Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, October 4, 1995 TAG: 9510040100
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
Wide receiver Pete Allen is doing a ``little'' bit of everything for Virginia's football team, which only stands to reason.
Allen, listed at 5 feet 10 and 150 pounds, is the smallest player to receive a scholarship for the Cavaliers in coach George Welsh's 14-year tenure.
``I got on the scale last week and, actually, I weighed 156,'' said Allen, who has started 38 of 41 games during his college career. ``I don't know why people keep writing that I'm 148 or something.''
That's like calling a junior middleweight a welterweight.
Yet, even Welsh was surprised by reports Allen has put on 8 pounds during his UVa career.
``No! Oh, really?'' Welsh said. ``I've been asking him to gain weight for four years now.''
For almost that long Allen has been asking for the football. This year, his wishes have been granted, although not exactly in the intended manner.
Allen not only ranks second on the team in receptions, with 14, but he has become the Cavaliers' principal kickoff-return man. In Saturday's 35-17 victory over Wake Forest, he took a reverse and raced 49 yards for a touchdown on his first rushing attempt of the season.
It was Allen's first touchdown since he caught a scoring pass last year against Duke - a span of 10 games.
``Man, I was beginning to wonder if I would ever score again,'' he said.
Allen caught three touchdown passes in the first two games of his freshman year in 1992, but only had three more touchdown catches in 38 succeeding games before Sept.23.
``After my first couple of games, when I caught those touchdown passes, I kind of expected to score,'' he said. ``When I stopped getting the ball, it confused me more than anything.''
Allen did not have more than 18 receptions in any of his first three seasons with the Cavaliers, a small contribution for a player whose choice of colleges came down to Virginia and Penn State.
``I thought about taking a redshirt year, putting on as much weight as I could and moving to corner,'' said Allen, who played as a ``true'' freshman. ``I think I was a sophomore at the time. The other players had suggested it to me.''
That was news to Welsh.
``He could play defense,'' he said. ``He'll hit you. He's a good tackler.
``He's an animated guy who's good to have on the team. He's always bouncing around, always has a smile on his face.''
Penn State wanted Allen as a cornerback, although he didn't play the position in high school. He hadn't played wide receiver, either, but Allen knew he would be changing positions after playing quarterback in a wishbone offense at Granby High School in Norfolk.
``When I first got here, I didn't want to play wide receiver,'' he said. ``I didn't want to tell anyone, but I had never caught the ball before. I'd never run a route. I'd never lined up on the flank and gone out for a pass, but I got used to it. It grew on me.''
Allen never had returned kickoffs until last year, when Ronde Barber was injured and Welsh went searching for somebody who could catch the ball.
``I knew those kickoff returns were a chance for me to get the ball,'' Allen said. ``I remember my first one: I caught the ball on the [right] side of the field and ended up going out of bounds on the [left] side. I was just running.
``They've got some crazy people on [kick coverage]. Those boys are running downfield 100 miles per hour, screaming and yelling. But, I was like, `This is OK,' because get me in the open field and I can make people miss all day. I guess that was what I needed.''
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
by CNB