Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, August 5, 1995 TAG: 9508090012
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
``I think I'm a lot farther along than anybody expected,'' Barber, a sophomore from Cave Spring High School, said Friday. ``I'm about 75 to 80 percent; I'm happy to be where I am.
``You don't want to be the guy sitting on the sidelines while your teammates are practicing. I'd much rather be out there and getting [first-game opponent] Michigan down.''
A NEW IDENTITY: Nobody was confusing Ronde Barber with his twin, running back Tiki, who shaved his head and now outweighs his brother 195-180 after a summer in the weight room.
Tiki Barber and the other running backs couldn't be happier about UVa's decision to pull up the artificial surface at Scott Stadium and replace it with grass.
``Personally, I felt you had to run a little scared because of the turf,'' said Tiki Barber, who rushed for 591 yards last season. ``You knew, any time you made a cut, that it could result in disaster.''
TAYLOR IN SHAPE: Freshman quarterback Shannon Taylor reported at 230 pounds, down from 245 when he visited UVa last winter, and had 10-percent body fat.
Taylor played at Patrick Henry High in Roanoke, where he wore No. 12. UVa retired that number in honor of former ACC player of the year Shawn Moore, so Taylor took No. 9.
ODDS AND ENDS: Defensive lineman Maurice Anderson, who enrolled for the second semester and started in the spring game, is not listed on the roster. Although he confirmed there had been academic problems, coach George Welsh indicated that Anderson's status is still uncertain ... Derick Byrd, who had 13 receptions last season as a reserve wide receiver, underwent arthroscopic knee surgery that may cause him to miss UVa's opener, Aug. 26, at Michigan.
by CNB