Marty Gordon
There’s a shortage of high school officials in almost every sport. Iin a recent posting from the Virginia High School League (VHSL) in some communities the shortage is critical, and high school games are being either postponed or canceled. The NFHS has launched a campaign to address this called #BecomeAnOfficial.
Already, the VHSL has said some Friday night football games might be switched to Saturday or Thursdays because of the lack of official numbers.
This is nothing new as the program popped up two years ago. Older officials are retiring and there simply not enough young ones stepping forward. In some cases, this past year some games were not fully staffed because of the problem.
Scholarship numbers to rise
The NCAA is moving forward with a plan to approve an increase in scholarships for multiple sports. Earlier this week, a subcommittee that included power conference commissioners decided to increase Division I football from 85 to 105 scholarships. Basketball would go from 13 to 15, baseball from 11 to 34, softball from 12 to 25, and volleyball from 12 to 18.
The change would take effect in the 2025-2025 school year.
E&H football coach resigns
Due to health concerns, Curt Newsome, who has served Emory & Henry as head football coach for the past 10 years, announced on Tuesday, that he is stepping down, effective immediately. Additionally, assistant coach and offensive coordinator, Quintin Hunter, has been appointed interim head coach for the 2024 season.
In 10 years as Emory & Henry’s head football coach, Newsome compiled a 53-42 record with six winning seasons. He was named the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2014 after leading the Wasps to an 8-2 record and took the team to the ODAC Championship game in the spring of 2021.
Newsome became the 20th head coach in program history in January of 2014 after spending 15 years at the Division I level. He coached at James Madison University for eight years (1999-05, ’13), helping lead the Dukes to the 2004 FCS National Championship. Between his two stints in Harrisonburg, Newsome was an offensive line coach at Virginia Tech for seven seasons (2006-12). During that time, the Hokies won three Atlantic Coast Conference Championships in four years (2007, 2008, 2010).
E&H officially D-II
Emory & Henry College will be a full NCAA Division II member in the upcoming 2024-25 academic year, NCAA officials announced Thursday afternoon. The announcement was made following the completion of annual reporting by E&H and deliberation by the membership committee. College officials learned of the news on Thursday morning during a conference call with the NCAA.
“The news that we have been fully admitted to Division II status is the result of great teamwork and in particular the efforts of Dr. Anne Crutchfield and the rest of the athletics administration,” commented Dr. John W. Wells, President of the College. “Moving to Division II elevates the entire institution. This is another great day at Emory & Henry.”
Over the past three years of realignment from Division III to Division II, Emory & Henry has seen historic growth as an institution. Enrollment has reached unprecedented heights at both the undergraduate and graduate levels including significant increases in campus diversity. E&H has also made investments in its infrastructure with the construction and renovations of several residence halls, the renovation of Carriger Hall as the home of the School of Business and the construction of the Food City Sports Complex at Interstate 81.
Auburn grad honored
The Emory & Henry College Women’s Tennis Team has seen three players named Scholar-Athletes by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, ITA officials announced Tuesday. Additionally, the team was recognized as an ITA All-Academic Team. The individual list included Molly McMichael of Riner (Auburn High School).
ITA Scholar-Athletes must be a varsity letterwinner and carry at least a 3.50 grade point average (on a 4.00 scale) for the current academic year. Additionally, each student-athlete must be enrolled at their present school for at least two semesters. To be an ITA All-Academic Team, the cumulative team grade point average must exceed 3.20 for the current academic year.
The ITA is the governing body of college tennis and oversees men’s and women’s varsity tennis at NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA and Junior/Community College divisions. The ITA administers a comprehensive awards and rankings program for men’s and women’s varsity players, coaches and teams in all divisions, providing recognition for their accomplishments on and off the court.
Drones, Tuten on watch list
Virginia Tech quarterback Kyron Drones and running back Bhayshul Tuten have been named to the watch list for the Maxwell Award, presented annually to the college football player judged by a panel of sportscasters, sportswriters, National Collegiate Athletic Association head coaches and members of the Maxwell Football Club to be the best all-around in the United States.
Drones (6-2, 234) threw for 2,085 yards and 17 touchdowns last season against only three interceptions. The redshirt junior from Pearland, Texas also rushed for 818 yards and five scores. Drones took over as the starter in Week 3 last fall at Rutgers and led Tech to a big turnaround over the final eight games, going 5-3 in the ACC to become bowl-eligible.
Drones set a Virginia Tech bowl record and Military Bowl record with 176 rushing yards in a 41-20 win over Tulane. He also passed for 91 yards and two touchdowns and was named Military Bowl MVP.
Tuten (5-11, 209) rushed for 863 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, averaging five yards per carry. The senior from Paulsboro, New Jersey tallied 239 receiving yards and two TDs. Tuten made a huge impact on special teams, returning 19 kicks for 550 yards and two touchdowns. He was one of five FBS players to record two-plus kick return touchdowns.
Tuten’s 1,633 all-purpose yards in 2023 helped him earn several post-season accolades including, third team All-ACC running back, second team All-ACC all-purpose back, as well as All-American kick returner honors from Phil Steele, The Sporting News, and College Football Network.
