Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, August 5, 1995 TAG: 9508090011
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
``It was the hardest personnel decision I've ever had to make,'' said Virginia coach George Welsh after announcing Friday that Symmion Willis will not participate in preseason drills.
Willis, a fifth-year senior, wanted to play quarterback and declined Welsh's invitation to move to wide receiver.
``He would have come back if I had allowed him to compete at quarterback,'' Welsh said, ``but I told him that was not in the best interest of the team.
``We finally resolved it [Friday morning]. There was no sense in him hanging around if I wasn't going to give him enough time at quarterback. That was the bottom line.''
Willis set a school record in 1993, when he passed for 2,347 yards, and he remained the starter last year until injuries and the emergence of classmate Mike Groh relegated him to the bench.
Willis skipped spring practice and played baseball after being informed by Welsh that he could not unseat Groh. Willis will remain on football scholarship but play only baseball this year.
``That's fine with me,'' Welsh said. ``He's given us a lot of good years. It's just the way things turned out.''
More than anything, Welsh was reluctant to have two fifth-year quarterbacks at the top of the depth chart. Last year's No. 3 quarterback, Tim Sherman, has attempted seven passes in his college career.
``I had to get some work for Sherman and [Aaron] Brooks,'' Welsh said. ``When you've got four quarterbacks, in some ways you don't have any. But I think Willis could have helped us at wideout.
``If he had two years left, I wouldn't have let him [leave]. If Groh goes down in preseason, I may have to call him.''
by CNB