The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Today's Sports Front

Related Photos

  • Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III salutes the crowd as he walks off the field with a twisted knee during the second half of their NFC wild card game against the Seattle Seahawks last Sunday in Landover, Md. RG3 will be the guest speaker for the Big Atlantic Classic Tip-Off Banquet on Sunday, Jan. 27, at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center.

    RG3
January 12, 2013

RG3 coming to Beckley

Washington Redskins’ rookie QB to speak at Big Atlantic Classic

By Cam Huffman Sports Editor

BECKLEY — The nation’s most talked about knee, and the rest of the world class athlete that goes with it, will be in Beckley later this month as part of the Big Atlantic Classic basketball tournament.

Tournament director Jim Justice confirmed Friday, while on a grouse hunting trip with his bird dog Lilly, that Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III will be the speaker for the annual tip-off banquet for the Big Atlantic Classic on Jan. 27 at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center.

“This is big for us,” said Justice, who has brought in names like Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, Terry Bradshaw, Shaquille O’Neal and Tim Tebow in past years. “He’s surely one of the most popular sports figures today, and he’s somebody I think the kids (participating in the tournament) will identify with. That’s what the Big Atlantic Classic is all about.”

RG3, as he’s widely known, first gained popularity as the 2011 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback of the Baylor Bears. He threw for more than 10,000 yards in his four-year college career, which included a shortened season in 2009 because of a knee injury, as well as rushing for 2,199. He accounted for 110 total collegiate touchdowns and broke nearly 20 school records.

The 22-year-old signal caller really became an icon in his rookie season in the NFL, leading the Redskins to a 10-6 record. After starting 3-6, Washington won its final seven regular season games to clinch a spot in the playoffs. Griffin threw for 3,200 yards and rushed for 815. He threw 20 touchdown passes, compared to just five interceptions, and rushed for seven more scores.

The No. 2 overall pick in last year’s NFL Draft made the 2013 Pro Bowl, the lone non-specialist rookie on the roster.

Griffin’s season didn’t end like he wanted, though. Facing the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC wild card game, Griffin reinjured his knee, which he originally hurt in an overtime win over the Baltimore Ravens on Dec. 9.

The Redskins went on to lose 24-14, and Griffin had surgery repairing both his LCL and ACL this Wednesday. He has not made any public comments since.

The surgery, by all accounts, was successful, but Griffin is still facing a long rehab process and the date of his return to the field is in question.

Justice, who had spoken to Griffin about coming to Beckley before the injury, said he was concerned that the surgery may spoil the plans to get Griffin to West Virginia, but he was able to contact the quarterback through Dr. James Andrews, Justice’s close friend and the surgeon who repaired Griffin’s injured knee. Justice said Andrews, Griffin and Redskins owner Daniel Snyder were all together when Griffin agreed to confirm his appearance, which Justice expects will be one of his first following the surgery.

“I would expect ESPN and everything to be there,” said Justice. “This may be his first public appearance since the injury.”

Dinner will begin at 12:30 p.m., with the program featuring Griffin beginning at 1:30 p.m. Tickets for dinner and the speaker will be $40. There will also be balcony seating for those who just want to hear the speaker. The doors will open at 1 p.m. for those ticket holders, and the cost will be $7.50 for adults and $2.50 for students.

The tickets will be on sale at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center beginning Monday. They can also be purchased online at www.beckleyconventioncenter.com or by calling 1-888-695-0888.

“We’ve had some incredible speakers,” said Justice. “But this may be one of the biggest and the one the kids are excited about the most.”

The Big Atlantic Classic will run Jan. 28 through Feb. 2 and includes middle school boys, middle school girls, high school boys and high school girls competition.

On the high school level, Bluefield, Westside, Tygarts Valley, Valley, Greenbrier West, Moorefield, Wyoming East, Robert C. Byrd, Hampshire, Morgantown, Elkins, Parkersburg South, Point Pleasant, Woodrow Wilson and Lewis County will all participate, along with Justice’s undefeated Greenbrier East team.

Justice also coaches the defending Class AAA champion Greenbrier East girls, currently ranked No. 1 in the state. They’ll be in competition with Parkersburg South, Nicholas County, Preston, George Washington, St. Albans, University and Westside in the girls bracket of the Big Atlantic Classic.

There will also be a boys national game pitting national No. 8 Oak Hill Academy and Montrose Christian head-to-head.

— E-mail: chuffman@register-herald.com and follow on Twitter @CamHuffmanRH.

Text Only
Today's Sports Front
  • Bubba.jpg Bubba coming to Greenbrier Classic

    Golf’s two most famous left-handers will both be in White Sulphur Springs next month.

    June 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • Miners return home to face Paints

    Joe Goddard’s days of making the decisions out of a baseball dugout were supposed to be finished.
    The longtime Independence High School coach retired at the end of the 2012 baseball season after an ultra-successful career.

    June 17, 2013

  • Huggins says WVU could be very good team

     Coach Bob Huggins admittedly feels much better about the West Virginia men’s basketball team as it prepares for the 2013-14 season.

    June 17, 2013

  • APTOPIX NBA Finals He_Work.jpg Manu Ginobili sparks Spurs to Game 5 win

    With the old Manu Ginobili back, the San Antonio Spurs looked like champs again.
    One more victory and their Big Three, not Miami's, will be the one that rules the NBA.
    Ginobili broke out of a slump in a big way with 24 points and 10 assists in his first start of the season, and the Spurs beat the Heat 114-104 on Sunday night to take a 3-2 lead.

    June 16, 2013 2 Photos

  • Promotions, giveaways on tap for Miners

    As with any summer baseball franchise, either on the Minor League Baseball system or, like the Miners, on the collegiate level, promotions are an integral part of the whole fan experience. But Pollard said there is also a special relationship created at Epling Stadium.

    Promotions are planned throughout the summer, with many nights themed toward specific groups. For instance, July 3 will be Military Night, with various military vehicles present. Boy and Girl Scouts Night is set for July 8, Emergency Response Night on Aug. 1 and Merchants Night on Aug. 2.

    June 15, 2013

  • Woodrow’s Johnson named North-South MVP

    There’s no doubt Andrew Johnson was a little steamed he was left off of the North-South Basketball roster. Unfortunately for the North Bears football team, Johnson took that aggression out on them.
    The Woodrow Wilson senior led the South Cardinals to a 43-14 victory in the North-South Football Classic in Charleston on Saturday night.

    June 15, 2013

  • South does it again

    Mike D’Antoni. Randy Moss. Tamar Slay. Jerry West. When hoops stars like that have come from your neck of the woods, you better be prepared to bring your A-game.
    That’s exactly what the South side did on Friday night, when the determined and gritty underdogs knocked off the North in the North-South Basketball Classic, 91-82 at the South Charleston Community Center.

    June 15, 2013

  • Greenbrier Classic adds players

    With just 15 days before the start of another Greenbrier Classic, golf fans around the state are itching for some news about which players will be hitting the fairways of The Old White TPC for the fourth-year PGA TOUR event in White Sulphur Springs.
    Tournament director Monte Ortel is just as anxious. One of his main job duties is player recruitment, and he can’t wait to show off the list he has assembled.

    June 15, 2013

  • Derby Dames in Sunday showdown with Chemical Valley

    “You can’t get much closer to Sunday football than Sunday roller derby,” said Beckley Area Derby Dames jammer St. Brawly Girl, No. 7.
    “Bring your father out for the Father’s Day Fallout!”

    June 15, 2013

  • Bloop hits hurt Miners in first game of twin-bill with Paints

    Chicks may dig the long ball, but on some nights just a few well-placed bloop hits can spell more damage than home runs.

    June 15, 2013