HOUSE TO VISIT NITRO GRID PRACTICE

Publication: THE SUNDAY GAZETTE-MAIL
Published: 08/03/1997
Page: P1D
Headline: HOUSE TO VISIT NITRO GRID PRACTICE
Byline: NOT AVAIALBLE

FROM STAFF REPORTS

J.R. House, who won the Kennedy Award as a sophomore last season with
Nitro High School, will be with the Wildcats when they open practice
Monday. But Nitro fans shouldn't hold their collective breaths
awaiting House's permanent return.

"Basically, he's just going to hang out,' said Nitro coach Robert
Burdette Saturday. "He won't be practicing in an official capacity
this week. We're not going to take reps away from anyone.'

"He came by and lifted today [Saturday]. He's in for a week and he's
one of ours. He's just going to hang out with his friends.'

House hasn't made any plans to enroll at Nitro.

"I'm just here to talk to coach [Burdette] and go over some plays,'
said House. "I'm not sure if I'm going to work out with them.'

House, now a junior, transferred from Nitro to Seabreeze High School
in Ormond Beach, Fla., after last football season for family reasons.

"I'm having fun down there,' said House of his new home. "It's going
pretty well.'

Earlier this year, Rodger House told the Gazette that he didn't expect
to his son to come back to West Virginia to play football.

Last year with the Wildcats, House (6-foot-1, 190 lbs) set state
records with 3,641 passing yards and 28 touchdowns.

Burdette isn't worried about potential problems that could arise from
House's visit.

"I told the players that he would be visiting,' said Burdette. "There
is only good things that can happen from him being here. No one has a
problem with it. There won't be any dissention. He's a good kid. He's
a plus to anybody's program.'