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Friday, April 3, 1998 Spring Football Notes The big news out of Virginia Tech Spring Football practice this week is that running back Shyrone Stith tore a ligament in his thumb on Wednesday. A decision will be made about whether or not to perform surgery, but regardless of that outcome, Shyrone is out and won't be able to play again until this summer. This has got to be a bummer for Stith, who saw significant playing time as a true freshman in his first three games in 1996. Marcus Parker was suspended for the first four games of 1996, and Ken Oxendine was injured in the opener against Akron that year. Stith stepped in a piled up big rushing yardage against the Zips, and Shyrone then carried the load at tailback in subsequent games against Boston College and Rutgers. When Ken Oxendine returned in the next game, and Parker was reinstated to the team, Stith slid down the depth chart and disappeared. Last year, with Lamont Pegues coming on board to back up Oxendine, Stith took a redshirt year. So it has been over a year and a half since we've seen significant playing time from Shyrone. Although the common assumption among Tech fans is that Lamont Pegues will be Tech's starting tailback next year, I'm not so sure. Privately, Tech coaches have been talking up Stith, and many of those in the know are saying that it's actually Stith, not Pegues, who has the inside track on starting at the tailback slot next year. I think it's a safe assumption to say that the two were at least tied going into this spring, which was going to be a big one for both running backs. With Stith out, this gives redshirt sophomore Andre Kendrick and redshirt freshman Wayne Ward a chance to get noticed. Kendrick, who is undersized at only 5-7 and about 180 pounds, has reportedly been working hard and putting forth the maximum effort. We've seen very little of Kendrick in game situations, but what we have seen has been impressive. Andre brings energy and effort to the game. Does anybody here remember Ranall White? White was a tailback who finished his career in 1994 third on the depth chart behind Oxendine and Dwayne Thomas, so he never got to play much. But when he did get the ball handed to him, he ran like a madman, to the point where you couldn't help but notice him. Although he never made much of a splash on the field, he was a classy guy, a hard worker, and a fan favorite. Kendrick reminds me of Ranall White. From what I've seen in games, he goes flat-out all the time, and you have to respect the effort he puts into it. John Hale, of Sportstalk With John Hale on 710 A.M. in Christiansburg, told me yesterday that Kendrick, a great athlete, will be given a chance to return kicks. But the point is, with Stith out, Kendrick, along with Ward, has a rare chance to step up and be noticed by the coaches and the fans. This fall, when Stith is healthy and Lee Suggs and Keith Burnell arrive, there will be a massive logjam of talent at tailback, and Kendrick may get lost in the numbers. That's too bad, because I'm starting to like the guy, and I'm looking forward to watching him this spring. I have been told that a scrimmage is scheduled for 1:00 tomorrow (Saturday the 4th) at Lane Stadium. I can't make it, but I'm counting on a few of you to show up and report on the message board.
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