ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, October 6, 1996 TAG: 9610070164
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: JACK BOGACZYK
DATELINE: ATLANTA
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
Virginia doesn't have a quarterback controversy, by George. That's because the Cavaliers' head coach won't let it happen.
Maybe he should. The Cavaliers have thrown one touchdown pass and nine interceptions in five games.
In the week leading up to UVa's first loss of the football season Saturday, a 13-7 stumble against a rugged Georgia Tech defense, George Welsh insisted the seeming questions behind center actually were located in the pressbox.
``I don't have an issue,'' Welsh said of the Cavaliers' depth chart at quarterback. ``You're the ones who have created the issue. You're the ones who are always creating the quarterback problems.''
Funny, it didn't appear any slow-footed, notepad- and computer-toting scribes were coughing up five turnovers on Grant Field against the Yellow Jackets (4-1).
Suffice it to say that when the 12th-ranked Cavaliers didn't put the ball in the hands of All-ACC tailback Tiki Barber, their offense was in trouble. Virginia had its lowest scoreboard number in 43 games.
Yes, UVa had poor field position, but the Cavs did little to help themselves, either.
Through three quarters, the senior running back produced 62 percent of UVa's yardage. In the fourth quarter, when the Cavaliers had 25 plays from scrimmage, Barber got three carries - and finished with 123 rushing yards, the school record-tying 15th 100-yard game in his career.
When Virginia was 18 yards from a potential tying touchdown in the waning seconds - a conversion kick could have won it - the Cavaliers' last gasp came with Barber on the sideline and backup quarterback Aaron Brooks overthrowing a sideline pass to Germane Crowell on a run-pass option.
``If you want to second-guess anything,'' Welsh said, ``then second-guess the third-down-[and-one] play. If we had it to do over gain, we probably should have run for the first down.''
On that play, Brooks was trying a pass to Barber in the flat. It was batted away by Tech defensive end Ralph Hughes. Barber was so open, he could have done a Heisman Trophy pose before getting to the end zone and still scored.
No, there's no second-guessing that play. At least Virginia was trying to do the right thing - getting the ball to Barber. On this day anyway, it was pretty apparent that if he didn't score, UVa's spectacular defense was going to have to win the game.
Asked if he felt good about his team's offense - in general, not just in this visit to the most-recent Olympic village - Welsh said, ``No.''
He's not alone. Asked to assess his performance on a 4-for-12, three- interception day, starting quarterback Tim Sherman said, ``Not good.''
That postgame statement wasn't the first time the senior was accurate all day. There were several others, when Virginia's receivers played Venus de Milo and dropped receptions.
Of course, this is the sort of thing that will happen when among a team's top four wideouts, it has a converted tailback, a converted quarterback and a converted kicker.
``I think our passing game needs to be improved,'' Welsh said. ``We're a little bit off. We're not really accurate yet with either quarterback.''
Welsh has said he wants to play Brooks, who has a stronger arm and ran run the option with more verve than Sherman. Brooks, a redshirt sophomore, lacks experience.
Of course, so does Sherman, another in a growing line of faces that change behind center when UVa begins a new season. Sherman is the Cavaliers' sixth different starting QB in the past seven years.
Sherman left Grant Field with his right thumb heavily wrapped in an elastic bandage after suffering an apparent sprain when on his last interception he hit his hand on a rushing Tech lineman's helmet with 9:19 to play.
Sherman was hurting the Cavaliers long before his painful exit, however. The Yellow Jackets were trying to stuff the middle against Barber, as will the remainder of the Cavaliers' opponents if Virginia can't pass.
``I have great concern about our passing game right now,'' said offensive coordinator Tom O'Brien. ``We have to be more consistent.''
After a week off, UVa hits midseason with North Carolina State's visit to Scott Stadium on Oct. 19. The Cavaliers still must play Florida State, Clemson, North Carolina and Virginia Tech, too.
Last week, in trying to explain his quarterback mindset while keeping Sherman as the starter, Welsh said, ``I want to play Aaron Brooks.''
Well, maybe it's time to get serious about that. The Cavaliers do have a quarterback problem, and Welsh has only one option left.
LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP Georgia Tech linebacker Ron Rogers runs back anby CNBinterception of Virginia quarterback Tim Sherman during the second
quarter of Saturday's ACC game in Atlanta.