Porter didn’tcount on, however, that nearlyended his career before it reallystarted.Prior to hissenior seasonat PatrickHenryHigh Schoolin 2009-10,Porter wasdiagnosedwith thati r r e g u l a rheartbeatand couldn’tget clearedto join thePatriots asthe season closed in.“It put me at a standstill. I wasshocked and not sure what to do,”says Porter. “I didn’t get cleareduntil the first day of practice. I satout all of preseason, all the scrimmages,all of summer, waiting toget cleared. It was pretty roughwatching everyone else workingand not being able to play.”It was a tough time for Patriotscoach Jack Esworthy, too. Esworthy,who had asked Porter tocome out as a freshman, had seenhim develop from a raw but hardworkingformer footballer into akey piece of the Patriots’ puzzle.After Porter was cleared to jointhe team, even without the preseasonwork, the senior was a keycog on a team that went 21-5, andreached the Group AAA tournamentsemifinals.And when Parke replaced Roanoke-product(and Northsidegraduate) Jimmy Allen as coachAn irregular heartbeat has not prevented Porter (center)from playing a major part in Averett basketballAccording to his coach, Porter (left)‘has a motor that doesn’t quit’at Averett in May of 2010, the firstrecruit he brought to campus wasPorter, who seemed to personifyall the things the new coach waslooking for in building his program.“In recruiting, we don’treally care as much about basketballtalent as we do about character,”Parke says.“When I met him and heard hisstory and the type of character hehad, I knew he was a kid that wereally wanted. And it didn’t hurtthat he was a really good basketballplayer.”For Porter, who didn’t have theoverwhelming basketball talentto help pay for his college, hischoices were limited. He camedown to Averett, Bridgewater, Roanokeand Division II Californiaof Pennsylvania. Porter workedhis way through high school atKMart, doing maintenance atHidden Valley Country Club andalso working at local marketingfirm BMS Direct, to makeends meet in his single-parenthousehold. At Averett, helanded a work-study positionas a residence advisor, and alsoprepares statistics in the sportsinformation office to help payhis tuition.“I get bored when I have toomuch free time,” admits Porter.He’s not kidding. This pastsummer he worked at thecountry club from 6 a.m. to2:30 p.m., ran home for a snackand then went to work at thegym 4-10. Then it was backhome for a late dinner and off

DECEMBER 17, 2012 Play By Play 13to bed. Same thing the next day.“He’s one of my most dependableworkers,” says Averett sportsinformation director Drew Wilson.“He’s worked here since hisfreshman year and has been sohad to get him tests with a cardiologistto certify him to play. Wewanted to make sure it wasn’t goingto be an issue but there wasa three-week period where hemissed some preseason before wePorter (right) is known for his defense, but he leads his conference inrebounds (11.8 per game) and is close to double figures in scoringclose-knit 1,000-student community.Parke says he doesn’t knowof him ever missing a class, andhe has excelled in his upper levelaccounting classes, no mean featwhile working as a resident advisor,playing collegebasketballand generallyasserting himselfas a campusleader and rolemodel.Porter willtell you thosedays when hewas awaitingclearance toplay at Averettwere tough. Heuses basketballas a refuge to getaway from a difficultchildhoodthat he doesn’ttalk aboutmuch. Furthermore,hedoesn’t let it deterhim at all.“I’m one ofthose peoplethat feel likebasketball motivates me in theclassroom,” Porter says. “That’smy drive. I didn’t get a consistentpush from anywhere else so Iused sports to help. I don’t have toworry about class. Don’t have toworry about family. Don’t have toworry about anything, just go outand play.”But basketball hasn’t been apicnic since Porter showed up tohelp Parke put the program backtogether. The Cougars won justthree games in 2010, and doubledup with a 7-19 record last season.Porter led the team in rebounding(8.3) and was second in minutesplayed (29.8). His scoring averagewas up to 9.5 ppg, and he shot 50percent from the field, startingto show some offensive potentialto go with the other consistentlystellar parts of his game.Porter is averaging nine pointsand that conference-high 11.8 reboundsthis year. Parke says hisdefense, particularly his abilityto help teammates when they getbeat, is a real key to the team’ssolid 2-2 start this season.Funny, in a lot of ways, PaulPorter has become the heartbeatof this team.reliable.”Parke loves talking about thethings Porter has done off thecourt. It’s uncommon for an athleteto serve as a residence advisorbut Porter has done such agood job he has opened the doorfor more athletes to have that opportunity.Porter also works as acounselor in Averett’s freshmanorientation program.“When you’re talking aboutPaul Porter, you’re talking aboutso much more than just basketball,”says Parke. “I guess we’remost proud of what he has donein the classroom, the way heworks so hard. But really it’s whathe’s done overall in the Averettcommunity.”Porter’s heart condition —the medical one, not the metaphorfor how hard he works asan undersized player and as ahard-nosed kid putting himselfthrough school — cropped upagain his freshman year whenhe took his first college physical.“We thought he might not be ableto play because he had an irregularheartbeat,” recalls Parke. “Wefinally got him cleared.”Porter’s problems have provenresistant to a direct diagnosisthough he hasn’t had any physicalissues as a high school or collegeathlete. “Honestly, (doctors) don’tknow and they haven’t come toany clear diagnosis of what it is,”he says. “They’ve just told me thatit’s an irregular heartbeat.”Parke found that his freshmanalso had irregular “want to” interms of getting the job done onthe basketball floor and beyond.Porter played in all 26 games,averaged 4.3 points per game,was third on the team with 5.2rebounds, and quickly demonstratedthat he could play collegeleveldefense. Those latter twotraits endeared him to the Cougarcoaches immediately, as didhis attitude.“I kept telling people, just givehim a chance,” says Parke, whopushed for Porter to get that R.A.position. “He’s the kind of kidthat when he walks out of here infour years, he’s going to make youproud.”Porter has done just that in theJanuary 4, 5 & 6(540)375-3004 www.salemciviccenter.com

DECEMBER 17, 2012 Play By Play 15Stuck in the middleby MikeAshley…and that’s the way Nick Sigmon likes it at LibertyThere’s a mentality thatgoes with being a linebackerand Nick Sigmon has it.“I try to be as physical as I canout there,” says the former Northsidestandout, channeling his inner-DickButkus. “You do it earlyin the game and it comes easierlater. Once you put that into youropponent then it makes it easieras the game goes.”Those are tough words fromthe soft-spoken sophomore atLiberty University, where theygenerally talk more about turningthe other cheek. Sigmon turnsupright opposing football playersinto ground-bound foes. In biblicalterms, he smites them and hisplay has helped begat a conferencechampionship for his team.By all accounts, Sigmon is afine, upstanding, young man offthe field and even a leader on it,but between the lines he alsospecializes in enough mayhemto land him on an Allstate insurancecommercial.To that point, Sigmon wassmack-dab in the middle of aLiberty University defense thatled the Big South Conference inrushing defense, and was secondin the categories of fewest totalyards and points allowed. The6-1, 240-pound middle linebackerled the hard-hitting unit with11 tackles for loss, and he mighthave led the team in tackles hadhe not been knocked out of theseason opener at Wake Forestwith a concussion and forced tosit out the next game, too.As it is, Sigmon earned All-BigSouth Conference first-team honors,and his best performancemay have come in the Flames’signature win, a 28-14 upsetof 6th-ranked Stony Brook lastmonth that earned Liberty (6-5overall, 5-1 BSC) a share of theconference title.Sigmon had nine tackles, eightsolo, in that game, forced a fumble,had two tackles for loss, andhauled a key interception back21 yards for a touchdown earlyin the third quarter that put LUup 21-7. The Flames saw CoastalCarolina get the Big South’s FootballChampionship Series playoffSigmon: ‘I try to be as physical as I can out there. Once you put thatinto your opponent then it makes it easier as the game goes’bid through tiebreakers but theLU future is bright next year. Sigmonis one of eight all-conferenceFlames who will return for coachTurner Gill, who will be headinginto his second season on top inthe Hill City.Gill has the previous coachingregime, especially head coachDanny Rocco, now at Richmond,to thank for landing his defensiveringleader out of Roanoke.Sigmon’s stock was going upPhotos courtesy of Liberty Universityat Northside as hemiddle linebackerhelped coach Burtand quickly saw advantages.Torrence’s Viking“Last yearreclamation project,taking the team tothe state title in 2009,during Sigmon’s seniorseason.Sigmon was on theUniversity of Virginia’sradar but whenthen-coach Al Grohwith three linemen,you’re taking on aguard or tackle everyplay,” he explains.“With the 4-3, it reallyhelps the linebackers.You really knowwhere your gaps areand it allows you towas fired in Charlottesville,he was aplay fast.”Nick SigmonNobody talkslinebacker lost in the shuffle. EnterRocco and an appealing salespitch. “Early on in recruiting,Coach Rocco just made a strongconnection with me and that’swhat sold me on (Liberty),” recallsSigmon.Sigmon speaks highly of all hiscoaches, starting with Torrenceand continuing with Rocco’s defensivestaff and now Gill’s. CurrentLiberty linebackers coachCarl Torbush, the former headcoach at the University of NorthCarolina, has also taken a shineto the one-man Roanoke WreckingCrew.“Nick Sigmon is a prototypeMike (middle) linebacker, veryaggressive, very physical,” saysthe veteran coach. “He’s a guythat maybe you see him in streetclothes you’re not very impressed.But you put him in pads and hestill runs the same speed. He hasa chance to be a heck of a footballplayer before he leaves here.”Crusty old coaches often useabout Sigmon’s speed — and admittedlythere’s probably a reasonfor that — although if youmeasure his read and reactiontime through contact with an unluckyballcarrier, he’s probably asfast as any defender in the FCS.Listen to him break down bustingballcarriers:“That’s one of the biggest things— your mind. A middle linebackerhas to have great instincts toknow where the ball is going, howyou need to get there while takingon a block and also being ableto read a ballcarrier at the sametime.”Sigmon has those requisiteskills though nobody is buyingthat his down-time addiction tovideo games is really helping hisread-and-react instincts, like heclaims.Though who would dispute ahard-hitting middle linebacker inanything he says?Sigmon has been playing linebackersince pee wee footballunderstatement to underscore and he has honed his skills overtheir top players’ talents. There’slittle doubt that Sigmon is alreadya heck of a player, and that’s afterjust one year in defensive coordinatorRobert Wimberly’s 4-3 defense.Sigmon was second-teamall-conference in 2011, throwninto the fray as a redshirt freshmanin the team’s old 3-4 alignment.He started all 11 games andwas third on the team with 60tackles and second with 7.5 tacklesfor loss.the long haul. Still, it wasn’t untillater in his high school careerat Northside, where he was alldistrictthree times, Blue RidgeDistrict Player of the Year, Region3 Co-Defensive Player of the Year,Timesland Defensive Player ofthe Year and first team all-state,that Sigmon started thinking collegefootball was his ticket.He had always excelled inbaseball, too, but found footballwas his true calling. Again, Tor-He loved the change to the 4-3this year, where he became a trueSee SIGMON, Page 17

16 Play By Play DECEMBER 17, 2012Hollins basketballis upward boundby Bo LucasJasmineGreene wasODAC Rookieof the Yearin 2010, herfreshmanyearThe prosperity of theHollins University basketballteam is on the rise. Under theleadership of third-year coachJim Phillips, the team has madesignificant improvements duringhis tenure. Last season Hollinsposted 10 wins, including eight inODAC competition.At Hollins, student-athletes arestudents first and then athletes.It’s an approach embraced by students,professors, administratorsand coaches. Hollins is known forexcellent academic opportunitiesfor women, as evidenced bynoteworthy accomplishments ofmany alumnae.Incremental improvementsby the basketball team have attractedattention around campus.Hollins Athletic Director DavidZinn says, “It is rewarding to seethe continued growth and improvementof the team. The programhas made great strides overthe past few seasons and I am excitedabout the potential for ourcontinuing to be competitive in avery tough conference.”Hollins’ upset of Randolph-Macon in the final game of 2011-12 left them in a three-way tiefor the final spot in the conferencetournament. However, theODAC tiebreaker procedure didnot work in Hollins’ favor andthey did not make the tournamentfield.There were positives to focuson, however. They had defeatedone of the power teams in theODAC when that was the only waythey could have advanced. Theyhad put their minds to the task athand and delivered on their partof equation. But they also learneda valuable lesson from this fickleincongruity — every game is im-Bo Lucas photosportant. They need to bring thatsame level of intensity to eachgame.“We’ve got to take care of business,”Phillips says. “That’s thething about our conference —we’re so strong. The first game isjust as important as the last. Andthat was a good lesson for ourkids. Never take any games off.”This Hollins crew is working ona good strategy to take their gameto the next level, even though thisyear’s team started slowly at 1-5.“Preseason and out-of-seasonwe have a volunteer practice,”Phillips says, “and our captainslead that. They do a great job. Weprobably had 98 percent participation.“We want toget better everyday. That’sour first outlook.We don’trate our successon winsor losses. Werate our successon whatwe produce onthe floor, andhow we play. Ifwe do the rightthings basketball-wisethengoing off thecourt we aresuccessful.“Our goal isto always bethe hardestworkingteamin the ODAC. Ifyou put in thework you’re goingto be successful.YouCoach Jim Phillips strategizes with the Hollins teamduring a timeout. Assistant coaches Wes Blessard(in the black jacket) and Nicci Moats (in the graysweater) offer support as they listen intentlycan’t be thesame playertoday that youwere yesterday.You have to bebetter each day — as a person, asa teammate and as a player. Oursaying is, ‘Play how you practice.’If you get in the face of your teammateat practice you’re makingthem better everyday. We wantour practices to be harder thanany competition we’re going tohave in a game.”Phillips’ longtime assistantcoach, Wes Blessard, has workedwith him through high schooland AAU basketball. They sharea similar coaching philosophy:you can’t shortcut the road to improvement.Everything has to bekept in the proper perspective.“I preach to all of my recruitsfamily comes first; educationcomes second; then your basketball,”Phillips says.Blessard concurs. “Coachingat Hollins is very rewarding becausethe athletes that play hereare also academic,” he says. “Thisyear’s team is very talented, andovercoming some early illnessand injury has helped us buildthe depth needed to win in theODAC tournament.”First-year assistant coach NicciMoats brings a strong pedigree tothe program. While playing forLord Botetourt High School, shehelped lead the Cavaliers to consecutiveGroup AA state semifinalsand to a runner-up finish inthe state tournament her seniorseason.Moats was a University of Tennesseerecruit and joined a PatSummitt team that ultimatelywon the 2007 NCAA title. After amedical leave limited her freshmanseason at UT, Moats optedto play basketball where the pressurewasn’t so intense. She transferredto JMU and then moved toRoanoke College. Moats establisheda couple of single-seasonrecords while playing for the Maroons.Moats also coached basketballfor a season at Roanoke Catholic.“We have a group of hardworkingladies that, thus far, havemade my first year as assistantcoach exciting, challenging, andmost of all fun for me,” Moatssays.“I look for our ladies to challengeteams in the ODAC this year.We have been the underdogs inthe past and I think that we havethe potential to do somethinggreat. The variety and diversityof our girls creates challenges forother teams with match-ups so Iam excited to see how our seasongoes and how the girls respond tothe challenges.”Who are the key players forthe upcoming season? “ActuallyI have to mention all of them,”Phillips offers without hesitation.“I think that they’re all going tocontribute.“My two guards are pretty good— Jasmine (Greene) and Laci(Forrest). Chanci (Wright) as ajunior in the post is a real workhorse.Lauren Hays, another girlSee HOLLINS, Page 17

DECEMBER 17, 2012 Play By Play 17HollinsFrom Page 16from Texas, is going to dogreat things for us. She’sjust a sophomore. AndRachael (Crowder) fromParry McCluer has donea great job.“Mackenzie (Miller)from Florida is good, andKelly Maxey from LoudounCounty is doing areal good job as back-uppoint guard. Auburn(Smith) from Las Vegashas the potential to be one of thebest freshmen in the league. BetweenAlexia (Smith) from Barboursvilleand Ella (Oakley) fromAustralia, they do a real good job.“I’m just tickled to have the opportunityto coach this group ofkids, because they all work extremelyhard and have boughtinto my system, and what I believein.”Senior guard Greene has alreadymade an impact in theODAC. She was selected as the2009-10 ODAC Rookie of the Year.She was named second-teamAll-ODAC for the past two years.EnglishFrom Page 18lish’s life’s calling. Jason Perduewas one of those young peopleback in 1972.“He was fresh out of Ap Stateand I played on his basketballteam at Northside Middle,” Perduesays. “He came along at atime when I needed a male rolemodel that wasn’t a family member.That’s [how] I would creditJerry; he understands the needfor young people to be able toforge a relationship with an adultwho was not a family member.”Perdue and English remainclose friends.“He was in my wedding,” Perduesays.When English was told hewould be this year’s Hall of Fameinductee, he asked Perdue to introducehim.“I’ve had some honors in mylife, but I think being asked to introduceJerry English at the HallChanci Wright (No. 13) of Hollins worksfor inside position against BridgewaterGreene has established singleseasonschool records for mostpoints, most assists and mostshots. She began this season infifth place on the all-time scoringlist (1,274 points). She likely willbreak Brandi Cochran’s recordof 1,480 set from 2001-05.Phillips keeps an eye on hisplayers’ academic progress. “Isend grade checks with thema couple of times a semester tomake sure their grades are wherethey need to be, because ultimatelythat’s where they’re goingto make their living from. Basketballis great but when it comesrence was his inspiration, convincinghim he had the rightstuff as he talked a whole teaminto that state championship runwith subtle tweaks like settingthe team banquet date after thetitle game even before Northsidestarted winning.“I give Coach Torrence thatcredit, he made me believe,” saysSigmon.A kinesiology major with a minorin education, Sigmon sayshe enjoys walking the Libertydown to it, they’re here for theeducation.“That’s why it’s so easy for meto recruit. You can’t get a bettereducation than you get here. It’stop-notch. I’ve had two daughtersthat came through here. One is analumna and the other is going tograduate this year.”Tamara Phillips, a formerteammate of Moats at Botetourt,is the third-leading scorer in Hol-SigmonFrom Page 15lins history. She holds severalHollins basketball records, includingmost 3-point field goalsin a season and in a career.“We’re very family-orientedand we’re going to win or losewith my Hollins girls,” Phillipssays. “That’s just the way we dothings.“I’m excited about being here.It’s always been my dream tocoach college level.”campus in his football gear becauseso many students wantto stop and talk about the gameand team. He’s thinking coachingfootball might be in his futureand not just because of the freegear. First, Sigmon has a seniorseason to focus on before plottingpost-grad plans.“We should be really good nextyear,” he says. “We’ve got a goodgroup of guys.”And despite his penchant forputting opponents into the turf,Sigmon is one of the good guys.Who’s going to argue?of Fame ranks up there as one ofthe tops,” Perdue says.“The great thing is his commitmentto helping kids make it toadulthood with something. He’svery positive. One of those peoplethat people want to know. WhenJerry says something you knowhe means it. He’s genuine and authentic.”Perdue says English is alwayspositive with kids, even as a basketballcoach where emotionscan get high.English was Northside’s headbasketball coach in the early ’80s.He also coached Hollins Collegefor five years.Leading a team, English says,is great, but success still dependson the team itself. That’s the approachhe’s had all his life.“Once you’re a coach you’realways a coach,” English says.“I would not be in this positionif it wasn’t for these teams.” Theteams he refers to were mentionedin his induction speech.The first is the Hall of Fame committee,board of directors, golfpros and the people who make itall possible. The second team isthe schools, mainly his longtimeemployer, the county school division.English then cited themedia for its help and support.English has close friends in themedia and was even a mediamember himself for nearly 20years as the color analyst for JimCarroll on high school basketballbroadcasts. The Don Hollidaygroup was his fourth team,and the fifth team, though by nomeans the last, is his family.“I don’t do this alone,” Englishsays.Golf even opened doors forEnglish after retiring by givinghim a boost in a second career.Once driving back from TheGreenbrier with the late Al Pollard,the conversation turned toa side project English had startedas a DJ. Pollard asked him tocome to his restaurant, 419 West,and play tunes. Now English isan in-demand DJ who has playedover 60 weddings, works highschool cheerleading competitionsand has a regular Tuesdaynight gig playing beach musicat Billy’s Barn where it’s one oldcoach working with another.It’s a good time for English,even though he says he’s steppedback to let others take the lead inmuch of the golf work he had going.The Hall of Fame recognitionis very humbling, he says.As for the fact he’s a contributorto the game more than a player,that distinction only adds tothe honor, English says. “I wouldrather get this honor knowingthat I had a small part in helpingraise close to a million dollars forhundreds of high school and collegestudents than be known formy golfing prowess any day. I’msure others would, too.”

DECEMBER 17, 2012 Play By Play 19Maryland’s move ACCording to MikeIreportedon Facebookthat the pairings for next year’sACC/Big Ten Challenge wereout…and Maryland would playitself.Funny line? I tell you: coversports long enough and you’ll developa sense of humor. And thatbrings me to Big Ten expansion.SIDELINESby MikeAshleyFirst, if you haven’t noticed, there are a lot more than 10 teams andsoon one of them will be Maryland, which helped found the AtlanticCoast Conference back in 1953 and has been playing Tobacco Roadteams every year since, more or less. That is until the ACC raided theNot-So-Big East and took a couple of their marquee teams (Hello, Hokies!)and pretty much ruined the whole round-robin basketball schedulethat had made the league must-see TV for so long for so many of us.(“Sail with the Pilot all the way, So get on board the Pilot ship today!”)Jim Thacker and Billy Packer were in my living room more oftenthan most of my relatives. We got a couple of games on Saturday, oneevery now and then on a weekday night and then the tournament. Andwe liked it that way.The ACC Tournament was such a big deal! One of the bestthings about my first car — the 1976 flesh-toned Vega — wasthat I got to duck out of school early the opening day of the ACCTournament so I didn’t miss even the first game. The ACC Tournamentwas that important. My commitment to seventh-periodclasses? Not so much.I considered football a non-revenue sport in the ACC though Iwas enough of an ACColyte to rejoice in Clemson’s national titlein 1981.I agonized over “Black Sunday” in 1979, when top-seededCarolina and second-seeded Duke both lost early in the NCAATournament, not that most of us would even concede back then that theNCAA Tournament was as big a deal as the ACC Tournament.I remember how strange it was when Georgia Tech joined in 1979,and how truly dreadful the Yellow Jackets were. Anyone rememberBrook Steppe? Then Bobby Cremins changed all that, not long afterJim Valvano and Mike Krzyzewski changed fortunes at a couple ofother schools you may remember. Krzyzewski, of course, succeededDean Smith as ACC Supervisor of Officials.Ahhh, the memories, the memories.And that’s what sports from that era are — because it’s a whole differentlandscape now. I had a tough time coming to grips with this butbecause of TV’s dominance, schools don’t have to play each other in aregional, geographic footprint, which seems to really have come at aninopportune time for Virginia Tech, which couldn’t get an invite to thelocal ACC party for so long.The Hokies have dominated ACC football since Virginia let them inthe ACC, and thanks to stacks of TV money, football runs the show. Thathasn’t been so good for basketball-based leagues like the ACC and theArtists Formerly Known as the Big East who now have conference tournamentbrackets that look like airport arrival and departure boards.Conference basketball tournaments at the BCS schools don’t meana lot now unless you are one of the 200 or so teams “on the bubble” atthe end of a crappy regular season. I say this because I can get presscredentials for the ACC Tournament and I actually dread the first dayof the event.And here’s a revelation for some — and the reason I often get askedmy take on the Terrapins — I actually live in Northern Virginia andcover Maryland for Terrapin Times (and anybody else that will pay me).I’m on Baltimore radio as a “basketball expert” but mostly because theylike to hear my southern accent.I’m like Jethro Bodine in the big city. I tell people all the time in regardsto the Capital Beltway, that back where I’m from in Salem, the innerloop is East Main Street and the outer loop is Fourth Street.But I got on the Terps beat about the time Gary Williams had a coupleof Final Four teams and Ralph Friedgen came back to his alma materand showed ’em how to win football games again. It has been a fun ridefor a kid that grew up loving the ACC.And that’s why I’ve been a little surprised at my own reaction toMaryland packing its bags. I don’t seem to have a whole lot of regret.Duke and Carolina aren’t rolling in here every year for basketball,and even Virginia Tech doesn’t play Maryland regularly in football orbasketball. I’ll miss my sports-media buddies at Tech and UVa, but Ikind of like the idea of seeing some new teams.Apparently so do Terp fans who certainly haven’t been showing upregularly to see any ACC foes. They don’t come out in force for anyone infootball and only — you guessed it — Duke and Carolina in basketball.Of course, the ACC has set the schedule to feature the Duke-Carolinagames and ESPN had decided it’s the only game that matters, at leastwhen they aren’t able to debate around the clock what kind of socksTim Tebow is wearing.Maryland has had so much trouble turning a buckin athletics recently that this year the athletic departmentaxed seven varsity sports. So when theBig Ten came calling with nearly $8 million a yearmore in TV revenue, yeah, the Terps were listening.I’m also hearing there’s an upfront paymentthat has the accountants on campus smiling butno one is talking about because Rutgers and Nebraskadidn’t get similar deals. Of course they don’tbring the potential TV audience the Washington-Baltimore market does, either.And that’s another thing. In the ACC televisionpackage, it was often hard to watch a Maryland football game locally.They just weren’t on television. Sell that in recruiting.Of course, it was also hard at times to watch them play football recently,too. But you can’t compete when NBC is to Notre Dame as ESPN3is to Maryland. Oh, and the Terrapin powers-that-be weren’t particularlyenamored with the addition of Notre Dame — but not adding NotreDame football to the league.Yeah, there’s an academic component with the Big Ten’s consortiumand blah, blah, blah. Read The Chronicle of Higher Education for coverageon that. The more they say it’s not about the money, the more it’sabout the money.I hate to sound cynical but…enough money and you can go buy somenew tradition. What you can’t buy is the ACC I grew up with. Well, thatand your way through traffic on the Beltway.COTY CONNECTIONSSocial Mediafor SMallBuSineSSPlease call or email us today to start connecting with more customers!leslie coty • 540-588-0117leslie@cotyconnections.com • www.cotyconnections.comTwitter.com/LeslieCoty • Facebook.com/CotyConnections • LinkedIn.com/in/LeslieCoty

20 Play By Play DECEMBER 17, 2012The only way we succeedis by achieving together.Teamwork is a great tradition in sports. Kroger’s tradition of serving ourcommunities shows how everyone wins when we are all on the same team.