ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, December 4, 1995 TAG: 9512060012
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
UVA'S AD had Thanksgiving thoughts about playing the Bulldogs in the Peach Bowl.
As he watched Georgia play Georgia Tech on Thanksgiving Day, Terry Holland thought the Bulldogs might make an intriguing opponent for Virginia in the Peach Bowl.
``I would have to say that the thought was very fleeting - one that I soon forgot,'' said Holland, the Cavaliers' athletic director. ``I didn't think there was any way it could happen.''
The Peach Bowl had the fourth choice of Southeastern Conference teams, and there were five ranked SEC teams stacked in front of the Bulldogs, who needed to beat Georgia Tech to have the required six victories against Division I-A opposition.
However, Alabama learned this week that reduced NCAA sanctions would not make the Crimson Tide eligible for a bowl this season. And then Western Division champion Arkansas was beaten by Florida 34-3 in Saturday's SEC championship game.
Holland was informed before the SEC title game that, should the Razorbacks lose, they would accept a bid to the Carquest Bowl and leave Georgia for the home-state Peach Bowl.
``I think they had a meeting of the minds and decided to do what was best for everybody concerned,'' Holland said. ``We would have been excited to play Arkansas, but I'm not sure how excited Arkansas would have been.''
Arkansas was willing to go to the Carquest Bowl, located in Miami, because a trip to the Peach Bowl would have been its second in less than four weeks to the Georgia Dome, site of its game with Florida.
Holland said he was told by Peach Bowl executive director Robert Dale Morgan that ESPN, which will televise the Peach Bowl at 8 p.m. on Dec.30, had no problem with Georgia's 6-5 record.
``Robert Dale said ESPN felt good about the matchup because [coach] Ray Goff had become something of a folk hero because of the way he had handled his firing,'' Holland said. ``I asked him if the Georgia fans would turn out and he said, `Absolutely. No question.'''
The Peach Bowl committee, which always has emphasized ticket sales, is virtually ensured a large crowd at the Georgia Dome, which seats more than 70,000. Holland said UVa hopes to have 20,000 supporters in attendance.
``This does not change that goal at all,'' he said. ``In fact, it's probably more important now that we have access. The only disadvantage for us is that this will become like a home game for Georgia.
``On the other hand, our football team has played well on the road all season, even in some of the games we've lost. I haven't spoken to [coach] George [Welsh] about it yet, but his position has always been that there's no such thing as a bad bowl game.''
``I would say that Georgia would be a great opponent for us,'' Welsh said. ``I'm excited about it. One thing I remember back in midseason was Tommy West [Clemson head coach] telling me that Georgia had one of the best lines his team had faced. They have got a great tradition and will bring a lot of people to the game. I look forward to playing them.''
PLAYERS HONORED: Roanoke native Tiki Barber was named Virginia's outstanding offensive player for the 1995 season Sunday at the annual Virginia Football Banquet in Charlottesville. Tackle Todd White was named the outstanding defensive player.
In addition, offensive tackle Jason Augustino received the Colonel Frank C. McCue Award as the Cavaliers' outstanding interior lineman; quarterback Mike Groh received the Joe Palumbo Award for self-sacrifice, dedication and enthusiasm; safety Percy Ellsworth received the John Polzer award for ability, sportsmanship and character; wide receiver Pete Allen received the Speed Elliott Award as UVa's most improved player; and linebacker/safety Anthony Poindexter was the recipient of the Bill Dudley Award as the outstanding first-year player.
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines ILLUSTRATION: GRAPHIC: Chart by staff. color.by CNB