Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, October 3, 1995 TAG: 9510030079
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
``I would like to see the streak end and us still win, frankly,'' said Welsh, the Cavaliers' coach, at his weekly news conference Monday.
``It bothers me because I read somewhere - I haven't asked the players, but I think it's in their minds - that they want to go out there and get it over with. They want to keep the streak alive.''
Welsh said there have been times, most notably in a season-opening 18-17 loss to Michigan, when the Cavaliers would have been best served by knocking the ball to the ground.
``Not a lot,'' he said, ``but there have been occasions when we should have been going up with one hand and jumping higher. Don't go up there with two if the receiver is going to have a better chance to take it away.''
Welsh may have been reacting to comments made by sophomore cornerback Ronde Barber prior to the Cavaliers' game with Wake Forest.
``Every game before it starts, we're like, `Hey, we've got something to do out here. Let's get it done quick and go on and play the game,''' Barber said.
``It's there. We know it's there. People are keeping track of it, so it's got to be a record or something. When it comes, it's like a relief. I was telling [Joe] Crocker after he got one at Clemson. `There it goes; that's 21 straight.'''
The Cavaliers extended their streak to 22 with a second-quarter interception Saturday by Percy Ellsworth. Wake quarterback Rusty LaRue was 28-of-44 for 277 yards, although 70 of that came on one play.
``I don't know too much about the streak,'' Crocker said Monday. ``The way I've been dropping balls lately, you could say I have been trying to end the streak. I've had hands of stone.''
``You're almost damned if you do and damned if you don't. The way we've always been taught, once the ball's in the air, it belongs as much to us as the receiver. It's our job to turn the ball back to the offense.''
PROLIFIC POINDEXTER: Redshirt freshman Anthony Poindexter, limited to 33 plays from scrimmage Saturday, was credited with a season-high 16 tackles after the coaches graded film.
Poindexter was in for 54 plays, including special teams, despite losing his starting job when linebacker Jamie Sharper returned from arthroscopic knee surgery.
``I don't know what we're going to do with him,'' said Welsh of Poindexter, who began the year as a backup safety, ``and, when I decide, I may not tell anybody.''
INJURIES: Welsh said the Cavaliers took a risk by playing Sharper 18 days after surgery, but 54 plays last Saturday will prepare him for UVa's opponent this week, North Carolina.
Welsh said tight end Bobby Neely remains hobbled by the high ankle sprain that has sidelined him for five games, but said Neely should be available by Oct.14.
``I don't understand it,'' Welsh said, ``but I'm not going to redshirt him unless it's the last two weeks of the season. We need him back; we'll have a better passing game with him.''
STILL SNAPPING: Welsh praised backup tight end Walt Derey for his receiving and also gave Derey a vote of confidence as the Cavaliers' deep snapper.
One of Derey's snaps went over the head of punter Will Brice, resulting in a 36-yard loss, but Welsh said he would not take out an ad for a deep snapper in the student newspaper.
``We did that a year ago,'' Welsh said. ``Those kids were pretty good, but not good enough. We have two really good prospects in the freshman class, but I don't want to use them just for that.
``Dillon Taylor is as good a prospect as we've ever had doing it here. And, then John St.Clair is pretty good. If Neely doesn't come back, maybe we'll have to play St.Clair [at tight end].''
LOCAL UPDATE: Shannon Wilson, the starting quarterback for William Fleming High School in Roanoke last season, was in uniform Saturday as a walk-on wide receiver. ... All-Timesland offensive lineman Jeff Painter from Northside has dropped off the team, at least temporarily, to concentrate on academics.
ODDS AND ENDS: Mike Groh moved into eighth place on UVa's all-time passing list with 3,030 yards - just ahead of the player he once battled for the starting job, Symmion Willis. ... Backup fullback Charles Kirby has been acquitted of charges of assault stemming from an altercation with his girlfriend. ... Welsh has 56 victories in ACC play, second in league history behind Clemson's Frank Howard, who had 66. ... Brice had four punts of 49 yards or longer to go with a season-low 21-yarder against the wind.
by CNB