Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, October 31, 1995 TAG: 9510310090
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Long
Certainly, nobody was predicting he would accomplish the feat in nine games.
It became such a foregone conclusion, however, that there was absolutely no fanfare when Barber topped the 1,000-yard mark during the first half of Virginia's 17-16 loss at Texas on Oct.21.
``Nobody was thinking about it,'' said Barber, who carried 27 times for 123 yards against the Longhorns. ``I certainly wasn't thinking about it. I was just worried about winning the game.''
It was the sixth time this season Barber has rushed for more than 100 yards and he stands at 1,030 for the season - seventh on UVa's all-time list - with three games to play.
Barber needs to average 65 yards against Florida State, Maryland and Virginia Tech to break Barry Word's record of 1,224 yards, set in 1985. Barber hasn't rushed for fewer than 65 yards in a game this season.
``It's [the UVa record] something that's been in the back of my mind since I started getting the starts,'' said Barber, who did not become a full-time starter until the past month.
Barber was expected to share time with 1995 starter Kevin Brooks, whose practice time was curtailed by an assortment of injuries. By the time Brooks returned to full speed, Barber was entrenched.
``If [Barber] would have shared time, he wouldn't have had it,'' said UVa coach George Welsh, referring to the 1,000 yards. ``Brooks still isn't the Brooks of old, so that's why he's had to carry more of the burden.
``But, from what we saw [of Barber] in preseason, he would have played more than 50 percent of the time. He's gotten better, a lot better. He runs well against everybody. Everybody has trouble tackling him.''
Four of Barber's eight 100-yard games have come against nationally ranked opponents, including Florida State last year, when he had 12 carries for 108 yards in UVa's 41-17 loss in Tallahassee, Fla.
Barber concedes he may have lost some of his breakaway speed, but that has been offset by the strength and durability he gained by adding 15 pounds since last season. He needs only 11 carries to become the sixth back in UVa history to have 200 rushing attempts in a season.
Barber has lost 5 pounds from his early-season high of 195 and concedes nine games have taken their toll, one reason UVa was glad to have an open date before entertaining Florida State on Thursday night.
``It was sweet,'' said Barber, a junior from Cave Spring High School. ``It felt good [Saturday] to wake up and not put on the pads. I'm definitely rested now.
``My body doesn't hurt at all. Before Texas, I was mentally out of it. My body was out of it. It took all I could muster - I guess me and the rest of the team - just to play that game.''
Barber had the added bonus during the off week of moving into second place behind Florida State's Warrick Dunn in the ACC's rushing race. Georgia Tech sophomore C.J. Williams, vying with Barber for a spot on the All-ACC team, was held to 31 yards rushing against Clemson.
``I keep looking at C.J.'s stats and he's helped me out a little bit,'' said Barber, whose twin brother, Ronde, was an All-ACC defensive back last year. ``If I keep having good weeks, it's definitely a possibility.''
THE POLLS: Idle Florida State's drop from No.1 to No.2 in The Associated Press' poll was not viewed as a positive by Virginia, which fell four spots during the off week, from No.20 to No.24.
The Cavaliers are celebrating their 20th consecutive week in the AP Top 25, matching a school record established during the 1989 and '90 seasons. FSU has spent 105 consecutive weeks ranked.
THE SPREAD: Virginia, which has been favored in eight of its first nine games, is a 17-point underdog to Florida State. The Seminoles were 19- and 25-point favorites, respectively, over UVa the past two years in Tallahassee.
The last time that Virginia was an underdog by 17 points or more to somebody other than FSU was in 1989, when Notre Dame was an 181/2-point favorite over the Cavs in the Kickoff Classic. The Fighting Irish won that game 36-13.
INJURIES: Welsh confirmed cornerback Joe Crocker, who has a dislocated toe, will be replaced in the lineup by sophomore Joe Williams, who will be making his first regular-season start.
``I have a lot of confidence in Joe,'' said Welsh, who started Williams in the Independence Bowl against Texas Christian. ``I think he's a really good football player. Every time we've had him in there, he's played well.''
nWalt Derey will start at tight end for UVa, but one-time regular Bobby Neely will be available after missing two games with a dislocated shoulder. ... Center Dave Gathman, another former starter, will dress for the first time after Sept.12 knee surgery. ... Freshman Anthony Poindexter, who has played safety and linebacker, did not practice during the past week so he could rest a pulled groin muscle that sidelined him down the stretch at Texas.
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB