ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, December 28, 1995 TAG: 9512280062
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: Peach Bowl Notes
DATELINE: ATLANTA
SOURCE: DANIEL UTHMAN STAFF WRITER
Many football players would jump at the chance to end their college careers in a big game in their hometown. Some would probably cut off an arm to do it, as long as it was their non-throwing one.
Symmion Willis would have gotten the chance. But he didn't want it.
It's been nearly five months since the former UVa starting quarterback and Atlanta native gave up college football.
Virginia coach George Welsh told Willis that Mike Groh, a fifth-year senior like Willis, would start at quarterback in 1995. Willis' best option was to move to wide receiver.
On Aug.5, Willis decided his best option was to stop playing football.
``I thought about it from April 'til June,'' he said Wednesday at his southwest Atlanta home. ``I went back and forth with the idea. I had to make the decision that was best for me.''
Willis' legacy was as a strong leader in the locker room, while also setting the school's single season record for passing yardage with 2,347 yards in 1993. Groh has passed for 2,510 yards this season.
Willis says concentrating on baseball is his best option now. He's projected as the Cavaliers' right fielder for the upcoming season, his second on the squad. Willis said he wished he had played baseball earlier in his college career, but he's still hopeful of having a future in the game.
``He's determined to make it,'' said safety Percy Ellsworth, one of Willis' housemates. ``He's working harder at that than I thought he could.''
Safety Paul London and cornerback Joe Crocker also live with Willis. Although his decision was unusual, they have been supportive of their friend and former teammate.
``They knew football wasn't for me,'' Willis said.
``Everybody knew Groh was playing better,'' Ellsworth said, ``but I was shocked [Willis] wasn't on the team. Only Symmion and coach really know the story.''
It would have been a great story if Willis, armed with his psychology degree earned last May, was leading the Cavaliers to the last game of his career in Saturday's Peach Bowl. Instead, he's leading them around town when they have free time.
``I spent Saturday, Sunday and Monday with them,'' said Willis, also a high school teammate of tight end Bobby Neely. ``I was kind of hoping they would come here. I knew I wouldn't be able to go to a bowl somewhere else.''
The housemates don't often talk about Willis' departure anymore. Ellsworth said Willis misses hanging around the locker room before and after practice, but that little else has changed in his relationship with the team.
He's at every game serving as one of the team's most vocal fans. After Virginia's 33-28 win over Florida State, Ellsworth said Willis ``was right there with me when it was over. He might have been the first person on the field.''
That time, Willis wasn't walking off of it alone.
EASY SELL: Peach Bowl officials announced today that the game is sold out for the second time in the four years it has been held at the Georgia Dome. The 1993 game between North Carolina and Mississippi State set the game's attendance record with a sellout crowd of 69,125.
That record is expected to be broken with all 71,228 tickets gone for this year's game.
``There are not any tickets around,'' said game chairman Albert J. Tarica. ``We got a tremendous response from UVa in their ticket sales.''
INJURIES: Other than defensive end Jon Harris, no Cavaliers are expected to miss the game. London is questionable after twisting a knee during last Friday's practices. As of Wednesday, he had not practiced, but Welsh said he will play if he participates in drills once before Saturday.
Virginia's practice today will be held in the Georgia Dome and will be closed.
PARTY TIME: If early curfews lead to advantages in bowl games, the Cavaliers have to feel good about their chances.
Georgia coach Ray Goff did not institute curfews for his players until Wednesday night, and he set the time for 2:30 a.m.
Virginia, on the other hand, had a 12:30 a.m. curfew on Tuesday and a midnight curfew on Wednesday.
Goff jokingly said some of his players who showed up for breakfast at 6 a.m. had not been to bed yet.
LENGTH: Medium: 81 linesby CNB