Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, November 4, 1995 TAG: 9511060049
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
Although they were never on the playing field at the same time Thursday night, Virginia tailback Tiki Barber couldn't help but feel the presence of Heisman Trophy candidate Warrick Dunn.
``It was a huge motivation for me,'' said Barber, a junior from Cave Spring High School in Roanoke. ``Everybody was watching the game to see him and I looked at it as an opportunity to improve my reputation.
``All I was hearing was, `Warrick Dunn this and Warrick Dunn that,' but deep down I felt I was just as good as he was.''
Thus inspired, Barber carried 31 times for 193 yards and scored two touchdowns as 24th-ranked Virginia stunned No. 2 Florida State, 33-28, handing the Seminoles their first defeat in 30 ACC games.
Barber received particular satisfaction when he went home and watched a tape of College Gameday, the show that preceded the ESPN telecast of Thursday night's game.
``Craig James was like, `They have Tiki Barber, who could offset a Warrick Dunn, but that's not going to happen,''' Barber said. ``It's like he sees potential but he doesn't think I'm there yet.''
Barber not only outrushed Dunn, who carried 14 times for 54 yards, but he also returned six punts for 73 yards and caught three passes for 45 yards. Barber finished with 311 all-purpose yards, the second-highest total by a UVa player, behind Bill Dudley's 325 against North Carolina in 1941.
``I don't mind being second to him,'' said Barber, showing respect for a member of the College and Pro Football halls of fame.
Barber has rushed for 501 yards in his past three games, all against 1994 bowl teams, and has 1,223 yards for the season - 1 yard behind the school record set by Barry Word in 1985.
It brought to mind an interview Barber gave earlier in the week, when he laughingly suggested that he might get the record against the Seminoles, against whom the previous high this season was 121 yards by Central Florida's Marquette Smith.
``We have the benefit of an extra game,'' Barber said, ``but that's just made me more determined to get the record in 11 games, the same as everyone else.''
Actually, Word played only 10 games in 1985, when he was suspended for the final game.
``But he probably didn't have to play Michigan, Texas and Florida State,'' said Barber, who has rushed for 559 yards in four games against nationally ranked opposition.
Barber said he was so excited about playing the Seminoles that he felt faster than usual, as evidenced by his 64-yard touchdown run after taking an option pitch from Mike Groh on UVa's second series.
``I have a page on the Internet and I wrote a little note to all the fans,'' said Barber, whose address is http://poe.acc.virginia.edu/~akb5c. ``I said we have a motto: `We're going to do whatever it takes. All you've got to do is believe.'''
In Barber's case, whatever it took meant ``touching'' the ball 40 times counting runs, returns and receptions. Once considered fragile, he has carried the ball 88 times in the past three games and 220 times for the season.
``He's got that certain something special that's setting him apart from most of the people in the country right now,'' coach George Welsh said.
by CNB